A stay-at-home dad. While there are about 5 million stay-at-home moms in the United States, there are only 154,000 stay-at-home dads. Well, now 154,001. Vanessa and I swapped roles beginning this month. She returned to full-time employment while I began the process of leaving mine. I’ll save the reasoning for my personal site, but in… [Read More]
Archives for 2011
The Issue of Kneeling
There are many different arguments among the faithful about the issue of kneeling. In fact, this argument has been around since the time of the Greeks and Romans, and it has been described as barbaric, demeaning, and enslaving. Most often it is said that we are past that and that it no longer suits the… [Read More]
Now from Santiago de Compostela
Today we traveled from Leiria to Santiago de Compostela. The bus ride was about 5 hours, but the views made it very enjoyable. I’ve posted some of those pictures, as well as pictures from yesterday, on Picasa here: https://picasaweb.google.com/103777728917566675236/WYD?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCO3k5I7F1YSclwE&feat=directlink This morning I asked for more comments from the pilgrims, here’s what they had to say:… [Read More]
Notes from other Pilgrims
I asked the other pilgrims on our portion of the trip to write some of their thoughts and messages. I’ll post more pictures tomorrow. Here are the notes I’ve received so far: (Note: these were written on the way to Fatima) In addition to seeing the amazing sights of Portugal, I have had profound conversations… [Read More]
Busy days in Lisbon
Sorry about being late on the first real update, it’s been a busy time, and we’ve finally gotten to WiFi. It’s really impossible, for me to tell you exactly what everyone has done, but it does involve at tour of Lisbon and some landmarks. I’ll let others’ remarks expand on that. The city has… [Read More]
Two Guys, a Girl and a Catholic Podcast 23: Ditching Cable, Giant Crustaceans and Governor Perry Runs For President
[powerpress] Current Events: Governor Pointy Boots to run for President! London and UK riots – Londoners are angry at rioters and at authorities’ response. Some analysts say the unrest springs from Britain’s social disparity. unrest began Saturday night in the wake of a police shooting that left a 29-year-old father of four dead. The riots… [Read More]
Catholic New Media Awards
We are very honored and humbled to be nominated for a number of Catholic New Media Awards. If you head on over to http://www.catholicnewmediaawards.com/ you can throw some votes our way in the following categories. Best Group Blog Best New Blog Best Written Blog People’s Choice Blog Best Group Podcast Best New Podcast People’s… [Read More]
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Color Pages
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It’s the (3rd) most wonderful time of the year.
There are three times of year that I count among my most favorite. Christmas, Easter, and…the start of a new school year. I am pathologically obsessed with school supplies. New paper smell and fresh pens and bright, new erasers. If ever I were to appear on Hoarders, I can almost guarantee that binders and post-it’s… [Read More]
My prayer journal is made of iPhone apps.
I pray that anyone who got a succinct email from me today, will forgive any offense; I was tired. It’s entirely my fault and I apologize. But, staying up till 1 AM to find the perfect app to fit my prayer need was well worth it. It probably wouldn’t have taken so long if the… [Read More]
The Search for Real Men (Review: “Wild at Heart”)
I am not sure that men and women will ever truly understand one another. I am a woman of faith, though, so I know that there are some things I accept and believe without understanding them; they’re called mysteries. Similarly, I can’t quite pin down why I had such a different reaction to Wild at… [Read More]
Intro
Hi Everyone! World Youth Day is almost here, and the first trips are leaving tomorrow! This site is where we’ll be doing all of our blogging, and everyone on the trip will have an opportunity. All posts will have the first name and parish of the person posting. So check back here starting Wednesday to… [Read More]
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Color Page
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Two Guys, a Girl and a Catholic Podcast 22: Stoned Wallabies, Papal Noogies and What ARE people From Nacogdoches Called?
[powerpress] Current Events: Update: Free Birth control for all! Thanks, Mr. President http://news.yahoo.com/insurers-must-cover-birth-control-no-copays-140750830.html USCCB Responds: http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2011/11-154.shtml A Piece of Shuttle Columbia found in Texas, due to drought. http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/08/02/texas.shuttle.debris/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 Gingrich’s campaign denies Twittergate claim http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/08/02/scitech/main20087211.shtml Church News: An upcoming retreat called “Living Your Strengths: Discovering Your God-Given Talents,” will be on August 12 – 14 at… [Read More]
Everyone has a Right to… : Homosexuality & the Catholic Church
“Unfortunately, in our efforts to teach the wrongness of homosexual acts, at times all that has been ‘heard’ is the sound of condemnation and rejection. What is missed, then, what is not heard, is the Church’s teaching that people with a homosexual orientation, like everyone else, are created in God’s image and possess a human… [Read More]
The Catholic Toolbox
One thing we enjoy within our Faith as Catholics {among many others} is the Deposit of Faith, which was revealed namely through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition and completed upon the death of the last Apostle. I like to think of the fullness of Truth that we enjoy as Catholics as a toolbox. Because Jesus… [Read More]
Grappling with Fertility Issues
For couples struggling to conceive, the ache of a missing child is one of life’s greatest hardships. Living month-to-month, unsure of the outcome at the end of each cycle, couples exist somewhere between the ups and downs of a painful rollercoaster. Friends have moved on to playgroups, family members are asking about grandkids and tremendous… [Read More]
Money Problems and Stewardship
There is a lot of talk in the news right now about the nation’s debt ceiling, but there are countless sources and many conflicting reports. In between trying to make enough money to pay the bills and take care of families, it’s hard for many to find time to read all the reports and information… [Read More]
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Color Page
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Lights, Camera, Potty Humor!
