Previous Columns

This page contains a quick reference to Fr. Tobin's previous columns. Columns are listed by date with most recent articles on top.

2008

Date Title
05/11/2008Names, Titles, and Symbols of the Holy Spirit
05/11/2008Nine Pastoral Challenges for Catholic Parishes
04/27/2008Being Ready to Give a Reason for your Catholic Beliefs
04/20/2008Trusting God with my Life
04/13/2008The Green Issue -- On Being Good Stewards of the Earth
04/06/2008The Many Roads to Emmaus: God's Presence in the Midst of the Painful Moments of Life
03/30/2008Divine Mercy Sunday
03/23/2008Helpful Stories on the Meaning of Easter
03/16/2008Characters From Jesus' Passion
03/09/2008Reflections on Coping with Loss
03/02/2008Moving from Darkness to Light
02/24/2008Reflections on a Wonderful Gospel
02/17/2008 Abraham and Sarah Show Us the Way
01/06/2008Seven Serious Sins of Somewhat saintly Children, and how Healthy Families Deal With Them

2007

Date Title
12/30/2007 Stories and Reflections on Families, on the Feast of the Holy Family
12/23/2007St. Joseph, the Quiet One
12/16/2007John the Baptist's Crisis of Faith and its Application to our Lives
12/09/2007Sin & Repentance: Two Spiritual Realities Most of Us Do Not Want to Think About or Face
12/02/2007The Liturgical Year
11/25/2007Three Stories that Speak to our Hearts
11/11/2007Living a Stewardship Way of Life
11/4/2007Remembering Deceased Loved Ones
10/28/2007Humility in Prayer
10/21/2007Persistence in Prayer
10/14/2007World Hunger - Problem and Solutions
10/07/2007Respect Life Sunday: The Call to be Pro-Life from Womb to Tomb
09/30/2007Could We End Up in Hell for Failing to Share With the Poor?
09/23/2007Mixing Church, Politics, and Money
09/16/2007Images of a Searching and Joyous God
09/09/2007Words of Encouragement for Those Who Need Them
09/02/2007Understanding and Dealing with Desert Periods in the Spiritual Life
08/26/2007"How Many Will Be Saved, Lord?"
08/19/2007Can Catholics Find Their Soulmates in Cyberspace?
08/12/2007Concrete Ways of Dealing with Fear and other Inner Demons
08/05/2007Jesus Warns Us About the Dangers of Material Wealth
07/22/2007Three Reflections on the Mary/Martha Story
07/15/2007A Parable on Ethics and Morals that Speaks to Us Today
07/01/2007"Don't Shop Till They Drop"
06/24/2007The Circumstances of our Birth
06/17/2007When Our Sin Meets God's Mercy
06/17/2007Mother Nature's Bootcamp for a Stay-at-Home Dad
06/10/2007Who Should or Should Not Be Admitted to Holy Communion?
06/03/2007Responses to Questions about the Holy Trinity
05/27/2007The Church - Our Spirit-Filled Extended Spiritual Family
05/20/2007Three Common Obstacles to Joining the Catholic Church
05/13/2007Why the Finleys Chose Catholic School for their Children
05/06/2007An Interview with Fr. Rolheiser
04/29/2007Today's Nun Has a Veil -- and a Blog
04/22/2007Given Another Chance
04/15/2007The Easter Season
04/08/2007Faith - The Precious Gift That Enables Us to Believe in God and Follow His Ways
04/01/2007Reflections on Luke's Passion
03/25/2007Another Great Gospel on the Mercy of God
03/18/2007Two Wayward Sons and a Compassionate Father
03/11/2007A Clear Call to Repentance
03/11/2007Fertilizing the Harvest with Intercessory Prayer
03/04/2007Four Myths About Depression
02/25/2007Reflections on the Temptations of Jesus
02/18/2007The Difficult Work of Forgiving Life's Hurts
02/11/2007Luke's Sermon on the Plain
02/11/2007Making Marriage Work
01/28/2007The Catholic Church and the Bible
01/21/2007Ten Fallacies of the Abortion Debate
01/14/2007What Makes Marriage Work?
01/07/2007Eucharistic Adoration

