PARISH VOICES

"Fake it till you make it." It's a popular self-help phrase that encourages us to act like the person we want to become. Pretend you're confident, calm, or capable until eventually you actually feel that way. But at its core, it's about performing a version of ourselves we don't authentically possess: hiding real feelings, presenting a polished exterior, and pushing down our struggles as if everything is fine.

Have you ever become ashamed or afraid when you've thought of praying for forgiveness? Asking for forgiveness is priceless.

As we draw near to the beginning of Lent, we're called to examine ourselves more deeply, to clear away what dims the light of Christ within us. This holy season invites us to look honestly at our lives, not with harsh judgment, but with loving and careful attention. We are called to prepare our hearts as we would prepare a room for an honored guest. In this spirit of preparation, St. Basil the Great offers timeless wisdom: Be attentive to yourself. That is, observe yourself c

Well-Baby Check-Ups and Spiritual Health Most parents realize that keeping our babies healthy requires taking them to the pediatrician for their "well baby" check-ups. At each visit the doctor weighs and measures our kids to make sure they are growing at a healthy rate, checking eyesight and hearing, and answering any questions about behavior and health issues. As parents, we can't wait for our children to reach important milestones – the first pounds gained, sitting up strai

To quote Fr. Tom, (again!), what a blessing we have in the Church! The church provides us with many tools to help us remember, enrich, and encourage our walk with Christ. This fills us up with His grace, mercy, and love. Many of us know what it is like to walk without Jesus in our lives—whether we met him later in life, or like many we may have done a bit of wandering away from the church at times. The chorus would respond with an overwhelming “Hallelujah” that walking throu

The Nature of Human Relationships It is hard to imagine a deep friendship or marriage without some sort of forgiveness being asked of one another. As we dance together in life, we have surely stepped on each other's toes at some point and have felt hurt by the other and, for sure, have regretfully caused suffering as well. You know the feeling. When this happens, we will feel awkward, distant, and perhaps angry or become silent. We feel blamed and judged, wronged. Or we blame