I think part of my hesitation in writing this review is that Kevin Heider and his music strike a deep chord within me that I’ve had a hard time expressing. I am blessed to have the opportunity to hear lots of great music from a variety of artists, but “To Whom It May Concern” has stood out from the beginning. It is personal. I think that’s the best way to describe this album. Ever since my first listen – putting the CD on makes me feel like I’ve just invited Kevin into my living room, my cubicle, or the seat next to me on the airplane and am getting a personal performance.

Kevin’s lyrics are deep, he writes from the heart and he touches a wide variety of topics. I am very impressed with his songs that address topics that the current generation of musicians seems afraid to tackle. When one looks social justice concerns of the 60s and early 70s, many people believe that it was the music that changed how Americans felt about topics like race and the War in Vietnam.

You can’t help but to be saddened when you hear songs like “Christmas Without Brian”. Kevin’s tackles other social justice themes as well – the title track of To Whom It May Concern is an answer to John Mayer’s song “Waiting on the World to Change”. In his own words – Kevin states: “I wrote this song in response to John Mayer’s Grammy-winning song, ‘Waiting on the World to Change,’ which claims to represent the views of his (and my) generation with the defeatist and hopeless message that nothing we can do will make a difference. But I don’t believe that, not for one second.”

Now, I don’t want you think that this is a protest album, or that all the songs are depressing. There are plenty of optimistic songs – Kevin’s rendition of “An Irish Blessing” and “No More Tears” are both songs of hope with uplifting messages.

Overall, this album ranks high on my “must have” list. You will not be disappointed. Some listeners may wish that this album had a little more instrumentation and more variation in tempo. This album is exclusively Kevin and piano. When I first listened to the album, those were my thoughts as well. But then again, I feel like that simplicity is part of the appeal for this album. And, not to give any spoilers away, but Kevin takes the instrumentation up a notch in his next album.

I encourage everyone to go to www.kevinheider.com and check out “To Whom it May Concern”.

LINKS for this review:
Kevin Heider website



Copyright 2010 Jim Logue

The CD itself is a wonderful representation of the birth, life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. There are Advent songs, Christmas, classic hymns, a true collection of songs that touch on many aspects of the Catholic faith.

The songs are well-produced and are a delight to listen to. The music is very professional, and the instrumentation is excellent. There is a mix of uptempo songs and the slower ballads.

I do recommend this CD, not just because it’s a good CD, but because it helps support vocations. You can’t go wrong with that!

Track Listing:
1. O Come O Come Emmanuel
2. Ave Maria
3. Silent Night
4. Bring A Torch Jeanette Isabella
5. What Child Is This
6. Earthen Vessels
7. Jesus Is the Vine
8. Amazing Grace
9. Hosea
10. O Sacred Head Surrounded
11. In the Breaking of the Bread
12. Jesus the Lord
13. Breathe On Me
14. One Faith
15. Breath of Heaven
16. Blessed Be Your Name
17. O Come All Ye Faithful

LINKS for this review:
Vocare Website
The Laboure Society



Copyright 2010 Jim Logue

In the first grade, I wanted to be a nun. I wanted to wear a veil and teach children. I used to sit on the steps of the convent next to my grade school and wait for a sister to pass by. In my dreams, a passing sister would ask, “Little girl, have you ever considered being a nun?” Then she would invite me into the convent kitchen and we’d have a long talk. The moment never came.

Throughout the years that followed, I dreamed of being a ballet dancer and a star on Broadway. I wanted to sing and make people cry with my music. I wanted to be fast and strong. I dreamed of being an Olympian. I wanted to be a teacher and change lives. I wanted to be a feminist activist. I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to go to a prestigious art school and learn to create beautiful things.

From one perspective, my worldly ambitions and dreams have all failed. “You can be anything you want to be” is the constant, pounding mantra of the schools. It is one of the hard lessons of adulthood that those dreams you spend so much time building as a youth may never actually happen. It may be an even harder reality to achieve those dreams and find them empty of meaning.

But around my 17th year, God began to reclaim His own and introduce the dreams that He had for my life. My future husband appeared in my life and took a risk. He introduced me to an authentic life in Christ and walked with me through my first frightened steps. My conversion to the Heart of Jesus was like taking a step off a cliff; except that this man who loved me never let me look down and he entrusted my safety to the arms of his Savior. It has always been a mystery to me why he chose to love me. He is a very careful planner, logical and philosophical, and several years older; the more I know about him, the less I understand the risk he took and the more I see how powerfully the grace of God was working in my life. When I was 19 years old I married him. I was 21 when I had my firstborn.

As I spent endless hours nursing and rocking my high-need baby boy, I would pray fervently for guidance. I prayed that God would show me the direction for my life and help me to fulfill my dreams. I questioned why He was silent and begged Him to show me who I was to become. In my blindness, I shouted, “What do you want me to DO?!” as I held the answer to my prayers in my arms.

I was so busy grasping at childhood dreams that, for a time, I missed the beautiful truth that He had given to me in my vocation. I was focused on my failures because I had never been taught to view motherhood as a legitimate and worthy life path. I saw that actresses and business owners and scientists and athletes were also mothers instead of the other way around. The moment that I stopped running away from my motherhood was the moment that I began to see God’s dream for me.

I have fulfilled none of my dreams…and all of them.

They have been refashioned by the hand of God to give me a greater joy and peace than I could have dreamt for myself. It is my adventure, my purpose, my path to Heaven.

I still struggle, sometimes mightily. The modern formation for little girls is very linear and masculine; focused on specific future material goals. Worldly success demands clear and constant physical measurement that isn’t always possible with a woman’s vocation. It is the kind of dysfunctional view of life that would cause a married adult woman with a child to continue to ask: “What do I want to be when I grow up?”

We want to win something, get trophies and medals, become millionaires and see our names in lights. It becomes the primary purpose of our lives. Years of indoctrination into that mindset are not easy to undo. We don’t win ribbons or applause or a paycheck for changing a diaper or doing dishes. We may have nothing of worldly significance (other than marriages or births) to have printed in the alumni updates of our alma mater. We spend the entirety of our childhood and youth training to “win” and many of us must overcome the tendency to view our actual successes as failures. By the grace of God I am continually reexamining the gift of femininity, marriage and motherhood and continue to be awestruck by the magnificence of His plan.

My own girls dream big. They want to be religious sisters. They want to be mommies. They also want to be artists and athletes, cowgirls and authors. I want my little girls to dream like that. I want them to see God’s great big beautiful world and dream of their own place in it. But I pray that their dreaming will never blind them to the miracles and purpose present in their daily lives. And hopefully, I can help them see that fully living one’s vocation will provide more reward and adventure than they could have planned for themselves.



Copyright 2010 Melody Lyons

It matters not what our profession is; be it teacher, doctor, business leader, missionary, homeschooling mother, actress, waiter, military service member, fire fighter, secretary, writer, movie producer, or “other”.

As long as we have gone where we believe God wishes to use us for His glory in this world, and as long as we do our best to carry out each duty and task that is given to us each day for love of Him, then we are able to rest and rejoice in knowing that we are serving our Father in Heaven.

