Parting thoughts...

My heart hurts.

What a joy this parish has been to work for. I cannot say that I have not been wounded and even feel beaten up because of the manner in which I was laid off from St. Jude. There are many things that one must question about why I was let go. Nevertheless, that is not for me to expound on here.

Rather, I want to focus on a few things: 1) I am profoundly struck by the many people who have stopped me this last week to offer their thanks for all that I have done and tried to do at this parish. One of the most striking was when an elder lady of our parish mentioned to me that "you have brought a real sense of a Catholic identity to this parish." WOW! If that is not a compliment, then I don't know what is. But when one stops to think about it, one begins to question: of what significance is this of the parish before I arrived, and of what after I leave? Now, please don't get me wrong. I am not so prideful as to think I have been some kind of savior, if anything has been done through me then I give all praise to Christ Jesus, My Lord and My God. However, why is it that lay people recognize that another layperson has done something to bring "being Catholic" back to the center of this parish?

Could it be that the unorthodox elements of this parish have been laboring and suppressing the practice of the Catholic Faith in some way? Perhaps. Could it be that the laicized priest who preceded me had suppressed the wonder and awe due to the Holy Catholic Faith since he himself had to have been jaded or at best felt guilty and hypocritical for teaching the demands of the Holy Catholic Faith, especially since he was charged not to when he was laicized (as I understand the official letters of discharge to say)? Perhaps. Its hard to say in the end. But perhaps the fact that the shackles of fear have emerged at our parish as our nation's economy continues to plummet, also might have something to do with it.

All I know is that I hope "Ben", who I understand to be my replacement in the Children's religious education, will help to restore some vigor and passion to the children's program for the sake of the parents who are coming to receive the Catholic Faith. So many of the people teaching Religious Education in our nation tend to ignore the Integrity and the Mystery of the Holy Catholic Faith, and prefer to focus on "social justice" or "social interaction." This, of course, was the philosophy also of Anthony Gallegos, and many people at this parish were disgusted (it seemed) by it because it was uncomfortable to actually be Catholic and to teach the teens to actually defend and live up to the challenging adventure that is the Holy Catholic Faith.

2) I am deeply impressed, given all that I have said above, by the people who have actually heard what I have been teaching for the past 5 years and taken it to heart (which has been nothing more than explaining what is in the Catechism or in the Sacred Tradition of the Catholic Church). Many of the RCIA participants and some parents have actually been moved to compunction - that is, to actually repent, to be restored to grace and to take up their cross and follow after the Lord Jesus. Unfortunately, with so much confusion and misinformation about the Catholic Faith out there, and at times having been taught here at St. Jude, one begins to see why Catholics are so half-hearted that they can't even understand why we should be OUTRAGED that our Pro-Abortion President is on the verge of receiving an award from our nation's premiere Catholic University. My hope is that in the near future, someone will also stand up and, whether from the pulpit or from the pews, help push to restore the proper worldview we should have as Catholics at the Parish of St. Jude.

This parish is entrusted to the Patron of Impossible Cases, and I have been struck how many people come from all over the city to pray to St. Jude here at our parish. How awesome that Fr. Schaffer wisely put up the relic of St. Jude for people to come and to storm heaven for their needs with the Apostle to whom Our Archbishop has continued to entrust us! May we all turn to heaven for our parish and especially for our parish leaders, who have many decisions to make and every one of them they will have to stand before the Gates of Hell to answer for why they did what they did, as one of my University professors used to point out us. For this reason, let us pray for them and for their desire to seek Christ above money, above popularity, and above their own way of doing things.

3) Every year, for the last 5 years - since I started on July 12th 2004, I have chosen a scripture verse to be the focus of the Catechetical Year. I haven't pushed it much on the parish, but more importantly I have tried to make a point of it to the catechists (though I don't know how I well I did with that), to the parents, and to the children (though this only in a general way). Not least of all of these, I always chose a scripture that spoke to my heart and where I was at, as this it seems to me is at the heart of a Catholic leader. Unless I have been living out my Catholic Faith, and continuing and enduring the struggle to be a disciple of Jesus, then I have no ability to witness to what this means. To put it another way, "One can not give what one does not have." Or to put it in Papal terms, so to speak, "Modern man listens more willing to witnesses than he does to teachers, and if he listens to teachers it is because they are witnesses."

My scripture verse for the year, which has allowed me to endure many things this year with peace and some solace, is this: "Indeed, I count EVERYTHING as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as [REFUSE], in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him (Phil 3:8-9)." Now, I have tried to live up to this all year. Not focusing on money, on popularity, on pleasure, but to focus entirely on Christ. Perhaps I have not lived up to this entirely, but I have tried. Nevertheless, what I find so heart-wrenching is the fact that I also have realized much more that in the Church, the faithful of Christ, lies the joys of working for the Church. There is a famous story of St. Lawrence the Deacon who was asked to bring the treasure of the Church before the Emperor, and he went away and came back with the poor people of Rome. He said, "Here is the treasure of the Church." Too true. My heart is saddened to leave Christ who is present in every parishioner of St. Jude, even those who reject him by holding positions contrary to our Holy Mother Church.

The Letter to the Hebrews is quite clear: "Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? - "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by him. For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. Fos is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom a father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons." As Catholics, we must learn the obedience that our Lord and Master learned in his humanity. This is what is left for us, all of us - from layperson, deacon, priest, bishop, or Pope. We must learn to find the joy of living in the discipline of Holy Mother Church; and by that I mean, trying to understand what her wisdom is in her teachings and not presuming we know better than her!

I have a heavy heart. Am I excited for my new job? Somewhat, and I am sure tomorrow on May 1st, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, I will be much more excited, when I realize I will soon have a job again. But for now, to live in this moment of my life, to enjoy the present as it should be enjoyed, my heart is heavy with sadness.

