Author: Deacon Richard D. Shewman

At one level, The Good Place is an entertaining comedy that is a pleasure to watch. At another level, it is simply brilliant.  The series is a contemporary version of…

This brings us to the next of the ultimate questions, “What happens when we die?” There is a great deal of speculation in the Christian tradition but very little in…

In the early centuries of the Church everyone who was going to be baptized at the Easter Vigil underwent a month-long retreat prior to baptism. This was done in honor…

I have a subscription to Netflix, though I don’t use it much. I keep the subscription because my children watch Netflix. The other night I was scanning through the selection…

I may have mentioned this in the past but I’m no stranger to politics. I grew up in a very politically aware family. My grandmother was actively involved in local…

After the mass murder of Moslems at worship in several New Zealand mosques some commentators pointed to the emergence of Christian nationalism as a factor encouraging such behavior. There was…

I am a writer at heart and have kept journals over the years. The journals are a mix of reporting on recent events and spiritual reflections. Occasionally I will take…

Several years ago, I read a book by a social worker who helped patients in a hospice prepare for death. In many cases her job boiled down to helping the…

A friend died the other day. He was a deacon whom I have known ever since I came to Erie. He had worked in sales for many years and then…

Christmas has the reputation of being one of the most difficult times of year for a lot of people. This was obvious when I was with Karidat and other social…