Laura Kelly Fanucci: The ones in the back of the church

When you are a parent, you clock many hours in the back of churches. Pacing with fussy babies. Corralling rambunctious toddlers. Calming down restless children.

April Parker: Take joy in the cleansing mystery of baptism

Catholic churches across the diocese brought in many new Catholics during the Easter season. Attending the Easter Vigil at my own church, I enjoyed seeing the excited smiles of each new Christian. It made me wish I could go back and relive my own baptism, to grasp the significance anew, to savor the mystery.

Sister Hosea Rupprecht: Pope Francis calls for wisdom in the face of AI

As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, it is worth reflecting on the words of Pope Francis in his message for World Communications Day. The pope addressed how much this new intelligence can offer to humanity, but also considered its downsides.

Dominican Father Patrick Briscoe: No, Richard Dawkins, cultural Christianity is not enough

In a striking turn of events, renowned atheist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins recently declared himself a “cultural Christian” during an interview with Rachel S. Johnson of LBC. Dawkins’ declaration was sparked by his reaction to the mayor of London’s decision to celebrate Ramadan with 30,000 lights on Oxford Street rather than Easter.

Effie Caldarola: Engage your faith this Eastertide

At Easter morning brunch, one of my daughters brought me a beautiful bouquet of tulips.

April Parker: Follow the example of Jesus, our model for obedience

The whole of Christ’s passion is obedience. It is obedience out of love – a love for the Father and love for us. Christ put the greatest trust in the Father’s plan for salvation. Abraham and Isaac were the forerunners of this great trust: Abraham in God, God in Abraham, and Isaac in Abraham.

Feel like a ‘throwaway’? Consider the peach tree

On the edge of my property a lone peach tree grows between the woods and the gravel drive. Years ago, someone probably finished eating a peach and carelessly tossed the pit out of their car window. With the dense undergrowth, the pit overcame insurmountable odds to sprout into a sapling and grow into a small tree.

Bishop Robert Barron: Society’s highest values came from Christianity

Tom Holland’s magnificent book “Dominion” develops in detail what amounts to a very simple proposition – namely, that Christianity is responsible for many of the central values we take for granted and assume to be universal. In point of fact, he says, our insistence on the dignity of the individual, fundamental human rights, the principle of equality and, perhaps above all, that the poor, the marginalized and the victimized ought to be specially cherished, flows from basic Christian convictions.