Sunday Homily, July 8, 2007, 14 of the Year

 

"Welcome, Everybody, to Christmas Eve." sez Our Dearest Betsy.

 

 

Readings:

Isaiah 9, 1-6,  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light

Psalm 96,  Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord

Titus 2, 11-14,  The Grace of God has appeared

Luke 2, 1-14,  The Nativity: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus.

 

 

Welcome Back, Sir Charlie!  What a Christmas Gift!

 

A Christmas Story

I have a Christmas story for you this evening.   The event took place a week of two before this past Thanksgiving and about 3-4 weeks after October 20, the Sunday night when the tornado crashed through our neighborhood at 10 P.M.

The afternoon about which I want to talk was mild and sunny, a delightful afternoon.  I had left the front door of our house open.  I was in the back den working at my computer desk. 

 

 

 

They are back together, Folks.  Wendy returns to share singing with Shonda.  Welcome Home, Wendy.

 

There was a knock at the screen door, maybe even the door bell rang.  Whatever, I remember thinking, “Yuk, another guy wanting to replace our roof, replace the bay window that had been blown in, or help with the pile of tree limbs that once were my trophy trees.

 

 

Wendy with her husband, Brandon, and their son Atlas.

 

So, I go to the door and see a young, tall, nice looking, familiar boy from the neighborhood.  I think he is the younger brother of the boy who is a senior at St. Marks Boys School.  The older boy has red hair on top of about a 6/1 height.  I know the red headed boy’s name., Jack.  I’d heard it often from Rosemary.  

 

 

 

Welcome back home, Ryan.  So good to see you and how you have grown.   Last time I saw you you were half this size.

 

The family lives 3 doors down, both boys go to St. Marks, and they have a little girl named Lucy.  The boy does not appear stressed, so I assume everything is okay, though cynically I confess I thought he was probably selling tickets to a raffle.

So, I just start out the usual way,  “Hey, Man, how you doing? What’s up?  Everything okay?

 

 

 

 

We have the prettiest candles and the prettiest candle lighters.

 

 

His response.  “I was passing by, saw your door open, and decided I wanted to tell you and your wife that I have noticed and appreciate what good neighbors you are.”

His name is George.

Never miss an opportunity to extend kindness or a positive stroke.

It can change a person’s life.

 

 

Welcome to communion, Everybody

 

 

 

Jack, this is amazing.  Last time I saw you you were half this size and running all over the place.  You have grown so much I did not recognize you and now you are playing the bass for our celebration

 

 

Readings: Jeremiah 31, 31-34; Psalm 51; Hebrews 5, 7-9; John 12, 20-33

Jeremiah:  We have not seen Jeremiah for a long time, since before Thanksgiving.  Remember that he is one of the Big 3 Prophets (because of the size of the works, e.g. 62 chapters in Jeremiah), who are Isaiah, Jeremiah, & Ezekiel.   A review:

Author: mostly Jeremiah as put down by his scribe Baruch.  Described as the broken hearted prophet because of his heart rending life warning the people & kings that their behavior was going to be punished.  And so it happened with The Babylonian Captivity.

Time:  ca. 600 BCE, as an easy date to remember, or more precisely for 40 years from ca. 610 to 570 BCE.  The Captivity went from ca. 585-550 BCE (note my error last week, typing 450).  Jeremiah probably died in Egypt during The Captivity in Babylon.

The Scene:  Remember that the Holy Land had a north & a south, Israel & Judah.  First, the northern kingdom, Israel, was defeated by the Assyrians, 622 BCE.  These Hebrew tribes vanish into the DNA of the region.  Next, the Babylonians & Nebuchadnezzar defeat the Assyrians and threaten the southern kingdom, Judah with the capital Jerusalem.  Jeremiah is watching this and seeing it as Yahweh's punishment.  In 596, more or less, the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and cart the Hebrews into slavery.

Today's selection, chapter 31.  Yahweh is promising to make a new covenant or agreement with all the people, and to forgive them, after having shown the people who is master.  This is the only time in the O.T. that a New Covenant is mentioned.

