By following the Liturgy of Domestic Church Life we are able to implement simple, achievable practices that help us practice our baptismal mission to be priests, prophets and royals, both at home and in the world.

I asked my fellow Gen-Xers on staff to reflect on this trend, and what may be contributing to it.

A Reflection for the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, by Sebastian Gomes

Dr. Edward Eismann structured Unitas around surrogate families—groups of teens and younger children assigned to care for each other in cascading mentorship that also supported birth families. As they spoke at the funeral home, those who had grown up in Unitas testified to its profound influence in their life.

In times of reflection, when Francis of Assisi asked himself what would be the most important qualities for his followers to have, he would focus on one or another of the brothers who were already by his side. I, too, have a list of virtues that I prize. Mine, however, is a list of what I want to see in those I have to deal with when I am trying to get things done.

Preparations for the upcoming Synod have prompted an important question: How might the local church of the United States become a powerful witness of the good news amid cries for racial healing and justice?