Readings for October 6, 2013: Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time We all admire the heroes of faith like St. Francis (feast day, October 4). Absolutely nothing stopped him in his pursuit of God’s glory. When, during the Crusades, he was…
Mustard Seed Faith
Tapping into Divine Mercy
Today is the feast of St Faustina Kowalska, the young Polish sister who received revelations from Jesus about the depth of His love and His mercy. We should never be afraid to approach Him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Even…
6 Ways to Encounter Jesus in the Mass
Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me. (Luke 22:19) Although God’s presence is everywhere, Mass…
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…
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…
Taking the Gospels on the Chin
It must have been tough to be a disciple of Jesus. You’re on top of the world following the Master; you get to feeling all bubbly and happy. Life is good. You’re ready to hold hands and sing Kumbaya all…
Sometimes Evangelization is Messy!
It was a simple day in the liturgical year, the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, but it wasn’t ordinary by any means. It was the day we recognized the Blessed Mother’s birthday, September 8. With that bit of knowledge in…