Guest post

Mary of Magdala: A Reflection on the Apostle to the Apostles

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By: Jackie Kierulf

Of all the beloved saints my maternal grandmother introduced us to, she didn’t have much to say about Mary Magdalene. Historically, this particular Mary is believed to be from Magdala, an ancient fishing village located on the Sea of Galilee in Northeastern Israel.1 Perhaps Mary Magdalene seemed too much of an outcast to acquaint us with. After all, how do you explain to a young child that Jesus had expelled several demons from a woman who then experienced tremendous healing and became a follower of Jesus? But Mary is no different from you or me, someone striving for holiness in a world that so desperately needs to know and live the message of God’s love and mercy.

Christ’s Appearance to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection (1835) by Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov – Public Domain Catholic Painting.

A model of faith and true witness

Mary Magdalene, originally possessed by demons and healed by Jesus, was truly devoted to the Lord, financially supporting his ministry, and even remaining with him at the foot of the cross while most of the apostles fled and hid.

Mary had no doubt that the man who addressed her at the empty tomb on that Sunday morning was her Rabbi. She became an “apostle’s apostle,” tasked by Jesus to tell the others of his rising from the dead.2 Regardless of whether her fleeing by boat to the south of France, preaching and evangelizing, and living in a mountain cave, is true, Mary’s mission as the messenger of salvation began.

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From Weeds to Wheat: The Transforming Mercy of God

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 13:24-30

Dear Friends in Christ,

There was once a boy, not much older than fourteen, who wandered the dusty back roads near a small farming town at the turn of the century. He was an orphan, left to fend for himself in a world that hadn’t shown him much kindness. Hungry, alone, and desperate, he became a thief—not by nature, but by necessity. He learned to move in the shadows, taking just enough to survive. One night, while slipping into a barn to steal some bread and milk, he startled the farmer’s dog and in his scramble to escape, he tripped and broke his leg. He lay there, helpless, expecting the worst.

But what happened next changed his life. The family who owned the farm—devout Catholics—found him in the morning. Instead of anger or condemnation, they showed him mercy. They tended his wound, gave him food, and offered him a place to stay. They prayed together at meals, went to Mass on Sundays, and worked the fields side by side. Slowly, the boy’s heart softened. He learned about Jesus—a savior who welcomes the lost and heals the broken. He became a son in every way that matters, growing from a frightened orphan into a young man with hope and purpose.

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Rest for the Weary: Trusting Jesus to Lighten Our Burdens

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 11:25-30

Dear Friends in Christ,

I want to begin today by sharing a story that might sound familiar to many of us. There was a family in our parish—a mother, a father, and three young children—who, just last year, found themselves walking a path they never expected. The youngest child, only seven, was diagnosed with a chronic illness. Suddenly, life became a series of hospital visits, sleepless nights, and endless worries. The bills stacked up. The parents, already stretched thin, began to feel the weight of the world pressing down on them. Even the simplest tasks—preparing dinner, helping with homework, taking a moment to breathe—became burdens too heavy to carry.

At first, the family tried to manage everything on their own. They told themselves they had to be strong, that they couldn’t show weakness. But as weeks turned into months, exhaustion set in. Tensions ran high, patience ran low, and the joy that once filled their home seemed lost beneath the stress and fear.

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A Cup of Cold Water: Serving Christ in the Little Ones

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 10:37-42

Dear Friends in Christ,

There’s a house on the edge of town, old but warm, with wide porches shaded by tall trees. In it live Mary and Joseph—an older couple, married nearly fifty years. Their children are grown, the rooms are mostly empty, but their hearts have only grown larger with the years. They’ve made a quiet promise to God: if someone is lost, hurting, or needs a place to begin again, their home will be open.

