In the early 1980s my parents faced a quandary: I was the oldest child, and it was time to enroll me in kindergarten. My dad, a history teacher, was recently laid off from the local public school. While both parents were baptized Catholic and my mother attended Catholic school through …

My wife and I attended Mass on a typical Sunday many years ago, but what happened that day was not typical—in fact, it changed our lives. Our pastor invited a parishioner, Joe, to share a personal witness about the importance of sacrificial giving. Until then, I thought people gave to …

We are primed for another season as the defending AFC North Champions, which makes this a natural moment to review the perennially confusing question: can we really “pray for a Bengals win?” As the Cincinnati Bengals Catholic Chaplain, my answer regarding prayers for sports teams is “that depends on your …

About a year ago I applied for a grant to help my fledgling magazine, Embodied, that is grounded in Pope St. John Paul II’s writings about the human person. I was struck by one question: “For whom does your heart break?” This brought an immediate wave of deep sadness, but …

JOY! With each new school year, possibility abounds as we open our hearts and minds to the mission of Catholic education for the students, families and communities we serve. With joyful hearts, guiding faith and unwavering dedication, our teachers, school leaders and communities embrace our collective mission to Radiate Christ. …

Born in a remote village in Bhutan, a small country sandwiched between two big countries—China in the north and India—I completed my primary education at Dorokha Primary School, a 40 minute walk from my home. In 1990, while I was in high school, the government forcefully evicted 100,000 Nepali-speaking citizens …

Many consider me an adventurous eater. When I find something unique or out of the ordinary on a menu, I am always curious to try it. And while I didn’t cook much growing up, I stepped out of my comfort zone in college and seminary to do it more. As …

Wise, witty, and shrewd was Mr. Joe Acito, my senior English teacher at Elder High School. He affectionately called me “Reverend Scalf.” I have no idea why—I was far from religious, but I guess that was his point. If, when I was in his class, you had told me that …

I have had to face many trials; however, my greatest suffering came from the one I brought upon myself, when I took the life of my own child. A senior in high school with an unplanned pregnancy, I believed the lie that if I had an abortion, my parents would …

It was a Tuesday night after a long day of school and softball practice. I still wasn’t sure what this XLT thing was that my best friend had invited me to, but I agreed to check it out. I don’t remember anything about the talk, but I do remember that …