None of us want our parishes to be a place that’s not welcoming, that’s not hospitable to the outsider, visitor, guest, or occasional-attender. The question is how? What to do? What can I as just one individual do to welcome someone at Mass?…
Seek a Future of Hope (Jeremiah 29:11-14)
“When you look for me, you will find me.” –Jer 29:13 Through the prophet Jeremiah, God says to His people, “I know well the plans I have in mind for you.” Now if you’re like most of us, and have…
The Journey Matters (Psalm 37:5)
“Commit your way to the Lord” –Ps 37:5 Commitment is hard. From taking the first step in a new resolution, to sticking it out when distractions arise, to continuing your commitment when it becomes boring or repetitive—commitment can test our…
What is Salvation?
If our idea of salvation isn’t God’s idea, then (spoiler alert!) by extension the Good News that we proclaim and announce isn’t going to be truly Good. Earlier this year, the Congregation for the Doctrine [aka Teaching] of the Faith, published…
Jesus, How Long Are You Going to Keep Us In Suspense?!?
Imagine you’re sitting on an outer porch of the Jerusalem Temple during the time of Jesus. You’re at one end of a massive stone structure, as large as six football fields. And, you’re on a height, nearly ten stories up in…
Tradition That Inspires, Not Stifles Evangelization
Misunderstanding the Catholic meaning of “Tradition” can stifle inklings of innovation, creativity, and new design in our mental models as we seek to evangelize. Let’s start from the beginning… What is Tradition in Catholicism? Three powerful points on the meaning…
Friendship and Church?
A few years ago the Alex Williams of The New York Times shared a story mixing anecdote and research called “Friends of a Certain Age.” The basic question is why is it so hard for American to make [good] friends after…
Baptism and Belonging in Lent
What is belonging? When we belong, we experience fitting in, just as we are, right now. We experience being a part of something bigger than ourselves. We are able to share and give of our unique gifts, and know that…
Reaching “Nones”
I recently read Christel Manning’s book, “Losing Our Religion: How Unaffiliated Parents Are Raising Their Children” and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in better understanding the nuance, diversity, and experiences of “Nones” when it comes to religious beliefs and practices….
From Small Talk to Life Talk
Spreading the love of God is inevitably a personal, relational experience. We know as Christians that–if we stay at this “evanglism” thing long enough, we’re going to have to talk to people. And this can seem like a burden for…