Abide With Us

Why Kirk Cameron drives me crazy

2011-11-21T19:51:00.000-05:00

I'm back after a few months in need of a soap box, but I hope just this once I can be excused. I've been meaning to write about someone extremely popular in the evangelical world.

His name is Kirk Cameron. If you're immediately thinking of the young, sarcastic heartthrob of the 80s sitcom "Growing Pains," you've got the same guy.

During his tenure on the show, Cameron had a radical conversion experience that led him to Christ. Awesome.

His castmates would say years later that Cameron often pushed his new zeal on them, and ties remained strained in several cases, if not broken entirely.

After "Growing Pains" was canceled in 1992, Cameron focused his acting career on Christian films and preaching. First came the post-Rapture "Left Behind" movies, fire-and-brimstone imaginings of what life would be like for the unsaved before the Second Coming of Christ. Hello, sensationalism.

Recently, he starred in "Fireproof," a drama about a broken marriage healed through faith. (Keep your eyes open: I may review it here soon.)

A few years ago, Cameron hooked up with itinerant minister Ray Comfort. The two founded The Way of the Master, a ministry equipping Christians to go out there and WIN SOME SOULS.

Ahem. Let me give you an example of his methods.

Have you ever told a lie? Someone who has told a lie is a liar. And what does the Bible say of liars, you ask? I'll tell you: they're not fit for the Kingdom of God. They go to hell -- just like you will, if you don't accept Jesus right now. Today. What do you choose?

This is The Way of the Master -- Cameron's way -- of telling people about the mercy of Christ. I imagine he's been successful, but have to ask one question: do any of these people come to Jesus because they want to? Because they're ready to be forgiven and loved? Or do they come out of fear?

Unfortunately, I've seen countless people get saved this way, and they either fall away shortly thereafter or continue on with a stunted, warped view of who Jesus is and what our faith is really about.

This way of thinking was pushed on me years ago and I resisted, knowing that I could only embrace Christianity if I did it for me. The friends I keep from those early days were the ones who loved me right then, as I was, paganism and brokenness be damned. That's what He did, after all. Love. Not condemn.

Fear-mongering may be effective, but it's also cruel and damaging. God is waiting to cover us with mercy and dignity, not drop the guillotine.

I just hope those souls Cameron "wins" know that, too.

Being Catholic

2011-05-04T02:59:00.003-04:00

I've been neglecting this place. I'm sorry. I'm barreling through my final days as a college student, and lately it seems that I've been trying to drink dry every moment of them.

Life should be like that. And sometimes, I find myself so consumed by the thought of, "Oh! I need to remember this so I can blog/tweet/Facebook/whatever it later!" that the experience I was trying to capture has passed by.

So, I've spent the last little while just observing. It feels good.

Two weeks ago now we were about to enter the Triduum, the three holiest days of the year (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil). On Holy Thursday, I was working on deadline and panicked because everything hinged on a phone call. The call had to come that day, or I would be stuck until after the holiday. I carried my cell phone with me everywhere, and ironically when it rang, there were only 15 minutes to spare. (I was also in the bathroom at the time. So this is what journalism is about...)

With work behind me just in time, I flew down the block to St. Bridget's for Mass. When I slid into the pew and onto my knees, it took a long time to slow down my brain.

"Lift up your hearts," the priest tells us before Communion. We respond, "We lift them up to the Lord." For me, lifting up your heart means to leave behind your "life junk" for a while. I took a breath and steadied myself.

The Our Father came shortly after that as it always does, and my friends and I all reached for one another's hands. All around us, people did the same, and as incense floated over down over our heads, I could hear two languages chanting the prayer together.

That happens every day at Mass. But when I stopped and really listened, I was amazed at how much I missed around me.

Catholicism, more than any other flavor of Christianity, is so physical. Going to Mass slams all of your senses. Every gesture and word has a reason and purpose. All of those sounds and smells and tastes are tools that bring us closer to God.

The best part is that despite how different that huge crowd is, for an hour or so, we're identical. Maybe that's why we call ourselves catholic -- universal.

Redemption spells disaster on "Redemption Island"

2011-04-06T23:57:00.001-04:00

I'm here on a Wednesday night. Everybody get excited!

I was going to write about the concert I went to this weekend, and might still do that on Friday if I'm not too busy (it was amazing). But tonight, something is grinding my gears.

It's the latest reincarnation of "Survivor."

I know, I know. Feel free to stop here. I won't hate you.

The 22nd season, called "Redemption Island," has an interesting twist. Those familiar with the premise know that when you get voted off by your tribe, that's it. This time, you go to Redemption Island alone. The next person voted off will compete in a duel with the current inhabitant. The loser is gone for good, but the winner remains on the island. At a certain point, he or she can re-enter the game.

Last chance: there are spoilers ahead.

Matt Elrod, a 22-year-old pre-med student, has been on RI for 15 days. Elrod was voted off on day 6 for shaking hands with the losing team. Since then, he has successfully defeated every opponent on RI. When it comes to challenges, the kid is GOOD.

Interestingly, he's also a very outspoken Christian. Elrod has said from day 1 that he's playing the game for the glory of God. His winning streak has caused quite a stir, and you guessed it, this week his redemption was more than spiritual. He was allowed to re-enter the game.

Unfortunately, he didn't learn his lesson. Tonight, Elrod had to choose which alliance he would support ... a very tempting decision. One alliance would involve backstabbing, the other forgiveness and loyalty to his old tribe.

Playing with faith in mind, he confessed his thoughts of betrayal to his former tribe, asked their forgiveness, and swore continuing loyalty. Perfect Biblical contrition there.

They thanked him by voting him off. He's now on RI again, and let's get real; he's PISSED.

Frankly, I think he got what he deserved. Matt played like a fool with his heart on his sleeve, and as admirable as that is, trust and naivete will get you nowhere on "Survivor."

I also think his stupidity tonight sets him up as a bad example. "Look, this idiot put his trust in God, and he got kicked off -- twice!" "Where's his God now?" Those were just some of the things I saw on Twitter.

Faith is beautiful. I wish I knew more guys with his moral integrity. But there's no place for blind trust on this show. I just hope he's successful on RI long enough again to learn his lesson, get back in there and win it.

I mean, how could you not root for a guy that's Christian and this hot? Woo!

Walking in the Desert

2011-04-01T15:20:00.001-04:00

It's been a solid month but here I am. :) For the curious, I was given two weeks off from this assignment for spring break, and then one more while my advisor caught up on everything. I'm alive and well!

There's a lot I want to talk about today, like I promised in my last entry ... but let's take a collective breath.

We entered Lent three weeks ago. It's always an interesting experience to wake up that morning, make yourself pretty (the Bible tells us that when we fast, we shouldn't do anything out of the ordinary with our appearance), skip breakfast, skip lunch...

And then you'll kneel at the altar in a little basement chapel off campus before your best friend makes a cross of palm ashes on your forehead. Ashes...we started out that way, some say, and eventually we'll end up that way again.

Nothing is permanent. Life is fragile.

"Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel," your friend tells you as she finishes marking you. You're now of a crowd, students and faculty and staff all with little smudges on their heads. But it's a sign to the rest of the world that we've chosen to set ourselves apart and start a journey.

It always chills me a little. Can you blame me? Jesus walked through the desert for 40 days, starving and tempted, to strengthen His resolve before beginning His ministry. Now, as we wait for Easter, we're called to the same experience -- to enter the desert and come out stronger.

Seriousness aside, in general Lent is a period of introspection, reflection and self-discipline. Most people make some sort of sacrifice, or pick up a new, positive habit.

For me, that means getting eight hours of sleep every night, no matter what. I'm infamous for keeping insane hours, and it's not uncommon for me to turn in around dawn. Naturally, it was messing up my physical and emotional health, and change was necessary.

Three weeks into it, I'm amazed at how much better I feel in the morning. At night, I've learned to manage my time so all my work gets done while leaving room for some reading. "Me time."

