Blog
Our staff, and some of our “super volunteers”, share reflections and testimonies on how they have encountered Jesus in their ministries and work, and what they are doing to share The Lord with others.
Your Favorite Season
When I was a young priest I recall a parishioner telling me that Lent was her favorite liturgical season. What?! Her favorite liturgical season? How is that possible? Lent is full of sacrifices, sufferings, and difficulty. Even the time of year is challenging with winter dragging on and the cold weather seeming to refuse to give in to the coming of spring. How is Lent your favorite season I would ask.
Qualities of a Great Volunteer
Having worked in several different parishes, I have encountered many volunteers along the way. Let's face it, volunteers are the lifeblood of every church. In order for a parish to be good stewards of the offerings given, it is necessary to control costs. By having volunteers fill the many needs of a parish under the guidance of a ministry leader or staff member, many programs and projects can be made available to parishioners.
RAINBOW IN THE SKY: A SIGN OF GOD’S COVENANT
I am blessed and amazed at how God’s love and grace works in and through one another, here at St. Francis of Assisi. This weekend’s 1st reading of Genesis 9: 8-15, reminds me of a special way that God showed himself as a reminder of his covenant with us.
There were many times I fought God tooth and nail. Thank God, His will is stronger than mine!
When I was a young girl, my favorite part of mass was reading the Scriptures in the missalette. As soon as the priest started his sermon, I’d open the missalette and begin reading where I’d left off the week before. I read exciting stories about Egyptians, funny stories about the very short Zacchaeus, wonderful stories about miracles and healing, and moving stories about Jesus’ compassion or anger because of sin.
Maintenance for heart and soul
It is interesting that my work at the church often mimics what I do at home. . . I’m speaking of how my wife and I occasionally do a walk-through of our home with a paintbrush, looking for areas to touch-up trim that has been banged up and walls that need paint or repairs.
A Friendly gesture
One of our neighbors that I gave a poinsettia to was so surprised at my gift that she called to thank me, saying that she just couldn’t believe that I would have given her such a special gift. Tears welled up, and words didn’t come easy for her, she was so touched. It didn’t seem to me to be such a big deal; but that simple gift, and the gesture of friendship meant a lot to her.
More of Him, Less of Me
As Christians it is one of our greatest hopes that at the end of our earthly lives we will hear those words we find in the Gospel today: “You are my beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
It would mean we’ve run the race, and won the crown, as Saint Paul writes in 2 Timothy. These words spoken at the Baptism of our Lord, by God looking upon His Son with great love even before he started his public ministry.
St. Joseph, model of virtue
Typically this time of year we contemplate where the Lord might be leading us and where we might like to be by the end of the year, and we make resolutions to lead us in those directions. As we begin this year we entrust ourselves, our families, and our parish family to the patronage of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus.
The ultimate gift
Coming through Advent, and into Christmas, I am filled with gratitude. The tradition of gift-giving is upon us, and the most important one is the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ. This weekend, we honor the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and I am in awe of having that family as our model.
Gideon’s 300
God is still looking for men, women, and children to be His faithful few. At St. Francis of Assisi, I look around and find many of them. Some are old, some very young, some sick, others strong. Some are simply trying to raise their families in the faith. They are often like Gideon asking, “Who am I?”
A Light of Hope…A Light Revealed
Be on the lookout for GOD’S GRACE and BEAUTY this Advent. I offer a photograph of the moment described above for you to meditate on. It is my hope that you will receive the grace that I felt that day.
A Lesson of Hope
I wondered about this man, was it the first time that he was listening to Catholic Radio? What made him call? It was no coincidence that I heard that particular call. I wrote his name in my book of Prayer Intentions in red; and feel that God asked me to place him in my heart. It was particularly interesting to me since our granddaughter lives, and teaches in Boise, and our son and his wife just moved there last month.
Beauty won me over!
My first job at a Catholic parish was in the Bronx, NY. I went to the first interview reluctantly, thinking “Lord I’m here out of obedience, but I’m busy enough” (back then I was teaching, going to grad school and my wife was pregnant)! But the Lord had other plans. At the interview, the pastor -a Capuchin Friar- shared how every Christmas he would spend more than the Cathedral hiring an orchestra, because he believed his parishioners had to experience the same beauty available to those in richer suburban churches. (How very Franciscan). The argument of beauty won me over!