“To move in or not to move in … that is the question”
Since Matt has moved into my soon-to-be-home, we’ve been having quite a time decorating, buying furniture and just making it [...]
Colorful Gospel for May 27, 2010
Based on the Gospel of John 16: 12-15 God’s love for us – totally awesome and unconditional! This Sunday we [...]
Trinity proves how awesome is our God
During one of my years studying Sacred Theology in Toronto, I worked in one of the local parishes. Since I was not yet a priest I usually wound up assisting at many of the Masses celebrated on any given Sunday. This is typical work for a seminarian and is generally enjoyed as a part of “internship” for the priesthood. As it turned out I was on deck for Trinity Sunday.
One of the priests, also a professor at one of the local universities, celebrated the early Mass and the last Mass of the day. For the early Mass his homily lasted about 35 minutes and resembled a college lecture. After the Mass, the pastor had a conversation with Father and asked him to use the intervening time between the Masses to bring his homily down to earth and cut the time at least in half. So off he went.
The next Mass found one of the local associates celebrating. He got to the pulpit after the proclamation of the Gospel and rapidly said: “Today is the feast of the Holy Trinity. St. Augustine didn’t understand it, St. Ambrose didn’t understand it; and I don’t understand it. It’s a mystery. We gotta believe it!” Then he began the Creed.
Father professor returned for the last Mass and went through his entire homily as at the earlier Mass – only faster. It was dizzyingly amazing! Needless to say, I don’t think the congregation walked away with too many tangible insights into the Blessed Trinity that day.
Mother, daughter cook up book of family treasures
With daughter Sherry Willems looking over her shoulder, Marianne Gavel holds a copy of the cookbook she compiled for her grandchildren. The book contains many treasured family recipes that reflect her Polish heritage. (Catholic Herald photo by Allen Fredrickson)
“I can’t believe this is really me,” the 93-year-old member of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish, Kenosha, said smiling, “I was so young back then.”
Picking up Gavel’s cookbook, is not simply a shoebox full of cookery prescriptions, but a piece of history and a story of love between a mother and daughter.
Last January, Gavel moved to an assisted living facility for four months. After she broke a bone in her neck in a fall, she was unable to walk and relocated to St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged in Kenosha. For a woman who was proud of her independence, the move left her depressed and angry.
Girls, let’s kaffee klatsch
I gave my “When’s God Gonna Show Up?” workshop last week in Sleepy Eye, Minn. This time, my audience was [...]
Dust off your dancing shoes!
You may recall in the Feb. 13 edition I wrote how music has changed over the years.
As a follow-up, I wondered: What goes with music?
The answer is obvious – dancing.
As we are aware that everything has a beginning, I had suggested that music had its origin in the Bible … and … so does dancing.
Ss. Anne, Joachim are role models for grandparents
Spring in Wisconsin seems doubly welcome after the drab days of February and March. We celebrate renewal on many levels. We have Mother’s and Father’s Day to bond with our families. We also have occasions to applaud a star performance or cheer awards being presented to grandchildren. We renew our faith in the celebration of the Resurrection, the Ascension and Pentecost. Often we wrap Bibles and rosaries to give to those receiving the sacraments of Eucharist, penance and confirmation.
Many of us have learned our caring, involved grandparent role from our parents and grandparents. We listen to stories of role models from the Old and New Testament.
The Gospels are silent on the grandparents of Jesus. What we know of them is through “tradition” dating to early Christian times. Ss. Joachim and Anne, who was probably called Hannah in that time, became the parents of Mary when they were older. What a joy it must have been to them when their grandchild Jesus was born. I sometimes wonder what Jewish lullabies Anne sang to baby Jesus as she cared for him while Mary went to the well for their daily supply of water. Did she tell her friends how wonderful this blessed babe was and the pictures he could draw in the sand with one of the many stones that cover the Mideastern landscape?
To move or not to move?
Some decisions do not come easy. To stay in the family home or downsize may create disagreement among family members. [...]
Colorful Gospel for May 20, 2010
Based on Acts 2:1–11, 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13, Jn 20:19-23Watching, waiting and praying. The apostles are huddled together in the [...]
Guild tallies more than 450,000 volunteer hours
Some 172 guests attend “A Fashionable Affair,” a spring luncheon presented by the St. Camillus Women’s Guild at San Camillo, Saturday, April 17. The event included a “Traveling Trunk Show,” a tribute to the wives of former United States presidents’ wives, hosted by Goodwill Industries. Funds raised at the spring luncheon and at a holiday boutique held in November help purchase large items such as a Wii system for the residents. (Catholic Herald photo by James Pearson)
They have logged more than 450,000 hours with twice-yearly fundraisers, games, holiday cookie deliveries, daily mail delivery, floral arrangements for new residents and by staffing the in-house thrift shop.
This year, the 172 guests of the guild’s 12th annual luncheon were treated to a fashion “Travelin’ Trunk Show” hosted by Goodwill Industries. The popular program was one of four offered by Goodwill, and served as a tribute to the wives of former United States presidents, explained Kathie Jensen, membership chairman and fundraiser coordinator.
“The show was really something,” she said. “We had to book it two years ahead of time. They started with Martha Washington and went all the way to Laura Bush. We had a combination fashion show and history lesson. It was wonderful.”
Funds raised from the annual luncheon go toward large items for the residents, such as a Wii system and games, wheel chairs, electric beds, Broda reclining chairs, pressure alternating mattresses and portable pulse oximeters.