As Catholic parents, we must remember to teach our children that it’s not so much which vocation they will enter, or what job they will perform, as much as it is with how much love for GOD they will do these things.

A baker who provides for his family by awakening before dawn to unlock his store and place fresh bread dough into the ovens for his soon-to-arrive customers is doing a work just as worthy and valuable as the scientist who is researching a cure for cancer. Provided that both are performing their work with a love of God at its center, then each may rest their heads upon their pillows at night knowing that they have enjoyed a day well-lived; and that they can have peace-of-mind and contentment in life.

God has designed a special purpose and calling for each of His children. He has known this calling and has known each child from all eternity. Not everyone is being called to the public eye, or to the top of the medical field; not everyone will be blessed with children, nor will each person work as a farmer in the fields.

Still, as one mystical body in Christ, each man, woman, boy, and girl holds a unique place which is irreplaceable not to be duplicated on this earth.

We all need one another. We all serve one another. Though many the path will never cross, we can still share each others joy in knowing that we live and work for the one, same, true Lord and Master!

Where ever you are, who ever you are, whatever you do, and where ever you might go, go in the name of our loving and almighty God!

He sees all and He accepts each act done with love in His name as a worthy and gracious gift.

Rejoice! For you can have peace and joy in every state in life!



Copyright 2010 Judy Dudich

Video Link

Fourth Annual Survey on Trends in Catholic Religious Vocations

Young people continue exploring Catholic vocations despite church scandals

Vocation Directors see increased inquiries fourth year in a row

Chicago, Sept. 30, 2010—Catholics considering a vocation as a sister, brother, or priest and Catholic vocation directors report little impact on vocations from the new revelations in the church sexual-abuse scandal or the Vatican investigations of women’s religious communities, according to a recent survey sponsored by VISION Vocation Guide.

Recent events with a reported positive impact on vocation recruitment, among both men and women, include the Year for Priests, the Pope’s call for atonement for the church’s failings, and the canonization of a particular saint. The majority of vocation directors (61 percent) have seen an increase in inquiries for the fourth straight year.

“The fact that church events have little impact on a person’s exploration of a religious life says a lot about the depth and seriousness of the call,” says Patrice Tuohy, executive editor of VISION Vocation Guide and VocationMatch.com.

The survey, conducted Aug. 30-Sept. 23, 2010, received responses from 431 vocation inquirers and 175 Catholic vocation directors. The vocation inquirers come from a pool of those who have completed profiles in VISION’s online Vocation Match or Community Search services, and the majority are under 40 and very serious about choosing religious life—18 percent plan on entering a religious community in the next year.

Other notable trends among those inquiring about religious life

• Desire to live faith-filled lives: Seventy-four percent of responding seekers rank the opportunity to live a life of faithfulness to the church and its teachings as the most essential reason they are attracted to religious life and a particular religious community. Other factors that draw them to a particular congregation are the community’s prayer life, mission, and communal living. Vocation directors report that justice and peace outreach is also a significant draw among the inquirers with whom they’ve worked. Devotional prayer is of particular interest to those under 40.

• Clothes of distinction: Twenty-five percent of men and 25 percent of male and female respondents over 40 find wearing a religious habit essential; among women and respondents under 40 the percentage increases to nearly 37 percent.

• Please introduce yourself: Personal contact with someone in religious life is reported by respondents of all ages to be the most essential resource for gathering information about vocations (53 percent) with retreats and teachers ranked very important as well.
  

• Prayer is most essential and most challenging: Nearly 84 percent of respondents ranked prayer as the most essential element in making a decision about religious life. The majority also listed as essential spiritual direction, greater knowledge of what would be a good fit, and opportunities to experience community life. Seekers found living with others not their age the least challenging aspect of religious life and the discipline of prayer the most.

• Emails and phone calls welcome: Despite a high usage of Facebook and text messages among seekers, all, including the youngest respondents, prefer an email or a telephone call from vocation directors.

Unexpected: Religious can be young—and fun!

Echoing a common sentiment among respondents about the sisters, brothers, and priests they’ve met, one young woman said: “It surprises me how much fun that they have.” Another man observed: “I thought that there were less people looking into religious life, but now I have met a lot of people finding their place within the church and many of these people are young.”

Common fears among vocation seekers are missing family members, choosing the wrong community, or basic unknowns: “Right now I am only 19 so I have many anxieties about life in general when it comes to my plans for the future.” With nearly 32 percent of respondents over 50, another listed fear was not being accepted into religious life because of age.

Vocation directors expressed concern about the older age of some inquirers and the lack of basic knowledge of the faith among many inquirers.

#                                  #                                  #

Statistics for the Vision VocationMatch.com Survey on Trends in Religious Vocations
were compiled from the following sources:

Vision Vocation Match Discerners Online Survey, Aug. 30-Sept. 23, 2010
Total unique respondents: 431 out of 3,181 polled

https://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=_2fhzKQ6xMYdsGjtw3ZxKjj8Tve7HwHEAhrHEVcpYyngI_3d

Vision Vocation Match Vocation Directors Online Survey, Aug. 30-Sept. 23, 2010
Total unique respondents: 175 out of 427 polled

https://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=PiEq65hfLA_2b2CAgT_2bYi99Z0EGXvsB9mYaFCExJRELsI_3d

For filtered responses, go to: http://www.vocation-network.org/articles/show/236

VocationMatch.com
2010 Reader Profile Statistics: 6,550
http://www.vocation-network.org/statistics/response_statistics?year=2010

Vision Vocation Guide, in print and online at www.Vocation-Network.org, is published by TrueQuest Communications, LLC, www.truequest.biz, on behalf of the National Religious Vocation Conference, www.nrvc.net. With its unique multimedia and interactive features, including www.VocationMatch.com, VISION is the most comprehensive resource available for those pursuing a religious vocation in the Catholic Church or interested in learning more about religious orders, religious life, or vocation-related opportunities.

Written by Elizabeth Ficocelli

Illustrated by Shannon Wirrenga

Review by Christine Capolino

This past weekend, my cute, sweet, compassionate, blink-and-she’s-grown-up niece married her beau, a young gentleman who is her kind, caring complement, in a fairy tale setting at the foothills of the Catskills. What was so remarkable though, about their nuptials was not so much the stunning, pearl-encrusted, ivory gown. Not the breath taking views of the sun sinking into the Hudson from the reception venue, periwinkle sky laced with chunky marshmallow clouds just narrowly escaping Hurricane Earl’s predicted drama. Not the impeccable toasts, sometimes bittersweet, sometimes humorous, presented by maid of honor, best man and father of the bride. Not even the fact that the couple married in St. Martin’s church where the bride’s family has decades of history and where the bride was conferred all of her sacraments, is cause for incredulity of the event. Oh, these combined to make an extraordinary and memorable day for the couple and all guests, without question.

What made this wedding remarkable indeed, is the fact that the bride and groom secured the catering hall, the florist, the gown, the limo service and the photographer almost two years in advance, as they chose to delay their nuptials, scheduling their wedding day around the celebrant. The Priest! Even more extraordinary? The celebrant is a friend of the couple, from The College of the Holy Cross, who, after receiving the call to priesthood, continued to the seminary and received the Sacrament of Holy Orders just months ago.