Sources: Wikipedia; Answers.com; Encyclopedia of Judaism 

Hate My Life?

I have a story this morning which I have told only once, and that was at St. Mark's, over 4 years ago.  Pardon me if you've heard it.  It speaks to my point today.  I had permission for the story.

It was many years ago.  I think it was the first Monday morning of May, a beautiful morning.  A boy came to see me who had been in my office on and off for about six years.  He had graduated from high school and enlisted in the Air Force.  He had struggled since grade school with bouts of depression, and that morning seemed to be in great shape.  We did not even spend more than 30 minutes together, his mood was so up beat and hopeful.

He left.  Maybe two or three hours later a call came in.  The boy had left Jesuit where my office was, crossed Inwood to the Lincoln Center complex, drove up to the top of the four floor garage, parked his car, headed to the edge of the garage, and walked over the side.  He landed on the cement street four floors below, face down flat.

Passersby saw it, called 911, and in a second the paramedics from just around the corner were on the scene.  He was in Parkland in a flash.  He lived.

It was not for about 3 weeks until I got to visit him.  He apologized.  I admit I was mad.  I loved this kid.  He fooled me.  He said that he was in a zone, happy because he knew he was out of there.  He wanted to escape the pain and go to heaven.  There had been no fear in walking off that fourth floor, none of the hesitation you feel before you jump off the high diving board the first time. 

You may guess why I tell this story.  It exemplifies what happens when you take literally "whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life."  This little piece of advice, taken the wrong way, can be dangerous.  It also shows how far we have evolved and matured philosophically and psychologically over the past centuries.  We are maturing.

I would suggest there is a negative and a positive approach to hating my life. 

The negative is exemplified by this kid's story.  This is often what is happening when you hear of someone cutting on themselves.  If I hate my life and hate myself, I will want to punish myself.  So I cut myself.  Or I may think that I am such a loser that no one will pay me any attention if I do not do something dramatic like spill my blood. 

Even without such dramatic examples, I do not want to encourage someone who hates their body, hates their job, hates their family, hates their school, hates.  Just thinking about this I recoil.  "There is a better way," I want to say.  Maybe change is called for, but hatred is not a constructive, long range motivation.  So I would say, "Don't hate it." 

On the positive side, I would suggest two things.

First, the word hate can be considered as hyperbolic, a big word meaning exaggeration.  It is like Rosemary telling me, "You put a TV screen up on that wall so everyone can see you like in the mega-churches, Divorce!"  Think she is exaggerating?  I hope.  I won't test. 

Secondly, I would suggest that this all has to do with being more alive now, in this life. The grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying fits in with this.  For example: March Madness.  Many of these player have died to themselves to achieve, to be better players.  How many hours in the gym have the spent practicing free throws?  When they could be hanging out, sleeping in, text messaging?  And they love their lives. 

Goofy, but I hate my life to love my life.  I don't want to get up early.  I could sleep in to 11:00.  However, I put this part of myself on the shelf for another day so I can dedicate myself to a greater.  To maintain my health and fitness I work out 45 minutes in a gym every day.  Because of the result I love my life.

 

My friend who jumped is now okay, amazingly.  It took him years of physical recovery.  Two things did not happen that blessed him.  He did not damage his brain and did not damage his spine.  Every other bone, plus his teeth, were broken.  Once he got strong enough he went to medical technical school, got his certificates, and now has good jobs in various hospitals in the city.  I don't think he hates his life anymore.  In fact, loves it. 

How do you love your life?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-03-29.mp3

Sources:  The Center for Liturgy, St. Louis U.; St. Raymond Catholic Church, Dublin, CA; Carmelite Order Web; Homilias Domincales.

Picture 1:  Mass with Sabrina & Anthony

Picture 2:  Barb celebrates her birthday

Picture 3:  Geordie Robinson stuck at home in Dallas because of snow out at U. of CO in Boulder

Picture 4:  Chuck with sons Andrew & Danny

 

 

Readings:

Isaiah 25, 6-10, On this mountain the Lord will provide for all peoples a feast

Psalm 23, I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my  life.

