Vol. 76, No. 12 

Cover 

Goy meets girl: How interfaith couples make it work
 [1]

By Anna Weaver
Spouses who don’t walk the same religious path have to wrestle with tough questions before walking down the aisle, reports Anna Weaver. But that doesn’t mean they can’t find a more perfect union even without intercommunion.

Sidebars:

She said yes! Now what? [2]

Web-only sidebar: 

How to prepare for an interfaith marriage [3]

 

Sounding Board

H [4]old the applause [5]

By Gregory F. Augustine Pierce
Sunday Mass shouldn’t shine the spotlight on the parish staff. In Feedback, readers recall the moments they felt like outsiders looking in.

 

Feature

Sister Pat battles the board [6]

By Kristen Hannum
America’s corporate CEOs may be facing a prophet in the margins at their next shareholder meeting. It can be hard to say no when Sister tells you not to put profits before people.

Sidebar:

Resources for investing faithfully and responsibly [7]

 

Photo story

Free at last

By Paul Jeffrey
As the flag of freedom flies over the world’s newest nation, a photojournalist offers a tour of South Sudan and tells the stories of the more than 170 Catholic religious communities who helped it achieve independence.

 

Essays

(Essays, short stories, and poems may not be available online.)

‘Twas the month before Christmas

By USCatholic.org contributors

From the quiet of candlelit evenings to the madness of the mall, these USCatholic.org contributors keep the reason for the season front and center all the way through Advent.
 

Poorly worded [8]

By Father WIlliam J. O'Malley, S.J.
Why 
don’t we consult the faithful for their input on words for worship that connect liturgy to real life?
 

Wise Guide: Great teacher

By Edwin P. Christmann
Eight centuries ago Albert the Great showed how theology and science can walk hand in hand.

 

Web-only

Bill Petersen tribute: 
A slide show and a few words in memoriam of the distinctive U.S. Catholic illustrator. [9]

 

Departments

Editors' Note

You May Be Right (Letters)

Signs of the Times (News)

Catholic Tastes (Humor)

Culture in Context: Music, film, and book reviews [10]

Glad You Asked: Where did the new Mass translations come from? [11]

At Home with Our Faith [12]  

Eye of the Beholder (Art meditation)

 

Columns

The Examined Life: You're cut off [13]
By Bryan Cones

Margin Notes: Yule shall overcome [14]
By Kevin Clarke

Culture in Context: Good cop, bad cop
By Patrick McCormick

Testaments: Lady with a past
By Alice Camille