Five Ways – Jan 26

January 21, 2026 1.  Children’s joy:  When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, “I’m not sure.”  He answered, “Look in your underwear, Grandpa.  Mine says I’m 4 to 6.”  (WOW! I really like this one–it says I’m only 38!). …

Five Ways – Dec 25

December 25, 2025 1.  Children’s Joy.  Many Christian Churches observed Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025 as the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, with the Gospel reading Matthew 2, the Flight Into Egypt.  One nun asked her third graders to draw…

Five Ways – Oct/Nov 25

November 25, 2025 1.  Why is this Five Ways for two months?  On Oct. 18, I fell down the final four steps in our indoor stairway at St. Mary’s Rectory, Georgetown, MA, breaking the humerus bone in my left shoulder.  The Oblates brought me…

Five Ways – Sep 25

September 30, 2025 First, some joy from children: On the first day of school, about mid-morning, the kindergarten teacher said, “If anyone has to go to the bathroom, hold up two fingers.”  A little voice from the back of the room asked, “How will…

Five Ways – Aug 25

August 22, 2025 Many thanks to those who commented on the July 22 Five Ways e-letter. First, let us smile at a child’s seriousness. On Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church looking up at a large…

Five Ways – Jul 25

July 22, 2025 Many thanks to those who commented on the June 30 Five Ways E-Letter. First, let us continue our joyful note with children’s views of our world. “What does the word ‘benign’ mean? Answer: ‘Benign’ is what comes after you be eight….

Five Ways – Jun 25

June 30, 2025 As we end the month of June, with its devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and begin the month of July, with its devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus, both reminding us of the joy we have because of…

Five Ways – May 25

May 26, 2025 Many thanks to those who responded to the April 30 Five Ways. It was the most ever. First, a children’s story about Easter. The nun teaching catechism to the fourth graders wanted to impress on them the centrality of Jesus’ Resurrection….

Five Ways – Apr 25 (2)

Apr 30, 2025 Many thanks to those who commented on the April 23 Five Ways. With the papal elections so near, let us look at two Philippine Cardinals and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The leading cardinal from Asia for becoming the next pope,…

Five Ways – Apr 25

Apr 23, 2025 As Roman Catholics mourn Pope Francis, we remember how Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised him. They met three times, and on the pope’s death, Putin said that in Russia, the closer one dies to Easter, the more blessed that person…