I have had the fortune of being Catholic since I was a small child, and I can probably count on my hands the number of times in my life that I’ve missed Sunday mass. However, as Spiderman taught us: with great power comes great responsibility. Being a cradle Catholic, I have recently (in the last 5 years) found it important to grow as a person in both Knowledge and Wisdom. God gave me these gifts, and I know I must use them to improve myself, my family and friends, and the world at large. This doesn’t mean I need to end world hunger today and stop all war tomorrow. Rather, I understand it to mean I should do my best in the situation I’ve been given. I should make the most of the challenges I face. How do I do that though? Also, how does this relate in any way to the point of this article—how I pray?

Dear Max, I am a Catholic in his/her 30s who is still single and working a job that often leaves me unfulfilled. What would you recommend I do to start finding deeper meaning in my life?   Sincerely,   Lost and Confused

Hello again, it’s Elizabeth.  This year has been rough for us Catholics.  The news has been so very hard to hear, and the path forward--at least for me--has been obscured.  I remember driving home on I-294 in tears as NPR reported on the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report.  As I drove home, I asked myself if I remain Catholic am I complicit in this abuse and cover-up?  And if I am, where do I go?  I graduated with a French minor but need some practice, I grew up hearing Polish from my grandparents but only know enough to be polite, and I learned the numbers in Spanish (long story about a terrible maternity leave sub).  So the Eastern Rites or the Orthodox churches are not an option.  The closest Protestant church would be Anglican.  But there would be no Real Presence.  I love the Eucharist, incense, and beautiful churches that lift my heart to heaven.  I love the 2,000 year history and tradition that answers me when I question my place in this world.  There is no other church that would surround me with the heavenly peace of adoration. 

It’s Mike, back to talk to you about another Saint I admire: Saint Moses the Black. Born in Ethiopia in 330 AD, Saint Moses the Black also answered to Abba Moses the Robber or, simply, the Strong. He started life as the servant of an Egyptian government official, but his owner released him due to suspicions of theft and murder. Moses joined a band of pirates who soon made him leader due to his amazing physical strength. While with them, the group robbed, killed, and generally did whatever they wanted. Basically, they brought fear into the hearts of all who heard of them. One day, Moses sought to rob a house but was foiled by a barking dog. He swore vengeance, but the same dog foiled him again. He hid in a monastery and found himself deeply moved by the rigor of the monks there. Though they thought his conversion was insincere, he wouldn’t relent. He waited until they eventually accepted him and, upon acceptance, quickly took to the monastery’s rules. He even moved to a solitary cell where he spent his time in prayer and strict fasting.

Dear Max, Hi Max! I work in the secular workplace and am struggling with living my faith while at work. I obviously don't want to go around saying "I'm Catholic..." or "As a Catholic I think/we believe...". How do I live out my Catholic faith without overtly proselytizing? And how should I respond to criticism and misunderstandings of my faith? Sincerely, Catholic Professional

It’s Elizabeth again, back to discuss a talk I recently heard about abuse within relationships and the best ways to intervene as a bystander.  On February 10, I attended a talk sponsored by the Domestic Violence Ministry and Stepping Stones Ministry of Our Lady of the Wayside and St. James.  Grant Stenzel, a former pastor and mental health professional, presented on healthy relationships and engaged bystanders while Mr. Stenzel geared his talk towards teens; really, though, I think his focus on an individual’s dignity and healthy relationships applies to all ages.

Elizabeth talks to us today about how she prays using the Angelus.

Dear Max, For Lent this year, I am giving up dessert. This includes cake, pie, candy, brownies, ice cream, and anything else I enjoy that's sweet. It's tough because I live for dessert, but I know I have the willpower to make it through. All this being said, my sister's birthday is right in the middle of Lent. Should I eat birthday cake (thus breaking my sacrifice) or refuse (and skip out on the celebration)? I feel bad because this happens every year on her birthday. Please help! Regards, Sweet-toothed Sandra

Hello Friends; it's Elizabeth. Today, I'm sharing a reflection I wrote about Lent and a familiar song that I heard in a new way.

Hi All. It's Bryan, your friendly neighborhood YAM-NW Co-Chair. Welcome to the first (hopefully of many) Catechist Corner! Before I begin, just to note: Catechist Corner isn't just a place where I (and possibly others) will be teaching different aspects of catechism - at least not solely. The purpose of Catechist Corner is to spotlight different aspects of the Catechist experience and give a glimpse into why I (and others) are called to and truly enjoy this ministry. 