Every year, I take away something different from this season of the Church year. Some years are more intense or less successful. This year, I'm learning to be committed to the goals I set. That carries over to my spiritual life, too.

Here's a great song about what Lent means in Catholicism, sung by Matt Maher. I'm going to see him in concert tonight. Look out for a review next week.

Movin' on up!

2011-03-04T15:55:00.000-05:00

A couple years ago when I was new to Rowan, I went through a breakup and found myself questioning if I had done the right thing. My chaplain had me do a silly card trick with him -- you know, the kind where he finds your card in a shuffled deck. The point was that no matter what I do to mix up my life, as long as I sincerely seek God, I'll receive whatever is best for me and shouldn't worry.

I remembered that moment last week when I got a casual email from a journalist I know, explaining that her publication wanted to talk with me about a part-time position they were creating. Two days and a 0-minute interview later, I walked out with a post-graduation job in the field.

God is so interesting.

After a weekend of panic, I settled into the idea of running a monthly mini-magazine. Essentially, being a Christian is accepting whatever curve balls come your way gracefully. I'm thrilled about this opportunity, and suppose that it means God thinks I can handle it. That's a note of confidence for me. :)

It's starting to hit me that suddenly, with this job, my adulthood has finally arrived. The moment I've been working toward since I was 17 is suddenly staring me in the face. It's a little intimidating and strange imagining that I'm closing this chapter of my life -- college life -- and starting over. But at the same time, I know that I've been stuffed with all these crazy multimedia skills in order to do something like this, so it's not unfamiliar. Just...large. And that's okay.

I promise I'll have more to write about starting with next week's entry -- we're entering Lent on Wednesday, so lots will be going on. Thanks for coming along with me.

A New Objectivity

2011-02-25T16:04:00.000-05:00

I've got to admit, I've got writer's block today. There are a couple things I could write about, but I'll hold off on them, at least for this week.

The issue of objectivity in journalism is something that has been on my mind lately. Recently, I visited the Facebook page of a reporter acquaintance, and noticed his political and religious view sections read, "Not allowed to have any." Others have written "Journalism" into those spots.

Let me say that I have nothing against doing that; in fact, I think it's actually pretty funny. But I do believe that it points to a sticky issue in the field that many of those just starting out struggle with.

A lot of journalists believe that we're not supposed to have opinions. And if we do, God help us (oops, that was a religious observation...) if we state it aloud.

Of course, the reasons for that are definitely sound ones. Our profession requires a great deal of responsibility, ethics and trustworthiness. Our audiences need to know that we're not going to let our opinions get in the way of our jobs.

But -- and this is just my personal belief -- I don't think that means we should necessarily have to put our opinions in a box when we take a job. We are still people, after all. We're not sterilized robots. A good journalist will be able to do his or her job fairly, regardless of their feelings on the issue being covered.

Now, I know that if our opinions are well-known, there may be some skepticism or suspicion among our readers. But frankly, look at the unfortunate state of many papers and TV networks today where editorializing is the norm. People are already suspicious.

How often do you hear people saying CNN is liberal and Fox News is conservative? How many people have suggested the "mainstream media" is pandering to the government? I've actually been told that all reporters have a liberal agenda. I guess they don't know me very well.

Maybe if we were more open about what it is we believe, it would put those worries to rest because no one would have to wonder. And if we did allow our opinions to slip through, audiences would be able to spot it quickly and easy, and call us out for it.

In short, what I'm trying to say is that there needs to be greater transparency in journalism if we want to earn the respect and trust of the country again.

I like the ethics policy over at Patch.com. (I am not affiliated with them in any way, just so that's clear.)

At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for them to inject their beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that their beliefs are on the record will cause them to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.

Gatekeepers

2011-02-18T16:08:00.000-05:00

In class the other day, we were talking about the changing role of gatekeepers in this new era of journalism. Not too long ago, those in news were seen as trustworthy, authoritative and even infallible by some. We journalists were the only ones that knew the whole story, and we had the power to inform and educate the rest of the world. If we stayed silent, the people wouldn't know. If we lied, most of the time it would go unnoticed.

Today, with the rise of the Internet, social media and citizen journalism, anyone can be their own editor or reporter. Those involved in formal news outlets don't have the same influence and power they once did, and unfortunately the ethical errors of some reporters have ruined the reputation of the whole bunch.

I had an epiphany some time after that. The rise and fall of gatekeeping can be found somewhere else that might be unexpected: the Catholic Church! (Yeah, I know it's strange...bear with me.)

One of the central Bible passages that influenced the early Church is found in St. Matthew's Gospel. Here's the exchange between the Apostle Simon and Jesus (verses 13-19, NAB):

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

There's a lot of weighty stuff here. But the important thing is Simon gets a new name, Petros, which is Greek for "rock." This is confirmed by St. Paul later, as he refers to Peter as Cephas. This is Aramaic for the same term.

Jesus, the cornerstone and head of the Church, made Peter the earthly foundation and authority for the twelve Apostles. He has been granted a position of leadership that Jesus says will be respected both here and in heaven. In short, this is where we find our support for our hierarchy and the Pope; Peter passed on the authority given to him by Christ to other men who came after him. This lineage remains unbroken and the Church still stands firm despite some horrible Popes and bishops over the years. The fact that we haven't fallen apart is a sign of God's grace at work, for sure.

The parallels here are really surprising, if you think about it. A once implicitly trusted leader is now met at every turn with skepticism, ridicule and defiance. The more recent popes have been called misogynistic, pedophiles, legalists, hate-filled, irrelevant and archaic. And these days, every time a story with great impact is written, eyes roll and heads shake. "Well, you know how the media is today," people will say with disgust.

Still, both in journalism and Catholicism, there are an increasing number of those bringing hope and true accountability to their respective organizations.

I don't know if it will be enough to "fix" journalism in its present form, but at least in the Church I can believe confidently that no matter what, "The gates of hell will not prevail."

Against the Grain

2011-02-11T15:54:00.006-05:00

I would be remiss if I didn't talk a little bit about the retreat last weekend, which was a lot of fun. The mansion holds so many memories for the upperclassmen who have been there before, and it was particularly meaningful for the seniors graduating in just a few months.

The topic for the retreat focused on living an authentically Catholic sexuality as a young adult. Heaven knows anyone trying to avoid the prevalence of lust and greed in the media is going to have a hard time. We all do, and this weekend we were given tools to make the fight to stay pure a little less agonizing.

It's the job of the media to inform and educate our audiences, but we also carry the added responsibility of influence. Whether we mean it or not, audiences take their cues from TV, print media, and the Web. And unless you've been living in a cave for the last few decades, you've probably seen how pervasive and damaging some of the content is.

Drugs. Excessive drinking. Meaningless sex with any number of people in any number of ways. Objectification. Oppression. Bullying. Violence.

There's also the porn industry, which due to its sheer size and spread deserves a category of its own. Understand, the Church sees sex the most intimate, holy thing that two people can give to each other. They give themselves freely and fully, without reserve and with complete trust. Sex has incredible power over humanity, and it has the potential to create and bond, or destroy and demean. It's not something you want to mess around with, (This, in a nutshell, is why we take strong positions against extramarital sex and birth control.)

One of the poignant moments of the weekend for me was when we split into groups by gender for a private discussion. For the ladies, we all expressed frustration with the way virginity is stigmatized. If you've not had sex by the time you're about 25, most of the world considers you doomed or somehow defective. And porn has created an inaccurate picture of what sex is, and who women are. Many of us carry the secret that we have been made into victims and objects because of it. More than anything, women want to stand up and support the men in our life as they try to honor us. And at the end of the day, we only want to be honored, too.

Check out this clip from the ABC hit drama Grey's Anatomy. It came up in oue discussion and accurately shows the way virginity is treated today:

It was super encouraging to be surrounded by 15 women who all support each other, even when we screw up. And I'm so blessed to have met many strong, Catholic gentlemen who are on the front lines defending our dignity. One day, I believe God will point one out to me.

Until then, I'm a 21-year-old virgin. I've been single for over a year. And you know, it's not so bad.

