Bridget O’Brien
@bridgetemob.bsky.social
Philadelphian, Chicagoan, Catholic lay minister • she | her
“And having answered so I turn once more to those who sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer and say to them:”
“And having answered so I turn once more to those who sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer and say to them:”
Posters sure do have high confidence in their understanding of ecclesiology.
February 4, 2026 at 3:09 AM
Posters sure do have high confidence in their understanding of ecclesiology.
My friend’s wife is pregnant with their first child and he just told me he had a dream that the child, once born, turned out to be an enormous raviolo whom they named Tortellizzie.
I am wildly impressed at his subconscious wit; he is annoyed bc “They’re TOTALLY different pasta shapes!”
I am wildly impressed at his subconscious wit; he is annoyed bc “They’re TOTALLY different pasta shapes!”
February 4, 2026 at 2:48 AM
My friend’s wife is pregnant with their first child and he just told me he had a dream that the child, once born, turned out to be an enormous raviolo whom they named Tortellizzie.
I am wildly impressed at his subconscious wit; he is annoyed bc “They’re TOTALLY different pasta shapes!”
I am wildly impressed at his subconscious wit; he is annoyed bc “They’re TOTALLY different pasta shapes!”
I am very aware that people who make comments on online articles are not posting in good faith (and maybe even aren't people!), but still I find myself occasionally overwhelmed by the desire to ask followup questions. I don't act on that desire! But it is there.
February 3, 2026 at 10:38 PM
I am very aware that people who make comments on online articles are not posting in good faith (and maybe even aren't people!), but still I find myself occasionally overwhelmed by the desire to ask followup questions. I don't act on that desire! But it is there.
Thinking of getting another tattoo.
February 3, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Thinking of getting another tattoo.
guys i spent so much time on friday trying to figure out if Easter Sunday is technically part of holy week or not and i'm still not sure.
February 3, 2026 at 4:19 PM
guys i spent so much time on friday trying to figure out if Easter Sunday is technically part of holy week or not and i'm still not sure.
Let’s take bets.
Does the ANE scholar-priest to whom I texted this:
A. Ignore this text forever;
B. Ignore it for a couple days and then tell me, no, he’s not on board for sacrifice to other gods;
or
C. Make a special exception and agree with me???
Does the ANE scholar-priest to whom I texted this:
A. Ignore this text forever;
B. Ignore it for a couple days and then tell me, no, he’s not on board for sacrifice to other gods;
or
C. Make a special exception and agree with me???
February 3, 2026 at 1:07 AM
Let’s take bets.
Does the ANE scholar-priest to whom I texted this:
A. Ignore this text forever;
B. Ignore it for a couple days and then tell me, no, he’s not on board for sacrifice to other gods;
or
C. Make a special exception and agree with me???
Does the ANE scholar-priest to whom I texted this:
A. Ignore this text forever;
B. Ignore it for a couple days and then tell me, no, he’s not on board for sacrifice to other gods;
or
C. Make a special exception and agree with me???
One thing my current job has taught me is that I am terrible at estimating numbers of people. Every. single. week. I see the attendance for the mass(es) I was at and say, "Huh. I thought there were more people there!" and every. single. week. the liturgy associate says, "The balcony wasn't full."
February 2, 2026 at 4:11 PM
One thing my current job has taught me is that I am terrible at estimating numbers of people. Every. single. week. I see the attendance for the mass(es) I was at and say, "Huh. I thought there were more people there!" and every. single. week. the liturgy associate says, "The balcony wasn't full."
There is something non-malicious but mildly annoying about people learning something that is very much part of your day-to-day and then excitedly wanting to explain it to you. It’s a different phenomenon from mansplaining, but repeated experiences of it do get, well, annoying.
February 2, 2026 at 3:22 PM
There is something non-malicious but mildly annoying about people learning something that is very much part of your day-to-day and then excitedly wanting to explain it to you. It’s a different phenomenon from mansplaining, but repeated experiences of it do get, well, annoying.
Help; my cat is obsessed with the taste of neutrogena makeup removing wipes.
February 2, 2026 at 5:37 AM
Help; my cat is obsessed with the taste of neutrogena makeup removing wipes.
