Money & Stewardship

An Advent gift of silence

A few years ago, our family spent three days at Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon. We found ourselves drawn in by the beauty of the monks praying the Liturgy of the Hours in that magnificent church. Possibly the most pleasant was Night Prayer as the monks finished their prayers singing…

What success looks like

There’s a reason so many job interviews include the question “What does success look like?” Whether the interviewer or interviewee asks the question, it clarifies expectations for everyone. It helps in other settings too. A family traveling to Disneyland can use it to determine whether a successful trip means waiting…

Finding calm in the storm

As fall settles in, we are coming to terms with dealing with the coronavirus without the consolation of pleasant weather and familiar routines. Characterized by pandemic, economic disruption, social unrest and even murder hornets, it’s no overstatement to describe this year as stormy.

Beneath the surface

I didn’t know what I was doing the first time I pruned the fig tree in our yard. I approached it like a sculpture where you just cut away branches until it looks good. Of course, within weeks my mistake was obvious as the new growth exploded out of the…

Fatherhood and the ‘transcendent third’

The philosopher Aristotle argued that the best friendships are grounded in a shared love of the good. In his book The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis built on this idea using the metaphor that, in true friendship, we don’t stand face to face looking at one another, we stand side by…

Everything is a gift

"We received life not to bury it, but to put it into play; not to keep it, but to give it. Whoever is with Jesus knows that the secret to possessing life is to give it.”

Make space for God

A number of parishes and schools in the archdiocese have been screening a movie called LIKE to parents and students. It documents the problems created by excessive social media use and asks the question “Are you using technology, or is technology using you?” Though this movie raises more questions than…

Three simple prayers to help you lay a strong foundation

A family friend of ours, George, coached judo. George always taught that, whether throwing or defending a throw, you need a strong foundation. The best judoka constantly work on their footwork to establish that base.

How to have great conversations with your kids

It is always good to talk with our children, but certain great conversations truly make a difference, echoing in their minds throughout their lives. We parents (and grandparents) possess a unique ability to initiate and guide these conversations so that our children can discover their primary identity as a son…