When the resurrected Christ encounters two of his disciples discussing his crucifixion as they walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35), three things happen. First, Christ asks what they’re discussing, then listens to their story.

There may be some 1.4 billion Catholics throughout the world today, but the Church began 2,000 years ago with a small number of disciples led by the 12 Apostles. It was they who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, went forth from Jerusalem to proclaim the Gospel to all nations, inspiring others to place their faith in the risen Christ and bringing growth to the Church.

Who are you meeting unexpectedly these days? In the store, at the market, at a sports game or at coffee and donuts after Mass, there are those times of encountering others. And in those moments, we may not know the impact we have on others or the impact they could have on us. The Samaritan woman’s life was transformed when she had the encounter with Jesus at the well. Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again” (Jn 4:14). When we see someone else’s encounter with God or hear about their encounter, it should motivate us to have that same encounter with him, too. Have you had an opportunity to encounter others?

There’s no doubt that many of the children who will return for the weeklong, faith-filled Totus Tuus summer vacation program will miss one of its fun-filled rituals this year. In the past few years on a Friday afternoon, a water truck from a local fire station approached the hill by St. Mark Church in Perry County in southern Indiana, where the children waited in anticipation. And when the firefighters unleased the water onto a slip-and-slide, the children took turns giddily heading down the hill with huge smiles.

A few years ago, we received a sizable check from a man’s estate. He was not a registered parishioner, nor did we have any record of prior giving. There was no parish or ministry listed anywhere in the documentation nor instructions of “for the benefit of.” It was merely made out to the “Archdiocese of Indianapolis.”

Alex Palou has dominated IndyCar racing for the past four years, winning the series championship in 2021, 2023 and 2024. So far this season, he continues to be head and shoulders above the competition, winning five of the series’ first six races, including the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 25.

When a person leaves jail or prison, the odds are greatly stacked against them. Even though they have “paid their debt to society,” there are many prejudices, personal issues, and legal and financial challenges.

I was a young adult on my own 30 years ago when the Indiana Pacers had legendary playoff games against the New York Knicks. In many of them, Reggie Miller made unbelievable late-game shots to lead the Blue and Gold to amazing comeback wins in New York’s Madison Square Garden (MSG).

It should come as no surprise that in his first Sunday praying the “Regina Coeli” on May 11, Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics to pray for vocations, especially to the priesthood and religious life.

As an early Mother’s Day present, Betty Ripberger couldn’t have asked for a better gift than the one she received from four of her great-grandchildren. At 88, Ripberger has always considered her Catholic faith as a great gift that her parents gave her, a gift she also shared with her five children.

GUILFORD—It was the fall of 2023, and Christina May was bored. The house was quiet, now that all three of her and her husband Cole’s boys were in school. So, she decided to get a part-time job. “It was to have something outside the house, just to be social and keep myself busy,” she says.

It took a life-changing moment for Mimi McKee to learn one of the most enduring truths about being a mom. “Like most, I didn’t quite realize the sacrifices and energies most mothers put into their lives until I became a mother myself,” says McKee, a member of St. Michael Parish in Greenfield.

Que la Virgen María, cuya vida entera fue una respuesta a la llamada del Señor, nos acompañe siempre en el seguimiento de Jesús (Papa León XIV).

May the Virgin Mary, whose entire life was a response to the Lord’s call, always accompany us in following Jesus (Pope Leo XIV).

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ three-year National Eucharistic Revival, which began on June 19, 2022—the feast of Corpus Christi—will soon come to a close in terms of official events and programs.

As an early Mother’s Day present, Betty Ripberger couldn’t have asked for a better gift than the one she received from four of her great-grandchildren. At 88, Ripberger has always considered her Catholic faith as a great gift that her parents gave her, a gift she also shared with her five children.