Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Jane Marie Bradish
Milwaukee Brewers fever: Baseball brings a weary city together Original
I will admit to being a casual sports fan, with the exception of American football, but this year is different. This fall, I've been all about baseball's World Series, because my hometown team, the Milwaukee Brewers, just won the title last night, beating Florida's Tampa Bay Rays. Yay home team! I can see the Brewers' stadium from my residence and drive by it often, and always pass it on my way to and from the motherhouse.
When liturgy welcomes us — and when it doesn't
The other example I used is more complicated for me personally. Part of many funeral rituals is some version of the prayer, "May 'X' now enter into eternal life — a promise made to all who are faithful." Most times I find comfort in the thought of a promise made and fulfilled. Where I stumble is the "all who are faithful" piece. I do not know how to define faithful or who gets to decide what is or is not faithful. That hint of what appears to me as judgment is tough for me.
When liturgy welcomes us — and when it doesn't
The other example I used is more complicated for me personally. Part of many funeral rituals is some version of the prayer, "May 'X' now enter into eternal life — a promise made to all who are faithful." Most times I find comfort in the thought of a promise made and fulfilled. Where I stumble is the "all who are faithful" piece. I do not know how to define faithful or who gets to decide what is or is not faithful. That hint of what appears to me as judgment is tough for me.
Learning to find God in the both/and Original
As an undergraduate studying computer programming, one of the languages I learned was binary code. In the simplest terms, binary is a series of 0s (off) and 1s (on) and is still the underlying language for computer programming. "01001010 01100001 01101110 01100101 00100000 01001101 01100001 01110010 01101001 01100101" is my first name in code — not at all user-friendly, but necessary to "make things work.". Binary leaves no room for ambiguity — no gray area.
Finding signs of resurrection all around us, Easter or not Original
These days of Easter, I find myself looking back on Lent and seeing things I didn't fully notice at the time. Depending on your background and current circumstances, Lent can be seen as a season of deprivation, a season of growth, a season of repentance, some combination or something in between. The Baltimore Catechism was out by the time I started school, and there wasn't a formal curriculum to take its place.
¡Pum!, me caí
Lo que comenzó como un sábado normal se convirtió rápidamente en una aventura que continúa hasta el día de hoy. Mi vida y mi ministerio son tales que los sábados los reservo para hacer recados y tareas domésticas. Era una hermosa mañana de Todos los Santos, algo inusual en el norte del Medio Oeste de los Estados Unidos, donde el invierno ya debería haber llegado. Los nuevos vecinos estaban trabajando en el jardín y yo iba a conocer a la madre y al bebé.
Boom. Down I went.
What started as a normal Saturday quickly became an adventure that continues to this day. My life and ministry is such that Saturdays are reserved for errands and chores. It was a beautiful All Saints' Day morning, somewhat unusual in the upper Midwest of the United States when winter should have been taking hold. The new neighbors were doing some yard work and I was going to get to meet mom and baby. We chatted briefly across the driveway fence when I took a step backward. Boom. Down I went.
¿De verdad esperamos con alegre esperanza?
Nuestra tradición católica es conocida por sus rituales. Quienes participan regularmente en nuestras experiencias de oración formal se adaptan con facilidad. Puede ser muy reconfortante saber lo que va a suceder, ya que así uno puede concentrarse en la oración en lugar de preguntarse qué va a pasar a continuación. Sin embargo, también puede ser problemático, ya que existe el riesgo de que las experiencias se conviertan en una rutina y nos perdamos por completo la oración.
Do we wait in joyful hope - really?
Our Catholic tradition is known for its ritual. Those who participate regularly in our formal prayer experiences settle into the ebb and flow with ease. That can be a great comfort, knowing what's coming so one can focus on prayer rather than wondering what happens next. But, it can also be problematic as there is a risk the experiences become routine and we can completely miss the prayer. A presider friend will often remind the congregation to pray at a pace where we can hear ourselves.
