Category: General

COVID has brought me some clarity. One of my words for 2024.  I went down hard on Monday, January 15 with my second bout of COVID. It has taken me literally every ounce of energy to keep up with my job. As a virtual teacher, one of the amazing benefits is it is flexible, and it is…
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As (some) Christians celebrated the Epiphany this past weekend and we close out our Christmas celebration of Jesus, the Light, coming into this wonderful broken world, I am reminded that the Magi did not put periods on their journey—they were open to commas. I am reminded of the Clash’s song, should I stay, or should…
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The theme of solidarity runs throughout Roy Bourgeois’ new autobiographical book Male Supremacy in the Catholic Church – An Insider’s View. The short memoir is about “confronting ignorance—my own, that of my country, and that of my church.”For many NWNC readers, Bourgeois’ story is familiar. A longtime friend of WOC, many will have read an…
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“Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression,” was written by bell hooks in her book called Feminism is For Everybody. She elaborates on the question regarding the definition of feminism. “What is feminism?” has been a question that many have answered, yet many answer from their own perspective. Feminism takes into…
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It is Holy Week. Throughout the world people are in processions. Some are participating in religious traditions; some are marching for their lives. Some begin in Palm Sunday joy and end in Good Friday grief; others begin in terror and grief and end in, if not joy, then at least safety and welcome. Still others…
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Those with roots in Europe may be more concerned about Ukraine than the Catholic press seems to be here. After all, we’re a lot further from the fighting and the sanctions. For example, in London The Tablet seems to devote its whole print issue to the crisis. The summaries of two articles intrigue me: “Robert…
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Isn’t this painting magnificent? Artist Bryn Gillette sweeps us into the swirl of life surrounding women who are with child. Out of whirlpools of love and suffering and chaos, they are bringing forth new life in all its variety, in all its sweetness, in all its hues and tints and tones, in all its depth…
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Annunciation Even if I don’t see it again—nor ever feel it I know it is—and that if once it hailed me it ever does— And so it is myself I want to turn in that direction not as towards a place, but it was a tilting within myself, as one turns a mirror to flash…
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Casey Cep wrote that line in a book review for the New Yorker, and it jumped right out of context and into my consciousness. In fact, I read that line soon after returning from the Catholics Organized for Renewal witness and march at the Baltimore U.S. Bishops’ conference. We walked the chilly streets chanting “Bread…
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I’m sure he meant it as a wonderfully comforting image when Matthew Gambino in CatholicPhilly.com, the site offering “news from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia” described our synodal path together: “This synod is a seat at the kitchen table, set with fresh bread and hot coffee. It’s a shady path down which we walk with a…
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