I have a long history with Joan of Arc — one that goes all the way back to my 8th grade confirmation and choosing her for my patron Saint. Funny story: I almost didn’t choose her, based solely on her name. I had secretly preferred the name “Lauren” to my own for most of my early life, and so I actually contemplated choosing St. Lawrence and requesting to shorten the name to “Lauren” so that my lifelong dream of being named Lauren could finally come true! Seriously, kids are so funny! Turns…

You know, sometimes we can allow our fear of “offending” somebody get in the way of saying the very thing that we know will set them free. Why is that? If we’re being honest, sometimes it’s because we would rather be liked by somebody than to say that difficult thing that NEEDS to be said. Other times, we genuinely fear hurting somebody’s feelings so much so, that we remain silent — even though, deep down, we know they DESERVE the truth that will set them free. The third option, which is the…

Can a Catholic vote for a pro-abortion candidate -- it's a great question. Let's take a deep dive into the question.

Let me say this right up front, I have “cancelled” people in my life before — so I completely get it! I get the frustration, the anger the absolutely mystifying behavior that makes you want to “cancel” somebody — to write them off, to give up hope and try to forget they exist — I get it! But here is the thing: WE DON’T CANCEL PEOPLE. WE LOVE THEM! At least, we try to love them, the best we can. If you claim to be a Christian or anybody of good will in this world, you have to see that…

Hello everybody! Today, I thought I would share a few videos to help you break through all the confusion and allow your conscience to be formed by some amazing priests. Can I just say how grateful I am for the amazing priests that we have in our Church? Sometimes we tend to focus on the “bad ones” — but perhaps more fruitful is to pray for all our priests and to highlight the good ones, ya know? There are so many amazing priests I have encountered throughout the years, and I am so grateful…

I know we all know that just because today begins a new year, that all the troubles of this year will not be behind us — but still, there is always something so hopeful about entering into a new year. It’s kind of like the beginning of every school year, where hope is alive and I’m just sure that this will be the year that I “nail it” as a teacher and a mom and all the other titles I hold — but a few months in and I’m like “maybe next year”. Ha! And yet, we hope — well, at least, I do — and…

You and I are not enough -- but that is okay, becasue Jesus is. Learning to embrace your goodness, while accepting there is more you were meant to be.

A family hike to St. Anthony's Chapel in Korčula, Croatia and how it reminded us to keep running the race towards Heaven.

A family hike to St. Anthony's Chapel in Korčula, Croatia and how it reminded us to keep running the race towards Heaven.

How’s your Lent going? Lent is a funny thing. On Fat Tuesday, I was craving absolutely nothing — but come Midnight, Ash Wednesday, suddenly I was craving everything. Why is that? I even found myself rationalizing, “Well, it’s 12:02, does Ash Wednesday begin now, or when I get up?” Really, those were thoughts going through my head. We humans can be so weak. Recently, a friend posted a meme on Facebook. It showed 5 images of various sufferings: the men in orange before they were beheaded by…

Let's talk about the grace of the Sacrament of Marriage, why it matters, and how it can get you through anything!

Hello Everybody! I hope you are well! I am currently attacking the Christmas decorations that are STILL up! I can no longer arribute my failure to put away the stockings, wreaths and Nativity set as a nod to the fact that the Christmas Season traditionally lasted until February 2nd. It’s time! I wanted to invite you to an amazing conference happening March 19-21st. It is called the Caritas Conference, and you can sign up for free. You can join in for all or whatever portion you choose. Also…

Happy New Year, everybody! I just wanted to share a podcast I was on recently with Christine of Catholic Mama Podcast, talking about learning to pray as a Mom (or a Dad!). Believe it or not, it’s way different than praying as a single person in so many ways — at least, it’s different because you need to learn to be flexible and to go with the punches. Seriously, couldn’t resist this picture below when I was thinking of praying as a mom. We came upon it in Florence, and at the time I was…

“Try to put in the hearts of your children a love for home… to long to be with their families.” -Mother Teresa- Mother Teresa knew a lot about family and she knew a lot about poverty, and despite all the suffering she witnessed in Calcutta, she believed that the spiritual poverty of the Western World was far worse than the material poverty of Calcutta. She saw a sadness, a lack of belonging and a despair in the midst of the abundant monetary riches of the West. She saw it, and she called it…

A shoutout to Catholic women living lives of freedom, and a response to the stereotype that Catholic women are imprisoned by the Patriarchy

This week we celebrated the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, a Saint our family has always felt close to over the years. Once upon a time, we even took a pilgrimage to Melaka, Malaysia, so we could visit his original burial site and walk the streets he walked on his way to the East. Not easy to get to, but let me tell you that in a predominantly Muslim country, the influence of St. Francis Xavier filled Melaka with a Catholic Spirit that is still alive and well today. Honestly, when you walk…