El 'Cántico de las Criaturas' sigue hablándonos después de 800 años
En 2025, los franciscanos celebrarán el 800.º aniversario del Cántico de las Criaturas (también conocido como Cántico del Hermano Sol) de Francisco de Asís. Se cree que fue dictado por Francisco entre 1224 y 1226, y ha inspirado numerosas traducciones, composiciones musicales, representaciones artísticas y producciones cinematográficas, la más conocida Hermano Sol, hermana Luna.
800 years later, St. Francis' 'Canticle of Creation' still speaks to us
In 2025, Franciscans celebrate the 800th anniversary of Francis of Assisi's "Canticle of the Creatures," also known as the "Canticle of the Sun." Believed to have been dictated by Francis between 1224 and 1226, it has inspired numerous translations, musical compositions, artistic renderings and cinematic productions, the most well-known being "Brother Sun, Sister Moon." One of the first "nun songs" I learned when joining the community choir was our own version of the canticle, sung at many...
Transfiguration calls us to action
Many times, what is preached or written around the feast of the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28b-36) focuses on the physical appearance of Jesus changing — becoming radiant in some translations — or in the voice from the cloud announcing, "This is my beloved/chosen." As I've prayed with this personally significant Gospel (I became an affiliate/postulant on the feast day, Aug.
Have you met Luce?
In October of 2024, the Dicastery for Evangelization unveiled a mascot for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. It took a while for most people to notice. I don't know if this is a first of its kind "thing " but I'm not familiar with any previous jubilee mascots. Enter Luce, and she is adorable! Luce, Italian for "light", is a Jubilee pilgrim in the form of an anime-type character. She's available in sticker, keychain, graphic and plush forms.
¿Ya conoces a Luce?
En octubre de 2024, el Dicasterio para la Evangelización presentó una mascota para el Jubileo 2025. Pasó un tiempo antes de que la mayoría de las personas se dieran cuenta de su existencia. No sé si es la primera vez que se hace algo así, pero no recuerdo ninguna otra mascota de jubileos anteriores. Les presento a Luce… ¡y es adorable! Luce, que en italiano significa "luz", es una peregrina jubilar representada como un personaje de estilo anime.
How my kittens teach me to 'paws' and reflect
It's been nearly two years since kittens Snowdrop and Stardust joined the household, and what an adventure it has been. When we sisters first moved in, we inherited the dog of the previous tenant. The landlord took financial responsibility; we just had to allow Heidi in the house with us. Heidi gave way to Oreo, a great companion of 15 years who saw me through the death of both of my parents and moving my housemate to a memory care facility and her eventual death.
How my kittens teach me to 'paws' and reflect
For example, when their food dish is empty, they jump up onto the counter near where their food is stored. They will not come down until their dish is filled. When they are scared or restless, they jump into the middle of whatever I may be doing. They have managed to send texts, emails and make phone calls by walking over my devices in an attempt to be close. They count on me to protect them. And so, I have started to think about how I get my needs met.
All saints, all souls and all 'everybody else'? Original
I was cleaning up the yard, preparing for the upcoming winter when I found myself distracted by the upcoming feasts of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. When things float into my consciousness at random times, they always bring a lesson for me. We are all familiar with the Solemnity of All Saints, a celebration of the officially recognized saints in the Catholic tradition. While by no means perfect people, they each have enough "good" for each of us to use as examples of how to live our lives.
Todos los Santos, Todos los Fieles Difuntos y 'todos los demás'
Estaba limpiando el jardín, preparándome para el próximo invierno, cuando me encontré distraída por las fiestas que se acercan: Todos los Santos y los Fieles Difuntos. Cuando cosas así surgen en mi conciencia en momentos aleatorios, siempre traen consigo una lección. Todos conocemos la Fiesta de Todos los Santos, una celebración de los santos oficialmente reconocidos en la tradición católica.
Sometimes life needs an upgrade Original
I'm old enough to remember repairmen — yes, they were all men — coming to the house to fix various appliances. During the 20-plus years I lived in the family home, we had the same furnace, washer and dryer, television, water heater and refrigerator. In the 20 years following, my parents had replaced the furnace once and the rest of those appliances at least twice each. In my current place of residence, the appliances are expected to need replacement soon.
Transfiguration is a call to radical change
"The Transfiguration," 1565-1608 drawing by Francesco Curia (Metropolitan Museum of Art) The readings that tell the story of Jesus' transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-10, Mark 9:2-10, and Luke 9:28-36) are heard twice a year: on the feast day itself and then again during Lent. It's rather unusual to hear the same Scripture twice within one year, so clearly there is something we need to pay attention to here.
When competition is no longer fun, try collaboration Original
On a recent rare afternoon with no commitments or projects that needed completion, I found myself mindlessly flipping through the television channels. I was stunned to see how many shows were competition based. There are competitions for performance, cooking and baking, even dating. Some "winners" are declared by so-called experts on the shows, and some are declared by viewer input. Charity fundraisers at my place of ministry are competitive.
3 cheers for Ordinary Time
Everything has a cycle. Planet earth has seasons. All living creatures have hormonal cycles of life, growth and death. Our church year is divided into various liturgical seasons. I think it's time we give so-called Ordinary Time the respect it deserves. We live most of our lives in the ordinary: laundry and grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning, prayer and presence and ministry, watching the news and paying bills, relational connecting and self-care.
Nuns in India help children with hearing impairments Original
Prasad James cannot hear the roar of the sea, but can paint the beauty of the waves. "I have painted the charming Karwar beach, its waves, fishermen with their boats, tourists, and the beautiful sunset," James told Global Sisters Report in sign language, translated by his teacher, as he showed his works.
'The needs of the times are the will of God' Original
Three twentysomething women felt called by God to serve the people in most need. Political persecution prevented them from staying in their homeland. So they each packed a bag and traveled halfway around the world to an unknown place with unknown customs and language and very few contacts. After attempts in varied places, they found a place to settle down, professed vows and the School Sisters of St. Francis, or SSSF, officially came into being in April 1874.
Both Republicans and Democrats spread anti-immigrant views, says Bishop Seitz
The bishop leading the U.S. Catholic Church's response on migration issues said that both major political parties are inflaming anti-immigrant sentiment in the country. "Both parties [are] becoming anti-immigration," said El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz, speaking April 11 at a conference at the Catholic University of America. "[We] can't just say 'Catholics are Democrats,' or 'Catholics are Republicans' on the immigration issue," said the prelate, chairman of the U.S. bishops' migration committee.
Aprender a decir 'no'
Existen generaciones de religiosas a las que nunca se les permitió expresar el 'no'. Los superiores, en algunos casos los sacerdotes y/o obispos, eran quienes determinaban las opciones para el ministerio y la vida. Con frecuencia, las decisiones se tomaban basándose en las necesidades, una práctica noble pero no siempre realista cuando estas necesidades no coincidían con los intereses o capacidades.
Learn to say no Original
There are generations of religious who were never allowed to say "no." Superiors, or in some cases priests and/or bishops, determined choices for ministry and living. Often, decisions were made based on need — noble, but not always realistic when need did not match interest or ability.
Does anyone know where the love of God goes? Original
I have lived my entire life in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The region has miles of lakefront from the Great Lakes. Besides shipping, those lakes are great for fishing and swimming and boating. They offer cooling breezes in the heat of summer and can enhance snowstorms in winter to the point of closing the cities for a day or two. When a good storm kicks up, the waves are massive, beautiful, but also dangerous.
What heals your heart? Original
More than 20 years ago, I was part of a pilot project to bring medical aid to schools. There was a time when all schools in the United States had a nurse assigned. S/He was usually not there on a daily basis, but was there often enough to do some basic health monitoring. School nurses have long since disappeared. A colleague convinced our school administration that we should have some trained staff to handle basic first aid as well as potentially life-threatening events.
My 'left field' prayer experiences
Scripture reminds us that "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). We have stories of Jesus teaching his followers to pray, praying alone, and praying with others both publicly and privately. The Hebrew Scriptures tell of the prophets encountering God in multiple ways including wind (Elijah), fire (Moses), and angels (Joseph and Mary are the most famous of those encounters).
