Join us for our monthly Austin Catholic New Media meal! Whether you’re a contributor, reader or listener, ACNM meals are a time to get together for fellowship. Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 Time: 12pm Location: Jason’s Deli at 1000 E. 41st Street UPDATE October 28: This event has been canceled. Please look for information for… [Read More]
About Rita Suva
Austin CNM September Lunch
Don’t have plans tomorrow? Consider joining us for our September lunch! ACNM monthly lunches are an opportunity to get together for fellowship and discussion. No agenda, just time to share ideas, talk about life & faith and hang out. It doesn’t matter if you are a contributor or a reader or listener, you are invited… [Read More]
A Blue Bell Faith
The state of Texas’ favorite ice cream, Blue Bell, returned to shelves this week after four months of stopped production due to a Listeria problem and 3 deaths in April. Texans mourned the loss of this important dessert, especially during the summer. Memes were created, odes were written, t-shirts printed and people fasted from ice cream… [Read More]
From an ancient homily for Holy Saturday: The Lord’s descent into the underworld
Our Catholic faith is incredibly rich. So instead of writing a new reflection, I’m sharing one of my favorite things to read during the Triduum. This is a from an ancient homily for Holy Saturday, date and homilist unknown. It is the Second Reading in the Office of Readings for Holy Saturday Liturgy of the Hours…. [Read More]
The Ordination of Bishop Danny Garcia in Pictures
It’s said a picture is worth a thousand words. And so since several of us at ACNM were blessed to attend the Ordination of Auxiliary Bishop Danny Garcia, we wanted to snap some pictures and share them with you all. It was a Holy Spirit filled and blessed day to spend together with our Catholic… [Read More]
Keeping Each Other Accountable: Fifty Shades of Grey
I enjoy movies. A lot. I appreciate great story lines. I get drawn by both great cinematography. I become invested in characters when an actor/actress does a good job. But this February, I won’t be watching the Valentine’s Day movie release Fifty Shades of Grey. Between the product description of the book on Amazon (which… [Read More]
When Holidays Are Sad
Even though Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year” and the world seems awash with cheerfulness, color and lights, the holidays can be sad for some. It’s sad for some because of the death of a loved one or because it can be a reminder of the broken family someone comes from or… [Read More]
The Challenge of Advent
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be watchful! Be alert!…’ ” Advent is a challenging time for Catholics. With the exception of Mass, it’s easy to let Advent be consumed and overshadowed in our daily lives, as society pushes Halloween into Christmas with a small glint of Thanksgiving thrown in. “….You do not know when the… [Read More]
The Catholic Roots of Halloween
Every year the questions about the acceptability of celebrating Halloween arise in Catholic and Christian circles: Can my family to celebrate Halloween? Is it okay for my child to dress up and trick-or-treat? Is Halloween a pagan, satanic or secular holiday? These, and a myriad of other questions about Halloween haunt the consciousness of Catholics… [Read More]
First Comes Love, Then Comes…
This past Saturday Pope Francis presided over a Mass during which several couples celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony (aka, Marriage). What made these couples “unique” according to social understanding of the Catholic faith is that all of these couples were either living together or who have had annulments. It seemed odd to the media… [Read More]
Meet a Saint: St. Brother André
St. Brother André Bessette, C.S.C. was a pretty amazing man who is the first saint from the Congregation of Holy Cross. He lived a life of humility, prayer, devotion to St. Joseph and comforting the sick. Through his intercessory prayers to St. Joseph, many people have received healing. Born in Quebec in 1845 as Alfred Bessette, he… [Read More]
New Priest for the Diocese of Austin in 2014
Just last Saturday, June 7, 2014, a wonderful young man, Craig DeYoung, was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Austin. His love for God, his servants heart and his joy for life is evident from the moment you meet Craig and is splashed across his face when you see his big smile. Personally, I’ve… [Read More]
Mary, Undoer of Knots
Today I began the novena for a wonderful and unique Marian devotion to our Mother Mary through the Marian titled of Mary, the Undoer (or Untier) of Knots for a specific Marian Devotion in May. I only learned of Mary, Undoer of Knots a couple of years ago, and I love the idea (and images)… [Read More]
3 Ways for 3 Days: How to Grow Spiritually During the Easter Triduum
