Third in an occasional series Beyond the adventure, some people come with a sense of desperation. Many come in hope—a hope rooted in their faith in God. Kevin and Audrey Banich came with a measure of desperation, hope and faith when the young married couple decided to walk El Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) in the spring of 2018.

Una Encuesta social general realizada en 2018 mostró que solo el 14% de los niños criados como católicos seguían siendo católicos de adultos y asistían a misa semanalmente. Los resultados del mismo estudio indican el papel imperativo de los padres en la transmisión de la fe.

A 2018 General Social Survey showed that only 14% of children raised as Catholics remained Catholic as adults and attended weekly Mass. Results from the same study indicate the imperative role of parents in passing on the faith.

STAUNTON—When the Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association (IVFA) district chairman “started twisting my arm” to go to the organization’s convention in June, Larry Tempel says he “knew he had something up his sleeve. “But I didn’t expect this.”

It was a bright, sunny day on Aug. 24, a perfect day for celebrating a wedding anniversary—or more than 160 of them. Such was the number of couples who, with their families, filled SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis that day for the archdiocese’s annual Wedding Anniversary Mass.

As a clinical psychologist and a Catholic, John Cadwallader, founder of Central Psychological Services in Indianapolis, was recently a featured expert in a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops video called “Mental Health Roundtable on the Family” (see related article).

A Mental Health and Addiction Ministry Mass will take place at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, 1347 N. Meridian St., in Indianapolis, at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 13. Archbishop Charles C. Thompson will celebrate the Mass, which is sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Human Life and Dignity.

Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, Neb., came from what he calls a “stable family.” He didn’t have “any trauma in my childhood” or “anything mental health struggles can be traced back to.”

Natural Family Planning (NFP) reflects the dignity of the human person within the context of marriage and family life, promotes openness to life and recognizes the value of the child. By respecting the love-giving and life-giving nature of marriage, NFP can enrich the bond between husband and wife.

The archdiocesan annual Wedding Anniversary Mass, to be celebrated by Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, will take place at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, 1347 N. Meridian St., in Indianapolis, at 2 p.m. on Aug. 24. A reception will follow across the street at the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center.

Three marriage preparation programs offered in the archdiocese—the Pre-Cana Conference, Tobit Weekend and One in Christ—help prepare engaged couples for the sacrament of marriage as well as the challenges of married life. Early registration is recommended for all programs, as each fills up quickly.

The excitement and nervousness kept building for Dr. Brandon and Dr. Arielle Brown as they heard the overflowing crowd at the Vatican roar, signaling that Pope Leo XIV was beginning his ride in the popemobile through St. Peter’s Square.

Even in our closest relationships—and maybe mostly in our closest relationships—we don’t always share the gratitude and the love that we have for someone as fully as we want. And when we can no longer share those thoughts and feelings with someone face to face, there can be regret.

In its own way, it’s the perfect Father’s Day present, the one gift that most dads hope to get in life. Yes, far more than a tie or a tool, fathers hope their children will hold onto the life lessons they share with them, understand the love and even the occasional tough love they pour into caring for them, and cherish the traditions of family and faith that are at the heart of their hopes for them.

If you were asked to share the qualities that your mom tried to instill in you, the lasting example she tried to set for you—what would you say? Monica Livers and Diane Raver have considered that question extensively since their mother, Anna Mae Raver, died in January of this year at the age of 86.

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.

The touching scene has played out in the lives of many families, especially when the moment involves a parent at the edge of death. Amid the heartbreak that is nearing, the children—often grown by now—gather around their mom or dad. And while the tears flow, so do the stories that connect them, frequently leading back to childhood moments of joy, love and laughter.