Grace
Facing Fear
One thing I know that is unsettling to me and keeps me from being still and at peace is fear. I remember hearing the acronym, “False Evidence Appearing Real.” We should change it to “Face Everything And Rise”. That is easier said than done. When I did my road trip this Spring, I will admit […]
Finding Rest
I loved the Gospel reading for today: Matthew 11:28-30Jesus said to the crowds:“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke […]
Difficulty of Priesthood
A friend of mine shared something he read that gave insight into the difficulties of being a priest. As I read it, I thought about how true these statements are. I was remembering when I worked in a parish and how so many times people expected the pastor to be a certain way or act […]
Struggling Priest
This morning, I went to Mass to celebrate All Saints Day. The 2 priests and deacon processed up to the altar at the beginning. I noticed the priest leading the way was struggling a bit. That would typically be the pastor. During the Mass, he didn’t read any of the scripture, or share the homily […]
Buying Cheese and On Our Knees
Some time ago, a friend gave me the book, “Monuments, Marvels, and Miracles – A Traveler’s Guide to Catholic America”. I have had the dream of traveling and visiting many of the sites. The first time I was on the highway to visit my aunt, we drove by a sign to a shrine and I […]
Generous Love
This evening I watched a program featuring a woman who talked about having an abortion when she was a young teenager. She was only 15 years old when she found herself pregnant. Her mother didn’t want her to have the baby and didn’t want the baby to be born under those circumstances. So the young […]
God’s Gone
I went to church with my son this evening for Good Friday service. The priest reminded everyone that this is the only day of the year that the Catholic Church doesn’t celebrate Mass in which the Eucharist is consecrated. The reason is to remember that Jesus was not present on the Earth on this day. […]
The Way, Truth, and Life
For the past 3 nights I have been going to a parish mission. Basically it was a mini retreat held over 3 nights. There was Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, Prayer, and talks. The speaker was the priest I had met last year who was present for my mother. He is a knowledgeable and kind person, so […]
Led By Faith
Today I started reading the book, “Led by Faith, Rising from the Ashes of the Rwanda Genocide”. It is a story about Immaculée Ilibagiza who survived the Rwanda genocide by hiding in a pastor’s tiny bathroom with 7 other starving women for 91 terrifying days. Her first book was called, “Left to Tell” in which […]
Sisters Baptized
This morning after Mass, I stuck around in the church for a little while as I waited for a later meeting. I was sitting in the back row taking in some of the hustle and bustle as people made their way out of the church and visited with one another. Then I noticed a gathering […]
Still Finding God 