Skip to main content
Each summer the people of St. Mary Roman Catholic Church invite their friends and neighbors in the Manchester, Michigan area to a gathering to explain and clarify what the Catholic Church is and what it is not. Deacon Dennis Walters of St. Mary’s, who will lead the sessions, asks inquirers to consider a quote by Bishop Fulton Sheen, the famous television priest from the 1950s. “There are not 100 people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church, but there are many who hate what they wrongly think the Catholic Church to be,” he once said. Walters says the sessions will address common misconceptions such as thinking that Catholics don’t have to read the Bible, don’t accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, practice human traditions rather than God-ordained worship, worship Mary, or follow a religion of rules and regulations rather than faith in Christ. Walters states these notions are “all wrong” and that even Catholics would reject a church that taught them. I think this is a terrific idea especially in light of the Church's current situation on the world stage. It extends the call by Jesus to go out and spread the word as individuals. Many of us do not feel equipped or prepared to carry out our discipleship duties. This method provides a nice starting point that leans heavily on the leadership. I am praying that the folks in Manchester become so empowered by the sessions that each of them takes their show on the road. In addition, I am praying that this effort be duplicated the world over. We can do this, we just need to take the first step.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Gentle Art of Holy Surrender

In the quiet, dusty corners of our hearts, we often harbor blueprint drafts of how we think our lives should unfold. We carefully map out our timelines, hoping for a smooth path, and it is only natural to feel a bit lost or weary when a sudden storm alters our course or a door we prayed would open remains closed. Yet, our Lord does not stand at a distance during these moments of uncertainty; He is a tender Shepherd who walks beside us, gently whispering, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" ( Jeremiah 29:11). When our own plans crumble, it is not a sign that He has abandoned us, but rather an invitation to fold our hands, release our grip on the pen, and offer our own quiet fiat—letting Him guide us into green pastures we could never have found on our own. Placing our trust in His loving providence allows us to breathe deeply and find rest, even when the road ahead is shrouded in mist. E...
Post a Comment
Read more

Woman, Behold Your Son

The spiritual climax of the Gospel of John, as Father John Waiss points out, occurs at the foot of the Cross, where Jesus utters his parting words: “Woman, behold, your son!” and “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27). While these words were addressed to the Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, the Church has long understood this moment as a universal adoption. To truly image Christ, we must share in His parentage; if we embrace God as our spiritual Father but reject Mary as our mother, we treat Christ as a half-brother rather than our "firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29). As Origen noted as early as the third century, the profound depths of the Gospel are only accessible to those who, like John, rest their heads on Jesus’ breast and receive Mary into their own homes. This maternal role is deeply rooted in biblical typology, positioning Mary as the fulfillment of the great mothers of the Old Covenant. She is the New Eve , the mother of all the living according ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Praying With The Five Wounds Of Jesus

I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...
Post a Comment
Read more