It’s Sunday at the Little Station, and Jake, Ryan, and Maggie find themselves thinking about the Gospel in a very ordinary way: one coin, one question, and the surprisingly complicated business of figuring out what belongs where.

This Sunday’s ROOK is inspired by Matthew 22:15–21 and the Douay-Rheims Gospel.

What is ROOK?
ROOK is a daily, original college newspaper comic set in and around Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. It follows Jake, Ryan, Maggie, and their friends through the ordinary adventures of college—classes, friendships, faith, sports, family, coffee, and the occasional bit of trouble.

The humor is gentle, the characters are growing, and sometimes the smallest conversations turn out to be the ones worth remembering. Project_5146_ROOK_Bible_v1_2(20…

A new ROOK strip appears every day at noon CST.

Different adventures. Same journey.

It’s Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day, and Jake, Ryan, and Maggie are thinking about how to show their appreciation. Ryan eventually comes up with a plan that might actually impress his professors:

Turn in the assignment on time.

A small gesture. A revolutionary concept.

ROOK is a daily college newspaper comic about friendship, faith, growing up, and the odd little moments that make college life memorable.

Different adventures. Same journey.

Most students have gone home for Fall Break. Jake and Ryan discover that campus feels strangely quiet—until they run into Brian, who stayed behind to keep things running.

At the Little Station, the three settle into an unexpectedly peaceful afternoon. Kitty has stayed too, and apparently he has already claimed a position in management.

Sometimes Fall Break isn’t about going anywhere.

Sometimes it’s about having nowhere else to be.

ROOK is a daily college newspaper comic about friendship, faith, growing up, and the odd little places where life becomes meaningful.

Different adventures. Same journey.

Jake, Ryan, and Maggie discover that Kitty has been paying close attention to the women’s soccer team. When he gets his chance to join the action, the praying dog turns out to have a rather unexpected talent.

Sometimes the best teammate is the one nobody thought to recruit.

ROOK is a daily college newspaper comic about friendship, faith, growing up, and the odd little places where life becomes meaningful.

Different adventures. Same journey.

Midterms, studio deadlines, projects, and a packed campus calendar can make it easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Jake, Ryan, and Maggie take a moment to step back, look around, and remember that some things matter more than getting everything checked off the list.

ROOK is a daily college newspaper comic about friendship, faith, growing up, and the odd little places where life becomes meaningful.

Different adventures. Same journey.

Jake, Ryan, and Maggie discover that campus looks different when you actually stop to look at it—the October light, an old inscription, a path worn into the grass by generations of students.

For a few minutes, they simply pay attention.

Then Ryan remembers the most important thing of all.

Lunch.

ROOK is a daily college newspaper comic about friendship, faith, growing up, and the odd little places where life becomes meaningful.

If you’re enjoying ROOK, please consider supporting the strip or becoming a ROOK sponsor. Your support helps make it possible to create a new original comic every day and keep ROOK freely available to readers.

Want to sponsor ROOK? Get in touch with Chesterton Radio to help support an independent, original college comic—and put your name or organization behind a daily bit of good humor, friendship, and campus life.

Different adventures. Same journey

After Sunday Mass, Jake, Ryan, and Maggie reflect on Jesus’ parable of the tenants and the stone rejected by the builders. They wonder what it means to be faithful with the little vineyard they’ve been given—classes, friendships, opportunities, and ordinary days.

Sometimes we don’t get to see what our small acts will become. We just have to keep building on the right foundation.

ROOK is a daily college comic about friendship, faith, campus life, and the odd little moments where life becomes meaningful.

Different adventures. Same journey.

The Catholic Men’s Conference gives Jake, Ryan, and Maggie a chance to step away from the ordinary rhythm of campus life and think about faith, work, friendship, and the men they are becoming.

Sometimes formation isn’t about finding all the answers. Sometimes it’s simply being willing to ask the questions—and showing up again next year.

ROOK is a daily college comic about friendship, faith, campus life, and the odd little moments where life becomes meaningful.

Different adventures. Same journey. BC Calendar

Midterms are coming, and Ryan has a plan: coffee, focus, and absolutely no distractions. Jake and Maggie help him discover that good friends—and the occasional trip to the Little Station—might not be distractions at all.

Sometimes being faithful with the time you’ve been given means knowing when to work, and when to take a breath.

ROOK is a daily college comic about friendship, faith, campus life, and the odd little moments where life becomes meaningful.

Different adventures. Same journey.

Jake, Ryan, and Maggie discover a campus conversation about work, purpose, and mission—and naturally end up applying it to the most immediate work in their lives: college. For Ryan, at least, there’s one achievable objective.

ROOK is a daily college comic about friendship, faith, campus life, and the small moments that become part of the journey.

If you enjoy ROOK, please consider supporting Chesterton Radio and helping us keep these original stories and comics coming. And when you have a minute, join us on the live stream at Live.ChestertonRadio.com for classic radio, original programs, and the growing Chesterton Radio community.

Different adventures. Same journey.

There’s a lecture on “Saving Beauty” at Benedictine College tonight. Jake and Sarah aren’t entirely sure beauty needs rescuing—until they see Ryan’s PowerPoint.

