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June 2014

June 13, 2014

‘Every Day is a Good Day to Remember Sam and What He Stood For’

One of this year's Christopher Awards went to the documentary "Life According to Sam." It...

June 06, 2014

Kittens, “Cosmos,” Culture Wars, and the Coexistence of Science & Faith

When the new version of the TV series "Cosmos" premiered a few months ago, it...

June 04, 2014

Down Syndrome, Racial Harmony, & Hearing Impairment Themes in High School Poster Contest Winners

Today we're highlighting the top three winners in The Christophers' 24th Annual Poster Contest for...

May 2014

May 13, 2014

UPDATE WITH VIDEO: Once They Get Into the Shelter, There’s the Concept of Grace

Just ahead of this year's Christopher Awards ceremony, where the film "Gimme Shelter" (now on...

May 12, 2014

Blind Army Captain and Christopher Award Winner Offers Encouragement to Boy Losing His Vision

In 2011, we recognized Captain Scott Smiley (seen here with his wife Tiffany) with a...

April 2014

April 16, 2014

“Dancing with the Stars” Contestant Makes Dream Come True for Young Woman with Down Syndrome

James Maslow has attracted a lot of fans as a singer with the band Big...

April 02, 2014

Stories of Heroism, Faith, and Selflessness Highlighted in 65th Annual Christopher Award Winners

NEW YORK, April 2, 2014 — A Catholic chaplain and Korean war hero who posthumously...

April 01, 2014

Opening Your Heart to Adoption: One Woman’s Story

Though Christina Beahan grew up in a big Polish/Dutch family in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the...

March 2014

March 10, 2014

Harlem Globetrotters Add Teen with Down Syndrome to Roster

Eighteen-year-old Kevin Grow from Bensalem, Pennsylvania, became an Internet phenomenon when video of him scoring...

February 2014

February 26, 2014

The Road to Mercy Leads to a Life of Adventure for Author Kerry Weber

Kerry Weber insists that the Jesuit-run "America" magazine office, where she serves as managing editor,...

February 24, 2014

Harry Connick Jr. Kicks Into ‘Dad Mode’ Again After Contestant’s Sexually Suggestive Song

Since I've been watching the Olympics for the past two weeks, my "American Idol" viewing...

February 05, 2014

James Cagney in “A Link in the Chain”

If you're a fan of classic movies, you likely know Academy Award-winning actor James Cagney...

January 2014

January 30, 2014

Two Hearing-Impaired Girls Get Surprise Visit from Deaf NFL Star

Derrick Coleman, the NFL's first deaf player, has received a lot of attention lately because...

January 27, 2014

UPDATE: Overcoming Troubles Leads to Life, Hope and a Grammy Award

I just read that former "Christopher Closeup" guest Mandisa won her first ever Grammy Award...

January 24, 2014

Why You Should See “Gimme Shelter” and Ignore the Critics Shouting “Agenda!”

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at the animosity - not just criticism, but animosity...

January 14, 2014

Pregnant Teen Finds Hope and Healing: A Look at the Movie “Gimme Shelter”

"Last time I asked for God's help, He put me here," 16-year-old Apple Bailey angrily...

November 2013

November 13, 2013

Jennifer Lawrence Cuts Through Security Barrier to Talk with Girl in Wheelchair

Among the most popular posts I've written in my nearly two years of blogging here...

November 07, 2013

Stuck in a Christmas Time Loop: A Review of the Hallmark Channel’s “Pete’s Christmas”

Fourteen-year-old Pete Kidder is having the “worst Christmas ever.” Why? The middle child’s parents forgot...

October 2013

October 25, 2013

UPDATE: At the End of the Day, Lord, I Pray I Have a Life That’s Good

On a recent episode of the ABC series "Nashville," sisters Lennon and Maisy Stella (ages...

October 15, 2013

He Had Every Right Not to Be Happy, But He Was Happy All the Time

Though born with cerebral palsy along with minimal hearing and vision, Noah Voelker of Gainesville,...

October 09, 2013

From History and Oppression to Body Image Issues: Author Melissa Kuch on the Themes in Her Novel

Being a huge history buff helped author Melissa Kuch ground her debut young adult fantasy...

October 03, 2013

Love Turns Despair Into Hope: The LaHood Family’s Ministry to Disabled Children

When Dan LaHood was in second grade at St. John Baptist De La Salle grammar...

August 2013

August 06, 2013

A Young Woman Goes Bald for St. Baldrick’s

While reading the latest issue of my St. John's University Alumni magazine, one story jumped...

July 2013

July 24, 2013

How Music, St. Ignatius and the “Sons of Santa” Led Ben Walther to Jesus

The Sons of Santa. That's the name 16-year-old Ben Walther and his friends chose for...

July 19, 2013

Acting Like a Child vs. Being an Adult: A Review of “The Way Way Back”

If you were 14-years-old, how would you feel if the person who's supposed to be...

July 17, 2013

The American Family at Its Best: A look at UP TV’s “Bulloch Family Ranch”

Julie and Rusty Bulloch's ranch in Lakeland, Florida, sits upon acres of dirt and grass....

June 2013

June 24, 2013

Freedom of Religion, the Common Good and the Pretty Frump Girl: A Review of “The Hypothesis of Giants: Book 1”

Though it occurred inside St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City's iconic Catholic house of worship,...

June 03, 2013

Depth, Mystery and Authentic Friendships Keys to Evangelizing Young People

This article was originally posted on Patheos in January 2011: Chances are that the leaders...

May 2013

May 17, 2013

“American Idol” winner Candice Glover and Other Women Who Derive Their Self-Worth from God

Candice Glover was crowned the winner of "American Idol" season 12 last night - and...

April 2013

April 25, 2013

Hard Times Come Again No More

In light of last week's bombings in Boston, explosion in West, Texas, and all the...