Q&A with Sister Mary Lillian, helping Bangladeshi women become self-reliant
On Sept. 12, CORR-The Jute Works (CJW) celebrated its golden jubilee in Dhaka. Sister Mary Lillian, a nun with the Associates of Mary Queen of the Apostles, and American Holy Cross Fr. Richard William Timm founded CJW in 1973. Around 1,000 people, including Catholic bishops and Bangladesh's minister of textiles and jute, participated in the jubilee program. Today, more than 6,000 women produce jute and other products and become self-supporting.
My 'left field' prayer experiences
Scripture reminds us that "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). We have stories of Jesus teaching his followers to pray, praying alone, and praying with others both publicly and privately. The Hebrew Scriptures tell of the prophets encountering God in multiple ways including wind (Elijah), fire (Moses), and angels (Joseph and Mary are the most famous of those encounters).
Anchors in my life allow movement, but keep me from floating too far away
(Pixabay/Angelika Gruber) People who lead by good example are often referred to as pillars of the community. We are often told to stand on the shoulders or follow the lead of those who came before us. There was even a song widely used for some time in communities ("Standing on the Shoulders" by Joyce Rouse, aka Earth Mama). While I like the idea of learning from and following the examples of my predecessors, I don't care for the imagery.
Anchors in my life allow movement, but keep me from floating too far away
People who lead by good example are often referred to as pillars of the community. We are often told to stand on the shoulders or follow the lead of those who came before us. There was even a song widely used for some time in communities ("Standing on the Shoulders" by Joyce Rouse, aka Earth Mama). While I like the idea of learning from and following the examples of my predecessors, I don't care for the imagery. While pillars are sturdy and strong, they don't allow for any movement.
Transitions are messy, both in nature and in daily life
I'm blessed to live in a part of the world where we experience all the seasons of nature. Sometimes that happens all in the same day, but that's another story. As the seasons are changing, I'm finding myself being more attentive to the transition time … and while it is necessary, there's nothing pretty about it. Melting snow leaves behind dirt and garbage that was collected in the plowing process. It is messy and ugly and clogs drains.
Transitions are messy, both in nature and in daily life
"As the seasons are changing, I'm finding myself being more attentive to the transition time … and while it is necessary, there's nothing pretty about it," Jill Marie Bradish writes. "Melting snow leaves behind dirt and garbage that was collected in the plowing process." (Jane Marie Bradish) I'm blessed to live in a part of the world where we experience all the seasons of nature. Sometimes that happens all in the same day, but that's another story.
Will consecrated life in the future be like a cycle with square wheels?
A bicycle with square wheels. Yes, it's possible! I just viewed a video on this kind of groundbreaking bicycle, and to my amazement, it works. And of course, nobody could doubt the fact that it's still a bicycle running on two wheels. It follows all the rules of physics and mechanical engineering. If someone could do this to a bicycle, then how about trying to "reshape" our thinking about the future of consecrated life itself?
Lumen Christi finalists 'give hope for the kingdom of the Lord'
Catholic Extension has announced seven finalists for its 2023-2024 Lumen Christi Award, and two of those named told OSV News they're both surprised and encouraged. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the Chicago-based nonprofit, which since 1905 has supported Catholic faith communities in the nation's poorest regions. Taking its name from the Latin words for "light of Christ," the Lumen Christi Award affirms those who radiate and reveal Christ's love where they serve.
Q&A with Sr. Cristina Florez Gonzalez: Peace in Peru begins with the family Original
Peru is in agony. The country has had six presidents in the last five years, many of whom now face criminal charges. The political turmoil has left violent protests in its wake. Additionally, rains from El Niño have battered Peru, causing flooding that has left many Peruvians homeless and has led to the most extensive outbreak of dengue fever in Latin America.
Will consecrated life in the future be like a cycle with square wheels?
A bicycle with square wheels. Yes, it's possible! I just viewed a video on this kind of groundbreaking bicycle, and to my amazement, it works. And of course, nobody could doubt the fact that it's still a bicycle running on two wheels. It follows all the rules of physics and mechanical engineering. If someone could do this to a bicycle, then how about trying to "reshape" our thinking about the future of consecrated life itself?
