My personal reflection on the life and ministry of Pope Francis
On March 13, 2013, I was on bed rest with my daughter who was trying to arrive before her due date.  While I was on bed rest, Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the first Latin American pontiff to be elected to the papacy.  He took the name Pope Francis.  Francis was also my grandfather's name.  At this poignant moment in history, I decided that my daughter would have a second middle name, Frances (the female spelling of Francis), after my grandfather and Pope Francis.  

Fast forward to 2015 when my husband and I would attend the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. We marveled at the wisdom of the Pope who prioritized Catholic families raising children in the Gospel Truth.  I was also the recipient of a ticket to see Pope Francis in the U.S. Senate Gallery for his joint meeting of Congress.  I remember watching Vice President, U.S. Senators, Members of Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court come into the Senate Gallery in a single file line, taking their seats as they walked in.  The last to arrive was the guest of honor, Pope Francis.  I remember his cassock glimmering as if covered in thousands of specks of white glitter.  He quite literally shone.  It was a light that I could never describe beyond these words.  No words can describe what it is like to be in close proximity of a Pontiff.  The light of Christ certainly shone through Pope Francis.

This light continued to shine through our Pontiff throughout his time of serving others. In 2020, Pope Francis met with the Special Olympics and declared, "Inclusion should be the first rock on which we build our house."  As a mother to a child with Down syndrome, I am in deep gratitude of Pope Francis' advocacy for those who need many strong voices advocating for inclusion.

Pope Francis made his papal legacy one of ministry by caring for those on the margins.  From advocating for people with special needs, to washing prisoners' feet, to publishing encyclicals caring for our common home, his legacy will live on.  

Just like 9/11 and COVID, this is a moment in history that our children will remember for the rest of their lives. May we teach them how to mourn the passing of a Pope, while praying for our Holy Mother Church and the Papal Conclave that will elect a new Pope. Our Church will soar on the wings of our prayers.

What happens next?
Over the next couple of weeks, the chimney on the Sistine Chapel in Italy will be one of the most watched chimneys in all of the world. The College of Cardinals will meet to discern who will be the next Pope.  Black smoke out of the chimney indicates the vote did not reveal the next pope. White smoke means that we have a new pope with the declaration of the words, "Habemus papam!"  Two thirds majority is required during the Papal Conclave to elect a new Pope. But before the votes take place, the world will take time to mourn the passing of Pope Francis. 

Over the next nine days, the Vatican and Catholics around the world will be in a period of mourning called, Novendiale.  His body will be dressed in papal vestments and placed in St. Peter's Basilica for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to participate in public viewing. The funeral will likely take place in St. Peter's Square. Dignitaries from around the world will attend Pope Francis' funeral.  The burial usually takes place 6 days after the death of a Pontiff. Pope Fracis wished to be buried in a coffin made of wood and zinc. Most Popes are buried in the Vatican Grottos of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  However, during an interview in 2023, Pope Francis mentioned that he wanted to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore.  Seven popes' have been buried here, the last being Pope Clement in 1669.

After the death of a Pope, the Church enters into a period of transition where power is handed over to the College of Cardinals, but no major decisions are made until the election of the next Pontiff. Around 15 to 20 days after the death of a Pope, the Cardinals under the age of 80 convene behind closed and sealed doors in the Sistine Chapel of Vatican City.  Voting takes place in four rounds a day until a candidate received 2/3 of the vote. 

Prayer for a Deceased Pope
God, Who, in Thine ineffable providence, didst will that thy servant Francis ... should be numbered among the high priests; grant, we beseech Thee that he, who on Earth held the place of Thine only-begotten Son, may be joined forevermore to the fellowship of Thy holy pontiffs.  Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. (Roman Missal)

I was looking through the archives of my website and exclaimed, "Where'd 2024 go?!" That's when it hit me.  Our family endured a lot of hardships and trauma.  It was the year of forgiving the unforgivable.  It was the year that we had to look at justice in new ways.

My daughter had an assignment for her 6th grade Language Arts class.  The essay assignment was to write an essay about how it feels to forgive.  It was an apt moment to reflect back at 2024 and discover how we had to choose love and forgiveness over pain and anger. 
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Here is her essay:

"How do I feel when I forgive? I never really thought about it until now. I know a
lot of people will probably say that a heavy weight is lifted off their chest; but I don’t feel
that way. I haven’t focused a lot on forgiving, but instead, seeking to love others. So, I
thought a lot about forgiveness and then I remembered all that happened in 2024.

