For the month of February 2023, Pope Francis asks people to join with him to pray that parishes be more open communities.
That got me thinking about our longing for belonging and the possibilities of parishes.
Mindwalk: Latest posts and thoughts...
A Surprise Gift From Pope Francis
Much to my surprise, Pope Francis seemed to comment on yesterday’s Mindwalk.
Of course, I know he never read it … but his reflection today certainly fit!
See if you agree with his comments on “Blessed are the poor in Spirit.”
Jesus Flips the Religious and Cultural Script
In his first major sermon, Jesus names a group of people normally thought to be unfortunate and of no account. He pronounces them “blessed.” Jesus flips the script to show how different his mission was from what people expected.
Followers of Jesus – Not In Kansas Anymore?
We’re not in Kansas anymore The Council of Jerusalem some 25 years after Jesus Ascension changed the Church! Yesterday I stumbled on a reflection by Chuck Tanzola, Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore. It helped me better understand its significance. In...
Finding God in Interruptions
God will often be in the interruptions, the nuisances, the disruption of our best-laid plans. When we open our eyes, we will experience the Kingdom of God at work in us, through us and around us.
St. Joseph – Patron of the Saints Next Door
Can we recognize Joseph, “the quiet one”, as the model for far more than just carpenters?
If Einstein Is Right About Insanity…
“Search out more than ever, with boldness, humility, and skill, the causes of poverty and encourage short and long term solution. By doing so, you will work for the credibility of the Gospel and of the Church.”
A Tale of Two Shepherds – Peter and Francis
How did St. Peter and Pope Francis try to discover the core truth in apparently conflicting positions? What can we learn from them?
Vincentians Can’t Stand Outside the Fire
“Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you’re standing outside the fire.” Garth Brooks “To set people’s hearts on fire, to do what the Son of God did.” St. Vincent de Paul
Can You Put Yourself In This Picture?
I am not an Ethiopian at the beginning of a thousand-mile journey. Actually, I am on a lifelong journey of trying to “put on the mind of Christ”, to see things as Jesus, the stranger in my life, sees them.
Forgotten Truths About Women
Gender and religion Some highlights from a recent study of gender gap in world religions… Standard lists of history’s most influential religious leaders tend to be predominantly, if not exclusively, male. Yet it often appears that the ranks of the faithful are...
Building the Church From Scratch
What was it like to build the church from the ground up? What were the challenges faced by those who first built the Church?
Jesus left no rule book or handbook of best practices let alone an organizational flow chart.
Were There Culture Wars In the Early Church?
Were there “culture wars” In the early church? When people from various groups began to follow Jesus they brought with them.deep-seated cultural biases.