I lived with a Vincentian priest who was a railroad buff. I think of him today under two headings – his love of riding trains and his scrapbook of memories of his rides. I also think of Mary’s scrapbook of memories riding the glory train.
Month: October 2022
What Do 25,000 Teens Know About Jesus?
A recent Barna study of responses from nearly 25,000 teens aged 13-17 across 26 countries may shock some… And raise further questions. In this Vincentian Mindwalk I offer food for thought about possible paths forward.
Jesus and the Culture Wars of Today
Do you really think “culture wars” are new? Far from it! Jesus lived in the midst of culture wars! The Acts of the Apostles are a record of how first-century Christians coped with their own culture wars
In this Vincentian Mindwalk I invite you to look at the realities of those days. Jesus’ response should challenge us in the midst of our culture wars.
Ways of Looking at the Church – Pope Francis
How do you look at the Church today? That’s a question we must ask ourselves.
Here I present Pope Francis’ own words describing three ways of looking at the Church.
Do you look at the Church from above, around you, and as a whole?
I Actually Attended a Session of Vatican II
Yes! I figuratively rubbed shoulders with some 2000 bishops inside St. Peter’s! There are not many left who can say that.
Here I share my journey from a pre-Vatican II church to the church after Vatican II.
I will also share how belatedly I discovered that Vincent was one of the forerunners of the Church Pope Francis is calling us to become.
Bible in One Hand, Newspaper In the Other
I don’t normally read InterVarsity publications. One popped up in a google search for material related to the words of a theologian ” Pray with the bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.”
In this Vincentian Mindwalk I share two aspects on what that might mean.
Ancestry.com and Mary’s memories!
Mary “kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19; cf. 2:51). We can remember with Mary some of the memories she kept in her heart. The rosary is an invitation to look through her mother’s eyes at Jesus, the center of her life!
Pope Francis’ “Puzzle Box Picture”
The picture on a puzzle box inspired me to see how the pieces fit together. This morning I read a reflection, “Either an Evangelizing Church or a Worldly Church. It provided me with the picture on the “Pope Francis puzzle box! I offer it as a picture of what guides Pope Francis.
Biblical Coverups and Gotchas
They were comfortable… until they were told a story. Then they learned an uncomfortable truth. The person in the story out there, hid in their own heart.
In this Vincentian Mindwalk i explore how Pope Francis tells us a story about ourselves that unmasks our coverups and deceptions.
I Can’t Take It Anymore!
Today we hear cries of pain of a people saying I can’t take it anymore after the conquest of Jerusalem. They faced unspeakable losses of lifestyle and challenges to their faith.
They had to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and somehow find the strength to carry on. Can we learn from them?
Rom 16, 13 reads: "Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; and greet his mother—a mother to me also." If this…
Have a blessed Holy Week!
I have never thought about the people that were named in the Gospels. I would agree that they may be…
Generally, I love the laconic nature of Mark's Gospel. The Passion narrative is very compelling in its starkness, with one…
Father John, Blessings to you as you step cautiously down that new path. Grace and Peace be with you!