Search Results for: David Werning

Prayer & Reflection - March 18, 2023 - “What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah?” And we might as well add our own names: What can I do with you, David? “Your piety is like a morning cloud, like the dew that early passes away.” Ouch! That stings. The prophet Hosea means to sting us with…

Story - April 26, 2021 - By David Werning, Managing Editor St. Paul asks the Romans a rhetorical question: “How can people believe in Jesus if they haven’t heard of him?” (See Rom 10:14). St. Paul’s point: Go out and tell people.  Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas (CCNEK) got the point. CCNEK helps those living in the 21 counties of northeast Kansas…

Story - June 1, 2021 - By David Werning, Managing Editor Organizing a closet full of clothes can be a daunting and unwelcome chore for someone doing some spring cleaning at home. The thought of putting it off until next spring may be very tempting. Now imagine walking into a facility with 26,000 square feet of floor space filled with hundreds of…

Story - July 28, 2021 - By David Werning, Managing Editor The COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding mitigation efforts challenged people in many ways. The loss of life has been the most tragic outcome. Other results include businesses shutting down, churches closing their worship spaces, and families sheltering in their homes for months. Many people lost their jobs or were placed on…

Story - April 22, 2021 - By David Werning, Managing Editor “You don’t have to be in chains to be a human trafficking victim.” So says Ivonne Vadi, a case manager at the Bakhita Empowerment Program of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida (CCDPB). The Bakhita program, named after Saint Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of human trafficking survivors, has two main…

Story - November 28, 2021 - By David Werning, Managing Editor Imagine this scenario: you don’t know English, you lost your job, and you’re worrying about how – or if – you will recover. This situation did not have to be imagined by 225 refugees in the Cincinnati area during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, 31 of whom were…

Story - April 22, 2021 - By David Werning, Managing Editor When a group of people are looking for the light at the end of the tunnel and you know it’s still a long way off, what do you do? Theresa Chamblee, director of social concerns for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, has the answer: You engage them. Chamblee interacts…

Story - August 11, 2020 - By David Werning, Managing Editor On the first day of January 2020, coronavirus for many people in the United States was a mysterious disease happening somewhere else. Just three months later, most people not only recognized the term and its specific designation, COVID-19, but also acted to slow its spread. By March 2020, COVID-19 had swept…

Story - June 1, 2021 - By David Werning, Managing Editor When Teresa Cavendish, director of operations for Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona (CCSSOAZ) and director of CCSSOAZ’s Casa Alitas program, announced that “the sisters are back,” the staff shouted with joy. In 2019 women religious had volunteered at Casa Alitas, which serves migrant families who have left their home countries…

Prayer & Reflection - December 14, 2022 - Depending on which Mass one attends today, you will hear either the readings for Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent or the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross. I’m focusing on the former in this reflection, since the Advent readings continue the theme of waiting for the arrival of Jesus, although with a…

Prayer & Reflection - April 7, 2022 - “…with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses” (Num 21:4). Who doesn’t have sympathy for the Israelites here? Forty years of traveling in the desert, moving slowly toward the promised land, they experienced many hardships. Daily tasks and taking care of family were challenging. Resources were scarce. People…

Prayer & Reflection - December 9, 2025 - Today’s lectionary readings The Word of God, living and effective, promises us a lot today, though it cuts like a two-edged sword. God promises comfort, rest, forgiveness of guilt, and the gift of salvation. He is like a shepherd gathering the lambs in his arms and carrying them. Beautiful, except we, his people, are likened…