This was year #2. A while back, a friend of mine who used to work at St. Mary’s Church in Melrose but now works at St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, shared a loaf of who-knows-what-kind-of-bread I gave her — probably onion dill as I know that’s one of her favorites — with Sister Lois and […]

“Their father’s kiss. It’s their daily bread. If only they knew what it meant to their father.” –Charles Peguy, Portal of the Mystery of Hope, p. 32 One of the huge shifts in my understanding of God (and my understanding of prayer) occurred many years ago when I read some advice from Mother Teresa. She […]

Father Joe Korf began his homily for the first Sunday of Advent with those forceful words. Matthew’s gospel is bold, direct, and, for me, especially relevant. “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” Father Korf continued, warning us that we never know when God will call us […]

Are you one of the 65 million unpaid caregivers for a family member? 60% of caregivers are married and/or have paying jobs and may have responsibility for other family members too. These “Everyday heroes” provide 90% of long-term care in this country. This care is valued at 375 billion dollars. It’s no wonder half of […]

The holidays are right around the corner. This can be time that people may reflect on their attitude of gratitude, however, for some it maybe  stressful and/or depressing. Here are some tips/ideas for making the holiday season enjoyable and less stressful, along with a poem for an attitude of gratitude. Tips to Prevent Holiday Stress […]

This time of year includes many gatherings of friends and family. I have multiple holidays and days of significance in these weeks heading into the holiday season. My traditions and celebrations, our families, often include favorite foods, foods with emotional connections as well as traditions. At the end of November, I will take pause as […]

Many of you have probably been asked if you have a health care directive when you have been seen at a medical clinic, in the emergency department or in the hospital. In Minnesota it is a regulation that health care providers ask patients if they have a health care directive and follow their choices. If […]

I consider myself a fairly active person with a passion for long peaceful bike rides, involvement in organizations and my church and, as the cooler days came on, many more hours spent reading. In the past month I’ve read somewhere between six to eight books. Some of them were trivial and some had substance to […]

We waited for hours from the very first glimpses of sunlight, exhausted but wide-awake with anticipation, with me dressed in my wedding gown and him in his suit, waiting, hoping, and imagining the moment that we would be able to personally meet the Holy Father. My husband and I had been surprised with a trip […]

Furthermore, when media and the digital world become omnipresent, their influence can stop people from learning how to live wisely, to think deeply and to love generously. In this context, the great sages of the past run the risk of going unheard amid the noise and distractions of an information overload.  Efforts need to be […]