Mark Piper, a Packers fan in an unholy land, works in the nonprofit sector. He resides in Chicago with his family and holds a master's in public policy from DePaul University and a bachelor's from St. Xavier University; he is an alumus of Amate House, an AmeriCorps-approved year of service organization sponsored by the Chicago Archdiocese.
He writes for NCR's Young Voices blog.
Column
Love separates the social justice advocate from social justice warrior
Young Voices: There are some whose social justice work can be a balm to those they serve. There are also those who are as vicious as St. Peter cutting off someone's ear — though today the cutting tends to be from trolling words.
Column
Transcribing Dorothy Day: Who wouldn't want to help make a saint?
Young Voices: Then again, who really makes a saint? After my very small role in the canonization process, the best answer I have is that, responding to the grace of God, we can make ourselves into saints.
Column
A prayer of thanksgiving for Sr. Fintan
A few months ago, a priest asked me very seriously, "What keeps you in church?" I had an instantaneous flashback to a memory of Sr. Fintan in the school gym, telling the bishop that I knew my prayers and that she was proud of me.
Column
I made a mixtape for the church I love
Young Voices: As a sign of my love for the Catholic Church — a church that has provided me with hope, beauty and truth, as well as anguish, anger and frustration — I wish to create and share a mixtape.