Catholic Tech

2011-02-04T15:31:00.000-05:00

Over the past several ears, our culture has become increasingly bound to our technology. We're device-oriented now in a way we never were before -- I've seen people on campus walk across the street wearing headphones and texting without even looking first.

Some churches has seen declining numbers, and often the people want to blame this on their style of worship. The music might be too "traditional" or "boring." Using social media in a service may be frowned upon. Or maybe, as it is in my church, going to Mass is set aside for worship, and so unrelated conversation happens before or after that.

The world today wants to connect and be engaged everywhere they go. For youth, it might seem like the only way to get their attention is with flashy lights, rock bands and iPhone apps. (Of course, this certainly doesn't apply to every kid or young adult, but it's definitely becoming more common.

What is the Catholic Church doing to keep the attention of our changing media and society? The answers might surprise you.

At the recent address for the World Day of Communications, Pope Benedict gave an important piece of advice to young people: "Make good use of your presence in the digital world." And he gives us a good example to follow. The man has his own Facebook application and YouTube channel.

There are also quite a few very useful Catholic apps for the iPhone/Pod/Pad. Some of these include iMissal, which offers the daily Scripture readings and prayers used at Mass for the next 50 years; Confession, an app that is password protected and helps penitents prepare to confess with questions and prayers; and iPieta, an app that includes the full Liturgy of the Hours, writings of the saints and popes, and Scripture. The Bible is also available in virtually every translation you can think of. They are all worthy investments, for sure (though in full disclosure, I only have two of those).

It's certainly a good time to be alive for Catholic techies. :) Though sometimes, it's necessary to pull away from it all. I'm leaving now for retreat with my Catholic Campus Ministry friends, my last as a Rowan student. Check back next week for a reflection, and please keep us in your prayers.

Media and the March

2011-01-28T15:53:00.001-05:00

Hi! I'm back. :)

This week, I want to talk about an event that consistently makes an impact on both the Christian and secular world: the March for Life held annually in Washington, D.C. But this time, you won't hear me talking about the Church's stance on abortion.

My issue this time is with my colleagues in the media.

First, some background: after the resolution of Roe vs. Wade and its companion case, Doe v. Bolton in 1973, the right to terminate a pregnancy on demand was declared a constitutional right for all.

One year later, anti-abortion advocates gathered at the Supreme Court to protest the decision and demand its reversal. They have done so every year since with increasing numbers, diversity and passion.

The 38th annual March for Life was held this past Monday, with an estimated 400,000 people, 50 members of the House of Representatives and one senator in attendance.

That's almost half a million people.

But ironically, you would never notice this by turning on the evening news or opening up the paper in the following days.

In fact, the media has been consistently notorious for avoiding any mention of the March, and when it is covered, the information presented is usually misrepresented and biased.

Let me say clearly that I'm not speaking as a Catholic as I write this. I'm speaking as a journalist who is confused by the almost universal error in judgment.

To show you what I mean, here is a traditional list of the eight elements of newsworthiness that have been drilled into my head since I was 18. Since then, I've done tons of exercises in the classroom to root out these elements in current events.

There is plenty of conflict in this story, one that has remained close to the top of political debates for decades now. And it was obviously timely with the anniversary of such a landmark set of cases.

The sheer number of people and delegates rallying at the Capitol and in smaller gatherings nationwide (like the Walk for Life West Coast in California) fulfills consequence and prominence -- it's hard to get half a million people to do much of anything, let alone gather for one cause.

Abortion is an issue that stirs the emotions of people on both sides of the debate, and affects every single person who has a child. That's something that appeals to human interest.

We can also say it's a good variety story because of the diversity of the people present. Christians from many denominations that typically argue over doctrine came together to pray. Feminists, men, old people, tens of thousands of youth of every race were all present. A friend who was there told me that he even saw a sign that read "Atheist Anarchists for Life."

So...that's six out of eight. Where was the coverage? Aside from Catholic broadcasting outlets like EWTN, it's anybody's guess. Do a Google search. Where are the prominent news names we expect to see?

Why are we letting our audience down?

Advent videos and a second farewell

2010-12-07T12:56:00.001-05:00

Hello, loves.

It's that time of year again: we've reached the end of the semester, and I was informed last week that I've been relieved of my obligations here. :) I only have one week of classes left now, and then finals begin. Soon, I'll be home by the tree with my cat. (It takes so little to make me happy.)

This will be my last post for a while. However, I'm going to be serving as a lab monitor next semester, and will probably end up back here in one capacity on another. Fear not. :)

Until then, I have two great videos that expresses a lot about Advent that I've been trying to convey here. I got them both from the fine folks at Phatmass.com.

Have a wonderful, safe and Blessed Christmas season. I'll see you again next year!

Slowing down...

2010-12-01T23:40:00.000-05:00

This time of year, it seems that the whole world is in a hurry. The to-do list is relentless: eat the leftover turkey, decorate, get the tree up, write out cards, shop, shop, plan the Christmas meal, shop, make cookies, shop some more.

Dec. 26 is usually when we flop on our couches, bodies and souls exhausted with the constant rush of the last six weeks, admiring our tree for a few brief moments before we rush to take it down, undecorate...the radio doesn't help. B101, the forerunner of those stations in this area that have flipped to all Christmas tunes, switches back at 12:01 a.m. that day. Boom -- no more Christmas.

You get the idea.

Here's the interesting thing about being Catholic. More than any other time of year, the weeks leading up to Christmas are a time to slow down, reflect and prepare ourselves for Christ. And the big day itself is celebrated starting on the 25th. Each Mass between then and the Epiphany (Jan. 6) is ranked with the same solemnity as Christmas Day.

So much of what we do goes against what this world says is important. For us, it's not so much about what we buy, but the intention behind our giving. It's not about greed, but charity. We don't work to impress our visiting relatives, but open our homes with humility and thanksgiving. And while so many are only celebrating the presents and food, we are celebrating so much more -- the reality that our entire world was changed the day Jesus was born.

It can be pretty staggering to consider. Sure, the list of errands is just as extensive for Catholics, and if we're not careful, the season will pass us by. But as the Gospel reading from this past weekend tells us, if we are vigilant and keep watch for Him, this season will do wonders for our faith.

Tearjerker: The Hammit Family's Gratitude

2010-11-24T21:23:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite Christian bands is Sanctus Real, a rock group headed by singer Matt Hammitt. He's famous for capturing hearts with his emotional lyrics paired with powerful melodies. Go on and listen to "Lead Me" on their website to get an idea of what I mean.

Earlier this fall, Hammitt found a new source of inspiration: the birth of his third child and first son, Bowen. He's had so many bumps and triumphs in his first months of life, and tonight his story graces ABC World News during an episode of gratitude.

This resonated with me, as someone who followed baby Bowen's progress on the radio, through Matt's Twitter, and Bowen's Heart, a website the family built chronicling his struggle for anxious supporters. I had a rough start, too -- born 3 months premature, I was under 2 lbs and spent 81 days in the hospital.

We all have a lot to be grateful for this week. I hope all of you have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

Here's the segment from ABC. Grab your tissues.

New York's Dolan to Lead U.S. Bishops

2010-11-22T19:36:00.001-05:00

There has been an especially large amount of buzz in Catholic news lately. There are two stories I want to cover that have broken over the past few days, so bear with me as I work to sort out the details.

The first comes out of the nation's capital from Tuesday. Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, has been elected to lead the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The USCCB serves as the main body of Catholic leadership and guidance in America.

The question here is likely "So what?" The answer is that no one saw this result coming. The USCCB has consistently elected its Vice President into the top spot for every single election since its creation (then the National Conference of Catholic Bishops) in 1966.

Currently, the sitting vice president is Tuscon's Gerald Kicanas, an outspoken liberal in his theology who has aligned himself with pro-abortion and GLBT causes and politicians. There have also been instances of priests abusing children under his watch. For the more progressive of the Church, Kicanas has been seen as a rallying point and hope for the future. As VP, his elevation to president was virtually guaranteed.

