M23 Rebels End Rebellion in Congo

Last updated on: March 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm By Lisa M. Hendey

Big news from the Democratic Republic of Congo, as reported by the New York Times: On Tuesday, the rebels, known as M23, announced that they were ending the 20-month rebellion that had brought renewed instability, uncertainty and conflict to the eastern part of Congo. After suffering a string of recent defeats, the group’s chairman, Bertrand Bisimwa, said that M23 had decided “to pursue by purely political means the search for solutions to the root causes which led to its creation.”... Read more

Is Conscious Celibacy a “Yes” to Love?

Last updated on: March 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm By Lisa M. Hendey

I could use your opinion. Especially if you are single. I’ve run into a bit of a sticking point in my work on my new book, “The Grace of Yes”. In one of the chapters, I am looking at the concept of saying, “Yes” to love in our lives. I want to include all kinds of love, including the choice a single, celibate person makes to express love in his or her life. But I’m at a bit of a... Read more

Are You a Missionary? @Pontifex Ponderings

Last updated on: March 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm By Lisa M. Hendey

In his morning tweet today, Pope Francis thanked missionaries who “quietly work hard”: I thank all missionaries, men and women who quietly work hard for the Lord and their brothers and sisters. — Pope Francis (@Pontifex) November 4, 2013 His tweet got me to thinking about the question, “Am I a missionary?” When you look up the definition of the word “missionary”, you find the following: I’d venture to say that I know many modern-day missionaries, most of whom will... Read more

Rwanda Journal #13: Interview about #CRSEgan Rwanda Trip is Online

Last updated on: March 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm By Lisa M. Hendey

Follow all of my Rwanda Journal posts here. Just in case you don’t wake up at the crack of dawn on Thursday mornings to listen to the Sonrise Morning Show with Brian Patrick, you can catch the interview that I did yesterday about our Rwanda trip with Catholic Relief Services online at the CRS Newswire website here. I think my favorite thing about that feature is the photo, which I’ll make you click through to see there. Follow all of... Read more

American Papist Thomas Peters Offers Blog Update – Keep Praying!

Last updated on: March 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm By Lisa M. Hendey

If you’ve been following the ongoing health progress of Thom Peters, the blogging voice behind American Papist, you already have seen sure signs of miracles in the making. So today I’m happy to share the good news that Thom has a new blog post online detailing his accident and recovery to date. The entire thing is quite eloquent, but one portion of it sings to the heavens for me: The accident has taught me more about the incredible gift of... Read more

Do I Contribute to Modern Slavery? Vatican Seminar to Address Critical Issues

Last updated on: March 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm By Lisa M. Hendey

Out today from the Vatican is news of a seminar being held November 2nd and 3rd, jointly organized by the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and of the Social Sciences and the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (F.I.A.M.C.). Titled “Trafficking in human beings: modern slavery. Destitute peoples and the message of Jesus Christ” will take on a the shocking and unthinkable crime of modern day slavery. According to the figures released by the organizers, the plague of this sin against humanity victimizes... Read more

“Mary of Nazareth” Film a Gift for the New Evangelization

Last updated on: March 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm By Lisa M. Hendey

On Friday, October 11, I had the true blessing of attending the North American Premiere of the gorgeous new film Mary of Nazareth. Even before attending the sold-out opener of this lovely look at the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I had already seen a pre-screener of the film and knew its vast potential as a real tool in sharing our faith with our loved ones. So imagine my great joy at being able to not only attend the... Read more

Small Success Thursday: Unpacking Edition

Last updated on: March 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm By Lisa M. Hendey

Over at CatholicMom.com, my friends and colleagues Sarah Reinhard and Sherry Antonetti have resurrected one of my favorite features: Small Success Thursday. The formula for participation is simple: share three successes (and little ones count!) from your week and participate in the link up on the post at CM. The results? From what I’ve seen, massive inspiration! If you’re like me, you have a tendency to ponder the items on your to do list that go undone rather than patting... Read more

Saying “Yes” to God – Please Share Your Stories

Last updated on: March 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm By Lisa M. Hendey

Now that I am home from Rwanda, work is beginning in earnest on my next book, The Grace of Yes. Without giving too much detail here, I will share that this book is an encouragement to all of us — myself included — to be more open to God’s will for our lives. As I’m writing, I know that sharing this experience with you — my friends and readers — will be both a blessing and a source of fuel... Read more

Rwanda Journal #12: What I’ve Learned & How I Feel

Last updated on: March 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm By Lisa M. Hendey

Follow all of my Rwanda Journal posts here. Today for the first time since returning home from Rwanda last Sunday night, I’m feeling back to “normal” physically. My ears have stopped ringing from thirty plus hours in the air, my ankles are back to their normal shape, and I no longer feel like bursting into tears of gratitude at the sight of a hot running shower. But as “normal” as my body may be feeling, my heart is still reeling... Read more