In their book Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can Learn from America’s Largest Churches, authors Scott Thumma and Dave Travis discuss the phenomena of Protestant churches whose congregations number more than 2,000 people who attend weekly. Some host more than 5,000 weekly. These communities are…
Seeds of the Word
Spring is known as the season of the emergence of new life from the dreariness of winter. New shoots bravely rise above the soil to face the sky above. Young birds courageously crack open their shells, crying out to their mother for the first time. Very often, this breaking forth of vitality happens invisibly; one needs to…
Suffering: No Escape
Today, we begin the Holy Triduum, the high holy days of the Christian tradition. The movement from betrayal, fear, and anxiety to suffering, humiliation, and death, to ultimately joy, hope, and new life is marked on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter. Intense experiences to consider during an essentially long weekend. Or, perhaps these are the deep moments of…
Fistbump as Peace Pump
A long time ago athletes would congratulate each other with a handshake. Later, high fives became the norm; both hands if there were cause for real celebration. Now, it is common to fistbump, where two people touch the fingers’ long side of each other’s clenched fist. As the prophet Isaiah exhorted violent weapons of swords to be turned into plowshares and the…
A Bid to Love
John Gottman knows what makes a marriage succeed. He can even predict which young marriages will last with 91 percent accuracy. He has studied marriage and the challenging and delightful dynamics between spouses for years. In The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, he discusses a host of behaviors that fortify or threaten this all-important relationship. …
Watch the Presentations from 14th Annual Live Jesus!
The 14th Annual Live Jesus! morning of recollection was held at St. John Neumann Church on Saturday, March 18, 2017. More than 800 disciples gathered to share faith, fellowship, and prayer as they were inspired to live Jesus, in the example of Sts. Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal. Click on the watch the three major presentations from the event.
Memorial Mass 2017
Sunday, April 30, 2017 at 2 pm
followed by reception and food
Register: nmyron@oblates.org
From Fonzie to Friends
Bruce Springsteen’s praise of Chuck Berry, who died on Friday, as “rock’s greatest practitioner, guitarist, and the greatest pure rock 'n' roll writer who ever lived” prompts pause for members of several generations. Other iconic musicians have called Berry the founder of the genre. An earliest memory…
Making the Cut
At this time of year, finding an empty sports field is a difficult task. With winter sports winding down, the tryout season has begun for sports such as baseball, rugby, lacrosse, and track. Students endeavor to show their skills and make the team, and to share in the camaraderie, adrenaline, and hope for victory…
The Simplicity of Offering
Johann Pachelbel, the great composer of the now-famous score that accompanies many brides down the aisle, died 311 years ago today. Popularly known as Pachelbel Canon in D, this piece of music evokes an ethereal wonder that can lift the ear, mind, and heart to contemplate beauty and love. No wonder it is…
The Esteem of Fasting
…and the Oscar goes to…
Solidarity: Let’s Make Humanity Great Again!
Fr. Tom Hagan, OSFS, who has served as a missionary in Haiti for more than 20 years, reports some dire facts about the country he now calls home: Unemployment soars at 80 percent, and deforestation at 98 percent. Equally painful facts abound about infant mortality, disease, and hunger. Yet, these two statistics…
Aging: Super Bowl and Broadway
Until the New England Patriots showed a glimmer of life in the third quarter of Sunday’s Super Bowl, it appeared that the highlight of the game was going to be the glamour and glitz of Lady Gaga’s halftime show. Halfway across the country, another glamorous lady took to a familiar stage to return to…
The Masses at the Masses
Two masses in Washington, DC this past week gathered many to pray for peace, justice, and the dignity of human life.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and leader of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, celebrated mass on Thursday night, prior to the next day’s annual March for Life that calls for an end to…
A Seamless Garment
Cover me, Lord, with the cloak of innocence and the robe of love. My God, do not let me appear before you stripped of good works.
Of the many beautiful prayers found in St. Francis de Sales’ Spiritual Directory, the dressing prayer has remained a personal favorite of mine. It expresses Francis’ genius that…
Poetry
With tomorrow’s inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, our nation will pause to consider his words. Amid the pomp and pageantry, we yearn to be inspired. Certain presidential inaugural addresses continue to ring in our ears, even though we may have only read them or…
The Autocracy of Auto-Correct
(Observed)
This first week of 2017 follows the nation’s celebration of two federal holidays: Christmas and New Year’s Days. Since each fell on a Sunday, most places of business chose to treat their employees to a holiday on the following Monday. On many calendars, the word Observed appeared in parentheses. For workplaces…
Family: Peaceable or Peaceful?
In addition to receiving the gift of Jesus in Holy Communion, we are also expressing our identity: We are the body of Christ. St. Paul (1 Cor 12:27) affirms this along with the great tradition of our church: We become what we celebrate. I remember, from my earliest days in Catholic school when we first learned…