stceceliastgabriel

Help a Mother Out

“It’s Mother’s Day in the U.K. today. So, I would like to dedicate this [award] to the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart. We all come from a lineage of women who continue to create against all odds. Thank you for honoring me with this award.” So said the Irish actress Jessie Buckley upon receiving the Academy Award for best actress this March. The joy and admiration with which sheContinue reading “Help a Mother Out “

Beiberchella

Coachella is a 6-day music festival that takes place in California each year, drawing crowds of 250,000 people over the course of two weekends. Over the years, it has featured top performers and has become a magnet for lifestyle influencers and celebrities. Full disclosure: I have never attended Coachella. In fact, I probably would not have known it was happening if I hadn’t come across a video by Fr. Mark Mary Ames, CFR in which he offered aContinue reading “Beiberchella “

What Gives Hope

About a week ago, I attended a fundraising gala for my elementary school alma mater, St. Theresa’s in Trumbull. The guest of honor was Fr. Mike Schmitz, who is the chaplain of the Catholic Center at the University of Minnesota in Duluth and a popular speaker whose talks and homilies have many millions of online views. At the gala, he spoke about how his workContinue reading “What Gives Hope “

“Do No Harm”

Back in the early 1990s, the “Weekend Update” segment of Saturday Night Live was hosted by comedian Norm MacDonald. Among other things, MacDonald was famous for telling jokes in the segment about O.J. Simpson, which, despite being hilarious, ultimately got him fired from the show. Another one of MacDonald’s infamous targets was Dr. Jack Kevorkian, an outspoken proponent and practitioner of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, nicknamed “Dr. Death.” On the show, the fakeContinue reading ““Do No Harm” “

A Generous Heart

Ian Bravado wants to be a priest. A senior at Plainville High School, where he is the captain of the varsity soccer team, Bravado was the subject of an article featured in The Stamford Advocate last Sunday (4/5/26) that’s well worth reading. From a young age, Bravado showed deep interest in many things, particularly his Catholic faith. To his own surprise, during his freshman year of highContinue reading “A Generous Heart “

“He is Risen”

On Easter Sunday, 20 years ago, Pope Benedict XVI gave his first Easter Urbi et Orbi speech to the city of Rome and to the world, following the tradition established by his predecessors. From the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square, he repeated to the crowds the words of the angel to the women who went to Our Lord’s tomb the morning of thatContinue reading ““He is Risen” “

Be Reconciled

Suddenly we are launched into Holy Week, when life in the Church intensifies – including the confession schedule. Over the next several days priests will hear an enormous number of confessions, please God. It begins with “Reconciliation Monday,” when priests around the diocese will hear confessions from 3-9pm at certain designated parishes. That day, most of the priests here in Stamford will spend at least two hours (often more) hearing confessions at either St. Cecilia’s or St. Mary’s. On Tuesday, confessionsContinue reading “Be Reconciled “

Smashing the Idols

“When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” This adage from the 18th century literary figure Samuel Johnson was referenced by former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse in a recent interview about his experience of living while dying from metastatic pancreatic cancer. Sasse received his diagnosis this past December and was given only a few months toContinue reading “Smashing the Idols “

The Green Desert

The next week and a half is kind of a “sweet spot” during the season of Lent. In the next ten days we get not just one but two solemnities – St. Joseph’s Day (3/19) and the Annunciation (3/25), both of which provide a welcome respite from the disciplines of Lent. It’s also a great time for the Irish, for those of Irish descent, and for the countless multitudes who wish they were. St.Continue reading “The Green Desert “

The Passion of Jimmy Lai

When he was 8 years old, Jimmy Lai got a job carrying luggage to earn money after his mother was arrested by Chinese Communist Party officials and sent to a labor camp. One day, a customer tipped him with a half-eaten chocolate bar. After tasting it, Lai was desperate to know where the man was from. “Hong Kong,” the man said. Three years later, in 1960, Lai escapedContinue reading “The Passion of Jimmy Lai “