2006

Date Title
12/31/2006Traits of a Healthy Family
12/10/2006Sin - Healthy Guilt and Healing Contrition
12/03/2006A New Liturgical Year and a New Opportunity to Deepen Our Relationship With Christ
11/26/2006 The Feast of Christ the King
11/19/2006 Last Things: Death, Judgment, Purgatory, Hell, Heaven
11/05/2006 Remembering Loved Ones Who Have Gone Home to the Lord
10/29/2006 The Healing of Bartimaeus
10/22/2006"The Lord was Pleased to Crush His Servant"
10/15/2006Is Being a "Good Person" Not Enough?
10/08/2006Smart Marriages, and Annulment Questions
10/01/2006Respect Life Sunday: Hope and Healing After Abortion
09/24/2006The Catholic Church and Gambling
09/24/2006Inner Cravings That Get Us In Trouble
09/17/2006 Faith Without Good Works is Dead
09/10/2006 No Place for Snobbery or Class Distinction in the Christian Assembly
09/03/2006 The Letter of James Challenges Us to be Doers of the Word and Not Just Hearers
08/27/2006 Help with Difficult Decisions
08/20/2006Please Pass the Bread
08/13/2006Lay Catholics Leaving the Church, Protestant Ministers Joining the Church - What is Going On?
08/13/2006The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
08/06/2006The Transfiguration: An Experience of the All Holy God
07/30/2006An Extended Teaching on the Eucharist
07/23/2006Psalms of Orientation, Disorientation, and New Orientation
07/16/2006Amos: Prophet of Social Justice
07/02/2006Another Call to Faith
06/25/2006Faith Strong Enough to Help Us Survive and Grow through the Storms of Life
06/18/2006Eucharist: We Come, But Do We Get It?
06/11/2006Trinity Sunday: Reflections and Prayers
06/4/2006Pentecost: The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the Birthday of the Church
05/28/2006The Ascension of Jesus: Where Did He Go?
05/21/2006Real Love
05/14/2006Mothers Day: Inspiring Women
05/07/2006Good Shepherd Sunday
04/30/2006Websites for Busy Moms
04/23/2006Responding to Questions about the Resurrection, and its Implications for Our Lives
04/16/2006Welcome and Easter Greetings
04/09/2006The Holiest Week of Our Church Year
04/02/2006God has a Poor Memory for our Sins
03/26/2006Participation in the Mass
03/19/2006The Ten Commandments; Righteous and Unrighteous Anger
03/12/2006Giving the Gift of Self: Blessed Frederic Ozanam
03/05/2006Conscience and Making Moral Decisions
02/19/2006Give Poor Parenting a Time-out
02/12/2006Miraculous Communication
02/12/2006The Story behind Valentine's Day
01/29/2006Prophets; Evil Spirit of Hatred
01/29/2006About Ascension Catholic School
01/22/2006Life Issues
01/15/2006True and False Calls
01/15/2006Two Reflections on Prayer
01/08/2006A Love Impossible to Conceal
01/01/2006Mary - Bearer of God

2005

Date Title
12/25/2005Christmas Message 2005
12/18/2005 David, Paul, and Mary
12/11/2005 Reflections on Sin and Guilt
12/04/2005 Dealing With Guilt
11/27/2005 Our New Liturgical Year Begins with a Call to Wake Up
11/20/2005 The Reign of God Belongs To...
11/06/2005 Connecting Today's Gospel with the Hurricane in New Orleans
10/30/2005 Pastoral Leaders are Especially Called to Live the Message
10/23/2005 Stories and Reflections on the Great Commandment
10/16/2005 Allowing Your Faith to Inform Your Politics
10/09/2005 What Today's Families are Doing Right
10/02/2005 The Call to be Pro-Life All the Way
09/25/2005 Dealing With Anger in a Constructive Way
09/18/2005 The Difficult Challenge of Forgiving Life's Hurts (Part 2)
09/11/2005 The Difficult Challenge of Forgiving Life's Hurts (Part 1)
09/04/2005 Confronting An Issue, Rather Than Letting it Stew Within Us
08/28/2005 The Confessions of Jeremiah
08/21/2005 The Petrine Ministry: The Papacy and Papal Infallibility
08/14/2005 The Challenge to be an Inclusive Society and Church
08/07/2005 Trusting God Through the Stormy Experiences of Life
07/31/2005 Seven Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
07/24/2005 What's Important in Your Life?
07/17/2005 On Wheat and Weeds, and Summer Reading
07/10/2005 Suggestions for Morning Prayer
07/03/2005 Four Keys for an Effective Prayer Life (Key 4)
06/26/2005 Four Keys for an Effective Prayer Life (Key 3)
06/19/2005 Four Keys for an Effective Prayer Life (Key 2)
06/12/2005 Four Keys for an Effective Prayer Life (Key 1)
06/05/2005 Reflections on Prayer
05/29/2005 A Cup of Tea, Compassion, and the Eucharist
05/22/2005 The Trinity: The Mystery of the Heart of Life
05/15/2005 The Holy Spirit: Our Divine "Mover and Shaker"
05/08/2005 Be Still and Know God
05/01/2005 Catholics Share Why They Go to Mass
04/24/2005 More Reflections on Loss, and Words from John Paul II on Death
04/10/2005 From Unbelief to Belief
03/27/2005 The Meaning of the Resurrection
03/20/2005 Was It God's Plan for Jesus to Die a Cruel Death?
03/13/2005 Dealing With the Loss of a Loved One
03/06/2005 Seeing As God Sees
02/27/2005 Three Powerful Gospels
02/20/2005 Getting Stuck on Life's Journey
02/13/2005 Foundation for a Marriage that lasts.
02/06/2005 Suggestions for a Lenten Retreat
01/30/2005 The Beatitudes, Eight Core Gospel Values
01/23/2005 A Call to Express Faith in our Future
01/16/2005 Feminist and Pro Life
01/09/2005 Who Are We? Our Identity in Christ
01/02/2005 Full and Active Participation in the Mass

