![Sr. Helena Burns, FSP](/media/k2/users/2880.png?t=20201104_1806)
Sr. Helena Burns, FSP
Sr. Helena, fsp, is a Daughter of St. Paul. She holds a Masters in Media Literacy Education and studied screenwriting at UCLA. www.HellBurns.com Twitter: @srhelenaburns
Sr. Helena Burns: Ignoring an earthquake in the Church
On Feb. 2 an earth-shaking event occurred in the Catholic Church and barely a peep was peeped. Of course, we’re kind of getting used to the fact that the media often ignore major happenings that would be of interest to, oh, say, 1.2 billion people or more. And this was huge. Unpreceded. Shocking.
Sr. Helena Burns: Divide and conquer? Never in Canada
Perhaps the oldest strategy of war is: “Divide and conquer”— which can take many forms. Physically divide a land mass into north and south. Encourage a portion of a country to secede. Partition. Physical divisions create smaller spaces and populations to overtake, can leave families separated and citizens stranded. But the most insidious division is spiritual, psychological, social. If planned from without and then wormed into a once-harmonious (even if not homogenous) group, division can be made to feel organic and even righteous through… you guessed it: fear-mongering.
Sr. Helena Burns: Truth and the world according to media
When I give Media Literacy workshops to folks, I often ask: What’s the first thing you think of when you think of “the media”? The overwhelming majority think: the news.
Sr. Helena Burns: Every life is fascinating — a nun’s too!
I was recently interviewed by a secular news outlet about a new fictional film featuring nuns. I almost didn’t do the interview. Why not? Because I know better.
Sr. Helena Burns: So, what was your Epiphany?
The Christmas season has so many wonderful feast days along the way, not least of which is Epiphany, the commemoration of the Magi’s visit to the Christ Child.
Spruce up your Christmas movie watching
Since screening Christmas movies together with family and friends has become as ubiquitous as Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties, maybe it’s time to be more than just holly jolly couch potatoes. Perhaps we can find ways to integrate Christmas activities (emphasis on “active”) with the spectating.
Sr. Helena Burns: Some prayer tips for Advent
Advent, like Lent, is a prayerful time of joyful expectation of a major feast of the Christian year.
Sr. Helena Burns: It’s your duty to parent media for kids
With all that today’s parents have to do, how is it possible to go about the mammoth task of parenting the media?
Sr. Helena Burns: Spiritual warfare is for everyone
Some people like to think of life as a journey, an adventure, a pilgrimage, a blank slate, a beach, a work of art … a box of chocolates. But life isn’t always that neutral, is it? Sometimes we are dealt a rough hand from the earliest moments of our existence. Sometimes life is filled with pain and obstacles. We are free to look at life however we want, but one thing is for sure: Life is a battle, and no one gets to sit on the sidelines.
Sr. Helena Burns: Whatever happened to devotions?
Are you “hopelessly devoted”? No, not to your crush, your boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse, but to the Most High God?