My Catholic first Communion was circa 1962. I was 7-years-old, but my first confession was the stepping stone, which brings back dress rehearsals and the sins of omission. We second-graders had to ...

IN AN INTERVIEW with a Jesuit magazine in 2013, Pope Francis declared, “The confessional is not a torture chamber, but the place in which the Lord’s mercy motivates us to do better.” This is not how ...

A few days ago one of my younger children, a 7-year-old daughter, celebrated her first Confession. It was beautiful. She is the ninth in the family. Along with two of her siblings, she attends our ...

I knew I had to go to confession at St. Peter’s Basilica. But I never guessed my confession there would change the direction of my life. While growing up in a Catholic family and attending Catholic ...

GREAT BARRINGTON My church, St. Thomas Aquinas, is in the news a lot these days. I don't live in Adams anymore, so I haven't been there too often lately, but I have fond memories of growing up a ...

This is my first column for The State Press and I feel as though I need to clear the air right up front; for, you see, I have a dirty little secret. Actually I have two secrets but they are opposing ...

I’ve always been wracked with guilt over the slightest transgressions. I cut my toenails too short. I’m always late. I don’t call my relatives enough. I sleep in. You name it, I feel guilty about it.