Imagine the added graces of receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony at a Mass officiated by your friend, who answers God’s call to a vocation? Imagine. That was truly the beauty of this couple’s marriage vows. Beauty that each congregant

felt, due to the tenor of personal touches brought by this man of God to the Mass. Yes, undeniably. Additionally, beauty in our collective witness to the sheer power of vocation. Particularly during these many recent, troubling years for our Church. It was revealed to me in a very real way, as the bride’s aunt and godmother, that individually and collectively, WE are the Church. And we are learning to heal and move forward.

I felt it a great privilege to be asked to review Bezalel Books’ new children’s title, Where Do Priests Come From? Practical and informative, Elizabeth Ficocelli’s flowing text and Sharon Wirrenga’s engaging illustrations offer a delightfully inside journey from the steps a boy may take as he is called to a vocation, to the details of his years as a seminarian and finally, to his ordination.

I love how Mrs. Ficocelli introduces the notion of vocation as one of many options that boys may consider, as in “They may have dreamed of becoming an astronaut, a doctor or a fire fighter. But somewhere along the way, these young boys also thought about being a priest.” Mrs. Ficocelli clearly plants seeds of vocation as a life option among all the lofty dreams that boys enjoy, when she states that “these boys listen to God’s voice in their hearts” to discern their calling and yet sometimes the boy may be “all grown up” before considering the priesthood.

Mrs. Ficocelli demystifies a seminarian’s training by illustrating his time spent as a lector, an acolyte and a deacon before ordination. Also clearly explained is a priest’s vows of celibacy, as the freedom to serve God’s people; obedience, as the  promise to do God’s will and follow the Church’s teaching; poverty, as the living of a simple life with other priests.

Where Do Priests Come From? contains much information regarding the type of work a priest may do, how a priest enjoys leisure time and which order he may choose to enter. Additionally, a glossary of words key to the understanding of the book’s message is included.

The author continues to make the priesthood real to children, toward the conclusion of her book, by stating that “Because a priest is still a man, he goes to confession to be strengthened.” This gave me pause to remember when my younger son received the Sacrament of Reconciliation in a community service at our church, just last winter.  He was floored to witness his favorite parish priest, with whom he chats incessantly at every opportunity about all things Jesus and soccer, receiving the sacrament himself!  What an awesome sight for a child to witness….. for any Catholic…… for any individual. As the author tells us,  a priest is “a man who makes Jesus real to others, through word, example, and the sacraments.” What a clear, simple, and yet, earth shattering message for the readers of this picture book. And couldn’t we all use more of God’s graces in our daily lives as well?

To place an order for Where Do Priests Come From?, please visit  the publisher at www.bezalelbooks.com or phone  (248) 917-3865. To order for vocations awareness programs, or for use in religious education and CCD classes, please contact the publisher for bulk rates.

Copyright 2010 Christine Capolino

God calls everyone to live out that mission in different ways through their vocations. The seed of a vocation is primarily planted and cultivated in the Sacrament and vocation of Matrimony. It is the first vocation children are exposed to and their first example and symbol of the loving relationship between God and his people. Because of this, married spouses and parents need all the graces they can get. With the Sacrament of Holy Orders and through the ministry of the Church they receive the necessary graces of the other five sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick.

Through these graces, parents can nourish their children’s souls and help them discern their unique vocations that will set them on their path to Jesus. Parents can pray for God to reveal his will to their children and they can be active witnesses to God working in their lives. They can participate together as a family in the life of their parish and in their faith through the celebration of the Sacrifice of the Mass, frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament, family confession times throughout the year, and other family prayer traditions such as a weekly rosary or morning and evening prayer routine.

It is also important that parents expose their children to the real-life vocations of the priesthood, the religious life, and the single consecrated life. Families can invite their parish pastor or associate pastors into their homes for dinner or dessert to show their children that there’s more to the priesthood than what they see and hear at Mass on Sunday. Exposing young boys and girls to the religious life by visiting religious brothers and sisters and monasteries and convents when possible gives them a peek at a vocation that is often times forgotten or misunderstood. When parents involve their children in the faith and local community and teach them how to share their time, talent, and treasure they lay down the foundation for God to build their vocation on.  Their vocation will become the main line between their children’s souls and God.

The Catechism of our Catholic Faith reminds parents that “through the grace of the sacrament of marriage, parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children. Parents should initiate their children at an early age into the mysteries of the faith of which they are the “first heralds” for their children. They should associate them from their tenderest years with the life of the Church. A wholesome family life can foster interior dispositions that are a genuine preparation for a living faith and remain a support for it throughout one’s life. (CCC, #2225)

Copyright 2010 Erika Marie

Amidst making lists and schedules, designing lessons, fixing meals, getting supplies, shuttling children back and forth, doing homework, and establishing new routines in the endless dance of September mothering, let us be mindful of our greater calling beyond the tyranny of the September-to-June calendars.

Our goal as Christian parents points well beyond the academic education of our children: That of helping them to heaven. One of the ways we do this is by encouraging a sense of vocation.  And that means, encouraging not only “what” a child want to be when they grow up, but also “who”?

When we know the ultimate goal, we can take steps toward achieving on-going Christian formation in the lives of our children. In a broad sense, it is what successful business managers call “beginning with the end in mind.”  It’s also what spiritual directors have called having “an eternal perspective”.

So, as the new school year begins, it might be fruitful for us parents to wonder just how this coming year might shape the future Christian vocations of our children? Will this be a year that opens their heart more fully to God’s plan for their life?  No parent can predict a child’s future, of course. Yet a parent’s good example can provide an excellent foundation for a child to grow in the ability to hear God speaking to them about the ultimate path for their life.

To grow a sense of vocation, we must try to teach our children to love and to serve God and one another in a selfless manner.  And that’s not easy. It comes from years of example on the part of parents, and other loving adults in a child’s life. It also happens in practice by trial and error on the child’s part.

In serving others, a child comes to learn that “Love of God” and “Love of Neighbor” are intertwined. They cannot be separated from one another.  This is the foundation that any future vocation is built upon. It is the discovery that to love is to serve.

All strong vocations come from asking the question: “Whom are you going to serve?”  And having the response be: “God and others.” Strong vocations come about slowly… from years of dealing with our own tendency toward selfishness, and deciding to be generous and charitable in those moments, instead.

The Vatican Council fathers wisely surveyed the depth of human nature when it comes to finding one’s calling in life when they wrote “man… cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself. (See Gaudium et Spes, 24.) ”

Whether a child’s vocation is to marriage, or religious life, or the priesthood, or to a single life, the same universal call to love applies: in what way can will that child best make a sincere gift of himself or herself to another?  Or to Another (who is God)?

In a recent blog post, I wrote the following:

Vocations, whatever they may be, are all about the intersection of living a life of love and service both to God and to others.

In a pivotal scene from The Sound of Music, Maria, the impetuous postulant nun and star of the film, discloses her vocational “crisis” to the Reverend Mother: Maria, who once thought she would enter the convent and take permanent vows, now fears falling in love with a local widower and his children.

