It’s that time of year again, where parents breathe a sigh of relief as they prepare to free their children from the seemingly endless days of summer. Off they go to school again (sometimes begrudgingly, sometimes excitedly), to make friends, to learn new things and to bust out those shiny new school supplies. While some… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – August 10, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday August 10, 2014 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 115 (NAB Readings)(Jerusalem Bible) Reading 1 1 Kings 19:9A, 11-13A This reading from the book of Kings is one of my favorite stories to quote in the old testament. We start off with Elijah in a cave, and he’s there because he’s been trying… [Read More]
I Will Be With You
“I will be with you.” We read this in the Great Commission, in Isaiah, and other places. It is true because it is God who says it to us. However, we can neglect to hear or listen to this. Ask yourself why. Why is it someone would reject this truth? In Isaiah 43, it’s in… [Read More]
How to Keep Youth in the Church (A Response to “3 Common Traits”)
Most of my friends in Austin are people I met at Catholic activities. Catholicism is the biggest part of my life (other than being female, I suppose), so it makes sense that I would mainly associate with other Catholics. What most of them don’t know, though, is that I haven’t always been like this. I… [Read More]
Sunday Says – August 3, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
[powerpress] Sunday August 03, 2014 Lectionary: 112 Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (NAB Translation) Welcome to the Sunday Says podcast for August 3, 2014, the Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. Thank you for joining us as we begin preparing our hearts and minds for Mass by diving deeper into the Word of… [Read More]
Receptivity and Love in the Parable of the Sower
Over the last two Sundays and a daily mass in between in between, we have been hearing the parables where Christ describes the Kingdom through the imagery of the sower and the seeds, and we also heard Psalm with the same imagery. Here is the version read two Sundays ago “A sower went out to sow. And as… [Read More]
Who do you think you are?!?
Luke 9:57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him [Jesus], ‘I will follow You wherever You go.’ . . . But he said, ‘Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.’ 60 But Jesus said to him, ‘Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you,… [Read More]
Para mi sobrina en el día de su boda
Estas a punto de entrar a una de las aventuras más bellas de tu vida. Estoy muy feliz y contenta por esta ocasión. Podría platicarte de cómo te he visto crecer a través de los años y todo eso pero estoy segura que tu mamá y tu papá tendrán bastante de esos comentarios para ti…. [Read More]
New Sacred Art Installed at St. Vincent de Paul
Sometimes we Catholics take the beauty of our churches for granted. In our tradition, we believe that the house of God deserves our best and our first. Often we’re criticized for this because it is thought by some that the money invested in the beauty of a sacred space could be spent on helping causes for… [Read More]
A Gospel Midrash on Martha and Mary
Sometimes after mass, my husband, Blaze, and I would act out the Gospel story of the day with our then four year old daughter, Maire. One Sunday, when the reading had been about Martha and Mary, we talked about the story a little bit in the car, and when we got home, we decided who… [Read More]
Breaking the Girl, Part Two: The Hype of “Fifty Shades of Grey” and Why Slavery Isn’t Love
Let me start off by admitting that when I was in college I was addicted to romance novels. I would binge-read stacks of them in bed while eating my way through a roll of cookie dough. Healthy, right? It started out as a means of escape from my seemingly soul-crushing breakup with my boyfriend of… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – July 27, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday July 27, 2014 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 109 (NAB Translation) ( Jerusalem Bible Translation) [powerpress] Reading 1 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 This first reading from the first book of Kings is a classic favorite, and it is hopefully familiar to you. Solomon was son of the great King David and had of… [Read More]
The Communion of Saints and the Life of Heaven: A Bed Time Story in Rose
Once upon a time, a time called “forever now,” there were some beautiful old roses that could talk in beautiful ways through a special root system they had underground. They looked as if they were planted far apart but really under the soil their roots were intertwined and they heard everything each of the others… [Read More]
Straight from the Shepherd’s Mouth (Review: “Open Mind, Faithful Heart”)
I don’t really have an opinion on Pope Francis yet. I mean, he’s the pope, so I follow his authority on Earth and all that, but I don’t know whether I like his individual personality or not (as much as that matters). I realize that he’s been pope for over a year, however, I am… [Read More]
10 Amazing Miracles of Scripture (Outside of Jesus)
Even though it was the Church that gave the world the canon for the scriptures, it’s almost depressing to see how little most Catholics know the Bible. Recently, I’ve been focusing many of my personal prayers on the great power of God and reflecting upon the way the Lord is deeply involved with creation. The big… [Read More]
Elijah and the Widow of Bryan
When I answer the door, a wild- looking old hippie guy standing on my porch asks me for some water and a sandwich. I don’t actually have much food in the house right now, as it’s a few days until Pay Day. I’m trying to think what to give him, remembering I am down to… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – July 13, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday July 13, 2014 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 103 (NAB Translation) (Jerusalem Bible Translation) [powerpress] Reading 1 Isaiah 55:10-11 In this week’s first reading from Isaiah, it’s important to remember where we are in this story. The Hebrews were at a point of transition to return to their land of Judah, and it… [Read More]
When you see… A Reflection on the Immigrant Crisis
According to the local folklore, the drama at Sacred Heart in McAllen all started with what a few saw. A little over a month ago, a few sharp-eyed Catholics noticed a gathering of dirty young women at the bus station. Maybe it was a passing glance. Maybe it was out of the corner of the… [Read More]
Hope and Joy (Review: “Light of Love”)
I love sisters. I have one actual, biological sister, and I love her. I also have an ever-growing number of female friends who have entered consecrated religious life, though, and I love them, too. For the record, I also love my friends who have become priests. I tend to hang out with people who follow… [Read More]
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Mass + Reception
Saint Mary Cathedral invites to you to celebrate with us on Wednesday, July 16th at 6 pm for a special mass honoring Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular. Enrollment and Investiture of the Brown Scapular during the mass and free scapulars to the first 200 persons. Pot-luck reception in the Bishop’s Hall… [Read More]
Sunday Says – July 6, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
[powerpress] Sunday Says Podcast – July 6, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections Sunday July 6, 2014 Lectionary: 100 Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (NAB Translation) We open up the Scriptures to hear God speak through Old Testament prophecies, in the Psalms of King David, the letters of St. Paul, and in the words of Jesus… [Read More]
God of My Fathers
Today, in honor of Independence Day, I’ll like to share a song with you. To me, this song is a beautiful reflection on the promise of what we can be, especially when we honor where we came from, wherever that means to you. You’ll notice the reference to Abraham, the Father of our faith- counting stars… [Read More]
Austin CNM Retreat – July 19, 2014
Join us for a day of reflection at a retreat hosted by Austin CNM at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in North Austin located at 10205 N Fm 620, Austin, Texas 78726 on Saturday July, 19, 2014 10 am – 5 pm. This day will be dedicated to prayer, discussion, and collaboration all with a strong… [Read More]
Holy Spirit hide-outs
Driving around Bryan’s neighborhoods, my husband, Bob, would point out from time to time, “Catholic yard. There’s another one. That’s a Catholic yard.” Some of these lawns’ signs of Catholicism were obvious: a statue out front, a home made shrine. Some were less obvious but he was no less sure. I asked him how… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – June 29, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday June 29, 2014 Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles Mass during the Day – Lectionary: 591 (NAB Readings) [powerpress] This is a great treat to celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul on a Sunday. Most saints get overwritten by the regular calendar of the Sunday, but these two Apostles are a… [Read More]
Breaking the Girl, Part One
This is the first of a mini-series of posts focused on socially acceptable things that make me fear for the future of girls everywhere. I recognize some of these topics are not the most popular to bring up, and in fact, many friends or readers may not agree with what I have to share. But… [Read More]
Jesús, sabiendo lo que sus discípulos murmuraban, les dijo “¿Esto los escandaliza?” Juan 6:61
