My First 100 Days as a Priest
I had so many fears about becoming a priest. What if I get lonely… What if I don’t fit the “mold” (whatever that means) of being a priest… What if I am not holy enough… What if I am not effective… You get the idea. What I have discovered […]
FOMO and Flaking: Why Commitment Matters
It was the same experience almost every Sunday afternoon. As a Life Teen missionary, we worked retreats most weekends, so we had Mondays off. On Sunday, after we finished throwing away the last of the trash, cleaning the dining hall, and spending some time thanking God for the grace poured […]
Jesus Is the MVP of the National Eucharistic Congress
JESUS. IS. HERE. There was no need for His introduction, nor hype from the emcees. Expectations were left at the door after the first ten minutes of the opening session at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress. We were part of a historic moment, and we knew it. In America, football […]
Graduation Gameplan
“We must not attempt to control God’s actions. We must not count the stages in the journey he would have us make. We must not desire a clear perception of our advance along the road, nor know precisely where we are on the way of holiness.” Step 1: Turn […]
Prom-verbs
Springtime brings a rush of promposals among juniors and seniors in high school, and the excitement mounts as the day of the dance approaches. While not every student chooses to attend prom, its enduring popularity makes it a beloved pop culture staple for teenagers, including Catholics. So, we turned to […]
He Was Beside Me All Along
“Love transfigures everything and touches the most banal realities with the note of infinity.” – Father Jacques Philippe On a mission trip to Albany, New York, I served parishes and communities in the surrounding cities over spring break. As I sat on the plane on the way back to school, […]
What Your Hydro Says About You
Walking around campus, everyone seemed to have a version. The laptop covered in decals. The bookbag coated with buttons. The water bottle plastered with stickers. People used these items to physically express their identity. Labels, really … right? With those “labels,” it was easy to establish expectations of someone before […]
Helping Teens Navigate Stress: Practical Tips for the Road Ahead
It was a Thursday night, and I remember sitting on my bathroom floor weeping, thinking to myself, “I wonder how long it will take them to notice?” I was 16, newly licensed, playing high school basketball and club volleyball, attending agility training twice a week, trying to maintain my grades […]
Why Cheating Sucks: The Merits of Academic Honesty
It was tempting because nobody would find out. I also needed the money. And it was one paper. I remember the moment clearly, standing at my locker and contemplating the offer. $20 for a paper. My friend, desperate for a decent grade, asked me to write his English paper in […]