Seven fonts. Animations. And apparently, they’re all important.

A new ROOK from the everyday life of Benedictine College.

There’s a “College Dating 101” talk on campus tonight. Ryan has questions. Sarah has concerns about whether he’s ready for the 100-level course.

A Monday ROOK from Benedictine College.

Ryan brings a new friend to the Little Station—and Jake and Maggie quickly discover that Kitty has a rather unusual habit before lunch.

He may not know the words.

He seems to know the quiet.

ROOK is a daily college comic about friendship, faith, campus life, and the small moments that become part of the journey.

Different adventures. Same journey.

In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the tenants and speaks of the stone rejected by the builders becoming the cornerstone. Jake, Ryan, Maggie, and Kitty consider what it means to be faithful with what has been entrusted to them—and discover that the vineyard is still in good hands.

ROOK is a daily college comic about friendship, faith, campus life, and the small moments where ordinary life opens onto something bigger.

Different adventures. Same journey.

The morning after Oktoberfest finds the gang running on coffee, very little sleep, and one surprisingly peaceful dog. At the Little Station, Kitty offers his own reminder that sometimes the best thing to do is simply stop, be grateful, and enjoy being with good friends.

ROOK is a daily college comic about friendship, faith, campus life, and the small moments that make college memorable.

Different adventures. Same journey.

Oktoberfest comes to Benedictine, complete with Bavarian clothes, music, food booths—and a ceremonial tapping of the keg. Ryan is prepared for the whole experience.

Well, almost the whole experience.

ROOK is a daily college comic about friendship, campus life, faith, and the small absurdities of college.

Different adventures. Same journey.

Jake, Ryan, and Maggie head to a campus talk about technology and virtue. Ryan starts wondering whether his phone knows him better than his professors do.

Then comes the obvious solution: stop letting apps ask so many questions.

ROOK is a daily college comic about friendship, campus life, faith, and the strange little moments that make college memorable.

Different adventures. Same journey.

When the Little Station crew hears that 12 Angry Men is playing on campus, Ryan isn’t convinced that watching twelve people argue in a room sounds like much of an evening.

Then he considers the evidence.

ROOK is a daily college comic about friendship, classes, coffee, faith, bad ideas, good questions, and the strange little moments that become the best part of college.

Different adventures. Same journey.

Support ROOK and help keep Jake, Ryan, Maggie and the rest of the crew wandering through another semester.

How hard can it be to explain something you know in three minutes?

Benedictine College is hosting its 3-Minute Scholar Competition tonight, September 29, from 7–9 p.m. in Murphy-McPhee Auditorium. Six students will attempt to explain their research to a general audience in just three minutes, with cash prizes for the winners.

At the Little Station, Ryan thinks the challenge sounds easy.

Until Maggie asks him to explain football to somebody who’s never seen it.

Eleven players. Four downs. Ten yards. Penalties. Blitzes.

And suddenly the entire coffee service has become an offensive formation.

Today’s ROOK is about the difference between knowing something and knowing how to explain it. Whether you’re presenting research, teaching a class, or introducing somebody to your favorite sport, making a complicated subject understandable is a skill of its own.

Ryan may need a few more minutes.

And possibly some slides.

Visit the Little Station — Live!

The Little Station is inspired by the welcoming spirit of old-time radio: a place where stories, conversation, and a little companionship are always available.

Join us at The Open Door, Chesterton Radio’s continuous live stream of classic radio entertainment.

Listen live:

https://Live.ChestertonRadio.com

Pull up a chair. The door is open.

Help Keep ROOK Going — Become a Sponsor!

ROOK is an original Chesterton Radio comic about friendship, faith, college life, and the odd little places where life becomes meaningful.

We’re inviting individuals, families, and businesses to sponsor the series and help support its continued creation and publication.

Your sponsorship helps us keep bringing these original characters and stories to readers while supporting Chesterton Radio’s listener-supported programming.

Interested in sponsoring ROOK?

Contact us at info@ChestertonRadio.com. We’d love to hear from you.

ROOK
Different adventures. Same journey.

Some buildings are more than places to put things.

They’re places that invite us to become something.

Following Saturday’s dedication of the new Moritz Library in D’Aniello Hall at Benedictine College, Maggie takes a moment to appreciate what has been built.

The proportions. The windows. The light. The feeling of the room.

For an architecture student, these things matter. A building isn’t merely a collection of walls, floors, and furniture. Someone imagined how people would experience it long before anyone walked through the doors.

Jake begins to understand what Maggie sees.

Tall Girl appreciates the beauty and quiet.

Ryan discovers that an entire building has apparently been designed to encourage people to study.

Naturally, he decides to test the theory.

Today’s ROOK is about architecture, the beauty of learning, and the small ways our surroundings can shape our lives.

It’s also about the limits of what even a beautiful library can accomplish in eight seconds.

Sometimes inspiration takes a little longer.

ROOK is an original Chesterton Radio comic about friendship, faith, college life, and the odd little places where life becomes meaningful.

Different adventures. Same journey.

Interested in sponsoring ROOK? We’re welcoming individuals, families, and businesses who would like to help support the continued creation of this original series. Contact us at info@ChestertonRadio.com.