9 Advent Attitudes
Advent

9 Advent Attitudes – #4: Patience

Advent is, above all else, a season of hope – a virtue that is all too rare in our world. To live as a person of hope is to behave in such a manner as to draw suspicion that we are behaving somewhat erratically as far as worldly norms go. This new type of behavior – what some may even call erratic behavior (the behavior that led people to conclude that the Apostles were “under […]

9 Advent Attitudes
Advent

9 Advent Attitudes – #3: An Unwavering Sense of Serenity

Advent is, above all else, a season of hope—a virtue that is all too rare in our world. To live as a person of hope is to behave in such a manner as to draw suspicion that we are behaving somewhat erratically as far as worldly norms go. This new type of behavior—what some may even call erratic behavior (the behavior that led people to conclude that the Apostles were “under the influence” on Pentecost)—is […]

9 Advent Attitudes
Advent

9 Advent Attitudes – #2: Lightness of Being

Advent is, above all else, a season of hope – a virtue that is all too rare in our world. To live as a person of hope is to behave in such a manner as to draw suspicion that we are behaving somewhat erratically as far as worldly norms go. This new type of behavior – what some may even call erratic behavior (the behavior that led people to conclude that the Apostles were “under […]

9 Advent Attitudes
Advent

9 Advent Attitudes – #1: Uninhibited Selflessness

Advent is, above all else, a season of hope – a virtue that is all too rare in our world. To live as a person of hope is to behave in such a manner as to draw suspicion that we are behaving somewhat erratically as far as worldly norms go. This new type of behavior – what some may even call erratic behavior (the behavior that led people to conclude that the Apostles were “under […]

9 Advent Attitudes
Advent

9 Advent Attitudes – Our Advent Journey Begins

I’m happy to announce that I will be doing an Advent series (Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays) here on my blog, Catechist’s Journey, beginning Monday, December 2, 2013: 9 Advent Attitudes: How to Dispel the Darkness with Uninhibited Hope Advent is a season of HOPE…something our world desperately needs. To live as a person of hope is to behave in such a manner as to draw suspicion that we are out of touch with reality! And […]

No Picture
Liturgical Seasons & Feasts

As the Month of All Souls Draws to a Close…

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Virtual Wall of Remembrance, a special way to remember those who’ve gone before us during the month of November. Here are photos of your loved ones.  Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.  

Preparing for Advent
Advent

Session Ten (11/26/13) – Getting Ready for Advent

Last evening was our scheduled monthly Mass in church which was moved from 6:15 to 6:45 PM to give us one solid block of teaching before Mass (6:00 – 6:40) rather than a brief one before Mass (6:00 – 6:10) and another short segment after Mass (7:10 – 7:30). This worked out very well because Mass still went about an hour but didn’t take away from class time! I don’t think parents minded that the […]

No Picture
Liturgical Seasons & Feasts

Virtual Wall of Remembrance – The Month of All Souls

A very blessed All Souls Day to you! Catholics refer to the month of November as the “Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – an opportunity to take the spirit of All Souls Day (November 2) and to observe it all month long, recalling those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. Many parishes provide what they call a Wall of Remembrance, often a bulletin board in the church vestibule, […]

spring feast - photo by Saile Ilyas on Unsplash
Easter

From Lent to Easter, From Fasting to Feasting

During Lent, we practice specific disciplines: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. So how do we practice Easter? We certainly don’t give up on praying and almsgiving, although those are colored now more by joyful gratitude than penance. But what does it mean to move from fasting to feasting? Feasting is not to be associated with gluttony. Feasting, for Catholics, is not a selfish or gluttonous endeavor. Rather, it is to be understood as savoring that leads […]

No Picture
Easter

Holy Saturday, 2013

Alleluia! He is Risen! Here are pics from the Easter Vigil so beautifully celebrated at St. Julie Billiart Parish in Tinley Park, IL. Awaiting the Vigil in darkness 6 young adults await baptism The lighting of the Easter fire The Exsultet beautifully proclaimed by John Thomas of Liturgy Training Publications   Alleluia!!! The Litany of Saints I baptize you… Renewal of baptismal promises White garments   Approaching the altar for the first time