A Spirituality of Mentoring
John Stack conquered the lecture hall, entering it like an ancient prophet: with a ruddy, tanned face; an out-of-control, black but graying beard that sprouted defiantly, Karl Marx-like, in a hundred directions; uncombed graying hair swirling like a collection of Midwestern twisters atop his head. H
Called, Gifted and Now Certified
Katie graduated from college last year with a degree in elementary education. Her degree did not include any college theology courses, but she had volunteered in parish ministry for a year or two while she was in college. After graduation Katie was hired as a lay ecclesial minister (youth ministry c
Catholic Identity, New Age and Women Religious
The lives of religious women were dramatically changed in the second half of the 20th century by several new factors: the call to renewal within religious communities from the Second Vatican Council, heightened awareness of the ecclesiological divides in the post-Vatican II church, increased feminis
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
Theodore Roosevelt High School stretches for nearly a block along Fordham Road in New York City’s borough of the Bronx. It was built in the late 1920’s for a student population of 2,500 to 3,000. Most of these were the children of Italian-American, Irish-American and Jewish families. &nb
Letters
Letters
Inspired to Share
Thank you to Kevin O’Brien, S.J., for the affirming and encouraging message in The Classroom as Holy Ground (5/26). Like so many teachers, I was ending the academic season with the year-in-review, still struggling with last minute makeup tests and lost textbooks. By fortunate coincidence, I happened upon Mr. O’Brien’s article and was…
Editorials
Religious Worship in Public Schools
Most public schools make their facilities available after school hours to a wide variety of private nonprofit organizations, including religious organizations. Some states, however, including New York, absolutely forbid public schools to allow religious worship—even after regular school hours
Faith in Focus
Why I Still Want to Be a Priest
In the week before my ordination 35 years ago, America published an article I had written entitled “Why I Want to Be a Priest” (6/8/68). I recall the circumstances in which I wrote it.
Books
Arise, Reform
Timing is everything Many of the elements of a sophisticated theology of the laity and recommendations for church reform featured in Paul Lakeland rsquo s new book originated earlier and elsewhere But never before have they been put together in such a compelling way and more to the point at such
A Church Aloof or Engaged?
This study seeks to synchronize intellectual developments in American Catholicism with parallel events abroad and to examine how an international conversation among Catholic thinkers sought to influence the church rsquo s dialogue with the modern Western world Most importantly John McGreevy stress
Spirito Mexicano
Several years ago when I visited the shrine and retreat house of the Valley Missionary Program in Coachella Valley Calif I knew that something exceedingly unusual had happened Out in the Mojave Desert economically disadvantaged Mexican immigrants had built a stunningly beautiful spirituality c
Poetry
Sacrament for my wife
Almost three years gone down the back roads of Ohio
The Word
Enough Food to Eat
We may not be able to explain the miracles, but we cannot overlook one very important element in each story—God works marvels through ordinary people.
Bread From Heaven
We are no longer content to live with full bellies but empty minds.
Columns
Romance and Vocation
Afriend recently passed on to me an article in which the author, a priest, argues that we need to reromanticize priesthood and religious life and give people something beautiful to fall in love with. I find it to be an inspired idea, given recent revelations and events, and a troubling idea. Rarely
Faith
Enough Food to Eat
We may not be able to explain the miracles, but we cannot overlook one very important element in each story—God works marvels through ordinary people.
Bread From Heaven
We are no longer content to live with full bellies but empty minds.
The Chosen Path
Ignatian spirituality offers a different wisdom on vocation. It counsels us to discover our personal calling by aligning our gifts and aspirations with what we see as the deepest needs of our world.
News
Signs of the Times
Capuchin Friar Brings Renewed Sense of Hope to Boston ChurchA man in the simple brown robes and sandals of a Capuchin friar brought a renewed sense of enthusiasm and hope to the embattled Catholic Archdiocese of Boston in early July, weeks before his formal installation as archbishop of Boston. Arch
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts