Revised and updated from the original posted November 1, 2013: November 1 begins the unofficial “All Saints Octave”: the eight days of November 1 to November 8. Each day of the “octave” one can earn a plenary indulgence for the souls in Purgatory. A visit to the cemetery...

Ash Wednesday is only nine days away. It feels unusual to not have any days of Lent falling in February, but Easter Sunday can fall in the wide range of dates from March 22 to April 25, meaning Ash Wednesday can be as early as February 4 and as late as March 10. A Lent-free February does happen...

The holiest week of the Year began on Palm Sunday, and now we have reached the Triduum. This is still a year of adjustment working in the new school, so I know I say it every year, this year feels even more behind than usual. It’s so helpful for me to look at the plans from previous years. I...

I’m finally finding some time to review a few books. First up are the saint biographies by Meg Hunter-Kilmer, illustrated by Lindsey Sanders and printed by Emmaus Road Publishing of the St. Paul Center. First, her larger book Saints Around the World (size 8 x 10 inches, 212 pages)...

During the week Pope Francis died, I was quite moved when reading the sign outside a local United Methodist Church: “Praying for Our Catholic Siblings.” How beautiful that they recognized the enormity of our Catholic current events—the sudden loss of Pope Francis, and now we are...

This past Saturday I was invited to have coffee with some CGS catechist friends. I had a mile-long to-do list and my introverted self just wanted to remain cozy at home, but I decided it was important to reconnect. I am so glad I made that effort. It was so good to be with my friends. We have...

Even though the Solemnity of St. Joseph was earlier this month, I didn’t want to let another year pass without writing about St. Joseph’s feast day. The whole month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph, so I’m giving myself a grace period. St. Joseph is everyone’s patron...