Welcome to OSJ from Father Dan

As I think many of you know, I walk with a friend for an hour or so several mornings a week.  An all-around good and useful habit, it provides regular aerobic exercise to keep me healthy; (more…)

With the trial of Msgr. Lynn figuring prominently in the “Inquirer” on a daily basis, and with news of the Vatican’s recent rebuke of American women religious, (more…)

Yep.  I’m on my faith-Church-culture “kick” again.  I subscribe to an online Catholic headlines service (sponsored by Paulist Press) which provides me with access to a widely diverse collection of Catholic-related stories daily, (more…)

Ideally, this column would have run LAST week; but “doubting” Thomas intervened.  Anyway, I hope you’ll agree that it is never too late for thanks and congratulations. (more…)

“Thomas Sunday” – a.k.a. Divine Mercy Sunday in recent years – seems a good time to reflect on reconciliation and forgiveness.  After all, one of the transformative effects of Christ’s dying and rising is our redemption, (more…)

Back when I was studying theology before ordination, I had a Dutch Jesuit as my spiritual director for two years.  Frits van der Ven was a “free spirit,” and very full of life for a man nearing seventy. (more…)

Wow.  Palm Sunday again already.  Our FOURTH together!  It’s an interesting feast.  Presumably this moment of triumphal entry toJerusalemreally happened in the earthly life of Jesus; (more…)

Let me start by squelching the rumor that I get paid a commission for my “cultural plugs”; if I did, I would certainly donate my compensation to the parish! (more…)