“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year . . .”

by Deacon Stephen Bowling Have you heard yet this year that song which always seems to be everywhere during the Christmas season? Andy Williams’ recording of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” was released in October 1963 (just before John F. Kennedy’s assassination) and has been trying to bring hope and happiness to … Continue reading “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year . . .”

“Every Trait a Person Has Becomes Magnified in Marriage”

by Deacon Derrick and Mistianna Barnes Mistianna: When Derrick and I started dating, got engaged and finally, got married, I thought Derrick was my knight in shining armor. He daily total me how “perfect” he was and I naively believed him. I believed him simply because, he was perfect, for me and to me! He … Continue reading “Every Trait a Person Has Becomes Magnified in Marriage”

Thanksgiving, Families And Adoptive Families

by Ed Harpring November is one of my favorite times of year. Why? Fall, Thanksgiving and family. The month begins with a cool crispness in the air and the myriad of emerging fall colors delighting us with their increasing intensity. The end of the month brings Thanksgiving and the once a year Feast that calls … Continue reading Thanksgiving, Families And Adoptive Families

“Gratitude And Giving Thanks . . .”

by Martine Bacci-Siegel I wish to give thanks to you, Lord, with all of my heart; I will tell of your wonderful deeds. – Psalm 9:1 It is our human nature to dwell on the negative. This tendency is called the “negativity bias,” or the propensity to focus on problems, annoyances, and injustices in our … Continue reading “Gratitude And Giving Thanks . . .”

Gratitude Is All In The Attitude . . .

by Deacon Stephen Bowling Well, it’s November and you know what that means . . . more pumpkin spice stuff than you can shake a stick at (yuck) and enough articles about the “virtue of thankfulness” to fill the Grand Canyon. Just because we celebrate a great holiday about gratitude on the fourth Thursday of … Continue reading Gratitude Is All In The Attitude . . .

Respecting Life In All Seasons . . .

by Ed Harpring As we enter into Respect Life Month, (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops set aside the month of October to call attention to the dignity of human life) the urgency is greater than ever for Catholics to become even more engaged in becoming a voice for the voiceless.  The theme for this … Continue reading Respecting Life In All Seasons . . .

Respecting The Life Of Creation . . .

by Martine Bacci-Siegel A great way to teach our children about respect for creation is through animals.  Scott Huntington is a writer for the Oxford University Press as well as a middle school Sunday school teacher.  He offers these tips when teaching through animals.  Acquaint them with animals. More specifically, get them used to being … Continue reading Respecting The Life Of Creation . . .

Respecting One’s Own Life . . .

by Michelle Herberger Several years ago, when watching a film on post abortion healing, a woman who had had an abortion spoke something that continues to influence my desire to see people healed from their experience of abortion.  She said, “I made the choice to terminate life and continued to do so by my self-destructive … Continue reading Respecting One’s Own Life . . .