I tend to blame some of my less desirable attributes—my too-big feet, my sad excuse for an immune system—on genetics, that unique combination of traits I received from my parents. While in some regards it seems to me I wet my toes in the shallow end of the gene pool, I did make off with
Generation Faith
Padre’s Portrait: Through suffering we are made to be saints.
Among the ever-growing pile of books in my room is a small compilation of quotations from the great St. Pio of Pietrelcina, often called Padre Pio. It is meant for daily meditation during Lent, but I find myself flipping through its pages at every season of the year, looking for something fitting fo
In His Time: Navigating the uncertainty of college life
My whole life was planned out when I stepped onto campus my freshman year. Although I was undeclared, I knew I wanted to major in education and graduate in four years, no more, no less. I was not exactly excited to be starting college, but I was excited to eventually become a teacher. In short, I kn
Lift Me Up: Our faith means we must count one another.
I opened the letter to find a Post-it note stuck to a magazine article: “You could do this.” And that is why I am writing this. Let me explain.There are few things one can count on in life. For the lucky ones these things include family, friends and the chance to spend time working towar
Winter’s Thaw: Warming up to a strange new city
On Jan. 3, 2014, the air temperature in Minneapolis—without wind chill—was 10 degrees below zero—“good sleeping weather,” as we hardy Minnesotans like to say. Indeed, it was. I was thoroughly enjoying each night I spent burrowed under down feathers and fleece, warmed by
Wisdom of the Ages: Lessons from living with retired clergy
With great trepidation I asked permission to sit at the breakfast table with the Rev. Desmond J. Regan, a man more than six feet tall with a thick waft of shock white hair perfectly combed to one side—no trace of a receding hair line—as he sat with one hand clutching a mug of black coffe
Hot Dog Hospitality: Seeking solidarity on the streets of Chicago
My paternal grandmother, Ruth, was the incarnation of hospitality for me throughout my childhood. As a perpetually hungry growing boy—eager for every fat, carb and casserole laced with cream of mushroom soup I could get my hands on—I developed a deep appreciation for Ruth’s talent
God’s Architecture: Seeing his work in all things
Antoni Gaudí designed a church, La Sagrada Familia, that only the Creator of the world could inspire.
In God’s Country: Diving headfirst into college life
Diving headfirst into college life at Wyoming Catholic.
Finding My Foundation: Faith, doubt and growing up
In school, thinking ‘I don’t know’ if God is real seemed like an admission of failure.
