PERSPECTIVES
PASTOR'S PUP
Oliver, a gift from God
A few hours later, I was in the office doing paperwork and the phone rang. It was Arlene. She said, "Father, there are seven puppies in the litter, and there's only one male - a runt. He's yours if you want him."
UNDOCUMENTED YOUTH
Support DREAM Act this weekend
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has asked Congress to move from partisan politics to advance the DREAM Act to passage. The Justice for Immigrants Campaign of the Conference is urging Catholic Church leaders across the nation to "incorporate petitions, prayers and homilies" into Masses Sept. 25 in support of …
SEMINARIAN'S DIARY
'Priesthood: What a sacrifice!'
When I meet people for the first time and tell them that I am a seminarian, their response is often something akin to, "You're a better person than I am - I could never sacrifice my whole life like that!"
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The death of Sunshine
The deceased was a female Caucasian, 21 years of age. She had been bruised and battered extensively. She'd been nicknamed "Sunshine" by one of her bosses. She had the proverbial bright and sunny disposition.
VOCATIONS
What else besides Mass?
People are often curious about what a priest does all day. It's not uncommon to hear voices inquiring, "Father, aside from saying Mass on Sunday, what else do you do?" Sometimes I feel ill-equipped to adequately describe a typical day in the life of a parish priest ministering in a …
BISHOP'S MISSION LETTER
Give generously to World Mission Sunday
Each time I watch the world news on television I am reminded of my 2010 trip to Sudan and Nigeria, and I recall with great clarity the sights and sounds of those places.
ALL SOULS' DAY REFLECTION
Bereavement ministry going strong
In the winter of 1992, a small group of women met at St. Michael the Archangel parish in South Glens Falls to discuss hospitality to parishioners who had lost a loved one.
RESPECT LIFE MONTH
Comfortable with genocide?
Now, I'm seeing the abortion issue with greater clarity and urgency. The 20th century was an era of mass murder. Tens of millions of innocent people were killed in the name of state socialism.
OUR NEIGHBORS' FAITH
Celebrating ecumenism on 'Reconciliation Day'
Reformation Day is recognized in many Protestant churches on Oct. 31, marking the actions of Martin Luther in 1517 which started the Protestant Reformation in Germany. Many Protestant churches and leaders, including myself, prefer to call the day "Reconciliation Day," with an emphasis on ecumenical relations and common ground among …
REFLECTION
A priest ponders 9/11
On Sept. 11, 2011, many of us celebrated the Eucharist and remembered that terrible act of violence perpetrated on the World Trade Center. It is still so deeply etched in my memory that I hesitate to watch televised reminders or go to Ground Zero. Most of us try to run …
ALL SOULS' DAY
Eulogy for a brother
What God set into motion in our breaking into history, God brings to fulfillment when the soul leaves the body. Eternal life is the completion of this life. We imagine the new life promised by Jesus in which "no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor the heart of …
REFLECTION
What I've learned as a eucharistic minister
In placing the Body of Christ in each person's hand, I learn something from that brief touch: some hands are old and arthritic; some are the hands of young parishioners; some hands are rough and calloused, while others are soft and fragile; some hands are dark and some are light; …
CLIMBER'S REFLECTION
Meeting God at the top of the world
Lack of oxygen makes you aware of every movement: You must make a decision to stand up, take a step, even raise your arm for a drink of water. But my feeling of closeness to God was also magnified.
SEMINARIAN'S DIARY
Chopping for life
As I recall, we didn't get much work done that day, but I knew our reason for being there was for something greater - part of a long struggle for justice. Most people are surprised to hear that a group of men studying for the priesthood choose to split wood …
CASEWORKER'S PERSPECTIVE
Teens raising children need help from CMS
Teen pregnancy comes with many risks and poor outcomes: a high risk of health problems, poor educational outcomes, increased use of public welfare, repeat pregnancies and child abuse. In Schoharie County, there are no other programs that work with this population, especially as a preventive service.<
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Events
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