The Mission of a Parish Mission?

praylium: The Mission of a Parish Mission?: I have sat in almost every seat in the church. As a child, a teen, a musician, a priest, a husband, and a dad. I've listened to many t...

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Canonizations, Crowds, and Angst.

As I ready myself for a jaunt to Rome and Vatican City I find myself experiencing more of a desire to stay home. Don't get me wrong, I am very appreciative of my family making the sacrifices for my trip. And I look forward to seeing a part of the world that has, in many ways been on the geographic periphery of my life (for obvious reasons). But it wasn't supposed to be this way.  I wasn't supposed to be heading there without my son and my lovely wife. While the friendship I share with my old classmate is what provided this opportunity--I am just a little out of place. Allow me to explain... The purpose of the trek is to go and participate as part of the cloud of witnesses to the canonizations of Popes John 23 and John Paul 2. My friend and old seminary classmate proposed this adventure a few months back. He had reserved space at a religious house in Rome and asked if I wanted to accompany him.  The plan is to be at the Vatican for a few days then on to visit his c...
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Repent and Reboot and Do it FAST

I came across this latest little snippet... A bishop askes the people of God to consider how they use social media and calls for people to resist the temptation to enter into the 'grave matter' of sin: ...Using social media for abuse or to attack the reputations of other people was a direct sin against the Eighth Commandment, forbidding people from “bearing false witness” against their neighbours, he said in a pastoral letter released March 19. “We must exercise discretion, respect others and their privacy and not engage in slander, gossip and rash judgment,” the bishop wrote in the document that was to be distributed in parishes the weekend of March 22-23. I admit that I have, at times, used my other blog--Praylium--in ways that challenged the status quo of the church--both the clergy and laity. Problem was--it did nothing.   The same stuff still happens. Poor liturgies, disgruntled gossipy judgemental laity, premadonna clergy, and perhaps my greatest bug--clericali...
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My Trip to Collevalenza

First I need to preface this entry... It is a packed entry because it was a packed day. For now just some simple moments and experiences. It began with my lovely wife reminding me of past spiritual experiences and connections and that I wasn't far from Collevalenza. "So you better go!" , she texted me. I awoke at 5:30 to start the pilgrimage.  A subway and a 2 hour bus ride then a shuttle through the hills fog and rain. I was a stranger in a strange land.   In the middle of Italy... clinging to forgotten Latin in order to make sure I was going to arrive  where I felt called to be.  Here are the moments on which I will later elaborate .....I knew very little of the story of the place. .....I knew it had to do with sister named Madre Speranza. ....who I never heard of until a chance dream and a discussion with a friend in Medjugorje ...almost eight years ago ....I arrive and aimlessly wander amount hundreds of people, finally meeting the only man who spok...
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