When I think about the impact that traveling has had in my life, it’s fair to say it was pivotal: it converted me to Catholicism. Certainly not in a dramatic, St. Paul way, but rather in a progressive, subtle but still very real way. I was born in the city of Alicante, located in south-eastern … More At Home in the World
This year I had the opportunity to offer my students a new service trip to Glenmary Farms in Rutledge, Tennessee. For those who do know where that is located, it is about an hour east of Knoxville, on a mountain, in which seems to be the middle of nowhere. Now, I’ve been to Tennessee before, … More Toppa Joppa
Each Lent, I try to do something creative that will help me to grow in my faith life. This year, I got my idea from one of the students who came to the Marist Brothers Center at Esopus for a retreat. He gave a talk about God being synonymous with love. He was striving to … More Forty Days: Loving & Listening
There is a dragon in my room. Right now. I’m not kidding. He’s looking at me as I type. He’s made of yarn and stuffing and felt. Some hot glue. Little beaded eyes. I made him myself. I named him Burny. It took about a week and it was a labor of love but it was … More Forty Days: Thanksgiving
Perhaps the only thing we hate more than sin is to acknowledge that we are sinful. This past January I had a conversation with a student. She was obviously in a small life crisis, similar to the ones I remember having (and still have from time to time), when there is a moment of growth, … More Forty Days: Mea Culpa
This year, in the weeks leading up to Lent, I was beset by the same conundrum many of us face: what should I do for Lent? Normally I give something up, usually a sweet of some sort or a beloved food stuff. One year I even gave up tea for Lent, something I may not be … More Forty Days: Room in My Heart
Lent has been my favorite time of the Liturgical year for the past three years. You might be asking, “Michelle, why? Lent is when you have to give up meat on Fridays and your favorite food or drink!” For a long time I had that same mentality: “Great, I guess I’ll give up chocolate for … More Forty Days: Letters and Silence
I can recall my Lenten promises as a kid. I wore that ash on my forehead with a confidence that I could face this forty day period without soda; without chocolate; without bad language. But that was a false confidence because I did not have any strong ties with soda, chocolate or bad words throughout … More Forty Days: No Makeup
Many thoughts flooded my mind when I first thought of how I have felt God’s hand in my journey to Heaven: countless retreats, the Mass, service activities and the like. While those are all good things, I knew there was something more. So I thought a little harder about when I have truly felt God … More Learning the Journey
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” When … More Where Am I, Lord?
travelingsaints 