Tonight I am writing about Catholicism and Community building.
Catholicism holds the fullness of Truth. Catholicism is the home of the Eucharist - the "Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity" of Jesus. We are led by the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth. Catholicism is THE RELIGION to be and any rational person who takes steps towards the Catholic Church, in time, will find all this to be true.
But still, our wonderful Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ Himself, is not only divine, but is human as well. It is humanity that creates all the problems. We are weak and sinful and lazy. The problem "is us".
I love the Catholic Church with my whole being. I am so glad that this is the faith I profess. I have no problems with the teachings of the church. (Well, except for the one that says animals dont' go to Heaven. I believe that they do go to Heaven.)
The current struggle I have with our Church revolves around the lack of TRUE community in parishes. Personally, I find Catholic parishes to be quite cold and unwelcoming. I know of many other Catholics who feel the same way.
The question I am pondering lately is HOW CAN WE CHANGE THAT? These are my thoughts on the value of building community and the "how to" of building communtiy:
1. Bishops, Pastors, Deacons, and Lay Ministry Leaders have to take the lead in this. They have to encourage community. They have to live community. They have to teach people HOW to live with a community spirit. They have to be inclusive. They have to be pro-active and help their parishioners become a Christian community.
2. Each parish should have a "community-forming" committee whose sole purpose is to think of different ways that a sense of community can be developed in the parish.
3. There needs to be a realization that some people may be hesitant or shy when it comes to reaching out or getting involved( for many different reasons ) and those are the people that need a little extra TLC and encouragement. They are often the hidden treasures of a parish who have been jaded by previous negative church experiences and are in need of healing or just simply an invitation to use their gifts. There should not be anyone in the parish who is left out of the community building effort.
4. There needs to be a realization that with a focus on community building everything else at the parish will improve. There will be more service to the parish and to the wider community. There will be more financial donations because people will have a real sense of family and will want to help by donating money in addition to their time and talents. Attendance and attention at Mass will be increased because people will feel comfortable with others at Mass and will truly feel like they belong.
5. With a greater sense of community comes more outreach ( service, as mentioned above) and this gives automatic help to pastors who are often stretched for time due to the current lower count of priests. It would be easier for pastors to get the parish's needs met because there would automatically be more volunteers when a need arises, leaving the priest to focus on his main priestly responsibilities while parishioners take care of the ancillary needs.
6. There needs to be a realization that with a focus on community there will also be more joy because people will be more connected to their parish family, more will get done at the parish for the parish famiy and wider community, and people will feel more like they are truly part of the Body of Christ.
7. This sense of parish community will strengthen families because it will be modeled in the parish, brought home to each family, and will help create families who naturally evangelize others just by being who they are called to be. It will make the Catholic church even more enticing for those outside of the faith.
8. Those who belong to a parish alone will be welcomed into the greater parish family.
So, these are my thoughts for this evening.
Jul 31, 2011
Jul 24, 2011
Blindfolds, sheep, and shepherds
There is a youth ministry activity that I used to do with teens that focused on trying to hear God's voice amidst the clamour of the world. This is how it worked: One person was "it". This person would be blindfolded and placed in the center of a room. Lots of other people would be around that person. The blindfolded person simply had to listen to my voice ( which represented the voice of God ) and walk over to me. Sounds simple, yes? Not really because the job of all the other people in the room was to talk and yell and call the blindfolded person's name. The blindfolded person had to listen carefully for the sound of my voice over the voices of the others. My voice was of normal volume and I repeatedly and gently called the persons' name. Ex: "John, come here. I'm calling you. Come to me." What was going around the blindfolded person was lots of loud voices yelling " John !! Hey John ! Come over here!". These people could also move closer to the blindfolded person and I was near a wall. After doing the activity, which could take as much as 15 minutes or so to complete, we would have a discussion. The blindfolded person always shared how hard it was to stay focused on my voice and how hard it was to purposely ignore the other voices. We would then relate the activity to our faith walk and how sometimes it is very hard to focus on God's voice when our culture can be so much louder and makes it harder to focus.
