St. Joseph and Fatherhood

Originally delivered as a talk for the Diocese of Paterson Advent Day of Prayer for Priests, St. Paul Inside the Walls Evangelization Center, Madison, NJ on December 6, 2022. It is my privilege and pleasure to be with you today at the … [Read more...]

The Essence of Fatherhood

Fundamental for Any True Shepherd of the Church

Should Catholics ever fall into a concept of God which disregards the Three Distinct Persons of the Blessed Trinity, in favor of One God with three functions or modes of operation? And does not this concept weaken the possibility of a … [Read more...]

Book Reviews – December 2021

Christmas Around the Fire. By Ryan N.S. Topping. Reviewed by Mark McCann. (skip to review) Meet the Gentle Jesus: First Communion Preparation Program. By Liguori Publications. Reviewed by Mark McCann. (skip to review) The Healing … [Read more...]

Priesthood and Spiritual Childhood

Spiritual pride is an occupational hazard of the priesthood, and a potentially deadly disease. Because of our current ecclesiastical environment, I think it is important to mention clergy abuse cases. Quite apart from the personal emotional … [Read more...]

Why You Should Have Hope for the Future of the Church

It’s officially the heart of ordination season, and our family is attending our usual round of ordination Masses. For the second year in a row, I am sewing a chasuble and stoles for some of my seminarian friends. If you have never sewn a … [Read more...]

The Forgotten Vice in Seminary Formation

We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. —C. S. Lewis from The Abolition of Man. (This article originally appeared in the May 2006 print e … [Read more...]

In Praise of My Father

I write this article as a pause from the great sorrow of scandal which has wounded the Church, in order to bring to mind... the spiritual beauty of fatherhood present in our priests. Being corrected by a prince of the Church in the … [Read more...]