Have you ever had one of those moments where you hear something for the first time, even though you have heard it a million times before? That was what happened to me at Mass the other day when I heard the priest saying the Eucharist prayer over the bread and wine: “He said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying: ‘Take this all of you, and drink from it.’” It struck me to my core. Take this – don’t wait for it. Take it. Now. All of you – not the ones in th

It can be hard to see God's work or believe that there is a plan for us when things are going as wrong as could be. Yet, I have found that it is in those moments of darkness that the light of Christ shines the brightest if we can only look up and see. As I prepare to give my retreat on faith and mental health (sign up here!), this song expresses what I know to be true and hope to share with you. If you're waiting, have hope. If your wait is over and you've seen the fruits of

When we vacation, my family and I love to head to the mountains and national parks. There is something about being outside and hiking for hours that refreshes our souls. Without anything to separate or distract us we talk, we laugh, we discuss, we confront, and we discover together. You never know what will come up, so I was interested when the topic of confession was tossed out by my teenager. There’s a teaching that your venial (or minor) sins are forgiven each time you go

There was a line in this song that stopped me cold when I heard it. "His final breath upon the cross is now alive in me." Have you ever thought of it that way? The breath of Christ, taken from Him on the cross, was given so you could have it. The breath of life is yours for the taking. Do you want it? Do you live it? Do you know what that means or what it looks like? Can you even imagine? I challenge you today to live this truth for yourself. If you don't feel it, ask for it.

Faith and mental health have a particularly soft spot in my heart. I love helping people find their way in the midst of the storms of life. I am privileged to be a part of many blessings and graces that come from the struggles and crosses that we are given to bear. If you want to discover how to find your way to peace and hope in the face of anxiety, depression, or just the stress of life, join me on September 14. Take a breath. Lay down your burden. We can do this together.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:16a) When Jesus says these words to his disciples, they ring through time and into our hearts. Have you ever thought about that? You have been chosen. From the beginning of time, you have been chosen for a purpose: “and I appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will remain – so that whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” (John 15:16b) Here’s the rub - we get to choose whether to accept it or not. Wha

Today's song can be a little tricky. When things are going great in our lives, and we can feel the blessings pouring over us, it is easy to say that God loves us. When times are hard and life is challenging, it's a bit harder to believe even though it is so true. I've shared some really challenging stories in the last few weeks, and it is perfectly reasonable to question how a loving God could allow each one. Where was He when these events happened? Why didn't He stop them? I

The last two weeks, I have shared stories of young women who, for legitimate reasons, wish to remain anonymous. So when the family in this video decided to remove the mask of anonymity and tell the story of their son's childhood sexual abuse, I was so deeply moved and incredibly proud of them. I know this family well. As they tell their story, I want you to know that this is a family who eats dinner together, attends and is active in their church community, with attentive par

"Find your rest in the arms of a God who won't let go." (Casting Crowns) Sometimes we need to stop the fight, take a break from the struggle, and go to the open arms of the one who loves us best. From there we can see how much of the struggle is actually filled with grace and blessing; we can discover the healing in the wounds that have been revealed. Don't walk. Run into those arms of love.

Have you heard my talk “Fearless Love”? Part of CatholicATX’s Love and Responsibility 2018 series, my talk is on Soundcloud for you to hear anytime you want. We are called to love and to be in relationship with God and one another, but what does that look like? Single, married, religious, dating, waiting? If you're looking for ways to discover, discern, and embrace your vocation, this talk is for you. Click here to listen in and tell me what you think!