#TreatYoShelf: 05/30/19

by Dan Masterton

One of the areas that has, does, and will always pique my interest highly is where humanity emerges and is even highlighted in sports. Sports can easily be written off as frivolous, meaningless, or worse, and certainly has its dark side of revenue and profit obsession, objectifying people as commodities for entertainment, and struggling to use its heft to properly address issues inflamed by its own players, such as domestic violence. However, it can also bring to light the good within us.

Last night, Cubs player Albert Almora hit a foul ball, a screaming line drive straight down the foul line toward the seats. It struck a young girl, and she was immediately rushed out of her seat to emergency aid. No replay was shown or details shared, but the cameras and commentators focused on Almora, because he immediately knew what happened and slunk to his knees, head in hands, terrified for the accident he had just inadvertently caused. His teammate came from the on-deck circle to console him; another teammate left second base to do the same; his manager came from the dugout to reassure him that it was an accident over which he didn't have control. Even his opponents stopped to kneel down and gather themselves in thought (or maybe even prayer) as the stadium went quite quiet and activity slowed for a few minutes.

MLB mandated expanded netting after similar accidents, and this may only catalyze increased mandates to further protect fans. These things are accidents, and stuff like that can happen at many of favorite leisure events. The neat moments here were the level of concern and humanity shown spontaneously by athletes best known for compartmentalizing things and being single-minded on competition. This was perhaps best crystallized when, half an inning later, Almora stopped on his way back to the dugout to stop with the security guard near where the accident occurred. He listened to her talk about what happened, fell into her embrace, and could be seen crying. I obviously pray this little girl will recover and have no lasting effects, other than the relationship Almora wishes to establish with her and her family going forward.

It mattered so much how Almora's teammates reacted in the moment tonight. Good people showed why they are good people.

— Dan Bernstein (@dan_bernstein) May 30, 2019

A really tough scene at Minute Maid Park over the last inning. Albert Almora Jr. of the Cubs hit a hard line-drive foul into the stands that hit a young child. Almora Jr. was extremely shaken up and after the next half inning, he was consoled by MMP security personnel. pic.twitter.com/2hfHX4hvNd

— SportsTalk 790 (@SportsTalk790) May 30, 2019

"I'm speechless, at a loss for words. Being a father of two boys." Albert Almora speaks after scary foul ball incident: https://t.co/wIl0a3TxAr pic.twitter.com/ONxuzw85jA

— NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) May 30, 2019

Almora: “As soon as I hit it the first person I locked eyes on was her... just praying. I’m speechless ... being a father with two boys. ...God willing I’ll be able to have a relationship with that family the rest of my life.”

— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) May 30, 2019

“Hopefully I’ll have a relationship with the (girl’s) family for the rest of my life.” - Almora

— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) May 30, 2019

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Now, just a few links today:

"Remote Workers Are Outperforming Office Workers--Here's Why" by Brian de Haaff via Inc.com

Social media and technology give us many ways to communicate with each other, but they also create many new avenues by which we can ignore each other. An interesting application of these new technologies is the increase in telecommuting or remote work. Intuitively, I wondered if remote workers become siloed and disconnected from their work community or team. Yet, here, this author cites studies that claim just the opposite -- remote workers have to communicate more and better to do their jobs, and the adjustment in environment working from home actually created a preferred productivity setting for many people. Interesting stuff to think about for not just productivity, but welfare and stress management?

"What the debate over deacons gets wrong about Catholic women in leadership" by Pia de Solenni via America Magazine

Pope Francis' recent comments on the potential women's diaconate indicated that no change is on the near horizon, though the slow wheels of exploration will continue to turn. Meanwhile, this author argues that the Church shouldn't get too fixated on that element of women leadership alone. Citing her own role as a diocesan chancellor among her arguments, the author encourages a wider lens toward women taking on greater leadership in the Church, wanting to continue the pursuit of the diaconate while also emphasizing other areas where women can and should have a greater presence in leading our Church.

#TreatYoShelf: 05/23/19

by Dan Masterton

Lots of links. No time to waste. Already one day late!

"What We Too Often Forget About Helping People in Need" by Sophie Caldecott via Grotto Network

In working with young people -- and thinking back to my own experience -- it's hard to get them to go deeper with respect to how they approach service. They often respond by simply saying working with vulnerable people "opened their eyes" or made them "appreciate what they have." Those things are fine, but they miss a larger, deeper point. I always hope young people will find something more by connecting to the idea of solidarity and adopting an attitude of mutual, reciprocal encounter. This author captures that mindset by how she and her daughter realized that grace in some homeless neighbors. Beautiful read.

"Julián Castro Wants To Redefine Which Immigrants Have 'Merit'" by NPR Morning Edition

I've enjoyed what I've heard from Julian Castro so far this campaign season. With a slog of 23 candidates to pick through, it's tough to hear from everyone and learn each candidate's merits (or lack thereof). But I will say Castro's willingness to be bold and specific in addressing the injustices facing people in transit has been refreshing and welcome. Here's a small sampling of his approach that shows one positive way to start tackling these issues.

Additionally, this article in Fortune is a great deep dive on the issues of immigration, with special focus on the economic realities beneath the headlines. It is a break from partisan spin and really focuses on the facts and specifics of the current state of things.

"Novice? Regent? Scholastic? A guide to Jesuit formation (and lingo)" by Fr. James Martin SJ via America Magazine

Leave it to ole Fr. Jim to write the article I've always needed but never asked for. In my encounter with Jesuits and Ignatian circles, I've always tried to straighten out all the jargon around Jesuit formation, but I've never mastered it all. I still am not completely sure, but Jim's article creates a new one-stop shop for all of this. It still makes me laugh that a religious community so often associated with being more relaxed, less strict, and certainly less hierarchical and stodgy has such a complex web of vocabulary to describe its formation. 

"‘Everybody Wants a Revolution, but Nobody Wants to Do the Dishes’" by Dr. Susan Reynolds via The Atlantic

I'll admit, I didn't even read the original article that started this conversation. However, it obviously brought up important issues around clericalism and an exaggerated role of priests slash the diminished place for laity. Dr. Reynolds is both an increasingly well-known voice in American Catholicism and an old friend and choir buddy from college. She has a knack for drawing on her pastoral experience, her academic bona fides, and her life of faith to say things insightfully and accessibly. This is a great reflection on the classic both-and ideal of Catholicism. We need a robust clergy and a robust lay presence. We need priests who bring confident leadership skills as well as grounded pastoral sensibilities. We need lay people who look to priests for Sacramental leadership as well as to themselves for mobilizing parishioners, starting outreach, and sustaining parish life.

