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This Advent, Let Our Relationships Be Transformed

Published November 27, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Young Adult, Youth

The King’s Criteria        In the rhythm of this getting-back-to-normal after the long Thanksgiving holiday, if we glance up we see that Advent is just ahead. And while Thanksgiving can often bring many blessings as we enjoy time together, oftentimes relationship challenges surface as well. We speak of Advent as a time to prepare… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published November 27, 2017

Litany of the False Self

Published October 2, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Prayer, Young Adult, Youth

You know those moments at work which you wish you could take back? Where you make a mistake in front of a whole group of your coworkers and your cheeks flush and you shrink a size or two? I had a few of those moments this week. And in God’s fantastic sense of humor, on… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published October 2, 2017

St. Therese Day Family Traditions

Published September 26, 2017 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Prayer, Youth

Here is how my daughters and I celebrated St. Therese day, (October 1) when they were growing up, and we still do!   After dinner on the evening of St. Therese day, we read the book God’s Little Flower, the story of St. Therese. Even after the girls were “too old” for this book, we… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published September 26, 2017

The Crowd Mentality of Today (Conviction & Stress Part II)

Published September 4, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Prayer, Resources, Social Media and Tech, Young Adult, Youth

When I was young I had an odd, somewhat unconscious anxious habit. Someone would say, “It’s like in that movie _______, ya know?” and I would say, “Yeah,” and they’d continue with their story. The conversation kept flowing, the other thought I was in tune with them, and all was well. Except that I had… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published September 4, 2017

Calling all young adults! – An invitation to sit down with our Bishops

Published August 1, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Events, Young Adult, Youth

What are you doing next Monday evening? Young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 are invited to attend a Diocese of Austin listening session with Bishop Joe Vásquez and Bishop Danny Garcia on August 7 from 6-8 pm at St. Louis, Austin. This listening session will assist the diocese in preparation for the… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published August 1, 2017

“Do you want to live?”

Published April 8, 2017 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Youth

I had had a big fight with my mom and brother. I was walking super fast across town. It was cold and I had forgotten a jacket. A car full of girls from school drove by, rolling their windows down to jeer and shout insults. I picked up a few rocks and bottles to throw… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published April 8, 2017

How does modern man best hear the call the conversion?

Published April 3, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Young Adult, Youth

In this liturgical season of conversion, we are faced with the question: Just exactly how does “conversion” happen? How is change possible in our daily lives, and in a lasting way? I’d like to go deeper into thoughts from my last post, as a kind of part II (see: Living Lent Like a Little One)…. [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published April 3, 2017

Living Lent like a Little One

Published March 20, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Prayer, Resources, Young Adult, Youth

Lent is a season of conversion, a call to repentance, a time of turning back to God. To me, these are Christ’s most striking words on conversion: Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  (Matthew 18:3) Unless you turn and become! We shall not enter… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published March 20, 2017

Rap Music and Christianity

Published October 26, 2016 • Written by Zachery Algaze​ Filed Under: Youth

One of the most amazing ways to connect to God is through music and to praise his name and to worship him with lyrics. Some of the most popular Christian artists that a lot of people know are Hillsong United with wonderful songs such as Oceans, and Matt Maher who does a lot of blues… [Read More]

Written by Zachery Algaze​ • Published October 26, 2016

Christian Skate Jam – Oct 8th in Pflugerville

Published October 5, 2016 • Written by ATX Catholic Filed Under: Events, Youth

Extol Skate Jam is a Christian event that brings together people from all walks of life together to celebrate skating. The event will take place on October 8, 2016 noon to 4PM at Northwest Metro Park in Pflugerville. Visit ExtolSkateJam.com. This is an ecumenical event that brings together people of all faiths and even those of… [Read More]

Written by ATX Catholic • Published October 5, 2016

A Labor of Love

Published September 5, 2016 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Faith, Family, Prayer, Young Adult, Youth

We often get distracted from the best thing because we pursue many good things. This thought is the key with which Fr Patricio Rodriguez, ISP, opened up this passage from the Gospel of Luke in a recent homily: At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published September 5, 2016

Parents & Teens, Freedom & Boundaries

Published May 16, 2016 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Family, Youth

Here at ATXCatholic I don’t often write about my job as a therapist, but today I’d like to delve a little bit into it, through the lens of good theology and a Christian understanding of the human person.  I’d like to delve into the concept of boundaries in relationships, specifically between parents and teens. Tricky for… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published May 16, 2016

For Catholic Bloggers (ATX Catholic Reflection Day Quick Takes)

Published May 5, 2016 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer, Social Media and Tech, Young Adult, Youth

For bloggers, as people who are often plugged in, absorbing information, writing and interacting online, etc – how blessed a day of reflection can be! I think this was a common sentiment for all of us that attended the ATX Catholic Day of Reflection last weekend. Speaking for myself, it was a great gift to… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published May 5, 2016

Forming Teens Into Evangelical Catholics

Published May 4, 2016 • Written by Cristóbal Almanza Filed Under: Faith, Youth

Youth ministry is a unique challenge for the Church, and by challenge, I mean opportunity. A decade ago, I started to dabble in youth ministry, but I have spent the last 7 years working with great people in the Church to develop a program that can form young Evangelical Catholics. An understandably lofty goal, but one… [Read More]

Written by Cristóbal Almanza • Published May 4, 2016

A Mother’s letter to her daughter for her Confirmation

Published May 3, 2016 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Youth

“Mary treasured all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) Dear Roise, Treasuring the life of her child is what a mother does. At this culminating moment in our lives, as you prepare for your Confirmation, this letter is a reflection, a letter of love, encouragement and appreciation, and it is a… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published May 3, 2016

My Testimony of Reversion

Published May 2, 2016 • Written by Zachery Algaze​ Filed Under: Youth

The world today has forgotten so much about the mercy and passion and power of our true Lord and savior Jesus Christ. I grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland in a small town called Damascus. I was 6 years old when I was first in Damascus, and our governor at the time, Governor Martin O’Malley,… [Read More]

Written by Zachery Algaze​ • Published May 2, 2016

How Bad Catechesis Happened and How to Fix It (Review of Msgr. Charles Pope)

Published April 12, 2016 • Written by Lindsay Wilcox Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Resources, Reviews, Youth

You can take the teacher of out of the classroom, but you can’t take the teacher out of the heart. It has been many years since I taught full-time. I still have the heart of a teacher. My work with RCIA while I was in campus ministry was one of the best ways I’ve discovered… [Read More]

Written by Lindsay Wilcox • Published April 12, 2016

Revive Youth Rally 2016

Published April 11, 2016 • Written by Ablaze Ministries Filed Under: Events, Youth

Revive Youth Rally will be here before you know it! Are you ready? Youth in grades 6-12 are invited to join Jackie Francois, Bobby Angel, comedian/musician act POPPLE, and Dave Moore for a day of outdoor concerts, faith-based talks, and the Sacraments! This year’s theme at Revive is PROVE IT! and our speakers will be… [Read More]

Written by Ablaze Ministries • Published April 11, 2016

We Are All Teachers of Virtue (A Response to Archbishop Cordileone’s “Knowledge, Virtue, and Holiness”)

Published March 29, 2016 • Written by Lindsay Wilcox Filed Under: Faith, Family, Young Adult, Youth

You may remember the news headlines about Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. They focused on the bristling of some archdiocesan school teachers at the prospect of having to sign a statement affirming their support of the Catholic faith. As a former Catholic high school teacher myself, I thought it was much… [Read More]

Written by Lindsay Wilcox • Published March 29, 2016

Your Battle Plan Against Porn (Review: “Cleansed”)

Published March 15, 2016 • Written by Lindsay Wilcox Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Marriage and Love, Resources, Young Adult, Youth

I hate pornography, so I am a fan of resources for people who also hate pornography but have a better sense of how to fight the good fight than I do. I’m not foolish enough to think that the problem of porn addiction is going to quietly disappear from our society, so I keep my… [Read More]

Written by Lindsay Wilcox • Published March 15, 2016

Keep Worship Weird

Published March 7, 2016 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer, Young Adult, Youth

  You might say that the speed at which “Keep Austin Weird” took off says something about how innate this motto is to the nature of our city. It captures in a just few words one essential part of that “something else” about the this town that keeps native here and draws new neighbors in droves…. [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published March 7, 2016

The Last Stand (Review: UnDivided)

Published March 1, 2016 • Written by Lindsay Wilcox Filed Under: Blog, Reviews, Young Adult, Youth

It’s bittersweet when a journey comes to an end. I loved the ending of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I was sad to watch that chapter of my life (pun intended) come to an end, but I was very satisfied. I feel the same way about UnDivided, the final book in the Unwind “dystology”… [Read More]

Written by Lindsay Wilcox • Published March 1, 2016

Is Organized Religion Good For Humanity?

Published November 19, 2015 • Written by Matthew Hartwick Filed Under: Faith, Youth

I recently came across a website of an organization called “Freedom from Religion” which had a very specific goal: to help all people purge religion from their lives so that they could be “free.” This view on religion is nothing new, and it isn’t surprising that a movement is currently happening to abolish religion from… [Read More]

Written by Matthew Hartwick • Published November 19, 2015

Is it possible entitlement & individualism go hand in hand? (On the parable of the attitude of a servant)

Published November 16, 2015 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Faith, Family, Social Justice, Young Adult, Youth

Last Tuesday I was at St William’s in Round Rock for daily mass, and Fr Dean’s homily got me thinking. That day the gospel was from Luke, on the servant who comes in from the field: “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published November 16, 2015

Lessons I Have Learned Serving in Youth Ministry

Published September 23, 2015 • Written by Cristóbal Almanza Filed Under: Faith, Youth

Fall is an active time around most of our parishes, and it’s a time full of incredible hope for another year of catechetics. I’ve been blessed with almost a decade of working in youth ministry and witnessing the incredible ways that the Lord can work in the lives of high school teens.  As many lives… [Read More]

Written by Cristóbal Almanza • Published September 23, 2015

Back to Busy – Inspiration for Fall 2015

Published August 24, 2015 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Youth

Fall is in the air! Well not actually in the air weather-wise – I wish! But despite Texas’ insistence outdoors that summer persists, this week kiddos are loading back into school buses, parents are cheering, teachers are groaning, and the boost of energy and activity seems to pervade many realms of economic and social life…. [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published August 24, 2015

A Demon’s Memo- What Happens When You Return From A Retreat

Published July 16, 2015 • Written by Matthew Hartwick Filed Under: Faith, Youth

The following excerpt is meant to be a Screwtape Letters’ type of writing. It;s written from the perspective of the demon. Because of this, “the enemy” is actually God. In this letter, Slubgob, a senior demon, tells his colleagues about a group that came back from a retreat and how to attack. I decided to… [Read More]

Written by Matthew Hartwick • Published July 16, 2015

Running Slowly Up the Ramp (Review: “UnSouled”)

Published July 7, 2015 • Written by Lindsay Wilcox Filed Under: Reviews, Young Adult, Youth

It takes incredible skill to be a master storyteller. After Unwind and even UnWholly, I would have easily put Neal Shusterman on that list. I read UnSouled, though, so I’m withholding final judgment for now. I’m not as encouraged to keep reading, but I’m glad I did. I have to push through to the end,… [Read More]

Written by Lindsay Wilcox • Published July 7, 2015

“If You’re Happy and You Know It, It’s a Sin”- Catholic Youth Dating and Purity

Published July 2, 2015 • Written by Matthew Hartwick Filed Under: Blog, Marriage and Love, Youth

“If you’re happy and you know it, it’s a sin” was a statement my former coworker made as to how he thought the Catholic Church viewed sexuality and dating.  He made that statement because I had told them I was waiting for marriage and wanted to be chaste. Unfortunately, this is the viewpoint many people… [Read More]

Written by Matthew Hartwick • Published July 2, 2015

A Mexican Demon Named Charlie

Published June 1, 2015 • Written by Matthew Hartwick Filed Under: Social Media and Tech, Youth

