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  An important attitude for parishes to adopt is one of Intentional Discipleship . Sherry Weddell in her book Forming Intentional Disciples describes the self-awareness necessary for individuals to see themselves as a disciple, as well as the necessity of having a personal encounter with Christ, as the stimulus to move a parish from a state of stagnation to a state of vibrancy. It just so happens that today’s reading from the 10 th Chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Verses 9-18, gives us a perfect example of discipleship, without actually naming it as such. Paul says that we will be saved if we “confess” with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, adding that we must “believe” in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. Do you do those things? Here’s the key . . . While you may call on the name of the Lord and be saved, what about everyone else?   What about people who have not believed, or not heard?   How can they call on Jesus if they have not heard ...

This is the season of jingle bells and mistletoe, cyber sales and glitter bows. Evergreen festoons and plastic reindeer strung above our streets remind us that Christmas is coming. America's holiday season is in session.... ...I'm still working on my 'starting Advent' post. It's somewhat serious. What I'm doing here isn't.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

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  We were participating in the livestream Mass like we do every Sunday, and something struck me as I looked around – my house is somehow becoming a museum! I have a plate hanging on our wall that my mom had in the cupboard in her hallway; her mother’s paint-by-number of the Last Supper is also hanging on our wall as well as her mother’s crochet samples; we have the saw that my aunt painted a landscape on, the plaque that hung in my mom’s dining room ( the family that prays together stays together) and my husband’s grandmother’s cuckoo clock that came with a flour sack purchase. As I look at all of these things, I am reminded of the individuals who possessed them and created them.   Memories of people and places flood my mind and I am so thankful for the people that have been with us in the past, are present with us today, and we are yet to meet tomorrow. It is an important work for those of us still living to pray for those who have gone before us.   With ferv...

"This year's Thanksgiving is the first one affected by COVID-19. "Mainly because SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, didn't exist a year ago. Or hadn't spread to humans. Or was spreading to humans without anyone noticing it...." More at A Catholic Citizen in America : Conspiracy theories. Journalism's "unprecedented" precedent. News from the 1918 pandemic. Family, health and holiday plans. COVID-19 and Sauk Centre's hospital. Being thankful, anyway.

  Young Jew as Christ , Rembrandt  [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   Mark 13:33-37 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India). Jesus said to his disciples: “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.   It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.     Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning—   lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.   And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” Léachtaí i nGaeilge Liam Whelan   (1 April 1935 - 5 February 1958) If ...