Cowboys were never meant to have a home. But no one ever told Mommy that. It was a silly nickname, the result of an unfortunate misspelling on his interstellar Federation papers. He didn’t mind though. “Emmanuel” was much harder for people to remember. And few people...
The shepherds of the Gospel worked tirelessly with little recognition. Have you ever felt the same? As we begin this New Year, Alex Hale, SJ, invites us to experience the joy of the shepherds, the joy of encountering Jesus. Based on the readings for January 1, 2023....
Pope Benedict has died at the age of 95 on December 31, 2022. He was a lifelong scholar, a priest for 71 years, and pope from 2005-2013. His entire life was dedicated to knowing Jesus, and now he has the chance to do so in a new way. Born on April 16, 1927 in Bavaria,...
I’m in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s Christmas time and I’m in my hometown visiting family and friends. And this is my first Christmas season as an ordained minister! My dad attends St. John Francis Regis Parish. It’s not a Jesuit parish, though it is named after a...
“Dedicate yourself to love people,” is the advice Ricardo “el Ronco” Robles told to all the Jesuits sent on a mission to Cooper Hill, with the Tarahumaras, a tribe from northern Mexico. But, how is it possible to love when the environment is so complicated? Geography,...
The angels and shepherds spread the joy of the birth of Jesus. Now, we must do the same. Merry Christmas! This Christmas, let’s be shepherds, and angels. Hi, I’m Deacon Tim Breen, and this is my One Minute Homily. Some of the most recognizable figures of the...
“You belong here.” John managed to squeeze this short affirmation in between several other statements so I almost didn’t notice it. He’s an older priest in the community I recently joined; a kind, compassionate man who recently celebrated 70 years as a Jesuit. I was...
Every few years, my family would attend our regional theater’s production of A Christmas Carol to celebrate the holiday season. The large dance party at the Fezziwigs and the snow-dusted fictional Victorian streets conjured romantic dreams of Christmases past. Tiny...
God’s plans can surprise us and even seem inconsistent at times. Brendan Gottschall, SJ, reflects on the joy that can come with God’s unexpected plans. Based on the readings for Sunday, December 18, 2022. Our God is inconsistent. And that is a good thing!...
The following reflection is part of our “Jesuit 101” series. This piece helps us to dive deeper into the Contemplation on the Incarnation from the Spiritual Exercises. To learn more about this contemplation, check out our explainer article: “Jesuit 101: The...
