Author: Deacon Richard D. Shewman

I’ve probably gotten far afield from the issue of immigration, from where I began this reflection. However, the point I am trying to make is that immigration is tied up…

The basic question is how do you maintain a functional sense of self-rooted in your culture, when that culture is undergoing dramatic change? One approach is to try and freeze…

  The more difficult pressure to address is that of different ethnic communities trying to live together while still preserving their unique identity. My wife is the youngest of four…

Recently Trump commented that health care was an incredibly complex issue. I was dismayed at his surprise over the complexity of health care. Back when I was first out of…

How can you tell if someone is Catholic…a Christian? Jesus encourages us to be a city set on a mountain for all to see, a light for all to see.…

Imagine that you and your neighbors lived along a beautiful little river that provided clean, sweet, fresh water to all of you. This river provided you with drinking water, bath…

At the parish where I help as a deacon I was assisting at the recent Easter Vigil as five catechumens came into full communion with the Church. I noticed that…

  How does this situation challenge you? Do you lose hope? Do you forget about the Gospel and focus your attention on your religious faction or your political leanings? Do…

  Imagine that you are living in first century Palestine. A few years earlier you had listened to Jesus of Nazareth preach and your heart was moved by his words.…

Just because I’m living in the States now doesn’t mean that I have left island life far behind. There are many mainland communities with sizable island populations. Living in Erie…