Looking back at 2024, I realized that it was the year of forgiveness.
Forgiveness doesn’t always feel great, but loving others does. In 2024, I had to
forgive a lot of others and try to love them no matter how much they hurt my little
brother or my great uncle. My mom says that my older brother and I “had to learn to
forgive the unforgivable at a young age and seek love and justice in the face of the
despair.”

It was the beginning of May 2024 and late at night when we received a phone
call from my grandparents saying that my great-uncle had just come out of brain surgery
and that he was dropped on his head during transport. A few weeks later, he died from
this injury. I am very lucky I got to see him before he passed. Even though he could not
speak his eyes said it all. When he was in his room and the adults were in a separate
room, I snuck away to say goodbye before my mom, and I left. I will never forget the
smile he gave me. Right then I knew he was saying goodbye forever.

A few weeks later, my little brother, Andrew, who is nonverbal and has Down
syndrome got diagnosed with e. Coli. I remember driving to the far away hospital
multiple times a day and then wanting to stay home because I couldn’t bear seeing him
in so much dismay. He was in the hospital for two weeks and underwent TWO blood
transfusions. Praying, sobbing and begging that it would work and that my little brother
could just come home.

When the school year started Andrew came home from his public school with over 30 cuts
all over his back. I still remember the police arriving at the house late at night. Their
investigation showed that Andrew was a victim of child abuse at his school from his
teacher.

These three horrific incidents were unforgivable. But Jesus tells us to forgive
the unforgiveable. Jesus had to do the same with the men who nailed him to the Cross.
I guess this is what forgiving the unforgivable and choosing love over pain feels like. For
me, forgiveness feels like following Jesus’ footsteps along the way."

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As I said, my family had to endure a lot.  We had many blessings in 2024, but we also had so much heartbreak.  From the medical staff dropping my uncle on his head during transport after brain surgery to my sweet Andrew contracting e. Coli due to tainted meat to Andrew being a victim of child abuse while in the care of his public school system. 2024 was a tough year, but the blessings outweighed the trauma because God is good - always has been and always will be.  Through each hardship, my family is stronger.

As for the aggrievances against Andrew, we have retained a nationwide rockstar attorney that represents foodborne illness cases.  He is working hard for us and representing Andrew to the best of his ability.  Though the date of incident was July 3, 2024, the case is still in progress. As for the horrible person that abused my nonverbal child.... the Fairfax County Police Major Crimes Bureau detective, Child Protective Services and Medical Examiner all determined that the injuries to Andrew (over 30 lacerations all over his back) were "founded by an unknown aggressor." This means that they recognize Andrew as a victim of child abuse, but the evidence is circumstantial as to who did it.  There were no video cameras in the hallways of the school, the video cameras outside the school weren't working, there weren't any witnesses to speak up for my child, and my child is nonverbal. In fact, both his General Education teacher and his Special Education teacher told the investigator that neither of them had contact with Andrew.  To which I said, "Excuse me?!? That's insane! Who is caring for my child?!"

Yes, there is definitely a lack of justice for nonverbal children who are abused in a public school setting and it's a systemic problem.  Unfortunately, Andrew wasn't the only one hurt in such a way at his public school. Schools need to be held accountable to the safety and wellbeing of each child, no matter the abilities or disabilities. It's insane to think that our tax dollars go to pay for the nonsense of the public school disasters.

From the moment Andrew came home from school with his back looking like he had been whipped at the pillar just like Christ, we never let him back into school.  Two weeks later, he was emergency transitioned to a new school with amazing teachers and support staff.  He's saying more words and is always happy to go to school- a stark contrast to the beginning of the year. 

As one of my friends said about my family's 2024 year, "you can't fall out of a basement."  Already, 2025 is looking better and we are off and running.  Christ has always been, and will always be, the Master at the helm of our ship. 

Accepting and educating children in Catholic schools follows in the footsteps of Jesus and encourages the entire school community with hope. 

Read my latest interview with the Caholic News Agency about the inspiration of Catholic schools building an inclusive environment for children with special needs. 

It took me nearly 4 decades to finally wakeup and pay attention to where God was calling me - and it all unfolded in Adoration.  Read my interview with Aleteia on where that call lead me to. 

Erin Thielman is a high school science teacher in the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia. But back in 2016, the idea of a teaching vocation was not on her radar. 


