A few weeks ago, Pope Leo issued his message for the 60 World Day of Social Communications. This observance had its origins in the Second Vatican Council. While the first document of the Council addressed the Church’s liturgy. Sacrosanctum Concilium), the next topic the world’s bishops addressed was the Decree on the Means of Social Communication (Inter Mirifica, December 4, 1963). The Latin title refers to media as “among the wonderful things” that humanity had produced – pr

From Safari… In a word most would say Lent is about sin. It is a time of repentance and time of conversion sin to become a more authentic Christian. Our readings for the First Sunday of Lent support this idea. The first Sunday of Lent begins where it does every year, in the wilderness. Jesus, after his baptism is lead out into the desert where he is tempted. After our baptisms we too go out into the world and the Spirit accompanies us. Why would this account be so important t

The great and hope-filled season of Lent begins this week on Ash Wednesday, February 18. The ashes come from burning previous years’ palms. They remind us of our good intentions to welcome Jesus as the crowds did a few days before his Crucifixion. But we know that time, the demands of our responsibilities, our distractions, and our struggles can make those desires to have the Lord central in our lives seem to wither and turn to dust. Yet God makes a new beginning precisely fr

From Safari….. I find the scripture readings this weekend challenging ---- share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked when you see them; remove from your midst oppression, false accusation, malicious speech; you are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. We would rather hear about God’s love for us, his presence in our lives. And yes, in the scri

You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Those familiar words come from the prophetMicah (6:8), a clear-sighted statement of the essentials of faith in how we live our lives. But putting them into practice is not always simple. Balancing the many competing claims of justice for individuals, communities, and nations; knowing what is truly good for oneself and other