Help some Catholics get a new kitchen

How? All you have to do is go to AlaskaBuild and click on the VOTE NOW button at the top.

They are a Catholic family of 11 and this kitchen just will not do:

Here is what the owners have to say:

It doesn't fit our family size of 11. The floor is all crooked and pulled up, so there is no flooring. The walls are half painted and full of cracks and the pantry shelves are full of thick grease, and black mold. The grout on the countertops is black in certain areas, and the stove is chipped and burned. There are frigid drafts wafting from under the cabinets, and the plumbing leaks pitifully. The heater vent is in front of the exit door and the laundry machines are in the kitchen, making laundry days chaotic..

So take a second out of your day and help this family out.

a small favor...

Could you kind readers please say a prayer for me tomorrow?

I have an interview for an employment position tomorrow. It is an attorney position, and is vocationally sound. It is the type of position that I as a Catholic Law School graduate see as one that God could really work through me, to accomplish quite a bit of good. Plus, the fact that my current position ends in a week, as well as our lease being up... our family is trying to remain free from anxiety and trust that God is working through our efforts.

That being said, I want His will to be done, and not my own. It is in His hands, as I am shocked that I got an interview, and want this not for my own sake, but for His.

I would be humbled by any prayers. My interview is at 1:00pm AK Time (or 5:00pm ET)

Also a special thanks to C.S. and K.S. - as I am in no doubt that their most gracious and loving gesture played a part in this opportunity.

Catholic Bald Eagle Eye Retreat for Catholic Families - Next Weekend

There is still time to sign up for the Catholic Family Retreat next weekend in Denali.

The plan is to meet on Thursday near the entrance to Denali and then spend the weekend together on retreat. There will be Mass, Adoration, prayer groups, formation, hiking, fellowship, and other activities all in the great outdoors! The leaders of the retreat will be priests from the Community of St. John, an amazing group of very devout and orthodox priests. They lead various retreats throughout the year and you can find out what to expect at: Eagle Eye Formation

Here is more info:

First Annual Bald Eagle Eye retreat (Aug 19- 22) for families and young adults aged (35+)
August 19- 22, Denali Park campground
This year, in response to previous requests, the Brothers of St. John will be staying in Alaska for an additional weekend retreat and time of formation. Join us at a campground in Denali for a weekend of theological and philosophical formation sessions, meals in community, Mass, Adoration, and time to grow as a family. Contact Jen Bergmanat ntaboutu@yahoo.com or 218-839-5366 for more information and to sign up. The cost is $200 per family. 

Personal Intentions

Folks, I really need some prayer support.

As some of you may know, through keeping up with my somewhat cryptic posts about my vocation as a husband-father-attorney, my current position of employment expires here in the next few weeks. We moved up to Alaska last August, following an opportunity, really the only opportunity God threw at us.

We prayed, trusted, believed, and jumped.

Every step of the way God has had his hands out, guiding us. We really want to be the vessel and not the captain of this journey. We know in the end, we must trust that God will provide... but that doesn't mean we should commit to  blind and passive "waiting on God." It means that we have to do our part; prayer, penance, and committing our hearts to have faith in God's will.

That being said, we need your support. Please pray for us, possibly a Rosary.

We are looking for an opportunity, something that shows us the direction we should take. Is it Michigan, to be with family, where I have taken and passed the bar, where there are some opportunities, although few and difficult ones, yet where there is a more diverse and accessible Catholic faith structure? Or Alaska, where we have gained a faith circle of friends and loved ones, although the Catholic "infrastructure" is somewhat primitive and small, and where I have not taken the bar and we are committed to one specific are, yet a place where our family would prosper and where our lifestyle and faith life would certainly benefit?

We by no means want to make this a single factor decision. We also don't want to "weigh the options to find the most ____________(fill in the blank) place to live." We want to listen to God, we want to thrive as a family, as Catholics, and in our vocations. Unfortunately, the world works on "Worldly Time" and God's time is a little more... well, patient? But that doesn't mean that it doesn't cause us to worry and stress. Believe me, I know that I am contradicting myself... but I believe sometimes God presses us like this, so that we commit ourselves to prayers and faith.

We have desires, but we are trying to align those desires with the path God desires for us. It is difficult, in our culture to focus on what is important, but we really are trying. We are willing to sacrifice "career opportunities"; "comfortable living"; "a great place to live"; "friends"; "career fields"; etc... and are willing to risk, and venture out again if that is what God asks.

We know I went to law school for a reason, we know that God has afforded us experiences so that we will be prepared for what he has for us down the road... we just need some help discerning that path. We know this appeal is all too common nowadays, and is by no means specific to us alone. We know that many are in difficult and even in dire situations, and compared to our plight, are quite poorly off. That being said, in a few weeks time we might be in just that type of situation.

We know that God will guide us, we just want to do our part. So we ask you, to join us in pleas for intercession and prayers for guidance. I know that many of you take these requests seriously, and I can't thank you enough. In the end, the most important thing to me is the faith and safety of the souls of my family. I know that only God can secure such things for us, s we humbly turn to him, for all that we need.

Please pray for us...

