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Sacraments
The day I yelled at God, His answer brought me to tears
by Tom Hoopes The day I learned the power of the cross, I was unemployed and desperate. More than desperate, I was panicked and near despair. I had been looking for work in Washington, D.C., for weeks, and every promising lead had…
The Priest and his Padre
It’s just after 5 p.m. and the parishioners are filing out of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Parish in Windham, Maine, following the Saturday Vigil Mass. As they go through the church doors, Fr. Lou Phillips is waiting to greet them.…
Catholic jargon 101
Many years ago I edited a book titled Now That You Are Catholic by Fr. John J. Kenny, an introduction to Catholic customs for the newly initiated. While the book offered great advice for Catholic neophytes, it did not touch on the many…
Living with and praying for your non-Catholic spouse
June is a big month for weddings. For those of us planning to marry or are already married to non-Catholic spouses, the journey often ends up more difficult than we could have imagined. Once upon a time, Catholics were usually expected to…
Prayers for priests, deacons
Prayer for newly ordained priests O Jesus, our great High Priest, hear our humble prayers on behalf of your priests, Father ___. Give them a deep faith, a bright and firm hope, and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of…
Wine leads to God?
Years ago I was working as a wine manager for a large wine retailer. One of my main responsibilities was to teach the salespeople at my location how to sell wine that would yield the highest margin of profit for our company. It was both…
Tips to make going to confession seem less intimidating
Let’s face it, there are plenty of us who could stand to go to confession more often. And we have a duty to receive the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. According to the Church’s command, “after having attained the age of…
Answering God’s Call in the Second Half of Life
Looking back, Fr. Philip Luebbert, 63, had always known that God was calling him to the priesthood, but health problems and indecision amidst a rapidly changing Church delayed his ordination until the age of 60. Fr. Luebbert…
It takes three to get married … literally
Living in today’s culture and wanting anything lasting can feel like a movie that should star Tom Cruise, #MissionImpossible. In today’s generation, hookups, cohabitation, and swiping left or right are in superabundance, while…
Five Scripture verses about the Eucharist
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) is June 18 this year. Many parishes will host Corpus Christi processions. In Rome, Pope Francis will celebrate a 7 p.m. Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran;…