Holy Saturday
An ancient homily for this day begins, Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on the earth today, a great silence and stillness. . . . God has fallen asleep in the flesh . . . and God has…
Good Friday
The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) under Joseph Kony terrorized the population of Northern Uganda for 22 years. “During this time, over 300,000 people have been killed, millions have been displaced from their homes and over 26,000 children abducted and forced…
Easter Sunday
In Christ’s resurrection the world arose. In Christ’s resurrection, the heavens arose, in Christ’s resurrection the earth itself arose.” (St. Ambrose, De excessu fractris sui, bk. 1) Karl Rahner writes that the power of the resurrection is flourishing as the…
Holy Thursday
On October 24th, 1993, Marguerite (Maggie) Barankitse (b. 1957), a Tutsi, was working in the bishop’s compound in Ruyigi (Burundi). A mob armed with machetes and clubs broke in to kill Hutus who had taken refuge there. Maggie was tied…
Women’s History Month
Though Women’s History Month celebrates the often ignored accomplishments of women, it’s important to recognize all types of women achievement. If we’re not careful, by including one group of women and excluding another, we can actually create further marginalization. This…
Lenten Reflection: Mary Nolan, BVM
Perhaps a seed was planted in my soul early on when my dad, a devout Catholic who rarely quoted scripture would say: "What does it profit a man/woman to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his/her immortal…
Fighting Injustice—One Show at a Time
This Black History Month, I was motivated to pursue the origin story of The Annual Walk Through Black History Month production at the First Baptist Church in Dubuque, Iowa. For 13 years, Mrs. Peggy Jackson has organized the event which…
Remembering and Celebrating the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord is celebrated 40 days after Christmas. This feast celebrates Simeon's revelation of Jesus as the Messiah, God's Anointed One, and Anna's grateful heart giving thanks to God and speaking about the child…
The Spirit of Civil Rights Activists Lives On
On Monday, Jan. 21, MLK Day, we honor the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and all the Civil Rights activists who fought for equality and justice. On this day, we remember activists like Rosa Parks who refused…
Human Trafficking is Among Us: Realize, Recognize, Respond
Realize, recognize, respond: these three words take on a deeper meaning for me and the many other members of the Tri-State Coalition Against Human Trafficking and Slavery during January—National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The Tri-State Coalition is a collaborative, faith-based…