by Fr. Jim Chern
In 1995, I experienced something extraordinary. Fresh out of college and recognizing all my thinking, talking and praying about the priesthood needed some action on my part, I entered Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall…
We often hear the old saying "never discuss politics or religion in public." Growing up, this seemed like common courtesy, a way to keep the peace at family gatherings and social events. But today, these…
Today holds special significance. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has designated January 22nd as the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, marking the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade…
Seven seconds. That's all it takes to form a first impression. I watched this truth play out in real time during a college orientation. Picture this: hundreds of freshmen, slouched in their seats after an…
This past Thursday, thousands of individuals gathered at the National Cathedral to bid farewell to former President Jimmy Carter. Amid the expected media coverage which analyzed every detail – from seating arrangements to the controversial…
Words can often dance with different meanings depending on how we say them. Take the phrase "Wait till your father gets home." Growing up, those words from Mom could foretell either impending doom or upcoming…
There's a ritual my friend's grandparents practiced every New Year's Eve. At midnight, they'd open the front door in their house to "let the old year out." When he told me this, I laughed and…
The other day, I joked in my Christmas homily about adding Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" to my personal banned list. This sparked an amusing conversation with friends about our least…
Merry Christmas! There's something particularly special about saying those words here, in this sacred space, on this holy day. While the world outside swirls with tinsel and commerce, here we encounter something authentic — a…
The great Catholic author, G.K. Chesterton once made this remarkable observation about children and God that I first heard when my nieces were much younger – an idea that has resonated with me ever since.…