This best describes a “champion” model of pastoral leadership. Many Catholics today, including myself, prefer to sit on the sidelines of social media and put our collective support, “likes,” and retweets behind those bishops who are outspoken in opposing our political and cultural enemies. We rally behind bishops who speak truth to power and put … Continue reading In Search of the Champion Bishop
Reading Excerpts
Not An Epoch of Change, But A Change of Epoch
The Working Document of the Bishops' Synod on the Amazon broke new ground in offering a different vision for the process of liturgical inculturation reflected in the final document of the synod. It challenged the absolute need for the substantial unity of the Roman Rite, opening the door to a process of inculturation that is … Continue reading Not An Epoch of Change, But A Change of Epoch
The Holy Spirit Makes Us Divine
Christianity offers an authentic alternative to [a range of ] methods of self-deification. Through the action of the Holy Spirit poured out through the sacraments, the divine life may be shared by all, from the infant to the elderly, from the poor and forgotten to the rich and elite, women and men. Moreover, deification is … Continue reading The Holy Spirit Makes Us Divine
The Awesome Power of Eucharist
The Eucharist is not celebrated to simply consecrate the elements of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, but to transform the assembly into the Body of Christ. This transformation takes place a through a participation in the Eucharist that empowers those present to proclaim to the world the kingdom of God … Continue reading The Awesome Power of Eucharist
The Vocation of Citizenship
It is...a bromide to observe that most people pay little attention to politics. They have, or so the conventional wisdom goes, much better things to devote their precious time and limited energy to. Besides, politics is all to often as corrupt as it is frustrating. There is a some truth to such sentiments, but the … Continue reading The Vocation of Citizenship
Why Involve the Community?
Welcoming seekers into "the way of faith and conversion" is the most important thing we do. Think about it. If a family had a great sense of community but never welcomed new people into it, slowly, one-by-one, the family would die off. If a parish did the same, we'd have the same fate. But the … Continue reading Why Involve the Community?
The Parish IS The Curriculum
When it comes the need to 'run the RCIA program' one of the questions that often gets asked is what is the best resource to use. Usually the person asking that question wishes to know which book, or series of pamphlets, or videos can best be used to pass on the knowledge of the Christian … Continue reading The Parish IS The Curriculum
