In the United States, we’ve just celebrated the Fourth of July, or Independence Day. It’s a day celebrating the freedoms for which our forebearers fought and died. Around the world, peoples are protesting, fighting, praying, and working for greater freedom….
Let Freedom Ring
The Biggest Challenge of Teaching High School Theology
All teachers have their challenges, and religion teachers are no different. But beyond the usual problems of apathy and lack of diligence there is another all-important obstacle. Unlike most other subjects, theology classes appeal directly to the life choices of…
Praying before Mass
If you’ve ever leafed through a Catholic prayer book, you might have stumbled upon various prayers before Mass (see here or here for some examples). At first glance, these kind of prayers might confirm some of the negative stereotypes about…
The Silver Lining between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
It was one of those feel-good-about-yourself Christian mornings. Rather than hitting the snooze button on my alarm as I so often do, I rustled out of bed and spent an hour reading scripture while the house was still quiet. The…
American Catholics, Take Action!
When I was a child, I loved to play with Play-Doh. My imagination would run wild with ideas of the different things I could create from the vibrant hues of dough. Often I would get the great idea to mix…
Offensive Evangelization
I’m still mulling over a treadmill “conference” I had with a dear friend at the gym. This particular person is very religious, but not Christian. My friend shared the recent experience of being invited to a “dedication” (Baptism type ceremony)…
Resurrection and Self-Awareness
“In the mystery of the Resurrection lies the summit and the highest intensity of our Christian self-awareness, and therefore that of my new awareness of myself of the way in which I look at all people and all things,” writes…
Digital Discipleship Boot Camp
I am taking a summer workshop on using technology in the parish setting for religious education and more. “The goal of our training is to become digital disciples.” Now I ask myself, do I want to become a digital disciple? …
Being an Everyday Catholic
An old saying reads that there are times when “a little goes a long way.” A small effort can have a significant impact. We do not need to move mountains or sail the roughest seas to prove our worth as…
The Age of Entitlement
“Ghost of the Future!” he exclaimed, “I fear you more than any spectre I have seen. But, as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I…