Today is also the Feast of St. Pius V, who established the so-called "Tridentine" Mass or what we call today "the Extraordinary Form" of the Mass or even more popularly "the Old Latin mass" as valid in perpetuity. I find that somehow fitting for my last day at St. Jude. I have been told, through the grapevine, that someone had mentioned how they thought that I was laid off from this parish because I was "too Catholic." I don't know about that, but it is comforting to know that the Church will carry on in perpetuity, regardless of what happens at this parish, there will always be a Catholic Church until the end of time. The complimentary question, which has been the question I have been about the business of getting people to answer in thier own lives in my time here at St. Jude, is whether we will choose to remain Catholics until the end of each of our time on earth.

I pray, as you have endured this last post, that you dear reader will find that joy and the comfort that allows you also to endure. May you be hidden in and defended by the prayers of our foster-father and the Universal Patron of the Holy Catholic Church, St. Joseph, the Terror of Demons. If you would like to follow my adventures after tomorrow I invite you to keep an eye on my new Website and Blog that will eventually be on there: http://www.terrorofdemons.com

With every hope for you to be spiritual enriched and to find great comfort in losing everything that you may find Christ, I remain yours in Christ,

The (former) Director of RE & RCIA at St. Jude Catholic Church (2004-2009)

What is in the dark...

One has to wonder at this point whether we are seeing a raw transformation of our country. Michael Savage, who appears on KNUS from 9:00-12:00pm and who I enjoy listening to, has been suggesting there is a real possibility that this is a bio-terrorist attack, manifested through the most useful target: illegal mexican nationals crossing the border.

Now I am of mexican descent, and I do agree that all people deserve basic human respect, but I also agree with Pope Benedict XVI's assessment that every nation has a "responsilibity to protect" its people, as he said in his address to the United Nations.

What I find incredibly interesting is whether this new Avian-swine-human virus may just be something even more heinous. I don't understand what to make of this article from 2004 that the CDC was already trying to manufacture these types of viruses! What does it mean? Why is Janet Napolitano, head of the Department of Homeland Security, not so worried about this possible pandemic? Could it be that there is something more sinister going on? I don't know. But one wonders... After all, Margaret Sanger, who founded Planned Parenthood, was demonstrably a racist who sought to destroy all people of color. Now, as a policy, our "leader" Barack Obama has diverted a lot of money to Planned Parenthood and their mission, while continuing to divide the Catholic Church by turning the knife in the back of the mystical body of Christ by promoting disobedient so-called "pro-choice" Catholics who embrace the pro-abortion, pro-articifical contraception, and so on and so forth, positions that reject the Church's teaching.

The modernist desire to unite the Church with the pro-abortion lobby forces one to wonder whether Satan is laughing his head off all the way to the bank. Not that Obama is Satan, but he sure seems to have a clear understanding of his position which seeks to divide the Church further by means of those who are already endangering their souls by rejecting Holy MOther Church's teaching.

May God have mercy on our country.

By the sweat of our brows...

If you are not aware of it, then you may have missed the chill put on by laypeople, by priests, and by unfortunately even a few bishops in the last 40 years. Since people began to not hear the teaching of Holy Mother Church and focusing on the so-called "Spirit of Vatican II" - read a spirit of rebellion or revolution - some of the older Catholics who fill the pews, unfortunately have allowed themselves to fall into disobedience. The Letter to the Hebrews is quite clear that we should keep ourselves from this sin of Adam. Rather, as with Adam & Eve, we should have the wisdom and faith to abandon and entrust ourselves to the Holy Catholic Faith. Why? Well, obviously because a bunch of old dudes got together and made it all up, right? Certainly, these merely human mythic old dudes could come up with something that would last for 2000 years, longer than any other institution on the face of the planet earth.

Or could it be that the Holy Spirit of God promised by Jesus has maintained the Sacred Tradition of the Church in handing on the Deposit of Faith in every generation.

Perhaps, as one gentleman who has published a heretical book from St. Jude has said, "the Church must change with the times." NO! Of course not!

Why do we humans have such an aversion to believing and then believing fully. Paul told his listeners in Hebrews, "For whoever enters God's rest also ceases from his labors as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest [which God provides], that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience (Heb 4:10-11)." We so often want to tell God how things should be run, that we forget that the salvation and redemption wrought by Jesus on the Cross was a free gift!

This gift freely given, however, calls us to a new way of life. This is why Jesus told his disciples, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold I am with you always until the close of the age (Mt 28:19-20)." You are NEVER going to come up with the Catholic Faith by watching "Meet the Press" on Sunday Mornings, or watching "American Idol", or any other TV program or doing anything else. The Holy Catholic Faith is something that must be learned, and even to be studied. In short, the whole of the Holy Catholic Faith is a free gift to be received with great joy. As Jesus puts it, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will NEVER enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt 18:3)."

We have the ability as humans, by our freewill, to receive God or to reject God. Yet, what is best for us? As Paul again says in Hebrews, "About this [i.e. the mystery of Jesus] we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need some one to teach you again the first principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food; for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil (Heb 5:11-14)."

Unfortunately, in my experience so many of our elderly brothers and sisters in the Catholic Church today have NOT been taught the Holy Catholic Faith. They have been taught opinions and conjectures and lies. Is this not why Jesus called Satan the "Father of Lies" though? How else would he draw Christ's faithful away from Him who has said of Himself that He is "the truth, the way and the life (Jn 14:6)." Brothers and Sisters in Christ, whoever may read this humble post, flee to Christ! Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church! Ask questions of those who speak Christ's Truth: good solid Priests, Deacons and Catechists, and theologians who love Jesus and serve Jesus!

"How will I know them?" You might ask, Jesus already told us: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are revenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathed from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will known them by their fruits (Mt 7:15-20)."

IF all of us can get "weaned" from Holy Mother Church, in order that we learn how to pick up our cross and follow after our Lord Jesus Christ, then Christ will finally have the means to change the face of the planet earth by first establishing his kingdom in us! We can only do this when we abandon ourselves fully to the Holy Spirit who gives us every grace to accomplish our tasks assigned to us by God. As St. Paul put it in Ephesians, "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph 2:10)." And could it be that some of our Catholic brothers and sisters are already awakening to the Holy Ghost from the slumber of faithlessness and doubt sown, largely, by ravenous wolves after Vatican II?

Micheal Voris puts this into perspective in his most recent commentary over at RealCatholicTV.com. I, for one, agree with him. Let us also awake, for our salvation draws near!!!

