As I grown in my faith I see how my relationships are positively reflected. especially in my marriage. I’ve mentioned before that my husband is not a practicing Catholic, yet I pray that one day he will be open to developing a relationship with God. Over the years, I have been the person who winds up handle everything, or voice my opinion when it was welcomed or not. I always seem to know the right way everything should be done.

I’m now trying to be more supportive of my husband and allow him to be the head of our home. It’s not an easy task for anyone I think who has lived so long in the world, but does take some exercise. I can remember a time when people would refer to Ephesians 5:22-33; where it details the roles of a married couple. “A wife should obey her husband and the husband should care and love his wife, as Jesus loved his church.” Ignorantly, I would reason that my husband doesn’t love me as Jesus loved the church so I don’t have to obey him. (Gotta love the lies we believe sometimes).

However, I do realize that if I want my husband to be the head of our home, maybe I can help him along by being more supportive of him and focusing on my duties as a Christian wife. Maybe he will then respond by taking on his one day with God’s help. Doug Barry, co-host “Life on the Rock,” was detailing how a priest helped him to discover his role as the 1st line of defense for his family spiritually. I was amazed at this notion I had never thought of my husband in this sense. But, it’s so true; he is our protector. When my youngest doesn’t like my discipline (typically a stern ‘No’) he runs to daddy to protect him from mommy. When we recently had an earthquake, I was calling out for my husband. As humans, we already have these roles identified for us subconsciously.

So really why would it be any different spiritually? Now when I pray for the protection of my family, I wonder how much stronger the prayers would be if they came from my husband, or from us as a couple. I’ve shared the notion of spiritual leader with my husband as well as his role in helping shape our boys spiritual future. He seems to be more open to the possible of one day being more active in church. This past weekend I was telling my husband how our oldest son, who is 9, doesn’t kneel erectly, slouches around, or wants to have a conversation. This really bugs me, I find it very disrespectful. He then asked my son if he needed to go to church with us so that in order to have my son behave more appropriately. I couldn’t believe my ears, and I felt my heart skip for joy.

My husband might not be exactly where I wish he was at spiritual but he is listening to my concerns, and hopefully a seed will flourish in the future if God wills it.

Copyright 2010 Dawn Corliss-Ingoglia

Copyright 2010 Lisa Jones

Find more great family recipes and meal planning assistance at Dine Without Whine

Ham and Scalloped Potatoes
Makes 6 servings
Prep: SLOW COOKER – Start in the morning or early afternoon

6-8 slices ham
8-10 medium potatoes thinly sliced
1 onion thinly sliced (optional)
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or American cheese)
1 10 3/4-ounce can cream of celery soup
Paprika

1. Put half of ham, potatoes, and onions in slow cooker. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and cheese. Repeat Layers
2. Spoon soup over top. Sprinkle with Paprika
3. Cover. Cook on low 8-10 hours, or high 4 hours.
*If you like a lot of creamy sauce with your ham and potatoes, stir 3/4 soup can of milk into the soup before pouring it over the layers.

Find more great family recipes and meal planning assistance at Dine Without Whine

• At the beginning of the year, send an individual religious education plan home with parents and ask them to tell you about the child’s needs.  (There is an excellent example of this at http://www.ncpd.org/ministries-programs/catechesis, under Forms to Aid Successful Inclusion.)  This will help you determine where the child is in his/her development and what he/she can do.
• Search out catechetical resources for special needs students.  Try Sacraments: Gifts for All www.udayton.edu/~ipi/nice and Catechists for All Children https://catalog.osv.com/Catalog.aspx?SimpleDisplay=true&ProductCode=R27.
• Remember to include special needs children in your whole group discussions, while providing appropriate activities for them to do individually. Don’t exclude them or assume that they can’t understand the class discussion.  Have activities on hand that are developmentally appropriate and interesting.  It is helpful to have an aide who can work with special needs children individually, then integrate them back into the whole group.
• The most important thing to remember is to get to know your students, particularly your special needs kids.  Work on creating a bond with them throughout the year, and you will be better prepared to meet their needs.  Creating a working knowledge of a child’s personality and ability can make all the difference in the world when designing effective lesson plans.  If you have a special needs child who loves animals, work that into your lesson.  Know your students.
• Ask your DRE for books on inclusive education.  Check http://www.stjohnchrysostom.on.ca/resources/religious_education/Special-Needs-Resources.pdf for a comprehensive list of resources for special needs catechesis.

