Wednesday, December 22, 2010   By Mike Daley   As a teacher, much of my focus and attention is framed by two dates – the first and last day of the school year. In addition to that, rather than months or seasons, I divide my year into quarters and semesters.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 By Father Earl Fernandes Duc in altum. “Put out into the deep” (Luke 5:4).  Jesus’ words served as the beginning and end of Pope John Paul II’s apostolic letter Novo Millenio Ineunte, which he wrote to close the Great Jubilee. The Holy Father challenged the whole …

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 By Sister Betty J. Lillie, S.C. Fourth Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7;  Matthew 1:18-24 Without a doubt the Advent season is a time of great excitement and busyness for all who await the coming of the Christmas celebration. Our readings this week begin and …

Dec. 10, 2010   By Jeanne Hunt   I ran into an angel the other day. I don’t mean a human being who is a good person. I mean a real, card-carrying angel. You know, ethereal beings of light that are here to help us.  It was in the mall. …

Dec. 3, 2010   By Father Kyle Schnippel  “There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left …

Dec. 1, 2010 By Terrance Callan  First Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44 With this Sunday we begin the season of Advent, our time of preparation for Christmas. The readings for Advent speak about the coming of Christ. They recall the first coming of Jesus about 2000 …

Nov. 26, 2010   By Mike Daley  If the Catholic tradition is known for anything, it’s the truths (always rooted in the person of Jesus the Christ) that it proclaims. Some, necessarily, are more foundational than others. For example, perhaps the central theological truth Catholics believe in is a triune …

Nov. 19, 2010   By Father Earl Fernandes  November is a month for remembering and praying for our beloved dead. My maternal grandparents died before I was born. My paternal grandfather died when I was five, and my grandmother died last year. All my aunts and uncles on my mother’s …

More than 1,000 prepare to enter church at Easter Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion celebrations Feb. 21 marked the start of final preparations for 1,049 people who are planning to join the church at Easter. The celebrations were held in Dayton and Cincinnati. During the celebrations, sponsors …

Nov. 17, 2010 By Terrance Callan  Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Malachi 3:19-20a; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Luke 21: 5-19 There are times when such things as the prospect of nuclear proliferation, terrorist threats or ecological disasters cause us to think about the end of this world. But most of the …