More on the 'treasure' of Catholic education
I guess this is my “Proud Papa” column for 2015. Students across our 28 Catholic schools proved again this year that their education might be priceless. Without question, it is proving as valuable as any other treasure they will encounter in their lives. Treasure? D...Read full story »
Monday, June 08, 2015
The little flame with the big message
In less than 10 days, parishes across our diocese will celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi with processions through their towns. Annually, this is one of the most visible signs to those outside our Church that we believe in the Real Presence – that during the Consecration, the bread...Read full story »
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Perspective comes through a metaphor from God
When God offers a metaphor, it’s always very powerful. He offered one April 18 as I zipped west through Ohio on I-70. Clearly visible along the north side of the bustling interstate, U.S. 40 – the “National Road” – parallels its four-lane, limited-access success...Read full story »
Monday, April 27, 2015
Catholic education impacts us every day
I had another column all ready to go for this issue of The Message. After reading a Catholic News Service story about the keynote address Carolyn Woo delivered at the National Catholic Education Association meeting, I decided that column could wait. Woo’s remarks moved me becaus...Read full story »
Monday, April 13, 2015
History's most heinous execution gives pause
Jesus was a victim of the death penalty. Did you ever think about it that way? He was. We remember His heinous execution every Good Friday. Shouldn’t we honor His ultimate sacrifice – for our redemption – the rest of the year by living a witness that respects...Read full story »
Monday, March 30, 2015
Almsgiving takes many forms and happens daily around us
As you read this, less than two weeks remain in our 2015 Lenten journey. Many times since Feb. 18 – Ash Wednesday – we have heard the phrase that defines these 40 days of preparation … prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We can do each daily, year-round. And it has occur...Read full story »
Monday, March 23, 2015
A look at 'the state of being poor'
Webster defines poverty succinctly: “The state of being poor.” As part of this special issue of The Message, we share with you a pastoral letter on poverty issued by Indiana’s five bishops. Please spend some time in that special section, and please keep it for future refere...Read full story »
Monday, March 09, 2015
With apologies to Bobby McFerrin….
One major branch of my extended-family tree has deep roots in the outdoor industry – boating, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting and all that goes with them. I spent more than 30 years writing newspaper columns and magazine features on those things; and God blessed me with the chance...Read full story »
Monday, March 02, 2015
I really don't like the word 'apologetics'
Let me apologize now if the rest of this column offends you. Truly, I don’t believe it will. But I make that statement more as a way of getting to the heart of this piece. If you visit the dictionary.com website and look up apologize, you’ll get two definitions. The...Read full story »
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Delving into 'the foolishness of faith'
Recently, The Message reader Mary Jo Bennett shared a “Justice Prayer.” I want to focus on its last sentence: “And may you be blessed with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so you will do things which others say cannot be done.R...Read full story »
Monday, February 02, 2015
