Good news!

I am delighted to let you know that Fr. John Speekman has sent me his answers to interview questions I sent him awhile back. Fr. John runs a blog called Homilies and Reflections from Australia. He is currently on vacation. I am, mind you, quite honored that he took with him the interview questions so he could write the answers at a time when he should be snorkling, scuba diving, or laying out in the sun to get some tan. Thank you, Fr. John!

I would, however, like to do this right given the honor to post his answers here, so please bear with me. I am currently preparing for two major events I need to attend to with much urgency. Please come back in about two weeks to read his anwers. For the meantime, check out my last post on my blog, Mostly Prayers.

Mahalo to all!

Going on a pilgrimage?

Picture I took at Our Lady of Good Counsel after adoration


Essentially we go on pilgrimage to listen to what God is trying to say to us, to make our “hearts of stone into hearts of flesh” and to allow a creative blast of freshness and newness into our lives. On pilgrimage we move out of the normal and the safe where we allow God to take control and allow ourselves to be challenged to grow as people. -Brendan McManus SJ

If you plan to embark on a personal journey with God through a pilgrimage, I invite you to read Fr. Brendan's article on how to make the most of it. Read here.

Fr. Joe's blog

SK George L. Chapman, Jr., PFN passed away peacefully at his home in Laurel, MD, on Friday, January 9, 2009. With his passing I feel free to tell you an incredible story that many did not know about George... continue reading here

St. Faustinas's Prayer for Priests

Thank you, John Michael, for sending this prayer...

St. Faustina's Prayer for priests:

O my Jesus,
I beg You on behalf of the whole Church;
grant it love and the light of Your Spirit,
and give power to the words of priests
so that hardened hearts might be brought
to repentance and return to You, O Lord.
Lord, give us holy priests;
You yourself maintain them in holiness.
O Divine and Great High Priest,
may the power of Your mercy accompany them
everywhere and protect them
from the devil's traps and snares
which are continually being set
for the souls of priests.
May the power of Your mercy, O Lord,
shatter and bring to naught all
that might tarnish the sanctity of priests,
for You can do all things. (1052) Amen.

HT Treasures of Grace

JMJ

The Carthusian Order

Carthusian Monks and Cathusian Nuns

The Order was founded by Saint Bruno in 1084

and comprises a masculine and a feminine branch.
At present, the Order is composed of about 450 monks and nuns

who live a solitary life at the heart of the Church;

there are 24 Houses in three continents,

all dedicated exclusively to the contemplative life.

Read more...

Prayer for a Son

This is a prayer that I pray nightly - Esther of a Catholic Mom in Hawaii.

O God, grant that my son my become a priest! I myself want to live as a good Christian and want to guide my child always to do what is right, so that I may receive the grace, O God, to be allowed to give you a holy priest! Amen.

(Mothers' prayer from Lu, Italy) Prayer Source

National Vocation Awarness Week

from my backyard


National Vocation Awareness Week to be Celebrated

January 11-17, a USCCB News Release

RIP, Fr. George J. Griffin

Please pray for Fr. George Griffin who died on Christmas day at the age of 71.

Read more here.

Pope Calls for New Economic Model

Pope Benedict XVI said at the Mass he celebrated for the Feast of Mary, Mother of God and World Peace Day that we need to establish a "virtuous circle" of living simply and fighting poverty.

Source CNS (Read full coverage here)