St Cirilo Bertrán and Eight Companions, Martyrs of Turón
Dear Bert, If your Compass chapter is really doing its job, you’re not going to be able to avoid a few potholes and speed bumps. You just have to keep
Fr. John Bartunek, LC
October 9, 2024
Fr. John Bartunek, LC
Fr. John Bartunek, LC, S.Th.D, received his BA in History from Stanford University in 1990. He comes from an evangelical Christian background and became a member of the Catholic Church in 1991. After college, he worked as a high school history teacher, drama director, and baseball coach. He then spent a year as a professional actor in Chicago before entering the religious Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1993. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 2003 and earned his doctorate in moral theology in 2010.
He provided spiritual support on the set of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ while researching the 2005 Catholic best seller, Inside the Passion, the only authorized, behind-the-scene explanation of the film. Fr. John has contributed news commentary regarding religious issues on NBC, CNN, Fox, and the BBC. He also served as the English-language press liaison for the Vatican’s 2005 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist.
His most widely known books are The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer and 60 Days to Becoming a Missionary Disciple.
His most recent book is Spiritual But Not Religious: The Search for Meaning in a Material World.
Fr. John resides in Atlanta, serving as Territorial Vicar for the Legionaries of Christ. His online, do-it-yourself retreats are available here.
St Thais
Dear Theo, I detected a trace of comfort-seeking in your last note. Could it be that you have become a bit self-satisfied now that you’re a senior? True, you have
Fr. John Bartunek, LC
October 8, 2024
Our Lady of the Rosary
Dear Rose, You are not the first of my nieces to be struggling hard at the start of this year. It seems as if efforts for evangelization are being thwarted
Fr. John Bartunek, LC
October 7, 2024
St Faith and Companions
Dear Phyllis, I am glad you took the time to write. Nothing pleases the devil more than Christians who try to struggle all alone. I wish I was there with
Fr. John Bartunek, LC
October 6, 2024
St Faustina Kowalska
Dear Faustus, Would you mind my telling you what I really think about your last note? I think you’re falling for a big, fat, juicy worm on the devil’s jagged
Fr. John Bartunek, LC
October 5, 2024
St Francis of Assisi
Dear Frank, It’s nice to hear that things are going well for you. But I detected a worrying tone in your last note. It has to do with your comments
Fr. John Bartunek, LC
October 4, 2024
Bl Columba Marmion
Dear Collin, Not having heard from you in a while, I can’t help wondering how your transition to college life is going. Let me guess. You are amazed at the
Fr. John Bartunek, LC
October 3, 2024
Feast of the Guardian Angels
Dear Dan, Your problem sets are going to your head. Too much science, my dear nephew, is not always a good thing. Remember, before being a scientist, you are a
Fr. John Bartunek, LC
October 2, 2024
St Theresa of the Child Jesus
Dear Theodore, You have caught the biggest spiritual malaise of today’s world: wimpiness. But that’s OK. It’s like chicken pox; once you get it and get over it, you can’t
Fr. John Bartunek, LC
October 1, 2024
