To force myself to be better about blogging regularly, I have decided to take on the project of a Saint of the Week - we'll see how it works out!
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Since the school C works at is known for engineering, I thought I would begin with a Beatified Martyr, Blessed Vicente Vilar David.
Born 1889 in Valencia, Spain, he was trained as an Industrial Engineer for his family's ceramics factory. When his father passed away, he and his brothers ran the family business, and he assisted his parish priest in ministering to the community, especially to the poor and Catholic youth groups.
When priests and religious began to be persecuted in the 1930s, he sheltered them and spoke out on their behalf. Also, he was known as an advocate for social justice in fair treatment of his employees. For standing up repeatedly to the authorities, then refusing to denounce his fate, he was sentenced to death and executed by shooting on February 14, 1937.
Venerated by Blessed Pope John Paul II in 1993, Beatified 1995.
For the full story, visit:
http://saints.sqpn.com/blessed-vicente-vilar-david/
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
"Small Steps Together: Gentleness in the Real World" OR How to be open-hearted to others and spread the light of Christ!
http://www.elizabethfoss.com/reallearning/2011/06/gentleness-in-the-real-world-1.html#tp
This is a truly AMAZING article about being open-minded and open-hearted to others and resisting the urge to judge, especially on first impressions. Elizabeth Foss discusses the flaws in thinking that can lead to a "holier-than-thou" attitude toward others, and how to avoid these DAMAGING paths of thought.
Please read ALL the way down. It's long, but it is VERY good. Don't view the embedded video without reading the lead-up, or it doesn't make sense what her message is.
Enjoy!
This is a truly AMAZING article about being open-minded and open-hearted to others and resisting the urge to judge, especially on first impressions. Elizabeth Foss discusses the flaws in thinking that can lead to a "holier-than-thou" attitude toward others, and how to avoid these DAMAGING paths of thought.
Please read ALL the way down. It's long, but it is VERY good. Don't view the embedded video without reading the lead-up, or it doesn't make sense what her message is.
Enjoy!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
"Why vocation programs don't work" by Father Damien J. Ference - not your typical article on vocations...
Why vocation programs don't work
This may well be the most wonderful, direct, no-holds-barred description of the issues within the church in regards to how our programs can miss the mark by misdiagnosing the actual problems that need to be addressed!
Thank you to a friend in Campus Ministry who linked this on his Facebook page - I will now be looking for further work by Father Ference!
This may well be the most wonderful, direct, no-holds-barred description of the issues within the church in regards to how our programs can miss the mark by misdiagnosing the actual problems that need to be addressed!
Thank you to a friend in Campus Ministry who linked this on his Facebook page - I will now be looking for further work by Father Ference!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
...Oft Go Awry...
As with any ministry, there are days when you want to walk into the middle of your church hall after Mass and scream "REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEALLY?!?!?!?!" and see if anyone even notices. Today is one of those days...
We have a new Pastor coming to our Parish, and he was originally supposed to start on a different weekend, but then his first Sunday got moved to July 3rd. So, C and I modified our holiday vacation plans to be there for the reception Sunday after Mass, though we had to be somewhere else for Mass due to a family commitment.
So, having prepared EVERYTHING in advance for the reception ourselves, since the community had not coordinated anything itself to the knowledge of ANYONE who works at the Parish, we attended the family Mass, then flew (insert swooshing air noise here) back to our parish for the reception. To our SHOCK, we arrived to find a fully stocked reception in progress with only the cake we had prepared on the table, but surrounded by a table FULL of items from the community, which apparently coordinated a reception without thinking to include C....What a day!
I mean, I'm thrilled that they're being welcoming and wanted to pitch in together to greet the new Pastor properly, but I wish they'd taken 30 seconds to email C about it. But c'est la vie, I guess...
WORD OF THEDAY WEEK MONTH: Communication n. a : information transmitted or conveyed b : a verbal or written message
We have a new Pastor coming to our Parish, and he was originally supposed to start on a different weekend, but then his first Sunday got moved to July 3rd. So, C and I modified our holiday vacation plans to be there for the reception Sunday after Mass, though we had to be somewhere else for Mass due to a family commitment.
So, having prepared EVERYTHING in advance for the reception ourselves, since the community had not coordinated anything itself to the knowledge of ANYONE who works at the Parish, we attended the family Mass, then flew (insert swooshing air noise here) back to our parish for the reception. To our SHOCK, we arrived to find a fully stocked reception in progress with only the cake we had prepared on the table, but surrounded by a table FULL of items from the community, which apparently coordinated a reception without thinking to include C....What a day!
I mean, I'm thrilled that they're being welcoming and wanted to pitch in together to greet the new Pastor properly, but I wish they'd taken 30 seconds to email C about it. But c'est la vie, I guess...
WORD OF THE
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
SOUTHERN-FRIED CATHOLICISM: Preparing to celebrate Blessed John Paul II
SOUTHERN-FRIED CATHOLICISM: Preparing to celebrate Blessed John Paul II: "For many Catholics my age, memories of Pope John Paul II are part and parcel of our Catholic identity. He was, after all, the third-longest ..."
WHOA! Where did January go?
As you can tell, I've been WAY too silent thus far this year. C and the Leadership Team have so many activities going on (even above and beyond last semester) that I haven't been able to set time aside to write out what has been floating around in my head. However, I am going to try my best to remedy this over the coming weeks.
When C and I were students, I didn't really take notice of which event topics drew the largest crowds, but then again, I wasn't doing head counts at the time either. One thing we've noticed this year is the topic which seems to draw the largest crowds is - drum roll please - Relationships.
Now, some of you may say "Wow, did he really not expect that?", but I just didn't realize how many students would take time out of their pre-Spring Break Mid-Term mayhem to show up for a Wednesday Student Night. Our average attendance for one of these at this point in the semester is around 25-30, and 40 were here the week before Break!
