[This article appeared in a slightly shorter form in First Things on May 3, 2010, ten years after the death of Cardinal John O’Connor. It is reprinted here, with the magazine’s permission,  to mark the 25th anniversary of the beloved Cardinal’s passing.] I first got to... Read More →

  The mid-to-late fifties were a good time to grow up in Garden City, Kansas—a town of 10,000. My mother never lacked love, energy, dreams, and the most encouraging words. My father modeled a work ethic, held us accountable, and shared his wisdom, including how to be... Read More →