Columns

Given the situation in Palestine and Israel, Sr. Magda Bennásar argues that the God of one religion is not different from that of the other. The Spirit of God is "one" and makes us "one." The three religions present in the place of conflict (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) are the religions of the "book," she argues.

Receiving the prestigious People's Choice SDGs Award for our regenerative agriculture project was an exceptional experience of communion for us, not only in Kenya, but the entire St. Joseph of Tarbes family.

Scripture for Life: The reign of God describes a web of relationships that continually grows, drawing more and more people into unity with God and neighbor — and with all of creation.

The new year depends less on me and more on God. I won't resolve to do things, but I can open my eyes to see and my ears to hear, and live by a different set of rules — much like how I did as a new driver in Ireland.

St. Hildegard of Bingen and St. Teresa of Ávila both worked for reform in contexts of moral corruption and laxity. Their teachings on prayer and other topics are relevant for all times, including our polarized era.

Sr. Carmen Notario draws parallels between the biblical story of Hannah and modern challenges faced by women religious, examining the interplay of personal transformation and structural changes within the church.

"Religious life is a total gift of oneself and a journey toward becoming a genuine Christian," writes Sr. Josephine Gouba, a Sister of the Immaculate Conception from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. 

Book bans taking place in some communities do not stop serious readers from deciding what they will read, writes Sr. Margaret Cessna. She shares lessons she has learned from banned books. 

Scripture for Life: From Samuel to Jesus and the disciples, it's all about looking, listening and hearing, attitudes that lead to discovering who we are and are called to be. It's all about vocation: seeking and listening.

Horizons - The scary part of yes is that it is a leap of faith; you really have no idea what God will do with your yes. Will it lead to something else, to a closed door, or to something completely different?

By advocating blessings for same-sex couples, Pope Francis revisits the vision of Vatican II, which envisaged the new church as the "magisterium of the poor" at the margins. 

We need leaders with a certain depth, who listen to the call of their people. To lead is indeed a call. It is to enter into the deep pain of human suffering with deeper solidarity. It is to lead with one's life.

A women's group in the Paco area of Metro Manila participated in a Good Shepherd development project this past year. As I journey with them, they are witnesses to me that God is our only refuge and hope.

Hearts need healing, not just after physical cardiac events. We've all been there, feeling not quite right on an emotional, psychological, mental, physical or spiritual level.

During a visit to a prison in Peru, Sr. Begoña Costillo discovered how the Gospel came to life behind bars and offered hope and liberation to those who seek conversion, healing and redemption. 

Ecological consciousness is a journey that happens from the inside out. Something must change in what people believe about themselves and their relationship to others and the planet. 

May we each have graced moments on whatever stoop we choose — to listen to the sidewalk prophets, to ponder the things of life and to remember who we are and what we stand for. 

The end of a year and the beginning of a new one naturally leads to self-reflection, with a concurrent desire to improve one's life. I'll admit this is true in my own life.

Another year begins. Time for New Year's resolutions. Can we remember what last year's good intentions were? Maybe yes, and we are delighted. Maybe no, and those intentions are consigned to a museum, so to speak.

The question is this: Have we who are believers forgotten the Holy One and in doing so, have we forgotten who we truly are?