"I Was Racially Taunted on Television. Wasn’t I?" by Doug Glanville via NYTimes Opinion

I'm always interested in where sports can be relevant to this site, and this piece is a place where we can turn to think more deeply about the race relations issues in our country. Recently, a TV analyst for the Chicago Cubs was doing a live shot during a game; in the background, a fan was seen doing the upside-down "ok" symbol often known from the punching game, too. It has become a symbol for white supremacy, and the fan was identified and banned from Wrigley Field. In this piece, the insightful Doug Glanville reflects on his experience by describing the realities of being a person of color and what his (and others') thought process is like when facing such treatment. Doug is an outstanding analyst, a wonderfully thoughtful and intelligent human being, and a person who should never be treated with such disdain.

#TreatYoShelf: 05/09/19

by Dan Masterton

This week, two deservedly noteworthy people in the world of Christian faith passed away...

Jean Vanier and Rachel Held Evans died this past week.

Jean Vanier

I recommend heading to L'Arche's official page for the scoop on this amazing guy. L'Arche is the organization he founded and built into a huge, international community. Their countercultural model of live-in companionship for people with various special needs prophetically insisted upon the dignity of all people and all life and created a mutual, reciprocal community rhythm for everyone involved. Jean was 90.

Rachel Held Evans

I have been reading Rachel for years, most notably when I took her Searching for Sunday on my honeymoon with me as beach reading. Her way of coupling earnest lived faith with a grounded, accessible desire to learn and share hearty theology was a blessing to everyone who reads her work. Rachel had become a mother in the last few years, and her husband and she welcomed their first two kiddos into the world. She died rather suddenly and unexpectedly after a hospital admission, allergic reactions, and complications escalated all within a month. She was just 37. I recommend reading Elizabeth Dias' NYTimes feature on Rachel to learn more about her.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

+ + +

"Francis: Women deacons commission gave split report on their role in early church" by Joshua J. McElwee via National Catholic Reporter

As sure as the sun rises in the east, Pope Francis will give an informal press conference on the flight back from his most recent international trip. In this case, Francis surprised us with an update on the study of a potential women's diaconate (dare I say, restoration of the diaconate?). Turns out, his study buddies couldn't agree on the historical roots in the Church, and now they've taken to studying their various theses to learn more about it. Translation? We haven't really gotten anywhere, so no one will be holding their breath on this one. From what I've learned over the years, it seemed the probable path to a potential women's diaconate would be a secondary form of Holy Orders, hopefully with a comparable scope of ministerial practice. Stay tuned for another decade or two? Ideally, it will come sooner.

"My Body, My Children's First Home" by Haley Stewart via CarrotsforMichaelmas.com

Haley with one of her four kiddos.

The spiritually of motherhood and pregnancy is beautiful and definitely something that will hopefully reach more and more moms in favor of pop pregnancy culture and fluffy blogs. Here, Haley celebrates how her children first lived within her as she nourished and carried them toward birth. The resonance between the physical touch of a mother and child with the intimate time of pregnancy term is beautifully unpacked in this post. It echoes what feels like a growing trove of motherhood and parenthood reflections, which sadly but necessarily must include the challenges of infertility, miscarriage, still birth, and complications and infant mortality. Tea with Tolkien Kaitlyn reflects regularly in her tweets about the grief of miscarriage; Leah Libresco beautifully and solemnly celebrated how her body could be a loving tomb for her child; Tim O'Malley long ago started a trajectory of reflections on infertility, adoption, and parenthood.

"Why are most Democrats not confronting Trump on immigration?" by Marcela Garcia via Boston Globe

Julian Castro is among the candidates that has caught my attention most in the early going. Among his intelligent, measured, and substantial platforms so far, he is going for the specifics on immigration, including decriminalizing the federal crime of illegal entry, reducing detention facilities and reorganizing ICE and the authorities governing immigration. More candidates need to address this head on, and whoever will gain the nomination and run opposite of Trump will need to present ideas that reflect justice, solidarity, and human dignity in a way that honors the traditions of America and its social values. (Side note: Julian is Catholic and not shy about it. I'm a fan of how Pete Buttigieg has brought faith into the conversation on the Democrat side, but I fear his momentum is making him prone to sound bytes. His recent comments suggesting God couldn't be a Republican aren't necessarily wrong but take this thread into a silly and pointless space that is unproductive.)

#TreatYoShelf: 05/02/19

by Dan Masterton

Another month brings another batch of sad news of violence, from the extremist terrorism in the Easter attacks in Sri Lanka to yet another gunman shooting up a school in North Carolina. Now, as much as ever, is a time when the world needs the prophetic social teachings of the Church on the dignity of life, the earnest effort by people of faith to be good companions in person and in solidarity, and the worldwide network of relief and development work that the Church sustains. Modern society is often more and more adept at working across cultural and religious lines to collaborate in support of human need, and we need to continue building those partnerships and strive to preempt future tragedy.

Plenty of good stuff to get to reading this week...

"The Infinity Gauntlet Holds a Dead Saint’s Hand IRL" by Josh Noem via Grotto Network

Previously, I had seen some Catholic folks point out the stark similarities (pun intended) between the Infinity Gauntlet from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the relic of St. Teresa of Avila's hand. Here, this article offers a deeper dive into the potential connections between the comic illustrator who originally drew the item and the historical and contemporary events, including the distribution of Teresa's relics and the rise and fall of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. Long story short, there's lots of overlap if not a conclusive connection!

"Promoting the Common Good and Option for the Poor in the Trump Era: An Interview with Stephen Schneck" by Robert Christian via Millennial Journal

This is a neat interview with a wonderfully intelligent and articulate Catholic in public life. Prof. Schneck has some great perspective on the potential dissonance and tension of Catholic social teaching and traditionally Democratic values. He helps unpack the centrality of prioritizing the poor, keeping solidarity and subsidiarity front of mind, and social justice a higher priority than any libertarian individualism streaks.

"Universal Health Care Might Cost You Less Than You Think" by Matt Bruenig via NYTimes Opinion

This is a great op-ed on health-care. Frequently these articles take on a political bent, arguing about how American or un-American things like socialized systems, universal mandates, and reduced free market choice might be. Instead, this article analyzes the going rates for employer-based premiums and frames them as a percentage withholding from total pay relative to the average wage. His article (and these additional charts via Twitter embedded below) shows how considering one's health-care premium contribution in the same bucket as taxes, social security, etc. demonstrates that the existing system places heavier burden on poor and working-class people while disproportionately benefitting rich people. It's a different but substantial way to engage the costs citizens carry to support their health-care and provides a fresher footing for considering the health-care debate.

