I recently read a meditation by Frances Fernandez from In Conversation With God on the topic of human respect which has stirred a lot of reflection and thinking over the last few days. Do we ever stop to consider how many times a day our thinking and actions are influenced by a concern for what…
July 8, 2009 “Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.” — St. Ignatius Loyola What is the connection between surrender and strength? Surrendering to Christ and putting His will before my own for the first…
June 26, 2009 As the street protests in Iran move into their second week we must wonder, just what is it, that is taking place? There are so many questions and so little information from commentators with the experience to tell us just what it is that is happening. The first question that comes to mind is, just…
June 26, 2009 My wife and I are blessed with 2 wonderful boys, Alex and Ryan, who are 11 and eight respectively. The catalyst for this article occurred Wednesday night when we all went to dinner to celebrate my birthday. We went to a nicer restaurant than usual because of the occasion, which also served to elevate the…
June 20, 2009 I have been leading people since I was a 16 year old in high school working at a restaurant in the town where I grew up. Leadership has always been a passion for me and after years of study, reading dozens of leadership books, listening to mentors and accumulating great experience on the way to…
June 19, 2009 Here in the United States, we are preparing celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday June 21. This traditional holiday celebrates the unique contribution to the stability of our society that fathers make in their every day mission of guiding their families. We Catholics understand that the family is the individual building block upon which an ordered…
June 19, 2009 The ongoing demonstrations in Iran, touched off by public outrage at what is believed to be fraudulent vote counting in the recent Presidential election, has completed its sixth day. Not since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 has there been this much sustained, grass roots political protest in what is one of the world’s most closed…
June 8, 2009 by Mark McElrath Have you just found yourself downsized and feel the need to complete your Bachelor’s degree? Are you feeling empty in your current field of employment and want to work in a new career direction, maybe something related to the church but need further academic development or certification? Are you one of those…
June 4, 2009 When faced with an opportunity to fundamentally change your life, will you take it? Many of us want to answer this question with a resounding “yes,” but may think that reality is not attainable. Not necessarily so. Consider the possibility that the current recession may be providing the catalyst for meaningful lessons and positive life…
March 12, 2009 This past weekend St. Peter Chanel Church hosted the 1st Annual Atlanta Catholic Business Conference. The Saturday half-day Conference drew over 160 Catholic professionals and business people to hear acclaimed national speakers and authors Dr. Michael Naughton, Dr. Paul Voss and Dr. Phillip Thompson speak on the subjects of ethics, virtue, leadership and most importantly,…
March 1, 2009 My children are a constant source of wisdom and clarity for me. Our sons are ages 8 and 11, and keenly interested in what’s going on in the world. We share openly and candidly the current state of politics, the economy and world news in a way they will understand. This past Saturday, my wife…
I went to the Sacrament of Reconciliation a few days ago with a lot on my mind. I have been weighted down for the last few months with work stress, concerns about money and a myriad of other issues big and small. As I went through my examination of conscience, I couldn’t get past the…
February 2, 2009 Ed. note: This article was co-written by Chris Findley. As converts to the Catholic Church in the last few years, we have both written and addressed groups about our conversion stories and what led us to the True Faith. We maintain that being Catholic is so much more than knowing the Catechism, the bible, attending…
December 29, 2008 I would like you to join me in a different kind of commitment for next year. This is the kind of commitment that will cost us something for sure, but the reward is great. In the coming year let’s make every effort to acknowledge Christ before others and defend (as well as follow!) in a…
In these difficult times, it can be very challenging to think of others and not just ourselves. Our personal struggles often keep our focus inward and not outward towards our brothers and sisters in Christ. If these words resonate with you, I would like to provide some encouragement to break out of this inward focus…
November 22, 2008 Ed. note: This piece is co-authored by Ron Young. Have you ever known someone who had a meteoric rise up the corporate ladder, but seemed to lose himself along the way? Sadly, there are many who fit that bill. Quite possibly, you may even see yourself this way. How did it happen? Was the career…
November 10, 2008 It is a gross understatement to say that we live in very trying times. Our country is at war, our economy is a mess, atheists are one of the fastest growing groups in our country and our families are under siege. My intent is not to depress you, but get your attention on the reality…
October 21, 2008 “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” -Matthew 5:13-14 and 16. Most of us spend the majority of our…
October 8, 2008 When I imagine a fortress, it invokes thoughts of strength, security and protection. The image is comforting, particularly when used in relation to one’s faith. I was speaking with someone I met recently about my faith and learned that he, too, was Catholic. After hearing my story, he explained to me the role faith played…
September 18, 2008 Before I began my RCIA classes in the Fall of 2006, I studied the Catholic faith in earnest. I tend to intellectualize everything and my first thoughts were to learn everything I could about our faith. I quickly realized there was more to our wonderful Faith than knowledge, history and tradition! I then began to…