Category: Ministry Resources

  • Discover Dream Design Deliver: A Guide to Fruitful Spiritual Discernment

    Discover Dream Design Deliver: A Guide to Fruitful Spiritual Discernment

    “From this crisis we can come out better or worse. We can slide backward or we can create something new.” 

    When I came across these words in Pope Francis’ book, “Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future,” I suddenly found hope in what was an incredibly difficult year. In addition to the loss of loved ones, my family had to relocate twice in a period of five months, and I witnessed the birth of my second child over FaceTime due to health and safety protocol. I missed my communities and family, the colleagues I served with, and the students I accompanied. Still, compared to many others, I am one of the lucky ones and I am eternally grateful to be safe and alive.

    True to any crisis, and certainly to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an opportunity for transformation, including an invitation to a deeper relationship with God. Faced with my own challenges and mortality, I was honestly confused and scared as the COVID-19 related death toll continued to grow. At first, my prayer life was frustrating, and at times it felt pointless. I now realize God was inviting me into a deeper relationship. With the support of a compassionate spiritual director, I explored new and familiar ways to pray, returned to spiritual readings and inspiration, and I found ways to safely serve. I soon rediscovered my place as God’s beloved and I was ready to “create something new.”

    RELATED: What Now? 3 Ways to Discover Your Vocation

    What are the unfulfilled dreams that God has planted on your heart? After this very difficult year, are you ready to dream and to create something new?

    For the past two decades, I accompanied college students at St. John’s University as their Campus Minister and faculty. From my research and pastoral ministry, I found that too often students limited themselves and their dreams (this is not only true for students, but for most of us). While they felt a strong desire to change their lives and the world, they didn’t know how. As a result, I designed a spiritual discernment model that includes four simple steps to bring their dreams to life.

    The steps are known as the “4 D’s:” Discover, Dream, Design, & Deliver. These steps are adapted from  the organizational model of Appreciative Inquiry which is often used in corporations, institutions of education, and health care. I include prayerful discernment strategies and service opportunities to remind participants to invite God into this explorative process. The following includes an example of a Catholic school teacher who participated in this process.

    RELATED: How I Use Ignatian Discernment to Make Decisions Big and Small

    Discover: Identify gifts and talents by looking to your past. 

    Sample question: Think of a time when you were most happy as a child. What were you doing? 

    Example: The teacher loved growing plants. She recalled the feeling of spending time with her grandmother caring for their family garden.

    Dream: Articulate your dreams to transform your life and life of others.

    Sample Question: How could you use one of your gifts to not only bring you greater joy, but to also help others in need?

    Example: She dreamed of building a botanical garden on her school’s roof so her students could learn and care for plants. It would connect science, social responsibility, and Catholic teachings on caring for the environment.

    Design: Craft a realistic plan to animate aspects of your dream.

    Sample Question: What parts of your dream are most realistic?

    Example: The teacher recognized that the budget wouldn’t allow for her initial dream immediately. While she still pursued this larger dream, she also shifted to a more realistic project of developing a garden on the school grounds- one she could begin immediately.

    Deliver: Put plan into action

    Sample Question: What is at least one step you will take this week to bring your dream to life?

    Example: The first step was to identify a space. The second step was to consult with experts and to develop a timeline and budget. The third step was to engage with the school community to better assess the need.

    LISTEN: Giving Your ‘Yes’ to God

    Rooted in each of these steps is prayer as you discern God’s call for you. I encourage you to recall the words of author Frederic Buechner, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Remember to focus on what your gifts are, what brings you joy, and how they can be in service.

    In closing, as you begin to dream to create something new, allow these three reminders to guide your process. 

    1. Dream big: Allow God to work through you (and others) and trust the dream that God has planted on your heart. I am often amazed at how we limit our dreams, often feeling the restrictions of time, money, and external approval. For example, I accompanied a student who had a dream to be an artist, but he wouldn’t pursue it because of his expected parents disapproval. It turned out when he spoke with them about his change of major and career goals, they were more supportive than he could have imagined. 
    2. Assess the need: Make sure that the designed plan or dream is responding to the needs of the community you intend to serve. For example, a group of students wanted to use their gifts for leadership and community organizing to collect clothing and toiletries on campus to serve those facing housing insecurity during the pandemic. It wasn’t until they spoke to a partner organization that directly served this community did they realize that the specific needs were different from what they initially planned to collect.
    3. Be true to yourself: I often tell my graduating seniors that when I see them 10 years from now, I will not ask them where they are working. Rather, I will ask if they are happy and at peace. If they can achieve that, this means they are in relationship with God, being true to themselves, and utilizing their God-given talents. I remind them, and you, these important words from author and priest Henri Nouwen said, “We are good enough to do what we are called to do. Be Yourself.”

