Category: Community

Testimony: Broken Brain, Fortified Faith

On December 9, 2004, at my suggestion, our daughter Amber came home for the weekend. At age twenty-four, she had a college degree and a full-time job as a youth minister in a town about sixty miles away, but during the past months I had witnessed a change in her. She seemed to have lost her zest for life. She assured me that she had things under control. That day her employer, who was disturbed by Amber’s behavior, called me. I called Amber and, after hearing her sobs over the phone, I shared her employer’s concerns. I raced to her apartment at ninety miles per hour and brought her home for what I thought would be a long weekend.

A reason, a season. . .

Pray about the people in your life. The neighbors you drew close to because of your common needs, the ones you missed so much during the coronavirus pandemic and those you haven’t. Ask the Lord to guide you in sorting out where these people belong in your life—whether it is a neighbor you barely know, a co-worker you tolerate or a newcomer to a ministry where you serve.

CatholicWriters: Old Sally

Old Sally leaned forward expectantly in her wheelchair just inside the front door of the nursing center, awaiting the Sunday visitors. She was the first person my husband and I met on our initial assignment as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist in 1985. The director had gathered the ambulatory Catholic residents into the library, which served as a chapel. Old Sally insisted on showing us the way and introducing us to the residents as her “new friends.”

As she made her way to her place in the center of the room, Old Sally stopped and gave each person a hug or a pat on the hand. After the Communion service, I found that Old Sally had a story for everyone, many about answered prayers, healings, or miracles – and some of them involved her great-grandchildren.  Her contagious laughter permeated the halls and drew the curious out of their TV stupor.

Old Sally taught me that evangelization is not about me or how well I can convince those lonely souls on the fringes of the church that they need God, but about sharing what God has done in my life.

The Friar's Corner

Friar’s Corner: Jesus, our best food

What does Jesus continue to do all over the world each day? He changes a little bread and wine, as our daily best food. It is full of God-power to equip us to go forth into the world bringing the love of Jesus to others. What about all of those people all over the world who are caring for coronavirus victims? Aren’t they all reaching out with the hands of Jesus to heal and comfort? Receive and go forth to help heal the suffering.

The Spirit of Simple Obedience

This little Visit with Jesus changed my life.  I left with the conviction that He was asking me to be a Sister.  What that meant, I really had very little idea.  I didn’t know a lot about religious life.  I didn’t know what kind of community I would enter, what I would do, or where I should turn.  What I did have, after this initial “call,” was the conviction that “if this is what God is asking me to do, then I’ll do it.”