by Joan Mitchell, CSJ On October 21, 2012, the Catholic Church canonized the first Native American saint. Her own people, the Mohawks, the People of the Longhouse, called the new saint many names. Her family called her Tekakwitha, She Who Moves Slowly, probably because of her poor vision. Kateri, or Katherine, is the name she […]
Kateri Tekakwitha: First Native American Saint Read More »
Hildegard was only five years old in 1098 when her parents brought her, their tenth child, to the monastery of St. Disibode. A holy woman named Jutta took the little girl in and taught her Latin and music so she could sing the psalms with the monks and nuns. Jutta also taught Hildegard everything she knew about
Tiny Retreat – Hildegard of Bingen, Patron Saint of Green and Growing Read More »
Who do you say that I am?” Jesus finally calls the question in Sunday’s gospel. It has been building for eight chapters in Mark’s gospel, although the omniscient narrator lets us in on the answer in chapter one, verse one — Jesus is the messiah, the Son of God. The disciples are the people whom
Jesus’ disciples face a turning point. Read More »
Artists find having Mary, or Jesus in his ascension, rise through glorious clouds quite irresistible. But now that planes, space stations, and giant telescopes have tamed the skies, we envision heaven not so much in the clouds but as communion in God, a lasting relationship. At death we step into mystery, into faith and promise.
Mary gives hope a human face. Read More »
For the Jews in Sunday’s gospel Jesus is way out of line when he identifies himself as bread come down from heaven. They murmur and question how he can say such things. My mother and I murmured and questioned each other for a long time. Her murmuring against me began when I started going to
Sharing Life Experience Read More »
by Chris Tures Culture shock set in my first day of high school. I drifted in the floods of new faces — all unrecognizable. And girls. So many new girls. I came from a small, Catholic grade school. My eighth grade class had only 31 kids. It was a very closed environment; we had to
Nice Guys Finish Last….Sort Of. Read More »
Where do we stand when Jesus is crucified? The scene on Good Friday is recreated around us in small ways every day. When someone at school is ridiculed, hurt or excluded, what do we do? Do we help pound in the nails? Stand in the crowd and jeer? Walk on by, pretending not to see?
Who does Jesus stand by? Read More »
An interview with Joan Mitchell, CSJ To get to Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Victor Mendoza drives down the Interstate in Minneapolis past the Twins’ Target Field and past the Basilica of St. Mary. Victor got his license the day school started this year. His high school has a special Hire4work program that introduces students
When I was little, I used to pray that I would be a great saint. When Advent rolled around, I listened intently to this Sunday’s reading about the angel coming to Mary. I asked God to make me a faithful servant, to let me be a highly-favored daughter of God. “Let me be special, too,”
We are God’s home. Read More »
by Vicki Tamoush It took a split second for my life to change forever. On November 11, at 5:41 p.m., I was the Old Vicki. And at 5:42 I became someone entirely different. The car that hit me was out of control. Neighbors who knew the driver said she has lost custody of her child
To Roll the Stone Away Read More »