In 2016, she was in a stage of serious discernment after serving in the U.S. Air Force. Married with two children, she took a job as an instructional assistant at her child’s Catholic school while figuring out her next steps. 


“Something was missing and I was unsettled,” she said in an interview with Aleteia. “Where was God calling me next?”

 ​Find out here.

By Francesca Pollio Fenton
Denver Newsroom, May 14, 2023 / 07:00 am


Many little girls grow up playing with Barbie dolls and wishing that a doll would look just like them. Now, little girls with Down syndrome can live this dream. The American toy company Mattel announced April 25 that the first Barbie with Down syndrome would soon be hitting the shelves.


The first Barbie doll was released on March 9, 1959. Over the years, Mattel has released several kinds of Barbies representing different shapes, sizes, races, and ethnicities. In 1980, Mattel released the first Black and Hispanic dolls named Barbie. In 2015, three new body types were introduced: curvy, petite, and tall. And in 2022, the first Indian Barbie was manufactured. Currently, Barbie features 35 skin tones, 97 hairstyles, and nine body types. 


Now Mattel is making headlines with their newest Barbie, who represents someone with Down syndrome, and it has already sold out online. 

Read more of this article and learn what I think of the new Barbie Doll with Down syndrome!

On September 11, 2000, I was a young airmen stationed in Germany with the United States Air Force. I
had that day off and was doing laundry in the barracks. In the common room, their was breaking news
on the big screen TV showing the planes attacking the twin towers and the planes that followed with the
attack on the Pentagon and the diversion of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. My heart sank. Selfishly, though,
I was thankful that my family was on the other side of the country and were safe. At 20 years of age, my
immaturity didn’t allow me to think that these attacks would be personal. Oh, how wrong I was. And
how fast I had to grow up.

As soon as I called my family back in the U.S., I was summoned with other airmen into the main hall. We
were told that we had one hour to grab our war gear and Kevlar. We would be departing to an
undisclosed location. At that time, I was trained to work on the weapons systems of F-16 fighter jets,
and I was the only female who could do this in my squadron.

I deployed. What I witnessed at 20 years of age was the horrors of war. I witnessed fear. I witnessed
the insane loss of life. I witnessed my friends losing their own life in service to our great country. I
witnessed Hell on Earth.

I was diagnosed upon my return with survivor’s guilt. I was also injured and retrained to a desk job as a
JAG paralegal. I was honorably discharged in late 2004 and went home to complete my college degree.

Looking back, the attacks on 9/11 were utterly senseless. Yet, our government seems to have forgotten
who did those attacks, because the Biden Administration has been negotiating with the Al Qaeda
terrorists. Since my time in the USAF, the military has gone woke. When I was in the USAF, there was a
“don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Now, the military openly allows for men who claim to be gay to use the
women’s locker rooms. As if that wasn’t enough, when Roe v. Wade was handed down to the States,
the Veteran’s Affairs Administration interfered and allowed themselves to become an abortion mill.

This is not the military that I had signed up for. This is not the military that my friends died for. The
Biden Administration is slapping us in the face and spitting on our DD214’s by allowing this wokeness to
run rogue.

Never forget the men and women who fought the terrorists.
Never forget the victims that died at the hand of the terrorists.
Never burn our flag – it stands for peace, victory, and freedom.
Never forget that in the United States, we don’t negotiate with terrorists.
Never forget.

This article was originally published on American Briefing.

"Discernment" is common Catholic vernacular.  But what is it?  Over the past few years, I have learned what it really means to discern.  Discernment helps us to make good decisions, whether they be big or small.  As Catholics, the discernment process includes prayer, understanding, and action.  Discernment helps us evaluate the dreams we have and, more importantly, God's plans for our lives.

Read more at Radiant Magazine.  

​Integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do.  These are the three core values of the United States Air Force.  But I added a fourth, dedication.  Without dedication none of the other core values would be achievable.  I enlisted in the USAF fresh out of high school in 1999.  My first assignment was at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.  I turned 19 years old in Basic Training.  
 
In 2000, the world changed with the attacks of 9/11.  I remember being gathered in the common area of the dorms and being briefed by First Sergeants on what to prepare for and who was going into combat.  There was an eerie silence on what was normally a rambunctious base filled with F-16’s and the crew that came with them.  But those F-16’s left and so did I.  We were in combat.
 
