One Catholic Life Blog

Thirteen Gun Salute by Patrick O'Brian

Books and Reading

My Favorite Reads of 2012

I successfully reached my goal of reading 40 books this year, and of the 42 I read, these were my favorites: The Aubrey/Maturin Series, books 6-13 by Patrick O’Brian: As I continue re-reading the series, I am loving the dictionary look-up feature on the Kindle to help me deal with the nautical terms. After Don Quixote and The Lord of the Rings, these are my favorite books of all time. Teach Like a Champion: 49 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College by Doug Lemov: This has had...

nativity scene

Homily

Homily for the Christmas Vigil Mass for Children – Year C 2012

God Is With Us! Quite a few firsts in this homily: first homily without a full text in front of me first time preaching at a liturgy for children first Christmas homily first time using the lapel microphone first homily away from the ambo and walking around http://traffic.libsyn.com/stpeter/SP-2012-12-24a.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

Advent Wreath

Homily

Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent – Year C 2012

You Better Watch Out, You Better Not Cry? Last weekend Brenda and I took the girls out to do some Christmas shopping and we ended up at a local sporting goods store looking at boots, hats and gloves. And as we made our way up the stairs to the second floor we saw a young boy, probably five or six years old, trying to hide behind the winter coats. He had obviously had enough of Christmas cheer, and was ready to go home. And his mom looked to...

The Road Ahead

Homily

Homily for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B

Driving lessons and the end of the world Today’s readings speak to us of the end of the world and of the signs that it is near. As we watch the news after hearing these readings proclaimed, we might begin to think that these are the days Jesus was referring to when he talked about the tribulation. The east coast is recovering from Hurricane Sandy, the Middle East is struggling to keep peace, other parts of the world are dealing with the aftermath of earthquakes. I have to...

Summer Barbecue

Homily

Homily for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B, August 19, 2012

This was my first homily as a deacon, and it was my first chance to speak to the parish since my ordination on August 10. I’d like to begin with a word of thanks. Brenda and I are so grateful for last week’s reception and for your continued prayers and support, not only over the last four years, but during the last twenty-one years that we have been members of St. Peter. From the time I started teaching at All Saints, to Brenda’s time as Director of Religious...

Jesus Washing Feet

Deacons and Diaconate / Family / Prayer / Spirituality

Ordination Day Prayer

Lovely God, All that I know of service I learned From your true servants in my life: A mom who always puts her family first; A dad who sacrifices his life for his children’s; Siblings who celebrate life in the midst of suffering; A wife who tirelessly gives flesh and bone daily; Children who trust that we know what we’re doing; Friends who keep in touch over years and miles; Colleagues in education who work to build your kingdom; Students who leap to volunteer at a moment’s notice....

Chalk

Art

Visual Literature: With a Piece of Chalk

I am constantly amazed at the ability of the human race to create art that inspires and moves. If literature is “writing that treats human concerns thoughtfully,” then the following short film is visual literature. I’m looking forward to sharing this with my students this coming school year.

Catholic Imagination

Art / Books and Reading

Andrew Greeley on the Catholic Imagination

Recently I read Andrew Greeley’s The Catholic Imagination (2001, University of California Press) and was fascinated by his research into the way Catholicism affects one’s world view and creativity. I’ve collected some of the more interesting and provocative quotes below: After several pages of statistical analysis, Greeley concludes: Catholics are more interested in the fine arts than Protestants, and those Catholics who go to church regularly are the most likely to be interested in the fine arts. Catholics are more interested in the fine arts because they have more graceful...