A few weeks ago, an older gentleman called our outreach center. He used oxygen at home to relieve his labored lungs but was unable to use his portable oxygen concentrator because his power was disconnected at home.

There we stood before an image of Mary called the Black Madonna. I sank to my knees and recounted the legend of this mysteriously warm and weathered painting. Her eyes gazed upon me as I meditated on Saint Luke's steady hand, brushing her image onto this piece of wood that served as the tabletop in the Holy Family's home

Mary's greatest desire is to help us draw closer to her precious Son; her love for Him is overwhelming.

I have always struggled with saying the Rosary. My mind wanders… How do I keep focus?

This week, we are introducing your children to the pediatrician and geneticist who discovered the cause of Down syndrome.

If you watched the very long opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics, you are aware that Christianity was more than the butt of jokes; it was mocked and spat upon. Sacrilege.

“My journey back to faith was a long, meandering road with a few stumbling blocks that took me time to move past. It made good sense that there was a God; however, I didn't understand what kind of God He was — a God who desired our praise caused me to be suspicious….”

Most often you will hear Kelly and I talk about all of the ways in which we must give to life-affirming work.  It can sometimes seem daunting.  This work can be exhausting, at times, both mentally and physically.  Today, however, I want to share with you some of the gifts that pro-life ministry has given to me over the years.

This Fourth of July week, in light of this recent trip to the museum, I have found myself meditating over what it means to be "our brother's keeper"—to truly live you before me.

If we consider this discourse about becoming "real" as an allegory for growing in holiness, the lovely words take on an entirely new meaning. Conforming our hearts to the heart of Christ is the journey of life, the purpose of our existence - the transformation of love for which we were created.

I think about this painting every time we read this Sunday’s Gospel. Just like the storms in my life, my eye immediately moves to the space of panic, chaos, and fear while Jesus fades to the periphery. Rembrandt’s use of light highlights this human weakness—our tendency to quickly forget the presence of God before us.

It is a dangerous world out there friends and neighbors, and it does not appear that the 21st Century is going to be kinder or safer anytime soon. It is even less secure for those in the Pro-Life movement, especially men and especially Catholic men.

Recently, I saw an article entitled, Life is Hard, Jesus Doesn't Make it any Easier...Yup. Following Jesus isn't easy. So few of us live like we believe, and even fewer risk like we believe – because it’s hard.

Each Sunday, on our knees, we hear Christ's words: "This is my body which will be given for you; do this in memory of me." Before our eyes, a miracle beyond our comprehension takes place—His Body and Blood are before us, ready to restore us to new life.

Usually, at the Pelican Project, we sidestep the day's headlines and stick with the fundamentals. I choose to do this because, with four kids and a day job, I can hardly tackle pop culture as it pops. However, the impact of Harrison Butker's speech at Benedictine College is significant, and on this Pentecost Sunday, I’d like to comment on one part of his speech.

“This is what we do for the kids.” They said, “Abstinence and promiscuity.” They went on to explain that this exercise was to show kids what’s happening to their bodies when they have premarital sex

As sure as we will hunger within our lifetime we will die, we will watch loved ones die, we will walk past and through cemeteries, we will stop in traffic for funeral processions and send flowers to funeral homes for those we mourn….The reality is, how we treat the dead mirrors how we treat the living—a human person has an eternal dignity as he/she was created in the image and likeness of God. 

God designed us to have daily physical needs because they point us to a deeper spiritual need that must be nourished. Our body requires food while our soul aches for the Eucharist; our body needs the protection of clothing while our soul desires a veil of virtue; and our body seeks shelter while our soul is restless until it rests in the sanctuary of God's heart.

Much of our content is about love and service because, at its foundation, pro-life work is seeing, loving, and caring for our neighbor. It is a movement of the heart, not a box to check. If we don't see Christ in the homeless man on the park bench and we don't get on our knees to wash the feet of someone who needs it, we don't yet live as we believe.

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, let us pause in prayer and reflect on the sin we'd rather hide from than face.