Hope you had a blessed Sunday! 🙏✝️
Time for another Catholic Meme Monday.
Catholic Meme Monday— Issue 204
Recreation
An 857 Word Article with Author Matthew Bond
Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Matthew Bond via phone call on June 28th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
“Making Ends Meet” blends science fiction, faith, and frontier grit—what inspired you to set this story on Mars?
I picked Mars because it’s a tangible place to colonize in the near future and I think the plot needed a little distance from Earth (further than the moon). Mars and the wild west have always made great settings for story, because of the hazards, unknowns and sense of adventure. I wanted to portray Mars as an obtainable goal much like going West in the 1800s was for the average citizen.
How does your Catholic worldview shape the narrative?
That’s a very good question! It’s really integral to the story. But I try to present the faith in everyday clothes. I wanted a story that feels like a saint story of old but brought to a future we can look forward to. I feel that C.S. Lewis used a direct approach with Christian allegory whereas Tolkien was more subtle. I wanted to strike a balance between these two approaches.
Continue readingCatholic Meme Monday— Issue 203
Hope you had a blessed Sunday! 🙏✝️
Time for another Catholic Meme Monday.
The Simple Catholic’s Christmas Gift Guide
Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through the links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support of The Simple Catholic.
‘Tis the season of lights, laughter, and little miracles in our front-yard football games—but also the season of gift-giving. As a Catholic elementary teacher, husband of four lively children, and founder of The Simple Catholic, I’ve learned that the best gifts are those that reflect more than the wrapping paper. They reflect truth, virtue, and wonder.
This year I’m delighted to share a curated Christmas Gift Guide featuring small Catholic and Christian-owned businesses I’ve had the joy of partnering with. These aren’t just products; they’re invitations to faith, family, beauty, and home. I’ve organized this guide by kids → parents → home so you can easily scroll, sip your cocoa (or eggnog), and find something meaningful for everyone on your list.
Continue readingThe Simple Catholic Sunday Funnies: Episode 22
Welcome to another The Simple Catholic Sunday Funnies! Growing up, one of my favorite parts of Sunday was flipping to the comics section of the newspaper: a little pocket of humor, color, and light-heartedness to start the week.
Now, in that same spirit, I’m excited to share this weekly collection of wholesome, funny Catholic comic strips. Thanks to the incredible talents of artists like Father Alvaro Comics, The Catholic Cartoonist, Sam Estrada, Tomics, and Fr. Michael DeBlanc. These comics bring a joyful twist to our shared faith, reminding us that laughter is one of God’s great gifts.
Enjoy Catholic comics!
Continue readingA 1446 Word Interview with the Papal Ninja
Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Sean Bryan via phone call on September 12th, 2025. Some of the questions/answers have been rearranged, edited, and paraphrased to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
How did your journey of faith lead you to embrace the mission of being the “Papal Ninja”?
Providence throughout my whole life, I have always been athletic. I did gymnastics through college. When I was with the Salesians, I was doing athletics through youth ministry work. After my time with the Salesians, I continued to do gymnastics. I saw one of my former teammates from when I was on the gymnastics team at Cal Berkeley participate on the show. I found a Ninja gym in my area. I found the culture of Ninja Warrior inspiring and I found a community there. Some of the veterans took me under their wing and gave me advice.
When I was developing my story, they told me that people want to hear about you being Catholic. So I took on the name Papal Ninja. In the talks that I give for the youth, I tell them that they are papal ninjas too. Ninjas are individuals who are skilled in training and following the master. And papal refers to the Vicar of Christ. So anyone who is Catholic is technically a papal ninja following the Master of Christ.
Continue readingCatholic Meme Monday— Issue 202
Hope you had a blessed Sunday! 🙏✝️
Time for another Catholic Meme Monday.
