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Visit Catholic shrines close to home in the U.S.
When we think “Catholic pilgrimage” our minds often go big — to places like Jerusalem or Rome, Lourdes, or Fatima. As amazing as those would be, traveling that far isn’t always an option. Thankfully, there are amazing Catholic sites we can…
The Catholic heart of Croatia
Fr. Petar Brezarić didn’t know what to make of the mysterious woman who approached him during Sunday Mass. Clad in blue and carrying a candle, she asked that he and his parishioners of Sts. Peter and Paul, a church in the village of…
Making sense of Medjugorje
I woke on Sunday morning to an influx of social media notifications and texts. A statement about Medjugorje was proclaimed in the parish church of St. James in the remote Bosnian town. Videos people sent me were not in English and not…
The Scala Sancta and the holy doors of Rome
I was blessed to be able to travel to Rome during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. My friend Elisa and I decided to embark on a pilgrimage during my stay, climbing the Scala Sancta (Sacred Steps) and visiting each of the four holy doors…
Sedona’s Chapel of the Holy Cross draws all to Christ
About two hours north of Phoenix on Arizona Highway 179 lies some of God’s very best handiwork. Sedona in Arizona’s high desert country is situated at the mouth of spectacular Oak Creek Canyon and is known for its myriad hiking trails and…
Lessons Mary taught at Champion
It’s been a month now since the children or grandchildren in your life have gone back to school. Whether it’s their grammar-school, primary-school, high-school, or college years, they are sitting in classrooms and receiving instruction. …
Preserving closed churches and the sacred
In the early 2000s, the Diocese of Buffalo closed more than 70 churches. For the most part this was because of the demographics that the Rust-Belt see had experienced. While old, beautiful, immigrant churches had been built in downtown…
Our Lady of Knock: The power of a mother’s silence
In Knock, Ireland, the Mother of God appeared in a simple but profound way. It was the evening of Aug. 21, 1879, when she appeared to 15 people on the wall of a parish church. Accompanying Mary was St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, and a…
Meet the only Roman Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence
For Americans, the signing of the Declaration of Independence is one of the best-known events in the history of our country. Various signers have gone on to become national heroes and champions of democracy worldwide, such as Thomas…
Catholic treasures of Switzerland
Say “Switzerland,” and you’re more likely to think of mountain chalets than historic cathedrals. However, the country has many Catholic treasures worth visiting. Though the Reformation had a strong impact here, many parts of the country…
