Playing for THE "Major"

My son belongs to our parish Edge group, which is a"pre" Lifeteen youth group for 6th, 7th and 8th graders. This last week they had a special guest speaker that his youth leader had emailed me about that I just had to sit in and listen... Now we don't get the local paper(really not worth the money...) and about the only local news we watch is the weather, unless we have "heard" of something to watch for... Anyway, I had never heard of this local kid, but was intrigued by his story.

Grant Desme, Major League Baseball's latest-greatest hopeful, before taking his BIG chance to play the game he loved his entire life, at the level he had always dreamed of, decides to retire and join the seminary. Turning away from the Big Leagues in order to play for THE Big League... The kid was SO cute I seriously wanted to just put him in my pocket and take him home! With great humility and humbleness Grant shared his story and answered questions of the teens and parents alike (I wasn't the only parent that didn't want to miss him!)

Grant did such a fantastic job of sharing his heart with us, and it was so wonderful to hear such a young person reaching out to kids barely younger than himself. I think the most inspiring thing that I got from his talk was when he shared when he realized that he had learned that going to Mass wasn't just a matter of "punching a time clock" and doing his obligation for the week. Tears literally came to his eyes when he shared how blessed he felt to stand at the foot of the cross with Mary at every Mass and receive Jesus inside of him.... He shared that he discovered that God created him, out of LOVE, for a REASON, and it was his job, and all of our jobs to contemplate "Why are we here?".... We must put god first before all other things, and even though it may not be easy at first, we need to take time to quiet ourselves and be with God... have a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ... He told us to love Mary with all our heart, because if we want to get close to Jesus, go to His Mother..... beautiful stuff....

Grant spoke of how surprised and humbled he was by all the press that he has received for his decision, again, giving all the glory and credit to God and how blessed he has been... With the full support of his family, and happy to leave the life of fame and fortune behind, Grant Desme will be entering the order of Norbertines in Southern California this summer, looking forward to a quieter, more contemplative life.... Please pray for him...

With Friends Like This, Who Needs Enemies?....

My sister alerted me to this piece of brilliance....

Writer Removed from Near Air Force One at LAX

If you don't want to bother going to the link, the story is about a "Roman Catholic Priestess" and her protesting "Same Sex Marriage".... yeah... great... the irony... Obviously, that's not ALL she's "protesting"....

Okay, I'm sure she is a very nice lady (Honestly, I don't know, but I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt...) and I appreciate her "zeal" in her defence of marriage being between one man and one woman... but it just shows me how much these people that claim to be "Catholic" but choose to practice their own version of it, just really don't get it. If there is something about Catholicism that you don't understand or agree with, research it. Pray about it. Ask someone that knows, not someone that is going to promote their own agenda... It's a BIG Church and an open book... It really isn't too difficult, if you really want to find Truth... But then again, if you are more interested in molding the Church into your own version, then I guess you can. It's a free country(for now, anyway...).... Just don't call it "Catholic" aka: "universal", as in "in line with the Magesterium, and Her teachings, under the guidance and leadership of our Holy Father the Pope despite WHERE in the world you find it", when it's not....

Jon and Kate Plus Eight... give or take...

Broken families make me sad... My 6, almost 7 year old used to love to watch the TLC show, Jon and Kate Plus Eight. I have to admit that at first, even I would get a kick out of watching the antics of raising a set of twins and sextuplets under one roof, and even admired how Jon and Kate seemed to work so well together to raise their little ones... True, as a Catholic, I have some definite opinions about using fertility methods that usually are the cause of these multiple pregnancies, but after the fact, it's not really the child's fault of HOW they got here. So, that being said, watching this show, in the beginning, I was attracted to how this large family had become such a hit, in how they work together and make things "work"... Although I had lost interest in the last couple of seasons because it seemed to become more about "Jon and Kate take vacation comp trips with their kids all the time..."... How is THAT reality?... No, seriously, in "reality" especially with a big family, you just can't take vacations all the time. Every family is NOT asked to take a 'comp' trip to anywhere from Disney world to Hawaii week after week...