Philippians  4, 6-9, I can do all things in him who strengthens me

Matthew 22, 1-14, The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast.

 

Thanks to the Team

Music,  Ben & Shonda 

Readers,  Tom & Mary  & Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel,  Deacon Mike 

Homily,  Stack 

Eucharistic Prayer A & B, Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers, Mike, Ben, Richard, & Welcome Back, Hue 

Final Blessing, Rosemary

For hosting us at Legacy, Becky

 

 

 

 

Remember?  3 years ago, South Rim, Grand Canyon.

 

Isaiah observations:

Who:  Any idea which Isaiah this is, 1, 2, or 3?   We had Isaiah 1 last week talking about the vineyard.  That was chapter 5.  Pretty easy to guess, Isaiah 1.  But, this is chapter 25.

It seems out of character for Isaiah 1, who criticizes the people.  More like Isaiah 2, which John Cade loves and which we will read this Advent. 

Remember Isaiah 1 is pre-Babylonian Captivity, around 555 before Christ.  This selection is a marvelous vision of peace and sensual satisfaction, one of my favorites.

Yep, it is still Isaiah 1, all the way to chapter 39.  Basically he is saying that a great day will come, after you people have paid for your sinful, selfish ways. 

 

 

Remembering…..

 

Download Readings Week 28
 

 

Homily:

As a boy, Jesse was a chicken plucker.

He stood on a line in a factory and spent his days

pulling the feathers off dead chickens so the rest of us

wouldn't have to.

It wasn't much of a job, but at the time

Jesse didn't think he was much of a person.

His father was a brute of a man

thought to be mentally ill,

and treated Jesse roughly all his life.

Jesse's older brother wasn't much better.

He was always picking on Jesse and beating him up.

Yes, Jesse grew up in a very rough home in

West Virginia.  Life was anything but easy,

and he thought life didn't hold much hope for him.

That's why he was standing in this chicken line

doing a job that few people wanted.

Jesse was always sick.

Sometimes it was real physical illness,

but often it was all in his head.

He was a small child, skinny and meek.

That didn't help the situation.

 

 

Remembering….

When he started to school he was the object of every

bully on the playground.

He was a hypochondriac of the first order.

For Jesse, tomorrow was not always something he

looked forward to.

 

 

But he had a dream. He wanted to be a ventriloquist.

He found books on ventriloquism. He practiced with

sock puppets and saved his hard-earned dollars until

he could get a real ventriloquist dummy.

When he got old enough, he joined the military,

and even though many of his hypochondriac symptoms

persisted, the military recognized his talents and

put him in the entertainment corps.

That was when his world changed.

He gained confidence.

 

 

The Wizards Hue & Rich.

He found that he had a talent for making people laugh,

and laugh so hard they often had tears in their eyes.

Yes, little Jesse had found himself.

You know, the history books are full of people

who overcame a handicap to go on and make a success

of themselves, but Jesse is one of the few I know of

who didn't overcome it. Instead he used his paranoia

to make a million dollars and become one of

the best-loved characters of all time doing it!

That little paranoid hypochondriac, who transferred

his nervousness into a successful career, still holds the

record for the most Emmys given in a single category.

The wonderful, talented, nervous comedian

who brought us

Barney Fife (The Andy Griffith Show)

was

Jesse Don Knotts.

(July 21, 1924 – February 24, 2006)

There is a street named for him and his statue in

Morgantown, West Virginia, his home town.

At this stress filled time in our lives, how are you reaching out  to peace & beauty?

 

 

Remembering….

 

Please Remember these special people:

For Alan Stryker;  For John Doherty with back pain; For Becky's dad who has moved to the other side;  For Cindy is recuperated!!;    For David Dismore's bad shoulder from a biking accident;  For all the medical personnel struggling to treat the tsunami of sick people, in particular, locally, Cindy's staff at Presby, Dallas, and at Frisco Presby, the mother of Harper and Betsy, Kendle, working in labor & delivery;   For Mary & Dave Hall's g-daughter Allison Keller working at St. Lukes, Woodlands,  For Joe Hogan with cancer;  For Loretta's aunt Alicia;   For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody & Ben & Leo & all of Shonda's dear family;   for all the students and teachers and coaches returning to school, for Geri's sister with heart & circulation problems, 

Richard & Mike Zooming. 