What the YAM-Northwest Bloggers are doing for Lent this year

Hello all! It's Bryan, your friendly neighborhood YAM-NW Co-Chair, here to talk to y'all a little bit about Lent. Shocker, it starts today. Don't worry, though, if the start of Lent has taken you by surprise - it happens to everyone. Here's some things to remember and think about when Lent.

(Dear Max) || I am dealing with a negative boss at work, and I was wondering what to do about it? This person is quick to criticize, and they seem to always blame their problems on someone else. To make matters worse, they like to spread their bad days to everyone else. What can I do about it?

It’s Elizabeth here to recap the last of our Winter Wine talks.  This week, Ray Urban joined us and discussed the role of the Bible in his life and evangelization.  Mr. Urban grew up Catholic but did not have a close relationship with Jesus until his health suffered.  After this, his wife invited him to her bible study.  Next thing he knew, he graduated from the Chicago Catholic Scripture School, run by the archdiocese, covering 95% of the bible.  Since his graduation, he actively participates in evangelization at his parish of St. Francis and within the archdiocese.  In fact, he facilitated one of the small groups at last year’s archdiocesan young adult study.

Hey y'all. It's Bryan, your friendly neighborhood YAM-NW Co-Chair. I have the honor today of writing about Venerable Pierre Toussaint. Born on June 27, 1766 in modern-day Haiti, Venerable Pierre Toussaint was brought to New York City as a slave. However, when he died on June 30, 1853, he was a free man, a renowned hairdresser, and one of New York City's most well-known Catholics. Without further ado, please allow me to introduce to you Venerable Pierre Toussaint, his story, and why he is a Saint-spiration.

Hello, it’s Elizabeth with a reaction to this week’s Winter Wine talk. This week, Dr. Lynne Boughton from the Liturgical Institute spoke to us about the historic Jewish origins of the Eucharist. While many Catholic authors and scholars focus on the analogies between the Eucharist and the Passover Seder, Dr. Boughton focused on the analogies between the Eucharist and the sacrificial rites described in Exodus. Dr. Boughton’s talk was packed full of information, so bear with me as I attempt to describe all of the incredible insights.

Hello dear readers! It’s Mike, back to talk to you about one of my favorite Saints: Saint Lawrence. Saint Lawrence was born in 225 AD and served in the early church as a deacon of Rome. He was friends with the man who would become Pope Sixtus II, and it was Pope Sixtus II himself who gave him his assignment. This vocation included the responsibilities of managing the material goods of the church as well as distributing alms to the poor.

Hey guys! It’s Mike again, back to talk to you about our second week of the Winter Wine series. On Wednesday, our own Bryan Fong shared his talk, “The Young Adult Field Medic,” about our role in the church as evangelists, and how to approach the sharing of our faith with those who have never experienced it, or those who have fallen away. In multiple addresses to the Catholic people—as well as the world—Pope Francis has likened the Catholic Church to a field hospital. A normal hospital is a large building where the sick and wounded are brought to receive care. Aside from the ambulances that roam the streets, normal hospitals don’t come find you: you have to actively seek out the care yourself. A field hospital, on the other hand, goes to the front line in order to care for those in the most desperate of situations. A guy who lost an arm in battle needs immediate help, and this is where the field hospital comes in. Sure, they might patch him up and send him off for more specialized care later. However, the field hospital is the first line of care.

Hello. It’s Elizabeth again, and this is the first in our Saint-spiration series--where we highlight the lives of Saints and how they resonate in our modern lives. Since this is our first post and it is Black History Month, we are talking today about Augustus Tolton: Servant of God and the first African-American priest. Fr. Tolton was born a slave and--even after his escape to freedom and fighting in the Civil War--encountered racism in his schooling, his quest to enter seminary and fulfill his vocation, and his life as a priest. So affected his life so greatly that he was forced to move to another diocese just to be able to act as a pastor. His story is one of perseverance in acts of service and the pursuit of holiness.

Happy Feast of our Lady of Lourdes! My name is Daisy. I live in Lake County, work in Northwest Cook County, and am consecrated to the Blessed Mother. That's how I'm living the lay life in Vicariate 1. Today is one of my favorite Marian feast days. I wanted to share a reflection on how the events at Lourdes reminds young adults to stay focused on Christ.