Thousands of Catholics in our archdiocese will come to Mass on Easter Sunday. At least 40 percent of these good people haven’t been to church since Christmas. For their sake and for the sake of all of us who are so pleased to see them, I offer a few instructions …

One thing that both amuses and frightens me about Jesus is His table manners or, better and more honestly put, His table mates. In contrast to the ascetical practices of John the Baptist, Jesus is accused of being “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” …

In this Year of Faith, we can celebrate the way the liturgical year is divided. We have two regular seasons (Ordinary Time), two playoffs (Advent and Lent) and the championship games (Christmas and Easter). So while the nation is to be enthralled in March Madness, we are in the teeth …

Question of Faith is a Q&A column by Father Earl Fernandes A reader asks: “I would like to find out how I can get back to good graces in the church and receive Communion. I have been divorced twice. The first marriage was in the church and ended in divorce. …

Fast food restaurants have nearly perfected the art of drive-through service. They can measure in seconds how long it takes from order to delivery window. The systems are set up to be most efficient when the restaurant is most busy. But every now and then there’s a glitch and the …

A few weeks ago more than 70,000 people live and more than 100 million at home watched the Baltimore Ravens defeat the San Francisco 49ers in a classic Super Bowl contest. My wife and I on the other hand didn’t see a single snap. It’s not that we don’t like …

Dear Friends in Christ, From the time that we were very young, perhaps too young to fully understand the words, we have known that Lent is a penitential season. Throughout these 40 days of preparation for Easter, the church calls us to a sober re-examination of our lives and our …

In April of 2005 when Blessed John Paul II passed from this world, it was a totally new experience for me.  I was less than one year ordained to the priesthood, but yet I had never known another name to be prayed during his spot in the Eucharistic Prayer.  (I …

In response to Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation announcement Monday, I give my take on the Paul Harvey classic speech “So God made a farmer” as used in the Ram Truck Super Bowl commercial.   So God made a Pope And some time considerably after the 8th day, God looked down on …

By Sister Mary Ann Barnhorn February 2013 Monthly Reflection We are deep into winter here in the Midwest.   It’s cold and dark and damp.  We tend to isolate ourselves in these months, staying warm and safe within the walls of our houses.  We feel alone.   Sometimes we feel …