Now any of you that watch the show, if you'll recall the beginning of just LAST season, the opening was all about the family returning to Hawaii to renew their wedding vows, and it was all about showing and assuring their growing children that they (Jon and Kate) were together FOREVER... Now, this season opens with quite the opposite... I watched it, hesitantly after everyone else had gone to bed and it just made me so sad... I really don't "know" these people... other than what is allowed to show through the TV screen on Monday nights... Kate is a little bit OCD and Jon is pretty laid back... as different as their personalities could be, they seemed to fit one another and work it through... but now, for whatever reason, they can't seem to, anymore... why?... In my humble opinion, if it were MY family, whether the rumors were true or not, the show would be over... at this point it seems that it is all about the money and how much everyone can make on this show, this family, these children...

By their own admission, Jon quit his job two years ago, so that he could stay home full time with the kids, while Kate traveled the globe promoting her book... Their "show", their "hobby" had become the "job"... sadly, it's almost like they sold their souls... We were no longer looking "in" on their day to day lives, but the show had become their lives... While Kate seems to have taken to this new "job" I think Jon, down deep, was seeing real "reality"and regretting it... The premier show last night had the two now speaking to each other in terms of "I don't know if we can fix this" or "where our future is going", etc... yet they are both all about "I'm here for the kids", "the kids are our top priority"... and I'm thinking, "You stupid, stupid people... don't you KNOW that 10 and 20 years from now the kids aren't going to give a flying flip about the show or how or where they lived or how much money or fame they had because of the show??! They will care about their family... their PARENTS... they will care and be affected by whether or not the family stays in tact over this..." I don't care HOW amicable a couple thinks they are being in a split up... if kids are involved, they WILL be affected negatively... I think that was even in the closing lines of last nights show... about trying to remain friends for the sake of their kids... it doesn't matter... kids aren't stupid and they can read the writing on the wall... Kids want mom and dad together forever...

I found myself praying for this family as I went to sleep last night, and again this morning, as well as all families that are in turmoil right now... broken families really make me sad... and the kids are always the biggest casualty... And these eight particular children unfortunately have their families turmoil recorded for all of history... was it worth it?... Something I have heard before, and I'm not really sure who said it, but I believe it with all my heart:

"The greatest gift that a father/mother can give his child(ren) is to love their mother/father"... Jon and Kate seem like nice enough people, I really hope that they figure this out before it's too late... Life is not a TV show and sometimes it can get messy... That's when we have to close the door and hit the floor praying for His strength to help us through...

A Visit with Sr. CM...

Well, we had dinner at my sisters last night and a nice visit with Sr. Catherine Marie... all too short, and wishing we had more time... but as it goes, when you only get home to visit every 2 to 3 years, EVERYBODY wants a chance to see and visit with you! It was SO GOOD to see her, again! She is as beautiful and vibrant as all the pictures and letters have indicated... She spoke very excitedly about all the new people she met on her trip home. No doubt she turned more than a few heads... : ) At least in THESE parts, a nun in FULL habit is a rarity... she was laughing about all the questions and comments people make. Everything from what she wears to what she eats and why... and how one couple on one of her connecting flights made their relief clear as they borded and saw her seated... "Look, honey! See who's flying with us? Nothing to worry about!" : D

I'm hoping that I will get at least one more chance to stop and visit before she returns to Michigan. It will be another 3 years before she returns home... :( During that time, though, she will be busy with finishing school and her teaching degree, and then student teaching. The Sisters have 2 local elementary schools (K-8) that they teach at, and are in the process of building a highschool that they hope to be opening in the Fall of 2009. She told me that she doesn't have a preference right now as to what grade she teaches, though she likes things about both age groups. She commented that for the "sake of the elementary kids education" she should maybe teach highschool, as she tends to feed off of the younger kids energy and would be happy to teach PE and recess all day long! lol!! So, time will tell... she told me that after she has completed her degree, the door is open as to where they may send her... She may stay close to the convent in Michigan, or they have 4 other mission schools in California, Florida, South Carolina and Arizona, right now, with possibilities of opening more in Texas and/or Wyoming.. Lucky them! : )

First Profession - Update!!