I’m sorry, we’re supposed to believe the United Federation of Planets has a felony murder charge?
February 2, 2026 at 1:09 AM
I’m sorry, we’re supposed to believe the United Federation of Planets has a felony murder charge?
Reposted by Bridget O’Brien
one thing that's great about Bluesky is when there's new Chotiner piece we all meet up like fans of a band for a surprise listening party
February 1, 2026 at 11:40 PM
one thing that's great about Bluesky is when there's new Chotiner piece we all meet up like fans of a band for a surprise listening party
Reposted by Bridget O’Brien
I wrote a response to Bishop Robert Barron’s recent statement on the immigration raids and protests in Minnesota. His message misrepresents Catholic teaching on immigration, and he is silent about the systematic abuses committed by immigration enforcement agencies.
open.substack.com/pub/windowli...
open.substack.com/pub/windowli...
A Plea for Peace and Dignity in Minnesota
A Response to Bishop Robert Barron
open.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 8:32 PM
I wrote a response to Bishop Robert Barron’s recent statement on the immigration raids and protests in Minnesota. His message misrepresents Catholic teaching on immigration, and he is silent about the systematic abuses committed by immigration enforcement agencies.
open.substack.com/pub/windowli...
open.substack.com/pub/windowli...
Usually I am careful to omit the name of the church where I work (I have no illusions of anonymity: I’m here with my name and a photo of my face, but there’s “I want to put effort into finding you” and there’s “I googled the church and found your social media”) so I am trusting you all to BE NORMAL.
February 1, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Usually I am careful to omit the name of the church where I work (I have no illusions of anonymity: I’m here with my name and a photo of my face, but there’s “I want to put effort into finding you” and there’s “I googled the church and found your social media”) so I am trusting you all to BE NORMAL.
The stained glass at Old St Pat’s was completed between 1912 and 1922. The artist, Thomas O’Shaughnessy, saw reproductions of the Book of Kells at the 1893 World’s Fair, then went to Dublin to sketch directly from it.
The secret to surviving February IMO is to embrace every obscure holiday available. Happy Imbolc/Feast of St. Brigid, patroness of Ireland. Spring is here.
And a reminder to check out Old St Pat’s—the city’s oldest public building is a sight to behold
And a reminder to check out Old St Pat’s—the city’s oldest public building is a sight to behold
February 1, 2026 at 8:21 PM
The stained glass at Old St Pat’s was completed between 1912 and 1922. The artist, Thomas O’Shaughnessy, saw reproductions of the Book of Kells at the 1893 World’s Fair, then went to Dublin to sketch directly from it.
Never mind classes you took at university, tell me five minor social mistakes that haunt you years later.
February 1, 2026 at 4:06 AM
Never mind classes you took at university, tell me five minor social mistakes that haunt you years later.
Christian Tradition I.
Christian Tradition II.
etc.
Christian Tradition II.
etc.
The titles of "my five classes in college" are pretty pedestrian, but what I learned and the amazing professors who taught them!
January 31, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Christian Tradition I.
Christian Tradition II.
etc.
Christian Tradition II.
etc.
Seeing Groundhog Day advertised outside of PA has made me realize how strongly I believe that ONLY Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions are of interest.
Also, “Punxsutawney Phil” is a transferable title, but a title that can only be given to groundhogs physically resident in the town of Punxsutawney.
Also, “Punxsutawney Phil” is a transferable title, but a title that can only be given to groundhogs physically resident in the town of Punxsutawney.
January 31, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Seeing Groundhog Day advertised outside of PA has made me realize how strongly I believe that ONLY Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions are of interest.
Also, “Punxsutawney Phil” is a transferable title, but a title that can only be given to groundhogs physically resident in the town of Punxsutawney.
Also, “Punxsutawney Phil” is a transferable title, but a title that can only be given to groundhogs physically resident in the town of Punxsutawney.
Reposted by Bridget O’Brien
a seahawk is a bird go birds
January 30, 2026 at 4:58 PM
a seahawk is a bird go birds
Wrote a prayer to be printed on 1000s of Ash Wednesday takeaways; had others read it. Realized a full day later (but thankfully prior to anything going to print) that I'd written "Strength" and not "Strengthen." Realized I was too In It to adequately edit it; asked Word to read it out loud.
