Trust the Church

Last updated on: June 28, 2022 at 10:08 pm By Lois Kerschen

Catholics are entering a three-year period of reflection and education concerning the Eucharist. At the same time, our beliefs and our properties are being attacked by fanatics. Looks like it is time to hunker down together to take stock. The Church has stood steadfast in its teachings despite likely every generation asking for exceptions on one moral quandary after another. That’s because morality doesn’t change, and the Church is responsible for keeping us true to Gods commandments. As discussed in... Read more

My Parish Breakfast Community

Last updated on: June 24, 2022 at 7:07 pm By Lois Kerschen

At my parish, there is only one English Mass, so we have mostly the same faces every Sunday. Our tradition is to invite everyone to have breakfast together at a local restaurant afterwards. Consequently, we have developed a unique camaraderie. Ours is a tourist town, so we have many restaurants nearby. We try to go to a different one each Sunday so that we can spread our patronage around. Depending on the season, we’ll have anywhere from 4 to 25... Read more

Why Do We Go to Church?

Last updated on: June 18, 2022 at 4:21 pm By Lois Kerschen

There is so much turmoil surrounding the Catholic Church at present, yet Mass is celebrated daily in every parish and people continue to attend services. The number of people at Mass has grown fewer, but still many come. Why? For some, it is simply a matter of habit, a lifestyle. It’s just what they do. A custom. Their parents and grandparents went to church. They identify as Catholic because that’s what they more or less know, so they go to... Read more

The Challenge of Violence

Last updated on: June 19, 2022 at 1:02 pm By Lois Kerschen

In a previous blog post, I mentioned that pro-abortion protestors are disrupting Masses and vandalizing Catholic property all across the country. My point was that we need an intense education campaign to combat ignorance about the Church and the issue. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew/2022/05/culture-of-life-education/ However, that is a long-term solution. In the meantime, we must deal with pro-abortion terrorists who are perpetrating violent actions against pro-life people and churches, particularly Catholic churches. Ruth Sent Us The name “Ruth Sent Us” is a nod... Read more

Finding Treasures Close to Heaven

Last updated on: August 3, 2022 at 4:02 pm By Lois Kerschen

The “Wandering Pew” team (my husband and me) once traveled to Fayetteville, Texas, to visit two historic Czech Catholic churches: St. John the Baptist (1870) and St. Mary (1855). These two churches were delightful discoveries for their history and settings. Fayette County was established by Czech settlers in the mid-1850’s. They were originally served by area priests, but in 1872, the petition to have a Czech priest was granted, and Fr. Chromcik arrived from Moravia and stayed for 38 years.... Read more

Despair or Hope: Can’t or Can

Last updated on: June 3, 2022 at 4:46 pm By Lois Kerschen

The Catholic definition of despair is that it is the abandonment of all hope for saving your soul. This happens when you think your sins are so terrible that the God of Mercy cannot love or forgive you. There we go again—a presumptuous human deciding for God what God will do. It doesn’t compute, though, because God is always willing to forgive. Never underestimate God’s ability to love. The everyday understanding of despair is simply giving up hope on a... Read more

Outside: Not in Communion

Last updated on: May 30, 2022 at 11:17 pm By Lois Kerschen

Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone’s decision to deny Holy Communion to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is in accordance with Church law and Scripture. The 1983 Code of Canon Law says that “those obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.” Promotion of or participation in abortion, for which Pelosi is infamous, is a grave sin. The United States Council of Catholic Bishops has stated: “A person who is conscious of grave sin is... Read more

Historically Empowered: Catholic Women

Last updated on: May 24, 2022 at 9:16 pm By Lois Kerschen

Women in the Catholic Church have enjoyed a more equal position with men than in other religions. Hysterical bigots, however, like to post on social media that the Catholic Church has “enslaved” women for 2,000 years. Time for a history lesson! Jesus Elevated Women Jesus was the closest thing to an equal opportunity employer one could find in His culture. Scholars agree that there are more references to women in Gospel stories than in other literature of the time It... Read more

Our Lady of Kibeho

Last updated on: May 19, 2022 at 5:21 pm By Lois Kerschen

Our Lady of Fatima predicted that, unless her requests were heeded, Russia would cause wars and persecutions of the Church. Similarly, Our Lady of Kibeho in Rwanda made requests and predictions. Yet how well have we fulfilled these requests? Insufficient participation in the Five First Saturdays Devotion resulted in the Soviet Union. Although it finally dissolved, Russia is once again invading another country. This crisis moved Pope Francis to reconsecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Over the centuries,... Read more

Culture of Life Education

Last updated on: May 14, 2022 at 4:52 pm By Lois Kerschen

Among the multitude of blogs, articles, and commentaries around the potential reversal of Roe v. Wade, many have discussed the need to step up aid to women with unplanned pregnancies. For example, the New York bishops have pledged: “Any woman — regardless of age, religious belief or affiliation, marital status or immigration status — who is pregnant and in need, can come to the Catholic Church and we will give you the services and supports you need to carry your... Read more

What does the Bible say about pride?