What Passing the Peace Teaches Us About Connection and Community
Once, while visiting Westminster Abbey in London, I noticed a chime acknowledging the top of the hour. A priest came upon the speaker, reminding us…
My Virtual Camino: Celebrating the Feast of St. James in My Own Backyard
When I started attending St. James Cathedral in Seattle 11 years ago, I said to a friend, “St. James? Which one is he again?” …
Learning to Embrace Silence
Monday morning, in the gym locker room, I share a mirror with a young woman half my age, as we ready ourselves for the day.…
Christ’s Presentation in the Temple: A Light for All of Us
It was early February when I stood in the Zócalo, the large main plaza in Mexico City. My family had come on vacation during mid-winter…
How Finding a Spiritual Director Changed My Life
“Who do you imagine as a spiritual director?” Carla, the coordinator at my local Ignatian Spirituality Center asked. I started to laugh as the image…
Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Joy of Knowing Her Son
Imagine the delight of my devout Native-Mexican mother-in-law when her sixth child, my husband, was born on December 12, the Feast Day of Our Lady…
St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Inspiring Us to Share Our Faith Stories
On the morning of Good Friday, 1896, St. Thérèse of Lisieux woke up coughing. As she pulled the handkerchief from her mouth, she found it…
Clothed in Humility: How I’m Learning From the Holy and Humble
Humility is a concept that is difficult to define. We often think of it as an antithesis to confidence. But this is simply untrue. Many…
How to Plan a Personal Spiritual Retreat
I started taking personal retreats at Benedictine monasteries when I was a student at a Protestant seminary in Portland, Oregon. I was curious about Catholicism,…
What Does It Mean to Be Content? A Reflection on Appreciating What I Have
Last Friday, my sons and I looked out the window in our home in Seattle for two hours. Two hours! It was the best time.…
