The Public Life of Jesus Christ   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 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  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 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  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  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  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  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  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  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  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…

The Next “Great Generation”  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  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  February 14, 1996
Our young people, however, deserve a new vision. As we reassess our storiesof 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…

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