A forum of Catholic Thought

World Mission Sunday: A Universal Day of Celebration!Maureen Crowley Heil

Because our Church is universal, Mass is celebrated in many different dialects every day. When you consider the message spoken around our altars, it becomes apparent that we speak a common language -- ...

Join the Cardinal Cushing Club and See the World! Maureen Crowley Heil

The story of The Society for the Propagation of the Faith began in France in the early 19th century. Blessed Pauline Marie Jaricot, inspired by letters about the missions from her brother, started gathering ...

Building our Church One Brick at a TimeMaureen Crowley Heil

When a parish is blessed to outgrow its space and must expand, or even build a new church, parishioners are asked to sacrifice their time, talent, and treasure to complete the planned building. It's ...

Learning from Heaven's Heroes Maureen Crowley Heil

One of my favorite books is called 365 Saints a Year. It's a daily reflection on different saints, some popular, some lesser known. I used to read it to my children at breakfast, hoping the story ...

GO!Maureen Crowley Heil

The Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) is built on two foundational pillars: regular prayer (one Hail Mary every day!) and sacrifice for others; the motto is "Children Helping Children." As a result, ...

Papua New Guinea: On the Path to Holiness Maureen Crowley Heil

On September 6, Pope Francis will land in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG), the second stop on his eleven-day trip to Oceania. He will already have been in Indonesia. After three days in PNG, he will ...

Where Did You See the Face of Christ Today?Maureen Crowley Heil

Sometimes, when I speak in schools or parishes, I tell stories of my mission experience in Haiti working with Hands Together (HT), founded by Father Tom Hagan, OSFS and Doug Campbell. Their ministry is ...

Join Our Societies: Be a Game Changer for the Missions Maureen Crowley Heil

Whenever I try to picture what purgatory is like, I think about its purpose -- a "temporary" existence for those of us who die not quite heaven-ready. I use quotation marks around the word temporary because ...