Ordinary – it’s a word that implies “nothing special,” “commonplace,” having no distinctive features.

“We are an Easter People!”

That phrase was used by St. Pope John Paul II to describe the People of God, filled with joy and faith because of Christ’s Resurrection.

A number of years ago, during an audience with members of Italy’s National Federation of Farmers, Pope Francis stressed the important vocation of caring for the earth which provides for all of humanity.

What was your first job? What lessons did you learn from doing it? I remember my first job was in the billing office of my uncles’ lumberyard. I learned that words, not numbers, are my strength! I became a religion teacher.

One morning, while I was sitting in the parking lot of a lovely church at the Jersey shore, I noticed a lovely statue of Mary in the garden directly in front of my car. I had never seen anything like it before. There was something about her face that drew me. Upon closer examination I saw that the statue was titled, “Our Lady of the Smile.”