By Michelle DiFranco photo credit: Shane Folkertsma I remember one day during lunch duty at the kids’ school, I saw a plate of dark chocolate and mint brownies sitting on the countertop in the kitchen. They looked so good that my impulse was to lift the clear lid and sneak one while no [...]
photo credit: Aaron Joseph Reverend Doctor David Grafton begins a lecture about burial practices in the modern era with two anecdotes, both designed to convey similar points: times are changing. In one anecdote, a funeral director laments the waning religiosity of funeral services, noting that many families opt for the quickest and cheapest [...]
DUCK RAGU GNOCCHI Gnocchi: 1 Lb. Floury Potatoes 1 Lg. Egg Salt + Pepper 1 Lb. Plain Flour A Drizzle of Olive Oil Duck Ragu: 2 Tbs. Olive Oil 1 Onion, finely chopped 1 Carrot 1 Celery Stick 4 Garlic Cloves 1 Red Chili 1 Red Pepper 5 Oz. Tomato Puree 16 Fl Oz. Red [...]
by Joe Pisani Several years ago when I was rushing to work, weaving in and out of commuters leaving Grand Central, I raced across Lexington Avenue and almost plowed into a young woman with a cellphone pressed to her ear, who was stumbling in a daze around the corner. Just as I was about to [...]
Please read the story here. photo credit: Photo Courtesy of Saint Thomas More Chapel & Center at Yale
Archbishop Leonard P. Blair Soon, the season of goodwill and peace on earth will be upon us, and it will be celebrated at many levels, some profoundly religious, and some not religious at all. I’d like to propose something simple. Each of us sets aside 15 minutes of complete peace and quiet [...]
by Joe Pisani I’ve often believed — please forgive this absolutely despicable thought — that the holiday season brings out the worst in us. Now that I got that out, let me explain what I’m talking about.For me, it has always seemed that the time from Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year’s is sort of [...]
By Michelle DiFranco For several Advents now, I have felt that I should observe the tradition of using an Advent wreath outside of church and in my own home. I keep meaning to do it. It keeps not happening. There is some psychological barrier that has me dragging my feet when it comes to putting [...]
By Father Joe Krupp Dear Fr. Joe: I heard that Christmas is simply a pagan feast that Christians took and made about Jesus. Is that true? Does that mean Jesus wasn’t born on Christmas Day? If he wasn’t, what are we celebrating? It’s a great time for these questions – with all the information out [...]