Here is the US compared to other countries on this front. Average and below fare better in all of these countries and far way better in some. This comparison includes child tax benefits/credits. The US CTC and EITC is completely negated by giant family premium. pic.twitter.com/BVYS30rmFH

— Matt Bruenig (@MattBruenig) April 29, 2019

"How Trump is able to exploit the abortion issue, and why that’s bad for everyone" by Sam Sawyer, SJ via America Magazine

The abortion debate is gearing up to be as divisive and wedged as ever. States are passing laws -- some that go to the extreme to uphold abortion and some that strive to further restrict abortion -- that are meant to spur court cases and pursue a Supreme Court hearing. To help keep a solid sense of the issues, grounded, deliberate articles that offer an honest brokerage and a humble perspective can help us make sense of things well are huge. This article offers some admissions of shortcomings on the side of pro-lifers, reasonable criticisms of the approach of those who advocate for choice, and incisive discussion of how Trump does more harm than good with his lies and brutish approach.

"Former Sen. Joe Donnelly's new initiative: Teach Democrats to value rural voters" by Tony Cook via Indy Star

Sen. Donnelly was a casualty of the 2018 midterms. While Democrats won new seats all over the House, the Senate was a different story. Red states booted their blue Senators by a decent margin, and the homogenization of the parties continued with folks like Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) as some of the last exceptions. To try to help Democrats avoid defeats like this in the future, two of these ousted Senators are trying to use leftover campaign funds to help fellow politicians learn how to connect with rural voters and run a more inclusive campaign. Personally, I find people who run against the common lean of their party help create diversity of opinion and foster discussion around tough issues, so it'd be great to see a resurgence in moderate Senators from both parties, or even folks who ideologically lean opposite to much of their caucus.

"Drowning In Parenting Advice? Here's Some Advice For That" by Selena Simmons-Duffin via NPR All Things Considered

Let me tell you -- when pregnancy comes, so does a ton of unsolicited advice, unfounded advice, and pop culture advice. We fell victim to the "we'll buy the What to Expect When You're Expecting" book as a knee-jerk reaction; it's not bad, but it's written in a cheeky sort of way that doesn't feel totally sound. Luckily, a health-care provider recommended the Mayo Clinic books to us, and their installments on pregnancy and baby's first year were our go-to resources. Needless to say, the quantity of resources is crazy. This article/clip is an interview with an author who has sought to comb through all these studies and ideas out there and try to provide a curated set of advice that simplifies the stress.

#TreatYoShelf: 04/25/19

by Dan Masterton

Pardon the absence from the normal Thursday fun these last two weeks -- lots of things are happening here in my little family, and updates should be coming soon!

In the meantime, let's get back to some Thursday links to populate your end-of-week reading list...

"The wrong way to ask Catholics for money amid the sex abuse crisis" by Melissa Cedillo via America Magazine

The timing of this year's Catholic Appeal certainly wasn't optimal, as the clerical sex abuse crisis continued with incomplete disclosure and incomplete accountability from our Church. Non-profit groups depend completely on charitable giving, so it's not really an option to forego planned giving campaigns like this that keep the wheels turning for the Church's many outreaches. However, it doesn't mean that it should unfold ho-hum just the same way it does every other year. A dear friend of mine was rightly agitated by the manner of this year's appeal and wrote eloquently about her experience from the pews as she attended Mass.

"UN: No screen time for babies; only 1 hour for kids under 5" by The Associated Press

I am home with my 2-year-old most of the time, and screens are a constant battle. Any screen anywhere anytime will captivate her and steal her attention. Shedd Aquarium with tank after tank of fascinating sea creatures? Nah, I'll just noodle on these educational tablets instead. Shelves and toy chests full of books and playthings? Nah, I'll look above it all to the TV. Enjoying my self-driven playtime with this toy I picked? Nah, I'd rather sabotage the call you just received on your phone. I try to be very diligent. We used to allow her one episode of a show per day, plus whatever residual TV watching she might do during the two hours or so that we might park it in front of the TV; now, we've gotten her a tablet with interactive apps that we can limit to 30 minutes total to replace that one episode per day. We also wrap our day up by cuddling with one episode of TV at the end of the evening. Yet here, the WHO recommendation is even tighter than that. It's going to be some serious uphill sledding for millennial parents as we grapple with the long tentacles of technology while raising kids.

"The Relentlessness of Modern Parenting" by Claire Cain Miller via NYTimes

On a related note, this NYTimes article from the winter has a deeper dive into the changing trends of parenting and how parents these days try to navigate the mess of decisions. A longer read, but full of intrigue.

"3 Joyful Things to Feast on During Easter Week" by Jessica Mannen Kimmet via Grotto Network

Catholics stink at feasting but are weirdly good at fasting. Did you know after forty austere days of sacrifice for Lent, we're supposed to feast for FIFTY days of Easter!? We're not so observant of this, and Jess Kimmet has some goods to make our Easters feaster. You may also enjoy this archival post of the old TRH on Easter from a few years back!

"Religion News Service, AP and The Conversation launch global religion journalism initiative" from Religion News Service

As a journalism nut, I love to see religious beat writers digging up fun stuff from the world of religion, religiosity, and religious practice. To apply journalism to the world of religion is to educate ourselves on the modern expression of human spirituality. Probably the best guy going at this is America Magazine's Mike O'Loughlin. So this press release was a wonderfully welcome bit of news that will hopefully spur plenty of links for me to share here. Way to go, team!

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Finally, our most recent series on how normal Catholics can/should/ought to be wrapped a few weeks ago, and I just wanted to reshare my piece from our series. As a few of my friends move and tackle adult logistics and evaluate and reevaluate career choices and transitions, it continues to ring true to me that it's quite the puzzle for millennials to tackle in 2019 and beyond. I enjoyed trying to articulate my discerned rationales for taking the various plunges of my adult life. Check it out!

#TreatYoShelf: 04/04/19

by Dan Masterton

"American Mothers are Trying Harder Than Ever–So Why Do We Feel Like We’re Failing?" by Elizabeth Tenety via Motherly

This is a great examination of the palpable challenges for mothers, and for parenting and starting/raising a family more broadly as well. I knew that managing our lives would be wholly different and decidedly more complex once we had kids; I did not have a way to know the degree to which that would be true. I am immensely grateful for my twelve weeks of paternity leave, and I cherish that we chose to take our leaves together. It kills me that so many go without this benefit, and I feel like (hope!) the social tides are turning in a positive direction here.

