Horizons - Much of our life-long religious formation ingrains in us that Christians are called to be countercultural, and we have a lot of work to do in order to evangelize the culture like Pope Francis invites. But, if we are disciples of Jesus Christ, then our countercultural actions must be guided by how he sent us into the world to witness and proclaim the Gospel.

"Who writes a biography about a nun? Can you think of anything duller?" Benedictine Sr. Joan Chittister posed these questions at an Oct. 6 event marking the publication of the new biography Joan Chittister: Her Journey from Certainty to Faith (Orbis Books). Those in attendance at the book launch at Boston's Pucker Gallery could not have disagreed with Chittister more.

"The glory yet to be revealed comes in the dying."

See for Yourself - The conference room was filling up and I took a seat next to Doug, a leadership colleague I’ve known for years. He was struggling to maneuver with his left hand, including opening his laptop and getting his meeting materials organized in front of him. His right hand sported a bulky, mitten-style bandage. What if our urgency to love could be more immediate than bleeding?

Pope Francis is called the "people's pope," and with good reason: He appeals to all people, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. The whole United States seemed to be agog with his September visit to our country, and I was no exception. Like a puppy, I followed him, visiting Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; and New York during the days of his U.S. tour.

"One of the things I appreciate very much being in the synod is the universality — the whole world is there," Sr. Carmen Sammut says. "The groups are made up to have very big differences, to have very different backgrounds."

The rapidly growing Houston archdiocese, now the fifth-largest in the country, offers a wide variety of programs to help immigrants shift their focus from physical survival to their economic and emotional well-being. 

Three Stats and a Map - This past Saturday was World Day Against the Death Penalty. The day has special significance this year for Catholics, because earlier this year Pope Francis issued his most forceful call yet to abolish the practice, which he says is inconsistent with the Catholic Church’s pro-life values.

Simply Spirit - "What is needed now . . . is a gospel-inspired boldness that refuses to be silent and speaks out in a strong, loving voice to call the church to justice."  So spoke Sheila Peiffer quoting the late Bill Callahan when she introduced a panel presentation Survivor Justice and Ending Violence Against Women, at the Women's Ordination Worldwide conference last month.

"Our present human community is hungering for transcendence, to evolve to a new level of life that is more unified, peaceful and collaborative. Instead we find ourselves in the church spending an inordinate amount of time and money trying to preserve ancient rituals and tradition."