Our Guest Columnists Columns
Our Guest Columnists
“An Easter blessing”
BY FATHER JOHN CATOIR, Special to the BulletinEnglish
I wish you a happy Easter, and I send you this blessing with my love and prayers. May the Passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints—and whatsoever good you do or suffering you endure—cleanse you of all your sins, bring you an increase […] English
Previous Columns by Our Guest Columnists
‘The Son shines, the Father reigns’
I saw the phrase, “The Son shines, the Father reigns,” on the marquee of a Protestant church during a particularly rainy week in March and thought “how clever.” In this Easter season, Father and Son together is a central theme, our heavenly Father having given to us his Son to be crucified, suffer death and […] English
By JOHANNA BALDWIN, Special to the BulletinPublished: April 20, 2017
It’s safer to be a fan than a follower
Our directive is to be followers of Jesus, but some of his actions and the results of those actions make following Jesus quite challenging. Jesus did some pretty outlandish things, and he sure did get into trouble with the religious leaders, the ruling governments and sometimes his mom. Hence, I find it tempting to be […] English | En Español
By P.J. EDWARDS, Special to the BulletinHoly Week
The celebration of Holy Week, which began on Palm Sunday and ended on Easter Sunday, presented a variety of events and moments in Jesus’ life. The week started with the cheering of the Jews, proclaiming Jesus as King in his triumphal entry to Jerusalem, and the celebration of the Last Supper with his gift of […] English | En Español
By BISHOP LUIS R. ZARAMA, Commentary‘They bring abundant blessings’
“I thirst.” When Jesus spoke these words from the cross, he articulated one of the most profound mysteries of our faith. His words remind us that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. Jesus was embodied—he hungered and he thirsted—and he was embedded in concrete relationships characterized by intimate love. In John’s account of […] English | En Español
By MARIE F. MARQUARDT, Ph.D., Special to the BulletinThe two great virtues in Patrick of Ireland
As a child growing up in Ireland, the only things I knew about St. Patrick were: He brought Christianity to Ireland. He banished all snakes out of Ireland. He explained the Trinity by means of a shamrock. I imagine little has changed in the minds of schoolchildren today. Still, all three of those statements are […] English
By FATHER JOHN C. KIERAN, CommentaryPublished: March 21, 2017
The value of a Catholic school education
Why do families make the commitment to send their children to a Catholic school? What makes our Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Atlanta so attractive to many families? Is it worth considering sending my children to a Catholic school? As the superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, I am frequently asked these […] English
By DIANE STARKOVICH, Ph.D., CommentaryPublished: February 9, 2017
An enduring economic revival
Catholic News Service has posted a series of columns from leading archbishops on key issues facing the church and the new Trump administration. This guest column was written by Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami, the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. In my Labor Day […] English
By ARCHBISHOP THOMAS G. WENSKI, Catholic News ServicePublished: January 12, 2017
Go in haste! Be amazed! Treasure!
By now most of you are probably aware of the depressing statistics regarding the “nones,” that is to say, those in this country who claim no religious affiliation. The most recent survey showed that now fully one-fourth of Americans belong to no religion at all—that’s approximately 80 million people. And among those in the 18-29 […] English
By BISHOP ROBERT BARRON, CommentaryPublished: January 12, 2017
A way forward on immigration
In the wake of the national elections, Catholic News Service has posted a series of columns from leading archbishops on key issues facing the church and the new Trump administration. This guest column was written by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles. The Catholic bishops of the United States have designated Dec. 12, the […] English
By ARCHBISHOP JOSE H. GOMEZ, Catholic News ServicePublished: January 12, 2017
I will proclaim the mercy of the Lord forever
The celebration of Christmas is approaching and one might ask, what is the perfect time for Christmas? Why do we celebrate it? On Christmas we celebrate the birth of the Savior. Yet the era when the infant Jesus was born was not perfect at all. It was a time of much uncertainty, tension and confusion. So, was […] English | En Español
By BISHOP LUIS R. ZARAMA, CommentaryMerciful like the Father is a lifetime calling
Last in a 13-part series Last month, the special Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis came to a close. The theme for the Year of Mercy was “be merciful like the Father.” Hopefully, you can recall some definite way the Year of Mercy influenced you. Perhaps it called forth a greater mindfulness of how […] English | En Español
By CLIFFORD YEARY, Associate Director, Little Rock Scripture StudyMercy reverses the accepted order of things
Twelfth in a 13-part series All across the world the people of God pray with the words of Mary from the Gospel of Luke, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” The Canticle of Mary, also known as the Magnificat, is the staple of evening prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours and first […] English | En Español
By CACKIE UPCHURCH, Director, Little Rock Scripture StudySupporting veterans at Atlanta VA Medical Center
Veterans Day on November 11 was an occasion to honor all our esteemed service people. Many throughout the country gathered for parades or for other similar events to remember and give thanks to the millions of veterans who have served in any branch of the military. This is a time for all citizens to pay […] English
By FATHER JOHN C. KIERAN, CommentaryPublished: November 17, 2016
Visitation Hospital stands after hurricane, seeing patients
Father Kieran is on the board of Visitation Hospital in Haiti and visited in late October after Hurricane Matthew. He said damage was visible around the hospital but the facility itself is intact. As access to the worst-hit areas of Haiti, Les Cayes and Jeremie, is being strictly controlled, he was not able to visit […] English
By FATHER JOHN C. KIERAN, CommentaryPublished: November 3, 2016
Pray to the finish line
The last stop for this year’s tumultuous presidential election season, which for so long seemed like a remote intangible, suddenly is within our sights. Soon, Americans will cast ballots for their preferred candidate. Unfortunately, for many American Catholics weighing their options—and their consciences—the choice is a difficult one with no ideal options. This dilemma surfaced […] English
ByPublished: November 3, 2016
God desires mercy more than sacrifice
Eleventh in a 13-part series Nothing seems to have upset the religious leaders of Jesus’ time as much as his freely associating with known sinners. The sinful of his day certainly included those known to have violated any of the Ten Commandments, but it also included those whose health, living conditions or lifestyles made them […] English | En Español
By CLIFFORD YEARY, Associate Director, Little Rock Scripture StudyBecome a credible model of mercy
Tenth in a 13-part series “The Church’s very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love.” In these words of Pope Francis announcing the Year of Mercy, we hear a challenge and an invitation—a challenge to offer testimony with our lives and the invitation to enter into the very heart of God […] English | En Español
By CACKIE UPCHURCH, Director, Little Rock Scripture StudyGod’s mercy calls us to be a people
Ninth in a 13-part series Most of us have experienced some form of rejection. Even the most worthy high school student can suffer rejection after applying to prestigious universities with limited quotas for new students. Home hunters may have a mortgage application rejected. Job seekers may suffer any number of rejections before landing a position […] English | En Español
By CLIFFORD YEARY, Associate Director, Little Rock Scripture StudyGod is generous, rich in mercy and love
This is the eighth column in a 13-part series. Recently, a young Franciscan was recounting his experience of encountering a new person in the prison facility where he ministers. The inmate was quite intimidating with his thick physique, massive tattoos and dominating presence. The young priest was a regular visitor who ministered in the prison […] English | En Español
By CACKIE UPCHURCH, Director of Little Rock Scripture Study