"Pete Buttigieg on faith, his marriage and Mike Pence" by Fr. Edward Beck via CNN

I gotta say Mayor Pete is my early favorite in this crowded Democratic field (I also like the intelligence and pragmatism of Andrew Yang, the thoughtfulness and authenticity of Julián Castro, and a few other bits). I read his memoir, and I've found his interviews and appearances to be heavy on integrity, consensus solutions, and practical approaches. Additionally, his religious attitude is refreshing. He's a I-just-live-my-faith sort of guy who just likes being a church-going Christian. That's a plus. What's troubling are the beginnings of unattractive answers on abortion (say it ain't so, Pete!) when I'm just looking for someone who moderates their pro-choice positions. Overall, Mayor Pete remains exciting and intriguing. Check him out.

"When Joe Biden Voted to Let States Overturn Roe v. Wade" by Lisa Lerer via NYTimes

I don't mean to make these links heavy on politics, and especially don't mean to hit you with two abortion-heavy links. However, I wanted to include this interesting history on Senator Biden's policy positions. It shows the way a thoughtful, earnest guy tries to wrestle with a difficult issue. I certainly don't agree with the way he proceeded in all of this, but the article profiles the process and the evolution thoroughly.

"Just One Game" by Brett Taylor at Bleacher Nation

Finally, another sports thing! Sportssportssports! One of my favorite sports writers out there is technically a blogger but approaches his craft with such thoughtfulness, nuance, and deliberate contextualization that he's better than a lot of the bigwigs. Here, Brett reflects on the realities of Opening Day and being a fan at the start of a season with high expectations for a good team. We will inevitably overreact (just as we are) and get disproportionately upset -- we shouldn't dismiss that, but there's also danger in going so extreme. Brett brings his usual carefulness to help get us grounded for another 162-game season.

#TreatYoShelf: 03/28/19

by Dan Masterton

Almost halfway through Lent! Hope your resolve in good and strong, and your temptations remain a welcome invitation to Lenten prayer. My fast from alcohol has been enjoyable and refreshing while my daily caffeine limit has come with its struggles. I appreciate the chance for intentionality and feel like its been a good rooting in moments of prayer.

On to some links!

"Human Contact Is Now a Luxury Good" by Nellie Bowles via the NYTimes

This is fascinating. There's ton of interesting trends identified and analyzed in here, not least among them the flip in perception of technology. Whereas previously, technology was seen as a signifier of wealth and advantage, it's now often felt to be that a lack of technology indicates one's freedom to choose. This is a great taking-of-stock for where we're at with processing technology.

"E.U. Sets Standard With Ban on Single-Use Plastics by 2021" by Hillary Leung via Time

Per usual, the US will lag behind other places that are more willing to acknowledge human agency in ruining the earth. Capitalism has its benefits, but ecological and environmental concerns are not given much weight when it comes to making money. Kudos to the EU for this first step and a continued emphasis on polluter-pays. Hopefully, they see success while not sacrificing much economically and more places in the US will follow and put pressure on the federal standards here. Hopefully, people with disabilities, young kids, and others who depend on straws can gravitate to alternative reusable options.

"How Theo Epstein has changed from Boston to Chicago" by Jesse Rogers via ESPNChicago

Let me sneak a sports story in here. Theo Epstein is the President of Baseball Operations for my favorite team the Chicago Cubs, meaning he oversees all executives involved with personnel, player development, etc. He is lauded within the industry and in other sectors for his leadership style, which is founded on communication, transparency, and getting ahead of the curves. Here, this profile talks about how he's matured since getting his first big job in his late 20's, inviting the influence of being a husband and dad into his work philosophies and taking a different approach to how he manages people and his role. Cool read.

"Why the 'Mormon' church changed its name. (It's about revelation, not rebranding.)" by Daniel Burke via CNN

This one is a cool study in modern religion. It covers a lot of neat angles into the Church of LDS, from religious leadership to prophecy to semantics and more. This religion has long been fascinating to me for their claims of new revelation, their unique cosmology, their differing practices, and most of all, their excellent strong family life. This article is sort of a where-things-are-at report that digs into some of the current developments.

"Pope Francis ring-kissing controversy draws confusion over the long-standing tradition" by Christopher White via Washington Post

I'm not real into this controversy, as it's sort of just a way to fight a culture war within the Church. However, this article and this journalist do a solid job of laying the groundwork for why this is a tradition and how Francis is handling it. Regardless of what you think or don't think, this is a solid read if you just want to become more informed surrounding this issue.

#TreatYoShelf: 03/21/19

by Dan Masterton

This past Sunday to Tuesday, I directed a three-day Kairos for my students, the 15th one I've been a part of. It's a well-crafted distillation of the Spiritual Exercises, pedagogically adapted for teenagers to engage in an intensive multi-day/overnight retreat. The exposure teens gain to the power of trust, vulnerability, and companionship gives them potent experience of God's love moving in their community. It's a must for any teen, whether through their Catholic high school, their parish or local community, or perhaps even in college.

That said, my leisure reading was a bit constrained this week.

"San Quentin’s chaplain: California’s death penalty moratorium has given us hope" by George Williams via America Magazine

Recently, California's governor issued an executive order placing a moratorium on the death penalty. This effectively pulled hundreds of prisoners off death row in California, which had the largest death row population of any United State. This article goes inside California's biggest prison, where these prisoners do their time. One of the many great details provided by this chaplain is the first-hand experience of prison personnel dismantling the execution apparatuses -- what a powerful action, especially when juxtaposed with the grim "work" of execution prison-workers have too often done in the past.

"Trash, permit violations and mud: why some Chicagoans hate ‘Windy City Rehab’" by Stephanie Zimmermann, Mitch Dudek and Matthew Hendrickson via the Chicago Sun-Times

My wife, Katherine, and I have taken to watching this show, not because we love house-hunter shows and can't get enough of them (we definitely can get enough) but because the idea that these flips took place at disclosed addresses we know well from our years living in the city. As we watched though, what bothered us more than the personality of the host was the fashion by which she worked -- all high-end, all high-margin, all well into the million-dollar range. Of course, she's capitalistically out for profit, but she often talks about history, story, and artifiact objects with a romance that doesn't match her profit-driven work. This article features excellent reporting that discusses the impact of expensive flips that drive up home prices, conversions that turn multi-flats into single-family homes, and more. It's fantastic journalism.

"New Year Ushers in Excitement for Cristo Rey St. Viator Las Vegas" via the Viatorian Community

This is a total homer move by me, an alum of St. Viator High School. My fave religious community has been working hard over the last few years to move from ideas and a feasibility study to the concrete, brick-and-mortar building of a new Cristo Rey Network school. I would argue, and have, that Cristo Rey secondary education is the most effective concrete thing that the Church is doing to serve and accompany socioeconomically marginalized populations. It's awesome to see my beloved priests and brothers shepherding this important work into reality and growing the network of this exceptional ministry.