I share that because that is how I feel lately - like the blindfolded person trying to listen to God's voice. I'm finding that I need more time in quiet prayer to get away from the culture and even then, listening is difficult because the noise in my mind can overshadow the still small voice that is God's. My thoughts are loud and insistant and it sometimes takes quite a long time to be able to hear His voice.
That little weasel, the devil himself, is very good at causing distractions, especially in this day and age. We have to be vigilant and disciplined as we walk through the world today. There are so many false prophets and arrogant people in our midst today. We can easily become desensitized to the dangers of the culture and given enough time and sloth on our part, soon we are tuned in only to the voices of the culture instead of the voice of God.
So, if there is anyone out there reading this, I urge you to be vigilant in your faith. Try your best to walk away from temptation and pray, pray, pray. Go to Mass. Read Scripture. Read other spiritual reading ( good, solid stuff ). Use discernment - even, and especially, within the Church. Just because someone is associated with the Church doesn't always mean you can believe everything they say, or that they live out their faith once they walk out of the church doors, or that we can believe that they are a credible witness of Christ. Remember, the fox is in the henhouse, so we have to be prayerful and discerning. We have to pray for our priests to be holy and to have the courage to stand up to those who are not holy - whether they are in the pulpit or in the pews.
It is my feeling that with the fox in the henhouse (the wolf in the sheepfold...whatever terminology you want to us) that the sheep are scattering in confusion and they are looking for the shepherds God has sent to watch over them. They are trying to catch up to the shepherds who are walking to fast, to find the shepherds who are hiding, to talk to their shepherds for encouragement and direction, and some also are trying to challenge the shepherds to live up to their calling.
All sheep are like the blindfolded person in the youth ministry activity: we are trying to follow His voice amidst the noise of the day. Shepherds are supposed to help us hear His voice. Jesus please let the sheep and shepherd walk together in peace and community and don't let the wolf get any of us. Amen.
I share that because that is how I feel lately - like the blindfolded person trying to listen to God's voice. I'm finding that I need more time in quiet prayer to get away from the culture and even then, listening is difficult because the noise in my mind can overshadow the still small voice that is God's. My thoughts are loud and insistant and it sometimes takes quite a long time to be able to hear His voice.
That little weasel, the devil himself, is very good at causing distractions, especially in this day and age. We have to be vigilant and disciplined as we walk through the world today. There are so many false prophets and arrogant people in our midst today. We can easily become desensitized to the dangers of the culture and given enough time and sloth on our part, soon we are tuned in only to the voices of the culture instead of the voice of God.
So, if there is anyone out there reading this, I urge you to be vigilant in your faith. Try your best to walk away from temptation and pray, pray, pray. Go to Mass. Read Scripture. Read other spiritual reading ( good, solid stuff ). Use discernment - even, and especially, within the Church. Just because someone is associated with the Church doesn't always mean you can believe everything they say, or that they live out their faith once they walk out of the church doors, or that we can believe that they are a credible witness of Christ. Remember, the fox is in the henhouse, so we have to be prayerful and discerning. We have to pray for our priests to be holy and to have the courage to stand up to those who are not holy - whether they are in the pulpit or in the pews.
It is my feeling that with the fox in the henhouse (the wolf in the sheepfold...whatever terminology you want to us) that the sheep are scattering in confusion and they are looking for the shepherds God has sent to watch over them. They are trying to catch up to the shepherds who are walking to fast, to find the shepherds who are hiding, to talk to their shepherds for encouragement and direction, and some also are trying to challenge the shepherds to live up to their calling.
All sheep are like the blindfolded person in the youth ministry activity: we are trying to follow His voice amidst the noise of the day. Shepherds are supposed to help us hear His voice. Jesus please let the sheep and shepherd walk together in peace and community and don't let the wolf get any of us. Amen.
Jul 16, 2011
Be alert.....the world needs more lerts.
Just before starting to write tonight's blog, I asked Jesus to give me a topic. He said to tell you about his great love for humanity. He pines for the lost sheep every day. We need to wake up and be people of action and prayer. The world is on the precipice of a cliff. The church is being attacked in many ways and in many places in the world. Take China for example. Clergy are actually having to hide so as not to be forced into supporting a state sponsored catholic Church.
