Parents around the world make sacrifices for their children every second of every day.

This week we marked four years as finch owners, and I am struck by how much has changed for our family over that time.

To sway is to move to meet the needs of others. Isn’t this the heart of family life?

The church teaches that deliberately and purposefully seeking to separate the procreative and unitive aspects of the marital act is intrinsically wrong.

As Catholics, it’s important for us to remember that God sees our sin and brokenness.

The mysterious workings of grace in our lives — or even what grace is — were fodder for interesting conversations between this father and his then-almost-7-year-old.

Only God knows precisely why things happen. For our part, we will always have the privilege of offering comfort to those who grieve great losses and even livelihoods.

Sister Helen Prejean, a dynamic foe of the death penalty, had just spoken to a crowd in a small town in Nebraska as part of our campaign to do away with execution in the state.

For many the idea of “finding time for real prayer” seems daunting as they imagine adding an hour to their already crammed schedules and then begin to consider all the things they will “need” to really get going: a prayer corner, with icons and statues and Bibles and breviaries.

Spring offers a beautiful time for us to think of our next adventure, whatever that might be. May we be open to the newness of this season, stepping forward in faith and trusting that God is with us, every step of the way.