I had never considered Lent as a season of service. We traditionally think of Lent as prayer, fasting and almsgiving. How does this work as a campaign (project?) of service?
Mindwalk: Latest posts and thoughts…
He Gets Us
Deidre Noonan writes: Fr. John Freund has shared his mindwalks over the years. His request is that we, if we wish, share our reflections. Here is my attempt. I would love to read what is on your mind too. He gets us. If you saw the Superbowl last week, you may have...
Connecting Dots: Lent, Valentine’s Day, and Systemic Change
At first glance, it may seem like quite a stretch to connect Ash Wednesday, Valentine’s Day and Systemic Change. But hear me out. Actually, it is not that hard.
Thanksgiving
Beth Nicol here filling in for Fr. John who is taking a brief Thanksgiving break with plans to return to Mindwalk next week. During his small break, I offer the following reflection: On Thanksgiving Day 2008 I opened my email to find a note from my husband’s youngest...
Will You Be Traveling For the Holidays?
For many of my years, “Home for the Holidays” was in the back of most people’s minds come Thanksgiving and Christmas. For younger generations, it meant a trip to ancestral homes. It could be Mom and Dad’s House, while for others, Grandma and Grandpa’s. For older...
Are You “Woke?” – Should You Be?
Today we increasingly hear about being “woke.”
In this Vincentian Mindwalk I will try to move beyond any narrow political meanings.
The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same
Twenty-five years ago, the Congregation of the Mission engaged in what amounted to a corporate examination of conscience.
I sometimes reread the final document as an examination of conscience.
Raised in the world of “Pay-Pray-Obey”
I was amazed to discover a Vincentian born in 1868 who pioneered a thoroughly Vatican II concept of laity.
His words in 1923 echo today!
The Early Church Had No “Office of Evangelization”
Jesus did not establish the church as an institution with a slick “Public Relations” plan. His followers were attracted by his message. They became a movement that developed into the early church.
Can you explain how?
Street-level Encounters – a Parable
In this Vincentian Mindwalk, explore with me a street-level parable about the latest buzzword in many religious circles – “encounter.”
Have Catholics Seen Such Polarization Before?
There is so much polarization in our world today. And it is not just political.
Polarization is on full display at all levels of the Church today… hierarchy, clergy, laity, vowed religious.
Is this the first time in history that the Church has been so divided?
Certainly not!
Changing Our Clocks, Fast-forwards and Do-overs
Fall behind – spring ahead!
What if we could “replay” what we lost in our lives. Of course, we don’t get to replay the hours we lost.
Nor do we get to skip ahead and see our futures as we change clocks.
Can changing of clocks as a metaphor for our lives?
What’s Your Way of Handling Conflict?
A simple fact of life. We don’t always agree… especially on things that are important to us.
A painful fact of life. Disagreements and conflicts can get out of hand.
But, there is another fact of life.
We can and should learn from disagreements.