The Pope's Death

We are all saddened by the death of Pope John Paul II. He was a great role model who truly loved his flock, especially the youth of the Church. As a non-catholic teacher at a catholic school, I am witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime (OK, maybe twice or thrice), historical event unfold. The process of honoring a passing pope and selecting a new one is one that I have never before experienced. It is a fascinating time and I have learned much about what faith means. Please keep the Catholic Church in your prayers at this time.

At this same time, our second graders are getting ready for a very important spiritual event in their lives - their first communion. To be sure, these two simultaneous events provoke interesting discussion about what is means to be a Catholic in the modern day.

For an interesting look at the Vatican during recent and present events, catch the Catholic Insider Podcast. Catholic Insider is a podcast by father Roderick Vonhögen, catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Utrecht, The Netherlands. He does an excellent job of explaining the Catholic faith, traditions and lifestyle in a simplistic way that even non-catholics can understand. He does a great job!! Check it out