The Olympics remind us that we are a global community. The youth from the nations of the earth inspire us as they compete at the highest levels of sportsmanship.

Each new school year, Our Faith introduces you to the new heads of faith-based schools here. These roles may be among the harder, if rewarding, ones in education. Our very informal look at turnover suggests about two of ten positions change annually. (More about that below.)

The world is focused on Paris. Celine Dione’s solo from the Eiffel Tower set the bar. Performing for the first time since 2021 following a neurological disorder, Dione’s voice echoed through the streets of Paris and around the world, inspiring young and old alike.

All eyes are focused on Paris for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Games on Friday, July 26. The best athletes of the world will compete to the limit of their talent and determination. Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, will again seek the gold in women’s gymnastic…

Our island boasts a long history of those who have moved heaven and earth, as it were, to fulfill the dreams of the faithful here. Rabbi Henry Cohen, church architect Nicholas Clayton and several others come to mind. More recently, the late, record-setting Rev. D.N. Benford Sr., comes to mind.

The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has shocked and, hopefully, sobered our nation. For too long our national politicians have indulged in violent and acerbic rhetoric. An entire generation has come into their adult years listening to Presidential candidates characteri…

It’s only human to have a visual image for almost any common noun. When someone says “sports star” or “celebrity” you may well see a specific incarnation in your mind’s eye.

Two decades of watching some 300 congregations in our county have made it clear that most, if not all, will suffer a loss due to storms over time. And, that many are not as prepared as they might be.

Twenty-five years ago, on July 16, 1999, John F. Kennedy, Jr. took off on his fateful flight from Essex County Airport, New Jersey. Heir to the legendary Kennedy’s good looks, charm and fortune, the young Kennedy possessed unlimited potential for political and commercial fame. But, in less t…

This last weekend was one of those weekends we live for. At 77 I taught my 7-year-old grandson to ride a bike. He has been unwilling to try, convinced it was something he could not do, paralyzed with self-doubt. But the time had come. He needed to learn. We used his sister’s hand-me-down bik…

Congregations meet in places as disparate as tents or cathedrals. Gatherings of the faithful have even been found in catacombs or along riversides.

Next week we will celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence with its famous words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursu…

When storms threaten and in their aftermath here, very little happens without the efforts of many volunteers. Neighbors assemble to “demo” flooded houses by removing wet Sheetrock and helping families save their valuables, ham radio operators fill the emergency operations centers across our …

I wrote my first column about suicide in 2010. As painful as the subject is, I try to address it at least once a year because so many families suffer from the aftermath of its tragic effects. In many cases, the memory of the person who takes their life is virtually erased. Unlike other loved…

“Hundred Day” is often observed in elementary schools. It gives young students and their teachers the opportunity to look back and see how very much they have learned over those first few months each year.

I have been reflecting on fathers as we approach Father’s Day next Sunday. We live in a neighborhood with many young families. Few sights bring me more pleasure than seeing fathers enjoying their children. Some on walks pushing strollers alongside their wives, the family dog on a leash; othe…

Many faiths use bracelets, necklaces or other beaded items to keep track of blessings, prayers or rituals. When you think about the Catholic Rosary, you probably see an image of one that would fit in your palm.

Five years ago, a robin built a nest in the aspen outside our front window. Her mate tried to help, but most of what he built she had to redo. Only a female can make a nest a home. She built it with sturdy twigs twisted together to form a cup in the fork of a limb, then lined it with soft gr…

Looking at the great cathedrals of Europe, one might conclude that individual churches last forever. Of course, they don’t. People move in and out of areas and some churches close each year here. In special cases, the buildings continue to serve as places of ministry to their community as is…