In the face of these unmistakable signs of cultural, even civilizational, decay, the Church has its work cut out for it.

As the United States and, indeed, the world are being shaken by seismic shifts in American domestic politics and U.S. foreign policy, we find ourselves asking how to bring our faith to bear in a public square increasingly hostile to its teachings.

Promoting a uniquely Catholic culture in our schools is both a necessary task and a challenging one. In rising to this challenge, it is helpful to examine what variables make cultural identity survive and thrive.

I’ve been thinking about gifts, and the meaning of them, with the upcoming March for Life and its 2026 theme: “Life is a gift.”

John Allen never believed journalism was about winning arguments or pleasing audiences. He believed it was about fidelity — to facts, to sources, to context and ultimately to readers.

Throughout the Bible, the Scripture writers describe many worrisome situations, but somehow the difficulty ends well because of God’s ever presence.

May she, Our Lady of Altagracia, our model of faith and charity, rekindle our hope and lavish us with her maternal consolation. And may she accompany us on our pilgrimage to heaven where she, crowned as queen, intercedes for our souls and awaits us.

Some might point out the pastoral benefits of an all-boys altar server team in promoting priestly vocations, while others might appreciate how allowing female altar servers emphasizes our common baptismal priesthood.

The idea will not leave my head: how do we anoint a whole world so terribly and self-evidently in need of soothing, healing, consolation and unconditional love?

Although Latinos are one of the fastest growing populations in the country and make up a large portion of the young Catholic Church, nearly half of Latino young adults are leaving the faith.