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In Celtic spirituality, thin places are places where heaven and earth are close. These are the places where God's love breaks through so completely that we know we are loved. Thin places used to be an actual location to me. A sun dappled spot in the forest, the beach at sunset, or the place just… Continue reading thin places

It's the common refrain as we gather with friends, acquaintances, or even strangers. The season of stress is upon us and our hands are high in the air embracing the busy-ness in solidarity. Not this year, I say. Not again. This year, I'm determined my hand stays low. I'm tired of being tired from Thanksgiving… Continue reading hands up if you’re stressed

This is one of my busy times at work. My exhausting, everything seems to be culminating to these couple of weeks, busy times. A part of the natural ebb and flow of school life, I know to expect it every year, but it still leaves me with my body on the floor, while holding tight… Continue reading in the weeds

I quit the piano when I was in the 7th grade. You did too, right? I quit because the practicing was boring and difficult, and even when I thought I had done well, I would listen to the other students play at concerts and realize that my playing was inadequate. I slowly stopped practicing and… Continue reading i miss playing phantom of the opera

I lingered on the trail as the sound of my friend’s jaunty voices faded into the distance. We had been walking through dusty forests, unique to the California Sierras when, suddenly, a lush meadow opened up before us. My breath caught. My friends continued on, seeming not to notice the expansive beauty captured in the… Continue reading hello church

The day after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, I went to morning Mass. I arrived to a full parking lot, walking into the church just before the priest processed down the aisle. If you’ve ever attended daily Mass at a parish, you’ll understand the shock I felt as I was forced to squeeze… Continue reading in grief

Memento mori. Remember death. There is one sure thing we are guaranteed in this life, that eventually our life will end. Yet we walk this earth ignoring the inevitable will happen, daily trying to outlast death through achievements, records, children, prayer, anything that will keep us alive once we are gone. The other thing we… Continue reading memento mori

August 18, 2018 Most Reverend Thomas Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix, Most Reverend Eduardo A Nevaras, Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix, Greetings in Christ. Today I write to you out of deep concern regarding the horrors that were recently revealed by the Grand Jury in Pennsylvania. I am writing regarding two types of abuse, the abuse of… Continue reading letter to bishop

I am breathless. How could so many priests and bishops abuse so many children. How could they work together in the abuse itself and in covering up this great evil so thoroughly. What brings a man of God to such a place that they believe they are worthy of celebrating the sacrifice of the Mass… Continue reading broken trust

Is it because I'm older? Is that why I care more about elections than I used to? As much as I love learning about society and social trends, following politics has always given me a bit of a headache. So, although I have nearly always voted, I have not always voted with the necessary understanding… Continue reading heaven on earth