God's love wants to pour out on all humanity but many are too busy to listen, so the devil marches on, thinking he is winning. Of course we all know that he will have a huge surprise at the end of time. Well, maybe not actually because he knows scripture so he knows he loses at the end. It is us - humanity - who do not know scripture well enough.
We are living lives in the fog of secularism. We are like horses with blinders on. We are like blind and deaf people because we don't see or hear what is happening right before us. We are like the frog in the warm water and the water is slowly heated up so the frog doesn't realize that soon it will be cooked and dead. We are like that.
Some of us are alert however. The world needs more lerts. :) I'd like to put myself in that category. I am not a tremendously smart person, but I am a person of faith and I know how to see with the eyes of faith ( when I am in good space that is ). I know a few other people that are on the same wavelength, but to be honest, many Catholics I see, and christians in general, are not aware of the spiritual battles going on....that is how cunning the devil is. He has tricked so many people.
Heck, he has even tricked Fr. Corapi and he was one of our good priests. Or maybe he was just a wolf in sheep's clothing all along? What is going on with him is purely diabolical and we all have to pray to Jesus to save him from himself and we have to ask Mary to go after her lost priest.
There are so many attacks on humanity every day that go unseen. We are slowly becoming hotter like the frog in the pot. Those of us who are alert must pray our little Catholic hearts out for all that is going on: for protection, discernment, love, peace, patience and more.
That is enough for tonight. St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle.
God's love wants to pour out on all humanity but many are too busy to listen, so the devil marches on, thinking he is winning. Of course we all know that he will have a huge surprise at the end of time. Well, maybe not actually because he knows scripture so he knows he loses at the end. It is us - humanity - who do not know scripture well enough.
We are living lives in the fog of secularism. We are like horses with blinders on. We are like blind and deaf people because we don't see or hear what is happening right before us. We are like the frog in the warm water and the water is slowly heated up so the frog doesn't realize that soon it will be cooked and dead. We are like that.
Some of us are alert however. The world needs more lerts. :) I'd like to put myself in that category. I am not a tremendously smart person, but I am a person of faith and I know how to see with the eyes of faith ( when I am in good space that is ). I know a few other people that are on the same wavelength, but to be honest, many Catholics I see, and christians in general, are not aware of the spiritual battles going on....that is how cunning the devil is. He has tricked so many people.
Heck, he has even tricked Fr. Corapi and he was one of our good priests. Or maybe he was just a wolf in sheep's clothing all along? What is going on with him is purely diabolical and we all have to pray to Jesus to save him from himself and we have to ask Mary to go after her lost priest.
There are so many attacks on humanity every day that go unseen. We are slowly becoming hotter like the frog in the pot. Those of us who are alert must pray our little Catholic hearts out for all that is going on: for protection, discernment, love, peace, patience and more.
That is enough for tonight. St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle.
Jul 10, 2011
Beware: the wolf is in the fold
I believe that anyone who spends a good amount of time each day in prayer and reflection, especially in front of the Blessed Sacrament, must be becoming keenly aware that the wolf is in the sheep fold.
Even considering the horrid scandals that have attacked the dignity of God's Holy Church and harmed so many children, the wolf has still been doing a fairly good job of being unnoticed, but he is getting more bold. He is stepping up his attack and is starting to stalk certain sheep, and even going after the shepherds as well. Will there be more casualties? Will we have the discernment to know what to do to avoid further situations?
The answer is simple, although not easy. Here it is: We need to pray more, receive the Eucharist and Reconciliation more often. Seriously. We need to not only beef up the amount of time we pray, but out intensity of prayer has to increase as well. We need to keep alert and aware. We need to pray especially for discernment, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
We need to pray for our priests and bishops to be protected. We need to pray that the faithful will remain just that: faithful.
We need to be aware that the wolf is in the flock and we have to test to make sure that the person who is talking to us is of God and not of the enemy for the wolf is a master of disguises ( an angel of light ).
