My faith as a child was secure. I prayed and was safe in my family and community in Iraq. I was happy and joy filled. I spent much time in the church leading groups and serving others when I was needed and when I wanted. I was
“Leaders don’t lie in bed at night dreaming about the way things are: they lie at bed at night dreaming about the way things could be and should be and must be” (Andy Stanley). That’s why many leaders are chronically sleep deprived! Leaders are hard-wired with a
Today is exactly one month until the day I will be entering the Sacrament of Marriage with Timothy Killoran! I am very excited for July 23rd to come for many reasons! Getting married is one of those things you think about your whole life! Many young women
Rise Up always falls between Christmas and New Years (Dec 28-Jan1), which is also often a special time for families. For the last 10 years, since 2002, I have celebrated my birthday(Dec 30) away from my family and at CCO’s Rise Up Conference (except for ’08 when
At the seminary we are encouraged to be involved in teaching catechism classes at local parishes, and one evening I was teaching about sin and the effects of confession. I was trying to be creative, and I was looking for a visual example for my lesson. A friend suggested
What just happened in the first 18 hours in Rome? I have never been one for small talk and conversations in Rome have been no different. Things matter here. There are people of great influence: movers and shakers, leaders in the Church. My first conversation moments after
“The one, who does not love, does not know God, for God is love.” (1John4.) I didn’t know what love was. To me love was a warm and fuzzy feeling and that didn’t exist in my life. When I was 15, my relationship with my Dad got
“Why does God exist? What does he have to offer? Why should I listen to him?” These were the questions I constantly asked my self during high school. I was baptized as a catholic but that quickly became irrelevant as I went to a public high school
Today was the thanksgiving mass for St. Kateri (properly pronounced CAT er ee). I was struck by the sight of so many Bishops of Canada, and Cardinal Collins gathered around the altar at St. John Lateran (a major Basilica of Rome ) to celebrate with joy and
We have complete freedom to do as we choose. So where does God’s Divine Will, His Providence, fit in? You know what the hard answer is? Nobody totally knows; it’s a mystery. It’s beyond our ability to comprehend, but we can still know it as true. “See, I have
