Volume I, Issue III
Firefighting and Being Pro Life
By Mike Mezzapelle I have found that firefighting is one of the most dangerous and rewarding occupations one can have because of the training and life-saving experiences that it has afforded me. Aside from the thrill of facing actual emergencies and saving lives, the parades and other events that firefighters coordinate and carry out are […]
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A Response to the “New Norm”
By Anthony Carona Merely a generation ago, the idea of homosexual couples raising children was unheard of. Now, in film and television broadcasting, audiences are presented with gay couples lovingly raising children of their own just like, or even better than, any traditional family. This is indicative of a national, if not global, mood which […]
“Sometimes the Lord Does Not Send Children”
Pastoral Care of Infertile Married Couples By Rev. Frank Donio On June 2nd of this year, Pope Francis gave a short homily during his usual daily Mass that made news around the world. He spoke about childless couples – that is, those who are childless by choice – who are more comfortable to “have a […]
The Beauty of Love
By Maria Rodriquez Do you sense in our culture, a humdrum and neutral view of sexuality, halting its possibility of growth, because this view sees it only as instinct? Soon-to-be Saint John Paul II emphasized the gift of self as the center of love. This involves a decision: a decision to give. In that gift, […]
Leisure, a Good Problem for Mothers
By Marcie Stokman “Women will increasingly play a part in the solution of the serious problems of the future…” Yes, I nodded as I read the late Pope John Paul’s “Letter to Women.” Then I was baffled. The first serious problem listed that women will help solve is ‘leisure time.’ How is leisure time a […]
Adoption in the Family
The Story of Sage Marie Simpson By Louis Simpson My sister, Sage Marie Simpson, is a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing blessing for our household. I was around 5-and-a-half when I first heard rumors that our family would be graced with her amazing presence at home. When you’re this old, you don’t fully understand what it […]
Hidden From the Learned
By Monsignor Thomas J. Richter, Rector of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bismarck, ND His name is Andy. He’s my brother. He has Down’s Syndrome. He is not Down’s Syndrome, as it is often said; rather, he has Down’s Syndrome. In the same way that people are not cancer, they have cancer, Andy […]
Fathers and Life
The Significance of a Father Figure By Timothy B. Noone, Ph.D For many of us, growing up with a father is a normal part of life; our fathers are (or were) always there and, frankly, we take them too often for granted. The presumption on our part is easily seen if we consider President Barack […]
Figures of Christ
A Personal Perspective of Down Syndrome By Peter Kuebler and Derek Kuebler The Misconceptions of Down Syndrome How often is the word “retard” carelessly used to insult another person? Typically, the intent of such an insult is to imply dull wits or poor judgment. Although this belittling of a person is not right in any […]
Children of God, Family in God
The Value of People with Intellectual Disabilities By Kaitlyn Feeley A person’s value to modern society is mostly dependent on two major factors: intellect and efficiency. Whoever can do the best work in the fastest amount of time gets the best job, the highest salary, the prestige. When someone has a disability beyond his or […]
Chaplain’s Corner: The Priest and the Family
By Fr. Jude DeAngelo, OFM Conv. Years ago the word “family” (regardless of specific or personal situations) was generally understood to refer to one father, one mother, and children. That is simply not everyone’s experience today. Cultural images and lived experiences self-validate the modern American family’s composition, which ranges from grandparents raising their grandchildren in […]
The Crosier 