The wise Reverend Mother counsels, “Maria, the love between a man and a woman is holy, too… You must find out how God wants you to spend your love… you have to live the life you were born to live.”

You must find out how God wants you to spend your love. Therein lies a holy dilemma: choosing a fitting response to God who has first chosen to love us. God invites human persons to respond to him freely.  He does not coerce or force; he respects the dignity of the person.  But each person must find out for themselves how to best spend their love.

The point here is that, for our children, a religious vocation to the priesthood or religious life will never be considered if a child does not first hear it is a viable option for their life and love.  The same is true for the married life. A child will never consider the benefits of sacramental grace acquired through the Sacrament of Matrimony, or hold on to the sanctity of the home, if we do not show them the benefit of “the domestic church” in concrete ways.

A strong home life is a garden where vocations of all kinds grow. It will be years before the harvest is ready… but one day, it will be.

Here are few suggestions that may help shape a sense of vocation in your home. (These come from our own experience, and no doubt, you might have many others that I invite you to add in the Comments Box below):

• Give your child your unconditional love, and disclose their true identity in Christ. This is not always easy to do, if we ourselves struggle in these areas.  But we should strive. With words and actions tell your child that they mean everything to you.  But more than that – they mean everything to God.  Show them pictures from their baptism.  Tell them of the graces they have received from whatever sacraments they may have received.  Tell them that God has a special plan for their lives, and its unfolding even now, at whatever age they are!A very powerful way of communicating just how well a child is growing in Christ is to “catch them” in the act of “doing good”. Too often, we parents act as if we are traffic cops handing out citations for infractions of the home rules.  But compliments and appreciation for the good we see our children doing should be genuinely noted, and once in a while, rewarded.

• Foster the spiritual life in your home. Attend Sunday Mass as a family whenever possible. Take your children to the church: introduce them saints they see in the statues there, or in the stained glass.  If there is Eucharistic Adoration, make a short visit and teach them about Jesus being present in the Host. To be sure, teach them to reverence His Presence in the tabernacle.Offer routines of prayer through the day at meals, at rising or retiring. Be a prayer leader in your home, and slowly teach them to lead as well. Young children can start devotional lives that include praying the rosary with the family, reading saints’ biographies, and finding ways to celebrate Catholic life through the liturgical year. (There are many valuable suggestions found here at the CatholicMom.com website on enriching family devotional practices.)

• Teach “people” before “things”. One of the greatest cultural pressures our children face is the lack of respect for the dignity of human persons.  At all times, the moral development of our children must always respect people first.  A person’s needs always trump a person’s wants.Putting another person first will affect how we will spend our time, our money, and our love.  And yet it is the simplest way to show that sacrifices must be made on behalf of others.  A small child can be taught to share.  A teenager can be encouraged to tutor a younger student, or to serve a meal at a soup kitchen, or cut an elderly neighbor’s lawn for free. In each of these moments, one gives something up for the sake of another.

  Every time a child makes a sacrifice on behalf of another person, they are growing in virtue that will serve their ultimate vocation one day.

  Along the same lines of not over-valuing things, children need to learn about the value of money as tool, as well as detachment from it, and from possessions.  The point here is that some children are easily “owned” by their toys or possessions, or their personal bank accounts, rather than the other way around. As parents, we have to take decisive action to prevent our children from becoming addicted to pleasures of any kind, and teach them self-mastery of their time and their spending. These days, digital technology tools such a computers, cell phones, and video gaming must not monopolize a child’s time so much that it desensitizes them to the people around them.

• Introduce your children to strong married couples, as well as to priests and nuns. Pick up the phone and invite ‘em over!  Have a priest come by for coffee and dessert after dinner one night. Ask why they chose their vocation.  Or ask a married couple to tell their wedding story.  Invite a sister to come by, or ask if you can visit a convent, or share in their apostolate for a day.  Support a religious order or apostolate financially and share that mission with your children.

• For teens, find youth ministry options that offer a spiritual component. This is often harder than it looks.  During the teen years, it is vital that teens find points of connection with Christ and the Church in a personal way.  In our house, we’ve often had to look to other parishes, and even programs out of state, for our teens to take part in.  These might be Catholic retreat offerings, service projects, and religious conferences geared for teens.  It took effort, time, and money to support these projects, or to get involved as parents. But again, it’s part of on-going Christian formation.

• Do what you can to inspire a sense of beauty. This might be through love of the arts, music, literature, or through appreciation of the great outdoors … anything that builds a sense of heightened awareness that life is beautiful and joyous.  In our house, that meant years of painting classes, music lessons, and camping trips.  In your home it might be creative writing or drama groups.  There are so many options for families today. By cultivating a sense of the beautiful, and the kinds of moments that capture your child’s imagination can raise the spirit to seek the Ultimate Beauty: God.

This few suggestions are just scratching the surface of developing a sense of vocation in our children.  Again, kindly add your own thoughts below in the Comments Box.



©2010 Patricia W. Gohn

This move would mean my husband would remain here while my two teenagers and I move.  I try to justify the separation by the fact that my husband’s job is suppose to relocate at an unknown location at an unknown time between now and two years from now.  (A reason our horses are still where they are.)

I struggle with this decision because I love my job.  Not only do I love it but I feel called to it.  I love the people I work with and the children.  I see the fruit of my hard work in every child’s smile as they receive Communion for the first time and in every young adult that is blessed with Confirmation.  I love to be a part of the lives of adults as they journey through the Rite of Christian Initiation.  I see God present in each of their glowing faces.  To be a part of something like this is priceless.  I find meaning and purpose in what I am doing.  I am filled with God’s love and the hope for future generations of Catholics.

I know my job as the director of religious education at a small parish, for small wages doesn’t seem very important in the scheme of things.  Yet, to me it is a job where I know what I am doing touches the lives of so many.  Even if there was only one person that I shared our faith with that would be enough.  Our faith would be carried on through that person.  Over their lifetime an uncountable amount of people’s lives would be touched.  It all begins with one person sharing their love and faith.  It is a blessing that keeps giving.

All of these things I feel deep in my heart.  Even though I feel these feelings I question if continuing with this job is God’s will or my own?  What is my motivation?

I struggle with this because I want to go back for my job and to be with my horses but I ask myself if what I feel is God’s calling or me trying to justify following my hearts desires.  We lived in the area where my job is for quite some time.  We developed lifelong friendships and every member of my family was a part of our parish there.  I commute back quite often.  The first time I went back I was worried that I would feel out of place.  Nothing like going back to something to find everyone and thing has changed, life has moved on without you.  To my great surprise it felt like I had never left.  When I went in to Mass and sat in the very same pew I had for years and was greeted by my very same friends, I felt at home.  My heart is not just in my job but in every person who is a part of that community.

I know being in a position to share God with others is my calling in life.   What I don’t know is if returning is God’s will or my own.



Copyright 2010 Lorrie Lane Dyer

But we need your help – please visit the website and place your vote for the winner.  You’ll meet some incredible priests and may even want to share their stories on your blogs!  The voting deadline is July 15, so hear over now to cast your ballot.

