As human beings, we are conditioned to be selfish. To demonstrate express interest in oneself is part of our survival instinct. Spending our attention focused on ourselves allows us to become aware of our own needs. When we feel sick, hungry, sleepy—we notice these needs and care for ourselves accordingly. And it keeps us alive.

I have known people...

It’s almost Mother’s day, and soon time to plant the vegetable garden! I believe gardening is good for the soul. It’s been man’s work since the beginning of time (Gen 2:15), and something about seeing the fruits of our efforts of physical labor is incredibly satisfying.

Waiting and watching plants grow is truly an exercise in patience. As one of my...

Last week, I discussed various types of milk available for the health-conscious consumer. This week, as promised, we'll explore some of the milk alternatives out there, and there are many options!

As regular milk is a healthy blend of protein, fat, and vitamins and minerals, many of the alternative milk options strive to provide a similar nutrient...

Where did that bottle of milk come from? Was it the cheapest one on sale this week at your local grocer, or have you met the cows that produced it and the people who bottle it? And does that matter?

Dairy is one of the recommended components of a healthy diet, according to the food pyramid and the new "Choose My Plate". Why? Well, why do infants d...

It was time for a much-needed retreat from life.  Always multi-tasking, why not visit with the Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth in Northern Pennsylvania, who happen to live ten minutes from my grandparents?, I thought. No matter it was a “discernment retreat”; I just wanted my quiet time. 

The nervousness began when Sr. Christina request...

The world is a big place, yet in some sense it is quite small. My visit to Peru was my first trip to South America, and I arrived with an open mind, devoid of expectations.

The airport in Lima was just like any other, a barrage of advertisements on the wall, people bustling about, and drivers asking "Taxi? Taxi?" as I responded with the universal...

Christmas is a very special time of year. Yet how easy it is to become caught up in the busyness of the season! Instead of filling our lives with the peace of Christ’s presence, the world draws us into the very opposite emotional state: rushed, stressful, frantically struggling to finish those last few things before the holidays.  

Where does...