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Sitting on the filing cabinet in my office is a set of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls.   When I was in my twenties I ordered them from someone who made them.   It was a reminder of my childhood and the beloved characters. I realized when I was looking at them recently that the stitching on their faces is exactly the same.   There is no defining features that distinguish them as boy or girl, except for their clothes. In light of today’s culture that revels in attempting to meld distinct genders into one neutral gender, my dolls duplicated faces gave me reason to pause. It really is a confusing time. We have been created male and female by God, who knew what he was doing when he fashioned us into being.   My heart pours out to people today who are struggling with gender identity issues.   I am truly sad for their pain and the challenge they have of trying to live in a body that doesn’t feel like it matches who they sense they are. I believe that we cannot really know wha

Waiting with Elmer , by Deanna Klingel is excellent book for the young adult in your life who needs to learn patience. Learning to wait for God’s timing can be an impossible task for anyone, but especially for a child. Meet Willy Skyes, left at a train station, by his father, to fend for himself. As Willy sits on a bench, waiting for the father who will never return, he meets Elmer, who seems to run the town of Waitnsee. Elmer introduces Willy to all the town’s residents, especially Rake, who runs the Union Street Mission. Willy and his dad were always running from town to town because of the misdeeds of Willy’s dad. Now Willy was alone, but not for long. The men of the Union Street Mission take Willy under their wings, and Elmer makes sure that Willy has what he needs; a place to sleep, food, new clothes, and an education. As the story progresses, we see Willy grow in virtue, especially patience, building bonds with the men of the Union Street Mission. He finds a “family” in t

   “Era un mandamiento nuevo“... ... era algo que rebasaba toda doctrina, toda ley. Era algo que estremecía las entrañas y el corazón, era algo que sobrepasaba todo sentimiento humano para llegar a tocar lo que a "natural" no correspondía a nuestro sentir, a nuestro apasionado corazón y razón cuando alguien o algo nos daña... Recordando las palabras de SAN MARCOS 5,43-48. leer más...

When we see so much violence, hatred and evil, we sometimes wonder where God is and why He allows such atrocities to happen. As a result, we find it difficult to trust God, let alone anyone else. We walk away from Him, feeling all alone. And when we walk away, it is because we lack faithfulness in a God who is always with us; a God who will never abandon us. Yet, if He is always with us, and never abandons us, then how can He let such horrific things occur? Whether it be the mass shootings that seem to occur daily, or the diagnosis of cancer that steals the life of those we love, it can be difficult to be faithful to God. Maintaining faithfulness, in such times, may seem absurd, but that is what we must do. The Implication of Free Will First, let me answer the question as to why God lets such atrocities and devastation occur. When we experience violence, hatred and evil, it is solely at the hands of humans. God does not bring these things upon us. Rather, He witnesses what we w

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                                           Courtesy foxsports.com.au As we were nearing the end of the dramatic NBA (basketball) finals, I half-jokingly said to our son one night at dinner, “What should I write about on my next blog?” to which he quickly replied, “Your loser team.” You see, throughout the ramp up to the final games, I was supporting the Toronto Raptors.   I have no idea why.   I really don’t need a reason.   They seemed to be playing well, so I figured, “Why not root for them?” But when it came down to Golden State versus Toronto, I switched and had to cheer for the home team—Golden State—or as my son said, my “loser team.”  Turns out he was right. Anyway, when it comes to winning and losing in the spirit world, I am happy to know that God is victorious over evil. I find that very comforting, but the challenge for believers is to remember it when evil does happen.   The tendency is to ask, “Where was God when this was going on?” The answer, of

Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion at Holy Family Home for Girls, Bacolod City Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   Luke 14:1, 7-14 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition, Canada)     On one occasion when Jesus  was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. ‘When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, “Give this person your place”, and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lo

