We cannot simply say, “Have a nice day,” to someone who is clinically depressed, and expect that to change his or her situation. But we can learn to identify warning signs (see box) and get help for those who are hurting.
Amen
Solitude and solace
After open-heart surgery, Paul McMullen’s gratitude is keener than ever.
Mary, Mother of the Church
I heard that someone commenting on the new memorial said, “Isn’t there enough about Mary, already?” How can there be too much about Mary when she brought us Jesus?
Protect children, each and every one
Those who turn a blind eye to the children who are victims of human trafficking; young refugees from Afghanistan or Syria; or the young ones among us who do not have ample food, clothing, shelter and education, contribute to their neglect.
Amen: Men of Letters
Reading Archbishop Lori’s pastoral letter on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s principles of nonviolence prompted Paul McMullen to consider his actions – and inaction – on issues of race and discrimination.
Amen: Boring in eye of beholder
When we choose to stay in our own little world, it’s not because we are hateful or uneducated or racist. Some like the hustle, bustle and skyline. I’ll take the calm, rolling hills and serenity.
Amen: Ecclesiastes and 1968
Social media pronounces that there has never been this much discord and downright hate in our nation. I wasn’t around for the Civil War, but do recall the mess that was 1968.
The thin green line
We are powerless, conversely, to stop acts of nature – God. We are, however, in position to help with the cleanup caused by both the divine and humanity.
Amen: Keepsakes amid detritus
There is a reason the obituary section is dubbed the Irish sports pages; for me, there is nothing melancholy about remembering absent friends.
Amen: Lessons learned about human life
My folks showed the face of Christ to those they met. They instilled respect for life in us.
Celebrating honors for the Catholic Review
The Catholic Review picked up 32 awards combined from the Associated Church Press, the Catholic Press Association of the U.S. and Canada, and the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association.
Amen: Graduates introduced to greatness at Seton Keough
While Seton Keough has closed, Benton, Graves and Dambita – as well as their classmates and underclassmen – will keep the school’s spirit alive.