Over the years I have never forgotten those years of service.  For the past 13 years I have been married to my amazing husband and we have three children who are 11 years, 8 years and 3 years.  I credit my years of service during combat to being able to serve and fight on behalf of my family.  God blessed me with a steadfast heart.  Over the past 21 years, I have known that Jesus stands right next to me as we battle storm after storm.  Each and every time, there is always tribulation after the storms.  And I am thankful for this. 
 
When Andrew was prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome, I viewed it as a storm to navigate with Christ at the helm of the ship.  But, oh!  Andrew having Down syndrome was NOT the storm!  Instead, it was the doctors that wanted to abort him JUST because of this prenatal diagnosis.  When Andrew was born, it was another storm to navigate because he needed to have surgery on his intestines when he was a mere 15 days old.  But the tribulation was his recovery.  
 
Now, Andrew is a hurricane running around the house and tearing it apart just like any other toddler would do.  He delights in going to school each morning and his days are made brighter when his brother and sister come home from their school days.  (Sometimes I think that Andrew likes Alexander and Abby more than his mom and dad, and that’s totally okay!)
 
Integrity first, service before self, excellence in all we do and dedication.  These core values that I learned during my years in the USAF certainly still apply.  If I could go back in time and talk to my 19-year-old self, I would tell her that these core values will continue to play a role in the vocation of being a wife and mother. Without integrity, I would fail to raise my children in the image of God.  Without having learned the value of service before self, then our days would have been incorrectly centered.  If I don’t strive for excellence and teach my children to do the same, then I am not serving them well.  If I am not dedicated to these values, then our days would unravel. 
 
As special needs parents, we hold onto various values to fight for and defend our family in the best way we know how.  But we are not fighting alone.  I didn’t serve in combat by myself, I served with others.  Now, the Down syndrome community and my parish community are my new “brothers in arms.”  Christ was at the helm of my ship 21 years ago and he will remain there.  He is there for you, too.  Let him take control. 
 
Happy Veteran’s Day to all the veterans who have paved the way to the freedoms that we now enjoy.

​I watched as my 11-year-old son took away a small piece of napkin from his little brother so that he wouldn’t choke on it.  Little brother is Andrew.  Andrew is 3 years old and has Down syndrome.  Andrew did a fake cry when Alexander took the piece of napkin away from him.  He then immediately smiled and hugged his big brother tightly around the neck.  It was pure joy to watch my two sons smile out of love for each other.  
 
This interaction reminded me about Dia de los Muertos.  We are not from a Latin American family, but I greatly admire their customs and culture.  Dia de los Muertos celebrates the feasts of All Saints Day and All Souls Day by teaching about the communion of Saints and the souls in Purgatory.  On All Saints Day and All Souls Day, families will place photos of loved ones on a small altar called an offrenda.  The deceased loved ones are honored when their photo is placed on an offrenda.  So, what does Dia de los Muertos have to do with my two sons hugging after big brother rescued little brother from choking on a napkin?  Plenty.
 
Dia de los Muertos encompasses honoring the saints and praying for the souls in Purgatory.  But what if every day was Dia de los Muertos?  When we celebrate this great feast, we celebrate the love of deceased loved ones.  In doing that, we can also honor our living relatives.  When my children hug each other and smile out of pure love, then they are honoring each other and the God that created them.  The saints that have gone before us consistently preached the message of the importance of love in the family.
 
On All Saints Day, we remember and honor the triumphant saints in Heaven.  It is trouble that always proceeds triumph.  Each saint had their own bit of trouble to overcome, leading to their triumph in Heaven.  Alexander stopped Andrew from choking on a napkin.  This was the trouble that led to the triumphant hug between brothers.  
 
On All Souls Day, we pray for the souls in Purgatory.  We remember that our prayers and participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the sacraments can be used to help the poor souls in Purgatory.  By consistently doing a daily Examination of Conscience, we recall our words, thoughts, and actions in hopes to make reparation with God and thus join him in Heaven when our time on Earth has come to an end.
 
As Catholic special needs parents, we know that our patience can be tested at great lengths.  May we make a good Examination of Conscience at the end of each day and participate in frequent confessions so that we can find internal peace.  May we be strengthened and renewed by the saints who have gone before us, paving they way in overcoming lack of patience while setting the example of overcoming trouble with triumph.  May we remember our deceased relatives and honor them with fervent prayers during these days of Dia de los Muertos, all while never forgetting to pray for the souls in Purgatory.