Getting To Know You

Nice blog!

I hail from Boston. And I still live there, most of the time.

I found you on twitter and was intrigued enough to come visit, and post this at 1 AM…

I’m still a student for the next two months at least, so my typical day involves either school or my part time job. No matter what day of the week though, it involves writing, even if it’s just on social media.

I learned that Rome wasn’t built in a day. I know it’s cliche and over used, but since I’ve trying to integrate my catholic identity with my LGBTQ identity, the saying has come in handy. I mistakenly thought this problem must be solved by graduation… I can’t get rid of either identity so this is going to be trickier than I thought it’d be.

If I were a bragger, I’d mention how I’ve been an altar server since I made my First Communion. Then I’d go on to explain how awesome it makes me feel and how I love having such an active role in the Mass. But I’m not much of a bragger, so I guess I won’t…

My Hero is definitely my Pastor. He’s been at my parish all my life (and a few years before it). He baptized me, and helped me get through a dark part of my life a few years ago.

I desperately want to write and publish a book. If you have time, I’d recommend reading some queer religious narratives. (Wrestling with the Angel is a good anthology to start with) There are numerous people who are both Queer and Religious and found various ways of dealing. The spectrum’s pretty well represented in the book. I hope to publish my own personal narrative one day and give a fresh look at the “age old” question of how do you remain queer and religious at the same time? I’ve been blogging about my experience over at queercatholicgirl.wordpress.com

I was born in Pennsylvania but have lived in North Carolina for the past 30+ years. My husband and I are converts; we joined the Church through RCIA about 14 years ago. I now help to teach RCIA in our parish. I have an additional ministry of corresponding with inmates on death row; I try to share my faith with them and have found it a rewarding – and humbling – experience. (Humbling because “there but for the grace of God…” I also have a blog of my own: http://acts17verse28.blogspot.com/. I’m looking forward to exploring yours.

God bless you.

Sue

1. I’m from Texas and currently live between Dallas and Austin.

2. A friend of mine suggested it to me because I’m her token Catholic friend.

3. I’m a grad student so a typical day includes teaching class, being a student in classes, researching/writing my thesis, and time spent with my boyfriend when we get a chance. (We watch a lot of Star Trek and Modern Family)

4. I am capable of so much more than I ever imagined.

5. Oh, tough choice. Tie between “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” from The Little Prince and “Preach the gospel always. When necessary, use words” from St. Francis of Assisi