WARNING: video may be INAPPROPRIATE for minors

Are you kidding me...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

This video is ridiculous. Why is this particular man deciding a beauty contest on political grounds? Who cares what a beauty contestant believes about this political issue. And why is this so-called reporter completely siding with this man? He argues that she would represent all Americans, and yet she is not going to be a political activist she would have been a beauty queen!!! Is this what passes for objective questions these days... on second thought that was going to be a question, but it is a statement: THIS IS what passes for journalism... Thanks NBC for brainwashing the country, and not staying objective.

So what if she misspoke about the legality of same-sex marriage? Why would one even ask the question!!!? Why is this political issue now being pushed on a beauty pageant, which by the way I could care less about anyway. Nevertheless, this "man" also is verbally beating up a woman. He says that she was "instantly divisive" and yet he is the one who poses a political question at a beauty pageant. Fair enough. But what was his response. He says nothing about how she stated her opinion, rather - listen carefully when he says, "I was not upset or frustrated about her disagreeing with me about gay marriage." In other words, she wasn't able to state her opinion without already being prejudged. Why is supporting traditional marriage ostensibly the reason this guy voted against her? In other words, why is a beauty queen being discriminated against for her thoughts? And further, this "man" is calling her a "B****" and a "C***" (apparently) because she "disagrees" with him. Is THIS what a passes for as a "man" these days? If women wonder why chivalry is dead, you need look no further than this woman reporter who basically implicitly is saying, "you are right."

This demonstrable political activist should have been banned from asking about this topic, it seems to me. I watched this "show" for about 4 minutes, and only because I was connecting my new DTV box. I couldn't bring myself to watch this ridiculous contest for too long anyway, but this definitely puts the nail in the coffin of my ever even thinking about watching it ever again.

One last note, why is this "celebrity blogger" even a judge? Is that the last leg this contest is on? You couldn't get someone who is even known, maybe a national commercial ad extra? Sorry Mr. Trump, but perhaps you should stick with "The Apprentice" and Real Estate.

I know, I know...

Ok it is the last day of Easter, but it is STILL Easter! I love being Catholic! In case you might have missed it, here is the Pope's Message to the city and the world. It is incredible to be a part of this...

Why I chose Franciscan University...

Every year I show new parents to our Children's program a video which helps to make clear the role of Secular Humanism in the public state-run schools. Many people were originally offended by that, but it is demonstrably clear this is happening in our state-run schoools. Nevertheless, it was quite clear to me growing up, and it has been demonstrated by the kids in the program here at St. Jude who have already been indoctrinated without their knowing it. And now, it is becoming more mainstream to recognize this problem. Enter a new film:



As happened with the Movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," produced by Ben Stein, I really hope many people, but more importantly we Catholics, become aware of the problems in today's state-run schools. If we aren't aware that the small persecutions of teachers telling kids they can't write "B.C." but that they have to write "B.C.E." as happened to one of the 5th graders here at the parish, then we are already losing another generation of Catholics by their Secular Humanistic indoctrination.

Well.. why bother now...

I have never seen the Movie "Kill Bill," but in one minute there is need to bother... even if you never wanted to...

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Doesn't seem so exciting now does it... hmm...

Old McDonald had a farm...

with a conspiracy theory here, with a conspiracy theory there, here a theory there a theory... everywhere a theory theory...

What all these conspiracy theorists and Mr Hannity don't get is that there has always been a conspiracy theory. The thing is it has always had less to do with money or politics, these are only symptoms of what has always been the case, and which our first Pope made very clear: "Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world (1Pet 5:8-9)." Not only that but Pope Clement XII and Pope Leo XIII made it clear that the Freemasons have been plotting to blot out Christ's Holy Catholic Church from their inception. This is ulitmately the whole point of the only conspiracy that matters to all mankind, because it is Satan's plan.

Now I know some of you who happen to be non-Catholics and/or atheists may not buy that, but whether you buy it or not it is the truth. At end of our lives we will know it fully, but now it is already true in the midst of our lives. May we learn to fight those would destroy free humanity best hope, namely the Holy Catholic Church that gives us True freedom from sin and the oppressive thinking of the world upon our souls!

Too bad they can't just dislike us a lot...

With the way modern TV has become (see above), I am quickly becoming very supportive of Michael Voris, executive producer of RealCatholicTV.com. He has had some brilliant commentary on the Obama at Notre Dame Debacle as I posted here a few days ago. But now he has come up with a very intensive reflection for our last week of Lent.

Unfortunately, many Catholics will blow this off. Some priests, deacons, and lay people alike may laugh off his position as being "extremist" or "overly traditional" or "being too Catholic." I, for one, think he couldn't be more right. If you read through the Letters of St. Paul he clearly said, "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as "refuse" [which in the original Greek really means "poop"] in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him (Phil 1:8-9)."

With relatively recent surveys that have up to 60% of Catholics, if not more, NOT believing in the Real Presence of Our Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, one wonders what will become of Christ's Holy Catholic Church which we have been entrusted with to promote and to grow. If only more priests and deacons would preach on the fact that everyone in the parish is, whether they know it or not, part of the RCIA team at each and every Parish! Every one of us is already giving the witness of the importance and persistent practice of our Catholic Faith... or we aren't. The question we must ask ourselves is can we say everything else in our life, even our own earthly desires - including our desire to see the Church transformed the way we want to see it go, have been crucified with Christ, so that in Christ I meet God's way of living, God's way of thinking, because in our baptism we have already been made his adopted sons and daughters!!!

Let us be like the littlest children, and obey God with childlike love by means of the teachings of his Holy Catholic Church - though we may disagree with our priest or our deacons, never let us forget that they are not our Catholic Faith. Our Catholic Faith comes in the teachings of Holy Mother Church (which can be found summarized in the Catechism of the Catholic Church). We should never let a priest, deacon or lay person lead us astray or cause us to lose faith, though they are human they are still our brothers and sisters in Christ and we should obey Him who gave them pastoral authority over us (namely God our Father), as hard as it may be sometimes.

