Spirituality

Readings of the holy Mass – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Read or listen to the readings before Mass with the resources below from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, using the New American Bible, Revised Edition.

Should Catholic parents attend their child’s non-church wedding?

Father Ken Doyle counsels a heartbroken mother whose daughter does not wish to be married in the Catholic Church. He also explains to another reader why Mary is typically portrayed as Caucasian, despite her Jewish ancestry.

Schedule God into busy summer family plans

There's never an easy time to raise Catholic kids. During the school year, you're competing with after-school activities and homework and playdates and snow days. In the summer, you're wrestling with a different kind of busy.

Welcoming parishes help vacationers keep the faith

"Probably 80 percent of our seats are filled by visitors during vacation season," says Deacon DeWolfe. "They are well-grounded in their faith, and in fact many long-term visitors participate in other parish ministries."

How parishes can support faith growth in summer months

Parishes have to help families find ways to not only maintain faith during the summer but also to support faith growth.

Keeping the faith during summer break

Summer is a time to rest, to play, and to take a break from our routines. It's also an ideal time to grow closer to God in fun, creative ways.

The difference between admiring Jesus and following him

Following Jesus, and dying to ourselves every day, entails not watching him from a distance but engaging in the life he offers, writes Msgr. Joseph Prior on this Sunday's Gospel reading.

Readings of the holy Mass – Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Read or listen to the readings before Mass with the resources below from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, using the New American Bible, Revised Edition.

While watching ‘The Keepers,’ remain in the sacraments

Father Ken Doyle answers a reader's fears that her family might drift from the church after watching a TV series on sexual abuse. He commends their commitment to continue going to Mass.

Slow down and don’t swerve into life’s oncoming traffic

If we handle our delays and hardships with patience and humility we can follow God's paths, even the unpaved ones, to get where we need to go, writes Gina Christian.