In the book, The Five Love Languages, one of them is gift giving. But, truth be told, it’s not my primary love language. With six kids and a lot of birthday and holidays, I’m getting better, though! At Casa Whitaker we have a mish-mash of family traditions. Scott grew up Catholic and I grew up…

The post Giving Gifts with Purpose appeared first on Kathryn Whitaker.

Another simple reforming pope in a difficult dark time.

HAPPY New Year! You heard me right. Happy New Year! Today is the first day of our new liturgical calendar year. As you probably noticed

Sometimes “structure” can be seen as a bad thing, but in this episode, we hear Abbot Austin Murphy explain why structures are important to growing in the spiritual life. Plus, practical tips! We are also doing our annual end-of-year appeal. Would you prayerfully consider donating $1 a day during Advent (a gift of $25)? (It’s […]

A brief reforming pope.

 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT     Cycle B         November 29, 2020            As we begin this new liturgical year, we have a passage from the beginning of St. Paul’s First…

Advent is such a beautiful season of anticipation and preparation. There are so many wonderful saints to celebrate and devotions to practice.  Over the years we’ve observed the passage of Advent using the Jesse Tree and an Advent Calendar. We’ve joyful…

This year as been a weird year. I find myself repeating the phrase, “The days are long but the months are short,” in reference to things happening in my life. And being aware of where we are liturgically in the Catholic Church is no exception. How can …

The Thanksgiving holiday is a time when family and friends gather together, however, it’s more than just eating turkey and gathering with family around a table. As Catholics, we can celebrate “thanksgiving” […]

As we approach the Advent and Christmas Seasons, I know many people have begun to think about the gifts that they will buy for family and friends this year. Although there are […]

This morning I was scrolling through my Instagram feed and came upon a very cool blanket from the Worthy of Agape shop. The blanket has many names, titles, and symbols that pertain […]

 Homily   Feast of Christ the King  November 22, 2020           Did the like the Gospel we just heard?   You know, sometimes the Gospel is obscure, difficult to figure out, or t…

Growing up modesty was taught to me in relation to what I wore. It was a sin to show too much skin, wear clothing that accentuated curves, or wear too much makeup. I’ve seen girls reprimanded publicly for their clothing, and I also heard that it is a g…

What happens if you are baptized with the wrong sacramental form? Well, a story about this exact topic hit the news and it has some major consequences. Tune in to find out more!

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A reforming pope in a difficult time.

 As I write this the work on the interior renovation is proceeding apace. The scaffolding is coming down even as I write this. The new lighting and the new sound system will make quite a difference I believe, and our newly refurbished worship spac…

 This Wednesday we honor all US Veterans as we celebrate Veterans’ Day. This day marks the anniversary of the end of World War I, the “war to end all wars.” In addition to honoring those who have worked and risked for the protection of our country…

On this day, November 11, we remember the brave men and women that have served our country and who have given us the freedoms we love so much. Let us pray with […]

I’m not going to resume my daily COVID posts that I did over the summer (at least not yet), but wanted to interrupt my non-programming to share that Texas hit a new record high number today.

10,865 new cases reported in the last 24 hours….

 Homily   Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time      November 8, 2020            What time is it?  What day is it?   Anyone else feeling kind of discombobulated w…

The Vatican released today a report from the Secretariat of State on Theodore McCarrick, the sexual abuser and predator who rose the hierarchy’s ranks to became a Cardinal. I’ve only had a chance to skim it, so this isn’t a full summary except to say that some bishops didn’t share their full knowledge, some ignored […]

The post <span class=’p-name’>McCarrick</span> appeared first on Brandon Kraft.

I love the holidays. And, good Lord do we need some joy in 2020. The past three years (2017, 2018 and 2019), I put together gift guides in hopes that it would inspire you with finding a meaningful gift for someone you love. This year’s was so much fun to put together. Curating these guide…

The post 2020 Gift Guide appeared first on Kathryn Whitaker.

Today’s feast day in the Latin Church is the Dedication of St. John Lateran. It’s the only “archbasilica” in Christianity as the chief and highest-ranking church in the world—the Mother Church. Briefly, this area of Rome just inside the city walls was given to the Pope around the year 300 or so with a church […]

The post <span class=’p-name’>Dedication of the Archbasilica</span> appeared first on Brandon Kraft.

How many of us have found ourselves, standing high on our tiptoes and straining with all our might, peering over the fence we stand behind, desperate to see what’s on the other side? Whether our fence is our marriage, our work, our faith, our friendshi…

Some may think that this topic is not the most applicable to their practice of the Faith, but tune in and learn more about the importance of theology in our own lives!

Catholic Bytes Podcast is a CAST initiative.

Today is the birthday of Fr. Ivor Koch, who spent hours sitting outside of the funeral home with my mom after my dad died. We were lapsed Catholics and a family holding a lot of pain from church mistakes decades before. I was baptized, but we never went to church for the 11 years that […]

The post <span class=’p-name’>One Priest Can Make All The Difference</span> appeared first on Brandon Kraft.

Alleged son of Sergius III and Marozia.

It’s Election Day and I’m betting you’re feeling a little hopeful, a little exhausted, a little frustrated and a little anxious. It’s the day after an election we all fear a bit, right? And because of that, I’d like to offer an alternate narrative. Most of us have spent 2020 just trying to survive –…

The post The Election Advice Nobody Will Give You (but they should) appeared first on Kathryn Whitaker.

Death has a sting. No doubt about it. However, Jesus’ resurrection removed its lasting effects. It is that light which on this day allows me

Reflection on the Solemnity of All Saints The Solemnity of All Saints honors those whose love for God knows no limits.  The Church has set

In the span of one month this past winter, three people I care very much about lost their fathers unexpectedly. The degree to which each was prepared for death varied greatly. Being spiritually prepared for our own or for a loved one’s death is not som…

Another placeholder pope, without a beard?

Some of the questions you could probably guess, but others may surprise you…like why are priests clean-shaven?

A fun episode!

Catholic Bytes is a CAST initiative.

This weekend we celebrate All Saints’ Day, and on Monday we’ll observe All Souls’ Day. Especially this year, these special days of remembrance seem appropriate and timely. Many of us have lost loved ones. Recently I lost my father, Charlie Kullmann, an…

“You should not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.” EX 22:20

To me the evening felt like a small council meeting of spiritual mothers (and one grandmother; the grandmother being myself.)  We were on my friend Julia’s Motekaitis’  patio with our snacks.  I had never met Jane Sherman before but we… Continue Reading →

Today, October 22, we celebrate the memorial of the great Polish Pope of the 20th century, John Paul II. He was theological and prayer titan whose words and influence will be felt […]

A placeholder pope chosen by Marozia.

 Election Day approaches; if you are able to vote, I urge you to do so. It is a great and hard-won privilege. I forward to you an article by Lubna Zeidan, the Program Director for iACT for Refugees. iACT is an interfaith organization in Austin, an…

 This weekend the Church observes WORLD MISSION SUNDAY. According to the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: “In 1926 Pope Pius XI instituted Mission Sunday for the whole Church with the first worldwide Mission Sunday coll…