St. Mary of the Angels: a Family of Families
In response to the need to grow our parish and to fulfill our portion of Christ mission, we have begun a process with ISPD (Institute of School and Parish Development out of New Orleans), to develop a collaborative strategic plan that sees our school as the principal...
Internet Virtue–8: Helping One Another
Parents are naturally concerned for their children, not just that they eat and sleep enough, but that they are safe from anything harmful. So when it involves technology, a parent needs to be available to supervise and guide their children, as well as exemplify...
Growing as a Family: The More the Better
A year ago, the Archdiocese led St. Mary of the Angels with our neighboring parishes through the Renew My Church process, discerning possible new configurations to better serve the needs of the people of Chicago and evangelize the neighborhood and beyond. We have been...
A Crisis of Meaning: Why I am?
We are journeying through Lent on this path leading to the Cross and the Resurrection, that leads us to that union with God we call holiness. Speaking about Ash Wednesday and Lent, Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles wrote: We are living in times when many people...
Internet Virtue–7: Virtue Communities
Parents can more effectively guide their children in the virtuous use of the Internet by collaborating with other parents and families that have similar values and aims for their home. These goals should include the virtuous use of electronic devices. It is always...
Internet Virtue (6): When NOT to be Transparent
The transparency between spouses should be total, as they are called to be totally one in Christ. The transparency between friends will be significantly less. Regarding Internet usage, we should not be afraid to share how we use the Internet—it’s public anyway. For...
Virtuous Internet (5): Transparency
Connected with the Open Door approach to the Internet and electronics is transparency, which really is the virtue of sincerity. Transparency is key in marriage and in other family relationship. It shows that we are not afraid that our spouse, parent, or sibling sees...
Virtuous Internet (4): Open Door
Considering certain places as sacred and private, where we shouldn’t use electronic devices, how do we balance using our bedrooms for study and work and using them for prayer and sleep? Perhaps the key here is the door: keep the door open when we are not praying,...
Virtuous Internet (3): The Right Time and Place
The family can do a lot to cultivate the proper use of Internet devices. Yes we can and should use filters to protect ourselves and our loved ones from inappropriate and offensive sites, but the family culture is even more powerful and effective to avoid letting these...
Virtuous Internet (2): Face-time vs. Screen-time
The use of technology has social implication as our actions and attitudes impact others, either directly or indirectly. This is especially true in a family. For example, most people who use their phone or other device for porn or inappropriate social media activity...