The reality is that the cross we as Catholics have chosen and have been chosen to bear is heavy and growing heavier.

I find him to be such a tender and calm soul. He speaks gently. He celebrates Mass gently. He acts gently. I love chatting with Father Bernie – his tranquility is contagious.

In these current times of confusion, doubt, sadness or anger, instead of letting our passions rule us we should come to Jesus in his flesh and blood, in his Eucharist.

Back in December 2009, I was standing in the lobby of the U.S. Consolate in Guangzhou, China, with friends who had just become parents through the miracle of adoption.

What could be more fun than eating sushi on the water in Fell’s Point on a summer evening? We were about to find out.

My husband and sons made it home as the rain was starting, but there were no fish for dinner.

I do know this … we have no power in other people’s spaces. But God does.

Over the past few weeks, I have been going through some boxes of photos and mementoes. The idea is that I will organize them and maybe even discard some things I don’t need.

Sometimes people do terrible things. They hurt people deeply. They hurt children. They let down people who look up to them, people who trust them. They lie about what they do, and sometimes they tell the people they are hurting to lie, too.

It’s not really summer around here without at least one taste of steamed crabs.