When you hear the word “fasting,” do you automatically cringe? Do you dread Ash Wednesday or Good Friday? Or do you embrace the self-denial of fasting on those days? If you’re like most people, you might not look forward to Ash Wednesday or Good Friday, the Church’s compulsory days of […]
From the President’s Desk – Success, Faithfulness and Farewell
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had a wonderful feast yesterday. Catholic Writers Retreat: I’d like to thank all the attendees, presenters and organizers of the Catholic Writers Retreat. We all had a wonderful time writing, praying and socializing! Special thanks to Margaret Realy for organizing this wonderful event. Blessed Mother […]
From the President’s Desk – World Meeting Recap
I’m currently preparing to leave for the Catholic Writers Retreat (Your Word is My Delight) in Dewitt, Michigan. It begins on Sunday. If you’re attending, I look forward to seeing you there! World Meeting of Families My husband and I had a wonderful time last month at the World Meeting […]
From the President’s Desk: A Shared Faith
“You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the play and the opera, and grace before the concert and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing; And grace before I dip the pen in […]
From the President’s Desk – August 28
“There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 Lots to share this beautiful warm day in August! Catholic Writers Conference Live First, if you attended the Catholic Writers Live Conference last month, it was great to meet you! It was […]
From the President’s Desk – June Ponderings
“There is a good reason they call these ceremonies ‘commencement exercises.’ Graduation is not the end; it’s the beginning.” Orrin Hatch This has been an exciting month at the Hrkach household. #3 son graduated from Ottawa University (photo to the right) a few weeks ago and #4 son graduated from […]
From the President’s Desk – Inspiration and the Catholic Writer
Where do you find inspiration? As a writer, I find inspiration in places you might expect and those you might not. Not surprisingly, I find inspiration in Scripture and in the lives of the saints. Reading the Bible and the lives of the saints often inspires me to include a […]
From the President’s Desk – Mediocrity
“Do not be satisfied with mediocrity.” St. John Paul II Any person who settles for mediocrity in terms of his or her spiritual life is setting himself up for failure. Reaching high for the virtues and striving for perfection isn’t always easy, but it’s always worthwhile. None of us will […]
From the President’s Desk – The Importance of Being Needed
“I guess being needed is almost as good as being loved. Maybe better.” Betty Smith, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” It’s been a busy – and overwhelming – two weeks. I attended and spoke to a group of women at the Dynamic Women of Faith Conference in Toronto a few weeks […]
From the President’s Desk – Failure Leads to Success
“Has it ever occurred to you that a life without failure is a dead life? Because you learn by failing. If you don’t try things, you’ll never learn anything. You’ll never accomplish anything.” Catherine Doherty, Foundress of Madonna House Thomas Edison tried and failed on hundreds of attempts to create […]