But after the third round of voting, Dolan emerged as the clear winner, defeating Kicanas 128-111. Known as a fierce defender of both the Pope and conservative values, he has become a favorite among those who toe the Church's party line. The decision is a startling one, both because it was unprecedented and because, as the bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, he is one of the most prominent faces in Catholic America.

The one thing I will say without compromising my objectivity is that it's great to see a bishop have so much charisma. Let's hope that personality serves well in the Church's relations with the country's political scene.

Post #50!

2010-11-18T17:29:00.000-05:00

Permit me a moment of unprofessionalism, okay?

B101 PHILADELPHIA IS OFFICIALLY FLIPPED TO 24/7 CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!!!

I have been waiting for weeks! Woohoo!

Enjoy it on 101.1 FM!

A Matter of Time

2010-11-18T12:53:00.001-05:00

Last night was the last meeting at CCM until after the brief Thanksgiving break. When we return for Mass on Sunday the 28th, it will be the first Sunday of Advent. If you'll recall my post from last year on this season, this means that there will be only four weeks standing between us and Christmas.

It's funny how the season tends to sneak up on us, at least for me.

Ironically, last night our chaplain used the meeting to talk about time. Advent is a subdued kind of season as we all dig in our heels and reflect back on everything that has gotten us to this point, repenting as we find we need to. It's a time to focus on all that Christ has done (this is especially true for this weekend's holy day, the Solemnity of Christ the King) for us, the direction our lives are headed as we seek to follow Him, and of course, the end of time.

Father told us a story of a woman he had known named Connie, a poet from Pennsylvania who, after suffering a terrible stroke, lost her ability to communicate. She was virtually a soul trapped in a shell.

Her daughter was one day very emotional over this, and wrapping her arms around her mother, said, "Mom, if it weren't immoral, I wish I could help you move on to heaven so you don't have to suffer like this."

Using a touch pad to spell out words, it took Connie hours to type this: "I am in God's time. Don't cry for me, Argentina...this has happened so that I have to depend fully on Him."

Woah. Now that, friends, is faith -- and a peace with death that I imagine many would envy.

After the talk, we went downstairs to our chapel that was pitch black, with a special surprise: the place was lit entirely by luminarias, bags of sand with candles inside.

We prayed Compline together, better known as Night Prayer, a collection of hymns, psalms and Scripture that the entire Church prays together.

"Watch over us, Lord, as we stay awake, and protect us as we sleep; that awake, we might keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in His peace."

The theme was darkness and light, which was perfect for the coming Advent season. The whole experience encouraged us to pray for peace, and trust without anxiety that God will take care of us.

It's just a matter of time.

Music Monday: Audrey Assad

2010-11-15T01:24:00.006-05:00

A lot of people will tell you that today, the contemporary Christian music scene is largely dominated by men. If I were to list a few of the most popular groups and artists played on the nationally-syndicated station Air 1, you'd hear names like these: tobyMac, Skillet, Kutless, Third Day, Tenth Avenue North, Jars of Clay, Jeremy Camp, Brandon Heath, David Crowder.

Not a woman in the mix.

This sad fact has only recently been pointed out in Christian media outlets; a particularly good read is this feature from Christianity Today on Addison Road's frontwoman, Jenny Simmons.

While I have nothing against male artists, because of the lack of females in the industry, I'm much more likely to gravitate toward them.

One of my favorite Christian artists made her solo debut just recently, and has had a firm grip on my attention ever since. Her name is Audrey Assad, a pianist/singer/songwriter hailing from the Phoenix area. Her music is incredibly simplistic, rarely more than piano and rhythm underneath her airy yet powerful soprano vocals.

In every sense of the word, her music is a form of prayer as she touches on subjects that many of her genre shy away from: doubt, suffering, apathy among them.

"Fear is a current we all get caught in
and in its motion, faith can be so hard to find.
And we all falter, 'cause we're all broken
we're just trying to turn the shadows into light ...

You say I am blessed because of this
so I choose to believe
That if I carry this cross,
You'll carry me."

This is just one example of how Assad speaks candidly to both the worries Christians face, and the hope that we can be sure of in Christ.

Random trivia: She's a Catholic convert, the only one in her family, and got her start singing backup vocals for her best friend, Matt Maher. I wrote about Matt (who is also Catholic) on this blog last year.

Check out this video of Audrey Assad performing "For Love of You," the first track off her debut album, "The House You're Building." Then, do yourself a favor and buy the CD.

Off Beat: Writers beat the clock in November

2010-11-09T16:09:00.002-05:00

A lot of writers, whether professional or amateur, have big dreams. Many of them long for the day that their name graces the front cover of the New Releases section at Barnes & Noble, or even better, the New York Times' Best Seller list.

Every year, some of these people set out on the journey to write that great American novel. But the majority of them aren't crazy enough to try it in a month.

That's exactly what hundreds of thousands do each year during November, though. Armed with nothing but a flash of plotted brilliance and gallons of caffeine, they tackle the fiction beast that is National Novel Writing Month.

The event, which began on a whim in 1999 with freelance writer Chris Baty, offers hopeful novelists a quick and dirty opportunity to get their ideas down on paper. Beginning at midnight local time on Nov. 1, they have just 30 days to write a 50,000-word work of fiction.

In its first year, NaNoWriMo had just 21 participants, mostly Baty's friends from the San Francisco Bay Area; only a third of these met the goal. Eleven years later, 197,000 adults and young people from all over the globe have signed up for the challenge.

A popular component of the experience is the write-in, a meeting of local participants (called "wrimos") in venues throughout a specific region. Most of these people meet via the website's forum system, which includes regional chapters. According to the NaNo website, there are currently 164 people from South Jersey who have written at least a word this year (including me!).

The task of writing at least 1,667 words every day to hit the big 50K by the month's end may seem daunting, but it ends up not being so bad. If a person types as little as 30 words a minute, it will take just under an hour to get the day's quota done. With careful examination of our daily schedules and a little trimming here are there, it's a piece of cake.

The hardest part for a lot of participants is turning off their "inner editor," that voice of criticism that threatens to beat the hopeful writer into the dirt with every sentence. That's why the month-long deadline is in place. You have to write quickly, not worrying about being critical; in this way, you end up writing for the love of it.

To learn more about National Novel Writing Month, its sister program Script Frenzy, or the Young Writers Program, visit their website: The Office of Letters & Light.

Losing Christ in Christmas

2010-11-05T20:40:00.001-04:00

I was really hoping that I would be able to save this post for another week or two, but it looks like the time has come sooner than I expected.

Or I guess what I should say is that "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..."

Today, I went to spend some of the birthday money that's been burning a hole in my pocket at a mall about 30 miles south of Rowan. Signs were up all over the place advertising the upcoming arrival of Santa Claus for photos and eager wish lists on ... Nov. 13! How about that. Don't you think it would be easier to, you know, put the Halloween decorations away first? Goodness, we still have a solid three weeks to go before Thanksgiving, even.

Now in the spirit of full disclosure and integrity I have to confess that I'm probably more excited than my baby cousins (seven of them ages 2 to 6, one on the way) when it comes to the holiday season. I'm guilty of blasting Christmas music in my apartment on campus by the second week of classes, have had ideas for gifts since the third, and was very close to buying my outfit for the family party today. I'm really terrible about it.

In my own defense, however, the reason I'm so crazy is because my family has taught me to appreciate the joy and simplicity of this time of year, despite the rushing and preparations. It's an opportunity to slow down with my family and be thankful that we've gotten through another year. For me personally, the coming of Christmas has given me so much more to celebrate now that I actually celebrate it for its purpose -- Christ. (So that's what Christmas is about? Jesus? Go figure!)

The stores were full to overflowing today with trees, candy canes, snowmen and enough reindeer to fill a barn...yet, ironically, the only time I saw anything to do with spirituality was in a gift card envelope. Even that reference was one use of the word "holy" in a ridiculous and cheesy rhyming couplet. I read it, groaned, and put it back.

Where, I kept asking myself, did they hide the Christ child under all of those snowmen???

