In Dawn Eden Goldstein’s biography of the Rev. Ed Dowling, we encounter a remarkable individual whose intellect, enthusiasm and humility helped Alcoholics Anonymous burgeon into a worldwide haven for spiritual growth for those struggling with addiction.
Patricia Lawler Kenet
Patricia Lawler Kenet attended New York University and Temple Law School and practiced law for 15 years before returning to writing. Her essays have appeared in The Washington Post and The Rumpus. Her writing can be found at patricialawlerkenet.com.
Posted inArts & Culture, Theater
‘The Song of Bernadette’ is headed to Broadway
Over 80 years after Bernadette’s canonization, Frank Wildhorn has composed the music for a new stage adaptation of “The Song of Bernadette.”
Posted inArts & Culture, Film
Netflix’s ‘The Lost Daughter’ upends centuries of images of (Catholic) motherhood
“The Lost Daughter” raises startling questions about the role of motherhood as it comes into conflict with a woman’s desire to achieve something beyond domestic responsibilities.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: A rebel nun is an exemplar of feminism in action
The tale of a medieval woman’s decision to join the convent, Marj Charlier’s historical novel, ‘The Rebel Nun,’ resonates with many of the issues faced by the church in modern times.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
The Assumption of Mary brought me peace after my mother’s death
I am told that at the last moment, my mother sat up, looked towards heaven and fell back to her pillow. I chose to believe Mary came to her, took her and is with her still.
Posted inArts & Culture, Film
Review: ‘Rebel Hearts’ shines a light on nuns’ struggle for justice and freedom
“Rebel Hearts” is an immensely satisfying experience for the viewer, especially for anyone who has chafed against the church’s powerful male hierarchy, but still yearned for belonging in its fold.
Posted inFaith, Film
The 8 best movies about nuns
Classic “nun movies” are awash in sentimentality and melodrama, barely scratching the surface of their protagonists’ inner lives. But Patricia Lawler Kenet writes that she could not get enough of them.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
I promised my husband we’d raise our daughter Jewish. Now I worry I’ve left her in limbo.
I don’t want my daughter to wonder whether she is half-Catholic and half-Jewish. I want her to feel complete.