My grandmother, Helen Howell, converted to Catholicism in 1942 at age 39. This blog preserves her letters from the 1960s, a decade of upheaval in the Church following Vatican II. Writing from Rockford, Illinois, she documented the struggles of ordinary Catholics confronting rapid change, defending tradition with conviction and clarity. Her words stand as a historical witness to faith amid crisis.
Father Gommar DePauw’s landmark talk “Conciliar or Catholic?” remains as timely and thought-provoking today as it was in 1967—perhaps even more so. His clarity and conviction continue to resonate in an age still grappling with questions of faith and fidelity.