San Mateo

I'm sorry I haven't been around. I know last time I mentioned some soul searching and spring cleaning. Noticing yesterday that I had been away for almost a week, I felt as though I should write something. But there was nothing to say. So I said nothing. But today, today there is something to say. And so I will say it.

Yesterday I had the privilege to help out with the San Mateo youth retreat in Fort Worth. They asked for some Remnant apostolate members to come out and Matt sent Debbie and I. What a day!

Certainly I enjoyed all of my time there (minus, of course, the multiple calls from work) but the part that I think I will remember for a very long time was during my talk. I was scheduled to do a thirty-minute talk on Divine Mercy -- the devotion, the chaplet, the promises. I had everything prepared and knew exactly what I was going to say. I had my papers together to help me if I got too nervous and I was pumped up about sharing this devotion, my personal favorite, with these awesome young adults. Having lead a break-out session on forgiveness earlier in the day, I knew they were going to love it if only they would give it a chance.

When it came time to give my talk, we were running about twenty minutes behind schedule. I talked to the retreat master and we both agreed that we wanted to start the chaplet as close to three as possible. So, I cut a lot of what I had planned and pretty much just said what the Spirit compelled me to say. And what the Spirit compelled me to say caught me SO off-guard.

I had read through all of this material at least 8 times, reminding myself not to forget certain points. But it was when I started reading to them about the promises Jesus made to St. Faustina about those who prayed this chaplet that I literally felt my whole body quiver in awe. I started to tear up but choked it back. I had to lead the chaplet in a few minutes!

It struck me as I read to them that I was truly doing God's work on earth. I was bringing them to Christ and setting them there, at least for a few minutes. I set them before Him and I begged them to see Him in all of His merciful glory. And I think they did. (Praise God.)

Here is what I read to them:

"Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to know My Infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy...."

On the solemnity of Saint Joseph

To you, O blessed Joseph,
do we come in our tribulation,
and having implored the help of your most holy spouse,
we confidently invoke your patronage also.
Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God
and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus,
we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood,
and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.
O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ;
O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence;
O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness;
and, as once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril,
so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity;
shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection,
so that, supported by your example and your aid,
we may be able to live piously, to die holily, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.
Amen.

Today I pray not only for my intentions (for which I have prayed a novena to St. Joseph) but for all intentions which people have brought to him (seeking his powerful intercession) in the past nine days. St. Joseph, most humble and chaste spouse of Mary, most loving and gentle step-father to Christ, hear us in our prayers and take them to Christ. Implore, on our behalf, that we be heard and answered. Amen.

Spring Cleaning

In case anyone hasn't noticed.. I've not been around here lately. I won't be gone forever, just for a while. I'm doing a sort of 'spring cleaning' on my soul and frankly, that's far more important that hanging out here. I hope no one minds...

For a bit of a change in scenery and a shameless plea for feedback, I'm posting a shot I took recently of our beautiful Schudi (organ). Enjoy.



p.s. This particular image is scanned which is why you're seeing spots. Further, I realize you can see a white glare on the wood from my flash. If I had not used it, the shot would not have turned out.

Novena to St Joseph: Day Three

Novena to St. Joseph
----------------------------------



Oh St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so
strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I
place in you all my interests and desires.

Oh St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful
intercession and obtain for me from your
Divine Son all spiritual blessings through
Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged
here below your Heavenly power I may offer my
Thanksgiving and Homage to the Loving of Fathers.

Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you
and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not
approach while He reposes near your heart.

Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head
for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I
draw my dying breath.

St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen.

*Say for nine consecutive mornings for anything you may desire. It has seldom been known to fail. *St. Joseph's feast day is March 19th.

Novena to St Joseph: Day Two

Novena to St. Joseph
----------------------------------



Oh St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so
strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I
place in you all my interests and desires.

Oh St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful
intercession and obtain for me from your
Divine Son all spiritual blessings through
Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged
here below your Heavenly power I may offer my
Thanksgiving and Homage to the Loving of Fathers.

Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you
and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not
approach while He reposes near your heart.

Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head
for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I
draw my dying breath.