In fact, one of my students at the Biblical School asked me this morning if Paul really meant in Romans 13:1 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God's wrath but for the sake of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due (Rom 13:1-3)." The answer is YES, he did mean it! We must be faithful citizens, but to be faithful citizens means to honor Christ above all things, otherwise we aren't even faithful to being what we are!!!

The question, in the Notre Dame Scandal, is whether our President is due an honorary Doctorate by a Catholic Institution. The answer, demonstrably, is "No!" ON the one hand, we due owe respect to the office of President. On the other, if we are to serve Christ first above all things, even the President cannot be held in honor by a University claiming the glorious title "Catholic."

As I said, Michael Voris has a great point and each of us should also consider our own lives and whether each of us - priest, deacon, or lay person - are also worthy of having others consider our life and ascribe to us that same glorious title of being "Catholic." Even if people are annoyed by us, at least he has a point.

What if your ALMA MATER DID IT?!

Michael Voris over at RealCatholicTV.com is nothing if not gutsy! He is turning up the heat by calling for the resignation or at least to put the pressure on Fr. Jenkins, current president at Notre Dame, for the outrage of disobeying the Bishops of our Country. You can find his latest commentary on the subject either by subscribing at RealCatholicTV.com or by following this link.

In fact, as he says in the video link above, he has now also posted a survey for those of us who wish to make our voices heard, as he himself is tied into the University as an alumnus. Please visit his site and add your voice to the many other faithful Catholics who are speaking out. You can find it here: http://www.realcatholictv.net/ndobama/survey.php

Let us join this man who is standing up for the Church and for those innocents whose lives are being destroyed in our country. God bless you Michael Voris!

This is NOT FUNNY!!!!

You have got to be kidding me! Will the "desecrating Sacrilege (Mt 24:15)" be appearing again? I am just asking the question, mind you...

PLEASE READ THIS IF YOU ARE A CATHOLIC!!!

http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/media/storage/paper660/news/2009/03/23/News/Jenkins.Obama.honored.University.By.Accepting-3679015.shtml

What's sad is Fr. Jenkins, may God have mercy on his soul, can't see a difference between this president and the whole line of other presidents prior to him. What happened to so-called Academic Freedom that is supposed to "cause us to think"? I guess thinking with the heart of the Church is out of the question, hunh?

The Number to call to tell the President of Notre Dame to stop "our President" from giving a commencement speech at the University of Notre Dame, effectively approving the policies of his administration then please call: 574-631-5000.

If only I could show you the Vortex on www.realcatholicTV.com (which I can't get to post on here), there is a brilliant commentary on this outrage by Michael Voris who not only is a practicing Catholic, but also an alumnus of Notre Dame. The best I can do is give you his petition, which also has a pretty good summary on it.

UPDATE: Ok, though I can't post it here, please follow this link as it is that commentary I mentioned above!

I am sorry... I just can't help laughing... is it because of my cynicism, or is this really funny?

Who is in to going with me? http://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org/index.php

Well... he has a point...

The only problem is, and it is arguably the fundamental dilemma of our country, is not that we have power of our own sake. For as Our Lord taught us, "You would have no power over me, unless it was given to you from above." In fact, what seems to sound so good in the above video should cause some disturbance to us as Catholics. Not because we are not citizens or something like that, rather Thomas Paine was himself a Freemason, who inherently was also led to reject the Catholic Church and her teachings. Although we live in a country in which we are encouraged to be very patriotic, we must remember that, as Catholics, we have a more important citizenship - and it is NOT to the VATICAN ITSELF, but to HEAVEN!!! We are already citizens of Heaven and citizens of the United States, but we must never let the latter overtake or usurp our need to live out our citizenship to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

I just can't help it...

How in the world am I supposed to ignore this recent report that the State of Missouri is now on the lookout for Ron Paul & Chuck Baldwin supporters? I am definitely opposed to "Abortion on Demand." And I have been an advocate for the vision of Dr. Ron Paul, though not an official endorser, due to being aware that I am associated with the Parish. Certainly, as you read through my posts, I have not been about the business of promoting Dr. Paul, for purely political reasons, but always through the lens of the implications towards the Catholic Faith. In fact, as a matter of service to and for the sake of the education of the Catholic Parish of St. Jude, I have also added to my links the website for the Constitution Party - entitled "Consider whether this 3rd Political Party "jives" with our Catholic Faith..."

Nevertheless, it appears one of united States, namely Missouri, would consider me a "terrorist." I am not now, nor have I ever been a terrorist... though there was that one time when I was bein' a lion...

but beyond that... nothing, I swear. (...and anyway that picture is grainy, and you can't even really tell it was me.)

I am seriously concerned for our country if this is where we are heading to call political parties near-criminal and seemingly towards the outlawing of political ideologies people don't like. Why? Precisely because not many people like the Catholic Church, and we have to be very aware of that. Nevertheless, St. Paul reminds us, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1Cor 1:18)." We know, as well, that Jesus taught us who follow him, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you (Jn 16:19)."

As a Catholic Church we must remember that we strive to follow after Jesus Christ, not because he is one among many options, but because he IS the Truth, and the only Truth. While we must be sensitive and apologetic (though never apologizing) for our Holy Catholic Faith, let us never allow ourselves to think we are merely one denomination among many for Christians. Jesus established one Holy Catholic Church for the sake of humanity to understand all that God wants us to know, and it is fully given in the Catholic Faith. The world continues to plot to attack the Church, but for now the world is seeking to destroy the right of mankind to have free speech and to voice one's disagreement with the current government. I for one will not shut up, I will not give up my faith - so help me God!

As Chuck Baldwin points out this egregious attack on free American Citizens affects us all, but in particular the Catholic Church. Specifically for the "abortion on demand" element of this, which may, as Mr Baldwin points out, have already broader reaching effects possibly in the sharing of these criteria for terrorists in other states, and possibly with a Federal implementation. The money quote, as they say comes from the Martin Niemoeller who was a decorated U-Boat Captain and pastor of great distinction. Who, at first, supported Hitler's policies, but in the end saw the implications too late. He is attributed as saying:

"They came first for the communists, and I did not speak up - because I was not a communist; And then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak up - because I was not a trade unionist; And then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak up because I was not a Jew; And then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak up."

