The Catholic Appeal helps me feel part of something biggerKathleen Schortmann
For the past dozen years, I have served as the Appeal coordinator for St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Dedham. When I first offered to step up as the Appeal coordinator, I did so because I wanted ...
The Second Eucharistic PrayerFather Robert M. O'Grady
Last week, we saw how the Second Eucharistic Prayer in the Roman Missal started in one format and, by careful editing, ended in the most familiar of the four Eucharistic Prayers. This week, let's ...
GrumblingArchbishop Richard G. Henning
It's a good thing that God does not treat us the way we treat one another. If we are honest, we human beings are not very patient or forgiving. The Scriptures make clear that the Lord is long-suffering, ...
Life is So Short: Why War?Maureen Crowley Heil
My Dad was a pacifist. His firm belief in the need for a diplomatic solution to disagreements of all kinds was rock solid. It grew out of his time spent on the front lines of the Korean Conflict, where ...
Striking the rockScott Hahn
The Israelites' hearts were hardened by their hardships in the desert. Though they saw His mighty deeds, in their thirst they grumbled and put God to the test in today's First Reading -- a ...
Scripture Reflection for March 8, 2026, Third Sunday in LentFather Joshua J. Whitfield
Ex 17:3-7 Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Rom 5:1-2, 5-8 Jn 4:5-42 Preaching on this story from John's Gospel, I like how St. Augustine put it. Describing the dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, ...
Do you really believe God loves you?Sister Constance Veit, LSP
If you're like me, you were impressed by the athletes of the Milan-Cortina Olympics. In them, we witnessed both the rewards of hard work and the traumatizing effects of extreme expectation. It's ...
St. Joseph as a fatherLucia A. Silecchia
Not long ago, I was sorting through some of my Dad's old papers and I came across a candy wrapper and a Father's Day card tucked into an envelope that bore a March 2001 postmark from Rome. As ...
Should I give up prayers of petition this Lent as my priest suggested in his homily?Jenna Marie Cooper
Q: In a recent homily, my parish priest suggested that we all "give up prayers of petition for Lent." He said we're not being good friends to God if all we do is ask him for things, and that "you've all ...
A second Eucharistic PrayerFather Robert M. O'Grady
The task for implementing the liturgical reform decreed by the Second Vatican Council fell to Pope St. Paul VI. The same process had been followed by the Council of Trent, entrusting the reform to Pope ...