This is the sad reality of where we are right now. God will prevail. The gates of hell will not prevails against the church. The little weasel may try, but he will not win. He cannot win. We cannot give in. When in doubt we must wait and pray. In that way, we will experience discernment and hear our Good Shepherd's voice.
St. Michael the Archangel defend us in the battles that are before us. Amen.
Even considering the horrid scandals that have attacked the dignity of God's Holy Church and harmed so many children, the wolf has still been doing a fairly good job of being unnoticed, but he is getting more bold. He is stepping up his attack and is starting to stalk certain sheep, and even going after the shepherds as well. Will there be more casualties? Will we have the discernment to know what to do to avoid further situations?
The answer is simple, although not easy. Here it is: We need to pray more, receive the Eucharist and Reconciliation more often. Seriously. We need to not only beef up the amount of time we pray, but out intensity of prayer has to increase as well. We need to keep alert and aware. We need to pray especially for discernment, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
We need to pray for our priests and bishops to be protected. We need to pray that the faithful will remain just that: faithful.
We need to be aware that the wolf is in the flock and we have to test to make sure that the person who is talking to us is of God and not of the enemy for the wolf is a master of disguises ( an angel of light ).
This is the sad reality of where we are right now. God will prevail. The gates of hell will not prevails against the church. The little weasel may try, but he will not win. He cannot win. We cannot give in. When in doubt we must wait and pray. In that way, we will experience discernment and hear our Good Shepherd's voice.
St. Michael the Archangel defend us in the battles that are before us. Amen.
Jul 8, 2011
What I want to tell the world
A 39 year old man fell at a ball park this week and died. He was simply trying to catch a ball for his little son and he fell 20 feet and died.
Death can come quickly. It doesn't always give notice. So, we must all be ready because "ya never know" when your "number will come up".
So, just in case tonight is my last night on this planet and I wake up dead tomorrow, I would like to say the following:
1. It's all about Jesus. Everything is. He is the first and last after all.
2. I wish I would have had the opportunity to feel like I belonged somewhere: in a family or in the church.
3. Give "different" people a chance. Usually people who are different have a lot to offer, but because they are, well...different.....some people do not give them the chance.
4. Eat chocolate. Drink Coca Cola.
5. Reflect on life and the things you experience each day in addition to praying daily.
6. We are all in this mess together.
7. Catholics in a parish really need to learn how to be community. They need to stay away from cliques and they need to be more welcoming and hospitable.
8. All people, in addition to priests, need to practice what they preach.
9. There are so many lonely people in the world.
10. Having to worry about money stinks. We are slaves to these little green pieces of paper that we call money. Humanity created money. We can do away with it and just learn to give and share.
11. God DOES talk to people. Most people don't take the time to listen to what He is saying.
12. I feel like I have a lot to give to the world but nobody wants my gifts.
13. Sadness would be almost totally eradicated if people would be gentle with one another and smile and encourage one another.
14. Catholics: clergy, religious, and lay people need to focus on being more humble and less arrogant.
15. Cinderella is really just a fairy tale.
16. Learning to love is hard, if not impossible.
17. God holds all the cards so we have to "deal" with it ( no pun intended).
18. Sleep is bliss.
19. Buying a new car is a waste of money.
20. Stop fighting. Play nice.
21. Pray always.
Death can come quickly. It doesn't always give notice. So, we must all be ready because "ya never know" when your "number will come up".
So, just in case tonight is my last night on this planet and I wake up dead tomorrow, I would like to say the following:
1. It's all about Jesus. Everything is. He is the first and last after all.
2. I wish I would have had the opportunity to feel like I belonged somewhere: in a family or in the church.
3. Give "different" people a chance. Usually people who are different have a lot to offer, but because they are, well...different.....some people do not give them the chance.
4. Eat chocolate. Drink Coca Cola.
5. Reflect on life and the things you experience each day in addition to praying daily.
6. We are all in this mess together.
7. Catholics in a parish really need to learn how to be community. They need to stay away from cliques and they need to be more welcoming and hospitable.