St. Joseph, the worker ~ Ora Pro Nobis

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St. Therese, the Little Flower ~ Ora Pro Nobis

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St. Thomas More ~ Ora Pro Nobis

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St. Jude ~ Ora Pro Nobis

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St. Lucy ~ Ora Pro Nobis

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St. Rita ~ Ora Pro Nobis
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Our Lady of Perpetual Help ~ Ora Pro Nobis

Lovers of the world

Adulterers! Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
-James 4:4

I wait on Wednesdays to do my "Wondering Wednesdays" post until Maggie at "From the Heart" does hers, because she is the originator of those posts. Well, I was surprised today when she posted, but it wasn't a WW type post.

Instead she talked about the ups and downs of pregnancy. (She is 33 weeks btw.) What really struck me is that she wrote this in her post:

Yesterday was a horrible day. It started out by reading a beautifully written blog post from Femininity Revisited. She wrote that her dreams of being a stay at home mother were literally too late to be fulfilled. The post broke my heart and of course I bawled my little eyes out. I felt so bad for her, but also was afraid that her dilemma could be my fate. As much negative criticism I get for wanting to be a SAHM and have more than 2 kids, I get a lot of positive feedback as well (mostly from you lovely folks in the blogosphere.) "You can do it! Trust God! Budget well! If we can do it, you can do it!" Unfortunately at this point I have this big fear that we won't be able to manage it. Maybe it isn't God's plan for me to stay at home. But I have the strongest pull and desire to be a SAHM. It isn't because it's what other people do or because I'm lazy and don't want to work or because I want to be one of those crazy, smothering mothers who end up having spoiled children. I feel it in my heart.

I was appalled. Negative Criticism... for wanting to be a SAHM and have more than 2 kids? I am not naive, I don't live in a bubble where I think the world is accepting of the idea of mothers staying home, having large families, homeschooling, homesteading, etc... I get that the tables have turned, and the fact that my wife can make bread, sans any electronics aside from the oven is freakish. I get that our friends down the road that have enough kids to field a baseball team is freakish by today's standards. I get it.

What I don't get is how people will go to the other extreme and advise against it. It doesn't logically add up. These people aren't speaking from experience, they aren't speaking from the same philosophical or theological perspective, and they sure as heck are speaking from the same family mindset. So why do they offer their advice? From what basis are they offering these ideas?

Most often we are advised against big families from someone such as a mother of 2, that had child one at 29 and child 2 at 34, whom has worked her entire adult life at various jobs, lives in a house with more bedrooms than people, owns a vehicle for every licensed driver, spends more on clothes in a month that some people do in a year, uses birth control, doesn't have the same religious beliefs as the person she is advising, went to public school and thinks that it is an OK option because it is cheaper than the Catholic school that is further away and VERY expensive, spent more time researching her day-care than she will spend instructing her children morally, has absolutely no basis from which to give advice to her "friend" that simply wants to live out the whispers in her heart.

As an example, if I owned only Chevy pickup trucks my entire life, and told you: "whatever you do, don't buy a Toyota sedan" you would look at me and say, skeptically, "why?" And I wouldn't have an answer. Now if I said, "Chevy pickups are awesome, and here is why you should buy one..." that would be a different story. But that isn't what happens.

Instead, people like Maggie are faced with criticism and anger directed towards them and about their desire to be a "natural mother." The worst is that it comes from women that have NEVER experienced what it was like to be a mother of a large SAH family. Why? [NB: I wrote a much longer post originally, that answered this question, but for brevity, and sanity's sake I edited it down].
To Maggie, her critics: The WORLD HATES Catholics and followers of Christ. Hates us. I wrote about this in a post called: The World HATES you. So when we, who take our faith seriously, are open to life and love our spouses and children in an attempt to perfect our love for God, we are criticized. We are looked at funny, and we are marginalized as weird and freakish.

People love the world, and they are worldly. They want heaven, but they want it here on earth.

"There's a lady who's sure
All that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.."
-Stairway to Heaven by: Led Zepplin

No TV until AUGUST

I have a challenge for you all: Don't watch TV until August. My wife doesn't know it yet, but we will participate in this as well.

Why this challenge? Well aside from the fact that before we got to Alaska we didn't really watch TV (we had a TV with rabbit ears that was used for MOVIES only we never bought one of those digital antennas, so we didn't get regular TV). There is also the fact that a few of our friends don't watch TV, and I ran across two interesting blog posts. One talks about the issues with modern film, while the other talks about TV.

I am so frustrated because we pay for cable, and it is awful. I really have turned it on, scanned the channel menu and thought: "There is literally nothing good on, but I need to watch something because I am paying for it." Why are we paying for it? Well, my wife was pregnant with our little bear cub this winter, and it was our first winter in Alaska. You know, the place where it gets dark at 4pm and doesn't get light again until 10am the next day? Yeah, well we also got it because you can't get unlimited Internet without getting the TV package as well. So we thought, "What the heck, what can it hurt?" It is so frustrating... paying for the garbage that we get. So I am instituting this challenge to show you how great it can be without TV.

This isn't one of those: "Holier than thou" messages. This is... I don't watch a lot of TV as it is, I have friends that don't even have TV, and we aren't missing anything. Sure TV is great for some things. Sports... sometimes. But guess what... the playoffs are about the only thing you HAVE to watch. (I know many will argue that isn't even necessary... but there really isn't any necessity in watching ANYTHING.)

So here are the rules:

1. NO TV until August 1. That means no news, no cartoons for the kids, nothing. Actually TRY... no excuses.
2. Watching one movie is ok on your TV or computer. Between now and Sunday, 1 is more than enough.
3. Watching HULU, Netflix, etc... is not OK, That is cheating.
4. YouTube is ok, as long as you don't sit and watch 48 videos in a row.
5. Sports... I thought about this... looked at the schedules and there really isn't anything super important on. We are in the midst of JULY baseball, and Canadian Football. Don't watch sports either.

We are talking 3 and 1/2 days. You can do it. Your brain and soul will thank you.

Read the Bible. Read a book. Read a blog. Bake a Cake. Write a Book. Go fishing. Play with your kids. Build a fort. Build a Rocket. Wash your dog. Go for a walk. Knit, Perl, Knit. Clean your rifle, hunting season is coming. Adjust your bow, hunting season is coming. Go to the library.

~Pray~

Try it... just til Sunday, then report back and let me know how you did... and what you did.

N.B.:
Netflix, Blockbust, Hulu, etc... these things can be used in a responsible way. In fact, if we could get rid of our cable, I would use just those things, and would consider that very different from TV. There is a difference between watching something intentionally, setting aside the time for it, and doing it as leisure. That is very different from having the TV be the focal point of your living room.

Firsts

The other day I had the HONOR of helping two young Catholics participate in "Firsts" in their life.

The first was a sister of a friend. She is visiting her sister here in Alaska, and they came and visited us. They said they wanted to go fishing because although our friend lives here, her sister is currently studying Theology in Europe, and grew up in the Midwest. She had never caught a fish.

So we went down to a fellow parishioner-friend's place, that lives on a river, and decided to do a little fishing before Eucharistic Adoration. And what do you know... she caught her first fish, and a Red [Sockeye Salmon] at that. The technique for this type of fishing is a little tricky and awkward at first, but she quickly got a grasp on it, and was able to pull one in. I was geeked. She caught it on my pole, wearing my waders. Shortly there after we had to pack up and head to Adoration and they had to head home... to eat some Salmon.

I was pretty happy, and felt blessed. You could say it was a great way to spend the afternoon with fellow Catholics. (As a side note, the instant I met her, my wife told her to as me a question she had discussed in one of her classes regarding the Tridentine Form of Baptism. Talk about a way to instantly get on my good side).

I thought that my day was pretty good, I could have gone to bed and chalked it up as a good day. But then...

...something even cooler happened!

As we were leaving for Adoration, packing up our fishing stuff, I asked one of the young daughters of our friend, at whose place we were fishing, if she wanted to come to Adoration. (NB: Adoration is fairly new thing in this area.) She said, "Sure, I've never been." It was a pretty loud and resonating YES in my heart.

While we were there, we all prayed and talked a bit. I know that Adoration is about us and Jesus, but I don't think He minded the conversation, since it was about Him. It really was a moving experience for me... and hopefully for our guest as well. I have worked with teens since, well, I was a teen and I am always excited to hear their perspective on life and their faith.

So I was pretty blessed the other day, getting to experience firsts. That is the great thing about really surrounding yourself with people of your same faith and values... you get to experience life together in a deep and meaningful way. When experiences present themselves to you, their relation to the faith is easy, when you and your friends share the same theological and philosophical base. It makes life easier to digest, and it allows simple things like fishing to have a deep spiritual impact. It also allows deep spiritual events like Adoration, to be spread and shared to everyday friends.

Deo Gratias!

Kitchen Stewardship in the Big Woods: E-Camping Book

For those that like food... I have listed Kitchen Stewardship in the sidebar. It is a GREAT website that my wife uses to make lots of yummy-ness. Also, Katie is a Michigan Catholic Mom, so her blog is deserved of being listed. [I should probably make a Michigan section on the side shouldnt I?] The site is much  more than a blog, and has a lot of great cooking, health, and family resources on it.

That being said, Katie has published an E-Book of sorts about Family Camping. It is called:

Kitchen Stewardship in the Big Woods: A Family Camping Handbook

My wife had the pleasure of being one of the reader-editors of the drafts, and even got herself on the blogpost with a quote. She let me know this by saying, "I am famous, I made it onto the interwebs!" Which delighted me to no end. What is sad is that more people will read what my wife said, than will read what I say, since Kitchen Stewardship's readership is about 10x what we have over here.

The book is well done. My wife and I are pretty experienced campers, and living in Alaska makes the camping we do here a little more "rugged or extreme" than what MOST families will do. So we decided to use the things in the book over the 4th, just to "test" them out. I was pretty impressed. I think that the book is really good for beginning and intermediate camping families. At $5, you really can't go wrong. There is a nice group of printable checklists, and other resources in the book, that make it a handy little "tool."

