Two weeks ago, my colleague, Craig, wrote an excellent piece on bridging the gaps the Church is facing with the young adult population. It reminded me of an article on being single by default from America Magazine. I found the author’s experience and reflections very helpful for ministering to young adults (YAs) discerning marriage and the consecrated life.
What is your opinion?
This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: Pope Francis’s message to catechists; Respect Life Sunday; Deaf Ministry equipment; The business of Youth Ministry; plus this Thursday’s blog post. Read more
We are familiar with the hymn All Are Welcome which many of us sing regularly in our parishes. As followers of Christ, our mission is to proclaim the Gospel to ALL people and truly ensure that All Are Welcome. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that nearly one in five Americans – over fifty-five million – has a disability. Thus, disability is in fact the norm for many Americans. Read more
This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: Canon Law changes; Report on Disabilities & Inclusion; Marriage Rite – 5 significant changes; Do it anyway!; plus this Thursday’s blog post. Read more
A “gap year” between high school and college is supposed to be a time to “find oneself” and mark the important transition from young person to young adult. Unfortunately, as a Church, we have created our own “divide.” There is little to nothing present for young adults once they get past high school. This is the post-high school (even post Confirmation) gap that exists until marriage. It’s killing the Church. So, how did we get here? Read more
This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: Music and faith workshop; USCCB and HHS mandate; The causal factor for faith; Priests stories from 9/11; plus this Thursday’s blog post. Read more
In February 2011, after many years of working in the criminal justice system and still many more at an outreach center in Baltimore, I accepted the position of Director of Prison Ministry for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It was a position that I knew would eventually consume much of my time in the area of people returning home from prison: the returning citizens. Read more
This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: On preaching, worship, and hospitality; Deaf interpreters for parish events; A complement to the corporal works of mercy; plus this Thursday’s blog post. Read more
God beckons us out of doors in the summer. Without using words He speaks to us of the goodness and wonder of His of creation, teaming with life. At our house, lilies are in bloom, expectant hummingbirds hover patiently nearby for the daily refill of the feeder, and a fox cools himself deep in the shade of thick bamboo. Then the best part – family members drop by for an impromptu dip in the pool. Good for them to enjoy the water! I’ll sip a cold drink and watch serenely from a chair in the shade. I have a slight aversion to putting on a bathing suit. Then I recall an article on that topic which encourages me to come out of my shell and into a suit to join in the fun. Summer’s gift is time for reflection, recharging and renewal of spirits. And appreciating the goodness of all of God’s creation, including our bodies.
How can we educate parishioners, young and old alike, on the goodness of all of God’s creation, especially the human body?