• “And she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” -Luke 2:7.

  • This sign is above the door in the sacristy at Holy Name of Jesus in Sheboygan, where I serve as a lector. In a Catholic church, the sacristy is a room, usually near the altar, where vestments, supplies, and sacred vessels are kept, and the priest and attendants prepare for Mass. It’s kind of like […]

  • “Let not your heart be disturbed. Am I not here, who is your mother? Are you not under my protection? -Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego

  • I love Advent. The call to slow down is always a welcome invitation this time of year, and I love how it helps build anticipation for Christmas, squeezing as much of God’s grace from it as possible. I also love that our attention is naturally drawn to Mary: Her yes to God, her relationship with […]

  • “I am the Immaculate Conception,” is famously spoken by the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Bernadette Soubirous during the apparitions at Lourdes in 1858. This phrase signifies that Mary was preserved from all sin from the first moment of her conception, a dogma defined by the Church just four years prior in 1854.

  • My wife recently reminded me that St. Joseph was the only imperfect person in his family. (I suspect that many husbands and fathers feel the same!) But of course, the Catholic Church teaches it is true. Despite this, he is considered the Terror of Demons and has been elevated to Protector of the Catholic Church. […]

  • “May we be in this world a ray of that light which shone forth from Bethlehem, bringing joy and peace to the hearts of all men and women.” – Pope Francis

  • For several years now, I’ve been taking a solo retreat in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. I’ve been going somewhere small and remote and…pink. The bathroom is cold. The wifi is nonexistent. The non-stick pans stick. It’s perfect.  I always look forward to the solitude and reflection time it affords.  Once there, a big […]

  • “Arise, soldiers of Christ, throw away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” — St. Cecilia (Her feast day is November 22. St. Cecilia, pray for us!)

  • One morning, a man began his customary walk to work.  On his journey, he fell into an open manhole, which promptly ruined his day. The next day, on his morning commute, he made sure to keep an eye out for any open manholes.  Unfortunately, he slipped on a banana peel and landed in a puddle. […]