6. Book: The Little Prince, Band: Old 97′s, Movie: Pan’s Labyrinth, Blog: CakeWrecks.com.

7. I would brag about my dogs. They are actually wolf-dogs and are incredibly intelligent!

8. Hero: Óscar Romero and St. Perpetua (my confirmation name).

9. I would like to earn my masters in Spanish literature. One year left!

10. I have one but I’m just paranoid enough not to give it out to everyone.

I have been reading this blog for close to a year, having stumbled upon it by searching “Blogs by Catholic Clergy”. I really like what you have to say and so I thought I would make it “official” by introducing myself. So….
1. I am a native Californian originally from a sleepy beach town in the Central Coast but have been living in the greater San Francisco Bay Area since college which is about 30 years. I am Italian-American; Italian was my first language and I am very proud of my ethnicity.
2. I began to visit this blog and keep coming back because, unlike so many other Catholic blogs out there, you promote our Faith in an attractive simplicity that avoids elite arrogance on one hand and religious indifference on the other. The longer I live the more I realize that really, deep down, our relationship with God is quite simple but too often we make it so complicated. Make sense?
3. As a Benedictine Oblate I strive for balance in daily as the Rule of St. Benedict teaches. I am a college level educator in the field of medical technology and I carry this out under the auspices of active duty military and veteran health care. I pray the Liturgy of the Hours and talk to God heart top heart throughout the day. I work out most everyday of the week except Sundays mixing it up between free weights, kettle bells, cable machine, power yoga, and interval cardio. I try to see to the care of mind, body and spirit.
4. Something significant I have learned this year? I think that would be that when the Son of God became man he assumed our human nature as it was after the Fall (except for sin) because only in this way could he lift us up and redeem us, AS ONE OF US. I had always thought Jesus had a pre-original sin human nature and simply consented to experience the weaker aspects of humanity (hunger, suffering, death, etc.). This was truly an eye-opener for me and I learned in Christology class that my former understanding of the Incarnation would mean that Jesus was not truly human but only kind of acting as if he was human
5. I have two and I do not know the sources for either.  “We either laugh or cry ourselves through life. I choose to laugh” (I had a lot of suffering as a child and this helps me focus) and “If not now, then when?” (This speaks to my tendency to put off doing difficult things).
6. Hmmm…these are tough questions because my tastes are quite eclectic and I am moved more by a particular work than by an artist or author.
BOOK:  (besides the expected religious ones of Bible, catechism, etc.) I would have to say “The Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous because my life has been radically altered since embracing the 12 Steps in the light of faith 11 years ago. Alcohol wasn’t my issue when it comes to destructive behavior, but AA is the mother of all recovery fellowships and their Big Book remains the fundamental sourcebook for all such endeavors.
MUSICIAN: Lots are in my iPhone but one that endures is “Kiss Me Again (Stuttering)” by Ben’s Brother. Also in my iPhone is a song that always moves me – “Calling Down an Angel” by the defunct Christian band Plus One (from the 90s) which speaks to me about the initial struggles inherent in recovery and the hope that is found through it.
MOVIE: “The Passion of the Christ” though I have seen it only once. I own the DVD but cannot watch it no matter how often I try every Lent.  When I first saw it in 2004 at the theater I left the show and arranged to make my first and only general confession. It took a couple hours with a priest who ministered in 12 Step Recovery.  But I am a real fan of movies like X-men, Lord of the Rings, etc)
BLOG: Well, besides Blessed is the Kingdom : )  I would have to say The Deacon’s Bench by Deacon Greg  Kendra http://www.patheos.com/community/deaconsbench/, He takes in a lot of things from throughout the blogsphere and net.
7. Well this isn’t braggable stuff but it is a bit unusual: I am both the son-in-law and the father of Catholic priests. My father-in-law has been a priest for 32 years and my son was just recently ordained and is on his first assignment. I am halfway through diaconate formation in our archdiocese. I will be ordained in a little over 2 years.  So one day perhaps I will be joining my father-in-law and my son at the altar in the celebration of the Eucharist and assisting in family sacraments and services (we have a huge family).
8. One of my heroes would be St. Mark Li Tianxiang, one of the Chinese martyrs. The reason is that he was an opium addict from age 36 until his martyrdom at age 66. He was ostracized by the Church in not being allowed to receive Holy Communion for those 30 years (back then they didn’t understand the psychology of addiction, diminishment of freedom, etc. as we do now) yet he remained faithful to God in his struggle and suffering. Still in the clutches of his addiction, he nevertheless went to martyrdom rather than deny Christ and they say he went singing the Litany of Our Lady. Now if THAT isn’t inspiration for disciples who struggle reminding us to never give up, then I don’t know what is. He should be a patron saint of Catholics in 12 Step Recovery.
 
9. I am an artist – pen and ink drawings – but I would like to learn how to write icons. I just do not  have the time or the money to do so by traveling to a workshop, etc., I would especially like to write an icon of St. Mark Li Tianxiang.
 
10. I do not have a blog…I don’t even have time to keep current with Facebook.

Welcome Miriam!

Welcome Deanna. Hope you are well.

Good Morning,
I am Cathie and I live in Wisconsin. My cousin sent the link in answer to the question, “How did she discover she was extreme bipolar”.
The movie I would recommend is “Have a Little Faith” based the book by Mitch Album.
I am happy I found this blog, I see there are many posts regarding the new missal card, can’t quite rap myself around it yet. Change is difficult and understanding it is also. So I will read and hope to understand.

http://laynejeffcoat.blogspot.com/  That is my blog.  I am a college student in Central Alabama.  I work closely with drug addicts and in the local church in the community.  I am currently in the middle of a conversion to Roman Catholicism from being a Southern Baptist.  Nobody really knows of my conversion intent besides the local priest.  So I am looking for the appropriate venue to reveal my intentions.  I find this website to be very interesting and I am looking for places like this.  Also anyone can follow me on twitter at ljeffcoat91.  or check me out on Facebook!  Look forward to being on here a lot! 

Wow. I don’t see this everyday. So here goes…

1. Where are you from? Where do you currently live? I am from Malaysia and currently living in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, previously known as Jesselton North Borneo.

2. Why do you visit this blog? Found it from the ‘list of Catholic blogs’.

3. What is a typical day like for you? What’s your favorite part of the day? My typical day …depends on how I am emotionally that day. It’s a little complicated here. Favorite part would be when I get to sleep with a deep sense of joy…which is getting very rare these days.

4. What is something significant you’ve learned this year? ..Be honest with myself.. Like really honest and really doing things because I want to do it and not because someone wants me to do it (supposedly) for myself. 

5. What is your favorite quote? If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire – St. Catherine of Sienna.

6. Recommend: one book, one musician, one movie, one blog. Book: The Secret of The Rosary by St. Louis Mary De Monfort. Musician:I cannot just pick one. How could anyone do that?? Movie: The Passion of The Christ..(must see).. Blog: Do-not-be-anxious.blogspot (he makes me think beyond my normal cup of coffee)

7. What is one thing you’d like to brag about…..if your were a bragger? I don’t brag. I put on a show. *winks*

8. Who is one of your heroes? Besides Jesus, Mother Mary and the great Saints… Optimus Prime. He is all I can think about right now. I know he’s fiction but he has qualities like the other heroes. He makes me believe in something that is worth believing. Like hope, love, truth, honour and most of all faith.