    Pope Francis is calling us to dream, to transform our personal and communal lives. We might resist this challenge given the difficulty of this past year; however, it is often in these challenging moments that we are broken open and ready to listen to God’s call for us in our hearts. With so many suffering, so much pain and loss, and with societal inequities clearer, it is time for us to use this “one precious life” as poet Mary Oliver called it, to serve and to love.

    Originally published May 14, 2021.

  • Virtual Father’s Day Retreat

    Virtual Father’s Day Retreat

    Father’s Day is this weekend and it’s time to honor dear old Dad. Fathers share helpful advice and wisdom throughout our lives (or at least they try to). Even if we’re too busy or stubborn to listen, dads are giving us tips on how to make our lives the best they can be. This virtual retreat helps children and their fathers connect with those wisdom moments and one another. You can do this retreat on your own or with your dad! Live far away? E-mail Dad the link and get on the phone, Facetime, or Skype. So, in addition to a card or gift (don’t forget!) celebrate Father’s Day with your father in a unique way. Click here to download the PDF.

    Getting Started

    Find a comfortable place in your home or even outdoors for this retreat. Take a few minutes to think about your father and other men who have been wise and guiding figures in your life. You might want to light a candle in memory of wisdom figures who have passed away.

    Now, settle into the moment…

    • Close your eyes and breathe deeply
    • Recognize that God is with you

    Prayer

    Heavenly Father, we thank you for our fathers. They gave us life and continue to give us the wisdom to live our lives. By their examples of love, we know ourselves. By their examples of faith, we know you better. Invigorate our fathers with the love and respect of their children so that they may be encouraged, inspired, and greatly blessed. Amen.

    Reading

    Proverbs: 23:22-25

    Listen to your father who begot you,
    do not despise your mother when she is old.
    Buy truth and do not sell:
    wisdom, instruction, understanding!
    The father of a just person will exult greatly;
    whoever begets a wise son will rejoice in him.
    Let your father and mother rejoice;
    let her who bore you exult.

    Thoughts on the Reading

    Mark Twain once said, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” It always seems that when we are children (or not so much children) of a certain age, we think we know it all. We believe we have all the answers. And our parents just don’t get it. It’s so easy to become dismissive and turn away from sources of real wisdom, opting instead to rely on our own resources. Yet, if we pay attention, we may be fortunate enough to see that though our fathers grew up in a different time with different options, they have the wisdom to know how certain situations will progress. Having been through, or at least seen, most everything that we go through, they can provide advice, warning, instruction, and insight that can help us make better decisions in our lives. The wisdom that fathers give can help us to know who we are and what we are able to do. It can help distinguish between things that are good for us and things that will harm us.

    The parental pride moment in the Proverbs scripture happens today when we translate tried and true wisdom from Dad, Mom, and others into our current reality. When we’re teaching old wisdom in new ways by lives that are characterized by love and justice, our fathers are proud. And we further a legacy that we pass on to our families and to the world.

    Reflecting on the Reading

    Take a few moments to think about (or even write down) your responses to the following. If you do this retreat with your father, share your reflections with one another.

    • For daughters and sons – What wisdom and truths about your life has your father passed on to you? How has your father’s example given you the strength to deal with the realities of life?
    • For fathers – What wisdom and truths have your children shared with you that enable you to live better in today’s world? What challenges do your children face in today’s world that will show off their strength, character, and talents?
    • For new fathers – Name three truths you hope to teach your children. How has this new role of father helped you to better appreciate your own father?