One winter, a man named Tom came knocking. He’d once worked with Joseph, years ago, when things were easier. But Tom’s world had unraveled—alcoholism, a painful divorce, and now, jobless, he was left with two small children and nowhere steady to go. He was ashamed to ask for help, but Joseph and Mary didn’t hesitate. They welcomed him and his children in. Mary cooked warm meals; Joseph sat with Tom late into the night, listening, praying, helping him plot a way forward. For months, Tom lived in that house. The children slowly smiled again. Tom found sobriety, and eventually, work. He moved out, but he never forgot the gift of shelter and hope—given not because he could repay it, but because he was in need.

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Don’t Let Go of His Hand

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By: Madeleine Karako

For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of being a mother. When we got pregnant on the honeymoon, I couldn’t have been more thrilled. Then we lost our first child to miscarriage after being married for 2 months. My husband was in a different state for Officer Training School in the Air Force, so I didn’t see him until a month after we lost our child. I went through it without him, which made the experience all the more painful. Even in those darkest moments, God was taking care of me. I couldn’t see it then, but looking back now I see all the little miracles He gave me. 

  1. My mom (who lived in a different state) showed up for a visit the day before I started miscarrying, so I had her with me through it all. 
  2. My dear friend, Lizzy, showed up at the hospital when I had to have an emergency D&C because I was hemorrhaging. She held my mom’s hand and prayed a rosary with her while I was in surgery. 
  3. My Dad cancelled an important business trip to come and be with my mom and I during that first week after our loss. 

Those are the big ones. There were many more little miracles, but I couldn’t see any of them at the time. I cried most days and felt like my heart was being ripped apart. The whole thing felt so backwards, so cruel. Going through labor, feeling all that pain, enduring emergency surgery; those were the “easy” parts. Going home without a baby, feeling the emptiness in my heart, doubting God’s love; those were the hard parts. 

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Choosing Christ Over Treasure: Walking the Way, the Truth, and the Life

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 10:26-33

Dear Friends in Christ,

Imagine a man named Jose, standing at a crossroads in his life. After years of hard work, Jose suddenly loses his job. He’s anxious about his future, not knowing how he’ll provide for his family. Friends and colleagues gather around him, each offering their advice—some well-meaning, some not so much. “Jose, you just have to do whatever it takes to make money,” one says. “Forget about your scruples. In this world, you have to chase after gold and treasure, or you’ll be left behind. Cut corners if you need to. That’s how people get ahead.”

Jose listens, but deep down, he feels unsettled. He remembers how fulfilled he felt working at the parish food pantry, helping families in need and comforting the lonely. He isn’t sure that chasing money at all costs is the answer. Instead, he feels drawn to serve, to lift others up, and to find meaning in loving his neighbor. Yet, the pressure mounts. Bills don’t pay themselves. The voices pushing him towards worldly success grow louder, and Jose finds himself torn between the world’s promises and the quiet tug of his conscience.

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Living the Eucharist: Sharing Christ’s Love in Everyday Moments

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of John 6:51-58

Dear Friends in Christ,

Before our children moved out of our home, most evenings, the five of us would gather around our kitchen table. The table wasn’t always perfectly set—sometimes it was just a simple meal, a pot of soup, a loaf of bread, maybe a few apples. But every night, we laughed together, shared stories from our day, and always took a moment to pray—thanking God for His blessings and asking for the grace to follow Jesus in all we do.

I remember one winter when our neighbor Jimmy, a Vietnam veteran who had become a dear friend, fell seriously ill. Jimmy was a man who had seen much in life and was quietly fighting his own battles every day. Moved by the Holy Spirit, our family knew we had to help. We began inviting Jimmy to share our meals whenever he felt up to it. My children and I would stop by to visit him and help with his yardwork, while my wife checked on him regularly and made sure he got to his doctor’s appointments.

These weren’t grand gestures—just small acts of kindness, offered from the heart. Yet as we cared for Jimmy, we felt a new sense of peace and warmth in our home—a gentle grace that lingered long after the meal was over, a reminder of God’s love alive among us. In these moments, we realized that living the Eucharist means letting the love of Jesus flow through us, sharing His presence not only in church but in the everyday ways we serve, encourage, and lift each other up.

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