Mardi Gras The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to Medieval Europe. Our American rituals are rooted mainly with practices dating back to 17th Century France when King Louis XIV commissioned explorers to establish colonies in the New World. French-Canadians, Jean...
UPON THIS ROCKRead on blog or Reader Reactivated Podcast A year ago, working with a wonderful team at Rockhurst, we activated a podcast with the same title as my blog: “Upon This Rock.” We began by interviewing Alvin Brooks, for whom the future Alvin Brooks Center...
Year of Prayer Two thousand and twenty-four has been named a Year of Prayer by the Holy Father. This designation is made in preparation for the Jubilee or Holy Year of 2025. In a sense, this is to be a quiet year amidst the thunder of war, noise of political...
University Shift Two years ago, Father Tom Curran, president of Rockhurst University, asked if I would be willing to join the college staff to advance its mission. He indicated that I had a unique position as an alumnus who is a diocesan priest that served in the...
Gospel of Peace Father John Dear recently published his latest book, The Gospel of Peace, in which he offers commentary on Jesus’ mission of nonviolence. In it, he analyzes the words and actions of Jesus from a lens that magnifies Christ’s role and purpose as the...
UPON THIS ROCK The Magi’s Magis “Magis” is a Latin adverb that roughly translates into English as “greater” or “more” or “higher degree.” It was made popular as a noun (the more) by Jesuits that follow the spiritual path of their founder, Ignatius of Loyola, who...
