Category Archives for "Catholic Culture"

Nov 07

The Catholics

By From the Heart | Catholic Education

The Catholics descended upon my household again. Actually, I call them my Leaf Angels, but my neighbors call them “The Catholics” and threaten to convert to our church… though they haven’t quite yet. With my wife in a nursing home due to radiation injury from a brain tumor, I am continually amazed by the support […]

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Oct 21

Rainbow of hope

By From the Heart | Catholic Culture

Recently I was invited to attend a meeting of dialogue for people of different political persuasions for the purpose of understanding and finding areas of common ground. I did not respond immediately, only to receive a follow-up email saying they were still looking for participants, but they had enough people who considered themselves “blue” (liberal) […]

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Oct 13

No to violence, yes to peace

By From the Heart | Catholic Culture

What I really want, dear reader, is to encourage you to watch the film, Romero, starring Raul Julia as Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, who is to be canonized this weekend in Rome! Paulist priest, Bud Kieser, the indomitable producer of the film faced equally indomitable conditions as he searched for information and a […]

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Oct 12

The spirit is a movin’

By From the Heart | Catholic Culture

The last five months have been a whirlwind, lots of moving. Moving from Kent to St. Cloud. Moving from parish ministry to diocesan ministry. Moving from pastoral associate to associate director of lay leadership formation. Moving from a well-established position to a brand-new position that I had no idea where it was heading. Moving. It […]

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Oct 10

Born to be Mission

By From the Heart | Catholic Culture

“Mission”… In general, one may define the word mission as a task or goal in life that is driven with conviction.  How many times have you heard people talk about “being on a mission!”?  I can get behind that, but there is also so much more!!  What mission does God call us on?  Aren’t we […]

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Sep 02

A Taste of Mexico

By From the Heart | Catholic Culture

Summers are a busy time of year for everybody, and that also includes seminarians. Whether we are working a job for the summer, helping out with Totus Tuus and Vocations Camps, or serving patients in hospital ministry, we definitely keep busy. This summer in particular, Patrick Hoeft, Brady Keller, David Trout, and I (Tom Skaja) […]

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Aug 21

Surprised by God, a vocation story

By From the Heart | Catholic Culture

Have you ever been surprised? I have…sometimes by joy, sometimes by grief. Among life’s unexpected happenings, being surprised by God has opened me to experiences and perspectives I could have never even imagined. Here are a few musings from my journey of discernment, seeking peace and purpose in my life. Born in Forest Lake, Minnesota, […]

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