    Praying for the Community

    God, we give thanks today for our fathers and for all they have done to share wisdom and truth. We especially remember fathers who struggle to maintain their families, single fathers, and fathers who bravely face social injustice for the sake of their families – that from their sacrifice come children capable of changing the world. We remember fathers who have lost children through death – that they may receive the consolation that gives peace and hope. We remember fathers who have died – that their legacy of wisdom and love may be a sturdy rock upon which we proudly stand. We also pray for fathers who are imprisoned, fathers who suffer from addictions or abuse, and fathers who have left or harmed their families – that the mercy and love of God may guide and strengthen their hearts and minds to repair what has been broken.

    Add your own: God, we remember fathers who….

    Make a Commitment to Share Wisdom

    Using your reflection responses as a guide, make a personal commitment to share the wisdom you have learned from your father or another wisdom figure in your life.

    Ideas: send an e-mail or personal note to a friend or family member who could use some of the same fatherly advice you’ve received. Incorporate this commitment into your role as someone’s godparent. Serve as a mentor, tutor, confirmation sponsor, or other volunteer who works with young children and teenagers.

    Conclusion

    God of all fathers, in your wisdom and love you have made all things. As we honor our fathers this Father’s Day, help us to live a father’s example. May our minds and hearts become stronger in the wisdom and love that we share. Help us to promote truth, value necessary instruction, and foster mutual understanding as we go through life. And may a spirit of greater respect strengthen us all. Amen.

  • Do This in Memory of Me

    Do This in Memory of Me

    John’s dad’s 1929 Model-A Ford Tudor Sedan

    “Will you take care of my car for me after I’m gone?” My father asked me while we sat in my sister’s living room. I didn’t know it at the time, but that would be one of the final face-to-face conversations he and I would have before he passed away less than a month later.

    The car that Dad was referring to was his beloved 1929 Model-A Ford Tudor Sedan. He had bought it for $125 back in 1962 when he was 14 years old and then spent the next two years restoring a car that he couldn’t yet legally drive himself. When kids his age were drooling over the latest muscle cars and building hot rods in their garages, my father was restoring a 33-year-old family car. It would be the modern-day equivalent of seeing a kid put all of his blood, sweat, and tears into a 1986 Ford Taurus station wagon.

    As a professional auto mechanic his entire life, my dad owned hundreds of cars. The Model-A was the only car he would never sell. The car was at his high school graduation, it was at my parents’ wedding (as well as the weddings of many of their friends), and it is pictured on my parents’ tombstone. So, when asked if I would take custody of his car for him, how could I say anything but yes?

    At the time that my dad died, the week before Father’s Day in 2016, his Model-A had not been on the road in close to 15 years. During those years, my mom was diagnosed with a terminal disease, and Dad became her primary caregiver. Shortly after her passing, his health quickly declined. For all of that time, the ’29 Ford sat in storage, neglected, rusting, and collecting dust. By the time I took over its care, the car’s engine was completely seized up, and no amount of pulling on its hand crank would break it loose.

    Luckily, in Dad’s collection of extra parts, he had a spare engine/clutch/transmission assembly that matched what was in the car. My 11-year-old daughter, Bella, and I spent the summer of 2017 rebuilding the spare engine and getting it running on a test stand. Then last fall, we swapped out the seized engine in the car for the one we now had running. By late November, we took the car for its maiden voyage around our neighborhood; the first time it had driven under its own power in nearly a decade and a half.

    RELATED: Virtual Father’s Day Retreat

    John and his daughter Bella getting ready to take his dad’s car for a spin.

    This whole project has become about so much more than the car. It has been a means of grieving the loss of both of my parents, a bonding experience for my daughter and me, and, believe it or not, a basis for theological reflection as well.

    That last angle didn’t occur to me until sitting in Mass one day recently when the priest referenced the famous exchange between Jesus and Peter recorded at the end of John’s Gospel: “Do you love me?”… “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17)

    Dad’s question came echoing back to me: “Will you take care of my car for me after I’m gone?” Like Peter, I was quick to respond, but I doubt either one of us knew what we were signing ourselves up for. In both cases, by the time we knew enough to ask informed questions, the person we would have asked was no longer with us.

    By the time Jesus’ first disciples were out in the community continuing his ministry, they surely encountered and experienced many things that they felt like they were unprepared for. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the first disciples to continue to inspire and guide them in following their Christian mission. Dad didn’t leave me with nearly as powerful of an advocate as the Holy Spirit, but at least I have Google and YouTube to help me out.