Ron Paul is a flash in the pan, in the end; albiet an important one, I would argue. But the enduring liberty and, more importantly, the inalienable rights that have established the United States government directly effect our Holy Mother Church in these same United States. Let us then be leary of these encroachments that will culminate in the persecution of the Church - for where the defense of unborn life is seen as an act of terrorism, the Church will not back down now. As one of my friends used to say, "If loving the Lord is wrong, I DON'T WANT TO BE RIGHT!" And, if all of us are faithful, St. Ignatius of Antioch may prove his wisdom once again when he said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church!"

Could this be true...

Our Catholic Faith will be under attack soon, if the government is truly going this way, because the Socialists hate the Catholic Church, since we actually promote the education and self-sufficiency of each human being. May the Lord Jesus Christ bless America!

Need a new kind of update...?

I recently had the opportunity to hear Mr. Michael Voris give an incredible talk on the fundamental reality of evil in the world and the Church's reality and call to push back the darkness in the world.

Mr. Voris was actually a newscaster for a good number of years and he eventually, in spite of working for the newsmedia, came back to his Catholic Faith. Because of this, he has more recently has started a new endeavor. It is called RealCatholicTv.com, and it is awesome. You can get free Catholic news updates that are quick and very informative, but did I mention it is FREE!

But perhaps you need a good laugh from a Catholic perspective? Well, Mr. Vories is Irish and the sterotype is true (at least here) he is pretty funny, as I experienced at his talk at the Living the Catholic Faith Conference back on March 13-14. You might enjoy his humor in his commentary on modern culture known as the Vortex. It is the drywit humor that you can't help but laugh at. For example, watch this old video here.

If you might be interested, definitely go the website for RealCatholicTv.com and sign up for the free website and watch it daily. You get news, commentary and a Daily Saint! FOR FREE... AND IT IS CATHOLIC, really CATHOLIC! Real Catholic TV! I am trying to watch it more frequently as well. Care to discuss?

UPDATE on classes

It appears that everything is ready for the children to begin classes in the Community Center beginning on Sunday. When parents come the Community Center Liz will be able to direct everyone to their proper location. Mostly everyone will be down in the Lower Level, though we will need to have one class in the Church basement. We will look forward to seeing you all on Sunday or next week on Tuesday or Wednesday.

How could one be so ignorant....

I don't get it. If you were the President of the United States, you would think you would be an educated man. Yet it appears that at least one of our former presidents doesn't even get the basic reality that an embryo, as defined by science - even atheistic scientists, is already fertilized! For this reason, since it is no longer merely an egg, and already a real human person in reality the Church continues to maintain that the destruction of these human beings is intrinsically evil. But apparently our former President is either for changing basic scientific definitions or is completely ignorant of some basic biology:


This comes from a great website my wife sent me today, which you can find here.

How do you know...

I got an email from one of my students today at the Catholic Biblical School that I loved. It is such a beautiful question: "How do we know we are doing God's will?"

Why is it so beautiful? Precisely, because it is "the song" of the heart of one who is in love! St. Thomas Aquinas noted that to love someone is "to will the Good of the other." And this is precisely at the heart of this question.

It does not seem like there is much that can be withheld when one loves then, eh? If you would will God's will, then you desire your whole life to be at his service. But how did I respond may be your next question....

Well I began with what is recently becoming one of my favorite scriptures, because it has applied for me (especially given my previous post): “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophesying, but test everything; hold fast what is good, abstain from every form of evil.”

The problem when it comes to God's will is that we have to remember what Isaiah taught first the Israelites and then us Gentiles who have been brought into the living family of God and the Ark of Salvation, known as the Catholic Church. Particularly, in Isaiah 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." In other words, we have to know that God thinks with an eternal perspective and with an eternal plan of salvation.

As I responded: "It is necessary to ask for God’s will because, at times, we have a last minute God (especially since there is NO watch big enough for him to receive on Father’s day). Our plans can be all laid out, and things may not go as we expect or hope. Jesus himself said, “Father, if you are willing, remove this chalice from me; nevertheless, not my will but yours, be done (Lk 22:42).” So Jesus, at least in his humanity, had the idea that God’s will could still be different than what he had come to understand. And why? Why would he hold out this hope? For you and I to realize that God is a God of love, but one who asks we love with childlike obedience to trust Our Father. We see things from such a limited perspective. We only have our fluctuating emotions and our desires, good and bad, and our human experience to make the decisions we make, yet God sees things wholly (or holistically – as people like to say these days), from an eternal perspective and with His perfect plan for our greatest joy – but as the Catechism says, “The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle. Spiritual progress entails ascesis [i.e. spiritual purification] and mortification [i.e. bodily training] that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes. (CCC #2015)” Why? Because we must learn to collaborate with God as his children, growing into the full stature of Christ, desiring only God’s will as our own because He has already manifestly and persistently shown his love for us."

Let us always seek his will, because for us who have received Him with Faith, as manifested in our Baptism, we now have our True Father who is in heaven. As Jesus taught us, "What is born of flesh is flesh, what is born of Spirit is Spirit (Jn 3:6)."

Things could always be worse...

After I found out on November 6th that I would have a week to move the whole Holy Family House into the Youth Center so that our business administrator's wife, Tammi, could start her preschool in the Holy Family House, people would ask me how are you doing, and I would say, "I could be worse." It was sad to learn that some people had brought their kids to the Holy Family House 26 years before. Hopefully the sacrifice of the children's space will be a real bolster to the parish though when the new preschool starts.

It turns out things could get worse for me though, after our having moved out in a week in November of last year, I was just informed today at 2:30 that I would be moved out of the Youth Center this Friday March 13th from the Youth Center into the Community Center. I hope this move will also help the parish when Tammi starts her Summer Day camp in there, after it has been renovated to help the space she needs.

As a result of this, as I wrote to most of the parents, we will begin classes next week in the Community Center starting next Sunday. This means quite a busy weekend to do make sure this will be done by Sunday when classes start, and I had plans with my wife, with the kids at my parents... ah well. I guess it is Lent, after all.