2004

Date Title
12/26/2004Christmas Message 2004
12/19/2004Matthew highlights Joseph's role
12/12/2004Preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
12/05/2004Sin and Repentance
11/28/2004Open Some Doors This Advent
11/21/2004Famous Last Words
11/14/2004God, Money and Church
11/07/2004Facing Death and Dying
10/31/2004Jesus' Acceptance of a Big Sinner Leads To His Conversion
10/24/2004The Prayer of a Humble Person
10/17/2004Respect Life Part 3: The Elderly
10/10/2004The Prayer of Thanksgiving
10/03/2004Respect Life Sunday
09/26/2004Respect Life Part 2: Capital Punishment
09/19/2004Respect Life Part 1:Pro Life All The Way
09/15/2004The Seven Sorrows of Mary
09/12/2004Faith Healing
09/05/2004Holiness in the Marketplace
08/29/2004Miscellaneous Thoughts on Humility
08/22/2004The Discipline of the Lord
08/15/2004Mary: Catholic Beliefs and Devotions
08/08/2004Dealing with Fear
08/01/2004The Danger of Material Wealth
07/25/2004Learning How to be Honest in Prayer
07/18/2004Hospitality in Prayer
07/11/2004Same Sex Marriage: Questions and Answers
07/04/2004Fourth of July
06/27/2004Discipleship means Christ has Top Priority
06/20/2004Father's Day reflection
06/06/2004Faith And Politics: Fr. Pavone's Response
06/06/2004The Holy Trinity
05/30/2004Nine Responses to Pro Choice Politicians
05/09/2004A Word to Mothers (Mother's Day reflection)
05/09/2004"March of Hypocrisy"
05/09/2004St. Barnabas
05/02/2004Priestly Vocations
04/25/2004The Struggle between Light & Darkness
04/18/2004The Fifty Days of Easter
04/11/2004Finding New Light in Dark Places
04/04/2004Holy Week
03/28/2004The Painful Experience of Marital Infidelity
03/21/2004The Story of the Loving Father and the Wayward Son
03/14/2004Is there a connection between sin and suffering?
02/29/2004A Prayer To End Capital Punishment
02/15/2004Luke's Sermon on the Plain
02/08/2004Our Willingness to Serve
02/01/2004Ten Suggestions for a Better Marriage
01/25/2004The Liturgical Year
01/18/2004 Anniversary of Roe vs Wade
01/11/2004 The Baptism of Jesus - The Beginning of His Public Ministry
01/04/2004 Reflections on Epiphany

