Category Archives: Spirit of communication

“Holy Darkness”

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Bill Schmitt

See this coverage of the total eclipse from WNDU-TV in South Bend Thanks to WNDU TV in South Bend for this access to shared live coverage from NBC. Thanks to Dan Schutte for his song (“Holy Darkness” copyright 2001, performed … Continue reading →

Posted in Spirit of communication, Words, Writing | Leave a comment

Affluenza — The 20th Anniversary

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Bill Schmitt

(Originally written for the blog of my Secular Franciscan Order fraternity in Mishawaka, Indiana) This is the 20th anniversary of the broadcast of a documentary that has lodged itself in my heart and my mind. May I recommend it to you … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Spirit of communication, Words | 2 Comments

OnWord, or Onward, Indiana!

Posted on January 1, 2017 by Bill Schmitt

  Onward! It’s an appropriate sentiment for the first day of a new year. I couldn’t resist celebrating the persevering concept of Onward–and the town by that name–on behalf of the state of Indiana and on behalf of this OnWord … Continue reading →

Posted in Spirit of communication | Leave a comment

O Christmas Troy, O Christmas Troy

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Bill Schmitt

The Schmitts were once again in Troy, NY, to be part of a traditional big-family Christmas celebration with my wife Eileen’s siblings and the extended family. St. Augustine Parish has been a spiritual home to Eileen’s family for generations, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Spirit of communication, Words | Leave a comment

Celebrating Cities & Classic Photography

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Bill Schmitt

My friend Lou Sabo, a South Bend native with a love of the historic urban scenes of South Bend and Chicago, recently presented a lecture and slide show at the Notre Dame Center for Arts and Culture on Washington St. … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Spirit of communication | Leave a comment

… And Let it Begin with Me (Debate This!)

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Bill Schmitt

Patrick Coffin, an insightful and witty broadcaster skilled in interviewing and conversation, is starting his own series of video commentaries about our culture and today’s challenges to faith and reason. I just viewed the first entry in his YouTube series, … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Spirit of communication, Writing | Leave a comment

Phrases on Stun: Honoring Star Trek’s 50th with Words

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Bill Schmitt

Let’s boldly go into a brief blog post honoring this week’s 50th anniversary of the “Star Trek” universe. Calling it a brand or franchise is correct but inadequate. Like the actual universe, “Star Trek” seems to keep on growing, spawning … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Spirit of communication, Words, Writing | 1 Comment

Tonight, Stephen welcomes…the Philippians!

Posted on August 30, 2016 by Bill Schmitt

If you haven’t completed your daily Scripture reading yet, you’re in luck. I can provide four profound Bible quotes, all from Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, pre-packaged in an entertaining video format. We can thank three slightly surprising sources–a politician, … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Spirit of communication, Words | Leave a comment

Stephen Colbert, GK Chesterton, and Conversations of Hope

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Bill Schmitt

Here’s a shout-out to ACE’s own Patrick R. Manning for his cover story in the latest America magazine, noting that TV’s Stephen Colbert offers inspiration to catechists with his threefold approach: “delight, instruct, and persuade.” This connection between the ability … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Spirit of communication, Writing | Leave a comment

This Whovian — or Whoosier? — Learned from the Doctors: The Present Isn’t Enough

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Bill Schmitt

The recent blockbuster episode of the brilliant BBC series “Doctor Who” got me thinking again about the danger of “presentism” in today’s world. Did you see the episode entitled “Day of the Doctor,” in which three different reincarnations of that … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Spirit of communication, Words | Leave a comment