Along with many others in the world today, my travel plans this summer were affected by disappointing cancellations, postponements, forbidden border crossings, and destination changes. My husband and I were initially looking forward to accompanying his parents to the Holy Land this June, a first-time pilgrimage for all of us. We were counting our daily … Read More
Finding Jesus in the Wild West
In late 2019, I had booked and planned a trip to Poland and Germany for May of 2020 with a fellow coworker here at Tekton Ministries. We were going to explore the homeland of St. John Paul II and then end our pilgrimage with a quick stop in Germany, where we were going to attend … Read More
The Goodness of God’s Answers
Have you ever prayed fervently for something to happen only to have the exact opposite thing occur? And you couldn’t understand why in the moment, but later on it became really clear? If so, you are in good company! St. Monica, like most mothers, worried about her son, the future St. Augustine, and the state of his soul. When … Read More
How to Make the Virgin Mary Queen of your Life
Crowning Mary with a garland of flowers while singing songs and celebrating a special Mass was a favorite tradition in my Catholic school. It’s from this simple act repeated every year for 12 years that made Mary queen of my heart. Mary’s queenship is a direct result of the doctrine of her Assumption, naturally flowing to when she was crowned Queen of Heaven. … Read More
Living Life on the Mountaintop
After five too many months of being stuck in my Indianapolis home for a series of quarantines, curfews, and stay-at-home orders, I most excitedly hopped a plane and made my way to the great state of Colorado. This summer has been a rough one. I found myself surprised when I learned of kids starting school … Read More
Prayer of Examen
St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose feast day we celebrate on July 31st, has gifted the church with a unique expression of spirituality. His Spiritual Exercises are integral in the lives of the members of the Society of Jesus, more commonly called the Jesuits, which he founded in 1540. Though few others are able to participate … Read More
The Two Freedoms
The month of July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus – a devotion that has existed within the Church since the 16th century. July also happens to be a big month for the United States, the month in which the most uniquely American holiday occurs – Independence Day, or the Fourth of … Read More
Be a Living Sanctuary
“If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15 I made my first pilgrimage ever in September, 2018 to Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is a place of alleged apparitions … Read More
Home is Where the Heart is
Did you know that the months of the year have different themes in the Catholic Church? The traditional dedications for the months are:January – Holy Name of Jesus February – Holy Family March – St. Joseph April – Blessed Sacrament May – Blessed Mother June – Sacred HeartJuly – Precious Blood August – Immaculate Heart … Read More
Living a Life Surrounded by the Eucharist
This year, I’ve been particularly noticing the great amount of celebrations within the Church calendar, especially those since Holy Week. I don’t know if it’s just a special quirk of extra attentiveness, or if the tumultuous events that have filled 2020 so far have kept me looking out for the hidden brightness in our world … Read More
The Renaissance Man Cave Revisited
It can be hard to reflect on an experience that you’ve never had before. Shortly after I began my employment at Tekton, I was tasked with writing a reflection on the Upper Room. Having never set foot in the same country as the Upper Room, I scoured the Internet for all the info it had … Read More
What is a Novena and Where did it Begin?
Novena: a form of worship consisting of special prayers or services on nine successive days (Oxford dictionary) From the Latin novem, meaning nineUpon the death of a Pope, a nine-day period of mourning is observed. We last saw this in 2005, whereupon the death of (now Saint) Pope John Paul II, his papal funeral Mass … Read More
No Special Reason
In 2013 I was blessed with the opportunity to join a local church group on pilgrimage to Spain and Portugal. We began by walking the English Route of the Camino de Santiago into Santiago de Compostela, Spain, followed by a visit to the shrine at Fatima, Portugal. Though it was one pilgrimage, I had two … Read More
Family Time with Fulton Sheen
This article is an excerpt from our new eBook Homes, Hobbies, & Holiness: Living with the Saints in your Domestic Church. “What is the difference between work and play? Work has a purpose, play has none, but there must be time in life for purposeless things, even foolishness.” Venerable Fulton SheenThe first time I came to … Read More
Walking into your Domestic Church
This article is an excerpt from our new eBook Homes, Hobbies, & Holiness: Living with the Saints in your Domestic Church. Whether we realize it or not, the home is an exciting place. It’s the place where all activity flows, the place where you welcome the stranger, the place where you feed the hungry. It’s … Read More