Worship from around the world.

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 Watch video about  ND Vision ...our destination for the week!

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 25th year anniversary as a priest

Thank you for answering God's call to Holy Orders and serving as our parish priest, Father Joe!  You are someone our sons look up to as a solid role model.

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The Illinois Catholic Homeschool Conference had an excellent Teen Track this year.  All three of my teens attended an opening pizza party with ice breakers, fellowship, and all the ice cream sundaes they could eat...a sure way to get a teen's attention! 

Following the fun, they shared Adoration, Rosary and a spiritual talk given by Father Pablo Straub.  Father has spent the last twenty years in rural Mexico, where he helped found two new missionary and contemplative religious orders. In the United States, Mexico and Guatemala, Father Straub directs missions, retreats, and Marian Eucharistic Conferences, and is a frequent presence on Mother Angelica’s EWTN and on Mexican Catholic television.  The kids thoroughly enjoyed his talk about the Glorious Mysteries of our Faith and his work in Mexico.

A teen Catholic Dance and Theater Troupe entertained us with a highly professional and beautifully choreographed show to close the evening.

On Saturday, the teen's keynote speaker was Father Burke Masters on "Discerning God's Call,"  followed by a workshop titled, "How to Promote a Culture of Life."

After more good food and ice cream, the teen boys had the opportunity to meet with Father Frank "Rocky" Hoffman.  Ordained as a priest for Opus Dei in 1992 by John Paul II, he holds a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome), a B.A. from Northwestern in History and an M.B.A. from Notre Dame.   He talked with the boys about "Being Catholic & American: The Best of Both Worlds."   Their closing workshop was "Chivalry: Become Knights in Shining Armor."   I can only say, I haven't opened a door since then!

My teen daughter enjoyed an interactive adventure with Regina Doman  (the author of one of my daughter's favorite books),  discovering the relationship between Faith and creativity.  They talked about writing faith-based stories, using Christian symbols of "good" and "evil" and the use of  "light" and "dark" in conveying a meaningful message through literature.  My daughter loves to both read and write, and appreciated this discussion.

She also had the opportunity to meet with Fr. "Rocky" and other teen girls to discuss, "Living for God, Living for Others, Living for Christ" following the examples of Our Lady, St. Martha and St. Mary Magdalene.  Fr. Rocky's question he posed to the girls:  "Why in Genesis, did Satan choose the woman to tempt?"  After much discussion, he explained, "If Satan can bring the woman down, he can bring the whole family down with her."  She was very impressed with this insight.  She also wrote in her notebook, "I can choose my actions, but not the consequences."

Mom's quiet response, "Amen!"

Catholic Homeschool Conference: Part I

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Notes from a great seminar.....

"Teaching the Truth to Our Children"  by Monsignor Dan Deutsch

1.  Teach children to be intimate with Christ, without inhibition through frequent prayer and reception of the sacraments.

2.  Teach children to encounter Christ regularly:  Adoration, Reconciliation, Mass/Eucharist.  "To encounter Christ is to be changed."

3.  Teach children to see the world through eyes of faith.

4.  Teach children conversion: 

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Donnie McClurkin is awesome!

I've been waiting for this particular video to go on You Tube....this video is a favorite to sing along with at our bible study.   Now I can play it whenever I want!

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Please join me in the Chaplet of Divne Mercy beginning Good Friday.  Our family will be participating in the Divine Mercy Novena (nine consecutive days). 

Be back next week.

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In December, Allen Hunt, a prominent United Methodist Minister, pastor of the third largest Methodist church in the world, and talk radio host entertains,  two questions,  "Are Catholics really Christians?"  and  "Is the Catholic Church the mother of all Churches?"  Listen HERE as he clarifies the differences between Catholic Christians and Protestant Christians.  

Last month, shocking many of his listeners, he announced  on his blog,  his plans to enter the Catholic Church this Easter.

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Our prayers are with him, his family and his wife at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together.  More here...

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My kids each have their own teaching roles at VBS this week.

Do you think teaching lots of wiggly little ones, with short attention spans, will inspire them to be better students?   After this week,   I think they'll have a new appreciation for students who follow directions,  accomplish tasks in a timely manner and cooperate with the teacher.   They are back to their student roles on Monday ,  when we officially start our new school year.  Until then, they are having a ball,  sharing their time and talent with the younger members of our church family.

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