Las palabras de Cristo fueron escandalizantés. Estaba proclamando que tendríamos que comer de su carne y beber de su sangre para tener vida eterna. Que El era el pan que habia bajado del cielo. ¿Quién lo podría creer? “Si los ángeles pudieran estar celosos de los hombres, seria por solo una razón: La Sagrada Comunión.”… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – June 22, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi Sunday) Sunday June 22, 2014 Lectionary: 167 (NAB Readings) (Jerusalem Bible) [powerpress] Reading 1 Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14B-16A This week’s first reading from Deuteronomy takes us back to the story of Moses, but it’s much after the time of the Exodus from Egypt. At… [Read More]
Transparency, Not Hypocrisy
Sometimes the Scripture is approached as if Jesus was an authoritarian parent, giving us demanding lists of do’s and don’ts. As I was listening to the readings at daily Mass on Wednesday, and to the priest’s beautiful homily that followed, I could see how someone might only hear the do’s and don’ts. Don’t blow trumpets when you… [Read More]
Seeds of Peace and Justice
John 15: 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. During a recent monologue on the changing situation in Iraq, comedian Jon Stewart lampooned conservative pundits for their use of the phrase “seeds of democracy” to justify the 2003 invasion. I know not everyone will… [Read More]
Struggling with Instagram Envy
It’s easy to become convinced that many of your friends and acquaintances live more exciting lives when we see filtered and carefully selected shots from their life on social media. There is a growing trend with heavy users of social media that shows Instagram comparison causing and rooting envy in the hearts of users. Suddenly… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – June 15, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
[powerpress] Sunday June 15, 2014 Lectionary: 164 Solemnity of the most Holy Trinity (NAB Translation) Welcome to the Sunday Says podcast for June 15, 2014, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Thank you for joining us for a just a few minutes as we explore Sacred Scripture and reflect in depth on the mystery… [Read More]
Purify Your Memory
Christians believe that the poor in spirit are 1) blessed and 2) will see the kingdom of heaven. It is also true that the pure of heart shall see God. In 2014, however, it is hard to articulate what that means, or how one can “do that” or “attain” it. In this context, the purification… [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]
Eucharist: God will bless Texas on the feast of Corpus Christi June 22
Download the PDF Flyer – 2014_CorpusChristi Everyone is invited to join St. Mary Cathedral for the annual Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession on June 22, the feast of Corpus Christi. This year’s procession will not only go to the steps of the State Capitol as in years past, but it will actually go inside the Rotunda of… [Read More]
Breaking Down Our Babel: A Response to “An Open Letter to the Catholic Blogosphere”
For a church that professes to be “one,” we sure do have a lot of divisions. A few months ago, I wrote about the claim of being one church versus the reality and the ability of that disconnect to scandalize non-Catholics. This weekend, I read Fr. Denis Lemieux’s “Open Letter to the Catholic Blogosphere, On… [Read More]
Honeymoon & Newlywed Myths, Realized
As a girl, and probably right up until I actually said “I do”, I assumed my honeymoon would be glamorous: all smiles and laughter, as my groom and I danced on the euphoric high of our perfectly magical nuptials, to the rhythm of tropical waves in the glow of a soft sunset. I mean, there… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – June 8, 2014 Pentecost Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday June 8, 2014 – Pentecost Sunday (NAB Readings) Mass during the Day Lectionary: 63 [powerpress] “Come, Holy Spirit, come! And from your celestial home Shed a ray of light divine!” – From the Sequence of Pentecost Happy Pentecost! It gets it’s name from the 50 days of Easter. This is a great feast, the birthday of… [Read More]
We should do this more often
As he often does, Pope Francis is doing something we all know is right to do, but we forget. He is bringing leaders of two peoples locked in conflict, who have a painful past together, to pray with him, just pray. It is the perfect thing for a Pope to do, and it is… [Read More]
Drink Like A Catholic
I grew up in one of the few remaining dry counties in the country. In case you have never heard of it, that means they don’t sell alcohol there. It’s not prohibition, but you need to travel somewhere else to buy it. In that part of Texas, Baptist Christians have a huge influence on the… [Read More]
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