 

For Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For both Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free;    For Hue;  For John O'Donnell;   For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini, plus John's daughter, Joey, with cancer,  For the students, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

 

Birthdays: Bill Hammond, Celeste Colmanero, Rich Eschelbrenner

 

 

 

Hammond, you are so missed around here!

 

Community Finances, October 11, 2020

Expenses: $710.00 

Outreach   $180.00    (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks, Folks, for doing what you can.

Rosemary's Blessing:

 

 

Just in case you missed our new address, 7017 Helsem Way  75230.   (notice the same Zip Code as Tulip Lane?)

Readings:

Daniel 12, 1-3,  The wise shall shine brightly.  

 Psalm 16,    You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Hebrews  10, 11-14, 18, Every priest stands daily at his ministry.

Mark 13, 24-32, This generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.

 

 

 

Leo and Brandon say, "Hi, Folks, Welcome in."  Along with Mary, too.  

 

Thanksgiving History: Everyone knows about the first Thanksgiving in 1602 with the Pilgrims and the Indians eating together, the Mayflower, and Plymouth Rock.   Here are 5 facts that people do not hear about usually.

1.  When did Thanksgiving begin?  Our ancestors have celebrated end of harvest feasts of gratitude for centuries.  Lincoln first focused on a national feast; FDR established the national holiday in 1941.

2.  The pilgrims did not know they were pilgrims.  They called themselves saints, and non-saints were called strangers.  The word pilgrim came along in the 18 hundreds, 2 centuries later.  They were not even Puritans, but separatists.  They split off from the Church of England, old Henry VIII's church, and the Puritans did not split off. 

 

 

                                      "Hi, Paul & Carrie."

 

3.   The Separatists did not come to establish religious freedom.  They came for religious freedom for their religion and only their religion.  Like the Catholic Church, the Separatists demanded everyone belong to their program.  Failure to conform could result in execution, ala inquisition.

4.  The Mayflower returned to England, was torn apart, and its beams were used to build a barn in Buckinghamshire (just north of London & east of Oxford).

 

 

          "Welcome back, Miss Genevieve, Good to see you."

 

5.  How did the Indians & Separatists communicate?   The Indians were Algonquians & one of them, Squanto had actually lived in Briton some years.  He returned to his tribe and taught his friend, Samoset English.  It was Samoset who communicated with the Separatists, & the Indians taught them to raise corn, to fish, and to hunt.  In the first winter half of the 100 Separatists died before the Indians taught them how to survive.

 

 

               "Oh, Folks, Watch out.  The girl walks!"

 

Thanksgiving

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, my most favorite celebration, I would like to talk about blessings.  Excuse me for the personal focus.  It is my annual assessment.  Rosemary & I do this together more toward the end of the year, but initially I put together my own list.

I have already told you that in life I am grateful for three big blessings, my Jesuit experience, my African experience, and my marriage. 

As an aside, this Tuesday we celebrate the 26^th anniversary of the 6 Jesuits killed in the patio of their residence of their university, UCA, University of Central America, El Salvador. 

 

 

                     Zoe, our candle lighter of the week.

 

I was just back in the States from East Africa and was quite moved by these men.  I was ready to go there myself.

This year I can perceive again three big blessings, marriage, health, and my role as priest/psychotherapist.  Let me explain each of these a little.

The landscape of my marriage this year included, first of all, our Viking cruise on the Rhine River.  Just watching and listening to the river was special, but that was only the beginning.  Delightful people, quaint places, homey environment, and more.

 

 

"Hi, Georgie, Suit up time.  Just the two of us this morning."

 

Our Mondays, dancing also has been a blessing.  We even took a class Friday night in what is called West Coast Swing.  I was getting to a point that I wanted to learn a few new steps or routines, like when we used to dance a lot of years ago.  West Coast Swing we knew some from the old days, but we had forgotten a lot.  Friday was a great help.

