Cover

Sounding Board: What’s my crime?

By Paula Lomazzi
A homeless person’s misfortune shouldn’t also be a misdemeanor, argues a woman who spent seven years living on the street. In Feedback, readers debate ways to address homelessness.

Feature

Poverty comes to Wisteria Lane

By Meghan Murphy-Gill
Hidden among the quiet streets and well-manicured lawns of suburbia are cash-strapped folks struggling to stay afloat. How can city-centered service agencies meet the growing need in the suburbs?

Feature

Help wanted

By Laura Fletcher
Put down those classified ads—the best leads for landing a new job may be right next to you in the pews on Sunday. Parishes are proving to be the perfect place to network yourself to a new career.

Web-only sidebar:

Tips for networking in your parish

Interview

Love the poor you’re with

An interview with theologian Roberto Goizueta
Get to know the poor, says this theologian—you’ll be much richer for it.

Web-only sidebar:

Embracing Latino popular devotions

Essays

(Essays, short stories, and poems may not be available online.)

Poem in which a friend of mine reaches for the butter and then suddenly leaves

By Brian Doyle

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken

By Father Ronald Patrick Raab
Those who are shunned by society are the guests of honor at the table of the Lord.

Go the distance

By Frank Cunningham
Walking sometimes leads you down a surprising path of self-discovery.

Excerpt: Stop and ask for direction

By Pope Francis
God will show you the way if you take the time to sit and pray.

Wise Guides: Brave Hearts

By Barbara Pawlikowski
In the face of grave danger, five courageous American nuns laid down their lives for their friends in war-torn Liberia.

Departments

Editors’ Note

You May Be Right (Letters to the Editor)

Signs of the Times (News)

Catholic Tastes (Humor)

Culture in Context: Music, film, and book reviews

At Home with Our Faith  (Family spirituality)

Eye of the Beholder (Art meditation)

Glad You Asked: What is the transfiguration?

Columns

The Examined Life: Believe it or not
By Bryan Cones

Margin Notes: Harmful effects
By Kevin Clarke

Culture in Context: Approved for all audiences
By Meghan Murphy-Gill

Testaments: Keeping it real
By Alice Camille