Tom and his wife Megan were married on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 2018. They attend St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Gilbert, AZ. They welcomed their first-born son in September. Tom has been working for 6 years at the parish and currently is the Director of Family Catechesis. He has a B.A. in Philosophy (University of San Francisco), a M.A in Education (University of Phoenix), and a M.A. in Theology (Franciscan University of Steubenville). Since 2012, Tom has been writing on his website/blog – TomPerna.org and is the author of the weekly series – “Mondays with Mary.”
With so many children returning to school over the last few weeks (at least here in Arizona) and with so many more returning after Labor Day in other parts of the country, I found it fitting to write this article. Teaching theology to high school students was one the best albeit hardest experiences I have …
12 Responses Jesus Would Have Heard If He Was a Catholic School Teacher Read More »
Around the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time we celebrate the memorial for a saint and Doctor of the Church that probably many people do not know: Saint Lawrence of Brindisi. He was born Cesare De Rossi in Brindisi, Italy, within the kingdom of Naples in 1559. He received his first education from the Conventual Franciscans …
The month of June marks the anniversary of the death of “the Apostle of Common Sense”, Gilbert Keith Chesterton, most notably known as G.K. Chesterton. In a time when an hyper-sensitive culture needs more common sense than ever before, we should be reading thisprolific and prophetic writer to remind ourselves that the culture didn’t just change overnight, but …
G.K. Chesterton Is Known as “The Apostle of Common Sense” For a Reason Read More »
As we approach the summer months, the temptation to dress casually for Sunday Mass increases exponentially. Why this is the case probably has to do with the culture in which we live as well as the rise in more casual services across the religious spectrum. Although this would make a good article and a philosophical …
Is Dressing Appropriately for Mass Really that Important? Read More »
Throughout the universal Catholic Church, the yearly liturgy known as the Chrism Mass has been taking place.
Many of us probably remember Mother Angelica from her days on the Catholic channel, which she founded, known as the Eternal Word Television Network, and otherwise known simply as EWTN. If you have never watched anything from Mother Angelica, you can either tune-in to watch the reruns of her program’s on EWTN or you can …
nown as the “Monitor of the Popes,” St. Peter Damian was given the authority to oversee papal households and to govern Church business.
I encourage you to focus on one of these five quotes, asking this doctor of the devout life to intercede for you.
In the liturgical calendar of the Latin Church, December 18 has been known as the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Although it is not currently in the liturgical calendar, I first came upon this feast in 2013 after reading through an old missal that was given to me as a gift. As someone that has …
What Was the Mary Thinking the Week Prior to Giving Birth to Jesus? Read More »