#TreatYoShelf: 03/14/19

by Dan Masterton

"Raising three kids is organized chaos. Here’s why I’m having a fourth." by Liz Tenety via the Washington Post

When Jim Gaffigan and his wife had their fourth child, he described it this way: “You know what it’s like having a fourth kid? Imagine you’re drowning, then someone hands you a baby.” (They have five kids now.) In this reflection, the author talks through the realities of having lots of children and tries to defuse some of the side-eye and skepticism that parents can evoke. Personally, I feel strongly about  having kids sooner rather than later and dislike the narratives of "readiness" that seem so common. This author tackles it with an authentic tone.

"With Alex Trebek's announcement comes unease over the words 'fight' and 'win' applied to cancer" by Heidi Stevens via the Chicago Tribune

This column is right on. I started to draft a blog about this but found myself struggling to both speak my mind honestly and be duly respectful to people with cancer and their families. This author strikes the balance I couldn't find by describing the potential harm of "fight" language when it comes to this stupid disease. I wish Alex Trebek the prayers and blessings of a grateful viewer and admire his courage in trying to tackle his diagnosis with ferocity.

"Gov. Newsom to Suspend Death Penalty by Executive Order; Political Fallout Likely" by Scott Shafer via KQED

It was a serious bummer when California failed to repeal its death penalty. As a former Californian for one unusual year, it was neat to participate in a presidential-year election and complete a ballot full of binding statewide initiatives. In the case of the death penalty, the people of California had a chance to repeal it themselves, but the majority ruled against repeal. Now, the governor has decided to utilize executive powers to declare a moratorium and halt executions on America's biggest death row. Much like Illinois, hopefully the law will catch up and formalize this so that no person will be executed in California again.

* * *

As a final note, the recent plane crash in Ethiopia was a tragedy on many levels. One way it touched me was through the death of 4 staff members from Catholic Relief Services. I got to visit Uganda on an education immersion with CRS with other teachers from Catholic high schools. While the whole national apparatus was directed by an American expat, the operations and groundwork were done almost exclusively by native-born Ugandans or immigrants from other African countries. Their expertise and knowledge was astounding, and their hospitality and warmth endeared us to them so quickly. The folks who passed in this plane crash were CRS staff from these types of local programs, and it's such a sadness to lose them as they sought to do such valuable development work. May God bless them and their legacy of development to the people of Ethiopia.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that four members of @CatholicRelief staff were killed in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash yesterday. They will be deeply missed.

Their names are Sara Chalachew, Getnet Alemayehu, Sintayehu Aymeku, and Mulusew Alemu. pic.twitter.com/kcZZ8WMOzK

— Michael Stulman (@MichaelStulman) March 11, 2019

#TreatYoShelf: 03/07/19

by Dan Masterton

I totally flubbed meal-planning this week, as I was not thinking in terms of Lenten meat abstinence when I did the week's grid on Sunday (my wife and I sketch out the week on a basic grid chart called "The Swirling Storm of Life" each Sunday night). Crockpot pulled pork had to slide from Wednesday to Thursday in favor of cheese pizza; pasta night on Friday could remain but will lack its usual meat sauce. Luckily, today is in play, and our crockpot is making us those neighbors cooking something that makes the stairwell smell good instead of ooky. I even saw one Catholic org refer to today as Meat Oasis Thursday. I'm here for that.

On to this week's links!

Statement by Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. The Sexual Abuse Crisis in the Church: Notre Dame’s Response

Sorry to those of you with Domer fatigue from this blog's contributors, but this one warrants a look. Nothing the Church does in the wake of so many years of so much abuse and coverup will ever be enough, especially to the victims of these sins. However, that doesn't mean earnest efforts shouldn't be made to take positive steps that respond to the shortcomings of the Church. Notre Dame, certainly an imperfect Catholic institution itself, laid out a blueprint for the next steps it will try to take. The road map here is a good start.

Loop's Zero Waste Platform Is Changing The Culture Of Disposability One Pint Of Ice Cream At A Time by Sara Weinreb via Forbes

I'm grateful for my college, my current coworkers, and many close friends who have taught me some finer points of conservation -- things like what "recyclables" aren't actually recyclable in most places (damn you, #6!), what things are compostable (future life goal when done with apartment living), and habits to get away from disposable culture (reusable shopping bags to the rescue!). Now comes a new company trying to take that reusable bag life and draw on the old "milkman" concept to make us greener. Loop will launch soon, and several articles help lay out the way you can subscribe to everyday household products delivered in a reusable tote and in reusable containers. Read more in the article, and consider signing up for email alerts ahead of when they roll out.

The Eclipse of Sex by the Rise of Gender by Abigail Favale via McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame

This is a deep dive, so put on your scuba gear first. I know that as I try to learn about the complexities and nuance of sexual orientation and gender identity, I often find myself struggling as I seek to understand more. There are a lot of layers to what sexuality is, especially when it comes to our understanding of our bodies and explanations of gender. I have a lot still to learn and think about, but this article (at least what I grasped of it) helped me think further on this tough stuff.

The Abortion Debate Needs Moral Lament by Michael Wear via The Atlantic

This article is excellently deliberate, measured, and fair. Without bending to either extreme of a wedge issue, this writer takes the time to carefully explain the ways that the entire debate is broken. It's worth a full read, and I'll just use the conclusion an enticement to start from his beginning: "What the abortion debate needs is not an increase of moral outrage—we have plenty of that—but instead a sense of moral lament. It is to our collective shame that our politics seem incapable of such a development."

Awkward Moments with Jason Benetti via the Cerebal Palsy Foundation

Jason Benetti is a Chicago native who has attained his childhood dream job of being the play-by-play guy for the Chicago White Sox. He is professional, polished, and proficient while at the same time being wonderfully grounded, humble, and self-deprecating. He's an awesome get for the White Sox, who hopefully have their play-by-play man for decades to come. Benetti also has cereal palsy and is a great teacher and advocate for CP. Perhaps my favorite element of that is a web series he voices called "Awkward Moments," in which clever animations accompany his narration in explaining various aspects of what life is like for people with CP. It's educational and heart-warmingly funny.

#TreatYoShelf: 02/28/19

by Dan Masterton

I feel like the cold has been hanging around pretty profoundly here, even though I can see March cresting the horizon from the bow of my ship. Good thing Lent is late this year because I feel it's my Chicago Catholic right (rite?) to bask in the spring sunshine on a bright Easter morn. Ash Wednesday and spring-forward weekend are coming right up. Before you lock down your Lenten sacrificial choices, why don't you treat yo' shelf?

