Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner- Survey Series #2

Corresponds to questions 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the survey

In the classic 1967 movie, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, a liberal couple’s values are challenged when their daughter comes home with her African-American fiance. It’s true, this wouldn’t shock us today. In fact, we couldn’t be more grateful for the great gift of diversity we have in our Church. However, we have to admit that even today not everyone feels welcome in every parish. Read more

Mission Matters: April 26, 2016

This week’s “Parish Table Talk”:  Interfaith Prayer Service; Parish Planning blog series; Administrative Professionals Day; Dr. Tim Hogan on family life; Workshop for Sunday celebrations in the absence of a priest ; FDLC’s  Tabat scholarship award; plus this Thursday’s Blog post. Read more

How to Eat an Elephant: An Introduction to the Be Missionary Disciples Review and Reflection Process – Survey Series #1

Corresponds to questions 3, 4, 5, 9, and 10 of the survey.

When a task’s so daunting I don’t know how to tackle it, I remember the riddle:

Q. “How do you eat an elephant?”

A. “One bite at a time.”

When trying to tackle the Be Missionary Disciples parish survey results, recently received by pastors and pastoral leaders, this riddle comes to mind for three reasons: Read more

Mission Matters: Apr. 19, 2016

This week’s “Parish Table Talk”:  Prayer intention for Ecuador; The defense of Catholic marriage; Archbishop’s annual legal lecture; Retreat for Health Care Ministers; plus this Thursday’s Blog post. Read more

Why – and How – We All Need to Read ‘Amoris Laetitia’

There has been a lot of buzz about Pope Francis’ Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, “The Joy of Love” which came out last Friday. There’s a good reason for that. And it’s not the one you’ve seen in the headlines.

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Mission Matters: Apr. 12, 2016

This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: A New York Times article on covenants, contracts, and repairing the social fabric; Immediate preparation for Spring Adult Confirmation; Discussing Amoris Laetitia in your parish; Symposium for Catholic medical professionals; plus this Thursday’s Blog post. Read more

Religious Educators: Who’s On The Team?

Ten minutes. That’s today’s petition.

If you are involved in any way with the task of catechesis (formerly known as CCD) in your parish’s religious education programs, take ten minutes to read and reflect on the two articles linked in this blog post. (Hint: if you are a catechist, DRE, youth minister, pastoral associate or pastor: that definitely means you. If you are on parish council, are a parent, know a family at your parish, or if you have been baptized: that means you too!) Read more

Mission Matters: Apr. 5, 2016

This week’s “Parish Table Talk”:  Release of post-synodal Exhortation – Amoris Laetitia; The trends of religiosity in the US; Faith and citizenship; A film about the original image of Divine Mercy;  Jason Evert on chastity for youth and parents of youth; plus this Thursday’s blog post. Read more