When my grown daughter let me know how my words had impacted her, I regretted every time I said something negative about my body, not realizing the harm I was imprinting on my perfectly made young girls.

The sacrament of confirmation is the pathway to an adult faith life for young people. As their teachers, it is our job to help today’s confirmation class students meet and love Jesus and live his Gospel. But our job today poses unique challenges.

At the beginning of Lent, America asked a 5th-grade teacher to share what her students would be doing, or giving up, for Lent. Their responses reveal the joys and struggles of the Lenten season.

One study showed Catholics donated the least amount of money of all denominations surveyed.

For Orthodox Christians, Lazarus Saturday, with its brightly colored vestments, its relaxation of fasting and its little sweet-smelling pastries, is a joyful time.

My trip was short but introduced me to faithful people, powerful history and a beautiful land.