PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVE
Holding hands: a wedding homily
"I Wanna Hold Your Hand," a popular song recorded by the Beatles and written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, reflects a more innocent time when merely holding the hand of a boy or girl could have a marvelous effect on the human soul.
TEEN PERSPECTIVE
Why CLI?
When I signed up to attend the Albany Diocese's Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) at Pyramid Life Center in Paradox, I had no idea what to expect, and I wasn't particularly excited to go. I was worried that I wouldn't make any friends and that we would be praying the entire …
TEEN PERSPECTIVE
Report on a concert
The youth ministry of Corpus Christi parish in Round Lake sponsored a trip to the Matt Maher/John Tibbs concert at Pioneer Valley Christian Academy in Springfield, Mass., in May.
REFLECTION
Boasting about vocations and trusting in the Lord
It is in those times when the struggle seems so great that we encounter the Lord most profoundly. Let me share a couple recent experiences of the struggle and the joy.
PERSPECTIVE
Catholics and the Brexit vote
A new word has become part of everyday vocabulary recently: "Brexit." Many people may not have been aware of the fierce debate that was going on in the United Kingdom since a referendum was made possible by a special act of parliament in May 2015.
REFLECTION
Other faiths and the environment
The history of religion and environmentalism in America has been overwhelmingly Protestant. But in the second half of the 20th century, Catholics became more involved in caring for creation, as did Jews. Muslims have joined the fray, as well.
SEMINARIAN'S DIARY
Let's try radical love
God is love. God's love is not moderate; it is radical! Christ's love is extreme, irrational, undeserved and not fully comprehensible. It makes no logical sense. He loves the innocent and the guilty, the saint and the sinner.
PERSPECTIVE
Mercy at a parish's doorstep
Who would ever think of answering the phone or the door as an act of mercy? Yet as phone-and-door-answerer-in-chief at a busy rectory, I experience our entryway as a holy door of mercy, of sorts. A river of mercy courses through these doors.
PERSPECTIVE
Ensure kids with special needs aren't left behind
When our daughter, Teresa, was born six years ago, we entered the realm of special education. While we were learning about Down syndrome, our baby started down a path of special ed that will be with her into her 20s.
PERSPECTIVE
The risk of being a priest, and being Christian
Given the martyrdom of the 85-year-old priest in France July 26, I thought it would be good idea to reflect on the risk of being a Christian. He was doing something I have done for almost 26 years: With the exception of vacations, I have gathered with a group of …
PERSPECTIVE
Don't let history repeat itself
For me, it's personal. Whenever I read or hear something about why Muslims should be banned from entering the United States, or see claims that their religion does not mesh with American values, I recall what my Irish Catholic ancestors went through when we were the ones who were being …
PERSPECTIVE
Summing up WYD 2016 experiences
I think I can speak for the whole group of pilgrims from St. Pius X parish in Loudonville when I say that most of us had no idea of what to truly expect from World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland.
REFLECTION
WWII showed why we must celebrate Mary's assumption
Among the Catholic faithful, the reverence due the mother of Christ has declined sharply in recent years. The lack of interest in Marian feast days is reflected in the dwindling number of Catholics attending Mass on a holy day of obligation.
REFLECTION
Connecting the dots
Throughout my teenage years, four embarrassing pimples reappeared on my face every single month. Their scattered location reminded me of playing "connect the dots" with my siblings.
SEMINARIAN'S DIARY
Religious art and living faith
With this column, Daniel McHale joins the writers of the "Seminarian's Diary" column. Mr. McHale, a native of Holy Trinity parish in Hudson, is studying for the priesthood for the Albany Diocese at Pope St. John XXIII Seminary in Weston, Mass.
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Events
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