Brad Bursa

A reflection on Rev 21:1–5 At Stella Maris, we are implementing a theme for the ministry year (2025–2026). The theme will help bring to life our Little Commission and serve as a thematic thread running through our programming this year. It aims to be memorable and inspiring, and a source of a kind of enduring…

A roundabout reflection on the 4th commandment Sitting with my dad watching my son play ball, I can see my dad looks more like his dad every day. I’m not with my dad that often — every few months or so. But when I am, I can see he’s becoming my grandpa who has been…

Practical Wisdom (Part V) Back when we were expecting our first child, I was afraid. I was twenty-three and stressed — unprepared and uncertain about the reality of a baby girl being born in about a month. I relayed my anxiety to a priest. He said something along this line: No amount of parenting books…

How a shift in mindset gave me new life in ministry. Sitting over a cup of coffee several years back, a ministry colleague paid me a confusing complement. After peppering me with questions about my parish work, he blurted out: “You’re a craftsman.” This struck me as odd. I didn’t feel like a craftsman. I…

A Contemporary ‘Soul of the Apostolate’ for the Lay Minister My new book is out. It’s title: Surviving Catholic Ministry: A Contemporary ‘Soul of the Apostolate’ for the Lay Minister. Ironically, the earliest manuscript of this work emerged during a season of life when it seemed I didn’t survive ministry. I thought I’d share a…

A Sobering Report from the Ground A shorter version of this essay will appear in an upcoming bulletin for the parishioners of Stella Maris Family of Parishes. I think the topic of parish decline, parish renewal, and parish consolidation is interesting, so I thought I’d share a bit on Substack. Of course, it’s impossible to…

Another one from Dorothy. I suppose it is a grace not to be able to have time to take or derive satisfaction in the work we are doing. In what time I have, my impulse is to self-criticism and examination of conscience, and I am constantly humiliated at my own imperfections and at my halting…

Three Lessons from Dorothy Day As I put the bow on another year of ministry (about 17 years in all), I’ve been considering all the apparent failures along the way. Programs launched that seemingly failed. People who flaked. Times I overpromised and underdelivered. Ideas that seemed sound before going sideways. Ministry is a divine venture,…

A brief introduction to the Stella Maris Institute I thought I would take some time to let my readers in on our latest project at the Family of Parishes. As we respond to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s pastoral planning process, we are taking innovative steps to advance the mission of the Catholic Church in our…

Without a perfect human love, perfect joy remains out of reach. Prefatory Note: In a previous post, I announced that I was beginning a year-long effort to articulate the gospel according to Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI. This is the fourth installment in that series. I was scooping up my children because I thought the graveside service…