What image of Mary. the mother of God, do you remember seeing as a child? When you close your eyes and imagine Mary today, who do you see? What color is her hair? Her eyes? Her skin? What type of clothes is she wearing in your imagination? As a kid growing up in a tight-knitContinue reading “Whitewashed Mary and White Supremacy”
Tag Archives: Education
Loyalty and memory in response to the signs
He said to them … “In the evening you say, ‘Tomorrow will be fair, for the sky is red’;and, in the morning, ‘Today will be stormy, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to judge the appearance of the sky, but you cannot judge the signs of the times.” – Matthew 16:2-4 MuchContinue reading “Loyalty and memory in response to the signs”
adventures in the Spirit, part 4
Living by the Spirit that is Truth is not comfortable. We can feel crammed into corners, we have to give up control, we have to trust others. Sometimes we are exhausted but still have to keep pushing ourselves. Our bodies can hurt, but we still have to carry heavy loads and keep moving onward. WhenContinue reading “adventures in the Spirit, part 4”
adventures in the Spirit, part 3
A wise priest once helped me understand what Spirit means. Spirit, he said, is all that relates beyond boundaries. Our Spirits can transcend time, place and bodily nature to relate to our God, the Great Source. Jesus said His Spirit would be with us always. At times, it seems as if the spirits of thoseContinue reading “adventures in the Spirit, part 3”
adventures in the Spirit, part 2
The Spirit of Truth has a lot to teach us when we open our minds and hearts. No matter what our motivations are, God is alive and hard at work. God speaks to us through the stories of our lives and through the adventures we live through. As we move, we do the work of tryingContinue reading “adventures in the Spirit, part 2”
adventures in the Spirit, part 1
I am an urban-educator who grew up in the country. I often feel like my entire life is a Truth-seeking adventure. I grew up in Northeast Iowa in a very rural community. Currently, my parents live in an unincorporated village where the town welcome sign proudly announces 27 residents. Practically everyone I knew growing up looked andContinue reading “adventures in the Spirit, part 1”
love upon my heart for teens like Trayvon
A teenage boy, Trayvon Martin, was killed a month ago in Florida. Since then his death has heated up the national news and sparked highly emotional questions, comments, protests, prayer, rallies and vigils. We’re angry, lamenting and mourning. In our hearts we know something is wrong and we are acting for peace. Last week aContinue reading “love upon my heart for teens like Trayvon”
advice at the start
Here is a poem drafted from advice given to me by experienced, wise Franciscans as I set out to start my ministry at this high school three years ago. I am so grateful that they warned me and gave me good blessings when it began … If you think you can do this without makingContinue reading “advice at the start”
“What if it’s too hard?!”
My students are brilliant. They endure so much and remain hopeful and faithful. Prayers of gratitude pour out of them easier than on-time assignments. Every day I hear praise that God gave them another day. It’s amazing to me. But, it shouldn’t be. They’re teenagers and they know they have a life of greatness aheadContinue reading ““What if it’s too hard?!””
all the elements
elementary candles burning, wooden table: smoke, dust, gas, wind, heat, wax, light, flame, smell, hear bread and wine: solid, liquid, food, drink, taste cups, plates: stone, cold, earth, clay, art, see wet feet: blood, dirt, mess, water, mud, touch secondary mixedContinue reading “all the elements”