Below is a link to a talk I gave last Sunday at Our Lady of Lourdes in Minneapolis. It was the final talk in what turned out to be a 3-part series on ecclesial and American culture and the need for cultural transformation for both Church and society. I followed the path of Vatican II … Continue reading Healing a Wounded Church and Nation: Roadmap to Restoration

A former student of mine emailed me the other day to get my thoughts about the perennial question of God’s providence amidst the suffering of humanity. Suffering that has experienced a new breadth and depth in the midst of the pandemic. This former student is off the charts in her sense of justice and empathy … Continue reading The Providence of God and the Suffering of Humanity

One of the main dimensions of Catholic social teaching is the prophetic voice which names social sin and injustice on behalf of God and onto greater flourishing for those who are suffering. This aspect of the social gospel relates to the role of the prophet in Hebrew Scripture whose sacred task was to move God’s … Continue reading The Global Pandemic Reveals Structures of Sin and Systemic Injustice

In late January, friends from Minnesota were visiting me while I was on sabbatical in south Texas. After Mass and brunch, I took a long walk in the bright Texas sun. As I made my way back to the house my friend who was sitting on the porch alerted me to the news that Kobe … Continue reading The Fragility of Life and the Restorative Mission of Christ

Many of us are working off-site these days, with most evenings free. Those of you with families are trying to not kill each other while also being creative and collaborative. More than a few have taken to streaming tv shows and movies, but I would suggest that while it can be fun to take in … Continue reading Essential Reading for the Pandemic

The Catholic Church has experienced a prolonged crisis in its failure to protect children and in the cover-up and lack of accountability for bishops. There is much work to be done in righting the ship and in healing the Catholic communion, especially the pain of victim-survivors. In looking to the origins of the mistakes that … Continue reading Faith and Reason in a Time of Crisis – Lessons Learned for the Pandemic

A year ago today, parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes and friends were on pilgrimage in the Holy Land. It was a very moving trip for all who made the journey. Having studied in Jerusalem for three months in seminary and having traveled to the Holy Land on multiple occasions, I told our pilgrims that … Continue reading You Just Pray, I Will Turn the Page

My heart goes out to all those struggling in these challenging times, especially the elderly and those who are experiencing unhealth and anxiety as a result of the Coronavirus. Certainly, life as we know it has been significantly altered as a result of this global crisis. Notwithstanding the seriousness of this pandemic, our Catholic faith … Continue reading Wisdom for Challenging Times from the Catholic Tradition and the Great Saints of March