It was a Sunday afternoon when my eldest daughter, Ella, came upstairs to tell me in a worried voice, “Grandpa says he’s going to town. I told him that it was too dangerous, but he won’t listen to me.” I went downstairs dreading a…

In 2009, I was introduced to the Marian devotion of Our Lady Undoer of Knots when I was given an assignment to write about this little-known devotion. Discovering Our Lady Undoer of Knots was the answer to a prayer I had to made for help in…

One Sunday after Mass, Lisa Penzkover from Caldwell, Idaho, was discussing the topic of pro-life fairs with some parishioners when she mentioned how she thought it would be important to include a foster care booth. Penzkover says, “They…

When I was a kid, growing up on a farm in northern Iowa, we had a plump, white and shades of brown English shepherd dog named “Pup” — later called “Old Pup” when she started getting on in years. She was a gentle and helpful beloved family…

by Lori Hadacek Chaplin This is a story of great longing and suffering, but it’s also one of hope. In Catholic musician Jaime Thietten’s 2012 album, Love Along The Way, she recorded a Kellie Coffey song called “I Would Die For That.” It’s a…

BY LORI HADACEK CHAPLIN Too little is said about all the good things priests do for their flocks. When our youngest was facing a serious surgery and when my parents were sick and dying from cancer, it was our pastors to whom we turned for…

BY LORI HADACEK CHAPLIN I’ll never forget the day I found out about Claire Bott’s act of bravery. I was substitute teaching for her at her First Communion class when I casually asked the teacher’s aide the reason for Claire’s absence. I was…

BY LORI HADACEK CHAPLIN We Catholics know the value of not only praying with our minds, hearts, and lips, but also with our whole bodies— kneeling, standing, bowing, and crossing ourselves. Creating sacred art is another — albeit more…

BY LORI HADACEK CHAPLIN Years ago, I heard Catholic psychologist Ray Guarendi on his radio show, The Doctor Is In, encouraging listeners to do something substantial for Lent. His words reminded me that I had felt God nudging me to attend…