"They're young, they're fun and they're alcohol-free. The 'sober curious' movement takes off in Chicago." by Nara Schoenberg via Chicago Tribune

A leading contender for my Lent is to watch what I drink, namely giving up alcohol and restricting caffeine. Personally, I don't overutilize or depend upon either, but I feel like the second thought I'll have in this special season will be a good nod toward the spiritual emphases of penitence. These folks mention no religious motivation, but they're among a set popularizing an alcohol-free social life. They celebrate the clarity, honesty, and authenticity of their social interactions, and I say, "Here, here," but am not sure if they'd welcome a toast.

"It’s time to give the church back to the people—literally" by Daniel P. Rhodes via USCatholic

This is a really neato burrito tilt on the Church reorganization that's going on and must unfold to help renew the modern Church. As parishes reorganize, merge, and close, land and buildings are left with reduced or no use, and dioceses sit holding underutilized/unused space. This author pieces together some of the initial details of a way to repurpose all of this at the service of the people, particularly those most in need. He admits that he's short on the complete details, but I feel like the ideas behind his outlined proposal are realistic and certainly an expression of justice. 

"Pope Francis approves canonization of John Henry Newman" by Hannah Brockhaus via Catholic News Agency

I'm a little behind on this one, but it's exciting even if not no new. Cardinal Newman is one of the most prolific and insightful writers in the semi-recent history of Christianity. He is the author of some excellent prayers, chief among them My Mission of Service and the poetic prayer Lead, Kindly Light. He is also commonly cited as the inventor/founder/articulator of campus ministry, a movement that changed the course of my life, thanks to my fine high school, and gave me my vocation and career. Can't wait to invoke the patronage of this great saint in my campus ministry office.

The Restless Hearts on Racism

Our first series in our renewed ministry of writing wrapped this week. On these last four Mondays, we shared some reflections on the sins of racism in our Church and our society. Please loop back and check out these posts in our series as we finish cooking up our next plan:

No. 1: Erin on naming racism

No. 2: me on Catholic Social Teaching and racism

No. 3: Laura on implications for parish life

No. 4: Tim on racism as national original sin

* * *

Finally, my old college friend and now Holy Cross priest, Fr. Mike Palmer, shared a fun perspective from the Notre Dame hockey arena. Fr. Mike hopped into the penalty box, presumably not because of anything he did wrong, and captured a great inscription that greets opposing players during their time in the so-called "sin bin." Maybe Fr. Mike will hear some penitents there someday...

This is why @NDHockey will forever be my favorite. How many other teams actually encourage their opponents to repent while they're serving their two minutes? 😆 pic.twitter.com/DXsTRaoUEP

— Fr. Mike Palmer, CSC (@mppcsc) February 26, 2019

#TreatYoShelf: 02/21/19

by Dan Masterton

Feels like Lent already should have started. I plan to put a low daily limit on my caffeine intake, and I timed my consumption of the remainder of pop I had on hand to run out before Lent. Well, it's all gone. And there's two weeks left, so I got a bit more. And also donuts, which should be more of a Fat Tuesday thing but will happen now as well as then. In the meantime, enjoy a few fresh links:

"People’s Policy Project Releases Bold Pro-Family Plan" summarized at Millennial Journal, proposed by Matt Bruenig

This is a neat attempt at constructing a comprehensive approach to the deficits our society has with parenthood and childcare. Rather than narrow the focus on to abortion or adoption or parental leave benefits or childcare costs, the FFP tries to weave a whole approach together from prenatal time all the way through early adulthood. The ideals here are pro-life in a consistent ethic of life sort of way, and the desire to take a longer-term, multi-layered approach is a fresh take on a stale issue. Good stuff. The summary here is excellently concise, and the click-through the whole package is a worthwhile dive.

"'It Is Not a Closet. It Is a Cage.' Gay Catholic Priests Speak Out" by Elizabeth Dias (via NYTimes)

There is a lot a lot a lot to digest in this article. Honestly, it left me struggling to process and react. I had a lot of thoughts and questions. Personally, I'll just say that I don't feel a man's sexual orientation has any different bearing on his vocational call and ability to serve and accompany people, either way; priests are called to chastity in their state just as any person of faith is. Read it for yourself and see what you think.

"Is it OK to cheer for the Cubs’ Addison Russell? Domestic violence experts have surprising answers to questions around abuse" by Cindy Dampier (via Chicago Tribune)

Watching the Cubs go through a unique process with Addison Russell has been interesting. Russell is under suspension for domestic violence, and the Cubs have chosen to accompany him through it and attempt to partners in his rehabilitation, with consultation and support from his ex-wife. The easy and popular thing to do would have been to cut ties with him; instead, the Cubs are in uncharted waters as they walk this route. I remain skeptical that it will succeed but credit the Cubs for their willingness to be deliberate, thorough, and thoughtful the whole way. This article offers some depth as to why sticking with him is justifiable and potentially positive.

"Catholic Infinity Gauntlet? Is Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet based on St. Teresa of Avila's hand relic?" by Jimmy Reynolds (via Lit Catholic Media)



This is a fun one to go out on. These dudes found a relic of Teresa of Avila's hand that has been adorned in metal and bejeweled with gems to celebrate its incorruptibility. It got them wondering -- did the design of Thanos' gauntlet come from a relic of a badass Catholic saint? I will say I'm not wild about pulling the barefoot butt-kicking rep of Teresa into one of the baddest villains we've seen, but it's cool that there may be visual resonance between something from our Tradition and an iconic item from mainstream culture. Check it out!

#TreatYoShelf: 02/14/19

by Dan Masterton

Couldn't squeeze this week's links into the morning pre-Lucy-waking-up routine because we had a fun outing planned! Thanks to a well-placed CTA ad, Lucy and I made our first visit to the University of Chicago's Infant Learning and Development Lab. We got to spend an hour with a few researchers participating in a study that will help find effective ways to teach little ones. Dad got a little cash, and Lucy got to pick a thank you treat! She went with a Sesame Street book starring Grover.

Now, on to treating yo shelf!

"Unvaccinated teens are fact-checking their parents and trying to get shots on their own" by Alex Horton via Chicago Tribune/Washington Post
The anti-vaccination movement just doesn't seem to go away. A fresh measles outbreak is even putting this further back in the spotlight. This young man reached the age of adulthood and has utilized his autonomy to obtain proper vaccinations. The Catholic Social Teaching in me screams in so many ways for the anti-vaxxer movement to stop. Not getting immunized hurts our human dignity, damages our solidarity, and ignores the call to community and participation. Herd immunity is the strongest defense, and it should be a no-brainer to deploy this surefire strategy against preventable diseases.

