How I Will Remember Sinéad O’Connor

When I was 21 years old on October 3, 1992, Sinéad O’Connor was the brave hero I needed. I remember being at a retreat for campus ministry that weekend, watching the show stretched across longish sofas with pizza and pop and the righteous purity of our little Catholic college bubble. I remember the shock in […]

The Easter My Dad Went Fishing Without Us

Easter brings to mind a lot of bullet point memories In 1983, things were bleak financially. I was 12 years old and in 7th grade. So, of course, my Dad decided to join my cousins on a spring fishing trip to the Outer Banks over Easter. They weren’t high end, but it was still money […]

Grand Jury Report on Predatory Priests should make you rethink Fish Fry Season

Fish Fry Friday Pittsburgh

I wrote this in March 2019. I skipped all the Lent fish fries last year, but am unsure what to do this year. Lent is arriving in Pittsburgh and that means fish fry season is upon us. A mainstay of Catholic culture in Pittsburgh, this is the first fish fry season since the release of […]

Casual Catholic Culture & Pittsburgh: No More Glorifying Fish Fries, Pierogies, and the Like

Pittsburgh Fish Fry

I came across a local online contest for the best local pierogies this weekend, one of those features that media sites run to generate interest and engagement. It was the final round of voting and one of the finalists is a local Roman Catholic parish here in Pittsburgh. My initial reaction was both shock and […]

Fish Fry Friday: Our Lady of Grace

Welcome to Fish Fry Fridays, 2018 Edition! Click here to learn more about this project. Name: Our Lady of Grace (Scott Township) Date: March 23, 2018 Time We Ate: 7:06 PM Random review of #fishburgh adventures during Lent. Find a fish fry on this map! You can also follow them on Facebook and find tons of reviews and suggestions. And vote in The […]

Arrests of two public employees on sexual misconduct charges brings realities of #MeToo to Pittsburgh

Jim Sheppard Mike Diebold

Two arrests this week of public employees on sexual misconduct charges brings home the reality of #MeToo to the Pittsburgh region. First came word that Jim Sheppard, an analyst in the office of County Controller Chelsa Wagner, was arrested on charges of harassment, stalking, and related crimes in regard to his ex-boyfriend. Sheppard had previously […]

The Story of My Life: Coping With The Dark Tales That I Can’t Explain

The Story of My Life: Coping With The Dark Tales That I Can’t Explain

Content Note: Catholic priest sexual abuse, sexual assault I’ve learned not to say ‘well, it can’t get any worse’ when it comes to genealogy. Knowledge is power and sometimes learning the truth about your ancestors (and living family) can be harmful. Nonethless, it is truth. It is the story of my life. I have over […]

My High School Physics Teacher Destroyed My Biblical Beliefs

Noah's Ark

I grew up Catholic so rarely read the Bible. Actually, never read the Bible except for the year I was confirmed and I was infatuated with my Children’s Bible. My overall religious knowledge was pretty low, but my knowledge of all things culturally Catholic was pretty solid. Case in point – I assumed Joseph of […]

ReReading The Feminine Face of God

Feminine Face of God

Franz Kafka said, “we ought to read only books that bite and sting us.” What’s the last thing you read that bit and stung you? I consume a vast amount of words each day, mostly online. I read or skim hundreds of articles each day both for my personal interest and for my professional duties. […]

My Therapist is a Nun

Persad Center

For ten years, I saw the same therapist, “D,” here in Pittsburgh. I was referred to her by my then-PCP because she was in a unique practice specializing in treating my diagnosis. The psychiatrist in the practice moved out-of-state after a few years, but I stayed with her. She was a tremendous support to me […]