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Catch Me Now, I’m Falling

Catch Me Now, I’m Falling

Jan 10 11 • 0 comments

We enjoy the sport of rock climbing as a family.  Because granite cliffs are a bit hard to come by where we live on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, we most often climb at a world-class, indoor climbing gym about 40 minutes from the house.  Upon first glance, the gym is an intimidating place.  A towering […]

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Best Practices for Adult Faith Formation: Evaluating Your RCIA Instruction

Of the many volunteer jobs I’ve taken to promote the Church, one that I found most interesting was chauffeuring a well-known Catholic convert and evangelist from appointment to appointment. One day, I drove him to a television station where he was interviewed by his bishop about his conversion to Catholicism. On air, the bishop said he assumed the evangelist came […]

Teaching Catholic Children about Islam

Teaching Catholic Children about Islam

Jan 10 11 • 0 comments

Catholic Book Review: My Muslim Friend: A Young Catholic Learns about Islam by Donna Jean Kemmetmueller, FSP In today’s complex world, we have an ever growing need to learn about and understand other cultures and religions. Images of war and terrorism enter into our homes on a daily basis. Stereotypes abound, frequently leaving children fearful […]

Preparing the Way for the Roman Missal 3rd Edition, Part 3: Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Signs

Preparing the Way for the Roman Missal 3rd Edition, Part 3: Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Signs

Jan 9 11 • 0 comments

Fully conscious and active participation. This is a phrase that has been invoked so often over the last four decades that it can almost be considered a mantra, and not without good reason. After all, it is according to the council the “aim to be considered before all else” in the matter of liturgical reform […]

Birth of a Family: Review of <i>A Change of Plans</i>

Birth of a Family: Review of A Change of Plans

Jan 7 11 • 0 comments

This past weekend I had an opportunity to preview the upcoming “Family Movie Night” feature, A Change of Plans (FOX, January 8 at 8 p.m. EST).  As I watched, I couldn’t help but compare this couple’s experiences with what my husband and I went through when we first received our children.  Chris was 2-1/2, Sarah […]

Preparing the Way for the Roman Missal 3rd Edition, Part 2: Constructing a Solid Foundation

Preparing the Way for the Roman Missal 3rd Edition, Part 2: Constructing a Solid Foundation

Jan 6 11 • 0 comments

I’m sure that you’re anxious to explore the new prayers and responses contained in the forthcoming English translation of the Roman Missal, but before we delve into the text itself, it’s important for us to take the time to construct a solid foundation upon which our understanding may rest, and it is easily constructed of […]

Mary, Our Mother, in the Bible

Mary, Our Mother, in the Bible

When I returned the Catholic faith, or became what some like to call a “revert,” something new was added to my life that was not present before: devotion to Mary.  Actually, I believe it was Mary who brought me home, as so many mothers do their lost children. Having mixed with a fair share of […]

Master Game Maker

Master Game Maker

Jan 5 11 • 0 comments

The other day, I was sorting through some of the kid’s toys and ran across the “Mouse Trap” game that John had received for his sixth birthday. If you’ve never played it before, you’re really missing something. “Mouse Trap” is an intriguing array of rickety old stairs, suspended bathtubs, winding chutes, wheels, cranks, and even […]

Lost at Sundance

Lost at Sundance

Two days in to week two at Sundance and I am detecting a theme, at least in the films that I selected to see at this, the nations premiere independent film festival: we are lost. I am sure that there are plenty of feel-good films here in Park City, but for some reason, I have […]

The Heart that Prays is the Heart that Loves

The Heart that Prays is the Heart that Loves

‘In the New Covenant, prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit.’  With these words, from the introduction to the fourth section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we are reminded that the life […]

Preparing the Way for the Roman Missal 3rd Edition, Part 1: Introduction

Preparing the Way for the Roman Missal 3rd Edition, Part 1: Introduction

Jan 3 11 • 0 comments

When Pope Benedict XVI received a hardbound copy of the recently approved English translation of the Roman Missal from members of the Vox Clara Committee on April 28, 2010 he said, “Soon the fruits of your labors will be made available to English-speaking congregations everywhere. Through these sacred texts and the actions that accompany them, […]

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Scattering Seeds

Jan 3 11 • 0 comments

I plant seeds for a living. Every plant I’ve ever watered has died. People give away dead and dying plants to my husband Tom and he resurrects them like they were Lazarus. Me? Put a plant in my charge and it will turn brown. But I plant seeds, none the less. I don’t sow seeds […]

What Went Wrong for <i>The Perfect Game</i>

What Went Wrong for The Perfect Game

Jan 1 11 • 0 comments

I took three of my grandchildren to see The Perfect Game yesterday.  My daughter is a manager at a mall theater and she had told me that the movie opened Friday and no one went to see it. I knew it was unlikely that it would stay past the weekend without a major change. I […]

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Best Practices in Faith Formation

“Dear Stan. I am a Catechist for 17 ninth graders. What would you suggest for me, the Catechist, that will grab their attention. I need to get them involved. Right now, they’re staring back at me as if the lights are on but nobody is home. I need something that will give them a piece […]

<i>Spirituality of Sport: Balancing Body and Soul</i>

Spirituality of Sport: Balancing Body and Soul

Jan 1 11 • 0 comments

Whether you are a gifted athlete, a weekend warrior, or one who simply enjoys reading the Sunday Sports section, you will enjoy Spirituality of Sport: Balancing Body and Soul (St. Anthony Messenger Press, January 2004, paperback, 137 pages) by Dr. Susan Saint Sing. Saint Sing, a gifted athlete and inspirational coach, shares her own story […]

The Fire of <i>Twilight</i>

The Fire of Twilight

Jan 1 11 • 0 comments

That’s right, I partook of the forbidden fruit; I’ve always been a sucker for a vampire story. And I think that Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series is that.  Now, I’m not saying it’s great literature, nor am I disputing that it contains disturbing material, especially for a young audience – but I did enjoy the action […]