Later in the Liturgy, he assumes a posture of kneeling, as one by one, his brother priests lay their hands upon his head, calling down the Holy Spirit to dwell within his soul, and forever change him.  Each set of hands that presses upon him creates more room within him for the indwelling of the One who will assist him to rise to his new life in the Spirit.

As he is invested with a stole and chasuble, a visible sign that he is one who has “put on Christ”, it seems like a veil has shifted and his appearance takes on the look of one who will rise above the ordinary to that of an extra-ordinary leader, one who will care for others as a father, a mother, a sibling and a friend.  It is clear to see that his call is being fulfilled and his face shines with the brilliant light of Christ.

Finally, kneeling once again, the Archbishop consecrates his open hands with the Chrism that will soak through his skin and become a permanent part of him.  Leaving him with a kiss upon those holy hands, the Archbishop watches him rise to face the church full of witnesses, no longer simply a holy man, but now “a priest, forever”.

This day of Ordination is also a day of Ascension for him, when, like Christ being lifted to heaven in a cloud, he, too, is surrounded by a cloud of sweet and fragrant incense which rises in prayer. The new priest himself becomes a prayer that will rise to bring Christ to the world through his love, his faithfulness, his service and his prayers.

The overwhelming message of this day is “get up, begin, and rise”.  After many long years of preparation, it is time to magnify the presence of the Lord within himself and allow it to surge outwards to all of the faithful.  From this day on, each time he elevates the host and chalice, he himself will ascend to a loftier place, the place of heaven on earth as he acts in persona Christi.  And as the faithful look on, our very spirits rise to heaven with him as we flourish in prayers of adoration for our redeemer and prayers of admiration and thanksgiving for the man who brings the True Presence of our Lord into our hearts and souls at each Mass.

(Written in gratitude for the new priests ordained to the priesthood this Spring, especially for Fathers Matthew Widder, Chuck Wrobel, Erich Weiss and Anthony Primal Thomas who were ordained on May 23^rd at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.  Thank you for answering the call and rising to service in the Church!)

Copyright 2010 Anne Bender

To offer your financial and spiritual support to these awesome sisters, visit their website.

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Q: The Norbertine Sisters are approaching their 10-year anniversary in Tehachapi, CA. Are there any special celebrations planned to mark this milestone?

Although there are no special celebrations planned, each day that we have been in Tehachapi has been, in a way, a “spiritual celebration”, as we continue to give thanks to God for the blessings He has bestowed upon us since moving here in May of 2000, especially the many friends He has brought us locally, throughout California, and across the country. We will be praying for you all in a special way this May, in thanksgiving for your friendship in Christ, support and prayers over these past ten years. We also give thanks to God for the young women the Lord has called to our way of life, having grown from the first five “founding sisters” to our current number of twenty. We know that it is the prayers and support of our families, friends and benefactors like you that are helping to draw down God’s grace upon us. May God bless you all a hundred fold!

Q: Right now, the Sisters are considered an Association of the Faithful, awaiting formal recognition from Rome. Once this process is finalized, will anything change in respect to the Sisters’ daily prayer/work life?

Your question is most timely, as our Bishop John Steinbock recently informed us that Rome is currently in the process of working on the formal recognition you mentioned. Although this recognition will not change the sisters’ daily prayer and work life, it might be helpful to explain why this will be the case with a little background information.

St. Norbert, a great reformer of his time, founded the Norbertine Order in the Premontre Valley of France in 1121 as a canonical religious order, with branches of both men (canons) and women (canonesses). The Order has since flourished with houses of canons and canonesses in Europe and other parts of the world, with men’s communities being established in America as well, including that of our founding fathers at St. Michael’s Abbey (located in Silverado, CA). In the mid-1990s, several young lay women, including our founding sisters, who had been attending the Abbey and were discerning vocations or receiving spiritual direction there, were inspired by the fathers’ solemn and reverential celebration of the liturgy and their way of life. In 1997, following a period of discernment, this first American foundation of future Norbertine canonesses was erected as a public association of the faithful, which was the first of several steps over these years on our path towards becoming recognized as a religious community of Norbertine canon­esses.

We have endeavored, from the very beginnings of our foundation back in 1997, to daily live out the authentic way of life of a cloistered Norbertine canoness, which includes, first and foremost, our life of prayer, principally liturgical prayer, and also work and study, all according to the Gospel of Christ and the apostolic way of life, following the Rule of St. Augustine and the Constitutions of the Canonesses Regular of our Order. Thus, our formation and progression through the stages of religious life (i.e., admission, postulancy, novitiate, profession) follow in essence all of the directives set forth in the Constitutions. Most importantly, participation in Holy Mass and the praying of the seven canonical hours of the Divine Office in choir has been, and will always be as canonesses, the first and essential form of our apostolate of prayer and the heart of our life, as we intercede daily before our Eucharistic Lord, from midnight to midnight, for the needs of the world. (See our horarium or schedule attached below.) With this background, we hope that it might be easier to see why our schedule now will be essentially the same when we are fully integrated into the Order and the Church as canonesses.

There will be some differences, however, as might be expected. For example, our sisters who have progressed through the various stages of formation and made their temporary profession (we currently renew our vows every three years) will be able to make their perpetual vows, i.e., their Solemn Profession, and in so doing, we will become full-fledged canonesses for the first time in our community’s young history. As such, being firmly connected to and planted within the Order and the Church, like branches solidly grafted onto the vine, we will be official but hidden vessels for the Lord, instruments and channels of the grace He pours out upon souls and the entire world through His Mystical Body, the Church. We pray that we will always strive to respond with generous and humble hearts, seeking only to do His holy will, all for His honor and glory, and the salvation of souls.

Q: The aim of the Norbertine Sisters is to become fully self-supporting. This is evident in your many endeavors including the hospitality of The Bethany House, your homemade anise-almond biscotti, jams and the soothing apothecary items, among others. Have any projects proven too difficult due to your location and inclement weather? Are there any new projects that the Sisters are excited to be working on?

Yes, one of the very important aims of our foundation (which is a requirement of all Norbertine communities) is to be self-supporting. Our efforts continue in the areas you mentioned, as well as others, including sewing priest vestments, our annual Christmas wreath sales, and our little gift shop, where you can find not only our popular home-made biscotti, jams, and apothe­cary items, but also our hand-made rosaries, aprons and baby blankets, greeting and photo cards, sisters’ art cards, and a variety of religious/spiritual books and other religious items, e.g., statues, plaques, crucifixes, holy cards, medals, icons, etc. As this is a Catholic Moms’ website, many of your readers and viewers might be especially interested in our Bethany Guest House, which is available for overnight stays not only for family and friends visiting from afar, but also for young women discerning vocations, and all those seeking a time of more intense silence, solitude and prayer with the Lord, or to experience a bit of our Norbertine monastic life of prayer.

With regard to our location and inclement weather, it is true that here in the mountains of Tehachapi (5,450 feet) we often have a few months of cold winter weather and snow. Thankfully, however, this has not prevented us from growing seasonal crops for our livestock, having a very productive vegetable and herb garden, and expanding our lavender gardens. In addition, God provides in marvelous ways: Through the kindness of benefactors, we were able to erect a large greenhouse last year, which allows us to grow vegetables, herbs, miniature lemon trees, etc., year-round, a significant help to our internal efforts towards self-sufficiency.

