“Two words you may have noticed repeated throughout this blog are ‘fellowship’ and ‘meal,’” writes Fr. Jim Fenstermaker, C.S.C. “It’s not surprising that the two are paired together so often. In a sense, isn’t that what Eucharist is all about? As parish priests, we strive to strengthen the sense of fellowship at our Sunday Eucharist so that our parishioners then go forth to spread that fellowship, that communion, with all they meet.” Read More

“Somehow, I imagine that Lent will be a bit different here,” writes Seminarian Mark DeMott, C.S.C., from Holy Cross Lake View Secondary School in Uganda. “For the people of Uganda, meals are generally very simple – and almost always meatless.  At school, we eat posho, (imagine day-old Cream of Wheat that has solidified after a day in the refrigerator), rice, beans and bitter greens on a daily basis.  Perhaps most noticeably, almost everyone here can be considered to be ‘in need.’  … What is the place of fasting in a place like this?  What is the place of sacrifice?” Read More

“While our choir isn't made up of music majors (or angels), we still come together every week to practice and lead the music for our liturgies,” writes Mr. Michael Eardley, a Candidate at Moreau Seminary, about the seminary choir. “As a religious community, praying in common the Liturgy of the Hours and daily Mass are integral parts of our lives. To be part of the choir, then, is an important and enjoyable way of enriching our community prayer and offering our time and talents to the Lord and one another.” Read More

“Every year, the Villa Maria Hall retreat begins with a game called, ‘What’s in the Bag?’ writes Fr. Charlie McCoy, C.S.C., from the University of Portland where he teaches mathematics and lives in residence at Villa Maria Hall. “We begin our men’s hall retreat, their first ‘adult’ retreat, with something that is little more than a children’s game; it’s just kindergarten ‘Show and Tell’ with a twist. And each year, it reveals spiritual mysteries ...”

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“It was much more than youthful energy let loose on a project that I saw in these young missionaries. It was really zeal, simply defined as great energy or enthusiasm for a cause or objective,” writes Fr. Don Fetters, C.S.C., about Summer Mission 2012 in our Holy Cross parish in Peru. “Blessed Moreau chose the word “zeal” to insist with his brothers on the urgent intensity of the mission and the intentionality of the energy dedicated to it.” Read More

“This experience gave me new awareness and sensitivity to the inner turmoil of not having a consistent place to lay one’s head,” writes Fr. Eric Schimmel, C.S.C., the Director of André House, about having spent four nights moving from place to place. “Our homeless guests experience this every night. Some have a regular place they sleep – an assigned cot in a shelter, or a regular camp sight somewhere in the city. Most do not.” Read More

“It is out of this call to be a religious and priest that God, through Holy Cross, has chosen me to study. This means that not only am I studying to make a contribution to knowledge, but I am studying in order to understand our faith more fully,” writes Fr. Kevin Grove, C.S.C., from his doctoral studies at Cambridge. “That’s what theology is: faith seeking understanding. And a contribution to this understanding, which does take a lot of work, is one that can be preached, taught, and can be useful to others on their journeys to life with our Lord.” Read More

“‘Jesus lives here.’  That was one of the responses that we received from our students when we asked them to reflect on their experience of St. Adalbert School and what makes it special,” writes Fr. Peter Pacini, C.S.C., the pastor of St. Adalbert & St. Casimir Parishes in South Bend, Ind. “That first grader stated succinctly, and with a wisdom revealed only to children, why our educational mission at St. Adalbert’s matters. … St. Adalbert School is a beacon of faith and hope for children growing up in a very tough environment.” Read More

Fr. Wendel regards himself as having been blessed at every turning point in his life as a priest. He didn’t choose assignments but was always invited to take the next step. Looking back on the last 56 years, he sees himself as having responded to the invitations when they came. This has led to a very fulfilling life. Read More

“In a rapidly developing world, mountains remain secluded, mysterious places,” writes Mr. Mark DeMott, a seminarian from Moreau on a ministry placement in East Africa this year. “Severe weather makes their majestic peaks uninhabitable, yet we still have a desire to climb them.  Something draws us there!  Reaching toward the heavens yet covered in clouds, our tradition of faith portrays mountains as the dwelling place of God.”

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