"Director of operations position emerges through Renew My Church" by Michelle Martin via Chicago Catholic

Renew My Church is the pastoral and practical way that my archdiocese is attempting to reevaluate its structure, primarily through reorganizing parishes and churches to more intelligently allocate its diminishing priests and staff our faith communities more effectively. One of the happy elements of this often grim process -- one that frequently downgrades parishes to worship sites within a larger, merged parish -- is the rise of more lay people into positions of leadership. This article describes the growing niche for Directors of Operations, who in collaboration with their pastor, put the unique skills of qualified lay people to great service in more efficiently running the many aspects of a parish's machinery. I have a friend whose background in accompaniment-based service of marginalized people, education in psychology, theology, and non-profit business, and interpersonal skills as a humble and service-oriented person of faith landed her one of these positions. It's a prophetic evolution in our local Church.

"How can we transform the U.S.-Mexico border? Opportunity zones." by Edward F. Cullen and Derrick H. Lewis via America Magazine

As the debates around immigration and border security continue, as President Trump prepares to declare his dubious national emergency, the problems remain mostly unresolved. Even those who  accompany and advocate for people in transit rarely have a clear, articulated plan for what comprehensive immigration reform would exactly look like. I know, personally, I imagine some combination of DACA enshrined in law, amnesty and a path to citizenship for current undocumented people, and a reexamination of border budgets, policies, and enforcement principles. But what specifically should be passed into law to fix our border problems? This article presents one concrete idea, drawing on elements of the new tax law. It proposes opportunity zones that would incentivize new business in vulnerable borderlands and seek to create economic activity as a way forward.

"Why We Can't Break Up With Big Tech" -- interview by LuLu Garcia-Navarro via WBEZ/NPR, speaking to writer Kashmir Hill of Gizmodo

Actual live shot of big tech executive.

I heard this interview over the weekend, and I thought the concept was amazing and the takeaways even more jaw-dropping. This Gizmodo reporter used the wherewithal of her colleague to create targeted VPNs (virtual private networks) that prevented her from interacting with particular tech giants for one week at a time, before trying to isolate herself from all five big names for one full week. Her experience shows just how many tentacles these mammoth companies have, reaching into so many areas of our world beyond what we may even realize. The NPR interview is a great thumbnail, and I've bookmarked her full series on Gizmodo to read further, too.

"Actor Gary Sinise describes his road to the Catholic Church" by Mark Pattison via Catholic News Service
I am a big fan of when famous people/celebrities/public figures demonstrate that they are people of faith. I am not looking for them to speak as representatives of my/their church or to be preachers of prophetic messages; I do find consolation, though, when someone famous hasn't discarded their faith and even wears it confidently. For example, I loved when Chris Pratt casually referenced his faith and love of prayer in his wonderfully ecclectic speech at an MTV award show last year. This article is a nice little snapshot of Gary Sinise (you may remember him from such films as Forrest Gump) and how he came to his Catholic faith. It's a neat little read.

* * *

And a little PS from me on my favorite sports team, the Chicago Cubs!

One of the many welcome and wonderful ways that my wife, Katherine, has humanized me is by teaching me how to be a better sports fan. She will watch sports with me -- her favorite is hockey and our Chicago Blackhawks -- but she won't engage in objectifying the players. She has called me out for treating them simply as stats or contracts or commodities. As a result, I still may get frustrated with my teams' and my players' struggles, but I'm much more grounded in the realities that they are people with families and lives and mistakes.

Last year, the Cubs made a big splash late in the offseason to bring in arguably the best pitcher on the market, Yu Darvish. He signed a six-year deal at a below-market rate that was considered a good value but still a lot money -- $126 million to be exact. He proceeded to struggle mightily, suffer injury, and have his dedication and toughness questioned by fans and commentators. After a corrective surgery and an offseason of rehab and hard work, he is coming into spring training full-go. And what's more, he's giving public interviews, like all his teammates do.

Mad props to this guy.
Here's to a great 2019!

Why is this surprising and exciting? Well, Yu is Japanese, and to this point, rarely spoke English in front of cameras and microphones. He reportedly took meetings with prospective teams last winter in English but never offered that publicly. Now, he is showing a new confidence and expressing himself personally, not through translators or second-hand reports. Getting to hear his voice and get his thoughts directly is really neat. His English is great, and his attitude is even better. A lot of Spring Training stories are generic cliches about people being in great shape or feeling great or ready to take the bull by the horns. We could write those stories about Yu, but the neat thing is that he has the confidence and outlook that is prompting him to speak for himself. It's such a treat, and I am only more excited for him and the Cubs. He is well compensated but was poorly treated by a lot of people and chose to keep his head up. Way to go, Yu! We're rooting for ya.

#TreatYoShelf: 02/07/19

by Dan Masterton

You guys know how Moses makes his coffee? ...

He-brews it...

Now that you've gotten your caffeine jolt, here's this week's links.


"New Year’s Resolution failed? Follow Pope Francis’ lead and try ‘wasting time’ instead." by Haley (Carrots) Stewart via America Magazine

Sorry, Marie, actually
NOT talking about you.

Full disclosure: I read Haley's book recently and loved it, and I generally am a softy for insightful Catholic moms, especially when they share little bits of their family on social media. Anywho, for those who may not want a book-length dive into intentional simplicity, this start-of-the-year reflection is a briefer celebration of that simplicity in light of Pope Francis' advice. Haley celebrates "wasting time" as a way to worry less about productivity and efficiency and instead invite greater presence and wider space for love. One great nugget: maybe, more often than we'd like to admit, interruptions are actually more important scheduled things.

"Democrats Overplay their Hand on Abortion" by Alexandra DeSanctis via The Atlantic (primarily, she writes for National Review)

In light of some troubling movements in New York and Virginia, this article takes a pretty deliberate, measured approach to walking through the heaviness of these lurches in the policies on abortion. While this author is an overt and open pro-life person, she writes the article in a restrained, face-value sort of way. Her focus is not advocacy or persuasion but rather an honest assessment of how the Democrats are embracing extreme policies on abortion to try to firm up the ground in case the courts start to push back more on liberal abortion laws, but in doing so, are giving away the game on what they stand for and seek to protect.

"Trump: Another unconvincing stab at statesmanship" by Michael Sean Winters via National Catholic Reporter

I don't read NCR much, but this opinion summary of Trump's State of the Union Address was pretty solid. The speech didn't touch much on themes especially sensitive to religious listeners, but Winters surveys the reaction to the speech and comments, which included one particularly intriguing and off-putting observation. Describing Trump's struggle with scripted speeches versus his comfort with ad-libbing, one writer commented, "He's adept at pressing their emotional buttons, and even if he is not very religious himself, there is something evangelical about his style. He excites hope that crushing victories are coming, over strange and shadowy forces of evil. He moves around, filling the physical space, improvising. He promises anything that comes into his head..." More fuel to the scary fire that is President Trump.