And anyways... it could be worse...

Danger Will Robinson, DANGER!!!

Pray.

It turns out the anti-Catholic Bias is now not being kept in the halls of abortion clinics and on Bill Maher's show anymore. It apparently is preparing to go governmental. PLEASE READ THIS!!!

I guess the question becomes: is this true? ANd if it is, then we should all be worried for we are soon to see more American Martyrs.

UPDATE! After checking out the Bridgeport Diocese website it is true, and we must consider how to best support our Brothers and Sisters now being persecuted.

A little bit of levity...

A friend of mine sent this to me, perhaps it may brighten your spirits in the midst of our country experiencing our moral crisis manifested in an economic crisis:

Jesus and Satan arguing about the computer....

Jesus and Satan were having an on-going argument about who was better on the computer. They had been going at it for days, and frankly God was tired of hearing all the bickering.

Finally fed up, God said, “THAT'S IT! I have had enough. I am going to set up a test that will run for two hours, and from those results, I will judge who does the better job.”

So Satan and Jesus sat down at the keyboards and typed away.

They moused.

They faxed.

They e-mailed.

They e-mailed with attachments.

They downloaded.

They did spreadsheets!

They wrote reports.

They created labels and cards.

They created charts and graphs.

They did some genealogy reports.

They did every job known to man.

Jesus worked with heavenly efficiency and Satan was faster than hell.

Then, ten minutes before their time was up, lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, thunder rolled, rain poured, and, of course, the power went off.

Satan stared at his blank screen and screamed every curse word known in the underworld.

Jesus just sighed.

Finally the electricity came back on, and each of them restarted their computers. Satan started searching frantically, screaming: “It's gone! It's all GONE! I lost everything when the power went out!”

Meanwhile, Jesus quietly started printing out all of his files from the past two hours of work.

Satan observed this and became irate.

“Wait!' he screamed. That's not fair! He cheated! How come he has all his
work and I don't have any?”

God just shrugged and said, “JESUS SAVES.”

I know, I know, you have probably already read this...

since some of us out there are very interested in the "goings-on" in the Catholic happenings in the world, you have already read and discussed our Archbishop's talk on Monday (Feb. 24th, the Feast of St. Polycarp)evening. For the rest of us, perhaps a very important and foundational talk was recently given by our own Archbishop Chaput this last week on Monday. If you have not read his brilliant book, perhaps this may inspire you.

This talk may, hopefully, begin a collective re-thinking of the American Catholic mind, for it is high time that we American Catholics rediscover the basics of our divinely revealed religion.

Lent & Apples

We are one day into Lent. You know, I don't mind Lent... it's just that I don't like being hungry all the time. :)

Of course I am hoping to provide a little levity to your Lenten observances. Perhaps, I should just leave it to the professional though, hunh?

Well, I don't have much to write today, unfortunately. But I was up late last night with my wife finally watching "Iron Man" together. I think that is another great movie, though my wife had her doubts until she saw it. After Iron Man, I wasn't very tired and I stayed up a little later. Because of this I saw Conan O'Brien for the first time in long time on the "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." I have to admit he is still just as funny as always, if you like his awkward humor.

This morning I found this link to one of his many adventures. As an adult who grew up in the 80's I have to say, I really did love the A-Team show. So this came as a happy reminder of the lovable Mr. T:


The truth be known, though, the reason I stayed up late last night was to wait for midnight because I was starving after Ash Wednesday...

For what it is worth...

I thought I was going crazy when the President of the United States tonight gave his economic plan talk, or whatever, to joint houses of congress and, when speaking of the ingenuity of America, he said that America was the country that built the first car...

Does that sound right to you? It didn't to me. I know that America first utilized the assembly line for a mass produced car, by means of the person of Henry Ford. However, after a quick Google search, I realized that our President of the United States - according to the Library of Congress - spoke a mistruth in a public address of serious impact. Check this out!

As someone in my biblical school class said, you would think that someone would have caught that...but apparently they didn't want to be as precise as the library of Congress. Oh well... just thought I would point it out, after all we are all human and make mistakes, but I thought I was going crazy.

Update: According to the Fox News transcripts, he said, "And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it."

If you want to see what he says, its at the end of this.

Sherman... but not the tank...

For my birthday last year, my mother-in-law was very generous in getting me a Borders gift certificate. Unfortunately, I had been trying to keep myself from books lately because our shelves are overflowing right now. However, this afforded me the opportunity to purchase some things that I wouldn't normally buy, which at the end of the day is a great gift for me. Namely, I bought some DVD's of one of my favorite TV shows... I don't supposed you guessed which one it is have you?

In fact, that is the cover there above. I love the Rocky and Bullwinkle show. It is such well written silliness that as a child I remember laughing at the Fractured Fairy tales, and Bullwinkle's incessant quest to pull a rabbit out of his hat, and one of my favorite segments was "Mr. Peabody's Improbable History." In fact, I wonder if that is where I received part of my impetus to get a minor in History (which I also wouldn't mind studying further some day).

I don't know if I could articulate the joy that I received in sharing this with my son. Especially, after an unfortunate attempt to watch the animated Underdog show with him (he found some of the villians a bit too scary).

But what surprised me most (so far) in watching season one was the background story about Mr. Peabody and Sherman that is revealed in the very first episode of the first show of the first season. For those of you who aren't familiar, the premise is quite simple. Mr. Peabody is a dog with excessive, it seems, intelligence (for a dog), and at a certain point he decides that he would like to adopt a boy. I believe the line was, "If every boy deserves a dog, then every dog deserves a boy."
In fact, in order to adopt Sherman, Mr. Peabody goes to court to attain the right to adopt a boy, though he is only a dog, but at least a wealthy one at that. I still am unsure how I feel about this. I am trying to consider the implications of all of this in my mind. Nevertheless, Mr. Peabody begins to take Sherman throughout history in a time machine he has created called the "Way-bac machine."


