Using New Media to Promote Vocations; Horizon, National Religious Vocation Conference      Spring, 2010
In our work of promoting vocations, may we not be judged harshly that we were sent the capabilities to use social networking and the opportunity to produce and distribute freely our own blogs, websites, podcasts, and videos.   We have the opportunity to be a presence in the milieu of the next generation of disciples. more…

Praying Without Ceasing; Catholic Review     October 22, 2009
There have been a few instances where I had the honor and pleasure of seeing a sneak preview of a movie before it was released in theaters.  A few years back, one of those movies included “The Nativity Story.” The movie, of course, is the retelling of some of the earlier chapters of the Gospel of Luke where Mary and Joseph travel toward the Christmas moment of the birth of Christ. What was unique about that evening, however, was the audience. I sat in a theater full of Catholic bishops who had been especially invited to the preview. more…

I Dare You to Do Better; Catholic Review    May 21, 2009
I dare you to do better. As the older generation passing along the baton in what are clearly difficult times, it is easy to send the young generation forth with our apologies for the present challenges. This does not serve them well.
We should not only caution young people about the need to risk failure. They need to also hear of our anticipations of their successes. I dare you to do better. more…

We’re All in This Together; Catholic Review   November 7, 2008
Question: What do the economy, the presidential election and “High School Musical” all have in common? Answer: We are all in this together. more…

The Public Life of Jesus Christ   Catholic Review   February 22, 2008
Our faith, however, does not call us to be celebrities of our own little universes. Our Catholic faith demands that we live lives that are worth being celebrated. Those who are celebrities have an impact that is very short­-lived.  A celebrated life can make a difference for  a lifetime, for generations. Throughout the public life of Jesus, he chose to live a life worth celebrating. Jesus Christ never opted to become a superstar.  more… 

Called To Discipleship   January, 2008
Authored portions of Harcourt’s innovative and comprehensive on-line resource for high-school adolescent catechesis.

I’ve Got Nothing June 28, 2007
Today, I’ve got nothing to write about.  “Writer’s Block”, blogging fatigue, author anxiety, call it whatever – fact is … I’ve got nothing. Just to let you know, I have taken some immediate steps.  First off, I have admitted that I do have a problem. more…

Extra Ordinary Time June 6, 2007
With last weekend’s celebration of Pentecost, our liturgical calendar has entered into Ordinary Time. The name corresponds to the Latin term Tempus per annum (literally “time through the year”). The term Ordinary does not mean common or plain, but is derived from the term ordinal or “numbered.”  more…

Memorial Day May 17, 2007
Memorial Day reminds us of the fragility of our life, the challenges of peace, and the sacrifices necessary for democracy and human rights.  It is a day of remembrance. Our faith is a faith of remembrance.  Sacrifice has been offered on our behalf of our sinfulness. Our Eucharist is a celebration of the memorial of Christ, of his life, of his death, of his Resurrection, and of his intercession in the presence of the Father.  more…

Ever Heard of Bub from Bethsaida? May 2, 2007
Bub was so impressed with the Lord that day that he decided to emulate the Master. . . Bub Gong used all the technology of the day available to a spiritual guru.  Yet, you never heard of him.  Bub was doing all the right things, yet seemed to have no disciples or evangelists to carry on the message. Where did Bub go wrong? more…

The Power of Weeeeee  April 19, 2007
Never a fan of heights but impressed by the vista before me, there was but one response to share with my two elevator companions at that moment. I raised my hands above my head and exclaimed, “Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!”  more…

Forty Days and a Starting Point March 26, 2007
Change and conversion take time.  New habits and behaviors and reforming negative thoughts grow from a pattern of repeated actions that must occur over days and weeks before they truly take hold. In the wisdom of our faith tradition, we have been given the forty days of Lent. more…

The Discomfort of Salvation March 14, 2007
“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” – Philippians 2:12. I have just returned from a four hour visit to the Emergency Room.  There is not a break in my rib-cage as I suspect with each deep breathe, just a contusion that will likely remain painful for a while longer.  It all started two weeks ago in a parking garage.  more…

What Denomination is Eric Camden?  February 28, 2007
What denomination is Eric Camden? And does it really matter? I recently attended a second in a series of meetings of church professionals on the “faith identity” of their organization… In all their talk of faith identity, here were words that were not used in the conversation: God, Jesus, Spirit, Creator, Lord. more…

Wilson is Not Enough February 14, 2007
If trapped alone on a deserted island, not unlike Tom Hanks in Castaway, a solitary volleyball would never be enough for her.  She stated that she would have had to have given names and personalities to not only Wilson the Volleyball, but also Raphael the FedEx package with wings, and Rocky I, II, and III to the larger stones on the beach.  And that would have been just for starters. more…