Because of our marriage I also have the privilege of spending Thanksgiving most years with Rosemary’s sister & brother in law in Hilton Head.  I can rest and unload the pressure more there than almost anywhere else in the world.

 

 

                     Cupcake of the year to John on his birthday.

 

A final blessing connected with our marriage is just our time together.  We have breakfast together most mornings, lunch 3-5 times a week, and I just enjoy being together.  Maybe we are reading on the couch together in the evening before I check out at 9:00, to comments like, “Party Pooper.”

The second big blessing is health and, in particular, my super hips.  I have already called my hip specialist, like I do every Thanksgiving, to let him know how grateful I am and to list what I have done.

 

 

                   Cupcake of The Week to Frank on his birthday.

 

Like riding 500 miles across the beautiful, rolling hills of Iowa for a whole week.

Like riding the HHH, Hotter N’ Hell Hundred the last Saturday of August out of Wichita Falls.  Hundred like in miles and temp.

Like spending 9 nine days in Yosemite with 8 good friends, when on the 2009  hike I thought I would never be able to hike there again.

 

 

      Cupcake of The Week to John & Connie on their 29th.

 

 

Finally, I would like to mention the privilege and honor I feel in being a priest and psychotherapist.  I love doing the marriages, the memorials, and the visits, all of which Rosemary & I do together. 

And this community.  What a joy to come here each Sunday to see all of you and to watch the kids grow healthy and peaceful.

What are your 2 or 3 biggest blessings of the year that you are grateful for?  Happy Thanksgiving.

 

     

 

         Cupcake of The Week to Mary Ellen on her birthday.
           

Readings:

Isaiah 40, 1-5, 9-11, Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God (one of the most beautiful readings.)    This marvelous selection from Isaiah will be dramatized by Handel's Messiah, sections 1-4

Psalm 85, Lord, let us see your kindness and grant us our salvation.

2 Peter 3, 8-14,   Beloved, be eager to be found without spot or blemish.

Mark 1, 1-8, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

 

 

Have a Blessed & Happy Advent.

 

Thanks to the Team

Music,  Ben & Shonda, 

Readers,  Connie & John Bresson  & Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel,  Mike Carrell 

Homily,   Deacon Mike Carrell

Eucharistic Prayer A & B, Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Mike & Richard

Final Blessing, Rosemary

For hosting us at Legacy, Becky

 

 

 

Our beloved Deacon Mike Carrell.

 

 

Download Reading Week 2 Advent

 

Download Mike's Homily 12-6-2020

 

 

Please Remember these special people:

For Paul & Carrie recuperating, plus her ex, Larry;  For Alan Stryker;  For Joe Sullivan;    For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie ;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine; For David Dinsmore's bad shoulder from a biking accident;  For Esparza's new great grandson baby, son of Monique;  For all the medical personnel struggling to treat the tsunami of sick people, in particular, locally, Cindy's staff at Presby, Dallas, and at Frisco Presby, the mother of Harper and Betsy, Kendle, working in labor & delivery, and for Hue & Linda's daughter, Doctor Rosemary Beavers;   For Mary & Dave Hall's g-daughter Allison Keller working at St. Lukes, The Woodlands,   For Loretta's aunt Alicia;  For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody & Ben & Leo & all of Shonda's dear family;  

 

 

Tranquility.

 

For Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For both Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free;    For John O'Donnell;   For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini, plus John's daughter, Joey, with cancer; for a little 4 month old boy undergoing an operation, from Barbara;  For the students, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

 

Making Magic, Hue & Rich.

 

 

Birthdays:  Fred Jansky 73 & Patricia 20 years smoke free, Noah Thompson 24, TC Fleming, & Loretta

Anniversaries:

Tom & Denni, 45th

 

Mike at prayer!

 

 

Becky's List: View this photo
 

 

Community Finances, December 6, 2020

Expenses: $1300.00

Outreach   $225.00  (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

When this is over, may we never again take for granted

A handshake with a stranger

Full shelves at the store

Conversations with neighbors

A crowded theatre

Friday night out

The taste of communion

A routine checkup

The school rush each morning

Coffee with a friend

The stadium roaring

Each deep breath

A boring Tuesday

Life itself.