Now don't get me wrong, I realize it is only a cartoon, but something about this is just disturbing. In later episodes, which I never picked up as a child, Mr. Peabody will say to Sherman, "Speak Sherman," to which Sherman replies, "Hello everybody." The response of Mr. Peabody is "Good boy." Now, understand that Mr. Peabody does save Sherman from an orphange as his adopted boy. But why is a dog seen to be adopting a child, not as his father - which somehow (to me) wouldn't seem so bad - but as his owner, as if the boy were a dog himself. Gosh, is this what happens when Theologians watch cartoons? On the one hand I want to argue for the dignity of the human person over an animal. But on the other, it is pretty darn funny; it is only a cartoon; and I love their adventures in which Mr. Peabody schools the boy in history lessons by means of the "way-bac machine," albeit slightly altered from actual history.

Again, don't get me wrong, I won't lose sleep over any of this, but it is sort of fun in my mind to consider the weight of this perspective of this segment of this cartoon show. Somehow I don't think I will be able to bring my son up to speed on the philosophical implications of Mr. Peabody and Sherman for quite some time, nevertheless I love that I have the beginnings of a great philosophical conversation in my possession now thanks to my mother-in-law and my 34th birthday. Hooray for birthday gifts!

Real Hope doesn't come from a sinner...

After the Knights of Columbus breakfast this morning at the parish and talking with a few people about it, I think it is appropos to mention how the possibility of a job that I am applying for came into being. It all began sometime before the end of Novemeber. A friend of mine has consistently, every year, promoted a devotion to Our Blessed Mother Mary under her title of the "The Mystical Rose." Apparently, there was a nun in Italy in 1946-1947 to whom our Blessed Mother appeared. You can find the whole story here.

My birthday is also Dec. 8th, which is the day this devotion is to take place. During the Noon hour the blessed mother asked that devotees pray the 51st Psalm and to confidently ask the Father for whatever one desires and, if it is in the will of God the Father, it would be granted. 2008 was the first time I actually remembered about this before 1:00pm (usually I am left slapping my forehead with my palm saying "D'oh" alla Homer Simpson).

Well, in this liturgical year I turned to the Blessed Mother about what was to become of me. I have had yearnings in the last year to revisit my Doctoral dissertation topic and to engage academia again. However, I have loved my time at St. Jude and love teaching the children and adults who have been willing to hear the knowledge I have been blessed to gather in studying the Faith academically for seven years.

Moreover, my class that I taught at the the Seminary in the Spring of 2008 left me with further yearnings. As well, this last year I have had the rare opportunity to teach for the Catholic Biblical School (on the Synoptic Gospels and St. Paul's letters), which has further stirred up the fire that I think is within me about completing my doctorate.

During this time of prayer on Dec. 8th in the noon hour I had felt a call to consider that the (then) new head of the Catholic Biblical School was leaving Christendom to come to Denver. As I was praying for many things, I was struck by this reality, especially the fact that this gentleman was coming from heading Christendom College's study abroad program in Rome.

Unfortunately, as I just recently wrote to all the parents at the parish, I have been laid off as of Jan. 6th, but not effective April 30th, 2009. Again, I thank Christ our Lord for the pastoral generosity and mercy of his priest and my pastor, Fr. Schaffer, in affording me this time to find a new place of employment - especially for the sake of my two children and their insurance. However, when I was told in this meeting about this unfortunate reality, it almost became immediately clear to me that this could be for God's plan, especially as offered through the prayers of our Blessed Mother, the Mystical Rose. Now, I don't have the job yet, but my wife and I are going to Virginia this Friday to receive our 2nd interview for this position. "All I know is that there is a God, and I am not him," so said some famous person. I agree. But I would add, his(and now our) mother is very good at offering us hope since she bore real Hope in her womb.

I wondered at whether I should post about this or not on my blog, but in the economic times in which we live, I think this story of hope is one that I myself may need to remember, should employment continue to elude me after this upcoming 2nd interview. So often in our lives it is easy to prepare with hope, but sometimes harder to actually see the deeper hope that comes beyond things not turning out the way we thought they were going to. The danger, of course, is that like Job in today's (5th Sunday in Ordinary Time) first reading we might find ourselves struggling with despair or at even a defeatist attitude. I will admit here and now, that I am filled with joy at the hope of returning to Rome, though I do have some wonders about how it will practically work out with two small children. Nevertheless, the joy in that is knowing that if this is by the Blessed Mother's doing she will assist us with grace to accomplish the will of her Holy Son and our Lord.

If you happen to remember, please keep my wife and I in prayer this Friday Feb. 13th as we go to this interview. Moreover, and perhaps more poignantly, please keep my parents in prayer as they care for our two kids for the first time that both of them have been away from us for two days.



Oh... and Hi Deacon Chuck!

The Miracle Man.

Its funny how at times we never know what God is doing in our lives. Why funny? Well because it is like a great game of hide and seek. God hides and we are supposed to seek him in the situation. This sort of unplanned for exploration often leads into some great adventure, or some great deterrance to our joy.

I am struck by the Movie "St. John Bosco: Mission to Love" which was a movie we recently watched here at St. Jude for the St. Jude Night at the Movies. If you are familiar with St. John Bosco he dealt with some pretty unjust treatment, and yet continued to find the joy of serving his family - which he understood was really Christ's family. St. John Bosco took in thousands of young boys who no one else would take in, and offered the world a teaching philosophy that still has value even today, regardless of the work situations have changed.

Our next St. Jude Night at the Movies will take place on Mar. 15th at 5:00pm. We usually provide a Subway sub and chips and drinks for merely $3. Our last movie night brought in about 30 people. I hope to continue to build this for last last three months that I am here at the parish. I think it is great way for us to consider the lives of the Saints and to contemplate the love of God even within our own lives. The title of our next movie is "Padre Pio: Miracle Man."


For all those who read this blog in Denver, please consider yourself invited to come join with us! Tickets will go on sale on Mar. 1st at the front desk at the parish here, or they will be available the night of the movie. However, if we know numbers before hand then we can plan our food a little better, so that we don't run out. Email me or add a comment to this post, if you have any questions.

How could I help it...