The goal of special needs religious education is to teach students about God’s special love for them and how He is present in their lives.    All children can and should learn about God’s great love for all of us, and that they are all precious in His eyes.  If nothing else, each child should take this important fact home with them after each class.

Source: National Catholic Partnership on Disability http://www.ncpd.org/ministries-programs/catechesis

Copyright 2010 Kristi McCabe

Today’s Readings



Scripture: May 14. Lectionary # 295. Acts 18:9-18. Psalm 47:2-3. John
16:23-28.

Meet a new believer today. His name is Apollos and he will become
part of Paul’s team which keeps growing.  He joins Aquila and Priscilla,
converted Jews who were exiled from Rome under Claudius’ decree of
banishment for Jews and Christians who were lumped together by the Romans.
The newcomer Apollos has a Greek name which goes back to the god of light,
healing, music, poetry, prophecy, and beauty.  Both Greeks and Romans
venerated this god.  Our friend Apollos is an Alexandrian Jew who heard
about Jesus and learned much about him. Aquila, Priscilla, and Paul will
fill in any of his gaps. He is very learned and bright and knows their
Scriptures so well that he becomes an eloquent speaker of the Hebrew Bible
now already translated into the Greek language that he uses. These converts
are already becoming leaders in the newly emerging communities that the
apostles Paul and Peter, Philip and John and James have or are founding.
Luke in our passage gives us a thumbnail sketch of this important figure.
He tells us he is an excellent speaker, an authority on the Scriptures
(Hebrew Bible or Tanakh)., and that he boldy professes to his listeners
that Jesus is the Messiah.  Paul’s other new friends, the tentmaking couple
Aquila and Priscilla, will fill in what they know about the Gospel and
Jesus. He will even be more effective because of their presence in his
life.  It could be that he would even be one of the inspired writers of the
New Testament, for example, the epistle to the Hebrews may have been his
work. This was the opinion of Fr. Ceslas Spicq, O.P. who was the expert on
the Epistle to the Hebrews at the time of the Vatican II Council and even
before that meeting of all the bishops in the world. Incidentally, Martin
Luther also hazarded the guess that Apollos wrote the Epistle to the
Hebrews.

Perhaps the message that can be drawn from our first reading is that
of being a part of a group of friends who can share their faith together.
This could be by bible study or by a prayer session in which the readings
for the coming Sunday are prayed and shared by each one in the group.  One
does not need to be a theologian to do this nor a Scripture scholar.  Faith
sharing is the work of the community of believers who wish to go deeper
into the mysteries of their faith and their knowledge of Jesus our Savior
and Friend. If this takes place in a parish, it is a blessing to have the
pastor and assistants and deacons present. This sharing ,no doubt, would
lead to better homilies and sermons on their part when the Sunday Masses
are celebrated.  This probably gets us closer to what Paul and his
companions were doing than many other things that we do in the name of God.
Amen. Alleluia.

Apollos is mentioned in the following sections of the New Testament: Acts
18:9-28;  I Corinthians 1:12; 3:4-6, 22; 4:6; 16:12. Titus 3:13.

For example, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared on March 10, “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.”

And during a meeting of the House Rules Committee on Saturday, Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida admitted, “When the deal goes down, all this talk about rules … we make ‘em up as we go along.”

With this sort of honesty from representatives in Congress, it’s actually shocking that as much as 64 percent of the voting public strongly disapproves of the job they are doing.

Though the bill has been signed into law, the debate about the merits of the legislation continues.

In particular, proponents on both sides of the abortion issue question the compromise gesture of an executive order to limit federal funding of abortion, the solution that enabled Rep. Bart Stupak and other pro-life Democrats to join their party in passing the bill despite the lack of legislative language limiting federally funded abortion services.

Pro-life advocates note that an executive order is easily reversed and expect that President Obama will do so when the furor over health reform subsides. Pro-abortion advocates fear the executive order represents “a significant rollback in reproductive rights,” a concern expressed by Jehmu Greene of the Women’s Media Center, appearing on Fox News.

“Bart Stupak had an agenda,” Ms. Greene said, “to have the government intrude, to come into my home and come into your home and insist on a medical decision that the government wants to see happen. Thats not what this bill does.”

Sorry, Ms. Greene. That’s exactly what this bill does. Unfortunately, her myopic focus on abortion rights has blinded her to the reality that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, written in such legalese and jargon as to be virtually indecipherable to most people, nonetheless clearly puts the government in charge of our health decisions in ways we have yet to imagine.

