INTO YOUR HANDS – JANUARY 2026 When I was a young child, I enjoyed playing with building blocks. Frequently, my siblings would come and topple my construction, but I would simply start building again. Soon, those blocks were replaced with Legos to construct much stronger and more intricate things. As …

INTO YOUR HANDS | Archbishop Robert G. Casey In the delightful classic movie The Bells of St. Mary’s, Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman star as a priest and a religious sister serving at the above-mentioned parish and its school. Ingrid Bergman plays Sr. Benedict, a school principal with both principles …

In the month ahead we will celebrate Advent and Christmas. As we chant “O Come, O Come Emanuel,” Advent days will teach us prayer and patience as we long for the coming of our Savior. When we finally sing out “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” Christmas days will call us …

As a young seminarian serving at St. Agnes of Bohemia parish in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, I came to appreciate many customs and traditions that I had never heard of as the son of an Irish immigrant. One of these customs was la mordida or “the bite.” This custom is …

As a child, I shared a room with my younger brother. I have fond memories of waking up in the morning to the sound of our mother coming into our bedroom and pulling back the curtains on the window. She would sing to us, “Good morning! Time to rise and …

Way back in the early 1970s, there was an advertisement for Coca-Cola that became quite popular. The soda pop company had assembled young people from all over the world on a hilltop in Italy. Together they sang, “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.” The decade …

Years Ago, I heard the story of a little girl who grew up going to church with her mother every Sunday. Each week, the mother would try to keep her daughter entertained during the Mass by pointing out the different elements of the church and their worship. She would have …

What is the best remedy for us when we find ourselves overwhelmed by sadness, despair, or hopelessness? We have all heard it said, “Laughter is the best medicine.” We know from experience that sharing a good laugh or simply a smile can serve as a healing balm and restorative remedy …

Since the death of Pope Francis on April 21, I have found myself reflecting on his papal motto, “Miserando atque  eligendo,” which basically translates to “having mercy and choosing him.” Pope Francis first chose this motto when he was called to be a bishop in Argentina. He then chose to …

A friend of mine began discerning priesthood soon after his First Communion. From the age of eight, he dreamed of the day when he could be a priest and celebrate Mass. This was not me. I did not consider a vocation to the priesthood until the end of my junior …