You should get this book if you are new to camping, new to camping with kids, or just want to help support a Catholic mom, that gives a lot of her time and talent to the greater Catholic Blogging community. [Yeah, I know I am a little sappy today]

So go check it out! You can buy it below... or click to the KS website.

Kitchen Stewardship in the Big Woods
A Family Camping Handbook with

Real Food Options

by Katie Kimball
48 pages
$4.95

A Little Way

My wife is amazing... and her faith is so unique and strong, that it surprises me all the time.  She is a self-professed "Cradle Catholic." She says it in a pejorative way, but I have always said that she is the anchor of my faith.

She has a way of distilling things and explaining things to me in a simple and straightforward way, that I am often caught off-guard. Many times, she in fact sees things that I have looked beyond because I am thinking "too hard" about things.

Just the other day she made a comment about giving our daughter a bath on Saturday nights because it would show her how special and important Mass is on Sunday. Just another small thing that I would have never thought about, or looked at in that way.

I know her comment doesn't seem like a big deal, and it probably doesn't seem like it is blog-worthy, but to me it is statements like that the ground my faith and keep me pointed in the right direction. I thank God for each and every one of her "little ways."

The Parenting Process

Parenting is a process. I am 5months into this crazy adventure of love, and if nothing else... I know this, parenting is a process. If it isn't, I am way behind. If it is, then we, as parents, must wake up each day trying to learn how to better love and care for our children. Ironically, this isn't too unlike our marriages, our single-celibate vocation, or our religious vocation. They are processes.

In fact, to fully attain your vocation you must endure many processes. Marriage has friendship, courting, engagement, marriage-preparation (pre-Cana), and finally the Sacrament of Matrimony. The single life has friendship, dating, heartbreak, confusion, discernment, and acceptance. (I am not 100% on this one... because well, I was called to marriage. For more info please see Adoro Te Devote's: Catholicism and Single Life) The religious life has the longest and most complicated of the processes, and depending on what form of religious you become the process can take YEARS!

Parenting too is a process.

The fact that one is in a process, does not give them the latitude to make big mistakes along the way knowing that there is still a "long road to travel." In fact, the early periods of a process might be so vitally important that how you function early on, could quite easily have profound implications for the later part of the process. This is true in parenting... as I am learning. So, while reading a post today, of a blog that I have on my RSS feeder, I found a section of a post that succinctly explains how this idea of process relates to parenting.

Andrea, over at The Escape posted about parenting and the importance of parenting PROPERLY even during your child's early years. Her post Parental Failings struck a chord with me, because of the way it spoke about the importance of being mindful of how this process is not a license to "wing it" early in your children's lives, just because they are young and "seem to be none the wiser." Most importantly she said:

How I treat my children now is important whether they remember it or not. In these formative years, they will learn how to function in society and how to treat other people. More importantly, the way my husband and I treat our children will affect the way they see their heavenly Father and mother.

I think she is dead on. Love, is also a process. How many times have we heard that we pick spouses like our parents, that we model relationships like those that we see around us, and that we seek that which fills us? If we want to model positive aspects of love, so that we can learn to love perfectly, and teach love perfectly - we must model it early and often. (This is not to say that we will ever attain perfection.)

She goes on further to say:

My children are young and there are many years to come in their formation. When my part is finished, I want my children to hear the word mother and think of a kind, compassionate and loving person, not a tired, stressed out woman who is always on edge. I know this is only one occasion and there will most likely be many more where I lose my temper, but that is no excuse for the behavior. Every occasion effects not only my soul, but the soul of my child which God has entrusted to me. May God grant me patience and peace so that I may raise saints for His heavenly kingdom.

The Escape is not a blog I have on my sidebar, because it is more of a "Catholic Mom" blog in the line of "Catholic Family Life" blogs. I have it in my RSS feed that I read, which consists of about 75 different blogs, but it isn't one that fits in the same niche that I generally post in. That being said, certain parenting posts, like this one, fit right into my wheelhouse. So click on over to The Escape, give Andrea a bump, and comment on her post.

Prayers for Young Sailor

This is one of those sad cases of horrible circumstances: 16year old Probably Lost at Sea
Please Pray for her.

Saint Brendan - Ora Pro Nobis

There is a lot to say about this... but I don't really think now is the time. As adults we are entrusted with young people, not only because they are our children... but because they are God's as well. There is a fine line between letting children grow and risk, and knowing when to say "That is too much." There will be time for that discussion later...

For now, let us just pray.

Stressing about education...

...of our 4 month old little monkey.

Seriously, I have been stressing about this for a few days. Since we don't know where we are going to be living in: T-Minus 2 months, the prospect of a future, and hopefully semi-permanent, home is a little daunting. Especially with the future educational implications it carries with it.

We have thought about home-schooling are and huge supporters of it. The Mama Bear in our family is a little intimidated by the idea. So option two would be a home-school group or independent Catholic school. Well, where do those exist?

I am a fan of the most local (formally independent) school here: Holy Rosary Academy. So, how do you find a school like that?

Well, you could go to the National Accrediting Organization that they belong to: National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools. There are a couple of good ones back in Michigan... not really in the areas we want to live. (Funny enough, there are a few in areas we USED to live.)

What about an area that has a great Catholic High School? HRA is on the Catholic High School Honor Roll. There are a few schools in Michigan that are on there, but again, in more heavily populated areas - but these are more mainstream schools, which means mainstream problems.

So... I am trying to take a breath and realize that we have a good 4-5 years before we REALLY have to worry about this. I am just concerned that if I am this stressed now... who KNOWS what 2015 will bring. I hope my wife doesn't read this...

"...One reason to Remain Catholic?"

A dear friend of mine shared with me a difficult situation yesterday. My friend, whom I will call, Deeply Frustrated, shared with us, a group of close friends from our Parish, a difficult question that was posed to them the other day.

Deeply Frustrated (DF) was talking with a friend of theirs who is a "fallen away Catholic" (FAC). FAC has some children the same age as DF does, and so they were talking about school and the summer vacation that is about to start. The topic of summer "Church events" came up, and the discussion eventually lead to the topic of Vacation Bible School. Unfortunately this year, it looks as if the local VBS won't occur, because of a multitude of reasons. The discussion moved from that, to the reasons why it won't occur, until the topic eventually got to the point where both parents were talking about the lack of programs in GENERAL for kids at the local parishes. DF explained to us, her friends, that she wasn't bashing the Parish, in fact she was trying to explain how a lot of people are trying to get things going, but just facing road-blocks. Then, FAC posed the question that shook DF, and shook all of us when she told us about it:

FAC said, "Give me one reason to be Catholic?" She explained that she can take her kids to any one of the other 20+ churches in town and have them get a better understanding of Christ. She knows that any of the other churches have programs, groups, and religious education programs that are in place that will "nourish" the children's faith better than what our Parish can provide. She could very well be horrifyingly correct.  

DF had a million things they wanted to say, but knew that none of them would resonate. DF knew that FAC was theologically misguided, but knew that she was emotionally and logically very correct.

Now, before you start listing your theological and dogmatic answers, realize that the person posing this question has obviously had a multitude of things that have caused them to fall away. DF also couldn't argue with the fact that the local Catholic parishes are less than adequate with their Catechism and children's programming. So what was DF to do? She left it open ended, and said that the Parish is working on improving things, and left the conversation at a point where it can be picked back up again, but where to start?

I don't think that the lack of a strong Catechism program, no children's programming, or any other "lack" within the infrastructure of the Catholic church is a proper reason to leave, but how many times have we heard a story like this? You can trace it more than likely back to the poor formation of the PARENT when they were a child. So where do we start? In big cities and parishes that are well supported by an orthodox, the answer is a little easier, than in small town America where DRE's don't grow on trees.

The Catechesis of our parishes is central to the vibrancy of the Faith. What is so very perplexing is that modernists cry for easy to understand Missal translations, the absence of latin, and "production" style Masses so as to allow the faithful to more fully understand and participate in the faith. Yet, they are unwilling to TEACH the faith to the people for whatever reason. Is it because true knowledge would pull back the curtain on the "Wizard"? Possibly. But I think there is something more to it... and I can't quite place my finger on it. This situation though is critical... I have so much I want to say about the watering down of the faith, I just don't know where to begin.

People say that tradition and Catechesis isn't the way to revitalize the faith, and I say they are incorrect. After seeing what faith and reason have produced in other areas, and now being in a place where tradition lacks and modernism reigns, I think the soil is ripe for some "reform of the reform." I know there isn't a magic formula, but it has to start somewhere. You can't build Rome in day, but it won't ever be built if you don't lay the first brick. And if those wanting to rebuild it argue over where to lay the corner stone... it will never be built.

I don't have a perfect answer for DF to give to FAC, but I think this answer might buy DF some time: "If you ask that question, it means your heart WANTS to remain true to the faith. Sure, you may have lost hope, and faith has vanished, but the LOVE of Christ is still alive in your heart with the Holy Spirit. Hold fast to that, and re-commit yourself to the faith. Come to Mass, pray the Rosary, and roll up your sleeves and let's start rebuilding this thing together."

It might, it might not... but we have to lead by example... otherwise the sheep will continue to stray. If they stray, they will find greener pastures, even if they only appear greener... it's harder to lure them back, then to keep them here.

A Special Prayer...

Today is the anniversary of my parents wedding. This will be the first one since my dad died. So I ask a favor of you, my dear readers... please take a moment and say a prayer for the soul of my father, and also one for my mother.

I am personally asking St. Michael for intercession on behalf of my father. For my mother, I appeal to St. Paula, patron Saint of widows.

A 'New Task' for Catholic Fathers - Missal Translation Catechism

Pope Benedict has called the movement towards the implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal a: "New Task" His statement at the end of his letter announcing the approval of the new translation states:

"A new task will then present itself," the Pope affirmed, "one which falls outside the direct competence of Vox Clara, but which in one way or another will involve all of you -- the task of preparing for the reception of the new translation by clergy and lay faithful."

He acknowledged that "many will find it hard to adjust to unfamiliar texts after nearly forty years of continuous use of the previous translation."

"The change will need to be introduced with due sensitivity," the Pontiff said, "and the opportunity for catechesis that it presents will need to be firmly grasped."

He added, "I pray that in this way any risk of confusion or bewilderment will be averted, and the change will serve instead as a springboard for a renewal and a deepening of Eucharistic devotion all over the English-speaking world."

The "opportunity for Catechesis" falls not only on the priests and bishops but also on us as Catholic faithful. He explains that this change should not create confusion but be a "springboard" for "renewal" and a "deepening of Eucharistic devotion."

As a Catholic father, I find this opportunity as the perfect way to help in the "reform of the reform." I know that some have called the "reform of the reform" a hollow call and lackluster movement, but if not now, when? Is this not the perfect opportunity to reclaim the Mass? To bring it back from the throws of puppet shows, altar gatherings, ad-libbing, liturgical improvisation, and "Church-u-tainment"?

Many of the changes will require Catechesis to not only help the faithful learn the differences, but to also ACCEPT them. How better to reclaim the true meaning and mystery in the Mass then to seize this opportunity and ensure that what is taught and what we learn is true to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Many have complained of the 'abuses' that they see and hear in the Mass every Sunday and during the week. Well, what better time than now to instruct ourselves on the meaning, mystery, and sacredness of the Mass?

We cannot stand at the Ambo and preach the changes-as-Catechesis, but we do stand at the "Ambo" of the dinner table. We can begin to instruct our families and children on the changes, why they are changing and what they mean. We also can inform other lay faithful on the changes, and how they impact the Mass.

This is a new task... and it falls on ALL of us, especially those that have been calling for reform in recent years. It must start somewhere... so why not with YOU?

A Game and Series... for the Ages.

I know, I know... another sports post...

But the Washington Capitals v. Montreal Canadiens Eastern Quarter-Final Series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs was one of those magical series that will forever be talked about. I know our culture has a penchant for making the recent into the 'Classic' but this really was. An 8 seed upsetting a 1 seed in a series that went 7 games. This after Montreal went down 3 games to 1. And most of all - Washington was the most dominant team during the regular season and has the most dominant player in the game on their team. It really will be one that people talk about for a long time.

More than anything... I think mostly that my dad would have thoroughly enjoyed watching this game, especially the third period. Fast action, one penalty, amazing goaltending and a full team effort on both sides. It was pure classic hockey.

I enjoyed watching this game... and the whole time I was missing him and wishing we could watch it together... what a game dad, what a game. Thanks for introducing me to hockey.

Vaccines & Abortion

I know this article appears long but it is VERY IMPORTANT. If the title is in anywhere significant to you please read this post and follow the links.

Major Sword-Tip (aka Hat-tip) to The Badger Catholic on this story:

"Which Vaccines contain aborted babies?"

The BC links to a Right to Life of Michigan article that explains how many of the Vaccines that we administer (or don't in some cases) to Children in this country actually contain cellular elements of aborted babies are produced from cellular lines taken from aborted babies. [A note of clarification: The clarification here is for precision purposes. My goal is not to scare or "trick" people into thinking that aborted baby "cells" are being used to make these vaccines. The vaccines are constructed from cellular lines. This is no way changes the gravity of this situation.]

RTL of Michigan explains:

For several years now, information has circulated among prolife groups and individuals regarding the development of very common vaccines through the use of tissue taken from aborted babies. While initially the reports and information were not conclusively documented, further detailed research by several prolife groups has provided direct proof of a connection between aborted fetal tissue and most vaccines. That connection, and its implications for whether prolife citizens should consider using the vaccines, raises some complicated issues. In sorting through those issues, this LifeNotes will address the basic science involved, the documentation of the abortion-vaccine connection, the moral/ethical questions about using abortion-tainted vaccines, and information about available alternative vaccines.

This is a SHOCKING report. As someone who considers themselves pretty "up" on RTL issues, this one has escaped me. Sure I heard rumblings of this in the past, but as RTLM says, it was inconclusive speculation for a long time, so I didn't really every think to much about it.

Apparently The Badger Catholic was thinking about it, because they posted this story only a week ago about a measure in the Minnesota Legislature that would force pharma companies to list vaccine "ingredients." See that post here: Minnesota Vaccine Bill Proposal

Well, now it appears that Right to Life of Michigan has a conclusive list and puts it out there for all to see. Maybe this is something that everyone already knew about, but I sure didn't. As a newer father, I have not heard *one* Catholic parent talk about this anywhere, even those VERY OPPOSED to vaccines for other reasons.

Here is a list of alternative Vaccines that use non-fetal cell lines from non-human sources.

I think what is MOST shocking is that there are NO alternatives to the CHICKENPOX and RUBELLA Vaccines, two vaccines which many states require school children receive prior to entry into the public and even somtimes private school system. I plan on doing more on this story later but I wanted to get this out there. This may have HUGE implications in terms of "Religious Exemptions" for Catholic parents morally opposed to their children get vaccinated with fetal cell line vaccines. Here is what Right to Life says about the Moral implications:

Should These Vaccines Be Used? The Moral & Ethical ConsiderationsThe ethical quandary created by the tainting of these otherwise beneficial vaccines is obvious and vexing. Parents are more than justified in wanting to protect their children from these potentially life-threatening diseases. It can be legitimately argued that parents have an obligation to take reasonable steps to protect their children. Likewise, as a society, we must take into consideration the morality and cost of failing to prevent widespread outbreaks of disease. Thus, there is a civic responsibility associated with vaccines and controlling diseases.

The moral perspective of those who are utterly opposed to the use of these vaccines is straightforward and equally justifiable. If these vaccines were developed from cell lines taken from Jews murdered in Nazi concentration camps, it is not difficult to imagine that there would be widespread, if not universal rejection of those vaccines. Since many prolifers see no difference between the moral magnitude of abortion and the Holocaust, their passionate refusal to use these vaccines is completely understandable.

When dealing with difficult ethical issues like vaccines grown on the tissue of aborted children, one of the main questions to answer is how do individuals act in a moral way when they are acting in a world that is filled with immorality. For example, should a person watch no television programming on a certain network because some of its programming is immoral? It is crucial to remember that the moral nature of any act depends first on the action itself. Secondly, the intention of the individual is also a crucial factor. The further away the current act (using a vaccine) and intent (protecting a child from a disease) of an individual are from a previous immoral act (aborting a child), the less that individual is restricted by the immorality of the previous act. While the act of aborting the child was certainly immoral, all of the steps involved with the development and use of the vaccines thereafter neither cooperated with the abortion, nor intended to promote more such practices, nor intended anything but the preservation of life and health.

The Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life, and the U.S. and British bishops conferences have studied the issue in detail and concluded that using the vaccines is morally permissible. However, once a person learns that certain vaccines are morally tainted, there is an obligation to seek out ethical alternatives where possible and to make objections known to health care providers and vaccine manufacturers. In addition, parents are entirely justified in citing a "conscientious objection" to tainted vaccines being used to immunize their children, particularly when the vaccine is not for a substantially threatening illness (Chickenpox, flu). Parents have a right to demand ethical alternatives be used or reject the vaccine if an alternative is not available.

A number of noted prolife activists have weighed in on both sides of the issue. Some have encouraged parents to use and demand nothing less than morally acceptable vaccines. While others like Jack Wilke, M.D., former National Right to Life Committee president and Bernard Nathanson, M.D., prolife activist and creator of "The Silent Scream" have opined that using the vaccines is morally allowable.

What is unanimous among all commentators on the subject is that everyone ought to know of the facts surrounding the vaccines, and prolife citizens should make an effort to persuade - even pressure - vaccine producers to eliminate their tainted products in favor of ethically acceptable products.

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away

3 Months ago today, I was sitting in the hospital watching and helping my first child to be be born. Only 10 hours previous I had received a call from my mother telling me that my father had died. I had never experienced so much emotion in such a small time period. It truly was both agony and ecstasy.

I have tried to write this post many times. In fact, I have deleted and edited this post down to what you are reading, I am sure it is far from anything that you could call coherent. I had planned on writing much more.  My point isn't to sadden you... in fact it is to explain God's mystery and love.

Growing up my dad was my hero, and he remains my hero to this day. So to think of a situation in which I wouldn't fly home to be with him in his final days, was impossible. But it happened. The only thing that could keep me from my dad and mom, was my own family, the one that God prepared for me. That is what I did. In fact, my sister had flown up here to be with me... so she too was in a situation she would have never dreamed. We had each other, but most of all we had God. It would be lazy and foolish to question God's motive here.

As I heard my mom tell me the news that broke my heart, over the phone no less... I told her that my wife had just started having contraction. Neither of us questioned the timing. Mostly because it was obvious to us. My wife was 5 days late... could have had the baby at anytime. My mom had called me earlier that morning telling me that the nurses said that my dad only had an hour or two; he lasted 12. Sol the timing was perfect.

Perfect? Yes.

My dad just happened to be at a hospital he had never planned on being at. He was in a rehab facility, and when he took a turn for the worse, they took him there, rather than the hospital where he had spent most of the previous 4 months. This hospital was Catholic... it was also the hospital that my wife and I first saw our daughter via an ultrasound. Such beautiful continuity.

So when my mom called... I looked at the clock, and realized that it was 11:00pm back in Michigan. My dad died on January 20. My daughter was born 5 hours into the 21st day of January. My dad knew... but more importantly God knew, he even took into consideration the 4 hour time difference. The Lord gave, but first he had to take away. I honestly believe that my dad's job was done, and knew that it was my turn. Little could have eased the pain of that night for me... except for the most beautiful gift on earth. All tied to one Catholic hospital... dedicated to Fathers.

So on a long, dark, cold, and sad night in Alaska, the Lord sent a light into our life that eliminated the darkness that sin and depravity had engulfed us in. One tiny little light.

Confirmation: What is the proper age?

At our parish, we have a rather odd Catechism program the employs the "help and knowledge" of the entire parish. In actuality it is pretty much the parents of the kids who are required to be there, and a few other souls like my family, that choose to support our community, more so than the program.

The way that this program works is that we meet after Mass, share a meal, and then split up into "Age" groups and learn about the topic of the session. This year the parish has been going through the Sacraments. Today's topic was CONFIRMATION. During the "adult/teen" session, one of the priests explained some of the basics of the Sacrament, and then went into some variations and issues with the way our Diocese does Confirmation.