Finally, one of our newest projects, about which the Sisters are very excited, has been slowly growing over the past few years: our artisan cheese making and dairy operations! Using milk from our own cows and goats, we have to date experimented with making over 20 varieties of hard, semi-hard, fresh and semi-ripened cheeses, and, besides our own milk, we also make for our own use butter and dairy products such as cream, kefir, yogurt, etc. We have had excellent feedback on our cheese, and we hope one day to have a suitable building, as well as the necessary licenses and permits in order to sell it, which we believe has the potential to contribute greatly to our efforts to become self-supporting.

Q: Your newsletter, “FirstFruits” offers readers an insider look into our Catholic history, coupled with spirit-filled reminders about your prayer life and service. Since you are the first American community of the Norbertine Sisters, are there any other “firsts” that we should know about?

We hope that our family, friends and benefactors enjoy our “FirstFruits”, which we try to send approximately three times each year. Our most recent edition (Lent 2010) was just mailed, and although we do not yet have a website, this latest newsletter and some of our past “FirstFruits” can be viewed at our server’s internet website: www.antelecom.net/techsrv

We really can’t think of any more “firsts”, but we thought your readers and viewers might be interested in knowing the five identifying characteristics of ourOrder. Spurred on by his profound conversion, St. Norbert wished to combine the duties of the canonical life with the rigors of monastic observance in accord with the Gospel of Christ and a community life vowed to the apostolic way of life found in the Rule of St. Augustine. At Christmas in 1121, the Norbertine Order was born. The five marks of Norbertine Spirituality are:

1.      A special devotion to the Holy Eucharist, which holds the first place in the hearts       of  Norbertines

2.      A special devotion to the blessed Virgin Mary, particularly to her Immaculate       Conception

3.      The Divine Office in choir

4.      Zeal for the salvation of souls

5.      The spirit of habitual penance

The first and second are devotions of the Norbertine Order bequeathed by St. Norbert himself. The third and fourth characteristics arise from the nature of a canonical order. The fifth is taken from monastic orders. (Cf. “Premonstratensian Canons” in the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911)

Q: On any given day, your prayer schedule encompasses eight (8) hours a day. For us lay people, that’s already a full-time job! How do the Sisters maintain this rigorous prayer schedule including time for study, meals, work and sleep?

As St. Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church and Patroness of our Fresno Diocese and Doctor, has said: “All is grace!” While our life is indeed full and some might say “intense”, the gift of our horarium is that it balances our total dedication to God, through our apostolate of prayer, with time each day for work and study, as well as rest, recreation and sleep—a balance that finds its roots and model in the centuries-tested monastic and Norbertine canonical traditions. It may seem that we accomplish much, but in reality we know that it is all God’s work: as we strive to follow and be obedient to our horarium, performing every duty and action out of love for the Lord Jesus, we pray that He may pour out His grace upon us. We view our cloistered contemplative Norbertine canonical vocation as truly a gift from God—providing the opportunity to show our spouse, Jesus Christ, just how much we love Him by giving our lives totally to Him, for His honor and glory and the salvation of souls. In a sense, it boils down to love, true love: giving all for Him and our neighbor without counting the cost. It is the call, in a sense, of every true Christian, to love as He loved us, whatever our state of life is, be it married, single or consecrated: to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him. In a world that confuses emotions with true love, that focuses ever more increasingly on indulging rather than forgetting self (vanity rather than humility, “it’s all about me”), and that seeks to avoid every pain and suffering rather than accepting and offering them to Christ, to suffer with Him, we hope that every prayer and sacrifice, every act of self-denial, is being used by Him to help others, drawing down His grace and loving mercy. Every mother knows what it means to give of self, to suffer, to truly love: you do it daily for your children and your families—getting up in the middle of night, putting your children and their needs before your own, etc. Just as you find your strength and perseverance in Christ, so do we. And the gift is that He has given us His Mystical Body, the Church, in which we are intimately connected as His members, intercon­nected and interdependent, not independent, able to count on and rely upon each other; and He has also given us His Mother. Let us remain united in prayer, always going to Jesus through Mary, for there is our lifeblood, our strength. May God bless and keep you all.

Our Horarium (or Schedule)

11:45 p.m.            Rise

12:00 a.m.            Office of Readings – Midnight prayer (Matins)

5:20 a.m.            Rise and breakfast

6:00 a.m.            Morning prayer (Lauds), Morning Offering & Angelus

6:30 a.m.            Martyrology & Chapter

7:15 a.m.            Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Mid-morning prayer (Terce)

8:15 a.m.            Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament

8:30 a.m.            The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (except Fridays, Sundays)*

10:00 a.m.            Class/Study/Work

11:45 a.m.            Mid-day prayer (Sext), Angelus & Rosary

12:30 p.m.            Dinner

1:00 p.m.            Mid-afternoon prayer (None)

1:30 p.m.            Grand Silence (a time for additional prayer, rest, exercise, etc.)

2:30 p.m.            Class/Study/Work

5:15 p.m.            Evening prayer (Vespers) & Angelus

5:45 p.m.            Lectio Divina (prayerful meditation with Scripture)

6:30 p.m.            Supper followed by recreation

8:00 p.m.            Night prayer (Compline); Grand Silence until Terce

9:00 p.m. “Lights out”

*Holy Mass on Fridays is at 5:15pm, preceded by Vespers at 4:30pm. On Sundays, there is no public celebration of the Mass. Our gift shop hours are 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily, or by appointment.

E-mail prayer requests are always welcome by the Sisters at pray­_req@cybersurfers.net or by calling the convent at 661-823-1066 (please do not hesitate to leave a message on their machine as the sisters are often unable to answer given their schedule), or writing the sisters at their convent: 17831 Water Canyon Road, Tehachapi, CA 93561. For more information about the Norbertine Sisters, you may also e-mail them at norb_sisters@antelecom.net or MotherMaryA@aolcom, or write, visit or call them at the above address and telephone number.

Music “Ave Maria” ©2010 Norbertine Sisters of the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph, Tehachapi, CA

Copyright 2010 Colleen McNatt

That’s when the praying began.

I started reading blogs of well-known homeschoolers and purchasing books.  I began to get a feel for what I thought my style would be.

I ignored some of the misgivings that started cropping up.  My oldest daughter is as outgoing as kids come, and she was asking to go to school.  There are no co-ops or homeschooling groups in our area; the drive time required wouldn’t work for us.

The decision is just one year at a time, I told myself. It’s not life or death.

We were all set this year, and I started off full of fire and excitement.

And, at some point, I started listening to my husband’s wisdom, my spiritual advisor’s gentle observations, and my own inner voice.

Though my heart cracks a little to admit it, we are sending our daughter to kindergarten next year.

I have had to come to peace with the fact that this does not make me a failure.  Just because homeschooling this year with this daughter is not going to be a reality doesn’t mean I feel that call for nothing.