Easter Triduum 2014 is upon us. It begins this Thursday evening. Yes, THIS Thursday, April 17, 2014. Are you ready? Are you sure? Okay, Pop Quiz time! I promise, it’s not too hard. Pop Quiz 1. What does the word Triduum mean? Answer: Three days. 2. When does Lent officially end and the Easter Triduum… [Read More]
Pray for Fort Hood
As the details emerge in the coming weeks about the shooting that occurred at Fort Hood yesterday, Wednesday, April 2, 2014, for us Central Texans, our thoughts naturally turn to how we might be able to help the community. And as information is released to how the public may be able to help, let us… [Read More]
Almsgiving in Lent: Amplify Your 2014
During Lent, Catholics are asked to pray, fast and give alms. However, of the three, almsgiving is the most neglected. Prayer & Fasting We usually do pretty good on the prayer part. This is easy because our parishes help us with this one very well, providing increased opportunities for spiritual development at our parishes through… [Read More]
Answering Your Questions: Heaven, Hell, Purgatory & Limbo
Last week we received a message from a group of students working on a class project at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy in Austin. They asked some great questions and while we can’t address all of their questions in one blog post, we wanted to be sure to respond to their main question and provide them… [Read More]
Rooting for Catholic Olympians
Like most Americans, my husband and I really enjoy watching the Olympics. Like most men and women, I enjoy watching figure skating and he doesn’t care too much about it. But last night he sat and watched and rooted with me for the American women’s figure skaters and a staunchly Catholic Yuna Kim of South… [Read More]
DCYC 56: Ablaze
The annual Austin Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference (DCYC) was last weekend, January 17-19, 2014 in Waco, Texas. Nearly 2400 teens from around the Diocese participated in DCYC, making it the largest DCYC ever. This year’s theme, Ablaze, was a fitting conclusion to the Year of Faith which ended this past November, reminding teens that, “If… [Read More]
Faith and Frozen [the movie]
I admit it, even as an adult I love animated children’s movies. There’s something about the humor, the joy and the fun that children’s movies have that many adult movies don’t. Kids movies don’t take themselves too seriously, yet often have a life lesson or two to share with us. And Disney’s most recent animated… [Read More]
#prayforpeace and #fast4syria
“Let the cry for peace ring out in all the world!#prayforpeace” –@Pontifex, Pope Francis, Twitter, September 4, 2013 This past Sunday, September 1, during his Angelus Address, Pope Francis called upon Catholics around the world to observe a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria on Saturday, September 7. As Pope Francis made… [Read More]
Seeing God in Creation
Whenever I am out truly experiencing nature (ie, I’m not just sitting inside my house staring out the front door at the lawn), such as amongst Texas wildflowers, in a national park, hiking in the mountains, etc, I always have a moment (or several) of “How can someone see all this and deny that God… [Read More]
SB5: A Moment in Texas Legislative History
The night of Tuesday, June 25 was one crazy and unsettling night for many Texans. A sea of pro-choice persons clad in orange shirts with speckles of pro-life blue shirts thrown in here and there had been present in the Texas Capitol building in downtown Austin for nearly 13 hours. And the chaotic nature of… [Read More]
Travel Like a Catholic
Summer is almost here, which means more out-of-town weekend trips and week-long (or longer!) vacations that leave some of us Catholics away from our home parishes on Sunday. Travel, vacations and being away from our home parishes on Sunday can present a dilemma for us Catholics and we often scramble to find a Parish and… [Read More]
Pentecost is Coming! How to Have a Better Relationship with the Holy Spirit
Pentecost is coming and though it’s a couple of weeks away, I’m already thinking about it, preparing for it and praying towards it. I began cultivating my relationship with the Holy Spirit in Middle School and I’ve been blessed because of it. But it hasn’t always been easy, because the Holy Spirit is intangible and… [Read More]
West, Tx: How to Help our Brothers and Sisters
By now, pretty much everyone around the nation, and especially those in Texas and Austin have heard about the Fertilizer Plant Explosion in West, Texas. What many people may not know is that West, Tx is part of the Diocese of Austin. Our brothers and sisters in West, Texas are in need of our help…. [Read More]
2013 Catholic Advocacy Day
Catholic Faith in Action On Tuesday, April 9, Catholic faithful from across the great state of Texas gather together at the Texas State Capitol to celebrate Catholic Faith in Action Advocacy Day. Legislative Advocacy Days are an opportunity for Catholics to participate in the political process by voicing the concerns of the Texas Bishops, which… [Read More]