    As I reflect on these unexpected parallels between an old Ford and the Catholic faith, I’m also struck by how they are both handed down through word and tradition from one generation to the next. We know that Jesus’ original 12 Apostles passed on the faith through their writings and through their actions. As we work on the Model-A, Bella often comments, “I love how the car still smells like Grandpa.” She’s not wrong — it does smell like him, or he smelled like it. They both had that unique potpourri of gear grease, gasoline, and exhaust that all old mechanics have. Bella still has that firsthand experience to remember what her grandfather smelled like. But her kids will not. They will have to come to rely on her descriptions, much like we have come to rely on all of those generations of Christians who have gone before us.

    I still don’t view the Model-A as “my car.” I tell people it’s my dad’s car — I’m just taking care of it for him. Someday, down the road, Bella will take over as its primary caretaker. She’ll teach her kids about their Catholic faith and how their great-grandpa bought a car for $125 when he was 14 years old. Based on what I’ve seen thus far, I think I’ll be leaving both the car and the faith in good hands.

    Originally published June 11, 2018

  • A Guide to the Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

    A Guide to the Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

    i-heart-jesusThe Church dedicates the month of June to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, one of the most popular Catholic devotions throughout the world. So what is the Sacred Heart, anyway? When Catholics talk about the Sacred Heart we’re referring to the physical (yes, blood and ventricles and valves … this is an unabashedly embodied faith, y’all) Heart of Jesus as a representation of his Divine Love for humanity. Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus’ Heart was moved by compassion for the poor, the sick, the forgotten, and the grieving. Pierced by a sword on the Cross as an act of self-giving love and enthroned in Heaven for eternity, this same Heart still beats for us and yearns for us and overflows with mercy for us and aches in solidarity with us. Come along with your favorite convert and start your summer off right(eous) with a few ideas to celebrate the month of the Sacred Heart:

    1. Begin at the Beginning

    During June, make an effort to begin your day with prayer. If this is a new practice for you, start out simply. If you have a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, use it to focus as you pray. Try this little prayer to start:

    Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

    For a couple or family: Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I give myself and my whole family entirely to you [here name your family members], and to show our devotion to You this day, we consecrate to You our eyes, our ears, our mouths, our hearts, our whole being without reserve. Wherefore, dear Mother and sweet Jesus, we are Your own, guard us and keep us always as Your property and possession. Amen. (from The Catholic Mother’s Resource Guide by Maria Compton-Hernandez, Queenship Publishing, 2002)

    For a single person: Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I give myself entirely to you, and to show my devotion to You this day, I consecrate to You my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, dear Mother and sweet Jesus, I am Your own, guard me and keep me always as Your property and possession. Amen.

    If there are little people at your house, invite them to pray along by making the Sign of the Cross over their eyes, ears, mouth, and hearts as you pray aloud. (Also, make it clear that you want them touching their own eyes, ears, etc. … or else what started off as an act of piety will turn into a no holds barred cage match. Ask me how I know.)

    2. Tell it to his heart

    If you (like me) are a child of the ’80s, this song is now stuck in your head … probably forever. You’re welcome. This month, as we think about the boundless love of Christ and his Heart … which is set aflame with love for us, which was contained in his earthly body, which contains the whole universe … let’s imagine our prayers, petitions, worries, joys, and fears tucked into the living, beating Heart of Jesus. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:

    • Using a dry erase or chalk board, draw an outline of the Sacred Heart. For the rest of the month of June, write your petitions inside the Heart.
    • Cut out a large Sacred Heart shape from poster board. Using photos, magazine clippings, and newspaper headlines, fill the Heart with images of loved ones, images that represent personal intentions, and words or images that represent petitions for your community and the whole world. Use the collage you’ve created as a starting point for prayer.
    • Try this exercise: Imagine you are standing face to face with Jesus. As you tell him the joys, burdens, and concerns of you heart, imagine his Sacred Heart growing more and more radiant with love. See your intentions inside his Heart and trust that they are safe there.

