I grew up in the era of “Black is Beautiful.” But standing before ‘La Moreneta’ was different.

“Yes, some are H.I.V.-positive, but what is that?” asks Sister Agie. “They are precious children; they have their whole life before them.”

When you replace “God” with “Dog” in a lot of Bible verses, they became startlingly apt commentary.

My boys’ complaints about going to church and my refusal to capitulate to them are themselves a kind of ritual.

I was Catholic. You pray, you receive the sacraments, you imitate the saints. What more guidance do you need?

‘Shewings’ is the first book ever written by a woman in the English language.