Asylum and helping the ‘Refugee on the Threshold’ April 6, 2024By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Books, Commentary In “Refugee on the Threshold,” Timothy Leacock tells of the long and harrowing journey of a Somalian man whose life was threatened by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab after he applied for a government job.
Angels and ecumenism March 19, 2024By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations If you’re of an older generation, you may remember being taught that no one got to heaven outside the Catholic Church. Fortunately, the Second Vatican Council helped us get over this narrow approach to God’s mercy.
Looking for signs and Nineveh March 5, 2024By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Commentary It takes spiritual maturity to become the sign rather than, like a hopeful child, demanding one.
Elmo and the challenge of Lent February 16, 2024By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Lent Maybe it’s my turn to think of someone each day to turn to and say, “Just checking in. How are you doing?”
The poor you have always with you February 1, 2024By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Social Justice Somewhere in your community, there is a chance to be present to those who struggle.
Of worrying and wild things January 18, 2024By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Commentary It’s good to be prepared, but worrying is a spiritual problem.
Make a resolution for the climate, for the sanctity of life January 3, 2024By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Environment As Pope Francis has reminded us, our whole ecosystem is challenged, almost to the point of no return.
‘Come, Holy Spirit’ — A simple prayer that never fails December 18, 2023By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Commentary The examen is not a call to review your sinfulness, like an examination of conscience, although you may find things in your day for which you are sorry. It’s often called an examination of “consciousness” because it reviews your life as you’ve lived it in the past 24 hours.
Let the warmth of Advent pull the bleak midwinter from you December 2, 2023By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary Make Advent loving and fun, with your focus on Jesus.
‘Be prepared’: Why does death take us by surprise? November 19, 2023By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Commentary The things attainable — in this life, on this earth — are rarely enough for our deep longings.
Zombies, graves and autumnal gratitude November 1, 2023By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Saints On All Souls and All Saints, we honor not just the dead whom we love and extol as examples; we proclaim our belief that this is not the end — that from the hallowed ground of our beloved dead comes the promise of the risen Lord, the empty tomb.
The vitally important Catholic presence at the border October 17, 2023By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Immigration and Migration Bishop Flores points out that Catholic social teaching emphasizes that every human being is created in the image of God, and that at the heart of our social teaching is the need to be adaptable to the situation.