    3. Go to Mass

    Did you ever notice that the priest pours a bit of water into the wine before the Eucharist is consecrated? Ever wonder why? One reason comes from Scripture. In John’s Gospel, the soldier pierces Jesus side (i.e. his Heart) with a sword and blood and water flows from the wound. When we receive the Eucharist, we are receiving the Heart of Jesus. After you receive Communion, pray that through the grace of the Blessed Sacrament your heart may be made more like his Heart … merciful, compassionate, humble, and fearless. If you have yet to receive your first Communion, pray this prayer as you place your hands over your own heart to receive the God’s blessing from your priest.

    4. Divine Mercy

    The Divine Mercy Chaplet (a prayer) originates from a vision St. Faustina received of Jesus, his Heart overflowing with radiant mercy for all of us. All you need to try this popular devotion is an ordinary rosary (or 10 fingers … or toes). If praying a full chaplet feels intimidating at first, try quietly repeating this short prayer from the chaplet:

    O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

    5. And what would a feast be without food

    Although the actual Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is June 7, let the feasting continue all month! Check out Catholic Cuisine for loads of ideas for great food to celebrate the month. If your local farmers’ market is open (ours just opened this weekend), try making a Sacred Heart shape out of sliced strawberries, blueberries for the thorns, and sliced peaches for the flames. You can also make a treat to bring to someone in your parish, neighborhood, or apartment building who is homebound. Let them know that they’re in Jesus’ Heart … and yours too.

    Originally published June 10, 2013.

  • How Adopting a ‘Growth Mindset’ Has Enriched My Spiritual Life

    How Adopting a ‘Growth Mindset’ Has Enriched My Spiritual Life

    Mom And Her Daughters Planting Seedlings In Garden BoxWhen I saw the first spots of bright green in our long planter boxes, a jolt of adrenaline shot through my veins. It’s actually happening! I thought to myself as I called my daughters, who are 4 and 7, to see the sprouts. We are actually growing things in our garden! 

    Just two weeks prior, I had fussed around them as they spilled soil, sloshed water, and sprinkled flower seeds. I was nervous. After a long history of gardening failures, I had finally been able to keep a few houseplants alive for a few months. Growing something from seeds seemed like the next logical step, but it also felt like a colossal leap, like attempting to cross a divide just a few inches too wide. As I carefully arranged the planters in the sun, I truly didn’t know if they would bloom or die.

    That’s because, for a long time, I thought I was just bad at gardening. As I watched neighbors and friends successfully grow their own food, I wrote it off as a special talent that they were blessed with, and one I didn’t receive. “I’m good at other things,” I would joke as I thought about the garden beds around my house overrun with weeds. 

    RELATED: Wisdom Learned From Gardening With My Mother

    Then, in a professional development session for high school teachers, I learned about the concept of having a growth mindset, the belief that a person can grow in their abilities and skills, and I decided to give gardening a more intentional try. What if I did a little research first? I asked myself. What if I invested a little money in getting the right tools? What if I made it a habit to do a little bit of work each day? What if I tracked my progress slowly over a longer period of time? 

    The questions intrigued and excited me. Suddenly gardening didn’t feel like an activity that was never meant for me, but a challenge that I could take on at my own pace and in my own way. 

    Adopting a growth mindset can transform the way a person looks at any new or interesting skill they want to try, like playing the piano, painting with watercolor, or skateboarding. It can also transform the way we approach our spiritual lives. Ordinary Time, with its slower rhythm and focus on steady discipleship, is the perfect time to look at our spiritual lives with an eye to slow and steady growth. 

    My time in the garden has taught me that I need the same things whether I want to learn something brand new or cultivate the thing that is already a cornerstone of my life – my relationship with God: a reasonable goal, the right tools, and daily attention, patience, and time. 

    RELATED: Weeds and Wheat: Getting Rid of What We Don’t Need

    Growing vegetables still feels too daunting this year, so our family is trying to grow a few pots of flowers and herbs. This goal seems just challenging enough that I want to work toward it. I will celebrate if we are successful, but I won’t be devastated if we fail. 

    If I want to grow in my spiritual life, setting a reasonable goal is important, too. I once heard a priest preach about this when it comes to establishing a habit of daily prayer. “You’ll never start with an hour a day! Try 10 minutes,” he said. When I wanted to get into the habit of praying the Rosary every day, I started with just one decade a day. I don’t have to do everything all at once. I can work toward a bigger goal via small steps over time. 