Throughout the behemoth legislation are countless new boards, commissions and oversight bureaus designed to assess quality of care, design “best practices” and force — through incentives and penalties — the implementation of the government’s idea of beneficial health services. Those “best practices” will not necessarily reflect the desires of doctors and patients, but the treatments that pass the government’s cost/benefit analyses.

This is one of the harsh realities of health care reform often cited by experts such as Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and himself a presidential adviser.

Anticipating such interference into their profession, roughly a third of current practicing physicians say they will quit the practice of medicine or retire early in part to avoid the government’s takeover of their decision-making power, according to a study in the March issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

As for the “right” to abortion coverage, the reason to keep it out of the bill isn’t only to protect a huge segment of our society from paying for what we consider the unjust murder of innocent children. Consider that rights typically come with commensurate responsibilities, and in the world of government “best practices,” abortion actually could be mandated.

It’s not as crazy as it sounds. I was 37 when I delivered my fourth child, old enough to be deemed “high risk” for having a baby with certain birth defects. My doctor suggested amniocentesis to rule out genetic abnormalities. Learning that there was nothing that could be done in utero to address any potential problems my baby might have, I declined the test. I knew she might not be in perfect health, but she would be perfect for us regardless. An abortion was out of the question.

Is that a choice every pregnant woman will be able to make in the future, or will high-risk moms automatically be subject to “best practices” that may include aborting a child who knowingly will be born with serious (read: expensive) medical problems?

The same question goes for cancer treatment and transplant surgery and even hip replacement. The right of a patient to choose his or her treatment will soon be subject to the government’s idea of what is “best.”

Begs the question, best for whom?

Copyright 2010 Marybeth Hicks

The star of the movie, Ellen Bry, is an energetic mother of three grown children, including two sons with autism. I spoke with Ellen the day she dropped off her daughter, Hannah, at Wesleyan University for her senior year. Ellen’s son Max, 20, is in his second year at UCLA Pathways, a two-year postsecondary educational program for those with developmental disabilities, which offers a range of classes in vocational, social, and life skills. Sam, 18, is at home.

Like many children with autism, Max and Sam will never live entirely on their own, says their mother. This has required a lifetime of adjustment for the whole family. “When you are first expecting, you don’t go into motherhood thinking your child will be anything but normal and typical. And when that doesn’t happen, there is grief and anger. It has been a very different experience for all of us. Sometimes crummy … but other times extraordinary and miraculous.”

One of the greatest challenges of parenting the special-needs child is managing one’s own expectations. “There’s a kind of smugness among very bright, accomplished people, an engrained bias that being bright and accomplished is somehow being ‘better.’ When you have special-needs kids, you realize immediately that intelligence in merely another gift that you’re lucky enough to get – but not a God-given right. It’s surely as much of a fluke as being good-looking. A sharp intellect is a gift, nothing you deserve, just something you’re lucky to have. Other human qualities are more important – love, decency, compassion, goodness, and kindness. My two special-needs kids have those in abundance.” When parenting the special-needs child, love means learning to appreciate each child for who he is, rather than what he can or cannot do.

Stress and the Special-Needs Parent

Ellen doesn’t sugar-coat the difficulties of special-needs parenting; the staggering, unrelenting stress ultimately contributed to the breakdown of her marriage, increasing Ellen’s sense of isolation and loss. Being around “normal” parents was especially difficult. “It’s difficult not to feel completely estranged from a group of parents stressed about fitting in a manicure or getting dinner on the table while juggling the demands of work and soccer practice.  Parents of special needs children long to have such “fancy” problems!

One of the greatest challenges parents of special-needs children face is getting the services, including therapies and educational support, a child with disabilities requires. State agencies, insurance companies, and school administrators often seek to limit the benefits to which a child is entitled because of budget limitations.

“When you talk to your child’s school, they may tell you, ‘We have to offer your kid a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. But what we can afford to offer you is a Buick, not a Cadillac.’  That’s not good enough!  As a parent, go for the Rolls Royce, so that even if you don’t end up with the Rolls, you’ll get something closer to the Cadillac.  You would like to think you’re on the same team – you are not. They are looking to save money, and they are going to see if they can cut back on the services they offer your kid. Many school systems are beginning to reduce or eliminate special education resources, and parents of kids on the autistic spectrum need to be their children’s strongest and best advocates. You can’t worry about being liked – you must do everything possible to get your child what he needs.

“You have to get over the stigma of having a special-needs child if you have some discomfort. There are a lot of special-needs children who are isolated because the parents are ashamed or uncomfortable. That doesn’t help anyone.”