We have been blessed this semester with a wonderful series of speakers and discussions focused around relationships in their many forms, beginning with an INCREDIBLE speaker the week before Valentine's Day who had 50+ students so engaged in serious discussions mixed with moments of laughing-to-the-point-of-crying, that no one noticed his 1-hour talk had turned into a 2 1/2-hour dialogue!! It was the most open, direct, and free-flowing exchange of ideas I have ever experienced with such a large group, and the fact that he addressed friends and family before talking about dating, marriage, etc. told me just how in tune he is with the needs of college students as they search to find themselves and their place in the social web of those around them.
Everyone who came to that Student Night left with much to think about, and the dialogue our speaker started continued the following week when our Faith Over Food discussion revolved around his talk and a video titled "Ache of Singlehood" by Jackie Francois, a Catholic musician from the West Coast. In this message, she speaks about the longing many young adults feel to be with another person and explains why we must place this in the hands of God and trust Him to steer us on the proper path. It is a very well-spoken reflection, especially for its length (just 6 1/2 minutes). And, by the way, this was the largest Faith Over Food this school year with about 20 students there (usually 8-10).
The Wednesday before Spring Break, we were blessed with a married couple who came to speak about the joys and challenges of marriage across faiths. Once again, we drew a large crowd and were able to get the students engaged in discussions about their beliefs and how to actively live their faith.
It makes C and I so happy to see students with their hearts lit afire, taking ownership of their faith and carrying it with them throughout their daily lives! This is the reason she does campus ministry, to help the students to embrace and live their faith, to get them to answer the questions "What is it that sets you afire?" and "What is it the Lord asks of you?"
Sometimes they're surprised by the answers...
When C and I were students, I didn't really take notice of which event topics drew the largest crowds, but then again, I wasn't doing head counts at the time either. One thing we've noticed this year is the topic which seems to draw the largest crowds is - drum roll please - Relationships.
Now, some of you may say "Wow, did he really not expect that?", but I just didn't realize how many students would take time out of their pre-Spring Break Mid-Term mayhem to show up for a Wednesday Student Night. Our average attendance for one of these at this point in the semester is around 25-30, and 40 were here the week before Break!
We have been blessed this semester with a wonderful series of speakers and discussions focused around relationships in their many forms, beginning with an INCREDIBLE speaker the week before Valentine's Day who had 50+ students so engaged in serious discussions mixed with moments of laughing-to-the-point-of-crying, that no one noticed his 1-hour talk had turned into a 2 1/2-hour dialogue!! It was the most open, direct, and free-flowing exchange of ideas I have ever experienced with such a large group, and the fact that he addressed friends and family before talking about dating, marriage, etc. told me just how in tune he is with the needs of college students as they search to find themselves and their place in the social web of those around them.
Everyone who came to that Student Night left with much to think about, and the dialogue our speaker started continued the following week when our Faith Over Food discussion revolved around his talk and a video titled "Ache of Singlehood" by Jackie Francois, a Catholic musician from the West Coast. In this message, she speaks about the longing many young adults feel to be with another person and explains why we must place this in the hands of God and trust Him to steer us on the proper path. It is a very well-spoken reflection, especially for its length (just 6 1/2 minutes). And, by the way, this was the largest Faith Over Food this school year with about 20 students there (usually 8-10).
The Wednesday before Spring Break, we were blessed with a married couple who came to speak about the joys and challenges of marriage across faiths. Once again, we drew a large crowd and were able to get the students engaged in discussions about their beliefs and how to actively live their faith.
It makes C and I so happy to see students with their hearts lit afire, taking ownership of their faith and carrying it with them throughout their daily lives! This is the reason she does campus ministry, to help the students to embrace and live their faith, to get them to answer the questions "What is it that sets you afire?" and "What is it the Lord asks of you?"
Sometimes they're surprised by the answers...
Friday, January 14, 2011
Guess Who's Back...Back Again...CCM's Back...Tell Your Friends!
Welcome back to school for the spring semester, Everyone!
I hope you all enjoyed your break, got some well-deserved rest, and are ready for this round of courses!
After getting together with all your friends to compare crazy holiday family stories (don't try to pretend you don't), block out some time in those new class schedules for God each day, so you can make Him part of your life all semester, not just during exams. Also, remember to check your local CCM website for Mass schedules and all the other awesome activities they have planned for you!
Say hello to your Campus Ministers and Leadership Teams, because they look forward to seeing you at any events you can go to, and it makes their day when students ask how they're doing. They live to serve your needs as students of faith, and while the Christmas Break was relaxing for them too, believe me when I say they got bored without their students. I was able to join a wonderful group of them for a few days at the Catholic Campus Ministry Association conference two weeks ago, and while they've enjoyed their time off, they were missing you all, so let them know that you missed them too!
May God bless you, and May God bless all your endeavors this semester!
I hope you all enjoyed your break, got some well-deserved rest, and are ready for this round of courses!
After getting together with all your friends to compare crazy holiday family stories (don't try to pretend you don't), block out some time in those new class schedules for God each day, so you can make Him part of your life all semester, not just during exams. Also, remember to check your local CCM website for Mass schedules and all the other awesome activities they have planned for you!
Say hello to your Campus Ministers and Leadership Teams, because they look forward to seeing you at any events you can go to, and it makes their day when students ask how they're doing. They live to serve your needs as students of faith, and while the Christmas Break was relaxing for them too, believe me when I say they got bored without their students. I was able to join a wonderful group of them for a few days at the Catholic Campus Ministry Association conference two weeks ago, and while they've enjoyed their time off, they were missing you all, so let them know that you missed them too!
May God bless you, and May God bless all your endeavors this semester!
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