    The right tools have also made a big difference in my abilities as a gardener. I set a small budget for this hobby and intentionally bought items that would help me troubleshoot problems I have encountered in the past: pots with good drainage (I tend to drown my plants) and potting soil that has nutrients mixed in (sometimes just the sun is not enough—who knew?). 

    LISTEN: Simple Ways to Rejuvenate Your Faith With Joe Paprocki

    I’ve learned there’s no need to go all out and spend a ton of money on products or services that promise they will help me connect with God. By thinking carefully about roadblocks that have prevented my spiritual growth in the past, I’ve found creative solutions for overcoming them one at a time. For instance, an old-fashioned alarm clock has helped me and my husband wake up early for personal prayer so we no longer start our day by reaching for our phones. 

    I think the hardest truth about learning something new is that it takes consistent daily attention, patience, and time. I need to check on my garden every day, just as a musician needs to practice or an athlete needs to train every day. These daily tasks can feel tedious because they rarely provide evidence of growth or development. However, when I take a longer view, success is easier to see. I am a more confident gardener than I was a few years ago. And perhaps in a few years, I will be better at it still. 

    The same is true for spiritual growth. It can feel tedious to show up to Mass every week or prayer every day. But as the seasons of my life change over time, or as I start to encounter challenges and difficulties with more trust and grace, I can see the ways that God has been nurturing my soul with careful attention all along, just like a gardener. 

  • All About the Feast of Corpus Christi

    All About the Feast of Corpus Christi

    Have you ever wondered why there’s a specific celebration for Corpus Christi (Latin for “Body of Christ”)? Don’t we celebrate the Body and Blood of Christ at every Mass? Here are a few facts about this Holy Day. (We also created a handout with some of these details, below, that you can download and share at your parish.)

    Date:

    Officially the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. However, it’s most often celebrated on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday.

    Established:

    By Pope Urban IV on September 8, 1264

    What we celebrate:

    Corpus Christi is a feast day with the sole purpose of focusing on the Holy Eucharist.

    History:

    Saint Juliana of Liege (1193-1258), who had a great reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, began the cause for the feast day of Corpus Christi. She thought that the Eucharist deserved its own exclusive day of reverence and recognition. This day would be apart from Holy Thursday when the Church focuses on not only the Eucharist but the washing of the feet, ordained priesthood, and Jesus in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Saint Juliana was motivated by a recurring vision of the Church as a full moon with one dark spot, which she interpreted as the absence of a specific reverence to the Holy Eucharist. She worked more than 40 years for the cause until her death. In her later years, she gained the support of Jacques Pantaléon, at the time Archdeacon of Liège, and other Church leaders. Pantaléon was later elected Pope Urban IV and went on to establish the Feast of Corpus Christi.

    How we celebrate:

    • There may be a procession of the Eucharist around your parish.
    • Eucharistic Adoration may be held after Mass. (Stick around and see what it’s all about!)
    • You might hear a traditional Catholic prayer called “Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament” at the end of Mass. There will also be songs about the Eucharist and lots of incense.
    • If you live in one of the countries where the Feast of Corpus Christi is a public holiday, you may see a Eucharist procession (sometimes by candlelight) happening in the streets.

    Homework:

    Spend some time in prayer today asking for a greater ability to see the face of Christ in others. (If you’re Catholic, spend that prayer time in front of the Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist). Then say a quick prayer for five random people that you pass throughout your day.

    Here’s some inspiration for your prayers from Pope Francis: “The Eucharist affects the way we see others. In his life, Christ manifested his love by being with people, and by sharing their desires and problems. So, too, the Eucharist brings us together with others — young and old, poor and affluent, neighbors and visitors. The Eucharist calls us to see all of them as our brothers and sisters, and to see in them the face of Christ.”

    All About the Feast of Corpus Christi

  • Virtual Memorial Day Retreat: Remembering Those Who Serve

    Virtual Memorial Day Retreat: Remembering Those Who Serve

    On Memorial Day weekend we dust off the grill, break out the lawn chairs, and head to watch the first parades of the year. But wait! Memorial Day isn’t just the unofficial start of summer. It’s a day to remember those who have made an extraordinary sacrifice in the service of their country and local community. Busted Halo’s Virtual Memorial Day Retreat guides you through moments of reflection and thanksgiving for the soldiers, police officers, and firefighters who have given their own lives in the service of others. To download a copy of this retreat, click here.

