Mission Matters: Jan. 31, 2017

This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: March for Life 2017; An evangelizing parish office; Catholic Men’s Fellowship; USCCB action alert; GIVEN retreat; Transitions; plus this Thursday’s blog post. Read more

From Lukewarm to On Fire for Christ

This blog post corresponds to the mission priority of  “Encounter”

An encounter with Christ changes a person’s life. During a recent spiritual exercise, I recalled the moment that I had that encounter: the moment when my whole life changed.  Read more

Mission Matters: Jan. 24, 2017

This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: March for Life 2017; National Marriage Week; Novena for Life; National Catholic Office for the Deaf – Pastoral Week Conference; Transitions; plus this Thursday’s blog post. Read more

Vibrancy and Richness in Liturgy

This blog post corresponds to the mission priority of “Vibrant Liturgy”

“You will get out of this experience what you put into it.” These formative words were spoken at my first retreat in high school and have served me ever since. When I feel bored or I check out, I take a moment to consider what I am putting into the experience. Am I paying attention? No. Am I fully present? No. In what ways am I contributing to the experience? I’m not. Well, no wonder I’m bored! Read more

Mission Matters: Jan. 17, 2017

This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: Effective faith formation; MAC 2017; ChristLife webinar; Christendom amid political discord; plus this Thursday’s blog post. Read more

A “Me First” Mission

This blog post corresponds to the mission priority of Encounter

It’s not often in Christian theology that we hear encouragement to live “me first.” This is one of those rare exceptions.

Fear not – this is not a heretical blog post about the virtue of selfishness. It’s about one of the six core mission priorities set forth for our Be Missionary Disciples pastoral planning process, the priority of “Encounter.” Read more

Mission Matters: Jan. 11, 2017

This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: Young Catholics leaving the faith; O’Dwyer Retreat House available dates; Liturgy Podcasts; plus this Thursday’s blog post. Read more

Accompany: Where Are We Going and Who Is Driving?

Inevitably, when my wife and I are able to find a babysitter for our three delightful (read: crazy) children under five years old to go on a date, we sit in the car for fifteen minutes trying to figure out where to go for dinner. Neither of us has a clue what we are hungry for and what might satisfy that hunger. Similarly, the act of accompaniment can appear to lack direction as well. Read more

Mission Matters: Jan. 3, 2017

This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: March for Life; Life is Beautiful; Churches as sanctuaries; ASL Masses; Planning for fruitful meetings; plus this Thursday’s blog post. Read more