One of the most important ways to do this, says Bry, is to get the support of other parents whose children are dealing with similar challenges. Ellen recommends finding a child advocate or an attorney who advocates for special-needs families, either locally or through an online resource such as the Autism Society of America or Autism Speaks.  Another great source of information is parent support groups, either in person or online.

“Acts of Love: Pioneers”

One of the ways Ellen advocates for autism awareness and research is by participating in an annual fundraiser for Autism Speaks called “Acts of Love,” through the Word Theatre. This year’s benefit, entitled “Acts of Love: Pioneers,” was held October 3, 2009 at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California. Ellen Bry joined celebrities Adam Arkin, Benjamin Bratt, Carla Gugino, Alfred Molina, and Lynn Whitfield to celebrate the pioneers of our age, who “strike out into the unknown to make a better future.”  Acts of Love: Pioneers is created, produced, and directed by Cedering Fox.

The money from this event directly benefits Autism Speaks, cofounded by Bob and Suzanne Wright. Autism Speaks is dedicated to the research funding, prevention, treatment, and advocacy for those who suffer with autistic spectrum disorders, including autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Autism Speaks has contributed $128 million toward autism research, treatment, and prevention.


Copyright 2009 Heidi Hess Saxton

Here’s a message from Dan, of Jars of Clay:

This video tells the story of a band’s journey to get our own hands dirty. Someone once defined the role of an artist as the act of looking at the world and describing it…not just as the world is…but also as it should be.

There is only so much looking and describing a band can do when faced with injustices, and tragedies… and also the heroic stories of those who rise above their fears and overcome insurmountable obstacles. Two Hands is a song about overcoming our own fears and finding reasons to care about others even when we don’t feel equipped to do so.

Today’s Readings


Scripture: Seventh Mon. Feb.23, 2009.  Sirach 1:1-10. Psalm 93:1.1-2.5.
Mark 9:14-29. Lectionary # 341.

Today’s meditation is a lesson in faith in Jesus and the need for
prayer when it comes to getting rid of evil personified (the Devil).  The
story is given just after Jesus descends with Peter, James, and John the
chosen three for particular important events in their journey with Jesus.
At the foot of the mountain some scribes of the law are in lively
discussion with the people and probably with Jesus’ other nine
disciples–those who were not with him on the mountain of the
transfiguration.  We may surmise that the discussion was over the power of
exorcism and that Jesus’ disciples were not able to accomplish an exorcisim
on a son of one father in the crowd.  The story is told in Mark’s fast
moving and colorful way. Only through our meditating upon it and slowing
down the action can we get to the message of faith and prayer. It is there
but the scenes in Mark are quick.

The young man who is possessed by the demon is manifesting signs that
are similar to an epileptic seizure but Mark confirms that this is truly a
case of possession.  Mark is our reliable narrator who is omniscient in
what he describes so vividly in his snappy down to earth Koine or Common
Greek.  Could Jesus really help the man who is requesting that Jesus do
something about his son?  His disciples could not and thus a number of
lively discussions were being had before Jesus came down the mountain.

We learn about faith and trust from the man who speaks out of the
crowd that has gathered probably waiting for Jesus to come.  He says to
Jesus, “I do believe! Help my lack of trust.”  It is the man’s prayer and
Jesus does have the power to heal. After doing so , the young man looks as
though he is a corpse. Then Jesus lifts him up and restores him to his
father. He is entirely wholesome and has his wits. The demon is gone.
Jesus had incriminated the scribes, the people, and the disciples for the
lack of faith; only the man seemed to have had faith in the authority of
Jesus and his power to cast out demons. The language used helps the reader
and Mark’s community to understand this healing as a symbol of the
resurrection of the body.  The story ends with the disciples asking why
they could not exorcize the demon.  Jesus tells them that for this type of
possession prayer is needed. Some manuscripts of Mark’s Gospel add fasting
to the prayer. “This kind is cast out by prayer and fasting.”

We are thus being prepared for the big three practices of Lent with
the advance of Mardi Gras and then Ash Wednesday on its heels: Prayer,
Fasting, and Generous Giving of ourselves, our possessions, and our time.
Amen.

As a community, we lift up and support one another in prayer.  Please list your prayer intentions in the comments below.  If you do not wish to use your name, feel free to request anonymous prayers.  Although an email address is required to post a prayer, it will never be shared and will not be seen online.  Please use only first names in requesting prayers.  Please join us in praying every day for the intentions of our CatholicMom.com community.

• Advent at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Advent Adventure from Holy Heroes
• Advent 2008 – Catholic Online
• EWTN Advent Reflections
• Archived CatholicMom.com Advent Links