Alison Blanchet is the youth director in Panama City Beach, Florida. She writes the column “Team Catholic” for The Catholic Miscellany.
A few words from a judge ended our time with the toddler yesterday afternoon. The little boy that had been my shopping buddy, who I had packed lunch notes for and who I had prayed with […]
Waitressing was my primary source of income in college. Anyone who has taken an order, cleared a plate or rolled silverware for a job can attest that it is not easy work. Running drinks, serving […]
Noah and Garrett — brothers who attend middle school youth group — have started a business mowing lawns. Last week, I was talking to their older sister, Kate, about how they were doing. She shared […]
A few weeks ago the teens and I attended a summer camp in Tennessee that had a focus on service. For three days we spent our mornings doing yard work and maintenance for the elderly […]
It’s the year of mercy, and so far my biggest personal challenge has come from an interview I heard reporter Sarah Koenig conduct with the U.S. Central Command. The women interviewed, who were anonymous for […]
Let me tell you something about middle schoolers that I’ve learned over the years. They hoard food. In every parish I’ve worked in or visited — no matter how well I know the kitchens are […]
Carpooling parents, I salute you. Your job is harder than it looks. Last week my friend Theresa asked me to pick up her daughter, Sydney, from kindergarten. “It’s kind of confusing though,” Theresa began. Confusing? […]
While this may seem like heresy to some, I didn’t have plans to see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. Jim was going with friends the same night I was supposed to chaperone a middle school […]
Middle school is a jungle. As annoying as adulthood can be, with its monthly bills and preoccupation with fiber intake, there’s no way I’d want to go back to seventh grade. In seventh grade, the […]
Not to brag, but I consider traveling one of my talents. Scouting the best airfare, shopping for accessories, choosing planes, trains or ferries — I love every step. I was especially excited to plan the […]
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