Being the father of young children we watch our fair share of kid’s movies. If you’ve watched any of these over the years you’ve noticed a growing trend of inserting “adult” humor that normally goes over the heads of the kiddos. Now while I can appreciate a certain amount of this. Especially after watching the… [Read More]
Two Guys, a Girl and a Catholic Podcast Episode 21: Hanging In The Google Hangout
[powerpress] Current Events: United States budget, debt ceiling and our call to be good stewards. – Jason Lack of true leadership in government? Pope offers his prayer and solidarity for the victims of Olso, Norway violence. -Cristina http://www.romereports.com/palio/pope-condemns-violence-and-oslo-killings-english-4589.html Tropical Depression headed for Texas?! Pray for rain! http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/tropical-rains-texas-drought_2011-07-27 Church News: Later this year we will hear… [Read More]
The Greatest of These is Love
The key to raising Missionaries, Martyrs and Saints is Love. As St. Paul tells us in 1st Corinthians Chapter 13, we can do all the right things as parents, have the most efficiently run home on the block, provide our kids the best education, use the right form of discipline every time, always have the… [Read More]
Ladies in Lace: Catholic Women and Veiling
I have to admit that I’ve got a little bit of a Christmas in July, complete with eager anticipation of the package to come. I just ordered a lovely brown lace chapel veil (mantilla) from veilsbylily.com and I can’t wait for it to get here! I’ve been looking for a modest veil for a while. I bought… [Read More]
More Like “Drab” (Review: “Captivating”)
As a Catholic woman, I like to read books and articles about Christian femininity. I have many friends who are wives and moms. Their Facebook links to articles from places like Faith and Family Live keep me from getting too complacent in my singlehood. One of my old housemates recommended Captivating, by John and Stasi… [Read More]
3 Not-so-Secret Secrets about NFP
A few weeks ago, my wife and I attended an evening of marital enrichment at the church. We sat down next to a couple and commenced with the regular chit chat, quickly finding out that like us, the couple had recently had their third child.“Are you planning on having more?” they asked us.“Well,” we said,… [Read More]
Catholic Rock Stars
“You cannot be half a saint. You must be a whole saint or no saint at all.” -St.Therese of Lisieux Ever since I was a child, I’ve had a fascination with saints, thanks to the detailed pictures in the book of saints my parents had. And, even as an adult I continue to have a… [Read More]
Two Guys, a Girl and a Catholic Podcast Episode 20: French Fries and Magic Pills
[powerpress] Current Events: Rick Perry Faces Federal Lawsuit Over Day of Prayer http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/07/rick-perry-faces-federal-lawsuit-over-day-of-prayer.html Pope Benedict sends aid to victims that are suffering from the famine in the Horn of Africa. http://www.romereports.com/palio/pope-calls-for-aid-to-famine-victims-in-horn-of-africa-english-4545.html Institute of Medicine panel recommends that insurance companies be obligated to cover contraception, sterilization procedures without a copay http://consumerist.com/2011/07/panel-birth-control-should-be-covered-by-insurance-without-co-pay.html Cardinal Dinardo Responds: http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2011/11-143.shtml Church… [Read More]
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Color Page
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Lighten up! And other pithy things to contemplate.
The road I’ve travelled to a better understanding of the Catholic Faith has been filled with a lot of bumps, bruises and pendulum swinging. I drifted away from my faith, my heritage and cultural identity in my college years {though I wouldn’t have thought of it that way at the time}. I figured, like all… [Read More]
9 Things To Do When Needing Direction
It happens to all of us. Life is moving along swimmingly until it hits. “It” might be something thrown at us from the outside—a layoff, your child’s crisis, or realizing that all of the graduate programs you’ve applied to waitlisted you—or it can be internal—realizing that you’re not happy in your job/career, finishing college without… [Read More]
Why Are Christians Always Judging?
One of the most unattractive challenges in joining a Christian group is the fear of being judged. Honestly, most people fear the judgement of Christians over the judgment of God Himself. How can this be if Saint Paul reminds us not to judge others, “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God…”… [Read More]
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Color Page 7-16
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Life, Detours and Trust
So this week has been interesting to say the least… I’ve been out of college since 1999 and by the grace of God have always been gainfully employed. I’d managed to avoid or side-step a number of lay-offs and company closings, but my streak of dodging bullets ended this week. As to be expected I’ve… [Read More]
A rose by any other name. . .
. . .would not be half as awesome as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha. I have a confession. We’re all Catholics here so I can do that, right? When I first made the conscious decision that converting to Catholicism was what I was going to do, one of the things I was geeking out about was the… [Read More]
Falling and Fighting – The Struggle for Christ
I’ve been a Catholic school kid my entire life. A fact that has provided me with a number of opportunities that many people didn’t get growing up. I had the opportunity to learn about my faith in school, to share my faith with all my friends and teachers, to pray openly. But I also had… [Read More]
15th Sunday Ordinary Time Color Page 7-9
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Tattoos & the Church
All about tattoos…kind of. Over some time now I’ve come to gather a series of resources regarding the morality of modern-day tattoos from the teachings of the Catholic Church. This is by no means extensive though. Regardless, I’d like to share what I’ve found in hopes that it will provide the insight you need (or at least… [Read More]
Inconceivable! (Review: “Bumped”)
Last week, I read a book that I could not put down. Even when I paused to gasp or to ponder what I’d just read, I only stopped long enough to process my thoughts, and then I immediately went back to turning pages as fast as I could. I was stunned and excited, and it… [Read More]
Who Do You Seek?
“Men and women seek God. Young people realize in the depths of their being that this quest is the inner law of their lives.” -Blessed Pope John Paul II As I write this blog, I am sitting on one of four buses from the Diocese of Austin with youth, youth ministers, chaperones and priests from… [Read More]
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Color Page
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