7 Quick Takes (Vol. III)

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There is a new books coming out this fall that I really, really want. It is called: "The Old Mass and the New": Explaining the Motu Proprio: Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI. It looks like it is right up my alley, and I think it will serve a lot of Catholics quite well to read it. As I have said many times, even if the traditional form of the Mass (the Extraordinary Form) isn't "for you," Catholics should still understand the purpose and meaning for it. It is part of the full picture of our faith, and just like not everyone partakes in various devotions, novenas, and prayers, there is still a place and a need for understanding for those things in all of us. It is due out in September.

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I think it would be awesome to start and Altar Boy's Club or Group at our Parish, sort of like the St. Andrew's Task Force at Holy Rosary Parish in the Diocese of Gaylord. The purpose of their group is: 

"The St. Andrews Task Force will be meeting every 1st Sunday of the month for 15 minutes after the 8:30am Mass. All boys of the parish are asked to come we will meet in the sacristy. The St. Andrew Task Force Organization (SATF) is a joint parish/diocesan program started by Bishop Patrick Cooney in the Gaylord Diocese in 2006. The SATF brings together young men (grades 7-12) from around the diocese to encounter Jesus, find support in their faith commitment and to have fun!"

Sounds like a vocation directors dream! Not only that, but with the fledgling participation of men in our parishes, if nothing else this is a good way to foster fraternity amongst the younger males in the parish. Ideally this would be lead by a priest or young seminarian but I think there would be a benefit to even lay run groups.

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An update on our little monkey: she is learning to use her vocal chords. She is only 4 months old, but she is already talking away as if it were her job. You can tell that it is communication, because she looks at us as if we are ignoring her obvious attempt to tell us something. Also, when we mimmic her, she smiles back as if to say, "Finally, you all get what I am telling you!" She really is the most fun ever!

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I still haven't figured out why the lay leaders in our parishes try and "make the faith relevant" for our youth. Is this something unique to this generation? Is it because the folks in charge at our parishes grew up in the distorted world that came out of the Vatican II changes? It is really annoying and condescending. I remember as a youth being ENTRANCED by the mystery, tradition, and Sacredness of the Catholic faith. What ultimately brought me to full communion were those things I found in the Catholic Church, and the "production style" worship services that the protestant church I attended actually drove me away - it felt contrived. Why don't our leaders understand this?

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I want to start a website where nuns, priests, seminarians, monks, and other religious submit their name for lay Catholics to become their Pen Pal. Please don't steal my idea, but if you want to help, contact me. This idea came from the fact that I have an odd obsession with women religious. (Please don't take that in a scandalous way.) There is something about their submission and devotion to Christ, knowing that they aren't clergy, and can't be clergy, but commit themselves to prayer and service. Something about that makes me want to write them, with actual pen and ink, and just have a spiritual friendship with them. I think a lot of souls would benefit from this. Who wants to help?

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I want to learn how to sew. :I know that sounds odd coming from a guy, but a lot of the Catholic moms that I know talk about their sewing projects and it makes me jealous. Having a young child makes this even more true. I see the clothes and cloth diapers in our house and think: "That can't be that tough to make right?" I think it would be really awesome to make a majority of the clothing and fabric items around our house. Don't worry, I still like guns, sports, and the outdoors... it is just my weird secret desire.

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Bear Hunting Update: The baiting seasons is almost over, which will make hunting a little more difficult. Since I am still learning, I am dependent upon someone to take me and show me how things are done. As I now will have to shift "methods" it will be interesting to see how things will go. I am willing to put in the time and work, as long as it at least gives me some opportunity and experience. If nothing else I am learning what I like and dont like about different styles of hunting.

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes Friday at Conversion Diary where Jennifer encourages us to share seven small bits that wouldn’t quite make full blog posts by themselves.