    Getting started

    Take a few moments to appreciate the rights and freedoms that are important to you:

    • Drive or walk around your town paying special attention to the police and fire stations, flags waving, and memorial ribbons for soldiers serving abroad
    • Reflect on having the right to vote, practice your own religion, and gain an education
    • Finally, remember that women and men have given their lives to defend these rights and freedoms

    Now, settle into the moment…

    • Find a silent or peaceful place
    • Close your eyes and breathe deeply
    • Recognize that God is with you

    Prayer

    Loving God, Jesus told us, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). At times we take for granted the peace and freedoms afforded us through the sacrifices that soldiers, police officers, firefighters, and others before us have made. We do not always appreciate the privileges and comforts that others provide us. And more intimately, sometimes our own self-interest can become more important to us than loving and caring for our friends. Help us to be more mindful of the sacrifices that others have made for our own well-being and the ways we might give of ourselves for the good of others. Amen.

    What freedoms and rights do you take for granted?

    Dear Lord, I am sorry for the times that I…

    Reading

    Wisdom: 3:1-9

    But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them. In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them forever. Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect.

    Thoughts on the Reading

    The reading from Wisdom, typically read at the funerals of the admired and inspiring, shows that God has neither overlooked the struggle of the brave women and men who have given their lives in defense of the freedoms we hold so dearly, nor their sacrifices for righteousness. We live in hope that our sisters and brothers now rest in the arms of the Lord, enjoying the peace, justice, and freedom that they fought so hard for us to enjoy. Memorial Day is an opportunity for our nation to remember, pray for, and mourn the loss of these women and men. We gather together in cemeteries, at flagpoles, on town greens, as well as in our churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues to pray, each in our own way, for the soldiers, police officers, and firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Encouraged by the hope of their eternal reward in the hands of God, we unite our prayers with those from all faith traditions as our whole nation prays in thanksgiving for the great sacrifice of the women and men upon whose shoulders we now stand, who have truly shown us all the greatest sort of love

    Reflecting on the Reading

    Take a few moments to think about (or even write down) your responses to the following:

    • Who do you know who serves her/his country as a soldier, police officer, or firefighter? How might you thank her/his for that service?
    • When you remember those who lost their lives defending our rights and freedoms, what does their legacy and sacrifice mean to you?
    • Name three ways you can more joyfully recall the memory of those who have died.
    • In what ways do you feel moved to help others? How might you become a servant to others in your community?

    Praying for the Community

    Adding our prayers to those across the nation, from a multitude of traditions, we give thanks for those who defend and care for us. Christ, we thank you for your saving sacrifice through which you welcome our fallen guardians into your kingdom. God, give us loving hearts so that we too may give of ourselves for others. Holy Spirit, bless all who serve and protect us. Add your own petitions perhaps for soldiers, police officers, and firefighters in your community: Christ, thank you… Father, give… Holy Spirit, bless…

    Make a Commitment to Those Who Serve Others

    Using your reflection responses as a guide, make a doable personal commitment that will help you to be more appreciative of those who put their lives on the line in service to our country. Ideas: Call or even visit your local police or fire station to thank the women and men there for their service. Invite a neighbor over for dinner who has a family member serving abroad with the military. Volunteer your time at a local veterans center or medical facility.

    Conclusion

    Christ, you taught us saying, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). We mourn the deaths of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of peace. Still, we know that you gave your own life so that these women and men can find eternal peace in your kingdom. May we learn, through their example, to appreciate the joys of peace and freedom that we may sometimes take for granted. Amen

  • What Is the Trinity?

    What Is the Trinity?

    The Trinity is the manner in which Catholics believe God is revealed to the world. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, “The mystery of the Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of the Christian life.” (CCC, #261)

    The Church shows that because God is “mystery,” meaning that we just can’t pin God down — we’re unable to know everything there is to know about God — God has tried to communicate to us just who He is. Traditionally, the Church expressed this as, God being revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three expressions or “persons” of one divine essence. The Trinity is one. Catholics do not believe in three Gods but rather one God in a unity of three persons with one divine nature.