God calls us to greatness, and it’s so easy to misinterpret those calls, to warp them with our own desires.  Maybe I’ll be an instrument of His in some other time and place than in my home, educating my children with Charlotte Mason flair.  Perhaps homeschooling is an adventure we’ll embark upon with a future child.

The path to heaven always involves the Cross, and my vocations as wife and mother give me plenty of opportunities to reflect on Jesus’ love for me as he hung there that first Good Friday.  As silly as it may seem, my homeschooling “failure” brings me one step closer to Jesus.

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Copyright 2010 Sarah Reinhard

Today we welcome Dawn Corliss-Ingoglia as a new contributor at CatholicMom.com.  For more of Dawn’s writing, visit her website.

Sure I believed in God, I also believed in His Son, Jesus. That is what I was taught to do by my Catholic Catechist Classes I attended as a child. But, there I was believing and everything was the same. I can recall a time when I would pray at night and speak to my grandfather who passed away when I was five. I would sleep with cross that was given to my mother from my grandfather’s funeral under my pillow at night to keep me safe. I think it might have been a way for me to keep him with me even though he wasn’t with me physically anymore.

I went to church when I could as kid, until I hit my teens. Then my view of the priests changed and I didn’t see them as the holy people I thought they were. (I didn’t think they had human traits..they don’t sin).

Fast forward, I got married at church and moved to San Diego. I didn’t know anyone here, I didn’t know any churches – I just lived my life, and would pray sometimes. Until, four years later when friends invited us to church with them on base. It was a Christmas Eve Lutheran/Catholic service.  The homily was about listening to the voice of God.

I remember reflecting on that and then I “heard” you’re pregnant. We got up to sing Silent Night and I had tears in my eyes, which wasn’t characteristic for me. I later told my husband about it and he said I was “crazy.” I said ok and left it at that. Sure enough a couple of weeks later, I found out I was. Miracle #1! I conceived during Christmas week.

Fast forward to Easter, I decided to go to church again. I went to a Catholic church in my city. During the homily, the priest spoke of listening to the voice of God. WHAT? Are you kidding me? I got it, God. You win. I’ll listen. Miracle #2

The time came for my son to be baptized and I was given some type of theological material to consider. Wow, this is deep. I so learned from taking a Religious Studies class about different religions, but most importantly I learned that I needed to search deeper into the Catholic faith to discover what I believed rather than what I was taught to believe. I had taken a break from college when the baby was born, later to be recalled to activity duty after 9/11. I struggled with leaving the baby so young 4 weeks old to be exact. I thought about what I should do, and realized that I need to fulfill my duty and was lucky enough that my orders were for my own base, and not for Iraq. Good thing I listened, because the rest of my unit later got orders to Iraq. Miracle # 3!

I wanted to teach my son about character and responsibility of following through when you take an oath. A huge blessing for us during this time, was that my parents had just moved to San Diego form New York. They cared for my baby boy 6 days week, while I was at work at the base. There is no way we would have gotten through the year without them. Blessing!  We were lucky because with the money I made as a BM2 we saved for a down payment on our home. Blessing! I tried really hard to go to church but it was hard on me with the baby, and then a toddler. Finally, he can go to CCD class while I am at Mass, I can listen whole heartedly know.

Passing on faith to my son was very important to me since I didn’t get that when I was younger. One Sunday, I felt the desire to help teach CCD for middle school grades since that was the age group I was working with when I got my credential. This desire…calling, has lead me to such an amazing spiritual journey. The more I taught I learned, the more I listened to others teach the more I learned.

Until one day when a special person told me about Basic Catechist class. I didn’t think I had time, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go. What was I going to do with my kids while I attended. God put this class in my life for a reason. He provided friends who would look after my children while I went. Miracle #4!

There was no obstacle now except for myself. But I did want to learn more about my catholic faith so that I could defend myself from my Christian friends. WOW!! What a blessing! Blessing! The class gave me so much insight. I understood more, I came to feel the Holy Spirit and saw how God has been working in my life. I had faith and believed, but I gained a working relationship with God. I can see little by little how God has worked in my life more clearly. He even works through other people, if you didn’t know. I am so thankful for what I have and the lessons He has given me. I plan to detail some aspects of my growth and welcome and input, disagreements, or even encouragement. I would hope to share this all with you in hopes that someone might hear what God needs them to hear whether they want to or not.



Copyright 2010 Dawn Corliss-Ingoglia

Even though my family moved out of the neighborhood almost three years ago, I have kept up with Wendi and her husband, Sam through mutual friends, Christmas cards, Facebook and our family blogs. I have been aware of Wendi and Sam’s dedication to helping orphans in Africa and their involvement with philanthropic organizations like HopeChest and Red Letters Campaign. But I hadn’t fully realized how sincere they were in their dream to live their lives out loud as a testament to their faith in God until recently.

Last year, Sam left a nice job so they could start a new microgiving organization named, HopeMongers to fight poverty, address human rights issues and encourage adoption overseas.

We all like to pass on information about helping others and donating money, but those who very drastically change everything to dedicate their lives to helping others are rare and special.

And yet, one reason I’ve been so inspired by Wendi is that she is not perfect. By her own admission, she is a normal mom who sometimes struggles with raising four small children, homeschooling, keeping house, and juggling the normal daily duties life throws at you. On her blog, she admits her own failings and how she turns to God for strength and guidance. Even in the midst of doing good works, she shares the same vulnerabilities as the rest of us. What makes her stand out is that through her love of Christ and her husband, she is following the path the Lord has laid out for her.

Recently, Sam and Wendi returned from an extended visit to Ethiopia to make connections, deliver supplies and work hard for those people in need. And if that alone wasn’t what many of us would consider a challenge, they also brought their four young children, ages 6, 5, 3 and 1 with them on this adventure. Reading her descriptions and seeing pictures of their trip had me in awe. I find it difficult enough to take my children on a trip across the state; the idea of taking them to a third world country blows me away.

But this is who she is. God has called her and Sam to this work and they not only listened to the call, they also have the faith and courage to follow it wherever it leads them.

Copyright 2010 Lisa Jones

Acting in persona Christi, is a consuming thing which requires a long journey of prayer, education and contemplation. This journey frequently takes the priest to places he had never expected, people that he never even thought he would know, and jobs he never imagined he would perform. When I think of the many priests that have positively influenced my life, I am thankful to have known such a colorful cast of characters that have kept me faithful to the Church and her teachings. We need to take a few seconds to think about that appreciation. Without the priest, we would have no Sacraments. The Eucharist, the source and summit of our Catholic lives, would not be there. All of the other Sacraments we frequently take for granted would be gone. Our lives as Catholics would be shattered without the seven sacraments that bring us into daily participation with God’s divine love.

All of the theological aspects we take for granted would be gone. Initiation into the faith, forgiveness from sins, spiritual strengthening while sick, marital covenant expression, links of Apostolic succession, the imposition of the Holy Spirit and Eucharistic nourishment all vanish without our Catholic priests.

This is the time to affirm their importance. Celebrate their Holy Orders and reaffirm support for all priests that daily bring to a fragile world the love of Jesus.