Keep the faith, friends. ;)

(I'm thinking of turning this into a column for The Whit...Cuddy, when you see this, do you think it's got a shot if I clean it up some?)

The Hallowed Three

2010-11-03T18:52:00.001-04:00

Hi. My apologies for the lack of updates -- I came down with a bad cold early Monday morning and have spent the better part of this week in bed. :( Fun stuff. I'm still not better, but I'm definitely getting there.

I had wanted to write this week about a series of holy days that the Church observed this week that are all interconnected -- All Saints Day on Nov. 1, All Souls Day on Nov. 2, and believe it or not, Halloween.

I know, that seems a little crazy. But the spookiest day of the year has more ties to Christianity than most people realize. As a matter of fact, I only learned this last week myself. I got most of my information from a homily by priest acquaintance of mine, Fr. Brian Ditullio, the Vocations Director in the Diocese of Paterson.

Most people know that Halloween traces its roots to two different cultures -- the Mexican Dia de los Muerte (Day of the Dead), and the ancient Celtic feast of Samhain, still celebrated today by Pagans and Druids worldwide. But as Catholicism began to spread around the world, the blending of these different cultures both eased the conversion process while creating a unique day of remembrance.

Of course, in many religions that believe in an afterlife, the deceased play various roles in faith even though they are no longer present. The Church has always honored its martyrs in the spring, but that feast was eventually moved to coincide with All Saints (this is where dressing up in spooky costumes comes from). The name Halloween comes from the phrase "all hallows eve," meaning the night before a sacred (hallowed) day. It was always the first day in a series of three to honor the dead -- one for the martyrs, one for those who are in heaven with God, and the last for those being purified before heaven in purgatory.

While it's true that Samhain has ties to occultism, especially in those faiths that contact the dead through witchcraft, it's got practically nothing to do with Satan.

So go on -- indulge in some of that super cheap post-Halloween candy and remember all of your loved ones who have passed on.

Health in Body and Spirit at TOT

2010-10-29T02:49:00.001-04:00

Last night (Wednesday) was the second session of South Jersey Theology on Tap. There have only been four scheduled so far as a trial process; in 2011, the youth ministry staff at the diocese will decide how to proceed.

Tonight, our speaker was Patrick Donovan, the Executive Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Wilmington. I have to confess that I stuck my nose up when I heard about the theme for the night, "Body, Mind and Spirit: Total Fitness in the 21st Century" and almost considered sitting this one out.

In retrospect, I'm really glad I went. It was nothing like the discussion on exercise and eating my veggies like I thought it would be.

Donovan, who is slightly dejected over recently hitting the big 4-0 and no longer being classified as a young adult (the threshold is usually 18-39 these days), was full of humor and sarcasm. With a wife and four children spaced each a year apart, I guess you have to be!

"I used to be a runner," he told us, gesturing to his growing belly, "but now I only run when someone's chasing me with a weapon. Or to save my 2-year-old son, who thinks that playing in traffic is a good idea."

He then moved on to discussing the end scene of the 1988 movie Field of Dreams, where the main character realizes at long last that he's found his father. For Catholics, Donovan said, that should be our life's goal: to reach the end and realize that we are finally home with our Father.

"But how are you going to get there?" he asked us, referring to yesterday's Gospel reading about those turned away at the narrow gate of heaven. "You can't do it knowing about God. You need to know Him -- and be able to recognize Him."

There were six major tips he offered in order to take care of ourselves not only spiritually, but physically and emotionally, too. The three are always connected, and if one is in bad shape, it's likely that the others are. I'm going to break it down briefly for you.

1) Seek God's will. The best way to ensure continuing health on all levels is to do what God asks of us -- taking care of our bodies is obvious, but also seeking His plan. A priest once told Donovan that so often God's voice is drowned out by our worries, saying we all need to take time to "kneel before the mystery of God, and shut up!"
2) Be countercultural. The best way to show people our faith is to be a good example to others in a world that's often decadent.
3) Watch carefully. Drawing on the life philosophy of Mother Teresa, he said that the ones that get to heaven will be those that "learn to see Christ in the unborn, the kid being bullied in the cafeteria, in that person that drives us absolutely crazy with annoyance." It's an opportunity to grow in holiness when we respond in a Christian way in these situations.
4) Pray. "For a lot of young people, God is either the divine butler or the therapist." Instead of merely asking for stuff -- we watched a clip from a recent episode of Glee where a character prays to "Grilled Cheezus" for romantic success -- or venting to God, we should have regular conversations with Him. Conversation, of course, involves talking and listening.
5) Eat well. We are what we eat, physically and spirtually. As Donovan said, "We become what we receive." At Mass, we become more like Christ when we truly receive Him in the Eucharist and ask for "daily bread" in the Our Father. This also applies to what we take in for pleasure -- TV, music, the websites we visit. We can choose unhealthy things that will damage us, or wholesome things to strengthen us.
6) Serve. If we're going to be like Christ, that means we need to serve others, especially those in need. Scripture says that faith without works is dead. Just saying that we believe is an empty statement if we don't act like we do.

All in all, it was a highly informative and entertaining night. The next one will be on Dec. 1, when the Bishop of Camden will be joining us. Pretty cool, if you ask me. :)

A part of something bigger

2010-10-24T22:49:00.001-04:00

Tonight, something pretty momentous happened in the relationship between Rowan and the Glassboro community, at least in the Catholic world.

After several years of talks, studies and careful planning, the Catholic Campus Ministry at the university has been incorporated as a part of St. Bridget's Parish, Glassboro.

The church has been part of the borough for over a century now, and not only serves local residents, but is also designated the "personal parish" of Latino Catholics in the county and elsewhere. Now, they've also become the personal parish for Catholic students, faculty and staff at Rowan.

There is no formal relationship between the school and the church, of course. The Newman House where CCM has its headquarters is considered, to use the words of Fr. Matthew Weber, pastor of the church, a bridge between Rowan's Catholic population and that of the greater community. CCM is a club chartered by the Student Government Association, but our worship and other financial resources are overseen by the Diocese of Camden. (I hope that makes sense!)

One of the changes to come from this partnership is the addition of a Sunday evening Mass at St. Bridget's that is open to anyone, but set aside to minister to the college population in particular. Everything is done under the leadership of Rowan's Catholic chaplain, Fr. Phillip Johnson, and all of the leadership roles during Mass are held by students.

The Sunday evening Mass was held originally in the basement chapel at Newman, but we've now been blessed with a beautiful church home. Daily Masses will still be held at 12:30 p.m. at Newman.

As for my part, I've been serving as the pianist for Sunday Masses since March. Someone from the church has graciously volunteered her time to play for the student Mass, however, and that has freed me up for my original role as a singer. I'm thrilled to be doing what I love again. (Not to mention relieved of the stress involved with playing piano in public!)

Tonight was beautiful. and I can't wait to see what the future brings for this partnership. :)

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..."

2010-10-22T02:33:00.002-04:00

Take a minute to really absorb this photo. Like streaks of paint, the crosses get smaller and smaller until they disappear into the horizon line.

4100 abortions...every day.

That's almost 29,000 in a week. 115,000 each month.

And the most staggering figure of all? If my math is right, there are 1,496,500 abortions performed in one year.

But what can we say about this? Is it a grand achievement that stems from a woman's right to choose that 1.5 million human lives never got a chance to blossom?

This is not a religious issue -- I can comfortably write this post without a single mention of faith. The taking of an innocent human life is never acceptable.

Make no mistake, I write with my efforts focused on objectivity. But I feel that there are some issues on which just about everyone can agree, and at the same time, some on which it is impossible to be silent -- one of them being that we shouldn't kill people.

Of course, the issue in the Supreme Court that is still hotly debated today does not concern when life begins, or even if the woman has the right to terminate her pregnancy (that was established in 1973 with Roe v. Wade). The issue is whether or not a fetus is a human being.

I'll leave it up for you to decide if this is a baby.