Kindness is sorely lacking these days. Why are we so mean to each other? Whether it is on social media, in the news, or face-to-face, we see meanness everywhere. What does meanness do for the human psyche? Nothing good, whether you are the deliverer or the receiver! The deliverer of the meanness comes across as angry, hate-filled, resentful and/or vindictive. The recipient is humiliated and abused. Meanness serves no good purpose. The human person was created with a yearning for happiness.  The source of all happiness is God. Therefore, the human person yearns for God. So, how does anyone think that the way to happiness is via a snarky comment on Facebook or Twitter, or a jab at another in an op-ed piece, or an outright slander against another person? Folks, we are better than this! Find Kindness Today Remember the old saying, “What goes around comes around?” Well, if you do not want a snarky comment hurled your way, be kind with your comments on social media. If you do not w

Nancy H. C. Ward's " Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story " has been in print and available on Amazon.com since April, 2019. Back cover blurbs include Lisa Hendey's "an enjoyable template for the challenge of evangelization" and Gary Zimak's "a book that needed to be written." "Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story" is a big deal for me, too. It's the first time I've had a byline in print since I wrote articles for the Red River Valley Historical Society's Heritage Press. That was in the 1970s. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

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Madeleine's pet gecko! To motherhood belongs the distinguished commodity: our own special toolbox of learned skills, the intelligent planning, and the intuitive wisdom gained and increased with each passing year of motherhood tucked under our belt.  With this process of mother-becoming, an old self is shed like the skin of my daughter Madeleine's gecko.  The old skin (in my own sad case) is, sadly, the selfish hoarder (granted, who was but a young girl), ultimately a person in denial about her own self-worth, and she casts that insecurity onto her friends and spouse and other family members like a crystal reflecting a prism.  When the child bursts upon the scene, her heart explodes with a wild-animal kind of love.  The passive aggressive, the petty, the thief of joy-- her selfish insecure moth-like insect transforms.  A mother is like a gecko with a fresh new skin, or in my case, a mother butterfly with her own little swarm of caterpillars. Every mother has her own bigge

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Respondiendo al llamado del Papa Francisco para establecer metodos de proteccion a los menores en los diferentes ambitos dentro de la Iglesia Catolica, la Conferncia del Episcopado Mexicano CEM  ha establecido un plan de trabajo con base en las siguientes acciones, las cuales están divididas en 5 objetivos concretos:   1) diagnóstico   2) prevención 3) justicia y respuesta 4) apoyo a víctimas          5) promover el respeto por la ley  Aqui ponemos la liga al documento completo por considerarlo de alta importancia , para su lectura completa y en contexto. Comunicado completo CEM 2019

Fear does NOT come from God. Let’s make that clear, right up front. “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim 1:7). When we become afraid of something, it is because we lack trust in God; we feel alone and on our own. Throughout the Bible, God assures us that we need not be afraid. We can find courage in God’s own words and promises: Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice  (Is 41:10). Find Courage to Face Fear When we find the courage to face fear, we can act upon our beliefs, regardless of persecution or criticism, because we know the Truth (God). We find that courage, by placing our trust in God. We, then, align our wills with God’s Will, with the goal of adhering to God’s Will in all things. God doesn’t want us to worry, or fear. So, we need to leave our worries and fears at the foot of His altar. In the Gospel of Matthe

WHAT WOULD THE TRADE UNIONS SAY ABOUT JESUS? CLICK HERE

Dirt, grass and wheat? Yes, that’s the topic of today’s episode of Cassidy Comments !  I hope you will join me as I pull together our deck-building project and the Gospel of John! What are the special ingredients it takes for us to grow and mature? Are we supposed to hate our life? How in the world did our deck get built 7 ½ inches off square? Tune in to find out the answers to all of these questions! Don’t forget to join me at janetcassidy.blogspot.com to read my columns and share your comments too! Have a blessed day in God’s Word! Janet Cassidy janetcassidy.blogspot.com johnseven38@yahoo.com

Syro-Malabar Catholic Wedding  [ Wikipedia ] Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   Luke 13:22-30 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition, Canada)     Jesus [  went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.  Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few be saved?’ He said to them,  ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.  When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, “Lord, open to us”, then in reply he will say to you, “I do not know where you come from.”    Then you will begin to say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.”    But he will say, “I do not know where you come from; go away