17th Century Prayer – a daily reminder
A framed version of this prayer hangs in my kitchen as a daily reminder: Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself, that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every...
Practicing (the presence of God)
I have a friend who observes: Practice doesn't necessarily make perfect. Practice makes Permanent. An astute observation, I think. Its truth is probably why I have such a hard time breaking bad habits. I've had so much practice at them, they must be treated seriously...
Election
I'm watching/listening to MSNBC as they reflect on the fact that Obama appears to be the president elect. I heard John McCain's concession speech - and I found it good. I couldn't support him in his run for the presidency, but I believe him to be a good man. I'm...
“Offer it up”
"Offer it up" is one of those concepts that constantly escapes me. So it didn't surprise me to find it as the "question of the week" on the back of the Sunday bulletin. I know I'm not alone in wrestling with this idea. I read the answer, which included a quote from...
Still laughing
Today was our fall picnic/festival complete with only one mass instead of 2 english + 1 spanish. These are always uplifting events. They also usually include at least one misstep that will bring a smile for weeks to come. Sometimes it is a missed cue at mass -...
Erased
I'm sure we have all made mistakes. We have all exhibited some form of at least mildly unacceptable behaviour at some time in our lives. It's a part of the learning process. However, when someone steps far outside the boundaries of acceptable behaviour and commits...
What is important?
Yesterday a colleague and I were walking back from a meeting when I stepped on a very hard, round acorn on the sidewalk. Much like stepping on a marble... I felt my ankle twist, I fought for my balance, and then hit the sidewalk pretty hard. The result was a skinned...
Switchback
Do you know the term "switchback"? or maybe the sailing term "tacking." - If I'm not mistaken, both refer to making progress by taking a zigzag sort of course - progress is made, but there's an awful lot of switching direction. Rather like my take on today's gospel......
St. Vincent de Paul
Today I join my Vincentian brothers and sisters in celebrating the feast of St. Vincent de Paul. My thoughts too jumbled to write much about how the life of this 17th century French priest has shaped my understanding of God's love and how to live in response to that....
Stewardship
Susan talked about an epiphany of sorts in a post back in June: the "aha!" of the reality that the trees in her backyard may legally belong to her, but she really doesn't own them. How true. "Owning" land, or trees or even a house isn't really ownership: it's an...
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North American Vincentian Family Gathering
North American Vincentian Family Gathering
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The 2023 North American Vincentian Family Gathering will be held October 26-29 at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. The theme is Harmony in Diversity: Working for Social Justice and Fostering a Culture of Encounter through the Arts via a community-based, intergenerational experience of creativity and the arts to build up together a culture of encounter which embraces diversity in harmony.
More information here: HARMONY IN DIVERSITY