When this ends, may we find that we have become more like the people

We wanted to be

We were called to be

We hoped to be

And may we stay that way – better for each other because of the worst.

 

Laura Kelly Fanucci

Given to me by Pat Jansky

 

 

Readings:  Jonah 3, 1-10, Forty days more and Nineveh will be destroyed; Psalm 25, Teach me your ways, O Lord; 1 Corinthians 7, 29-31, The time is running out; Mark 1, 14-20, I will make you fishers of people.

Jonah: This little book of 4 chapters is a gem and tells a delightful short story.   It is so good I would like to read it all, but will read chapter 1 and all of chapter 3. 

Background: Jonah has been asked by Yahweh to go to Nineveh in Assyria to tell the people & leaders that they are evil and will be punished shortly by Yahweh.  Trouble is, Nineveh is the enemy, like me going to Houston or Philadelphia. 

So he runs away, catches a boat headed for Spain, is blamed by the sailors for causing a big storm on the sea, and is dumped overboard.  The whale swallows him and for three days Jonah is constrained to reflect on what he is doing.  When, after 3 days, the whale dumps him on shore, Jonah is more willing to listen.  We arrive at this point and I will have all of chapter 3 read.

Author: For centuries, while people took this story as factual, Jonah was considered author of his own story.  Once it was seen as a fable or allegory, the story probably has some unknown ancient as the author.

Date of composition: no one really knows, but educated guesses put it ca. 800 BCE.

Note: the story of Jonah and the story of Jesus' interaction with his future apostles are both about The Call. 

 

A Call Story

    Because the Jonah story and the story about Jesus relating to his future apostles all talk about The Call, I have a short contemporary story.

    The girl’s name is Susan.  Blond hair, green eyes, vivacious, a cheer leader at Skyline and at S.M.U.  In fact, she was the head cheerleader at S.M.U.  She was fun to be around and full of zest for life.  

    While Susan presented herself so positively at school, At this point in her life three horrible events had taken place.   

    First, the summer Susan was 10 she and her mother were at the lake on the 4^th of July.  They were on the boat dock when a man came up and whispered in her mother’s ear that their 18 year old son had just committed suicide back at their home.  Susan watched as her mother was carried off the pier.   

    The suicide drove her parents to drink and eventually divorce.  Susan was left to care take the house and her drunk mother while she finished grade school and high school.  This was the second horrible event. 

    When Susan graduated with honors from high school, no one was there to clap for her or support her.  She went home, raged at her mother, and told her she wished she were dead.   The next morning Susan found her mother dead.  Her mother was 49 when she drank herself to death.  This was the third tragedy.  She was just entering S.M.U.

    Some years later one more tragedy struck her.  Her older sister Kathy, upon whom she depended, died of cancer at the same age as their mom, 49, on the same holiday as her mom, Memorial Day. 

    This final event did it.  Despite having kids and a career as a special ed coordinator, Susan entered the world of drug addiction.  Within about a year CPS had taken her kids away and Susan went to prison.  

    In about a year Susan came out of the belly of the prison and two things happened.  First, she heard The Call.  Secondly, and interconnected with The Call she watched two parents react to the tragic death of their child.  The parents inspired her and she answered The Call to come back to life.  Today Susan gives talks about her life to strengthen others.

  

    If you are like me, you think that The Call is to do something usually significant.  Maybe it is, but it can be simply an invitation to come back to life or to be more fully alive.  

    Today the Mass is all about Call.  What is yours today?

  

Resource, Dallas Morning News, 1-21-12, Kristie Smith, Viewpoints section, Educator Fell far but found God.

Picture 1:    Offertory, Mary Ellen & Grace

Picture 2:    Brooklyn with Joanie & Erin

Picture 3:    Ray & Claire celebrating 41 years

Picture 4:    Tom, Bill, & Ron

Picture 5:    Someone has come to visit, no fear!

Picture 6:    It's Sienna!