2003

Date Title
12/28/2003 Lessons from the Holy Family for our Families
12/25/2003 Christmas 2003
12/21/2003 Popular Catholic Devotions - some questions and answers
11/14/2003 Gaudete Sunday
12/07/2003 The Liturgy
11/30/2003 Welcome to a new church year and the "Year of Luke"
11/23/2003 Feast of Christ, the King
11/16/2003 The Heart of a Steward
11/09/2003 Why Our Church Celebrates the Dedication of an Ancient Church
11/02/2003 Dying and End of Life Procedures
10/26/2003 The Healing of Bartimaeus
10/19/2003The Challenge to be a Servant Leader
10/12/2003 Respecting Life at all its stages
10/05/2003 Marriages, Divorce, Annulment Issues
09/28/2003 A Theologian reflects on Small Christian Communities
09/21/2003Jealousy and Envy
09/14/2003 The Christian Response to Human Suffering
09/07/2003 The Catholic Church's Teaching on Birth Control
08/31/2003 Studying the Bible alone or in a small group
08/24/2003 Help with Difficult Decisions
08/17/2003 The Main Course of our Progressive Sacrificial Meal
08/10/2003 A Down in the Dumps Prophet is Renewed
08/03/2003 The Second Course of our Progressive Sacrificial Meal
07/27/2003 Extended Teaching on the Eucharist
07/20/2003 Priesthood-Our Call to be Good Shepherds
07/13/2003 Prophet Run Off Cathedral Grounds
06/29/2003 Five Types of Prayer
06/22/2003 Pope John Paul on the Eucharist
06/15/2003Dad as a Spiritual Role Model
06/15/2003An Eight Year Old's Reflection on God
06/08/2003 Pentecost Sunday
06/01/2003 15 Ways to Fix the Criminal Justice System
05/25/2003'Orthodoxy Movements' in Catholic and Protestant Churches
05/18/2003The Vine and the Branches
05/11/2003Good Shepherds
05/11/2003Mothers Day reflection
05/04/2003 Sleeping with Bread
04/27/2003Divine Mercy Sunday
04/27/2003 Faith and Doubt
04/20/2003 Why Attend Church?
04/13/2003 Comments on the Triduum
04/06/2003Dealing With Alzheimer's
03/30/2003 Are You a Twilight Christian?
03/23/2003 Dealing with Anger
03/16/2003 Abraham's Trust in God
03/09/2003 Is Satan Real?
03/02/2003 Lenten Suggestions
02/23/2003 Give Poor Parenting a Time Out
02/16/2003 The Human Jesus
02/09/2003St. Valentine
02/02/2003Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
01/26/2003 Another Chance for Jonah
01/12/2003 Abortion and Roe vs. Wade
01/05/2003Solemnity of the Epiphany

2002

Date Title
12/22/2002 Pope John Paul on the Rosary
12/08/2002 Dealing with Guilt
12/01/2002 Our New Liturgical Year Begins with an Advent Call to Wake Up
11/24/2002 A Challenging Gospel
11/10/2002 Making Contact with Older Adults
11/03/2002 Retreat Notes: Getting Serious with God
10/27/2002 Loving Ourselves: One of our Greatest Challenges
10/20/2002 Mixing Religion and Politics
10/13/2002 What Todays Families are doing right/Commentary on Sunday Readings.
10/06/2002 Feminism and Pro Life
09/22/2002 God's Ways are not Our Ways
09/08/2002 Confronting a Hurtful Situation in a Caring Way
09/01/2002 Divine Fire in Our Bellies
08/18/2002 The Mystery of God part 9
08/11/2002 The Mystery of God part 8
08/04/2002 The Mystery of God part 7
07/28/2002 The Mystery of God part 6
07/21/2002 The Mystery of God part 5
07/14/2002 The Mystery of God part 4
07/07/2002 A wedding is for a day; A marriage is for a lifetime
06/23/2002 The Mystery of God part 3
06/16/2002 Existence of God part 2
06/09/2002 Proving the Existence of God
06/02/2002Eucharist: Questions and Answers
05/26/2002 Perpetual Adoration
05/26/2002 Mystery of the Blessed Trinity
05/19/2002 Pentecost: Completion of Easter Season, Birthday of Our Church.
05/12/2002 Mothers Day
05/05/2002 Stepfamilies
04/28/2002 Mary: Maximizers and Minimizers
04/21/2002 Fostering Priestly Vocations
04/14/2002Belief and Unbelief
04/07/2002 Sex and Affection in Marriage
03/31/2002 What the Resurrection Meant to Jesus and the Apostles, and What it can Mean for Us
03/17/2002 Jesus Wept: Dealing with the Loss of a Loved One
03/10/2002Seeing As God Sees
03/03/2002 Making Marriage Work
02/24/2002 Hearing and Responding to God's Call.
02/03/2002 The Five Languages of Married Love
01/06/2002-
01/27/2002
The Mass: An Explanation

2001

Date Title
12/30/2001 Who Said the Holy Family Didn't Have to Cope with Terrible Difficulties and Pain?
12/23/2001 Let Us Give St. Joseph a Little Attention
12/16/2001 Rose-Colored Candle: Symbol of Joy
12/09/2001 Preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
12/02/2001 Advent and the Liturgical Year
11/25/2001 To What Extent is Christ King of our Lives?
11/25/2001 Spiritual Wisdom from the Golfing Fairway
11/18/2001 The Way We Handle Our Finances...
11/11/2001 Last Things: Death, Judgment, Purgatory, Hell, Heaven
10/28/2001 No Matter How Good We Are, We Are Still Sinners
10/21/2001 Perseverance in Prayer
10/07/2001 Violence!
09/30/2001 Our Duty to the Poor
09/23/2001 Why Does Jesus Praise a Dishonest Steward?