About Ben Bongers

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Ben Bongers was an international operatic tenor and practicing sommelier for 30 years based in San Francisco, CA, and Europe. He has written monthly articles for trade magazines in both wine and singing over a long and lustrous career. After becoming a semi-full-time caretaker for his parents, he earned an MA in Gerontology (the study of aging and care) and was asked to publish in an eldercare textbook that came out in 2020. He has written several books, all published by EnRoute Books and Media. His first novel THE SAINT NICHOLAS SOCIETY has won many awards, and his other two, TRUE LOVE—12 Christmas Stories My True Love Gave to Me, and THE FARMER, THE MINER, THE ARTISAN (a children’s book) are up for awards. Ben is a Knight in the Order of Malta and helped start an overnight homeless shelter at his parish in San Francisco, CA., and today is a Permanent Diaconate Candidate in Kansas City, MO.

All Posts by Ben

Like John the Baptist - Mom Hated to...

Like Mom and John the Baptist, we have heroic cleaning to do.... read more

Will the REAL Saint Nicholas Please Stand Up?

With every legend, there is a kernel of truth. The beloved Santa... read more

ADVENT IS COMING—4 of 4—Traditions to Make the...

‘Tis the season to think of others. We’ve all heard the adage,... read more

ADVENT IS COMING—3 of 4—Prayer, Devotion, Meditation, and...

most years, we get too busy, scattered, and jaded to allow the... read more

ADVENT IS COMING—2 of 4—Things to Do and...

Most Advents we get too busy, scattered, and jaded to allow the... read more

ADVENT IS COMING—1 of 4—Traditions to Make it...

Advent means “to come to” or “toward” and is filled with a... read more

Our Inner Lights and Gifts Need to Shine...

a Native American reservation in Oklahoma to start a new life with... read more

If Asked, Who Would You or Wouldn't You...

His oncologist put it, “We are going to take you to the... read more

Candy As Compassion

In our conversation, they’d told me they had led a rough life. They’d... read more

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