Previous Columns by Our Guest Columnists

• Are We Losing Our ‘Memory’ Of Religion?

  “Are people less religious today?” This question, posed by a TV interviewer, is on the minds of many people, especially worried parents who cherish the value of religion for their children. It’s a good question, but not the one to begin with. Rather, we need to ask: Are we losing our memory of how to […] English

  By FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK, CNS
  Published: April 29, 2004

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• Jesus’ Fidelity Leads Him To Cross

  Reviews of the spectacular and controversial film, “The Passion of the Christ,” report that many viewers will not understand “the why” or the reasons contributing to Jesus’ crucifixion. Separating the Passion of Jesus from his entire public life and ministry leads to misunderstanding of the crucifixion. Jesus’ Passion is the consequence of his public ministry. […] English

  By FATHER JOSEPH A. FAHY, CP, Special Contributor
  Published: April 8, 2004

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• Jogging the Rosary Transforms Body And Soul

  I will lose weight. I will pray more. Little did I realize that these two separate millennium New Year’s resolutions would take me on a journey of self-awareness and discovery. Praying the rosary while jogging has transformed my life. I’ve never considered myself much of an athlete or a particularly prayerful individual. I had acquired […] English

  By MARK MEREDITH, Special Contributor
  Published: April 1, 2004

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• Lent: Invitation To Create An Ever-green World

  When I was very young, it was clear to me that Lent had a specific meaning. It was the time to chalk up sacrifices, like grades on a report card, so I would not forget how flawed a person I was. Even as I got older I thought this was solely a time to think […] English

  By ANTOINETTE BOSCO, CNS
  Published: April 1, 2004

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• The Jobs And Vocations Young Adults Want

  Terry Johnson, 30, graduated from the University of Notre Dame with an M.A. in theology and was eager to change the world. She worked for a large Midwestern parish for a few years, but became frustrated with rigidity among church staff: lack of open-mindedness to her new ideas and an absence of innovative ideas. She […] English

  By THERESE J. BORCHARD, CNS
  Published: April 1, 2004

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• Be Still In The Presence Of The Lord

  I normally end my day around 11 p.m. I’m fortunate because I’m one of those people who fall asleep within minutes of my head hitting the pillow. But last night was different. When I was a sophomore in college, a dear friend who was a year older than me and a student at the same […] English

  By ANN BLASICK, Commentary
  Published: April 1, 2004

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• Father Thomas O’Reilly: Atlanta’s Irish Cornerstone

  Patriotism, remembrance, faith and community: these are the ideals by which Father Thomas O’Reilly is defined. But they are not only the measure of the man who saved Atlanta’s churches from Gen. Sherman’s torch. They are also the elements that have guided Atlanta as a city and its Irish residents as a group for generations. […] English

  By KEVIN J. MARTINEZ, Special Contributor
  Published: March 18, 2004

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• Live Your Life For Christ

  Movies played a big role in the story of my vocation. When I was younger, my family and I went to see some film about Jesus on the big screen. It’s funny how I don’t remember too many details about the film, including the name! But something remained clear in my mind and my heart, […] English

  By SISTER MARGARET MICHAEL GILLIS, FSP, Special Contributor
  Published: March 18, 2004

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• Rite Of Election Can Be Traced Back To Early Church

  Children, men and women throughout the Archdiocese of Atlanta are preparing to be initiated into the Catholic Church at Easter. As they begin the final weeks of their preparation, these catechumens and candidates came together from every parish in our archdiocese and celebrated the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion with Archbishop John […] English

  By FATHER VICTOR REYES, Special Contributor
  Published: March 11, 2004

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• Honoring Saint Patrick Of Ireland

  At this time of the year many native Irish are amused by the shenanigans that take place to supposedly “honor Saint Patrick.” The hoopla of the parades, the false myths propagated on greeting cards, and the extended hours for serving liquor often give the wrong message. To set the record straight, we should consider the […] English

  By FATHER JOHN C. KIERNAN, Special Contributor
  Published: March 11, 2004

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• Two Zen Men And A Christian At ‘The Passion’

  I went to see “The Passion of the Christ” on opening day with my friends Hamilton and Gene. Hamilton is a twenty-something barista at the local Starbuck’s. During his breaks from work we talk about literature and girls and culture and dating and Buddhism and courtship and Christianity too. Zen meditation is his main spiritual […] English

  By DAVE SLOAN, Special Contributor
  Published: March 4, 2004

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• The Faith Of C.S. Lewis

  C.S. Lewis died Nov. 22, 1963. He was a Christian writer who had no peer when it came to challenging skeptics. Though he was a brilliant defender of the faith, it may come as a surprise to learn that Clive Staples Lewis was an atheist most of his adult life. His mysterious conversion from nonbelief […] English

  By FATHER JOHN CATOIR, CNS
  Published: March 4, 2004

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• It’s Time To Amend The Blaine Amendment – Commentary

  The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States declares, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of […] English

  By FATHER DOUGLAS K. CLARK
  Published: February 19, 2004

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• Shooting Arrows At Cupid

  Valentine’s Day is a day that just doesn’t seem to go away. It keeps returning year after year, only to put holes in the wallets of great men everywhere. Contrary to popular belief, February 14 is not a day of love. It is a day of sorrow. Consider the following. Every year on Valentine’s Day, […] English

  By STEPHEN LENAHAN, GB Youth Board
  Published: February 19, 2004

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• Surprise: The Young Are Watching

  Our parish’s new stewardship director was bursting to tell us about the International Catholic Stewardship Council’s October conference in Chicago. He said one of its most impressive presentations was given by teens from the Chicago Archdiocese. A panel of young people spoke about how they live out stewardship in their lives as teenage Catholics. “After […] English

  By EFFIE CALDAROLA, CNS
  Published: January 29, 2004

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• Power Of God Catapults Change For The Better

  Each New Year brings with it countless possibilities of resolutions that we would like to make: lose weight; gain weight; be more diligent in studies; be a better friend; be more respectful towards our parents and teachers; or spend less time on the Internet or watching TV. Usually we look at the year that has […] English

  By FATHER PAUL A. BURKE
  Published: January 22, 2004

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• Praying With Friends Is Among New Year’s Resolutions

  New Year’s is about making resolutions and actually trying to keep them. My resolution is to pray more with the people I love. People may ask me, “Why should you pray more? Don’t you do enough of it in church?” The answer is “does anyone really pray enough?” Yes, I may be only a teenager […] English

  By CHRISTINE GRYCZAN, GB Youth Board
  Published: January 22, 2004

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• Find Joy In Something You Love

  Though we have already hit the New Year, Christmas still leaves its magic dancing around in our heads. The dreams it leaves are individual to each person: some dreaming about what they may have received, some dreaming about what they did not, some just lingering in the leftover haze. The dream that lingers for me […] English

  By AIMEE PLAUCHE, GB Youth Board
  Published: January 22, 2004

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