A Sacramental Oasis
Posted on October 1, 2020 Leave a Comment
By Jenny Dendinger
Blessing ourselves with holy water might appear to be a simple act, but its absence in our lives these last few months has been painfully noticeable for my family.
Before COVID-19, the only time the holy water was missing from the font was during the Triduum. I’ve also heard that some churches remove it for the entirety of Lent, but thankfully, my parish has never adopted this practice. Read More
Christ’s Salvation
Posted on September 29, 2020 Leave a Comment
By Greg Zambrano
Some time ago, I was going through a stressful moment – the very common stresses of 2020: COVID 19, hurricanes, kids not behaving, people out of work, watching the news and seeing all the protest/destruction of our USA cities, health issues, too much going on.
To take my mind off of the worries, I took two blessed candles out of storage. I placed them in the center of a table in candle holders and prayed a rosary. Read More
Kindness
Posted on September 27, 2020 Leave a Comment
By Sarah McDonald
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
– Mother Teresa of Kolkata
Very recently, I found myself in the familiar position of mediating a fight between two of my boys. Their tempers were flaring as they started raising their voices towards me as each tried to explain their side to me loudest and first – because, obviously, that would determine whose side I would choose, right? Read More
Do Clothes Make the Mass?
Posted on September 24, 2020 Leave a Comment
By Kim Roberts
Being a woman of a particular age, I recall attending Mass every Sunday with my family dressed in “church clothes.”
My sister and I almost always wore dresses or skirts, my brother always wore dress trousers with tucked in button-down shirts, and we all wore dress shoes.
We never questioned it; we knew that we were expected to dress properly for church – without question. It was a sign of respect. Read More
Take Care of Creation Responsibly
Posted on September 22, 2020 Leave a Comment
By Stacy LaMorte
Our Holy Father has asked us in the month of September to responsibly use our resources that God has given us. He is not only asking us to pray for this change, but to model it as well.
It is hard to know the right things to focus on: composting, rain barrels for watering our lawns, recycling, reusing items, not polluting our water systems with contaminants, etc. There is so much to be done that it can be paralyzing, causing us to feel like none of our actions will change anything globally. Read More
The Wedding Feast at Cana
Posted on September 20, 2020 Leave a Comment
By Charla Spalluto Misse
Do you remember the readings chosen for your wedding? I always remember one reading, in particular, a reading that my husband and I chose together and that I always enjoy hearing, “The Wedding Feast at Cana.”
I am always heartened to imagine our loving Mother Mary beseeching Jesus to save the newlywed couple from embarrassment, interceding on their behalf. It reminds me that she is always watching with a compassionate heart. Read More
My Miscarriage Taught Me to Long for Jesus
Posted on September 17, 2020 Leave a Comment
By Megan Lacourrege
I think it is impossible to look at the ultrasound pictures taken during pregnancy and not to begin dreaming. That’s how it’s been for me, anyway.
In 2018, when I saw the ultrasound image of a teeny, tiny baby at just eight weeks in my womb, I wondered who that little person was. I dreamed of meeting him and holding him. I wanted to know what he looked like and what his personality would be. Read More
Making Lemonade Out of Lemons
Posted on September 15, 2020 Leave a Comment
By Charlotte Phillips
When the schools closed on March 13 to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, I don’t think any of us expected to still be living in this state of limbo six months later.
Finishing the last nine weeks of the school year around our kitchen table while my husband and I worked from home was less than ideal. Our daughter was sad to miss her ballet recital, our oldest son was upset he didn’t get to play flag football, and I was sad to miss our middle son’s pre-school closing program. Read More
In Thanksgiving for Answered Prayers
Posted on September 13, 2020 Leave a Comment
By Sarah McDonald
On Sunday, August 23, as the threat of a hurricane double whammy loomed over New Orleans, we went to Mass as a family for the first time in several weeks. My husband and I figured there was no better time to attend together even if it meant mask-distracted 6 and 4 year olds.
When we returned home, my neighbor was outside gardening. She cut two flowers and gave them to my “Happy Face” child who loves flowers and all things girly, points she has made very clear in her just 2 years of life. Read More
Being a Good Neighbor
Posted on September 10, 2020 Leave a Comment
By Ana Borden
One of the many places we evacuated to the first six weeks following Hurricane Katrina was Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Words will never express the emotions following the days and weeks following the devastation when hope seemed to cease.
After many anxious days and sleepless nights, an invitation came through on one of the news broadcasts, “Dolly Parton is inviting all impacted by Katrina to spend a day at Dollywood.” Read More
Always God’s Children
Posted on September 9, 2020 Leave a Comment
By Megan Lacourrege
“Mom, I need help!”
I can count on hearing these words echo through my house regularly. I always wonder what I’m going to find. A spill? A request for help reaching something high up? An invitation to play a game?
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