We're in between seasons right now in Maryland.  One day, it's cold and you need a coat.  Then a few days later, it's warm enough for shorts and a tee-shirt.  Before we know it, though, winter will settle in and we'll be cold for months.  I like these back and forth days, since they remind me that there are just some things I can't control.  Weather is one of them, and...

This is the theme which was chosen for the 36th General Congregation of the Jesuits, presently meeting in Rome to elect the 30th successor of St. Ignatius.  For the last several days, over 200 Jesuits from all over the world have been meeting, praying and getting to know one another, since most have never met each other.  It's hard to believe that, in the span of 476 years, there have...

This past weekend, I had the blessing to give  a couple of talks to a gathering of Catechists in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.  The event took place at a parish which is getting ready to celebrate it's 225th anniversary.  The church, dedicated to St. Ignatius, was founded in 1792, and it's one that, despite having lived in Maryland for nearly thirty years, I had never...

This past June, two of my nieces performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.  They did beautifully, and it was a joyous and memorable occasion for me and my family members who were able to make it.  It had been some time since I was last in Manhattan, and my sister and I decided to visit the 9/11 Memorial before catching a train back down to Baltimore.  It's hard to put into...

Early this morning, a major earthquake hit the Italian region of Umbria.  It will take time to access the damage and the loss of life, but from the look of things, it's pretty bad.  Let's pray for all those affected.  I've had the blessing of visiting this area of Italy, where the home of St. Francis is found.  Assisi is a mystical place, and I was just talking about it a...

Today is the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits and the writer of one of the most profound documents in Christian Spirituality, the Spiritual Exercises.  Coming to know Ignatius through reading, retreats and incorporating his prayer methods into my daily life has greatly strengthened my relationship with God and the people around me. I've become aware that we...

A few weeks ago, I happened to stop by the retreat center where I lead my retreats.  I had wanted to quickly run in to pick up one of their brochures, and when I got into the building, standing there was a person who I made several retreats with.  I hadn't seen her in about five years, which, sadly, was the last time I made my own eight day silent retreat.  She asked me if I was...

I don't know about you, but I'm very grateful to be a citizen of the United States of America. Without a doubt, we as a country face many, many problems. One only has to think about the upcoming election to realize the shape we are in. That being said, we've faced a multitude of issues over our 240 years, but we have always made it through. And, please God, we will continue to do so.  As...

When Pope Francis was in Philadelphia last fall, he told a story from the life of St. Katherine Drexel (1858-1955), a native of that city.   in 1887, Katherine and her sisters, who had recently inherited a nearly $16 million estate, traveled to Europe and had a private audience with Pope Leo XIII.  Katherine asked the Holy Father to send missionaries to the United States to care...

OK, I have to admit it.  Up to this morning, I didn't know we had an National Trails Day.  Well, on my early morning sweep of the on-line news, I found that the first Saturday in June is, you guessed it, National Trails Day.  You can learn more by visiting the American Hiking Society's website.  So, now I'm sure you are wondering if I knew about the American Hiking...