Nuns grew herbs for centuries. Those Polish sisters want to revive an ancient tradition.
Religious orders have grown herbs throughout the centuries, and careful mixing of medical plants was a well-kept secret for many. Now, Dominican sisters in Poland want to revive the tradition started by their community's foundress, even though 10 years ago, herb mixing was the last thing they were thinking of doing.
My calendar celebrates saints close to my heart
Every community has feast day celebrations. We celebrate our foundation day (province or entire congregation or both) and the death days of founders. Canonical orders celebrate the "Saint of their Rule." The celebrations extend in logical ways: For example, many Franciscans also celebrate St. Clare. But think for a moment about celebrations that might be head-scratchers, especially for people outside our communities.
My calendar celebrates saints close to my heart
Every community has feast day celebrations. We celebrate our foundation day (province or entire congregation or both) and the death days of founders. Canonical orders celebrate the "Saint of their Rule." The celebrations extend in logical ways: For example, many Franciscans also celebrate St. Clare. But think for a moment about celebrations that might be head-scratchers, especially for people outside our communities.
LCWR honors Sr. Donna Markham, a 'transformational leader' who took on 'unsolvable problems'
Serving those desperately in need can be dangerous, exhausting and costly, Sr. Donna Markham said, but it is at those moments, "standing with holy suffering," that fear diminishes, caution drops away, and a deep connection to the sacred becomes tangible. Markham, an Adrian Dominican sister, described those moments to nearly 900 Catholic sisters at the Leadership Conference of Women Religious assembly Friday (Aug. 11) as she received the group's Outstanding Leadership Award.
Ceremony, ritual and symbols: Reflecting on 'ion' season
I was reflecting that last spring in the Northern Hemisphere — liturgically the Easter Season — was also "ion" season: first communion, confirmation, ordination, graduation, and in 2023 it was also coronation for England's King Charles III. It was while watching the coronation that it dawned on me that each and every one of the "ion" celebrations includes ceremony, ritual and symbols — and I'd venture to say for most people, the experiences are mysterious, or worse, unnoticed.
In religious life, we have an unspoken extra vow
Every member of a religious community seems to be a natural at caring for others. We by no means have a corner on the market, but we do it in ways unlike any others I've ever witnessed. Although unspoken, all of us live an "extra vow" of care. Look around — there are so many needs, and we've done well meeting them. That led me to this question: How do I take care of myself?
In religious life, we have an unspoken extra vow
Here's a short and incomplete list of how I've started to care for myself: Being conscious of water scarcity, I tend to take quick showers with a water-saver faucet head. That said, I've started to take the occasional bubble bath. A leisurely soak relaxes my body and helps ease the aches and pains from overwork. Grocery stores often have small bunches of fresh cut flowers for purchase. From time to time, I treat myself to a colorful collection of whatever looks fun.
It's always construction season in our hearts
Where I live, the running joke is that we have two seasons: winter and construction. The length of each varies depending on the weather. Lately, every place I go, I meet construction. The church I attend was having window work done; the stained glass needed serious attention. The windows were gradually removed, repaired and returned to their respective places. Every couple of weeks or so, scaffolding was moved around, and different areas of the church were taped off with red "caution" tape.
It's always construction season in our hearts
And not to be left out, my residence needed minor roof repair. The front yard was piled with debris during the work. It was a quick repair, taking less than two days, but I found myself rattled seeing the volume of decayed pieces that needed replacement. It seemed everywhere I went and every piece of my life was "under construction." Then a single line of Scripture starting haunting me. Seemingly out of nowhere Ezekiel 36:26 popped into my consciousness.
Who is God for you, right at this moment?
A facilitator at a recent province gathering referred to my congregation as a community of artists. I had never heard of us being described that way, but it is a somewhat accurate description. Here is a short list of some of our deceased artists I personally knew: Sister Helena, visual artist of every media there is Her studio on the upper floors of the convent was a whirlwind of colors and "collected things." There was always at least one piece in progress. She worked in clay and wood.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Jane Marie
Contact Jane Marie, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack