While at a recent conference, I met Marlena Shell, the producer of the three part DVD series Little Steps through the Eyes of a Child. Marlena was kind enough to share the following information about the series:

Have you ever dreamed of taking them to the Holy Land?  As the primary teacher in your children’s faith formation a trip to Israel would allow you to show your children the holy sites that they read about in the Bible. You could show them the actual places where Jesus Christ traveled, performed miracles, was crucified and even the tomb from which He arose.

We are all curious about our heritage.  Where did out grandparents, great-grandparents and other early family members live? How did they live? What was life like for them? What places are important to our family’s history??

As Christians, we are inquisitive about our faith heritage. What was life like 2000 years ago?  Where was Christ born and where did he grow as a child??  What would it be like to view the Holy Sites described in the Bible where Jesus traveled, performed His miracles and lived out His ministry??

“Little Steps…Walk With Jesus” takes you on this journey without having to leave your home. This three disc DVD series was filmed entirely on location and at some sites not accessible to the general public.

Accompany Rachel and Rebecca as they visit the Holy Sites that are most significant to our Christian faith. In the first DVD, you will walk with these precious children on the path that Joseph and Mary took on their way to Bethlehem, leading to the Church of the Nativity see where Christ was born. You will also visit a period village to explore what life was like 2000 years ago during Christ’s childhood.

The second DVD takes you to the Wedding Church at Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle, then on to Holy Sites where He fed the 5000 and delivered His Sermon on the Mount.  Next you are on to Galilee where He lived with His disciples and taught us through His ministry.

In part three, you will accompany Rachel and Rebecca to the Garden where Christ was betrayed, travel with them to Jerusalem where Christ was condemned and tortured. You will witness Christ’s Passion, where He was crucified, the tomb in which He was laid and from which He rose to meet His disciples on the road to Emmaus.
You will visit the Church of the Primacy of Peter where Christ Instructed Peter to” throw His net on the other side of the boat” after His resurrection.  You will see the place where the disciples witnessed the ascension of Jesus into Heaven.

“Little Steps…Walk With Jesus” is appropriate for children and can be yours to share with your family for only $29.95 (plus S&H). These three beautiful 30 minute DVD’s will show your children that the stories and places they read about in the Bible are real and exist still today in the Holy Sites of Israel. What better way to help strengthen their faith and help them understand the Love that Christ has for each of us?

For more information or to purchase the Little Steps DVDs, visit www.LittleStepsCollection.com.

While the survey is intended for men, I found it very thought provoking to ask myself the questions from a mom’s perspective.  How strongly do I agree with the statements “I say I love them in word and deed” or “I practice what I preach”?  How would my kids respond on my behalf?  Good questions to ponder on the week when we celebrate the men who serve as spiritual heads of our households!

Along with the topics raised in the Fathers for Good Survey, what traits do you feel make a “good Father”?

SAVE THE DATE!

June 25-27, 2010

Southern California Catholic Home Educators

11^th Annual Conference and Curriculum Fair!

This year’s theme is: Catholic Home Education: Virtues that Last a Lifetime

Featured speakers: Dr. Mary Kay Clark, Laura Berquist, Cathy Duffy, Matthew Arnold, and more!

Come join us for a day or the weekend at the same beautiful location as last year:

Sacred Heart Retreat House

920 E. Alhambra Rd., Alhambra CA 91801

Schedule:

Friday evening: Preconference Dinner with speaker Laura Berquist and High School Teen Social

Saturday: Mass, Conference, Curriculum Fair, Used Curriculum Fair, and High School Teen Track

Sunday: Breakfast, Speaker, and Mass

Saturday’s Conference-only registration fees:

-by June 14^th: $25 per person/ $35 per married couple

-after June 14^th or walk-up: $35 per person/ $45 per married couple

High School Teen Track: $18

Registration forms will be mailed out soon. They will also be available for download from the website.

Please visit www.scchehomepage.com for updates and to see our list of speakers and vendors.

Rooms and meals are available for those wishing to stay overnight at the beautiful, serene retreat house.

We’re sorry, but we do not have a children’s program at this time. Children are not allowed in talks or in the Vendor Hall. Children under 18 must be supervised at all times.

For further information, please contact Rita Koppes at msg4prk@sbcglobal.net or 714-271-1272.

Today’s recipe was shared by our fabulous chef, Jeff Young of The Catholic Foodie.

You’re not going to believe how good these things are. Really. I mean that. Whew, I’m getting hungry just thinking about them!

Oysters. Those ugly little things that, once opened, yield such soft delicious goodness. They bite too. Well, the cocktail sauce that Char and I prepare and use when eating raw oysters… that bites. But it is oh-so-good.

Next to raw oysters, these are our favorites. Char-grilled oysters. You’ve got to try them to believe it!

INGREDIENTS

* 4 sticks of butter
* 4 or 5 cloves of garlic, minced (or crushed & beaten in a mortar & pestle)
* Raw oysters – Lots of ‘em. You can get them un-schucked in a sack, or shucked in a bucket filled with oyster liquor. How many? Well, that’s up to you. The more you get, though, the more of the other ingredients you need to have on hand.
* Fresh ground black pepper – to taste
* Tabasco or Crystal Hot Sauce – to taste
* About 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Parmesan Cheese (we love lots on our oysters!)
* 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
* 12 oyster shell halves or a metal muffin pan

DIRECTIONS

1. Make a sauce with the butter, minced garlic, and the black pepper in a sauce pan over medium-low heat. Cook only until the butter is melted and starts to bubble. Cut the heat and remove. We also add Tabasco or Crystal Hot Sauce to the pan while cooking. Add it to taste.
2. Fire up the grill. Heat to about 350 – 375.
3. Put oyster shells or muffin pan on the grill and spoon some of the garlic-butter sauce, just enough to coat the bottom of the shells / pan.
4. Add oysters to the shells / pan (if you are using a muffin pan you can add two (or three, depending on size) oysters in each cup. Spoon a bit more garlic-butter sauce over the oysters, careful not to cover completely.
5. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over each oyster. It could be just a pinch (but we like lots!). Then sprinkle a bit of the chopped parsley on the oysters.
6. Grill for about 3 to 5 minutes. You are looking for the oysters to curl around the edges and “puff up” a bit.
7. Serve immediately!

I must confess that we often stand around the grill with our little seafood forks and attack the oysters as soon as they are ready. Those yummy little oysters often never make it to the plate! If desired, you could serve these is small, individual-sized glass bowls.

And then… Bon appetit! Enjoy!

Visit www.Rosary.com and link to it from your blog or website to support this effort.

St. Francis of Assisi:  Patron Saint of Animals and Ecology

An overview of the Roman Catholic Church’s teachings on animals and animal protection

Additional Animals & Religion related resources from a variety of religious perspectives

Throughout my academic career, I have maintained a commitment to the arts, and since my conversion to Catholicism in 2006, I have aspired to promote an appreciation for artistic beauty within the context of the Catholic faith. It was through my own encounter with the brilliance of Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Teresa and The Fountain of the Four Rivers that I was awakened to the truth of the theological perspectives which informed them. It is now my earnest desire to facilitate a greater awareness of the indissoluble marriage of truth and beauty, in order that a demand for beauty might permeate the production of sacred arts today, and thus allow others to encounter in them the radiance of Christ.

The Foundation for Sacred Arts has been established for precisely this purpose. As a Catholic non-profit organization, we aim to stimulate a renewed vibrancy in the patronage and production of Christian sacred arts (art, architecture, music); and to advance the pursuit of excellence in conformity with truth, goodness and beauty in these arts; for the glory of God, the life of His Church, and the transformation of culture.

The Foundation’s initiatives include educational opportunities such as lectures, conferences and symposia; tours of museums, shrines, churches and places of pilgrimage throughout the country; an on-line archive of artists, architects, and composers; and events such as competitions, exhibitions, and concerts. Our objectives are thus in accord with Pope Benedict XVI’s directive “to stir up awe at and desire for the beautiful, form the sensitivity of souls and nourish the passion for all that which is an authentic expression of the human genius and a reflection of divine beauty.” Indeed, as Pope John Paul II stated is his Letter to Artists, “in order to communicate the message entrusted her by Christ, the Church needs art.”

Through the generous support of private donations, our organization has already been able to realize two national traveling exhibitions featuring the highest caliber examples of contemporary sacred art. Spring of 2009 brought our Washington, DC based lecture series, The Beauty that Saves: Art in the Life of the Church, and our Chicago, IL day conference, A New Way of Seeing: Understanding Christian Art. Both were met with enthusiasm and lively discussion.

Fall of 2009 will feature two additional highly anticipated events. Dr. Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy at BostonCollege and author of over 45 books, will speak about “The Power of Beauty in the Sacred Arts” on September 12th at 7:30pm at St. Mary’s parish in OldTown, Alexandria, VA. The Foundation will also sponsor The Mysteries of the Rosary: an exhibition of 20 paintings by the renowned artist Anthony Visco, on view during the month of October (the month of the Rosary) at the National Shrine Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Mr. Visco was recently commissioned by Archbishop Raymond L. Burke as a principal artist for the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

The looming recession, however, has already encumbered many otherwise enthusiastic supporters of our work, and while private donations have already been allocated to cover the costs of our remaining 2009 projects, we are still in need of an additional $20,000 to cover general operating costs through the balance of this year. We have a number of exciting projects that we are eager to commence even in 2010, including a third national traveling exhibition and competition entitled, I Believe: The Creed in Art and our first sacred choral composition competition (details can be found at: www.thesacredarts.org). We also aim to update the Foundation website in order to feature an online archive of the finest examples of contemporary sacred art, architecture, and music, as a resource for art enthusiasts and patrons alike.

Though our tough economic climate may seem unfavorable to this aim, it is precisely during this time of anxiety and uncertainty that the beauty of Christ will offer hope to a troubled world. As the preeminent 20th century Catholic philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand wrote, “Beauty opens our hearts, inviting us to transcendence and leading us ‘in conspectum Dei’- before the face of God.” We have been offered a pivotal moment for the transformation of culture, but our apostolate cannot succeed without continued prayers and support.

Ann Marra
Executive Director, The Foundation for Sacred Arts

God Made Hugs (Ready, Set, Read! Beginning Readers)

Purchase God Made Hugs (Ready, Set, Read! Beginning Readers) by Sally Anne Conan and support CatholicMom.com.

Please introduce yourself and your family to our readers.

My name is Stephen Camilli, I am single, and 32 years old, have lived in Argentina since the age of 20.  I converted to Catholicism just before moving down here, having grown up Presbyterian, Lutheran, and then Evangelical.  I studied math, have always loved math, and now work as a high school math teacher and college professor.  For 6 years, I worked helping to set up food banks, non-profit organizations that distribute excess food to those in need, in Argentina.  I am in a committed relationship with my girlfriend of 2 years, and we are talking about marriage and a possible move back to the states in the near future.

Please tell us a bit about the “Cube of Love” and its origins.

The “Cube of Love” has its origins in Italy, in the Focolare Movement (www.focolares.org), an ecumenical Catholic movement that works towards unity.  Their guiding charism is Ut Unum Sint, “that they all may be one”, the prayer of Jesus at the last supper in the Gospel of John.  The Cube of Love was invented/inspired as a practical tool to help teach children “the Art of Loving” in a fun and didactic game.  The Art of Loving consists in learning how to live out gospel love in a practical sense, in all of its different aspects.  Thus, the cube proposes six different goals for those who roll it (children and adults), “Be the First to Love”, “Love your Enemy”, “Love Jesus in the Other”, “Share the Other’s Joy or Hurt”, “Love Everyone”, “Love One Another”.

How is the cube of love being used with students and children to promote conflict resolution?  What are some other helpful applications of the cube?

The conflict resolution comes about kind of naturally as a result of children attempting to live out Gospel love in their day to day lives.  Many different schools around the world use this as part of their daily announcements at the beginning or end of the school day.  Or some teachers roll the cube of love to have a special “goal” for that day.  It is also great for use in family life, and can be a great tool to draw family members together.  They can roll it in the morning together at breakfast, and that night, or the next morning, they can share their experiences of trying to live out that goal during the day or the day before.

How can families and educators find educational and social applications or lessons to use in conjunction with the cube?

Living City Press has published a book with many children’s personal experiences using the cube, and they have published an accompanying teacher’s manual.  You can order it at www.cubeoflove.org or www.livingcitymagazine.com, or by calling (845) 229-0496.  You can also read an excellent article about the cube at http://www.focolare-en.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=79

What feedback have you received from children, parents or educators using the cube of love?

Just excellent, excellent feedback from those who have put it into practice.  I have one teaching colleague down here who teaches English, and uses it in her class every day.  She said that behavior has markedly improved, as instead of having to scold kids, she can say “remember the phrase from the cube of love today?”  I have found that the cube of love invites children to bring out their best, to live out the Gospel in their own way, in simple things, setting the table, sharing their toys, praying for others, listening to their friends.  In some cases, it has even led children to teach their parents about what it means to love.  My favorite story is of a 5-year old child whose parents were in a rather heated argument, and he had them sit down on the living room couch, and said to them, “Don’t you remember what it says on the cube of love?  We have to love one another!”  This touching display led to the calming down and reconciliation of his parents.

How can our readers purchase a cube of love?  Where can they find more information online about the product?

You can go to www.cubeoflove.org, or www.livingcitymagazine.com.  The cube is available in both Spanish and English.

Are there any additional thoughts or comments you’d like to share with our readers?

I would just say that, however you want to put in practice, the message of the Cube of Love is that the Gospel applies to the simplest and every aspect of our daily lives.  Preparing a meal, making our bed, saying hi to our neighbors, cleaning our house, our daily job, whatever that might be, going to school, doing our homework.  All of these are seen differently in the light of the gospel.  The Cube of Love tries to remind us of this message in a very simple way.  Give it a try!  If you’re an adult, remember that Christ calls us to be children of the gospel.

This particular museum has eluded us for the past few years.  Every time we’ve tried to visit, a line longer than those at Disneyland snaked outside the building, dissuading us from even trying to get in to the museum.  I guess the key is to go on a Tuesday in the middle of the afternoon.  Along with seeing the de Young’s fine collections, we were able to get some of the day’s last few tickets to the special exhibit. I have to say that the experience was well worth the price – the artifacts contained in the exhibit simply take your breath away.  Their condition is truly pristine and the exhibit’s arrangement leaves you with a tremendous sense of the magnitude of the archaeological find and the history of Tut’s time.

All in all, it was a gorgeous day in San Francisco with temperatures in the mid 80′s.  I so love spending days like this in Eric’s company.  His mind is so active – he filled four pages of notes during our day at the de Young.  Mind you, his note taking was simply for his own edification – he is going through a “Renaissance Man” phase and is loving anything having to do with the Arts these days.  As I watch him grow into a man and anticipate his 18th birthday in September, I’m filled with pride at what a fine person he has become.  We still have quite a year ahead of us, with college applications and major life decisions looming large.  But yesterday was a wonderful moment to pause and just enjoy one another’s company.  Here are a few photos of our day and the exhibit – enjoy!

1st place is the Family Package which includes 3 books:
1. The deluxe large hardback edition of The Parable of Willy Wheat
2. The children’s Mother Mary… God’s Gift to You
3. The teen/adult Mother Mary—God’s Quick & Easy Way to Divine Holiness.

2nd place is the Children’s Set which includes 2 books:
1. The deluxe large hardback edition of The Parable of Willy Wheat
2. The children’s Mother Mary… God’s Gift to You

3rd place is the Teen/Adult Set which includes 2 books:
1. The soft cover edition of The Parable of Willy Wheat
2. The teen/adult Mother Mary—God’s Quick & Easy Way to Divine Holiness

To enter, you must leave a comment on this post with a valid email address (which won’t be published or shared) before Midnight PST on August 1, 2009.  I’ll draw random winners and announce the names over the weekend.

Kathy shares the following information about her books and her ministry:

Back in 1988, after grinding wheat for bread, I was inspired to write and, eventually, illustrate The Parable of Willy Wheat.  This would, eventually, become the foundation of the Mother Mary series.

From this simple story, God began to show me hidden meanings and analogies in the story that simplified different spiritual concepts that were hard to understand. I began to write pages and pages of deep truths and thought that I was being called to write a typical book explaining these newly discovered understandings.

In 2003, the Year of the Rosary, Bishop Roman Danylak, after thoroughly studying each word and illustration in the books, gave the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur to the entire series. This was given in Rome, Italy on the Feast day of the Annunciation.  The first shipment of books arrived from the printers (long overdue) one year later, on March 25, 2004 — that very same feast day of The Annunciation. Why is this so significant? The feast of the Annunciation is the day Saint Louis De Montfort calls us to make our Total Consecration to the Blessed Mother — which is the main theme and teaching in the Mother Mary books! These books truly are our Blessed Mother’s!

The Mother Mary series is a completely new way to present theology… in a simple, fun manner where children and parents can enjoy learning together.  The catechisms are easy to understand because they teach in the manner Jesus used by telling a story and then explaining the hidden meanings.  Jesus often used parables to teach and simplify deep mysteries of faith that even children could understand. The Parable of Willy Wheat lays the foundation for the analogies made in the Mother Mary catechisms.

The main emphasis of the series is to help the readers come to know Mary as their Mother who truly loves them and wants to help them change and grow to be like Jesus, Who lives in them. More important than “head knowledge,” the Mother Mary series teaches “heart-knowledge” about our Catholic faith, and helps develop habits of holiness for a lifetime.   Lead the children to their Mother Mary and She will lead them to Her Son Jesus and keep them rooted in their Catholic faith.

The 175 page Mother Mary—God’s Quick & Easy Way to Divine Holiness teaches deep spiritual truths to pre-teens through adults.  The young children’s version, Mother Mary…God’s Gift to You, is appropriate for 8 years and under and is divided into 3 volumes. It is simplified even more and includes more hands-on activities and bold, colorful illustrations.

The books are especially well adapted to parents who home-school and want to supplement their children’s religious education and prayer life. Parents will appreciate the simple self-guided teaching style that requires no additional teacher’s manual.  The colorful “Who Says So?” at the end of each chapter, teaches the importance of using reference materials and being able to back-up their beliefs.

For more information about Kathy Bleichrodt and these wonderful resources, visit www.willywheat.com.

Update: Our lucky winners are Jenn Davis (#95) – First Place, Sarah (#44) – Second Place, and Claudia (#37) – Third Place. Your prize will be sent soon.  Take a look at our other CatholicMom.com contests for more great chances to win!

During the week of July 13th, CatholicTV will air a documentary about a young man who drove drunk one night and killed 3 people. The documentary entitled “One Decision” includes the story of David Emigh, who grew up in a family of faith, and who made a terrible mistake which ultimately landed him in prison.

CatholicTV is a nationally-broadcasted television network headquartered near Boston. CatholicTV streams its broadcast simultaneously, 24 hours a day at www.CatholicTV.com

David Emigh was in many respects an average young man. He was captain of his high school soccer team, and went to the Dominican Republic to serve the poor. Afterwards, he attended Indiana University with hopes of becoming a teacher.

In July of 1998, David went out drinking with one his friends Amy Titus. David remembers waking up handcuffed to a hospital bed. Beside him was the sheriff who said, “Son, you’ve just killed 3 people.”

Ultimately, David was sentenced to years of probation and community service. He was also sentenced to 5 months in prison. There, he found himself to be one of few believers. In the documentary, David discusses how he “was used as a tool of God” to minister and to give hope to others during his brief, and frightening stay in prison. One prisoner wrote a letter to David which spoke of how David had given the man hope where there was no hope. David also describes how during one prison stint, he was placed in a cell with 3 Christian men, which David felt was due to God’s providence. The cell block housed about 100 convicts.

CatholicTV will air “One Decision” during the “Catholic Saints & Lay People” block during the week of July 14th-19th. The show will air at the following times (Eastern): Tuesday-11:30AM; Wednesday-5AM; Friday-8AM; Sunday 10:30PM. This will air at CatholicTV.com at these times and also on CatholicTV where available.

Local Children’s Author Announces Availability of Marian Program for Catholic Schools

Unique, interactive program designed to teach children about Our Blessed Mother

Lancaster, Pa. – June 23, 2009 – Lancaster resident and award-winning author, Kelly Ann Lynch, recently announced the availability of a new program for Catholic Schools, “Sandal Steps of Mary.” Lynch is now booking dates for the 2009-2010 school year for both the Marian program and her foundation program, “Sandal Steps.”

“I was inspired to add a Marian program this year because of my devotion to Mary,” explains Lynch. “When I read in the Catholic Witness that the Bishop declared a Marian year beginning in October 2009, I knew the Holy Spirit had guided me.”

The Marian program offers students an opportunity to learn about Our Blessed Mother, her apparitions, and her important role in the church today. It also explains the power of the rosary in language children can understand. A typical school visit for both the Marian and core program includes up to three age-appropriate presentations: one for grade school students, one for middle school students, and a shorter program for kindergarteners. All programs engage students through puppets, story-telling and song, and encourage children to find their own path to God, either as an active part of the laity or through a vocation.

Lynch says she has already booked presentations for Catholic Schools Week (January 31 – February 6, 2010), but additional dates that week and throughout the coming school year are still available, and she is looking forward to visiting as many schools as possible. “It’s an extraordinary blessing to be able to share my stories and faith with these children, encourage them to listen for God’s voice in their everyday lives and watch them get excited about knowing God is always near, always there for them,” says Lynch.

In the 2008-2009 school year, Lynch visited 15 schools throughout the Diocese of Harrisburg, and elsewhere in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Ohio. Her visits were exceptionally well received and won praise from students, teachers, administrators and librarians. “The students were not only captivated by her book about Father Mychal Judge,” says Librarian Ellen Tucker of St. Leo the Great School in Lancaster, “but also were inspired by her trust in God. She reminded us all that ‘God is as close as a whispered prayer.’”

To book a visit or for more information, contact Lynch at 717 538 6061 or go to www.kellyannlynch.com.

About Kelly Ann Lynch

Kelly Ann Lynch is a stay-at-home mother, best-selling and award-winning author, co-founder of Mychal’s Message (www.mychalsmessage.org), and the founder of Sandal Steps Presentations. Born and raised Catholic, she is currently in formation to become a Secular Franciscan. She is a member of St. Leo the Great Church in Lancaster, Pa. where she has been leading a children’s rosary group since 1999. Kelly has spoken to thousands of children, teens and adults across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio who have been captivated by her stories of great faith in transforming sadness into joy and darkness into light. Kelly Ann Lynch is pleased to offer interactive, biblically-based and spirit-driven presentations to children and teens in Catholic/Christian schools and churches, as well as workshops and retreats for Confirmation students, teachers and adults. Her message is simple: Be aware. Listen and learn. Love and serve.

Liturgy Reflection: Sunday, July 12, 2009 from JP Catholic University on Vimeo.

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity feature Chuck E. Costa’s “Where The Songs Come From “ as their July song, a free download at the ‘Franciscanized World’ http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org vocation page.

With his dulcet voice and emotive lyrics, Chuck has grown into a singer/songwriter with a unique and honest voice without any pretentious static. He is recognized as the 2009 Falcon Ridge Emerging Artist Showcaser, 2008 Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Winner; 2007 Kerrville NewFolk Finalist (TX); 2007 Telluride Troubadour 3rd place (CO); and 2007 Solarfest Winner (VT).  He has shared the stage with such diverse nationally touring acts as: Rosanne Cash, The Weepies, Pete Seeger, Josh Ritter, Dar Williams, Peter Case, The Samples, Andrew Bird to name a few.

“We want to present our life as a viable option. Personal invitation is always best; however, we became convinced that real conversations can begin by using the language of images and music.” said Sr. Julie Ann Sheahan, OSF, Directress of Vocations for the Franciscan order.

Established in 1869, the Roman Catholic Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity serve in Catholic health care, education and parish ministries throughout the United States.

CONTACT:   Sr. Julie Ann Sheahan OSF 920-682-7728
Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
Holy Family Convent
2409 S. Alverno Road
Manitowoc, WI 54220  sjulieann@fscc-calledtobe.org