There is a familiar scene in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. It is the day after Christmas and Bob Cratchit comes into Ebenezer Scrooge’s office about 18 minutes late. Scrooge bellows and mockingly berates him for his tardiness. Cratchit’s excuse was “I was making rather merry yesterday, Sir”. I will apply Cratchit’s line to my tardiness in getting this installment on advent Joy out a bit late. I have gratefully had the opportunity to make merry with family this past week. And get...

After seasons of warmth, the growing season, the harvest and the beauty that is autumn (in which I relished for an extended season from Quebec to home feasting on the colors and refreshing cool) we enter winter with its attendant palpable gloomy gray days. It’s a time when we begin to long for the better seasons. But this season offers a needed quiet, a respite from labors. Freed from many daily outdoor chores and activities. It is a time to nourish our interior life, our spiritual life. The...

For over 1000 years Patrick (ca 386-461) has been celebrated as the patron saint of Ireland. He was simply a dedicated servant of Jesus...