Still have time
Posted on April 3, 2023 Leave a Comment
By Sarah McDonald
Had a “not so great” Lent? Reset with Holy Week!
Many of us have probably been there. We start off our Lenten season with a spirit of penitence.
Bring on the sacrifices: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Read More
God gives each of us a particular calling
Posted on April 1, 2023 Leave a Comment
By Ty Salvant
He sees farther down the road than I do.
While I try to say yes to God’s requests, sometimes I hesitate because I don’t want to reprioritize my life, don’t understand the ask or am uncomfortable with the request. Regardless of my reasoning, I usually acquiesce, sometimes a little later than I should have, because I remind myself that he sees farther down the road than I do.
I am ever mindful of the blessings of saying yes to God and following my calling. One author helped me to put it in perspective. There are times when others can’t see your vision at the beginning because God didn’t give it to them, he gave it to you. Read More
Just Rest in a Bible Study
Posted on March 30, 2023 Leave a Comment
By Gina Sternfels
Have you ever taken the time for a bible study with others?
I participated in a Bible study this Lent, and what a gift the Lord placed in my life. I didn’t plan to add anything to my schedule as it was already full, but my heart was heavy when a friend reached out. She mentioned my favorite Catholic author. It was God’s timing. Read More
Scars are healing
Posted on March 28, 2023 Leave a Comment
By Kristy Solis
While discussing the way of the cross, my daughter said, “I do not like to see Jesus with scars or bleeding.”
I reminded her that the Bible teaches us that scars are painful, but they also represent healing. She realized she had to think about it in a different perspective. “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have” (Luke 24:39). Read More
Do’s and Don’t’s
Posted on March 26, 2023 Leave a Comment
By Lisa Janusa
Recently, I heard a priest speak at a children’s school Mass about “Do’s and Don’ts” in regard to our negative and positive obligations.
God gave Moses and the chosen people 10 Commandments to serve as guideposts for their living holy lives. The people were taught that belonging to God in a covenant relationship meant that they would have to “Do” some things and “Don’t do” other things. Example: Do love God with your whole mind and heart and don’t lie cheat and steal against your neighbor. If they would follow these commands, then they would be blessed and protected under God’s loving care. If they disobeyed, then they could risk loss of God and alienation from all that is right and good. Read More
The Value of Catholic Education
Posted on March 23, 2023 Leave a Comment
By Kim Roberts
As my time immersed in Catholic school with my children draws to a close, I can’t help but reflect on the more than 20 years I have spent with them at various schools from pre-kindergarten to high school.
Given that neither my husband nor I attended Catholic school, we had a learning curve in the beginning – like trying to figure out what school to choose, having Mass as part of the school day and getting used to having religion as an actual class. Read More
Libations for St. Martha
Posted on March 20, 2023 Leave a Comment
By Phillip Garside
I have a little ritual that connects me to St. Martha through a cold cup of coffee.
Rituals can take place in many formats. When we were first married, my spouse had an extremely long bathing ritual every Sunday afternoon. That ritual faded fairly quickly when children came. We are not Mary, who contemplates passively (Lk 10:39). We are dynamic Martha, who reprimands the savior in times of grief and, in turn, demands action on his part (Jn 11:21-22). As parents, we find strength in Martha’s attunement to chaos. Read More
An Unexpected Tradition
Posted on March 17, 2023 Leave a Comment
By Ty Salvant
How are new traditions formed? Some are started intentionally, while others happen organically.
One year, our Catholic Engaged Encounter community introduced an enrichment during Lent: Stations of the Cross for Married Couples. We all loved it so much that we decided to repeat it the following year and the year after that. Read More
Coaching to Peace
Posted on March 16, 2023 Leave a Comment
By Stacy LaMorte
I h
ave recently embarked on a new journey: coaching. I have been a fitness coach and for decades, but life coaching is very different.
As a personal trainer/fitness coach, it is my job to be the “expert,” helping my clients reach their health, fitness and wellness goals. Even when I worked as a classroom teacher, it was my job to create lesson plans and learning objectives for my students and assess mastery. Read More
The Samaritan Woman at the Well
Posted on March 12, 2023 Leave a Comment
By Charlotte Phillips
On this third Sunday of Lent, we hear the story of the Samaritan woman at the well from John’s Gospel.
During this time, the Jews and Samaritans did not get along with each other. Also, during this time, Samaritan women would have gone together to draw water from the well. The woman is by herself because the other women have excluded her or because she chose to exclude herself out of fear of being judged by them. Read More
Reaching out to Mary really helps
Posted on March 9, 2023 Leave a Comment
By Vivian Marino
It is no secret that I am a huge fan of the 54-day novena. I have witnessed so many graces that have come from this powerful prayer.
I love a line at the beginning of the novena prayer – “O, Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces and mother to all who invoke thee.” It’s such a beautiful statement filled with so much meaning.
We all have earthly mothers. Some relationships are stronger than others, making it easy to always go to your mother for help. But what about those who struggle to go to their mother for help? Read More
Recent Comments