Setbacks & Frustrations, Trust & Faith
Every year, every month, sometimes every day, we encounter setbacks and frustrations. Some of these are temporary, such as waking up late and having to rush through traffic to get to work. Some of them last a little longer, like having to wait in a doctor’s office for two hours. And some of these can… [Read More]
Keep Holy Week Holy! 3 Tips to Focus on Holy Week
Where did Lent go? It feels like we just got started, yet here we are, about to celebrate Holy Week! Yes, Easter will be here before you know it. So as Lent comes to a close with us celebrating Holy Week, the holiest week of all weeks for us in the Catholic Church, it’s time… [Read More]
Habemus Papam! Pope Francis
UPDATE: The following is Bishop Joe Vasquez’s press conference about our new Holy Father. Thanks to Relevant Radio and Pat Ryan! Original Post: At approximately 1:13pm CST on Wednesday March 13, 2013 white smoke began billowing out of the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. Viewership online at EWTN, CatholicTV.com, Salt and Light and more jumped in… [Read More]
Confirmation is NOT Graduation: Seeing Sacraments as More Than Goals
In our lives it’s hard to measure success, or even know if we’re moving forward and growing without goals, markers and signs. In school we learned material, took a test to make sure we had comprehended and studied that material and received a grade for our efforts. As adults, we earn raises or reprimands based… [Read More]
#popewatch2013
We are living in a historic time in the Catholic Church. With only two other popes having resigned before Pope Benedict XVI, we’re in relatively uncharted waters concerning what will be happening in the Catholic Church in the coming weeks and months. At this point in history as Catholics, we have a unique opportunity to… [Read More]
Super Bowl Half-Time Show: Beyoncé vs. The Puppy Bowl
A few years ago we were talking about Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” during the Super Bowl halftime show. Half a second of an exposed breast, and the world went crazy. “Nipplegate” as it’s been called, was widely discussed and many saw it as an sign of the decreasing morality of the American culture. So where’s… [Read More]
NBC’s ‘Parenthood’ Addresses Teen Pregnancy and Abortion
In its four season history as a television show, NBC’s Parenthood has addressed issues that are honest, relatable and believable. From addiction to special needs children to infidelity to being a single mother to cancer to infertility issues to adoption to a soldier’s return from Afghanistan and more, Parenthood has not shied away from tough… [Read More]
The “Odd” Things of the Catholic Faith
I love our Catholic faith. There’s beauty in it, there’s wisdom in it, there’s love in it, there’s joy in it, there’s an acceptance and reason for pain and suffering, there’s forgiveness in it, there’s purpose in the rites and rituals in it and there’s so, so much more. There are also some very “odd”… [Read More]
Holy Innocents, Then and Now
The past few years a feast day in the Catholic Church I had paid little attention to began to stand out to me: The Feast of the Holy Innocents. I don’t know why this Feast Day began to stand out to me a few years ago. Perhaps it is the reminder of innocent lives lost,… [Read More]
UT-Austin Medical School to be Catholic
The UT-Austin Medical School situation has turned controversial once again. First, it was the issue of property tax increases. Now, it’s the fact that the hospital will be part of the Seton hospital system and will become a Catholic-owned teaching hospital. This situation has, of course, re-sparked debated over public health care services and Catholic… [Read More]
WOW! Women of the Well
In an effort to share their mission of “…serving anyone in need by strengthening families and promoting respect for human dignity and life” beyond those they provide direct service care, to increase awareness of their ministry and enrich the lives of woman of faith, Catholic Charities of Central Texas has begun a Faith and Fellowship… [Read More]
Porta Fidei: Austin DCYC 55
The excitement is growing. Austin DCYC is 50 days away, January 18-22, 2013. Every year, the numbers grow. Last year the number was nearly 2200 teens. Last year, more than 80 parishes of the 130 parishes in the Diocese of Austin participated. Ask a teen from your parish that has been to a DCYC (Diocesan… [Read More]
Catholic Frenemies
Towards both God and others, at times we’re like Peter, at other times like Paul, sometimes we’re like John and even other times we’re like (doubting) Thomas. But what worries me the most is when we’re like Judas. Because when we’re like Judas, we often act as a frenemy. Frenemies. We all have them. Sometimes,… [Read More]
