The Divinity of Work

Each day, much of the world’s adult population sets out to labour whether for others or themselves. A great number set out with the hope of finding work, and others will unfortunately have no hope of finding any work. Work,…

A Good Idea for Someone Else

In March of 2011 at the Catholic Writers Guild Online Writer’s Conference, I was fortunate to take part in Sarah Reinhard‘s blogging workshop. Toward the end of the week, Jennifer Fitz started discussing starting a Catholic Writers Guild (CWG) blog….

Highlighting New Evangelizers: A Good Story Is Hard to Find Podcast

When my nose isn’t in a book (and it isn’t nearly as much as I’d like), I love nothing more than to talk books with someone who enjoys reading as much as I do. And when the person who’s talking…

Wagering on Pascal

Why should we believe in God? I usually start my first theology class by asking my students this.  Most of them have spent years in Catholic school, but they are flummoxed to find an answer. “Because the Bible says so.” …

An Evangelist Found

For years I have struggled with how my gifts from God were being used for His glory. Even after attending an intense Called and Gifted seminar I wondered if my fiction writing was a talent or a charism. And then,…

Study Questions for the Year of Faith Letter

In my experience, few Catholics read the letters written by our Popes.  I myself am new to the reading Church documents unless assigned as part of classes I was taking or teaching.  I would like to see more people reading…

Amen!

Readings for September 16, 2012: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B Pentecostal preachers shout it.  Monks chant it.  Most Christians end every prayer with it. But what does “Amen” really mean?  Is it just a pious way to “log…

Seeing God in My Mom

Not long ago, I was talking with a fellow parishioner after Mass about care for her elderly mother. With a completely straight face, this nice lady told me, “We had to put Mother in a nursing home, you know, because…

Why We Venerate a Symbol of Torture

Readings for September 14, 2012: Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Terrorism is nothing new.  It’s probably as old as the human race. In fact, the cradle of civilization, now Iraq, was the home of the most infamous…

4 Tools for Women to Be New Evangelizers

Suppose we have a woman on fire with the Gospel message, ready to evangelize the culture.  Besides materials from this website, what should she tuck into her New Evangelizer Supply Kit? Does she need a bus ticket to the public…