Voices
Valerie Schultz is a freelance writer, a columnist for The Bakersfield Californian and the author of A Hill of Beans: The Grace of Everyday Troubles. She lives on the Oregon Coast.
In All Things
Pope Francis in his two years as pontiff has often urged people of faith to be better people of faith To walk the talk To get with the program To do as Jesus would do His example inspires us just as his writings enlighten us The pope reminds us that God calls us to love no matter what He e
In All Things
During the holiday season, there is a spirit of giving in the air that transcends belief.
In All Things
Each Advent Christians reminisce about the humble yet earth-shaking birth of Christ.
In All Things
Through life's many stages, a day to overflow with gratitude for the many blessings from the hand of a loving God.
Synod on the Family
Editor’s Note. “Families,” Pope Francis noted in a homily on Sept. 14, “are the first place in which we are formed as persons and, at the same time, the ‘bricks’ for the building up of society.” In preparation for the launch of the Synod of Bishops on the Fa
Faith in Focus
I was seated at the back of the room as 60 or so inmates gathered for the weekly Tuesday night meeting of Criminals and Gangmembers Anonymous. Most of the members are serving life sentences, many with the distant possibility of parole, although a few are LWOPs, which stands for lifers without that p
In All Things
My dad was right: life blazes on and holds us in thrall with its bounty and blessings.
In All Things
Let me set the scene It rsquo s a weekend morning and for once I actually have no commitments I open the front door to let in the fresh morning air and I am ready to ride five miles on the exercise bike in my office spare room I am trying to beat my best time But my dog is in the back yard ba
In All Things
When you grow up Catholic you learn early on that Sunday Mass is non-negotiable Unless you are dying or certifiably contagious you go to Mass I was in school before I had a friend who was not Catholic and whose denominational road to salvation did not mandate Sunday attendance My first thought
In All Things
The spiritual season of Lent sometimes brings out the creativity in people In fulfilling our Lenten obligations of prayer fasting and almsgiving we try to come up with something new something more meaningful something that will change our lives I recently heard in passing of a different kind o