9. What is one thing you would like to do that you have not yet accomplished? … I wrote ‘to travel without fear’… and then I delete it..because I feel like I don’t have a clue of what I want to achieve anymore. :’( .. it has been so long.

10. If you have a blog, what is the web address? http://when-jesus-took-the-wheels.blogs… (a very personal blog).

Hi.  My name is Karen from Knoxville.  I visited this blog for the first time this evening after attending our parish penance service where you gave me a prayer card with this web address on the back.  So, I decided to visit…and quess what, I’m impressed!  Nice web site.  I’ll definately pass this along.  That covers questions 1 & 2.
3.  A typical day for me is staying busy…and morning is my favorite time….probably because I’m fresh and sometimes like to mediate then if I’m not too rushed to get to work by 7am.  Program computers by day, retail clerk by night.  I exercise regularly, attend most Bible/book studies and spend Friday nights with some pagan friends…who have been driven away from church for various reasons…so I need to lead by example and not words (that’s hard).  They are in my life for a reason.  And of course….mass on Sunday’s!  I love to hike….but haven’t found any hiking partners recently.
4. I have learned this year:  to have peace you must have love, and to experience that love you must learn to be quiet and experience the present.  I learned that from my yoga teacher, believe it or not!  Don’t worry…I’m not converting to the eastern religions or New Age. 
5. I like philosophical quotes. 
6.  Ahhh…books.  I’ve read many good books…There is an author Van Breemen that has some good books.  Also, The Prison Angel by Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan. Another book, can’t remember the author, titled “Under the Overpass”…very short read….written by a couple of evangelicals who decided to go homeless to see if we were doing the right things to help them.  (And of course the lawyer books….John Grisham!)
7. I’d brag about my children (and probably do).
8. My friend Mary is one of my heros.  I’ve known her most of my life.  She is a single mom, has 2 children (one mentally disabled), supports herself and has raised her disabled child to move and talk and walk and  live…by rallying the volunteer troops. Things she was told would never happen.  She’s a doer and in love with the Lord.  Her child is now in her mid-twenties and still learning…Mary is a beautiful person inside and out.
9.  I’ve accomplished a lot and a little…would like to see my child be the person God intended….not there yet..but it’s a journey, correct?

Okay.  My name is Bonnie and I live on Vancouver Island BC, Canada.  I stopped by this site because I’m Catholic and my favourite part of the day is reading to my kids and drinking coffee in the living room with my sweety. 

This year I have learned how important fasting is.  My favourite quote is, “To whom much is given, much will be required.”  Recommend reading To Kill a Mockingbird.

If I were to brag it would be about my children who are growing up to love and serve God,  I could not ask for a greater gift than that. 

Peter Kreeft is one of my heroes.  And my friend who gave her baby up for adoption.  I would like to learn Italian. 

This is likely the shortest thing I have ever written. 

my blog address is http://www.practicingmammal.blogspot.com

The Cowans sound like people I would like! Welcome!

I’m Antonio Nartea from the Philippines. I currently live in Quezon City, just next to Manila. This is my first time to visit this page which popped up when I searched for “Divine Mercy” image as I prayed the 3pm prayer. So my visit was never intentional, I just got curious of the page that hosted the Divine Mercy picture that I clicked. But, I think I’d visit this site some more. A typical day for me is attending to my children in the morning preparing them for school prior to my going to the office. Then coming back home in the evening after work and check on how my children’s day was. My favorite part of the day is when I get home and spend quality time with my family. Something significant I learned this year is that if God puts you into it, He will get you through it. Trials are part of life, you just have to face them squarely as Jesus did carry His Cross. My favorite quote is from Pope John Paul II: “In the designs of Providence, there are no mere coincidences.” I’m no longer a book reader as I used to be when I was still studying. But I really liked Crossing the Threshold of Hope of Pope John Paul. I don’t have a preferred musician nor movie. And I don’t have a blog. And I have nothing to brag about myself. My heroes are the marginalized Filipino farmers who work for other people’s lands. I would like to become a farmer myself. Thank you for this wonderful site. More power to you!
God bless.

Hello,

This is my first visit to this site. I am atheist but I was raised Roman Catholic. My husband, daughter and I were excommunicated from the Catholic Church although we were told we “defected.” I have yet to receive an answer as to why the letter from the diocese states “defection” and not “excommunication”. I absolutely do not wish to return, ever, and I’ve raised my daughter without religious beliefs but with a critical outlook and skepticism. I even took her to Israel this summer for a hands-on “field trip” in questioning. Nevertheless, I am still very interested in Catholicism/Christianity due to the tremendous impact it has on my extended family. If I’m going to understand the cult, I need to study it more. This blog has great information and is helpful in fueling my arguments. I don’t know if I’m the only hell-bound, immoral, atheist who eats whole baby seals, live puppies and is-coming-for-your-cat, here, but thank you for the information…it’s very helpful.