    RELATED: What Is Trinity Sunday All About? (printable PDF)

    God the Father

    The church uses the image of the Father — the Creator from which everything flows and has its being — to express the first person of the Trinity. While the Son and the Holy Spirit are not “lesser gods” they do proceed from the Father as God’s own self-gift to humanity.

    God the Son

    The second person of the Trinity is the Son — Jesus himself, God become man. Catholics believe that God freely chooses to come into human history in the person of Jesus. God becomes like us and dies our human death for us. But because Jesus is God, He cannot be held by death and rises to a new life, supremely better than human experience.

    God the Holy Spirit

    The third person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from both the Father and the Son. Jesus announces that his Father will send the Holy Spirit to be with and in the disciples, to teach and guide them. The Spirit is God’s real presence living within all of us, which brings us inspiration (which literally means “to draw in the Spirit”).

    God is three “persons” but one “essence.” The Father is just as much “God” as the Son and neither is “more God” than the Spirit.

    Still confused? Let’s try thinking of these things in yet another way. Instead of “persons” let’s substitute the word “expressions” of God.

    Expressions of God

    The Trinity can be thought of in these three expressions:

    1. God is “beyond us.”
      We can never really fathom what God is, but we know that He is far beyond our limited human nature or anything we can come to know in that human experience. God is the ultimate mystery, the question that we never fully answer. This is God the Father — the creator, the one who is beyond all understanding.
    2. God is also “among us.”
      We come to know God in the person of Jesus. God takes on our human nature and becomes “one of us.” Catholics also believe that this human experience of God continues in the sacrament of the Eucharist. God the Son is among us.
    3. God is also “within us.”
      God is the “divine spark” that awakens us to the fact that we are alive. God imbues us with our creativity, our gifts and talents, and our limitations as well. As we come to know ourselves as people, we also come to know God — who knows us better than we know ourselves. This is the experience of God the Holy Spirit.

    God is all these things and more. We don’t know all that God is but this is how God has been revealed to us throughout the course of our history — how we have come to best express God.

  • What Does the Bible Say About the 7 Sacraments?

    What Does the Bible Say About the 7 Sacraments?

    Question: What aspects of the seven sacraments are in the Bible? Are there any that are not?

    Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston anoints the head of a confirmation candidate at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston June 5, 2022, during a celebration of the sacrament of confirmation. Cardinal DiNardo and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell'Oro confirmed more than 1,000 adult Catholics from 93 parishes and institutions across eight Masses at several parishes around the archdiocese before, during and after Pentecost. (CNS photo/James Ramos, Texas Catholic Herald)
    Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston anoints the head of a confirmation candidate at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston (CNS photo/James Ramos, Texas Catholic Herald)

    The seven sacraments celebrated by Catholics all have their roots in Scripture, although some are featured more prominently than others. There are many references to Baptism, of course, beginning with Jesus’ Baptism by John. The Eucharist was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-29). Confirmation, though not specifically named in the Bible, is traced back to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his Baptism and on his followers after Jesus’ resurrection (see John 20:22 and Acts 2:1-4). The Sacrament of Reconciliation, while not practiced in the same way in biblical times as we know it now, is rooted in Jesus’ ministry of forgiving sins and proclaiming salvation to the lost. After his resurrection, he breathed on the disciples, imparting them with the Holy Spirit and stating, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them” (John 20:23). The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick can be traced to the New Testament Letter of James (5:14): “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.”

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    Finally, the two Sacraments of Vocation — Marriage and Holy Orders — derive from Scripture, although the format of the liturgical celebrations has obviously evolved through the centuries. The Bible begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and very soon refers to them becoming “one flesh” (Genesis 1-2). Countless other passages refer to the covenant between married spouses, and Jesus himself defended the nature of marriage when he declared, “What God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matthew 19:6). Holy Orders take shape from Jesus’ appointment of the Apostles to extend his ministry of teaching, healing, and proclaiming salvation (Matthew 10:1-8). Later, those Apostles prayed and laid their hands on other “men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” to share in the ministry (Acts 6:3-6). Thus the succession of the apostles began and with it the tradition of a pope or bishop laying hands on a man to ordain him as a bishop, priest, or deacon.