Echoes - A forum of Catholic thought. The Opinion section of thebostonpilot.com

June 12, 2026Faith

The words God speaks to Israel in today's First Reading are intended for us, as well. The Church is the fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Israel -- a kingdom of priests and a holy nation ...

Faith & Family

Patron saintsArchbishop Richard G. Henning

One of the distinctive features of the Catholic faith is the naming of saints. The Church recognizes men and women who lived lives of extraordinary faith and witness by the process of beatification and ...

Culture & Events

The life and conversion of Father Virgil BarberRebecca Maitland

On June 19, 1823, the cornerstone was laid for what would become St. Mary's Church in Claremont, New Hampshire, the first Catholic Church in the state. Erected by Father Virgil Barber, SJ, the church ...

Faith & Family

The heart is already beatingLeonard J. DeLorenzo

There is a moment at the Last Supper that captures my imagination. While most of the apostles are arguing about which of them is the greatest, and while another is already calculating Jesus' betrayal, ...

Faith & Family

Distribution of Holy Communion -- MinistersFather Robert M. O'Grady

The entire assembly or congregation gathered for Mass includes all the ministers for the Mass. The entire assembly carries out some parts of the Mass. Almost all of those parts that are to be sung are ...

Faith & Family

Supporting Persistence in FaithMaureen Crowley Heil

During a mission trip to Venezuela, I visited an area in the far northeastern part of the country near the Colombian border that is home to mostly indigenous people. Many live along a large lagoon and ...

Faith & Family

When does a priest promise celibacy in the ordination process?Jenna Marie Cooper

Q: I recently attended an ordination, and that got me wondering: Hypothetically, what would happen if the bishop accidentally left out the part of the ordination Mass where the future priest promises ...

Spirituality

The shepherd dies with his sheepEffie Caldarola

In the midst of the bloody Syrian civil war, a Dutch Jesuit named Father Frans van der Lugt was killed in the ravaged city of Homs. It was April 7, 2014. He was beaten and then shot in the head. The ...

Faith & Family

The 'pursuit of happiness'Sister Constance Veit, lsp

St. Jeanne Jugan is often portrayed looking quite solemn but she was actually very joyful. She was known to exclaim, "What happiness to be a Little Sister of the Poor!" and to counsel the young Little ...