"The Joy of Having Loud and Messy Kids at Mass" by Brian Doyle via America Magazine (H/T to Josh Noem for the link)

This one was written a few years back, but a lot of people have been writing and sharing links this week about the importance and beauty of children at Mass. I especially liked this piece, a sparse and raw accounting of experiencing liturgy in the midst of children. In addition to the good theology and catechesis relating to children at the Mass being done elsewhere, I thought it was rather welcome to just read a touching narrative and a brief reflection from the perspective of a faithful massgoer.

"Ways to Get Students Involved in School Liturgies" by Katie Diltz via the McGrath Institute for Church Life Blog (University of Notre Dame)

Me, when the kid who just practiced
the First Reading five minutes ago
reaches the ambo and promptly begins
confidently proclaiming the Gospel instead.

This one may be a bit niche-y for some of you, as it's certainly geared toward those of us who minister to young people. However, it might also awaken some nostalgia in your soul as you remember the dear old days of your elementary school liturgies. Mobilizing young people in liturgical ministries is wonderfully easy and potentially transformative. The variety of roles possible for various young people and their various gifts can help connect them to the beauty of the liturgy and the chance to share their gifts with others in prayer and worship. This is a nice little primer to help toward that end.

Treat Yo Shelf: 01/31/19

by Dan Masterton

Welcome back to The Restless Hearts, friends!

We resume our regular blogging with my new Thursdays series, #TreatYoShelf.



Each Thursday, I'll share a few of my favorite reads from the past week with a little summary or a quick thought. My hope is that I can help draw you toward a handful of faith-relevant articles and reflections to stir your spirit and get you thinking constructively. I may throw a few videos, jokes, and other miscellanea in here, too. Hope you enjoy!

+ + +

"3 Guidelines I Use to Stay Sane on Social Media" by Molly Cruitt via Grotto Network

Donna live streaming
Ron's first selfie slash Vine.

I am a believer that social media isn't inherently evil. It's the classic issue of intention and use -- knives aren't evil when they spread butter but become evil when they're wielded for violent ends. We often end up consuming and utilizing social media is ways that can trend toward dangerous things. It's best to find ways to moderate and limit consumption to keep it in a happy place. One great suggestion I echo from Molly -- try snoozing or muting people who are elevating your blood pressure. It keeps your social connection but gives you a trial run of removing them from your feeds. I am a big fan of taking 30-day snoozes when certain friends push my buttons with their posts.

"What It’s Like for Secular, Liberal Pro-lifers at the March for Life" by Ashley Fetters via The Atlantic

In an increasingly polarized political climate -- especially one where New York and Virginia are pushing abortion law even further left -- it's hard to imagine pro-life citizens as anything but super-conservative and super-Christian, and that's exactly what can be so tough about a two-party system. These two monoliths don't reflect the diversity of the country and its varying stances. This reporter captured a more nuanced portrait of the citizenry at this year's DC March for Life. Here's a good thumbnail: "But despite what the popular narrative might suggest—that the pro-life side of the abortion debate is conservative and the pro-choice side is liberal, and the two sides don’t like each other—secular and left-leaning pro-lifers I spoke with said they felt welcome at the March for Life, and that most of the time they feel welcome in the pro-life movement in general, too. They do, of course, know they’re outnumbered."

"Stop giving young adults special treatment at church" by Emily Sanna via USCatholic

Having belonged to a parish with one of the most vibrant young adult scenes out there, I have seen the pros of it -- strong sense of belonging, friendships started and grown at church, hearty catechetical content at programs, etc. I also know that segmenting a parish can be dangerous, especially if one segment becomes stronger while others lag behind. Ideally, a parish is a healthy blend of its various states of life, age groups, and gifts. In Emily's reflection, she talks about trying to forge a path in parish life that actualizes that. As usual, the best Catholic answers may be both/and's, and I walked away from reading this thinking we need both specialized aspects and combined/all-ages aspects to parish life.

"Want to keep your kids Catholic? Make your home a church." by Katie Prejean McGrady via America Magazine

Sometimes, parents show good hustle
but just don't quite have it figured out.

Having an almost two-year-old daughter, I often wonder how intentional our family faith life needs to be. Mass every Sunday is a top priority but then what -- is grace before meals enough extra prayer? do we need to have more regular pieties? are we active enough in the parish? Juggling two work schedules, caring for Lucy without daycare, and navigating my wife's terminal degree (no more school in two years!) can leave the schedule ragged and iffy. Katie's sparse, simple reflection here resonates with me and my childhood. My parents were not theologically formed, did not have exceptional home pieties, and did not sit us down for bible studies; they were every-Sunday Mass-goers, faithful belong-ers and contributors, and socially engaged Catholics. Our house and our parish were home. Take a deeper dive with Katie here. Sometimes the best plan is to just be a consistently good, thoughtful example.

"The 'Ethics' of Trump's Border Wall" by Cardinal Joseph Tobin via NYTimes Opinion

The politics of the wall have played out ad nauseam amid the shutdown, the temporary budget, and the looming re-shutdown. Meanwhile, the human realities remain. Cardinal Tobin captures important aspects of this in his reflection, namely, that the wall neither changes the underlying motivations of migrants nor the laws of the land, which permit asylum requests. Having spent a week in the borderlands, I can attest that the thought process of many who attempt the crossing is that the danger of dying in the desert is less daunting the imminent threats they face back home; many simply take the calculated risk since the potential, even if unlikely, outcome to stay in the US is better than their status quo. Customs and Border Protection already practices Prevention by Deterrence, which uses walls and resources to funnel crossers into more remote, more dangerous terrain, where the earth's natural challenges will eliminate crossers for CBP, which the maps back up.

Goose Island Beer Company Snow Removal

Here in Chicago, we have a little thing called "dibs." The basic idea is that, in heavy winter weather, if you dig a parking spot out for your car, it remains yours even after you pull away. Typically, people use lawn furniture, trash cans, or other items to mark off their dibs'd spot, and those who observe dibs treat it as an unavailable parking spot. Others find this practice abhorrent and pull their cars right into these spots, casting the markers aside as they desperately try to park their cars. The whole system is a bit flimsy and certainly ramps up when weather hits a fever pitch. Whether you're pro or con, Goose Island gave us something we can all get behind -- help with our parked cars. This is a fun example of stepping away from a well adjudicated and tense debate to focus on the human need. Enjoy!

Are you #ProDibs or #AntiDibs? The Dibs debate can get pretty nasty here in Chicago. That’s why the Goose crew woke up early this morning to help our neighbors. Whether you’re #ProDibs or #AntiDibs, treat your neighbor with respect and kindness this winter and always. pic.twitter.com/YtmyqDxbpc

— Goose Island Beer Co (@GooseIsland) January 28, 2019