The joy of conversion, Christian community, and the Catholic faith
Memorial of Pope St. John Paul II,1920-2005 How do I summarize the life of the second longest reigning pope in Church history? He was born Karol Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland. He lost both of his parents and older brother before he was 21. World War II cut his promising academic career short. While working, Karol...
Today we celebrate the memorial of Blessed John Paul II, Pope, 1920-2005. How do I summarize the life of the second longest reigning pope in Church History. He was born Karol Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland. He lost both of his parents and older brother before he was 21. His promising academic career was cut short...
Three posts this week: I discovered our joyful duty of passing it on. As Pope Paul VI wrote: Here lies the test of truth, the touchstone of evangelization: it is unthinkable that a person should accept the Word and give himself to the kingdom without becoming a person who bears witness to it and proclaims it in his turn. Then, In Bread Upon the Waters, Deanna Klingel tells the true story of Father Tien Duong, a Catholic priest who grew up in the strife and hardship of Communist Vietnam. The biography is filled with incredible personal stories told to Deanna during her long hours with Fr. Tien. Fr. Bob Hilz teaches us that the Eucharistic Liturgy, the Mass, is the clearest source of God-power in our life. The liturgy, in the scriptures, teaches us how to live a good Godly life on earth and provides us the energy and power to do that.
Kendra Von Esh’s personal observations make her story come alive as the Lord guides her from Reconciliation to spiritual direction to Catholic radio. Purchase Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story: Tools, Tips, and Testimonies paperback and get the Kindle version free. Fr. Bob Hilz: Every day of our life is nearer to our personal judgment at the end of our life on earth. Advent gives us time to adjust our life schedule. It is “winter cleaning” not spring cleaning which is for Lent.
Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story tops the posts on JoyAlive.net this week with a stunning review from Virginia Lieto, who writes, “I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about the conversion stories of others. If you are an RCIA Coordinator, this book would serve you well in learning where people are coming from, to better guide them to where they need to be – in the loving arms of Jesus Christ and His One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.” And enjoy the fun endorsement from Barb Szyszkiewicz! My Holy Spirit Mission delights readers of the Catholic Writers Guild and Fr. Bob Hilz delves into The Last Things, encouraging us with, “Let us get as close to Jesus each day as we can so we are ready to meet him right after we die.”
JoyAlive.net features Deanna Klingel with her conversion story: I told my new husband, I don’t really know what it is that holds the Catholics so together, but whatever it is, I need some; her book, Bread Upon the Waters, the true story of Father Tien Duong, a Catholic priest who grew up in the strife and hardship of Communist Vietnam. In Fr. Bob Hilz’ The forgiving love of Jesus, he comments: If you are reading Joy Alive, I know that you have met Jesus!
We Christians are storytellers. Each day at daily Mass Liturgy, we are reading stories about Jesus and his wonderful care for us. Daily at this time of year before Lent, we are reading from the early chapters of St. Mark. What was Jesus doing in the first part of his public life? Jesus got countless people’s attention by healing them. The stories and different and wonderful. The love and care for people was awesome. The early followers of Jesus were empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to go forth to the whole world to bring the good news of Jesus to all peoples in power. They weren’t perfect but God used them to spread the news.