Readings for September 29, 2013: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Temperance. For older American, that word conjures up images of Carrie Nation shattering bottles of gin to usher in Prohibition. But the word temperance does not mean abstinence from alcohol…
Protecting Our Addictions
Planting Seeds
In “Go and Make Disciples” (1992), the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) write: “Evangelization happens when the word of Jesus speaks to people’s hearts and minds.” Jesus said: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all…
The New Parish Bulletin Is Online
For the last ten years, I’ve been designing what I think is a pretty nice parish bulletin. It’s been part of my evolving job on our parish staff, and it’s something I really enjoy. And it involves more than just…
Repentance, Mercy, and Prudence
As I write this column, the Church is once again dealing with a personnel problem. A Catholic priest who was found in a highly suspect personal situation has just been put back to work. Some are calling for the man’s…
Evangelization and The Secret Weapon of St. Francis de Sales
Lately I have been contemplating a long sought-after virtue practiced and promoted by the renowned evangelist, St. Francis de Sales, who converted approximately 40,000 people in four years. St. Francis de Sales was a bishop during the Protestant reformation and…
Light the Fire of the New Evangelization
Often times, when I am reading a book a particular line or paragraph jumps out and grabs a hold of me. Such was the case while reading Greg Willits’ new book The New Evangelization and You: Be Not Afraid. His…
Scandal
I must admit with some degree of embarrassment that I am uncontrollably drawn to one of the newest “hot series” on network TV: Scandal. It’s a show that portrays what are supposed to be some of our noblest leaders in…
Abandon Parish!
Life at your parish just hasn’t been the same. Attendance is falling, rumors are spreading, and morale is sliding. Like a sinking ship, you decide it’s time to abandon parish! There are plenty of valid reasons for wanting to change…
A Lesson in Stewardship
Readings for September 22, 2013: Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Our society tolerates religion, as long as it keeps to itself. After all, America is about the separation of Church and state, right? Education, entertainment, employment, politics are supposed to…
Got problems? Turn to Saint Padre Pio.
I recently prayed to God for a conversion of a dying soul and that of his family. So deep were the hurts in this family that I began to despair that the family would reconcile with their father before he…