abuse

Our Prodigal Father: A Father’s Day Reflection

Father's Day elicits so many mixed emotions for people of all generations. Young children grateful for their Superman Daddy. Teens who see dad as a bungling idiot. New fathers who wish they had paid more attention to their father's advice. Wounded adult children angry at the fathers who neglected or abused them. Fathers who regret mistakes made or opportunities missed. Sandwich generation folks who now see the vulnerabilities of a man they once saw as stronger than steel. And those who feel the bittersweet joy of times remembered mingled with grief over a life lost never to be regained. As a son, I want to say to all fathers -- "Thank you for giving what you have out of love for your children." As a father, I want to say, "Celebrate what God has done through you even in moments you feel you've messed up." There are many reasons we [...]

Our Prodigal Father: A Father’s Day Reflectiontonyroberts2026-06-21T12:13:51-04:00

Man and Woman He Created Them: A Saint Blesses Our Bodies

Before Pope Leo’s Magnificent Humanity Encyclical there was Pope John Paul II’s Man and Woman He Created Them. As someone whose boundaries were violated by a childhood coach, I have much body shame and find it next to impossible to know who I can trust. By the grace of God and with the help of 40+ years of therapy (the last two in recovery from addiction) I am “coming to believe” I can trust the Holy Spirit in me. I now have great hope in Christ that I need no longer be held captive by the shame that was inflicted in me. God gives me the spiritual discernment to be protected from the powers and principalities in the world that seek to do me harm. Within the Body of Christ, I find safety to grow in grace and live in love.

Man and Woman He Created Them: A Saint Blesses Our Bodiestonyroberts2026-06-08T09:45:20-04:00

Protect and Preserve: St. Charles Lwanga and His 21 Fellow Companions

From Franciscan Media Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions’ Story One of 22 Ugandan martyrs, Saint Charles Lwanga is the patron of youth and Catholic action in most of tropical Africa. He protected his fellow pages, aged 13 to 30, from the sexual demands of the Bagandan ruler, Mwanga, and encouraged and instructed them in the Catholic faith during their imprisonment for refusing the ruler’s demands. Saint Charles Lwanga first learned of Christ’s teachings from two retainers in the court of Chief Mawulugungu. While a catechumen, he entered the royal household as assistant to Joseph Mukaso, head of the court pages. On the night of Mukaso’s martyrdom for encouraging the African youths to resist Mwanga, Saint Charles Lwanga requested and received baptism. Imprisoned with his friends, Charles’ courage and belief in God inspired them to remain chaste and faithful. For his own unwillingness to submit to the immoral acts and his [...]

Protect and Preserve: St. Charles Lwanga and His 21 Fellow Companionstonyroberts2026-06-08T09:44:24-04:00

St. Joan of Arc Novena with The Sisters of the Little Way

Today we celebrate the life, death, and resurrection we share with St. Joan of Arc in Christ. Here is a Prayer Novena composed by the Sisters of the Little Way: "Saint Joan’s legacy is one of fierce trust, prophetic courage, and unwavering faith. Her life reminds us that God sometimes calls us to take bold steps that the world may not understand—steps that may even appear to end in failure. But with God, nothing is wasted. Even what seems like defeat can bear lasting and transformative fruit. Though young and without influence, Joan listened to God’s will and responded with a courage that defied fear and cold rationalism. In this way, she lived the little way of confidence in God, not shrinking from danger but stepping forward in obedience and love. Her bold witness calls us to live with that same courage: to choose truth even when it costs us, [...]

St. Joan of Arc Novena with The Sisters of the Little Waytonyroberts2026-05-30T04:00:49-04:00

Sisters of the Little Way: Building a Safer Church Together

I learned some time ago of this Catholic mission headquartered in Mt. Sterling, KY. This morning I pledged my steadfast prayers and financial support. I included this note with my contribution — “I first learned of the ministry of Sisters of the Little Way from your Mary Queen Stories podcast interview. Having friends and faith family members who have been victims/survivors of clergy abuse, I know all too well what can happen when a predator infiltrates the flock. I pray God bless your holy calling — that St. Michael defend you, that the Blessed Virgin Mother Mary comfort you, and that the Spirit of Christ Jesus our Good Shepherd empower you to faithfully do your purify His beloved bride.”

Sisters of the Little Way: Building a Safer Church Togethertonyroberts2026-05-17T03:35:12-04:00

Hope for Troubled Minds: KyLee and her mother’s love.

When I was 17 years old, I delay enlisted into the Air Force. I had known at a very young age that I wanted a life devoted to the service of others. I was the oldest of four and already knew what sacrifice was or at least I thought I did. I enjoyed my time in the Air Force and short stint in law enforcement, but chose a different path because I felt I was too optimistic and in law enforcement you were always waiting for someone to make a mistake. Instead, I chose to go to college and work as a paralegal. Divorced young, I learned sacrifice as a parent. I was a single parent for 16 years. Sometimes I worked two jobs and went to college full time. I had aspirations of going to law school and making a real impact in the world. Then, two months shy [...]

Hope for Troubled Minds: KyLee and her mother’s love.tonyroberts2024-08-26T13:03:22-04:00

Hope for Troubled Minds: A Mother’s Search for Sanity

Michelle B is a loving mother, daughter, and child of God. She is working hard at surviving, maintaining sanity and positive thoughts, staying in the word of God and following his commands to live a good clean life. Dear mom, I’m writing you this letter to tell you how much you mean to me. You have been there for me and for that I am grateful. As you know I have 7 months clean. I want to express how deeply sorry I am for disappointing you with my drug use. You always tried to help me with my mental health even when I was young. I never listened and would suffer. You saw the outbursts, the psych wards, and the melt downs. I felt them. I self medicated through meth use. It was like magic. Now I know this not to be true. After going to a psych doctor and [...]

Hope for Troubled Minds: A Mother’s Search for Sanitytonyroberts2024-08-26T13:03:25-04:00

When the Waves of Trauma Come Crashing In by Laura Moseley

The author, Laura Moseley, is a single mother of three children, who survived 23+ years of sexual and domestic abuse. She formally works as a customer service rep for a social service organization, as she loves helping people. She is a D0mestic Violence (DV) Advocate, in her "spare" time. She is a blogger, future podcaster, public speaker, and community activist. I, after 23+ years of abuse within my life, would consider myself to have an “unofficial” doctorate in trauma, as I’ve used myself as a bizarre test subject for years -- but not intentionally. It’s more like sitting with my own pain and analyzing, now that I am no longer in active abuse. Trauma, as defined by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, is “a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury.” It derives from the Greek word for “wound,” which initially signified a physical [...]

When the Waves of Trauma Come Crashing In by Laura Moseleytonyroberts2024-08-26T13:03:26-04:00