A Plea for Parishes
The spiritual life of the ordinary Catholic in America is fed by the ordinary Catholic parish in America. What nourishes the life of that parish?
The Problem of Powerless Parishes
The typical Catholic parish does little to lead souls to heaven. It is powerless to protect against the temptations of this world. Putting your trust in it risks your children’s salvation.
On the Legitimacy of “Parish Tasting”
Is it okay to engage in “parish tasting?” Or should we stick with our local parish, no matter what?
Permanent Assignments for Parish Priests Long Overdue
Papa was a rolling stone. Wherever he laid his hat was his home. ~ The Temptations Efforts must be made to restore socially the conviction that the place and task of the father in and for the family is of unique and irreplaceable importance. ~ Pope St. John Paul II I’m a rotten dad, but … Read more
Advice to a Young Priest
The illusion of one being perpetually young was shattered in my case recently when a publishing firm asked me to write some advice to a young priest from the perspective of an elder. For me, youth was a permanent state. I was the very youngest in my college class and, in my Anglican years, at … Read more
Making Parishes Personal
My family and I live in what many Catholics would consider a suburban “sweet spot”—smack between four Catholic churches placed conveniently to the north, south, east and west of us, with the farthest being only a three-mile drive away. Ironically, perhaps, this farthest one, the one to the west, is also our territorial parish. Ideally, … Read more
Pokémon Go Is the Least of My Parish’s Problems
A couple weeks ago as my wife and I approached the entry doors to our parish’s “Gathering Space,” which leads to the church proper, the parish social hall, and the parish offices, we couldn’t help but notice the signs that were prominently placed on all the doors: “Please refrain from playing Pokémon Go while inside … Read more