Looking for a hearty and festive dish for the Christmas season that will warm you up in the cold December weather? Look no further than some Christmas chili! The classic Christmas color combo of red and green naturally appears in these chili ingredients adding some Christmas spirit to the mix! Whether you like chili that has a spicy kick to it or a chili that is more subtle I have you covered! Both are packed with flavor and are guaranteed to add more cheer to the table. While making chili may seem harder it is actually quite easy especially with...

So many hymns and carols that we sing during the Christmas season have incredibly meaningful lyrics, yet we often mindlessly sing them without diving in ourselves. So, I invite you to slowly read and reflect on the meaning behind the lyrics of the carol “O Come O Come Emmanuel.” I have adapted the lyrics of the first and third verses below, making them easier to understand, repeat and reflect upon. I encourage, however, you to take a look at the original lyrics of the other verses of the song, and let the words pull you into the love of God’s...

A few weeks ago, while on a mini retreat for my confirmation group, we heard some reflections about the joyous waiting period that the season of Advent entails for the Catholic Church, and to remind ourselves to turn again in hope towards Christ’s Second Coming. Our reading for the reflection came from the Book of Baruch in the Old Testament. The passage was imagery of the coming of God to redeem His people, Israel, and the joyous celebration that accompanies it. The vitality of this hopeful waiting became apparent to me for the first time. I...