Would Jesus be in MySpace  National Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders News February 9, 2007
The “I am the news” philosophy conflicts with the message of the single, 33-year old Capricorn from Nazareth who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” The internet offers many wonderful possibilities in assisting us with the responsibility to share the “Good News.” Our call to discipleship demands that we must work towards transforming the “MySpaces” of our lives into “HisSpace.”  more…

godisnowhere  Catholic Review   November 7, 2006
“Moralistic Therapeutic Deism” professes a general confession to a “whatever” God by individually “doing good” within a relativistic society without specific adhesion to a centuries-old creed or community. Dr. Christian Smith, lead investigator for the NSYR, has said, “The vast majority of teens who call themselves Christians haven’t been well educated in religious doctrine and therefore don’t really know what they believe. With all the competing demands on their time, religion becomes a low priority, and so they practice their faith in shallow ways.”  more…

Virtuous Reality Catholic Review   March 16, 2006
It would be negligent for a mother or father to not properly equip our young people for the real world out there. As parents, we must now also prepare them for all the potential risks and snares found online. Our own technological illiteracy will not serve as a valid justification to disregard these important life skills for our children.  Young people must recognize that they have the support of their parents in pursuing a “virtuous reality” in the “virtual reality” of the Internet. How can this be achieved?  more… 

True Love Waits  NFCYM, January 17, 2006
The Catholic Church places a high value on sexual intimacy and holds everyone to a high moral and spiritual standard in using God’s gift of sexuality. The church’s “purpose is not to make us nervous, to quench love with cautiousness, or to stifle spontaneity but to help us to be open and free.”  more… 

The Real Thing at Christmastime  Catholic Review   December 22, 2005
They are simple little words, each evolving after the other with just the slightest change of a letter. They are: Give. Live. Love. Could Coke be onto something here? more…

The NDC: Right Living, Right Believing  NFCYM Connections     May 18, 2005
This is an opportunity to reconsider and re-evaluate: to take a more critical look and assess what is working well in passing on the faith, and what is not. The field of youth ministry has a wealth of foundational documents that guide and shape us in living out the vision and passing on the faith. Each of us must ask, how well are we living up to this heritage and the challenge of apprenticing young people in the faith? more…

On the Sins of Youth and Execution  Catholic Review, March 15, 2005
How much does society foster maturity and social responsibility in young people.  There is support for the irresponsible antics such as those of Paris Hilton or Nicole Ritchie. more…

Old Man and the See  YouthWorker, November 11, 2004
It’s the discipline of stick-to-itiveness which makes this spirituality into something which aspires for the extraordinary.” Maybe Dory says it best in Finding Nemo, “Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.”  more…

Spider-Man Spins a Vocation Lesson  Catholic Review, July 28, 2004
The Auntie Mae character states it all the best when she reminds Peter that she believes “that there is a hero in all of us. There is something that gives us strength, makes us noble. Even though, sometimes, we have to give up the thing we want the most.  more…  

The Dust from Our Feet  YouthWorker, July, 2004
The world is filled with those who remain disconnected by rudeness, selfishness, temper, and hurt. Our world needs bridges. As messengers of the Gospel, we’re to be bridges built with the spirit, faith, and peace of the Lord.  more… 

Following Jesus, Not the Adrenaline  YouthWorker, 2003
These are moments when our work is an adrenaline rush and our ministry is high adventure—all without taking risks greater than trusting ourselves and the patience of the senior pastor. We’ve all been there. We anticipate, almost lust for, the next experience of glory. (Look, Ma, I’m published in Youthworker!) more…

Teaching Chastity to Middle Schoolers  YouthWorker, 2003
When addressing sexuality, let us begin with the end in mind.
As ministers, we desire to participate with the Spirit in forming happy adults who are satisfied with their lives, including their sexual lives, within loving, committed relationships built on faith. In this context, there is no room to frame sex and sexuality as the “forbidden fruit” for which paradise might be forfeited. If sexuality is to be presented as fruit to middle schoolers, it must be in the context of roadside produce that is a wonderful gift from God, but one that remains to be fully ripened at this time.

The Next “Great Generation”  National Conference of Diocesan Vocations Directors News      April 15, 2002
They are a “Real World” crowd hoping to be a “Survivor” by capitalizing on effective relationships to overcome challenges and to succeed.     more…

Don’t Let Your Daughters Become Princesses  Catholic Review, September 17, 1997
I hope my daughters find that there is more to life than being a graceful princess. I pray that they will grow into grace-filled blessed women.  more…

What Valentine’s Day Means  Catholic Review, February 14, 1996
Our young people, however, deserve a new vision. As we reassess our stories of postive virtues and heroic icons, it may be time to do the same for Valentine’s Day.  more…

How It Feels  April 9, 1995
Reality includes more, much more.  It is that more – the challenge and joy of community life – that the village would like youth to explore.  Yes, we village adults need to be better in communicating what “more” is available  for our children’s fuller perception of reality.  more…

Why use these pictures?  February 21, 1995 
If area young people employed a public relations professional, I would be demanding his/her resignation right now.  more…