January 30, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Wrote a prayer to be printed on 1000s of Ash Wednesday takeaways; had others read it. Realized a full day later (but thankfully prior to anything going to print) that I'd written "Strength" and not "Strengthen." Realized I was too In It to adequately edit it; asked Word to read it out loud.
Ecumenical monastic opposition to techbro “monk mode.”
January 29, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Ecumenical monastic opposition to techbro “monk mode.”
I am a humorless buzzkill when it comes to “oh integralism is good” jokes.
No. It isn’t good, it isn’t funny, and the tools you are looking for are a good ecclesiology and a good theology of conscience, not “Rome uses all of the worst tools it’s ever wielded—but this time, against Republicans!”
No. It isn’t good, it isn’t funny, and the tools you are looking for are a good ecclesiology and a good theology of conscience, not “Rome uses all of the worst tools it’s ever wielded—but this time, against Republicans!”
January 28, 2026 at 10:51 PM
I am a humorless buzzkill when it comes to “oh integralism is good” jokes.
No. It isn’t good, it isn’t funny, and the tools you are looking for are a good ecclesiology and a good theology of conscience, not “Rome uses all of the worst tools it’s ever wielded—but this time, against Republicans!”
No. It isn’t good, it isn’t funny, and the tools you are looking for are a good ecclesiology and a good theology of conscience, not “Rome uses all of the worst tools it’s ever wielded—but this time, against Republicans!”
Reposted by Bridget O’Brien
Parolin: “Inaccettabili le violenze degli agenti Ice a Minneapolis”
https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2026/01/28/news/vaticano_parolin_violenze_ice_minneapolis-425124127/?rss
https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2026/01/28/news/vaticano_parolin_violenze_ice_minneapolis-425124127/?rss
January 28, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Parolin: “Inaccettabili le violenze degli agenti Ice a Minneapolis”
https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2026/01/28/news/vaticano_parolin_violenze_ice_minneapolis-425124127/?rss
https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2026/01/28/news/vaticano_parolin_violenze_ice_minneapolis-425124127/?rss
Reposted by Bridget O’Brien
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, warned that blogs and online commentators increasingly claim a theological authority they do not possess.
Vatican doctrine chief warns against blogs claiming theological authority
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, warned that blogs and online commentators increasingly claim a theological authority they do not possess.
bit.ly
January 28, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, warned that blogs and online commentators increasingly claim a theological authority they do not possess.
Reposted by Bridget O’Brien
To the Battle Hymn of the Republic
Mine eyes have seen the sorrow of the stranger at the gate,
Of children torn from mothers by the grinding wheels of state,
But the Lord of Hosts is marching where the chains of fear abate
His truth is marching on.
Mine eyes have seen the sorrow of the stranger at the gate,
Of children torn from mothers by the grinding wheels of state,
But the Lord of Hosts is marching where the chains of fear abate
His truth is marching on.
January 27, 2026 at 5:11 PM
To the Battle Hymn of the Republic
Mine eyes have seen the sorrow of the stranger at the gate,
Of children torn from mothers by the grinding wheels of state,
But the Lord of Hosts is marching where the chains of fear abate
His truth is marching on.
Mine eyes have seen the sorrow of the stranger at the gate,
Of children torn from mothers by the grinding wheels of state,
But the Lord of Hosts is marching where the chains of fear abate
His truth is marching on.
Truly never gets less bizarre to me to see people On Here argue that Pope Francis wanted Catholics to vote for Trump.
Francis, who wrote Laudato Si' and Fratelli tutti. Francis, who used some of his last energy on this earth to rebuke Vance's interpretation of Augustine.
Francis, who wrote Laudato Si' and Fratelli tutti. Francis, who used some of his last energy on this earth to rebuke Vance's interpretation of Augustine.
January 28, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Truly never gets less bizarre to me to see people On Here argue that Pope Francis wanted Catholics to vote for Trump.
Francis, who wrote Laudato Si' and Fratelli tutti. Francis, who used some of his last energy on this earth to rebuke Vance's interpretation of Augustine.
Francis, who wrote Laudato Si' and Fratelli tutti. Francis, who used some of his last energy on this earth to rebuke Vance's interpretation of Augustine.