Just Stop and Pray

By Vivian Marino

Have you ever had one of those days where you had so much to do that you planned everything down to the minute … and then God laughed?

A few weeks ago, I had one of those days. I accomplished the first three tasks earlier than expected, so I ran home for a break. Read More

Celebrating Traveling Milestones

By Gina Sternfels

Over Thanksgiving break, I took my son, Ivan, to see our Spellers practitioner in Florida.  The last time we went there was a few years ago, we drove there, but this time we were flying! He has not flown in over nine years, so while I was apprehensive about things, I was also expecting to see how much he had grown.  

I brought my oldest son for backup, so I was prepared. I even reconnected with a friend who travels often with her son with autism. She gave me great tips, and we packed well.  Read More

The Message of the Angel

By Greg Zambrano

Christmas is a time of celebration and great joy, because it is the day our Savior was born.

On the very day Jesus was born, a few shepherds were guarding their sheep. “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people’; And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger (Luke 9-12). Read More

A Sign of Hope

By Jenny Dendinger

As I prepared for the beginning of Advent, I prayerfully reflected on hope. One image kept
returning to my mind: the confession line.

Every time I walk into our chapel, I notice the confession line. In a world that seems to be filled
with disorder and despair, I see it as one of our greatest signs of hope.

Read More

Give Thanks Every Day

By Ty Salvant

Father Mike Kettenring’s homily on thanksgiving (the Sunday before the holiday) moved the
parishioners deeply, receiving a round of applause for his message. His words resonated with
us, reminding us that thankfulness should be practiced every day, not just on Thanksgiving day.

Father Mike, here I go.

As someone who grew up as the oldest in a single-parent household, I had more responsibilities
at a younger age than my peers. While it was challenging, at times, being self-sufficient inspired
me to incorporate life skills into my educational curriculum with my children. I am grateful for the
lessons I learned and the opportunity to pass them on to my children. Thank you God (and
mom). Read More

St. Gertrude’s Prayer

By Charla Misse

The Feast Day of St. Gertrude the Great is celebrated on Nov. 16. It is especially fitting that her feast be celebrated in the month of November, the month that the Catholic Church dedicates to souls in purgatory, because she was greatly sympathetic toward the suffering of these souls.

The Catholic Church recognizes that St. Gertrude is one of the great mystic saints, having visions of Jesus and Mary for the majority of her life. She was a highly educated and prolific writer, a Benedictine nun and an early devotee of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Read More

Jesus School Part 2

By Kristy Solis

As a family, one of the most important decisions that you will decide is where your child will be educated. 

It feels just like yesterday, as a family, we decided where our child would attend primary school. 

When I reflect on this time, our child made the decision to go to “Jesus School” as she called it – simply, the Catholic school in our community; the place of worship where we attend Mass as a family.  Read More

Let us be God’s Peacemakers

By Lisa Janusa

I’m sure that you are aware of the many conflicts in the world between nations, political parties, religious groups, races and even members of our own families.

Peace is a rare commodity and seems to be beyond our reach. Read More

Managing Family Stress during the Holiday Season

By Gavin Lewis

In our family, the Catholic faith plays a central role in navigating holiday stress, providing a spiritual anchor during the hustle and bustle. We integrate holiday-specific prayer into our daily routine, seeking guidance during the holiday season, especially with the diverse range of ages among our four children. Read More

Giving Thanks

By Kim Roberts

A lot of people rush through the month of November to get to December and all the excitement and activities that lead up to Christmas, but I like to take the month of November to reflect and be grateful for family, friends and the life the Lord has given me. 

As I look back on the 29 years my husband and I have had the privilege of raising our three children, it brings to mind all the ways – big and small – that we tried to teach them gratitude for all that we were blessed with as a family. We wanted them to appreciate the time we have been able to spend together over the years enjoying traditions that they as adults will be able to carry on and build upon when they become parents.  Read More

A Culture of Welcome

By Ty Salvant

Considering the challenges of managing young children during Mass, how do you show love and support to the family with littles?

Last night at Mass, we sat behind the sweetest family. A 2-year-old was accompanied by her parents, grandmother and newborn sister. She was curious, creative and community-oriented. She wondered about the people around her, what they were doing, what objects they had and was willing to share information about herself. Read More