What I can say definitively as a person who has looked in the eyes of post-abortive women is that there is so much unnecessary hurt, fear and pain in the world. We need to do everything we can to give troubled parents and their children the support they need.

That's why I'm a proud supporter of Good Counsel Homes, a non-profit that meets the needs of single, homeless and post-abortive mothers. Plus, the organization was founded by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, who are just awesome.

Don't Worry, Be Happy

2010-10-20T02:55:00.000-04:00

Over the past several days, the above phrase and variants of it began to pop up like wildfire on the Facebook pages of Rowan Catholics.

Just tonight, one of my younger friends who frequently finds herself overwhelmed by engineering homework wrote this: "I'm not going to worry, because God has everything under control."

And as we pass each other on the way to class or crossing 322, we share wide grins. Suddenly, life isn't as crazy as we thought it was.

For me, it seems like myself and the others that attended the CCM retreat this weekend are sharing in a collective sigh of relief. This week, we go about our business in the present moment; for some, the future has been put out of mind for the very first time. And you can see tangible evidence of that if you ask how our weekend was.

This was the first retreat I've been on with a concrete theme, and "pray instead of worry" speaks directly to so many of us who are looking toward the future and biting our fingernails. Through various talks led by our chaplain, periods of silent and group reflection, and worship, we got the opportunity to not only face our fears, but learn that God has overcome them.

"Who among you by worrying can add an instant to your life?" Out of all of the Scripture passages about anxiousness and trust we studied, this one question from Jesus in Matthew's Gospel struck me the most. It would follow me for the next three days, until my "quiet hour" on Saturday afternoon.

It was then that I finally dared to pray aloud about all the worries that I internalize so often. And as I did, I came to realize that I have no need to worry. God, after all, is in charge. I'm in good hands, and if I trust Him, I'll be taken care of.

Each one of us reached this point in different ways, but the end result was striking. There were a lot of tears on Saturday as a lot of people let go of their burdens and gave them to God, but on Sunday, everyone was smiling.

It's witnessing changes like these in myself and my friends that always makes the retreat experience worthwhile.

Turning Outward

2010-10-15T02:33:00.000-04:00

Tonight I just want to share a song that just recently made its debut in the Christian music scene.

Over the past month, both in this blog and in the news, we've heard a lot of stories about people who reach out to those who are most in need, and what happens sometimes when those same people are ignored and literally left to die.

We need to look outside of ourselves -- to be a bit crude, get our heads out of our asses -- and realize that life isn't all about our desires and dreams. It's not even about being comfortable. A lot of people consider it a blessing just to wake up every day. But sometimes, we're so consumed in our worries, busyness and technology to notice. If we do notice, how many people are really going to act like it?

These are the questions that Matthew West asks in his newest single, "My Own Little World."

I confess that I have a soft spot for him and his story: a few years ago, he badly damaged his vocal cords to the point where doctors weren't sure he would ever speak again. After undergoing surgery, he had to go three months without saying a word. Not to his wife, and not to his infant son who was just beginning to recognize his daddy. As you can imagine, the experience had a profound impact on him both spiritually and musically.

One last thing: I mentioned above that we are often so preoccupied with worry that we push God out. This weekend, about 25 Catholics from Rowan and Stockton will be going on our semester retreat at St. Mary's of Providence in Elverson, Pa. This semester, the theme is "Pray Instead of Worry." As a typical hyperstressed college student, I'm looking forward to seeing what I gain.

If you feel so inclined, please pray for our success. I'll be back on Sunday night! :)

Media and faith alive in Chile

2010-10-13T17:09:00.000-04:00

It's been in the minds and hearts of a lot of people today, but for the families of miners trapped in a Chilean desert, the heartache is finally over. Sometimes, I feel like America only tunes in at the end of these stories to be a part of the drama and emotion.

Here at Rowan, we offered Mass today in thanksgiving for the rescue that at this point has gone off without a hitch. A nationally syndicated and non-profit Christian radio station, K-LOVE, has had listeners calling in adding special donations for each miner pulled out.

And all around the world, people are glued to various live feeds from news organizations at the site, waiting to see another father, another sign emerge from the earth.

Okay, maybe that's a bit like overkill, but it's true. In times of crisis, people and nations all rally together despite their differences to reach out to the world. Look at 9/11, Katrina or the earthquake in Haiti earlier this year.

We start to notice each other, and notice God, more than ever before. The first miner to come from the mines dropped to his knees when he reached the surface, and the crowd burst into an unplanned hymn. Another miner was quoted saying that there weren't just 33 miners trapped, but 34 -- God was with them the entire time, and the majority credit Him for their incredible survival.

It's nice to see that credit is given where credit is due, both in faith and the media.

Vocation, Vocation, Vocation...

2010-10-09T16:46:00.000-04:00

For seniors about to step off the edge of academia and into the "grown up" world, a little hesitation is natural and to be expected. We've been safely cocooned in school for at least 16 years; for me it's been 18. There's often a sense of confusion as graduation approaches and we start to ask ourselves, "What am I supposed to do with my life? What next?"

For Catholics, the answers to these questions come in two parts; both of them have to do with our choice of vocation. But the difference here is that there are two different vocations that a Catholic will take on in life. Sometimes, you'll hear them referred to as the "little V" and "big v" vocation.

Our "little v" vocation is the career path that we choose or have happened to fall into. It's the answer you give when someone asks what you do for a living: I'm a writer. That's my vocation.

Then, there is something a lot deeper and more personal than our occupation: our spiritual calling. This is our "big v" vocation, and unlike a career, it's not something we choose, but rather what God has called us to be.

For both genders, this can be either marriage or singlehood. Women can also join a religious order as a sister or nun (there is a difference), or become a consecrated virgin that works and lives in "the world" (not in a convent). Similarly, men can become priests or brothers in a monastic order.

The process of figuring out to which we're called is a tricky one that sometimes takes our whole lives. It takes an honest assessment of our strengths, weaknesses, desires and a lot of prayer. It can be scary, and it's not uncommon to hear people sharing that they ran for years before accepting their call, whatever it may be. That's why we pray at every Mass: "Thy will be done."

For now, I'm mostly certain I'm called to marriage; my confessor has agreed with my assumptions. At the very least, I know I'm not supposed to be a sister...but we need good wives and mothers just as much as we need good sisters. :) Nothing left to do but wait and see.

Promoting Chastity to Young People, Between Rounds

2010-10-08T22:59:00.001-04:00

This week, I was honored to write an article for the Catholic Star Herald, the official newspaper for the Diocese of Camden, about Theology on Tap. I really enjoy being able to make contributions to the world of Catholic media. :)

Here is my story in its entirety.

When it comes to talking about God, most people probably envision a church setting full of older adults. The atmosphere is polite, orderly and low-key.

But on Sept. 29 the Landmark Americana Tap & Grill in Glassboro was the setting for sacred talk among young adults. The patrons were more than 80 young adults from across the Diocese of Camden.

The event was the first meet-up for South Jersey Theology on Tap, part of a movement reaching young people with the Gospel on their own turf.

Organizers say the relaxed atmosphere of a bar or café is a great opportunity to discuss Catholic issues with those who are hesitant about attending a church event.

It’s also a chance for those in their late teens, 20s and 30s to connect with Catholics their age over drinks and good food.

“We were very excited to see so many people there,” said Andres Arango, director of evangelization, young adult and campus ministry for the diocese. “Dawn really spoke to the hearts of the young people on an issue they could relate to.”

On Sept. 29, the South Jersey TOT featured music journalist and chastity speaker Dawn Eden.
Eden’s divorced Jewish parents taught her that there was nothing sacred about sex or marriage. She grew up feeling emotionally isolated and tried to fill the void with men as a young adult.

Her life-changing breakthrough came during a 1995 interview with a musician who mentioned he was reading a book by the English Christian apologist G.K. Chesterton. Eden didn’t know anything about the famous Catholic writer, but curiosity led her to buy one of his books.

That decision would bring the fulfillment she was searching for. Eden quickly moved from Chesterton to the Bible, later going on to accept Christ as her Savior in a Protestant church. After years of reading and prayer, she converted to Catholicism in 2006.

Now, Eden travels the country, encouraging young adults to build intimate relationships while staying sexually pure. Her book, “The Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your Clothes On,” was published in 2007 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

“Not always having been pure, I wanted to write a book for adults who might have missed the memo on practicing chastity,” Eden told the group. (She begins the introduction of her book with the line, “Chastity, like me, has long suffered from a bad reputation — only in chastity’s case, it’s undeserved.”)

Eden said that chaste relationships are about giving love selflessly, instead of abusing the gift through sex outside of marriage. “God wants you to have great sex,” Eden joked, “just not until the person you’re called to marry shows up.”

Heather Price, a 25-year-old Rowan graduate from Stratford, can’t wait for the next Theology on Tap. “The atmosphere and speaker were both very uplifting,” Price said. “Actually getting to talk to (Eden) and seek advice was awesome. She was so down to earth and full of energy.”

The next Theology on Tap will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Not too shabby, if you ask me. ;)

Lessons from Francis

2010-10-06T00:10:00.000-04:00

On Monday, the Church celebrated the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, one of our more "popular" saints. He's well-known as a symbol of simplicity in a world of excess through his commitment to the poorest of the poor.

The interesting thing about him is that he came from a background that was the complete opposite of the one that he would take on for the rest of his life. Really, that is why we declare people saints -- there is nothing terribly out of the ordinary about any of them. They all had jobs and families and ordinary responsibilities as all of us do, but what has set them apart is the degree to which they chose to follow God. That's it.

Ironically, Francis was a party boy. He came from a very well-respected and wealthy family. He was always a bit disillusioned with the "good life," however, and when he realized that everything that he had gained in the world wasn't going with him after death, he literally shed it all. In the presence of his parents and friends at one of the family's parties, Francis stripped naked and declared that he was going to follow Christ. And, true to the Gospel, he gave up everything he had in order to do so.

Growing up, I'll admit that I knew very little about St. Francis. One thing that does stick out to me is his particular love for animals; this compassion would lead him to be known as the patron saint of animals. At my church, it's been a long-standing tradition to bring our pets out to receive a blessing each year on his feast day, Oct. 4.

A lot of paintings and other images of Francis depict him with some sort of woodland creature, so it can almost be difficult to remember him as more than a sensitive Snow White-esque figure. His legacy is one that is still growing in the present day, though, as he became the founder and spiritual father for the monastic order named after him, the Franciscans.

These priests, religious brothers and sisters all work with a particular focus on service to the poor. They are perhaps best known for their brown habits (a habit is more or less a uniform for religious orders) and their simple way of living. There's a lot of wisdom in living just like the people you want to reach most.

There is so much in this world that we concern ourselves with -- money, food, work, love, success -- but what we can learn most from St. Francis is that the greatest things in life are faith and charity, or as their motto says, "pax et bonum," peace and goodness.

You may recognize this prayer, one that is attributed to Francis himself:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon:
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope
where there is darkness, light
where there is sadness, joy
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Why?

2010-10-05T04:27:00.001-04:00

I have to wonder, in light of the recent suicide of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi, where his right to privacy was. Where his right to live in peace was, for that matter.

Clementi, 18, was secretly videotaped by his roommate while having sex with another man. The video was streamed live over the internet, forcing Clementi to admit his once private sexuality.

The fallout and bullying he faced immediately following those events were enough to drive him to end his life. After posting a brief goodbye message via Facebook, he jumped from the George Washington Bridge into the Hudson River on Sept. 28. His body was found several days later, and the roommate is now facing a police investigation.

As if that wasn't horrible enough on its own, Clementi's suicide is one of over a half dozen by young gay men and boys this past month. The age range varied and they all came from different backgrounds, but for the most part, the cause was the same: bullying.

There is a huge ethical can of worms opened especially in the Clementi incident, but the second question I have to ask is where was the respect for this kid? Where was compassion?

Whether you support their sexual decisions or not, there is absolutely no reason for belittlement and humiliation in a society that supposedly prides itself in its diversity.

You won't find me talking about the orientations of these boys, or even the morality of their deaths; neither is the real issue. Religion or not, gay or straight, we all have the right to be treated with respect and common decency by those around us. That really moves well beyond social barriers.

And if by chance there is a GLBTQ individual reading this who is hurting, beaten, afraid, or on the verge of giving up: please don't. Reach out to those who you know are there for you, whether that person is a family member, friend, counselor, church member, anyone.

Just don't give up. We all suffer at the hands of other people, some of us bitterly. Be strong and have faith. Even the hardest times don't last forever. =) It gets better. We promise. (The It Gets Better campaign has gone viral in a matter of days online, as both GLBTQ people and their straight allies share encouragement to those who are in situations like Tyler's. It's beautiful, check it out.)

Here's Ellen DeGeneres, one of my favorite comedians who just so happens to be gay, speaking out on these tragedies.

Sex, booze and ... Jesus?

2010-09-30T04:17:00.000-04:00

The other day, a reporter from the Gloucester County Times interviewed rock music critic and Catholic journalist Dawn Eden about her upcoming trip to Glassboro. While relaying their exchange to over 50 young adults at the Landmark Americana Bar & Grill tonight, she couldn't help but laugh recalling the reporter's words: "You guys are going to be talking about Jesus ... in a *bar*?"

We all laughed appreciatively at this, because just about all of us has had to deal with the same question in the weeks leading up to tonight.

The event at Landmark was the first official gathering of the South Jersey chapter of Theology on Tap, a national movement that brings discussions about faith and culture to unlikely places. Landmark was a perfect choice for our group because of its location in the center of the Camden Diocese, plus there's the bonus of it being right down the block from a major state university.

The goal of ToT is to engage young people who might not feel comfortable in church on "their own turf" -- bars, cafes, clubs, you name it. It's a chance to bond over food, booze, and our faith. I mean, how much more could you want out of life?

Tonight, Dawn Eden shared with us her experiences growing up in a liberal family that said sex and marriage weren't sacred. Her parents' divorce left her to spend most of her life feeling unwanted and alone, and following her family's advice, she sought to fill the void with men.

To make a long story short, she discovered the writings of Catholic writer G.K. Chesterton, and it was through him that she began to read Scripture, accept Christ, and finally convert to Catholicism in 2006. Since then, she's been traveling all over the country to speak not necessarily to pious virgins only, but also to those of us who are so stuck in this oversexed generation that we honestly don't know any other way to live.

The idea behind chastity, she said, was not to treat sexual things as some evil we have to fight so hard that it actually makes things worse. Instead, we focus on making communication, strong emotional affection, and quality time the priorities of our relationships. As Catholics, we ask, "How can I show this person the love of God?"

The answer is through mutual respect and dignity, not cheap sex. As Eden said, "God made sex. He WANTS you to have great sex. He just wants you to do it the right way." And for us, that means sharing ourselves completely with only one person: our (future) spouses.

Here's a video of Dawn talking about the chaste life on the Today Show:

Pulling Over

2010-09-26T22:17:00.000-04:00

We're all human.

It's a fact of life that on some days we can be messy, emotional and unfair. As hard as we might try to stick close to the straight and narrow path, sometimes we drift. And then there are times where we stick a certain finger in the air and run off of it. ;)

Have you ever noticed that the harder you try to stay at the top of your game, the harder it becomes to focus and the easier it is to fall? Our heads become so clouded with all of that pressure that eventually we stop fighting, if only for a chance to catch our breaths again.

And it's funny -- when you do stop pressing onward, when you do give up, for a while things feel better ... that is, until you remember that it only came about because you lowered your standards for yourself.

The good news is that no matter the circumstance, mercy is so easy to find and never refused as long as we really want to change. I once joked in confession that it was like hitting the reset button, but I was corrected there: it's not a reset, it's moving forward knowing what our strengths and weaknesses are, but not allowing them to pull us off the road again so easily. We're not expected to never fail ... only to get up again, and keep getting up, when we do.