8. All people, in addition to priests, need to practice what they preach.
9. There are so many lonely people in the world.
10. Having to worry about money stinks. We are slaves to these little green pieces of paper that we call money. Humanity created money. We can do away with it and just learn to give and share.
11. God DOES talk to people. Most people don't take the time to listen to what He is saying.
12. I feel like I have a lot to give to the world but nobody wants my gifts.
13. Sadness would be almost totally eradicated if people would be gentle with one another and smile and encourage one another.
14. Catholics: clergy, religious, and lay people need to focus on being more humble and less arrogant.
15. Cinderella is really just a fairy tale.
16. Learning to love is hard, if not impossible.
17. God holds all the cards so we have to "deal" with it ( no pun intended).
18. Sleep is bliss.
19. Buying a new car is a waste of money.
20. Stop fighting. Play nice.
21. Pray always.
Jul 2, 2011
Coasting
A few times within the last week I have asked Jesus to please let life become a little easier for me for the next little while. I feel like I have had so many big struggles since 2005 and here it is 2011 already. It has been a bumpy ride and I am ready for a little luxury ( emphasis on little ), a little peace, a little joy, and other good things.
I don't deserve anything good. I am aware of that. But still I am asking. I am feeling healthy and that is a huge blessing right there as I have had my share of health issues since 2005 in addition to everything else. I think I have rolled with the punches to the best of my ability. I have tried to be faithful despite all my strong emotions about so many things. I have not, at any time, given up my prayer life, but I have wandered in a spiritual desert and have felt very disconnected to the Church that I love with my entire heart - my Catholic Church.
I have been weary of the struggle, and I just would like a "time of grace". A time where I don't have to worry so much about things, or work so hard. I work incredibly hard and I try my best. I am reminded of Jesus' words that He has come to give us Life and to give it Abundantly. I know He didn't mean materialistic abundance, but probably more of a spiritual, fulfilling sense of abundance. I am open to having either at this point.
It feels like I work so hard - and it is always uphill, at least since 2005. I would like the ride to be a little downhill for a while.
The other week I took my bike out. Going up the hills reminded me of my life these last few years, and going down hill, when I could coast, was so much better. I didn't have to pedal. I could feel the breeze. I could look at the sights. Up hill on the other hand was just like my life - always having to peddle hard and breathe, and focus on the road.
I would like a time of coasting. Jesus, this is my prayer. Again, I know I don't deserve it because who am I to complain? But, still, being your mere creature who is wondering about Your will for her life, I am asking you for the next turn in my life, to be a down hill slope, with a breeze and a view....and a chance to breathe.
Amen.
I don't deserve anything good. I am aware of that. But still I am asking. I am feeling healthy and that is a huge blessing right there as I have had my share of health issues since 2005 in addition to everything else. I think I have rolled with the punches to the best of my ability. I have tried to be faithful despite all my strong emotions about so many things. I have not, at any time, given up my prayer life, but I have wandered in a spiritual desert and have felt very disconnected to the Church that I love with my entire heart - my Catholic Church.
I have been weary of the struggle, and I just would like a "time of grace". A time where I don't have to worry so much about things, or work so hard. I work incredibly hard and I try my best. I am reminded of Jesus' words that He has come to give us Life and to give it Abundantly. I know He didn't mean materialistic abundance, but probably more of a spiritual, fulfilling sense of abundance. I am open to having either at this point.
It feels like I work so hard - and it is always uphill, at least since 2005. I would like the ride to be a little downhill for a while.
The other week I took my bike out. Going up the hills reminded me of my life these last few years, and going down hill, when I could coast, was so much better. I didn't have to pedal. I could feel the breeze. I could look at the sights. Up hill on the other hand was just like my life - always having to peddle hard and breathe, and focus on the road.
I would like a time of coasting. Jesus, this is my prayer. Again, I know I don't deserve it because who am I to complain? But, still, being your mere creature who is wondering about Your will for her life, I am asking you for the next turn in my life, to be a down hill slope, with a breeze and a view....and a chance to breathe.
Amen.
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