I think of the many priests that have influenced me in life. Good influences, holy men with countless talents as well as human shortcomings. The aroma of cigar smoke always brings Msgr. Joseph Waldron to mind. He was never without his beloved cigar. He gave me my first job, answering the phone and the door at Saint Gabriel Rectory. I guess it was a sign of things to come, namely my involvement for so many years in the telecommunications industry. Other priestly men are always with me as well. Rev.George Feider, O.Praem., a Norbertine priest that guided me through the complicated mazes of high school course selections as well as the guttural complications of studying German. No matter what I wanted to do, he always loved me and directed me to the right choice of doors.

I can never forget the person of Rev. Arthur Taborelli (recently returned to God). He kept me on spiritual track during my seminary years. His theological explanations and spiritual suggestions were always surrounded with humor but wrapped in pragmatic and realistic understandings of the Gospel message. His colorful personality always brought a welcome “cheer” to an otherwise dreary moment.

Little things always remind me of these men of prayer, learning and faith. Their lives illuminated and inspired me to study philosophy and theology. Regardless of each priest’s influence and personality they were all men of prayer and Eucharist. The celebration of the Sacraments was always the primary purpose for them. They brought Christ’s love and teachings to the world.

Priests today, no less colorful, accomplish the same tasks, with different methods. Those priests touch me as well through their daily ministry. The parishes are different but Christ is always brought into view at Divine Mercy Parish, Saint Madeline, St. Frances Cabrini, St. John the Evangelist and Saint Gabriel. Men that make a difference on a daily basis bring Christ to the world.

That is why we need to support and celebrate with them – and pray for them.

Whether we realize it or not, priests offer many facets to our lives that are being polished into theological diamonds.

Sometimes we think of our priests as ‘out of step’ and outdated. However, always keep in mind these guys are Jesus among us. A lot of times, because of our own human nature, we forget that the priest is human as well. We take for granted the Church’s Sacraments. A few moments of thought make me realize what an empty life I would have without sacramental grace. I appreciate and thank God daily for our Catholic priests and the great mission they accomplish.

When we go to the parish this Sunday, remember to thank your parish priest for everything, for being present, and for the Sacraments.

Copyright 2010 Hugh McNichol

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:19-23

“There appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:1-11

A few years ago I was undergoing a difficult time, struggling with a deeper conversion into my Catholic Faith. I was completely caught up in my thoughts and prayers and had a hard time focusing on my daily family life. I was deeply drawn to adoration and daily Mass and spending time in prayer at church. The priest who was giving me spiritual direction at the time wisely reminded me that my first and true vocation is that of wife and mother and that I could just as easily find God in my home as I could find him in the church. I told him that I so desperately wanted to hear the still, small voice of God and thought that it would only happen while I was in prayer at church. He lovingly teased me and said “Anne, I don’t think you will ever hear the still, small voice of God. For you, I think it will be the loud, booming voice of God!”

Pentecost Sunday arrived a few weeks after that conversation with my spiritual director. I was preparing a large Sunday breakfast for my family as usual. My son, Jack, was sitting at the kitchen table coloring pictures. He said, “Mom, I’m drawing a picture of a campfire.” “That’s nice,” I replied as I continued to stir the eggs. Then he said, “No, Mom, its not a campfire, it’s the flames of fire on the apostles heads!” Again, I distractedly murmured something about that being very nice, and went on with my breakfast preparations. Jack finished coloring, taped his picture to the kitchen cabinet, and our family went on with our breakfast and preparations to leave for Mass.

Jack’s picture stayed on the kitchen cabinet for several days and I really didn’t give it much thought. One evening, my husband took our five children over to the playground to have a baseball game, and I stayed at home to wash the windows. One of our kitchen windows was broken and wouldn’t stay open without a brace. I had forgotten about that in my still distracted state. I raised the window, and then turned to walk away, when the window came crashing down on my head, shattering into thousands of shards. As painful as that experience was, it was probably just what I needed to wake me from my dream state. As the window hit me, I was looking at Jack’s Pentecost picture. Suddenly, the words of my spiritual director came back to me “You will find God at home, following your vocation, and God’s voice will be loud and booming.”

Nothing could have been more loud and booming than a window shattering on my head! It was as if God woke me up out of my daze and said, “Look at that picture! Look what Jack drew! He drew a picture of Pentecost, your new spirit! Your life is in this home and in this family. Pay closer attention to your children, they understand more than you can ever know!”

That picture stayed on the kitchen cabinet until my spiritual director came over to bless it. Then I framed it and placed it in my prayer corner so that I would always remember that my Pentecost, my new spirit, is in my family and in my vocation as wife and mother. I will always find God in my home and I can hear his voice anytime, anywhere, soft and still or loud and booming.



Copyright 2010 Anne Bender

By including these consecrated individuals in our daily prayers and interceding on their behalf, we obtain many of God’s graces for them…and hopefully, a few for ourselves and those we love.

In addition to the children’s liturgy, members of our parish organized a great program for the children. A small group of kids from the ages of five to twelve eagerly joined The Rosary Club. One of the many purposes of the club is to engage the children in activities based on our Catholic principles and also to teach them to reflect on the mysteries and lead them in learning to pray the rosary.

Over time, the kids have assembled their very own oversized rosary; put on a play depicting the Joyous Mysteries; made St. Therese sacrifice beads and enjoyed countless other activities.

Among the several events and fundraisers running throughout the year, the group organizers decided in observance of the year’s theme, it would be great for the kids to get more familiar with the long and demanding road a man must take as he journeys to become a priest.

Creativity and appeal were key ingredients for this project with a bunch of kids under twelve and they came up with a wonderful way to introduce the kids to the life of a seminarian.

The group leaders received permission for access to our diocese seminarians and collected information to create easy to read and understandable profiles about them for the kids. They were even able to provide a photo of them.

The kids were gathered around the table and told they had an important mission to carry out for Jesus. It was explained to them that they were going to write a very special letter to young men who were studying to be priests. They were shown the various profiles and instructed to each choose one.

The children spent the afternoon writing and decorating letters and cards to their new spiritually adopted consecrated brothers. There were no formal guidelines as to what they should write; no corrections to spelling. Even the youngest, with the most basic of printing proficiency had free reign over what their message was. Included along with each welcoming salutation and unique introduction, every single one of them wrote that they now had a new friend who they would include in their prayers.

As I watched the smiling, enthusiastic faces light up at how much fun they were having and heard the squealing at each other’s ideas and encouragement of one another, I was struck by the innocence and purity of the moment. Children truly are of the kingdom of God.

I imagined the smile on the faces of those young men; the joy they must have felt in their hearts upon opening up the cards and letters and discovering they were from children.  How touched they must be to know, there are so many angels praying for them.

I hope it comforts them and strengthens their determination on really tough days. The road to being a priest is long and intense and often, it can be a lonely stretch out there on the highway of secularism. We are all driving it but they often times don’t get asked to carpool with the rest of the crowd.

That group of young seminarians now has these little earthly angels on their side, praying for them. Their prayers have a most wonderful privilege. Their prayers soar on wings straight to heaven, through the gates of eternity and are whispered directly into the loving heart of God.

Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers.               1Corinthians 4:15

Copyright 2010 Manuela Giannotti