Youth conference

I had the privilege of participating in the national Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis this past week.  What an experience: 25,000 high school youth from 50 states!

It was a couple days of enthusiasm, life, activities, creativity.  I never heard a word of complaint, bad language, or saw any type of negativity.  Where is the media to report all this positive behavior and energy?  Usually we hear only the negative....unfortunately.

These are our future Church and it is wonderful!  We had a "chapel".  I never went in there once that there was not a "crowd" in prayer, personal prayer.  I was totally blown away, as they say, at the LOOONNNGGG lines to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.  Our prayer services and Mass in the Colts's stadium was wonderful....praying and singing wholeheartedly.  The music for me, an "old lady" was a bit LOUD, but it is where our young are. Another surprising thing for me was the silence at prayer....when silence was called for....INSTANT silence was their response.  Truly amazing for me!

Wonderful! Amazing!  Promising! I hope and pray that all these attitudes and behaviors are continued and repeated at their local parishes...for the renewal of the life of our Church.  They can do it...together!  I wish them the very best.

GO! Future Church! GO!  With the Lord's blessings!

Advent in 2 Minutes

Grateful and Helpful....

My prayer has been gratitude for the safety from the recent storms.  We are so fortunate...but then what?  What action(s) can I attach to my gratitude?  I will not enumerate them....you can do that for yourself and THEN follow through.

Perhaps the reflection from Nov 7th is somewhat in this area..."As Christians, we recognize those precious minutes of days or years or decades are on loan from the Lord to be used for is glory and to share his Good News.  We do that in the way we reflect Christ to our family, friends and total strangers.  Every interaction presents an opportunity--and a choice:  To comfort or to afflict?  to love or to ignore?  To heal or to injure?  To accept or to judge.  We know what God desires.  The way we use that gift of time with the rest of humanity is up to us, knowing that ultimately we will be called to account for our choice."  (From "Living Faith" Oct.Nov.Dec. 2013)

BLESSINGS......

Special day...today!

Feast of Mother Cabrini...the first American saint!  She was from Italy, but came to the US where she established many places of ministry for the poor Italian immigrants....actually the Pope requested she come to the US....she really wanted to go to China as a missionary.  The Pope said she was needed by the Italian immigrants...and indeed she was.  The ministries she established flourished as did the order of sisters she founded:  the sisters of mercy.

Great example for us!

Brrrrr!

Would you believe it will freeze tonight?!  I am not ready for this.  We still have such beautiful Autumn golds and reds.  Being from the Land of Enchantment....after ALL my years up here, I am still not used to the cold....and soon, I presume, the "white stuff"!

Yet it is all beautiful in its own way...and am always awed by God's creativity.  I continue to be amazed at God's power and beauty reflected all around me...Lord, keep me awed!

Where do you experience the beauty, the power, the wonder of your Creator? 

"...as a thief in the night..."

...that is how death came to our sister, Margrit...when she least expected it.  And we were all in shock!  Painful shock!  Three days later...the same. Sister Roseann called home...just days apart.

The first thought after I "de-numbed" was: why is the Lord picking on us?  No matter when or how death touches us, it is not easy to go through it all.  Sometimes it is difficult to accept.  Sometimes it us difficult to understand why.  Yet we know the Lord does know best.  The Lord sees the bigger picture, the whole picture.

This week we will celebrate All Saints day and All Souls day....remembering all our family members, friends, peers, people with whom we have worked or journeyed who have gone ahead of us.  Our intercessors.  Our friends whom we should not let "rest in peace" but keep them busy helping us.  They can "run" to the Lord with our needs...yes, and even our wants!  Remember they have nothing to do but praise God and "flit" around in eternal joy!   

Autumn Beauty!

I can't make up my mind if I like Autumn or Spring better.  I love the colors of Autumn and I like the brightness and freshness of Spring.  I guess I need not decide.

We have taken two Sundays to go explore, admire, and take in the beauty of God's creative power. It is positively amazing.  Now, however, the colors are beginning to wane and the trees beginning to bare.  Readying for letting go, the dying....which is such a reality in life.  A time of reflection as well.

In terms of my ministry....all my research and preparation for my presentations is over, as are my presentations....and the Lord was with me.  The Spirit worked wonders.  My presentations went well.  I prayed that I would present what the "hearers" needed to hear.

Now I can get acquainted with my office!  Dig through files and shelves....and discover.

The other magnificent thing I did yesterday....went to hear the very popular and wonderful speaker: Matthew Kelly.  If you have an opportunity to hear him...GO!!!!  He is wonderful...an interesting Australian accent that keep you alert.  If you can get a hold of any of his CD's....get them.  If you have access to his books...get them as well.  You will not regret it.  In fact you can get some FREE!  Go to DynamicCatholic.com.

AUTUMN BLESSINGS.......