“I invite all Colombians, without distinction, to joyfully welcome the visit of Pope Francis. He comes to bring us a message of peace, that peace that we are all called to build from hearts open to forgiveness, to reconciliation and solidarity.” These were the words of Cardinal Rubén Salazar, Archbishop of Bogotá, upon the announcement ...read more

Some of you would say that friends stick together; they are loyal. Last week we looked a trust and gossiping and I shared a real handy formula for knowing when to say or not to say something to a friend or about a friend- this is especially helpful in this day and age of social ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For September 2017, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Parishes – That our parishes, animated by a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and charity is seen. Daily Offering Prayer God, our Father, I offer You my ...read more

Do your friends think? Last time we began looking at some qualities that should be part of a friendship: trust, honesty, fun and time. We also saw that in the Gospel of Matthew (5:22), Jesus speaks about forgiveness as a good quality in friendship. Today we’re going to see how friends think. But first, here’s ...read more

(CNS Photo: A Haitian refugee sticks his head out from a tent set up by the Canadian Armed Forces near Lacolle, Quebec, Aug. 10.) Some 6,000 people, mostly Haitian nationals, have crossed illegally into Quebec from the United States since July. This is the second major upswing in the number of asylum-seekers to Canada this ...read more

(CNS photo/Christinne Muschi, Reuters) Welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants and refugees Dear brothers and sisters! “You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:34). Throughout ...read more

Most of the time, as kids, we don’t have much choice in our friends. But if we did, what would you look for? What friend qualities would you look for? Last week I called friendship a sacramental, because, like all sacramentals (like a Rosary, prayer card of holy medal), it is something that points us ...read more

Friends: We all have them and we all want them. We love them; we want to kill them. I’ve heard that friends are good for us: they make us healthier and they even make us more attractive! Can friends point us to God? Of course, right? But is that what you look for in a ...read more

Guest contributor, Elias Crim, is the founder and publisher of Solidarity Hall, a national group blog focused on community renewal and the common good. He also co-hosts Solidarity Hall’s new podcast, called Dorothy’s Place. He recently reviewed S+L’s 2014 documentary “The Francis Effect”… How to understand Pope Francis? Despite the apparent dyspepsia his arrival has caused among some of the ...read more

A month ago, at age 82, my mother died. As much as I know that my mom was a woman of deep faith and belief in Eternal Life, I’m finding it hard. I’m usually OK, until someone asks me how I am. My mom was also a public figure. She was a ballet dancer and ...read more