Now please note, I realize that I have been laid off from St. Jude recently, but that has absolutely NOTHING to do with why I like this Superbowl 2009 commercial. It is just TOO Funny! I thought, if I put it on here, I will always be able to find it! Please enjoy:

Before it takes a Tolle...

I know that some people at the parish here have read Mr. Eckhart Tolle's book. But I think it is one of those modern books that should cause one to pause if one considers oneself a Catholic. Fr. Barron, who I have posted about before, offers this two-part reflection:



Here is part 2:


What many people don't realize is that the New Age movement has a very real correlation to Freemasonry, which is, again, one of the official enemies of the Catholic Church (again, not the people but the teachings). Why? Because as Mr. Fr. Barron points out, there is a vast distinction between the similar teachings of Mohammed, Buddha, and Jesus. In Freemasonry, as in the New Age movement, Jesus is reduced to his role as a teacher, and ignored as the Divine Son of God. This is a pretty serious thing to overlook and to equivocate a few men with some wise ideas with the only Son of the Living and True God who suffered and died upon a cross.

Let us be aware of this desire towards indifference in our own lives. We must be careful that anywhere we are, especially at any Catholic parish, that we aren't led into being indifferent to the person of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

"Who woulda thunk it?"

A friend of mine sent the article below to me today. I don't know if it is actually true, but hey I am not quite sure how you could argue its meaning isn't true:

ATHEIST HOLY DAY - ( A MUST READ ) FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY!
In Florida, an atheist created a case against the upcoming Easter and Passover holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians, Jews and observances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days. The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed!" The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays." The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant." The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists." The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fools Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God. Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned."

Hmmm...I am not too sure that guys like Bill Maher would be too happy with this post.

Truly, Imagine...

I am thankful for so many things... the least of which is that if you are a regular visitor to this website, I hope, that the video of John Paul II that always came on as soon as you came to this page would always start is finally moving away. I have finally enough posts to make that stop.

I am also thankful for the gift of life. This week as we mourn the Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade decision, I hope that many others might become aware of how precious life is.

I am also thankful for President Obama - oddly enough. Why? Because his life is also a gift, though with no greater or lesser dignity than all those who will be murdered today by abortion. In fact, this was just sent to me today:



Too true. Perhaps, we must first appreciate the gift of life if we ever desire to help others to learn about its dignity and its wonder. As Pope Paul VI brilliantly pointed out, "Modern man listens more willing to witnesses than he does to teachers, and if he listens to teachers it is because they are witnesses."

Would you take a swing at it?

I have really been rediscovering Swing Music and my love for it. And the other day on Facebook, the social networking website, I came across one of the "superpoke" options as giving somebody Frankie Manning, which I promptply gave to everyone I am friends with on Facebook. To which one of my friends asked, "Who is Frankie Manning?" It's unfortunate that is a question. Frankie Manning is one of the people who helped to put Swing Dancing on the map as one of the integral part of American Culture (as shared by all American people regardless of race, creed or color). Particularly he was known for his days when he was part of a Lindy Hop Troupe. If you would like more info on him you can check out this website.

In the meantime, and before you go read about that here is a quick demo of the Shim Shim dance by the same Frankie Manning and friend:



And more exciting, than that basic clip from an instructional video (which I would love find and purchase!) here is another clip from the annals of TV history from some show that demonstrated some of the great things one can do with Shim Sham...


... and which I would argue begins the demise of couples dancing when Shim Shamming became more of a freestyle dance, than with one's partner. It's all about "the lead and follow!"

But, and I loved the previous post on this, here is what the Lindy Hoppers where famous for, including Mr Frankie Manning:



I don't know about you, but it is quite a beautiful dance with much of the ingenuity and joy that constitutes the American lifestyle at its best... so says I. What do you say?

Every one needs a "guru"...

... or not... depending how you define "guru." But at any rate, this came to me today from a friend:


I have to admit, it did brighten up my day. Why would my day need brightening? Well, I have just received word today that, due to the economy, my job here at St. Jude is now being made redundant - as the British would say. That is to say, I have been laid off. Thankfully, Fr. Darrell was very kind in giving me until April 30th. I know I am not the only one struggling with a job, and having a Pontifical License in Theology it is only just that I am paid more for my education. Unfortunately for me that means that I was an extravagance here at the parish. I have enjoyed my time here and will continue this blog for as long as I am employed by the parish, but please pray for me all you Christians who read this as I seek to find new employment somewhere in the world.

The Scourge of my generation...

I recently was pointed to this video:


Two days after? That is right, on Jan.22nd, two days after president Obama is inaugurated will be the annual March for Life. I wish we had something like that here in Denver. Perhaps the time has come for me to stop wishing and start acting. There seems to be nothing more painful than feeling like our Blessed Mother who was at the foot of the Cross and watched her innocent Lord die. I feel like this when it comes to abortion. Sure, I have had my share of "pro-death choice" people tell me that I shouldn't be interrupting their way of living, even if they are able to promote the interruption of that normal human development of a child by means of an abortion.

In merely two weeks and some days, we mourn the loss of millions and millions of innocent human lives because of the "choice" many women have made. Thankfully, in the Mercy of God we all find the healing we need as a human race and as a culture. Now it is a matter of choosing grace to destroy the scourge of my generation.

Give credit where credit is due...

I know some people may not be big fans of Stephen Colbert who is on the cable show called "The Colbert Report." But, as I understand it, he is a practicing Catholic and at times the respect that he shows to his faith is very much appreciated by me, even if his "schtick" lends itself to being not so Catholic. That is perhaps a debateable assessment. Nevertheless, I did laugh my head off when I saw this:


I have to give credit to the man; that is pretty funny when it comes to the Pope comments and at the same time they are respectful even if edgy!

I saw that video as I was surfing, as they say, around the internet trying to find an image for the computer at the Youth Center for the desktop. I came across this one:


That also made me laugh! I found it on this website. Which I have not perused very well, but if they are half as funny as the cat picture I am sure there must be some other gems there.

Well, anyway, I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a brilliant New Year. I am back from Canadia, where I spent Christmas with my wife's family, and I am back at these blogs as much as I can.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, I settled on this background for today's feast of the Epiphany: