January has always been my least favorite month, partly because the weather is so cold, the Christmas celebrations and family gatherings are behind us, and our churches and homes go back to their "ordinary" appearances. I always feel a bit blue in January. But today I got challenged in an unexpected way to take a new look at January. Dynamic Cathol...

Rejoice in the Season of Christmas with Youth January 1, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Mary, the Mother of God: We, too, are Theotokos! by Leota Roesch (high school) Praying with Mary: Direction for Life by Cheryl M. Tholcke (high school)Following Mary's Example: Saying Yes to God by Ann Marie Eckert (high school)The Many Faces of Mary: Who is S...

In a holiday appeal from a Soup Kitchen here in Seattle, a homeless man described his conversion in this way: "I used to be a hopeless drug addict, now I am a drugless hope addict." What would it mean to be a hope addict? It doesn't mean hoping when that is the popular thing to do or when all the signs point towards a successful outcome. Being a ho...