As promised, Pictures!! The Sr.'s of Mary Mother of the Eucharist, in Ann Arbor Michigan, last Wednesday, August 6, had 14 brand-new "baby nun-lettes" make their first profession and exchange the white veils they have worn for the past 2 years, for the signature Dominican black ones... My sister, her husband and daughter made a whirl-wind over night trip last week to be there for the ceremony. Unable to take pictures during the service, she did get these after wards at their reception gathering. You can almost FEEL the glow from those beautiful Sisters faces!

My sister told me that the Mass was beautiful, the Bishop was wonderful, and her favorite part of the service was when the sisters re-emerged in to the Church in their newly donned black veils... Sr. Catherine Marie will be home to visit in just another week!

Married, with Kids...

I have to admit, that even I still sometimes find myself uncomfortable around some of my peers when I tell them of my still growing family... I'm not sure why... It's not like I'm sorry I have so many children... But I guess because sometimes it seems that my generation has gotten so caught up in the "ideal" of 2.3 children, two incomes, the suburban home, with two cars in the driveway, and a summer getaway. Well, it's pretty much NOT what I have... I don't want this to sound bad. Not that a nice suburban home and summer getaways wouldn't be nice, but what would that cost me? Would my life be "better" now if I had chosen to pursue my career?...

I had a job and my own income from the time I was 16 years old, with the exception of my last couple of months of highschool. After highschool I worked 30-35 hours a week on top of going to school. Not the best plan, as it took me two extra years to finish my degree this way, but it's what worked for me. I even got married a couple of years before I finished college. I started working full-time just before I got married. My husband and I both worked full time, at individual jobs and later at our own business for 10 years. It was after we began having children of our own that I started to want to stay home with them. I was tired of taking them with me to the office, when it really wasn't any kind of a place for a kid to be raised... A change in interests and a change in the economy ultimately led to the loss of our business. With two young boys and a new baby on the way, it really wasn't the best timing for closing down, but we had reached the point to where we really couldn't afford to stay open any longer... I worked as a sub teacher that year while my husband looked for full time employment. At the time I know I felt that I was in the eye of the storm. Things couldn't be any worse. The business was done, we were barely scraping by, and expecting another baby and our marriage was shakey, at best... Looking back in 20/20 hindsight, though, I can see that it really was God's blessing...

You see, we really hated that business. We were SO overwhelmed and tired with the amount of time and effort it was robbing from our family. But yet, my husband, especially, felt compelled to hang on to it, feeling that we had no other options of taking care of our family. God told us "no." We were pretty much left with nothing... I worked because I had no choice, and hubby searched for work. Even when he did find what we thought was the "perfect" place for him to work, due to some paper work glitches and other things beyond out control, what should have been a three month process, actually took about 9. He was finally hired on as regular full time employee just weeks before #3 was born. But it wasn't until everything we "had" was taken away, and we basically lived on close to nothing that we realized how little we actually needed... After #3 was born, and hubby was back to work, I was able to stay home with our children for the first time. Slowly building our lives back and learning to live on just his income, as he has been blessed with raises and promotions, it seems we've come out the other side.

I say all this because I think a big problem with many families is that it is so easy to get caught up in having a 2-income family. Once you get used to a certain income level, though, it's really hard to cut back. I feel blessed that I am able to stay home with my children now, even thugh it was a rough way to come about. It isn't always easy. In my earlier post I spoke of currently dealing with tantrums from the baby. There are also the attitude issues of my pre-teen son, and then there are my dare devil younger son, and #3 with her drama, drama, everything is drama and well worth screaming and crying about, especially if her brothers looked at her cross-eyed... and now another on the way... We have chosen, despite our still growing family, to do our best to stay a single income family feeling it is in the best interest of our children. In this day and age when our children are being bombarded from every side by the "village" wanting to take over what "they believe is "best" for them, I think as parents we need to reclaim our children and protect them all the more, especially when they are little and while we still can. God charges us as the primary care givers...