What we learned is that teens are not confirmed until they are 16 years old in the Archdiocese of Anchorage! Which is a change from where I come from, where teens are confirmed in 8th grade. As the priest ran through the permutations of different theories behind "When is the best time for Confirmation" a few parents started to Chime in. No real consensus was found, but because this decision is done by the Ordinary at the Archdiocesan level, there wasn't much hope for change in the conversation.

But it left me thinking about it. When is the right age for this Sacrament? I think 16 is certainly too old. By this time teens are in their "disinterested" stage of life. Not only that, but how many kids are really staying in Religious education classes if they aren't attending Catholic School? Not only that, but when you are 15-16, you have a ton going on in your life: high school, sports, learning to drive, starting to get ready to apply for college, boys/girls, and all sorts of other things. Plus, as our priest put it, it lends itself at that age to seem like "Catholic Graduation." In otherwords, here is a final Sacrament, have fun at College, see you when you get Married.

Now I know a lot of this is dependent on the formation and the strength of the parental involvement, but I am talking in broad strokes here. So if 16 is too old, what about 8th grade, around the 14 year old range? In Michigan, where I come from, that is the age for Confirmation, and it seems like this is a pretty common age. I think it isn't bad, but why don't we do 12?

I seem to think the 10-12 age range might be the best age for Confirmation. It allows you to really emphasize the fact that it is a Sacrament of initiation, and allows the kids to maintain their childlike acceptance of things, while you teach them such things as the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. It also allows for a Continuity in terms of their religious education, because they can stay in religious ed classes beyond 1st Communion, and yet isn't so far off to allow for a lapse in attendance, or interference with "teen age" type things. I remember when we were youth group leaders a few years back, and lead a retreat where sophomores and juniors told us that they had about 20-40 hours of extra-curricular or job hours that they spent each week OUTSIDE of actual school time. The younger... the better it seems.

So tell me what you think? I never went through this process so I am somewhat unfamiliar with it and don't know all the ins and outs in relation to determining a good age for COnfirmation. Not only that, most of the people I know that are Catholic went to Catholic High School, where their formation came in the form of school classes, and so the age of Confirmation was less important than those kids who had to take classes after school.

Feast of Saint Benjamin - March 31

I need to wish my God-son, Brian's son, Ben a HAPPY FEAST DAY! Although our culture doesn't really celebrate these days, and since we are in Holy Week things should be toned down, I wanted to make sure that I honored you this day, and your namesake.

Today is the feast of Saint Benjamin. Although it isn't generally celebrated by Roman Catholics, he is quite important in the Orthodox churches.

St. Benjamin was a brave and loyal Christian. As a Martyr he died for his faith. I pray that my God-son will also be a bold and courageous defender of the faith, and willing to live it out in all aspects of his life. So appeal to your namesake in intercession, and pray that your Guardian Angel defends you and guides you in the path of the Saints before you. Know that many of us will be ready to help you and guide you along your path in life and throughout your faith journey.
Here is a little bit of info from Catholic.org:

St. Benjamin, Martyr (Feast Day - March 31) The Christians in Persia had enjoyed twelve years of peace during the reign of Isdegerd, son of Sapor III, when in 420 it was disturbed by the indiscreet zeal of Abdas, a Christian Bishop who burned the Temple of Fire, the great sanctuary of the Persians. King Isdegerd threatened to destroy all the churches of the Christians unless the Bishop would rebuild it.


As Abdas refused to comply, the threat was executed; the churches were demolished, Abdas himself was put to death, and a general persecution began which lasted forty years. Isdegerd died in 421, but his son and successor, Varanes, carried on the persecution with great fury. The Christians were submitted to the most cruel tortures.


Among those who suffered was St. Benjamin, a Deacon, who had been imprisoned a year for his Faith. At the end of this period, an ambassador of the Emperor of Constantinople obtained his release on condition that he would never speak to any of the courtiers about religion.


St. Benjamin, however, declared it was his duty to preach Christ and that he could not be silent. Although he had been liberated on the agreement made with the ambassador and the Persian authorities, he would not acquiesce in it, and neglected no opportunity of preaching. He was again apprehended and brought before the king. The tyrant ordered that reeds should be thrust in between his nails and his flesh and into all the tenderest parts of his body and then withdrawn. After this torture had been repeated several times, a knotted stake was inserted into his bowels to rend and tear him. The martyr expired in the most terrible agony about the year 424.

Now I have talked about celebrating FEAST DAYS before... in lieu of birthdays but I think it is important to restate my position. I think that a good way to inject Catholic faith and culture into a family is to celebrate days that Halmark DOESN'T make cards for... but your local Catholic bookstore might. This doesn't mean ignore birthdays... it means celebrate a feast day! I mean... you could even do it every other year. This might be especially helpful for kids that have summer or winter birthdays and always wanted the opposite.

I wanted to originally name our child by a name of a saint upon the day in which they were born, but for various reasons we DIDN'T and I am glad. It allows us to shift the focus from a birthday, which is GREAT,  to our faith and celebrate that as well.