Tagged: Rome

Google Maps Rome

Navigation Apps and Repentance: Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent – Year C

One of the most useful apps on a smart phone is the Maps app. You type in an address of the place you want to go and you’re instantly given not only written directions for how to get there, but you also get a map that shows a path for how to get to your destination. You don’t even have to know the name or even the address of a place you’re trying to get to. You can simply type in “food near me” or “shopping near me.”...

Homeless in Rome

Fear, Trust, and the Worthy Wife: Homily for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

The first reading and the gospel can be summarized like this: “Do not be afraid to use what has been entrusted to you.” In both readings something precious is entrusted to someone, and in both readings fear plays an important role. The master entrusts his possessions to his three servants. And the husband entrusts his heart to his wife. The third servant is afraid of the master. And the worthy wife has the Fear of the Lord. To entrust is to put something precious into another’s care. The...

Colosseum in Rome

You’ll Never Guess What a Student Sent Me Today

I was at a diocesan technology meeting this afternoon when I received an alert on my Edmodo app. That was a bit unusual, because school is out, but I thought maybe a teacher somewhere was trying to connect with me. To my great surprise, it was a direct message from a student who had just graduated. She sent me the following picture of the Colosseum in Rome where she and her family are on vacation. It made my day. Why? Because this year we read Quo Vadis? by...

Italian Landscape at Sunset

When St. Francis of Assisi Returned from Rome: A Poem

I don’t read nearly as much poetry as I’d like to, but I recently read this lovely poem by St. Francis of Assisi and wanted to share it: When I Returned from Rome A bird took flight. And a flower in a field whistled at me as I passed. I drank from a stream of clear water. And at night the sky untied her hair and I fell asleep clutching a tress of God’s. When I returned from Rome, all said “Tell us the great news,” and with...

Bishop Cupich receives a gift from Pope Benedict

Learning about Church from Bishop Cupich on Facebook

Our bishop, Bishop Blase Cupich, is visiting Rome this week for an ad limina visit. In a first for the Diocese of Spokane, he’s using Facebook to share his journey with the rest of us. It’s been a great learning experience for me and for my students. Each morning I wake up and check Facebook to see what I can share with the 8th graders  during Religion class. After morning prayer and attendance, I bring up the diocesan Facebook page on the screen and we see what’s new...