I'm not sure, still, where my uncomfortableness comes from when speaking to old friends about my life and where we are. I don't think it is so much about worrying about what they're thinking of WHY I am 42 and still having children, so much as my wondering WHY they decided to stop...? Why, when many of them were raised Catholic, like me, did they decide that "getting fixed" or surgically sterilizing themselves was neccessary or even okay?... And sometimes I wonder why God, in His good Graces, helped me to see, hear and understand why it is NOT okay, and not them?... It hasn't been easy. Goodness knows that I have had more than one OBGyn tell me that it would "probably be a good idea to have your tubes tied..."

I still like to meet up with old friends. I like to hear where their lives are at, what they've been doing, life, family, that sort of thing... but with some, most perhaps, I just don't relate like we used to... It makes me a little sad... But then, I am all the more grateful for my family, how my life has turned out, how richly God HAS blessed me, and especially to the couple of friends that I have hung on to over the years that "get" where I'm coming from... : ) God is good.

Til Death...

June 5, 1954. Aren't they the cutest?? Having met only a few months before at a dance... I love the story.... My dad had a job that involved working on a high platform, when the roof gave way, causing him to land hard enough to knock his front teeth out. He saw my mom at a dance, where she was with friends and asked her to dance. At the end of the evening he asked if she would be back the following week and she hesitantly told him "maybe"... a "toothless" guy, could you blame her?! : )

She decided to avoid the dance the following week in hopes that he would "take a hint"... But returned the following week, and guess who was still looking for her?!! Well, look at her! Can you blame him?!!

Hence, history was made! The oldest remaining daughter at home, helping her widowed mother take care of her younger brother and niece meets #7 of ten kids, a hard working, rabble rouser and jokester. It was meant to be. As rough and loud as dad could be, he treated mom as the princess she was. Nothing was too good for her! They had 49 anniversaries together in this life before dad went to his eternal resting place. But this date is forever in our minds as the day that mom and dad became one flesh, til death... Thank you Mom and Dad for being the wonderful example of the sacrament of marriage that you were! Because of you, I know that marriage isn't always easy, but relying on God's Grace, He will see us through the toughest of times. In a world that continues to try and convince us that NOTHING lasts forever, YOU have convinced ME that some things DO.... I love you always!

Here We Go Again...There is NO SUCH THING as a "Woman's Priesthood"!

Ugh! Does anyone else get as annoyed as I do, when these so called "progressive Catholics" start babbling about God treating all his children equal and therefore, in so many words, the Church needs to 'lighten up' and allow women to be ordained to the priesthood? THAT would just solve ALL of our problems, right?... Sorry, doesn't hold well for THIS woman... Surely, God loves ALL of his children, individually, equally, and unconditionally. But he also created man and woman. If He wanted us to do EVERYTHING "the same" wouldn't He have been clever enough to MAKE us all the "same"?...

On April 25th, local columnist and proclaimed Catholic, Valerie Shultz wrote an article for our area newspaper entitled: Is there Hope for our Pope? One Catholic's Plea. Amongst other things that I objected to in Ms. Shultz's article, What I found most offending was her continued reference to "We women". I for one AM a woman, but in no way, do I agree with her point of view. I will quote only part of her original article here (emphasis mine):

I want the pope to know that we women, who largely take care of the daily business of church, are becoming weary of hoping that the men will come around. We know that Jesus sees us as equal to men in devotion and capability, but we know that the hierarchy of the earthly church of Jesus does not.
We are tired of being denied one of the sacraments because we lack male sex organs, (egads! did she have to say that ?!) and we are even more tired of scandals brought on by those same unruly organs. (By the way, no, "we" are not... not THIS "we"...What I AM tired of is this same old pointless argument, but that will be addressed further down...) It seems to many of us that the critical shortage of priests might be alleviated by admitting the possibility of priestly vocation in the hearts of the roughly 50 percent of Catholics who are not male. (Uh, no... Heck, I have 'issues' with girl-altar boys...)

-SIGH- Okay, Ms. Schultz... Among other things, let's not mention that males are not the ONLY ones out there committing scandal with children... have you seen the news on the many female teachers lately that have been arrested for such?... But I digress... At this point I would like to refer to my TERRIFIC sister and her AWESOME CATHOLIC response to Ms. Schultz in her 'Letter to the Editor' that appeared in today's same paper. Short, sweet and to the point... I am SO PROUD of her!! Oh that MORE Catholics could go out and do more of the same evangelizing and be unafraid to speak TRUTH!

Columnist Unclear On Faith
The Bakersfield Californian Tuesday, May 6 2008 7:05 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday,
May 6 2008 7:08 PM

It saddens me to know that someone so intelligent, well-read and well-educated as columnist Valerie Schultz could be so lacking in knowledge of the faith she calls her own.

If only she would read the documents of the Catholic Church, she would see that it is not Pope Benedict's doing that we still have an all-male priesthood. It is apparent that she has not read nor studied the teachings of Pope Benedict, nor the teachings of Pope John Paul II, and I venture to say she has not thoughtfully read the Scriptures, either.

I have to wonder if she's even bothered to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which details the most fundamental teachings of the church with supporting documents. The sacraments were all instituted by Jesus Christ and are not subject to change, even by the pope. Jesus Christ himself ordained 12 men to proclaim his teachings and protect his sacraments. He was not being misogynistic, nor was he bound by the social mores of the day. Jesus was God and is God. He neither changes nor has an end and the sacraments he instituted are likewise unchangeable. The question of an all-male priesthood was settled over
2,000 years ago by Jesus Christ when he established his church. That is a fact that can not be changed by anyone or anything, not even American public opinion.
IRENE C

And, as for Ms. Schultz, well, by her own admission at the end of her original article, "I believe that the pope is the vicar of Christ on earth, but I am, like many Americans, a reluctant papist. I pray to God to strengthen my own insufficient and sometimes confused faith." I will pray for her, too...

That Catholic Show

Surfing through YouTube today, I came across a series of fun Catholic education shows from the creative minds of Greg and Jennifer Willits, entitled "That Catholic Show". The videos are only about 5 minutes long, give or take, but SO FULL of information about our Catholic Faith! They would be perfect to use in a classroom setting to start dialogue for all ages! After seeing them, I recall reading about these pod cast shows somewhere (sorry, brain fart and I can't remember where...), but had not seen them before, so made no connection. I have placed a few of them on my side bar, so that you can have a look. There are more at YouTube, if you feel so inclined to watch! Enjoy! and, Oh! The "bloopers" at the end of the credits are pretty funny, too!

Fr. Larry Richards - The Reason For Our Hope Foundation

I have been a fan of Fr. Larry Richards ever since I first heard his talks on tape one explaining Confession and another explaining the Mass, about 7 years ago. A great speaker, I encourage you to check his website often, for messages and information on their latest "mission"....

There's Something About Nuns in Habits!

I have grown up post-VII, so, unfortunately, even though I went to parochial school in the 70's, with many nuns as teachers, it was mostly of the non-habit wearing variety... I'm not even sure of the order of these particular nuns... (perhaps Franciscan?) but, to me, then, it was no big deal to see "Sister" come to work in a mini-dress and bee-hive hair do : ) No exaggeration here.

By the time I was in sixth grade the convent behind the school had emptied out to all but 2 remaining nuns... and one of them was "new"... She wore a "habit". Complete, black with white trim, from head to toe. Sr. James Edwards was somewhat of an oddity to me... But there was something intriguing about her. I don't recall her EVER smiling, and she had a VERY dry sense of humor... much of which, at the time, went over my and my classmates heads... But she made an impression on me, for sure. And when I think back, it wasn't because she was a "great" teacher, or a favorite, by far, though I did appreciate her MORE in my later years... I think I remember her best, because of her habit... I only remember one other nun that wore the full habit at my grade school Alma mater, and she was there after I had already gone. But even though I never met her. Never knew her name. She was never a teacher of mine but, I would see her, in full habit, walking all over town, everywhere she went, she walked... she too made an impression, that I've never forgotten...

The only nuns that wear a habit around my town anymore are a group of sisters that work at another local parochial school. They wear a modified habit, that consists, depending on the season, of a dark or white skirt/suit with a short veil. For the short time my oldest son did attend school, I sent him to this one JUST BECAUSE there were nuns and they wore habits.

And I was SO thrilled when my own niece, Sr. Catherine Marie (see right) chose the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, as the order she would pursue to be a part of. Their habits are such a testimony!!