The recent trending hashtag #charliecharliechallenge has been shown to a lot of teens and tweens recently through social media like Twitter and YouTube videos. In this game, you cross two pencils and put yes and no on a paper, then ask “Charlie” a question and wait to see if the pencil moves to yes or… [Read More]

Written by Matthew Hartwick • Published June 1, 2015

Advice for Graduating High School Students

Published May 20, 2015 • Written by Cristóbal Almanza Filed Under: Youth

One of the missions God is currently calling me to serve is working with graduating high school youths, and it has been an incredible blessing for me to closely journey with inspiring teens. A couple of years ago, I wrote an open letter to my graduating students, and I still stand behind it. Now, I… [Read More]

Written by Cristóbal Almanza • Published May 20, 2015

Where Culture and Scripture Meet (Review: The African American Catholic Youth Bible)

Published February 18, 2015 • Written by Lindsay Wilcox Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Reviews, Youth

If I’m going to be honest as a reviewer, I have to say that I didn’t want to like this book. That’s a terrible thing. First of all, I generally prefer not to review books I don’t think I’ll like. I made an exception for Wild at Heart. It seemed like the natural follow-up to… [Read More]

Written by Lindsay Wilcox • Published February 18, 2015

A Response to “Why Nuns Don’t Have Mid-Life Crises”

Published September 2, 2014 • Written by Lindsay Wilcox Filed Under: Faith, Marriage and Love, Reviews, Young Adult, Youth

I probably watch more YouTube videos than I should, and I probably also think about nuns more than your average YouTube video viewer. I love it when those sides of me unite, though. In my wandering about the Internet, I stumbled across a delightful video from a TEDx talk at Virginia Tech, “Why Nuns Don’t… [Read More]

Written by Lindsay Wilcox • Published September 2, 2014

Don’t Read This Blog: Enjoy Labor Day Unplugged

Published September 1, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Family, Social Media and Tech, Young Adult, Youth

We live in an overstimulated society. Between TV screens, phone screens, computer screens, tablet screens, phablet screens, laptop screens, and movie screens, are brains are just plain ol’ overloaded. Just for fun, think back to your last work day. How many hours were spent looking at a screen? What about when you got home? If… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published September 1, 2014

Pray on Sunday, Cuss on Monday?

Published August 18, 2014 • Written by Cristóbal Almanza Filed Under: Faith, Young Adult, Youth

Shut the front door because we need to get real about our speech. This isn’t a flippant or unnecessary discussion about language. We are living in a time of dangerous persecution and wars, so it seems like this topic may not be as important, but our words are always needed and used, so it remains… [Read More]

Written by Cristóbal Almanza • Published August 18, 2014

How to Keep Youth in the Church (A Response to “3 Common Traits”)

Published August 5, 2014 • Written by Lindsay Wilcox Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Young Adult, Youth

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]

Written by Lindsay Wilcox • Published August 5, 2014

Breaking the Girl, Part One

Published June 23, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Family, Marriage and Love, Social Justice, Young Adult, Youth

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]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published June 23, 2014

Falling into Ecumenicism, or Something I Never Thought I’d Learn From the Public Schools

Published May 14, 2014 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith, Family, Young Adult, Youth

When I was 18, I became Catholic. For months, leading up to the day of my entrance into the Church, I sat in the pew, in awe of this beautiful Church which had shown me so much in so little a time. I was amazed by the depth, the beauty, the wisdom, the overwhelming love. The… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published May 14, 2014

Playing Dr. Frankenstein Again (Review: “UnWholly”)

Published April 1, 2014 • Written by Lindsay Wilcox Filed Under: Blog, Reviews, Young Adult, Youth

I was in middle school when I discovered Harry Potter. I got into it because I heard it was popular in the U.S. (Living in Europe, I didn’t really know much about its actual popularity at the time.) It only took a few chapters before I was hooked. Occasionally I stumble across a book that… [Read More]

Written by Lindsay Wilcox • Published April 1, 2014

Answering Your Questions: Heaven, Hell, Purgatory & Limbo

Published March 6, 2014 • Written by Rita Suva Filed Under: Youth

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]

Written by Rita Suva • Published March 6, 2014

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