Wishing you many happy returns of the day, and I have to report we had a lovely one, organized by a brave friend. What we did: About a half-dozen families, meaning a couple dozen kids, turned out at the parish gym (event sponsored by a parish group). We decorated a bit on the theme, just enough to make it festive. Kids played soccer until we were mostly gathered and ready to start. Quick grace and then potluck lunch. A few... Read more
Over at Tom McDonald’s blog today, you can find out all kinds of things about how I pray. Something I mention but don’t elaborate on there, because I didn’t want to overwhelm a perfectly good blog: The reason writing is so bad for praying is that there’s always a story or an argument in my head, and it can absolutely own me. Arguments aren’t too terribly bad, in that you can get away with sort of “bringing them to the... Read more
Here’s the story: Christmas morning at Mass we were doing really good, not getting fussy that the church was a tiny bit crowded, not complaining about the hymns (which were good, so that was easy), even thinking about Jesus and stuff. I received Communion. As I was walking back to my seat, I sensed a disturbance in the force. I glanced back, and there’s my kid, standing before the Blessed Sacrament, and she looks like she’s about to burst into tears.... Read more
In a private forum we’re discussing a sad and decidedly personal (so no, I’m not going to link to it) article by a woman who was seeking God in her native Catholic faith, and was told at every turn, “Quit acting so holier-than-thou!” It is no surprise that, isolated and mocked for practicing the very religion she’d been reared in, she eventually decided it was not the place for her. I wish I could say hers was an unusual case,... Read more
Matchmaking time. Jen Fulwiler’s Patron Saint Generator is up and running. If you haven’t done so already, go get yourself an assigned saint for 2015. I did this in 2014, and got Don Bosco on my case. We had started out with a rocky relationship some years ago, so I was a tad nervous when we were paired last winter. But we’ve come to an understanding and we’re friends now. Still, I had to hold my breath when I clicked... Read more
Two links to my work elsewhere that deserve your attention as we start the new year: 1. At CatholicMom.com earlier this month, I wrote about a Gospel passage I never quite grasped until the events literally happened to me. And then I got it. Read the whole thing, and then you’ll know the context for my summing up: Is there an area of my life where I’m clinging to a past identity? Allowing what I’ve done to define me? To... Read more
In my comments yesterday, I neglected to fully rake the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend over the coals. Let’s look at one more detail, as reported in The National Catholic Register: According to court documents, Herx informed the school’s principal, Sandra Guffey, in March 2010 during the first round of treatment — part of which was paid for by the diocese’s health plan — and her contract was renewed. Yes. A Catholic diocese’s health insurance plan covered IVF, a procedure that is... Read more
The IVF case that generated as much heat as light earlier this month has been decided, a jury determining that the Diocese of Fort Wayne – South Bend was indeed guilty of discriminating against a female employee in firing her for seeking IVF treatments. When I initially commented on this case, working only from a few anecdotes told from the plaintiff’s side, I wrote: Terrible handling of the situation. There should have been no doubt, long before Ms. Herx ever... Read more
Heard on the playground after Mass this morning: “I know what I want for Christmas next year.” “Oh yes? What’s that?” “More of those little notebooks.” Mad Libs for the win. And I tell you: 2015 will be the year my children learn the parts of speech for more than two minutes at a time. Image Credit: The ________ [noun] of the book I got my _______[person]. Read more
Up at Catholic Writers Guild today, Larry Peterson is stealing the show with his beautiful essay on his first Christmas with Alzheimer’s under the tree: The past ten years of her life seem to have literally vanished from her brain. She does not remember us getting married. (We were both widowed and married eight years ago. She has no clue.) So she asks me if we are really married. I show her our marriage license and pictures from our wedding. She... Read more
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