St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen.

*Say for nine consecutive mornings for anything you may desire. It has seldom been known to fail. *St. Joseph's feast day is March 19th.

Novena to St Joseph: Day One

I spotted this in my email just a few short moments ago. Though I'm a bit nervous about a possible answer, I know that I am meant to pray this novena for this certain intention... +Thank you, Lord, for letting me find it when I did and thank you for the sender having sent it when she did.

Novena to St. Joseph
----------------------------------



Oh St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so
strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I
place in you all my interests and desires.

Oh St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful
intercession and obtain for me from your
Divine Son all spiritual blessings through
Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged
here below your Heavenly power I may offer my
Thanksgiving and Homage to the Loving of Fathers.

Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you
and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not
approach while He reposes near your heart.

Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head
for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I
draw my dying breath.

St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen.

*Say for nine consecutive mornings for anything you may desire. It has seldom been known to fail. *St. Joseph's feast day is March 19th.

For All the Stay-At-Home Moms Out There

This is for you, stay-at-home mom...

A man came home from work and found his five children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.

The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dogs.

Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.

In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?"

She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?"

"Yes," was his incredulous reply.

She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."

Alone in the Crowd

I am a 'busy' person and still sometimes I stop and I find myself feeling very alone. I have what I consider to be 'plenty' of friends (though I would never object to having more -- I have a lot of love to give) and still I feel at times that I have no one to pick me up (when I'm feeling down). And I wonder what it must have been like for Jesus to walk the road to Calvary...


+ Lord, bring me with you on your walk in a more personal way this Lenten season. Help me to see and feel in these experiences what you saw and felt in your solemn walk to your cross. Help me to accept what burdens I have and praise God ever more... in You I place all my trust. Amen.

And there was much rejoicing!

Pope Benedict XVI today named Bishop Kevin J. Farrell, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, the new Bishop of Dallas. The Diocese of Dallas is the 10th largest Catholic diocese in the United States. He succeeds Bishop Charles V. Grahmann, 75, whose resignation has been accepted by the Holy Father.

A press conference will be held in Dallas at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (10:00 a.m. Central Time) today. ...

Bishop Farrell, 59, has served in the Archdiocese of Washington since 1983. He was born on September 2, 1947 in Dublin, Ireland and was ordained a priest in 1978 after completing his theological studies in Rome. His first assignment, for the Legionnaires of Christ, was as chaplain for the University of Monterrey in Mexico. He became associate pastor of St. Bartholomew, Bethesda, Maryland in 1983. After becoming a priest of Washington in 1984, he served as associate pastor at St. Peter, Olney and St. Thomas the Apostle, Washington, DC before being named director of the Archdiocese’s Spanish Catholic Center in 1986. He also served as assistant executive director and interim director of Catholic Charities in the late 1980s. From 1989-2001, he was Secretary of Finance for the Archdiocese of Washington and from 2001 to the present, vicar general and moderator of the curia. He also was pastor of the Church of the Annunciation in Northwest Washington from 2000-2002. He was ordained an auxiliary bishop of Washington on February 11, 2002.

Fluent in Italian and Spanish, Bishop Farrell serves on the board of directors of CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network) and is a member of several committees for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, including Consecrated Life, Migration and Hispanic Affairs.

The Diocese of Dallas is home to one million Catholics. The people are served by 203 priests in 74 parishes.

Source

I was beginning to wonder just how long it would take to get a new bishop! Not that I was being impatient...

I'm really trusting that this will be a good thing for our diocese. May the Lord bless the bishop, old and new, and guide Him always on the path of righteousness, that he may then help us to find our way down the same path.

(Oddly, the first thing that came to mind when I read the news this morning was that now both Fort Worth and Dallas are being directed by 'Kevin'. Yeah... I'm strange. Let's talk about something we don't already know...)

You can read a more comprehensive bio at the Archdiocese of Washington webpage.

Fasting and Praying for an End to Abortion

No, I haven't forgotten about our joint statement. I just haven't had time to post yet. (This week has been crazy.) Look for something tonight or tomorrow about the impact of this first friday in the series of first fridays in this commitment.