Our Guest Columnists Columns
Our Guest Columnists
“Thinking with the church”
BY BISHOP JOEL M. KONZEN, SMEnglish | En Español
When he wanted us to have second helpings, my grandfather used to say, “You have two legs. You have to eat for both of them.” These days, when I think of two legs, I don’t think of eating. Instead, I am given to think about being a faithful Catholic…
Previous Columns by Our Guest Columnists
COVID-19: Inside the senior experience
St. Pius X High School student Lauren Ashe writes about her senior year experience against the backdrop of COVID-19.
By LAUREN ASHE, Special to the BulletinPublished: March 18, 2021
The source and summit of Christian life in a pandemic
Now that people are venturing out to venues such as restaurants while COVID vaccinations are increasing, the general dispensation from the Sunday obligation may soon expire for Catholics in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
By BISHOP BERNARD E. SHLESINGER, CommentaryMoving from spectators to participants
I have had the privilege of offering Mass recently in some of our churches that are as full as they can be under the current restrictions. It is a joy and a relief—a relief because last Easter’s experience of celebrating an Easter Vigil Mass in an empty church was a nightmare.
By BISHOP JOEL M. KONZEN, SMThe Man of the Year for 2021
The life and mission of St. Joseph stands forever as a shining example of how quality of character gives meaning to the quality of life.
By BISHOP BERNARD E. SHLESINGER IIIThe spirit of Epiphany
Let us zero in on the Solemnity of Epiphany. In the Roman Church we have come to associate this celebration with the adoration of the newborn Jesus by the visitors “from the East.”
By BISHOP JOEL M. KONZEN, SMThe danger of selective outrage
I believe it was T.S. Eliot who said: “Humankind cannot bear very much reality.” We also seem to be highly selective in the reality we seek to bear.
By MSGR. RICHARD LOPEZ, CommentaryPublished: December 24, 2020
A familia comfort from Our Lady of Guadalupe
It wasn’t until I married into a Catholic family, eventually becoming Catholic myself, did I begin to understand the significance; the mother of Our Lord cared so much for the people of Mexico she appeared as one of their own.
By SHEMAIAH GONZALEZ Catholic News ServicePublished: December 11, 2020
The Advent hope that springs eternal
Our hope in Advent must spring eternal beyond the temporal. The saints have witnessed to this eternal hope in the midst of temporal trials while facing persecution or death.
By BISHOP BERNARD E. SHLESINGER, CommentaryGratitude for those sustaining the life of the church
It has been heartening to see first-hand the adaptations that parishes have made in order to continue serving their members, as well as the extra efforts being made by our priests and deacons to minister to their flocks.
By BISHOP JOEL M. KONZEN, SMThe necessity of Black Catholic History Month: A reflection
More than a 30-day recounting or retelling of a series of little-known church facts, Black Catholic History Month is the perfect opportunity to reflect upon and uplift God’s movement within communities regularly overlooked in our narratives.
By ASHLEY MORRIS, Th.M.Published: November 26, 2020
Why grace is revealed in gratitude
Sometimes we treat saying “thank you” as just a social norm, but it’s so much more. Recently, there has been an explosion of gratitude apps and journals—ways to help people be more intentionally aware of the blessedness in their lives. This is tapping into something Christianity has always had at its heart.
By ANDY OTTO, CommentaryPublished: November 13, 2020
A bridge to the unborn
Pope Francis is a man dedicated to dialogue and building bridges between people no matter the issue. His consistent reference to building bridges rather than walls resonates with me as a pastoral style that is needed today.
By BISHOP BERNARD E. SHLESINGER III, CommentaryReturning to the harbor of truth and unity
Not long ago I was speaking to a prominent bishop, who remarked, “More and more I hear the statements, ‘I don’t agree with the pope’ or ‘I don’t agree with the church,’ and these people are not overly bothered by the fact that they are in disagreement with the church they call their own.
By BISHOP JOEL M. KONZEN, SMMaking room for silence
Nothing intimidated me more than silence. You might think I would crave it coming from the chaotic but wonderful “noise” of an Italian American household; however, the extrovert in me was totally intimidated by silence and solitude.
By MARIA CRESSLER, CommentaryPublished: October 20, 2020
Called to be missionaries of mercy
Sadly, many people today want to punish, belittle or condemn others with never a thought of love towards them. Winning is not the only thing; merciful love is everything.
By BISHOP BERNARD E. SHLESINGER III, CommentaryCan we disagree less disagreeably?
These days, “bearing with one another through love” is not our strong suit. We Catholics have a tendency to disagree in a disagreeable way.
By GREG ERLANDSON, Catholic News ServicePublished: September 4, 2020
God is deeper than the darkness
You might have heard the term “redemptive suffering” and wondered what it meant. Perhaps the best answer is in St. Luke’s Gospel, in a section of the 21st chapter where Jesus describes the coming persecution and tribulation.
By BISHOP JOEL M. KONZEN, SM, CommentaryA new lens for viewing the world and its interruptions
We’ve all made self-promises that begin with “Someday when X happens, I’ll do Y…” Insert any aspiration into this axis of life: “When life slows down, I’ll write that book…” or “When (child’s name here) is older, we’ll take that trip…”
By SARAH OTTO, CommentaryPublished: August 12, 2020
The meaning and importance of retreat
In recent years, I have been interested in the origin of words—their etymology. As a result, I have learned and come to appreciate so much about language and the meaning of words.
By FATHER JOSEPH LINGAN, SJPublished: July 15, 2020