Tom Collingwood – Catholic Stand

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Memorial Day Amnesia

Tom Collingwood June 5, AD2026 3 Comments

Memorial day is a day that I change from a “fun Grandpa” to a “serious Grandpa.” This is because Memorial Day is a day for

Trump’s Leadership, AI Images, and the Pope

Tom Collingwood May 1, AD2026 1 Comment

The affairs of the world are “in our face” on a daily basis. They can be quite difficult to avoid. Even while trying to put

The Iran Conflict: Debates About What Makes a Just War

Tom Collingwood March 25, AD2026 3 Comments

In looking at the Iran war from a faith perspective, many Catholic voices are rendering opinions (here and here, for instance ) as to whether

Catholics Undermining the Pro-Life Message

Tom Collingwood March 8, AD2026 5 Comments

The 40 Days for Life movement has two periods of the year (in the fall and again during Lent) where we “crank up” our efforts

Faith, Practicality, and Honor Concerns about Greenland

Tom Collingwood January 29, AD2026 2 Comments

Whether or not Greenland will ever become a US territory is anyone’s guess. But it seems President Donald Trump would very much like this to

An Epiphany on Being a Convert

Tom Collingwood January 19, AD2026 1 Comment

This year’s Epiphany celebration got me to thinking about the word epiphany, with both a small ‘e’ and a capital ‘E.’ The secular definition of

Keeping an Eye on the Donut Instead of the Hole

Tom Collingwood December 7, AD2025 4 Comments

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) held their annual meeting this November. At Crisis.com, Sheryl Collmer called the meeting a “coffee circle.” According to

Be Not Afraid – Soldier On

Tom Collingwood October 26, AD2025 1 Comment

October 22 was the feast day for Pope St. John Paul II. As I expounded upon in a past post, he was special to me

In Search of Virtue

Tom Collingwood September 28, AD2025 1 Comment

The assassination of Charlie Kirk and the recent school shootings in Minnesota and Colorado has put a focus on the vitriol and violence we see

A Perspective on Church Controversies

Tom Collingwood July 31, AD2025 2 Comments

The exploration and discussion of various issues and controversies facing the Church often takes place in the variety of Catholic blogs, including Catholic Stand. And

How Ya Doin?

Tom Collingwood June 28, AD2025 4 Comments

Over the course of a year there are a couple of occasions when my old buddies and I get together. Although we are aging, and

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Ritual as a Gateway to Faith

Tom Collingwood May 15, AD2025 3 Comments

A recent essay here at Catholic Stand focused on the importance of art as a “gateway” to the soul. I heartily concur. The author, Evangeline

A Small Taste of Christ’s Suffering While Witnessing for Life

Tom Collingwood April 11, AD2025 2 Comments

The third petition of the sorrowful mysteries during the rosary is the crowning of thorns. Here, Jesus suffers the crowd’s taunting insults and expressions of

Lent: Pre-Season Training for Conversion

Tom Collingwood March 15, AD2025 No Comments

For athletes, there are three seasons: off season, pre-season, and in-season. In terms of faith, however, there is no “off-season.” (As noted in previous posts,

Why the Church? Because We Need Her Help

Tom Collingwood February 13, AD2025 2 Comments

Over the years I have had many discussions with so called “Nones” as to whether one really needs “a church.” And that phase “a church,”

Morning Wakeup Calls

Tom Collingwood January 16, AD2025 2 Comments

Each morning we wake up to a brand-new day. I think how we do that sets the tone for the day. Waking Up Having been

Spiritual Transformation as Training

Tom Collingwood December 5, AD2024 2 Comments

Two questions that arise in our RCIA meetings and in impromptu religious discussions are: Why doesn’t God just show himself and explain everything for us?