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
An update from your 'national parks of the soul': retreat centers during pandemic
Young Voices: Every colleague of mine has been burdened and vexed. We're figuring out how to pivot, how to live our mission as places of welcome, acceptance and healing, under a new and existential duress.
Column
Don't rest on the rests
Young Voices: I believe individuals can change like bread baking or music modulating. We can change utterly and completely if we attune ourselves to the pulses of space and time.
Column
Election 2020: encountering exhaustion, agony and hope
Young Voices: The young adults I listened to at a recent panel discussion on politics held at Catholic Theological Union choose to engage their faith and our shared political life not through ridicule and criticism but through proclamation and witness. It was a vote of confidence in the future.
Column
Take a trip to visit the other neighbors
Young Voices: Every wall that is built, every journey of justice we refuse, every divisive tweet that is fired off, signifies a theft from the dignity of Christ our brother, from those who are our neighbors.