This week the church honors Saint Teresa of Avila (Spain). Earlier this month, we celebrated the feast of Saint Therese of Lisieux, who entered the Carmelites and chose her name (originally Marie Francois) to honor the sixteenth century Spanish influencer of her faith. Last month we paid tribute to Saint Teresa of Calcutta (originally Agnes) […]
October begins with the Feast of Guardian Angels and ends with the eve of All Saints. In this month we get reminded through holy scripture, traditional beliefs, and stories handed down that we are connected to and united with blessed spirits that can light our way as they guard and guide us along life’s journey. […]
This Thursday evening, October 1, the Farnan Spirituality Center (FSC) will host a fall gathering at Blue Hills Country Club. I, along with a great team of amphitryons (fancy term for gracious hosts), hope that you can come by. This is our second FSC fundraiser; the other was held two years ago at Southside Bar […]
Many people today struggle in casual conversations with neighbors, friends, and family members when polarizing issues surface to threaten, discomfort, or offend them. It is a challenge for many of us to proceed in dialogue when differing viewpoints cause emotional upheaval or relational rift. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, sixteenth century Spanish founder of the Society […]
Inspired by the Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, whose final painting was produced while she faced severe illness and tremendous pain, Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay, entitled his 2008 hit with the same phrase contained in her art piece, “Viva la Vida.” It translates as “long live life.” He was impressed by the painter’s bold […]
There is much that changes in a quarter century. There are some 8.3 billion people on earth; 3.5 billion or so were born after September 11, 2001; another billion were so young that they have no memory of the events of that day. Over half the world knows little to nothing about the four planes, […]
“Energy” is defined as the quantitative property transferred to a body or physical system, recognizable as the capacity to do work and produce change, heat, or light. In physics, “work” means the force to move an object—so energy is what causes movement. The law of conservation teaches that energy cannot ever be created or destroyed, […]
One of my faith communities, Saint James at 39th Street and Troost Avenue, hosted its annual parish picnic last weekend, marking its 120th anniversary. Bishop Johnston presided over a Mass there to observe the occasion. Since 1906, much has changed in that region which, in the 19th Century, was immediately south of the Porter Family […]
Saint Teresa’s Academy (STA) is Kansas City’s oldest high school, founded in 1866 on Quality Hill of our fledgling downtown. The girls’ school, operated by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet (CSJs), moved to its Windmoor Campus (55th and Main Street) in 1909. The next year Rockhurst High School for boys and College for […]
Saint Augustine of Hippo (ancient city in modern-day Algeria) was famous for his great mind, remarkable conversion, and deep faith. His classic fifth century autobiography, Confessions, is less about his sins (though he reveals plenty) and more about God’s loving mercy and grace. In other words, he confesses that God is God and we are […]