But I think that Rosalind Moss said it best in a recent interview that she had with Saint Louis Catholic : (emphasis mine...)

"Q: I’m sure you’re aware of the
statistics that show that the more conservative, more traditionally-dressed
orders are flourishing—there is more to it than just the habit, of course, but
there tends to be a correlation between the obviousness of the habit and the
orthodoxy of the order. Would that be a fair statement?

A: It’s a hundred percent fair. I
absolutely think so, and I know the young people today—religious young men in
the priesthood—they want God; they want orthodoxy; they believe the Church is
the Church Christ established; the Magisterium is the Church’s teaching office;
the Church is our Mother. God did not leave us on earth as a family any more
than He did Israel, to do our own thing. Israel was to be a people set apart, by
government, by dress, by food, by customs, by everything they did and did not
do. It was unthinkable for anyone in Israel to do their own thing, and if they
did, in many cases they would be put to death. When Jesus said to His disciples,
“I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it,” the
word he used for “Church” was the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for the
assembly, for the people of God convocation. And we, too, the new people of
God are to be a people set apart by their common government, and liturgy, and
customs, and all of that. I think the young people coming up in the Church
today know what the Church is, and will address the confusion of the last years.
Coming into the Church, people have said to me, and to my brother David, “How
did you ever find your way into the Church in a day like this?” And the way
we found our way in was not through Catholics so much, but it was the
Church—it is true, and it is God’s. I think that’s what young people
absolutely long for today; not just young people, but people of all ages. So,
yes, we are to be a people set apart, and people entering the
priesthood and religious life want to be signs of God to the world and are
unashamed to let people know. They are signs of eternity. In their habits, in
their clerics, they are signs of eternity in our hearts. I know
for a good many of the religious sisters who have done away with their habits,
that I have had the opportunity to speak to, for the most part, they have done
away with the habit because they don’t want the habit to be a barrier between
the people they so love and wish to serve. But I believe the people need the
sign very, very much. They need the sign. They need God. They need us to be set
apart. They need us to be separate from the ordinary, because we are God’s
representatives on earth. People need us to be set apart so we can help them—not
be one of them—help them on their way to Heaven. "

There. She said it... all that I have been thinking for years... This broken, wounded world needs to see "a people set apart", to give us hope, to give us encouragement. To give us a small peek of what heaven must be like... God Bless Rosalind Moss and all the best to her new community of Sisters, Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel's Hope! I can't wait to see their up and coming web site! If you would like to read all of the interview with Rosalind and St. Louis Catholic, go here.

Spring Break is Upon Us!

I recieved an e-mail from Regnum Christi today advertising their latest commercial to encourage today's young people to do MORE with their Spring Break and their LIVES other than the usual partying, or couch potato-ing... I thought it was pretty cute. Have a look...

My Priest "in training" : )

I have two sons, ages 11 and 8, that both serve on the altar. My younger son was fortunate enough to have a very loving sacristan take him under wing and began training him when he was only 6... My Michael took the duties VERY seriously... He knew that his big brother and cousin were serving, too, so he wanted to do his best to make them proud... The thing is, Michael has always been a bit on the "small" side. My oldest son always being on the BIG side, like his big step brother, Michael seemed to take more after my mom and her side of the family.... What he lacks in size and stature, he more than makes up for in heart and courage... : )

I'll never forget after he had only been serving a few weeks, Mr. P, the very nice sacristan, that took him under wing, was standing next to him after they had processed in. After we said the "I confess..." Mr. P handed Noah the VERY large Sacramentary to carry opened, over to Msgr. F for him to read from. Msgr. couldn't help himself and made his hands in to "fist binoculars", holding them up to his eyes, giggling at how little my Michael was... Michael never even noticed, as he was concentrating to hard on trying to hold the book as still as possible... After Msgr. finished his prayer before the readings started, without thinking, he closed the book in Michael's hands and poor Michael tipped over from the weight! Thankfully, Mr. P was close by to catch him and the book before they hit the floor. They decided that they would find anther job for Michael. He makes a GREAT candle bearer!

Well, almost three years later, Michael is a little bigger, but still, quite small for his age. Mr. P has moved North and so Michael has been on his own for the last year and a half. Our entire parish knows both of my boys, as they are "regulars" on the altar every Sunday morning at the 7:45am Mass, and are always very encouraging and complimentary. There has been a new Sacristan since Mr. P left, and periodically, knowing how anxious Michael has been to carry the procession cross, would "test" from time to time to see if he could even carry it. It's quite heavy... Well, last week, when we attended a daily Mass, Michael got his chance... The girls and I found a seat about 8 pews back, and after a few minutes I see the cross coming in from the side door. No Altar boy. Just the cross. Bobbing slightly up and down... It occurred to me WHO was carrying it! I KNEW if I could see him, he was BEAMING from ear to ear... Cautiously I peered through squinted eyes, a little nervous to watch... thinking "PLEASE don't trip... PLEASE don't drop it... "

Well, except for his carrying the cross to the WRONG side of the altar, at the direction of his big brother (thanks, bro!) they made a fairly smooth transition and got it in the stand on the correct side. The only other "Gasp!" moment was when he recessed out the side door and he tipped the cross forward to get it through the doorway.... : ) I asked him after Mass if the cross was heavy... "No, mom, it wasn't heavy at all!" smiling every moment... yup... there's my future priest : )

Happy Birthday, Fr. John!

Fr. John... Father of twelve, Fr. to many... You see, Fr. John was a permanent deacon for over 20 years, married to his beloved wife Grace, who he speaks of often. Together they raised 12 children. Grace succumbed to illness and Fr. was left a widower. It wasn't long before he was asked by his Bishop to consider ordination to the priesthood. So, "technically" he is a "baby Priest", ordained only a short 5 years ago. But Oh! The blessing of wisdom and insight he has been to this daughter, wife and mom!

We went to Mass this morning for the intention of my brother in law, currently going through cancer treatment (chemo and radiation) when we learned after Mass that it was Fr.'s birthday. 83 years young. Fr. has his own illnesses that he has been dealing with, but he has so graciously taken over much of our parish's needs as our own Pastor has been out on sick leave for a few months now. God Bless him! My bil is relatively young (not yet 60). But hearing the words "Cancer" can tend to make one feel old fairly quickly. Nonetheless, Fr. John shows us that regardless of our state in life, when we offer it all up to God, He will give us infinate blessing.

Nun Like Her!

Have you heard of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, in Ann Arbor, Michigan? Well, if you haven't you've either been living under a rock, or you're fairly new to the Catholic Faith! Please, I don't mean that in a derogatory sense, at all... It's just that these sisters are AWESOME!! I had barely heard of them myself, until about 3 years ago, when my niece, finishing her third year of college here in California, decided that she was going to join the Sister's community. From spots on the morning news to breaking out on to the YouTube scene, the convent has gone high tech, and they have the GROWING numbers of young women coming forth to show for it. God is SO good!

In a day and age when the average age of women religious is retirement age, these girls are averaging in their 20's. My niece entered at the ripe age of 21 with 15 other women both older AND younger than she. She will be making her first solemn vows this coming August, trading in the white veil she has worn for the past two years, for a black one. After her first year at the convent, 11 more women entered the following summer, and another 13 women this last summer of 2007! Begining with only 4 Sisters branching from the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Tennessee, the Sisters of Mary now boast a total of 78 Sisters BURSTING at the seams of their newly built Chapel and dormitory cells. Because they are a teaching order, they are slowly but surely, begining to send some of the Sisters out to "mission" new schools across the nation, to include Florida, Arizona, South Carolina, and as of this year, even HERE in California! And if you don't have them in a nearby town, you can also catch them on EWTN with their Truth in the Heart series for young people.

It is SO refreshing to see the FIRE of the Holy Spirit burning bright in these young women, so happy and excited to do God's will! When you have some time take a tour of their website, and if you feel so inclined, send a check to help the Sisters continue to grow and expand on the great work they are doing to evangelize our little corner of the world. And don't be surprised to hear me talk, from time to time, about my "own" Sr. Catherine Marie, and her Sisters in Michigan! : )