Author Archives: Bill Schmitt

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About Bill Schmitt

OnWord.net is the home for Bill Schmitt's blog and biographical information. This blog, initiated during Bill's nearly 14 years as a communications professional at Notre Dame, expresses Bill's opinions alone. Go to "About Bill Schmitt" and "I Link, Therefore I Am" to see samples of multimedia content I'm producing now and have produced during my journalism career and my marketing communications career. Like me at facebook.com/wgschmitt, follow me on Twitter @wschmitt, and meet "bill schmitt" on LinkedIn.

Save the Date: Our Secular World Needs a Homecoming

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

“Holy Days of Obligation” raise questions of congruency and truancy among Catholics. Some folks resist these Church mandates for Mass attendance as random intrusions on our workaday world. Many merely ask to be reminded whether, and why, a particular feast … Continue reading →

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It’s the Playoffs—Look for Angels in the Outfield

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

There is nothing like a universe to spark one’s imagination. Two Christian feast days arrive at this time of year to boost our souls’ awareness of big things to come. The feasts append our scorecard of saints. And they can … Continue reading →

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‘Try to Remember, And If You Remember, Then Follow.’

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

“Never forget!” It’s an urgent call that requires not only personal serenity sufficient to recollect truths, but also a strong social infrastructure able to reignite awareness. Although the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, seem far behind us, we who … Continue reading →

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Not Unburdened: Why You Gotta Be So Meme?

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

It’s like I just fell out of a coconut tree. I still don’t fully understand what Vice President Kamala Harris means by promoting “what can be, unburdened by what has been.” Please join me as I seek help through the … Continue reading →

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Surprised by Politicized ‘Joy’—An Ode to Decode

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

This commentary is also published in “Phronesis in Pieces,” at billschmitt.substack.com. Please consider subscribing there to support a large archive of articles at the intersection of faith, public affiairs, journalism, and our society’s craving for truth, hope, and love. You’ll … Continue reading →

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Book Sheds Light on a Media Mentor’s Outreach

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

Published in The Tablet, the newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn, on July 20, 2024. Reprinted by permission from DeSales Media Group. Find the content here. by William Schmitt PROSPECT HEIGHTS — For years, Father John Cush has taught and … Continue reading →

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OK, Boomer, Looks Like You’ll Be President Again

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

This article is included in the latest edition of “Phronesis in Pieces,” found at billschmitt.substack.com. The edition also includes the story below, a commentary about the Olympics controversy and our viewpoints on what’s really real. Passing a torch to a … Continue reading →

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Beware of Narrowing the Wide World of Sports

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

American media have long stood accused of partisan partnering to tilt their coverage of national politics. Now, the broadcast of the 2024 Olympics has reminded us of another arena in the world of competitive storytelling. Our society’s participation in reality, … Continue reading →

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Behold Our Post-Truth Society—Breaking News, Broken Politics

Posted on July 19, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

The past three weeks of mesmerizing political news revealed one sign of societal mayhem not yet pounced upon by pundits. “Post-truth” thinking, a virus first diagnosed in the public square eight years ago, outed itself as a major force at … Continue reading →

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Jimmy Carter and Friends: Hope for Today’s Malaise

Posted on June 28, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

We tend to shower praise on people who “fit in,” but it’s more instructive to appreciate folks who are unique—which is everyone. Former President Jimmy Carter has blazed new trails, and The Washington Post on June 22 reminded us that … Continue reading →

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