When Mother Teresa visited New Bedford, Massachusetts in June 1995, she told those of us gathered at St. Lawrence Martyr Church: “Abortion is the greatest evil of today.” Never one to mince words, Mother Teresa’s courage, truthfulness and charity were palpable. Parents today need similar fortitude, honesty and love to be able to discuss the hard topic of unplanned pregnancies and abortion with their children.

An amusing tale, repeated by Carl Sandburg in his comprehensive biography of Abraham Lincoln, places the future president at a party hosted by the family of Mary Todd, with whom he was romantically smitten.

When Miss Todd asked Lincoln if he might want to dance with her, the awkward, gangling, country lawyer enthusiastically replied, “Yes, Ma’am! In the worst way!”

As a convert, Lent is a time of year for which I have great fondness.  What makes the season so special for me, personally, is not only the refocus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving, but the memory of that Lent that led up to the Easter Vigil when I was confirmed.  It was a joyful time at the end of my journey to Catholicism, which was long and winding.  There were many events and people who played a part in my conversion, but I was most profoundly impacted by women religious, both as individuals and by what they represent. 

I’m guessing you’re Catholic.” Ania nodded. “Me too,” the tour guide replied. “They’d destroy the church in Poland if they could, but there are too many of us.” (Excerpt from “Ania: Behind the Iron Curtain” by Lois Chance, written in collaboration with Anna Kowal and published by Outskirts Press).

This winter has certainly brought us swinging temperatures. Snowing one day and in the sixties the next. Freezing temps for four days, two days of blissfully warm sunshine (no jacket needed), then more snow! Green grass peeking through on one side of the yard, and on the opposite side is frozen solid ground with a thin layer of ice. How does this effect our landscapes? Will they survive? What’s a gardener to do? Is there a prayer for that?

CASTLE ROCK. Knights of Columbus Council No. 8909 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Castle Rock is offering copies of “A Knight’s Rosary” at a cost of $4 each, which covers shipping and handling. 

Containing short and long meditations on the original 15 mysteries, the book has been updated to include meditations on the Luminous mysteries, instructions on praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy with two sets of meditations, articles on holy water and sacramentals, a blessing prayer for home and family, and more.

Send $4 per book, plus any donation to: A Knight’s Rosary, 4936 Shelby Drive, Castle Rock, CO, 80104. NOTE: Credit cards are not accepted for mail orders. Additional donations will help the Knights continue their work.

It was a great privilege for me to participate in the Synod on Young People in the fall of 2018. Along with about 300 other bishops and ecclesial experts from around the world, I spent four weeks in Rome exploring the complex question of the Church’s outreach to the young.

Ash Wednesday liturgies and Lenten devotions through March. 

(Ed. Note: Parish Holy Week Schedules will be included at a later date.)

COLORADO SPRINGS. Sister Joseph Marie Jacobsen, baptized Mary Lee, died Jan. 27. Sister Joseph Marie, known as “JM,” was a consummate professional with a very quick sense of humor.

Sister Joseph Marie’s vigil will be at March 6 at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace Chapel at Benet Hill Monastery, 3190 Benet Lane, Colorado Springs, 80921. Mass of Christian Burial will be March 7 at 2 p.m. at Benet Hill Monastery.

COLORADO SPRINGS. On Jan. 23, a group of 27 young people and adult chaperones gathered in the early morning hours at the Catholic Pastoral Center to get on a bus to Denver International Airport. Father Joe Dygert led the group in the Blessing of Pro-Life Pilgrims Before Their Journey to both encourage and remind that this was a trip with a higher purpose.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Hundreds of people joined the St. Mary’s High School Students for Life and the Diocese of Colorado Springs Respect Life Apostolate for the annual Rocky Mountain March for Life on Jan. 20. It was a beautiful day as we prayed and marched for the sanctity of life. Carrying new signs declaring that “Civil Rights Begin in the Womb,” we recognized Martin Luther King Jr. Day and proclaimed the sacred value of all life. SMHS Student for Life member Anthony Wilmot emceed the events at the Planned Parenthood sidewalk, including ecumenical prayer and a pro-life rosary, led respectively by Pastor Jeff Anderson and Father Joe Dygert.