Confessing it all is letting go of those bonds of secrecy, fear and shame, and celebrating the fact that although we did fall short, we can always come back again. :) It's a beautiful thing.

The Pope and the Media

2010-09-20T03:54:00.000-04:00

Pope Benedict has been spent the weekend over in England, a historically anti-Catholic country. Despite the murky history, his presence has invigorated Catholics in that country, criticizing the overwhelming secular atmosphere while encouraging a renewal of faith. (It's refreshing to hear him actually speak in a language I can understand, too.)

Of course, the Church being in the state it's in, anything the pope says is going to be met with fierce opposition, which to some extent is fair and justified.

However, I have to admit tonight that as a member of the media, watching the coverage of this trip is torturous. That is, when it's even being covered at all. The prayer vigil with Benediction from Hyde Park earlier this evening wasn't broadcast in English secular media.

The visit been a huge talking point on most of the major news programs on this side of the pond, but they almost completely miss the point.

"Pope speaks to victims of sexual abuse," a headline reads on my AOL homepage. Brian Williams said yesterday that this trip comes as the Church is still reeling from the most recent scandal, but little else. And 6ABC showed plenty of b-roll featuring angry protesters. Never mind the incredible joy and love so obvious in the cheers of thousands at the vigil.

"But tell me what ELSE happened!" I complained at the TV. Part of me can guess what the response in the media would be to that: Nobody cares what else happened. Priests molest little kids. And we're supposed to be the world's watchdogs. Anything else Benedict has to say is unimportant.

Sigh. Wrong.

Both the Catholic and the reporter in me are frustrated tonight. I know it, the Pope knows it, we all know it...the Vatican screwed up big time. They've apologized over and over again, making both spiritual and financial reparation for the sins of that alleged in the clergy that have shamed us. (According to Newsweek, the percentage of abusers in the priesthood is the same as the general population's.) Will the media ever let the Church move forward?

The pack mentality drives me insane. Could we not actually suspend our judgments long enough to do our jobs and cover all sides with fairness? Charity, even?

I guess not.

Plugged In

2010-09-19T00:44:00.000-04:00

Over the Labor Day weekend, I went home to spend time with my extended family at my aunt's barbecue. While I was there, my cousin's husband started firing off criticisms each time I glanced at my cell phone or iPod.

Time for a confession: Hi. My name is Melissa, and I'm addicted to my iPod touch.

Like all of my cousins, Pat is like a brother to me and this banter is normal between us. That night, we spawned a fierce debate surrounding the value of social media in today's society. As it turns out, his recent train of thought has been inspired by a book called "The Dumbest Generation," which analyzes the moral and social erosion common in my age group. Mark Bauerlein notes that more often than not, we are motivated and involved with others not on a personal level as our parents are, but a technological one.

Let's face it: it's virtually impossible to walk down Route 322 in Glassboro and not notice someone either talking on the phone, sending a text, or listening to music. Try to catch their eye, and they probably won't notice you (or the oncoming traffic!) at all. In early July when I was interning with a local paper, our supervisor held an informal meeting with all the interns to see how we were adjusting. Two interns had their phones vibrate in the process -- one glanced to see who texted him, and the other picked up her phone to text back as if we weren't even there. Our supervisor pointed it out to the rest of us, and the offending interns looked sheepish. "It's just a habit," she told him honestly.

Tuning out the real world is no longer something we have to work at. It's now a lifestyle. My mother calls it the "tech bubble." We are starving for community, connections and relationships, but it's shallow at best when done through a screen.

We have grown up in a society that is so connected and instantly gratifying, yet what do we have to show for it? The cousin I mentioned above is a manager at a well-known car insurance company, and the current crop of 20-somethings he oversees are often too obsessed with their gadgets to get work done. In noticeable ways, the productivity in that office suffers.

I'm not going to lie; I'm just as guilty of this as a lot of my peers. I do turn off my techie gear when I'm sleeping or at Mass, and make it a point to fast entirely from those things on retreats. In so many ways, we can become distracted by all of these bells and whistles that threaten to pull us out of the here are now. While they're definitely useful, they can also be a great detriment both socially and spiritually. How often do I blow off praying or just taking some me time because I've procrastinated homework in favor of Facebook?

My generation is famous for multitasking. But it's amazing how much more grounded I become when I take even 15 minutes of my day to shut it all off and just be still.

Peace and Swords

2010-09-15T04:48:00.000-04:00

"I come not to bring peace, but a sword," Jesus said to His disciples.

This verse is perhaps more relevant than it has ever been before. This past weekend we marked a devastating milestone in our nation's history. Nine years ago on Sept. 11, our lives changed forever.

With the passing of time, the images that we see on TV and the Web of that cloudless morning are more scarce. Public ceremonies were have become less elaborate in recent years. For some Americans, it's gone back to being just another day. My baby cousins will grow up hearing about 9/11, likely feeling detached and unmoved by something that came before their time, as WWII or Vietnam did for me.

There is a serious danger in treating it like just another holiday on the calendar, in my opinion. My Rowan planner that I bought from the bookstore tells me in an almost cheery way that the 11th is "Patriot Day." How quaint.

Personally, it will be impossible to forget even a minute of that day in 7th grade. My uncle is a retired civil engineer who spent much of his career working on the 97th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower. That morning, as I watched the tower crumble on live television during my third period class, I believed that I had just watched him die along with so many others. My uncle is the most punctual person in the world. He is never, ever late.

Through God's great mercy, he was helping my cousin move into her classroom on 9/11 as she began her teaching career in Newark. He watched his tower fall from on board a later train. Had he been on time that day...well.

What did we learn from it all, nine years later? If you turned on the news for 30 seconds over the last few weeks, you'll know: a proposed Muslim community center in the area has drawn intense emotions from all sides. It's now been dubbed the "Gronud Zero mosque" (though in reality it's a few blocks away) and represents to some a sort of blasphemy toward what for many Americans has become holy ground.

We see that reflected in other places, too, like the quiet Tennessee town that told Muslims building a mosque in the community that they were unwelcome by burning the place down.

And of course, there is Pastor Terry Jones, who tells his small congregation that the Christian answer to the growing influence of Islam is simple: burn the Koran, and do it on 9/11. It took a slew of global religious and political superstars to talk him out of it, and only at the last minute.

In 2001, America banded together as it never had before, because we were all wounded. Yet today, it seems like we've forgotten. Our cries for justice and peace have now become slurs and division.

And that's just shameful.

Revival!

2010-09-12T03:25:00.001-04:00

I'm back!

The last post did say farewell for now, didn't it? I hope you missed me, because I missed this blog. In fact, I missed it so much that I actually enrolled in an independent study to get the chance to write for you guys again.

For those of you that are new here, welcome. I'm Melissa, a freelance reporter and Catholic revert. You can catch up on my story thus far by checking out this post.

I'm now a college senior, and there are only eight months standing between me and a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. It's often hard to believe that the finish line is this close; in so many ways, I just got here.

For now, though, it's good to be back in business. This time, I'm writing to complete a journalism practicum for my fantastic adviser, Claudia Cuddy. You can thank her for the next four months of posting I'll be doing.

While Abide With Us was originally created as an exercise in beat reporting and online multimedia, I now have a lot more freedom with the direction we travel from here. Considering that this is still a journalism course, I'd like to write more about the media and its dealings -- many of them embarrassing -- with religion.

With any luck, I'll also return to sharing the adventures of Rowan's Catholic Campus Ministry, along with my own personal reflections.

Put simply, the new Abide With Us is a whole mess of neat stuff about faith and journalism. And it's going to be fabulous! I hope you (and your friends!) will come along again for the ride. I'll be back soon. :)

The Farewell Post...For Now

2009-12-15T00:06:00.001-05:00

Sixteen weeks ago, I began my first day here at Rowan and, despite being a junior, the adjustment process was still a bit bumpy.

Now, almost as quickly as it began, the semester is over. I survived, and have a good deal of writing to add to my growing resume portfolio. I would have never guessed an entire blog would be added in, though!

As I've mentioned in the past, Abide With Us was a semester-long project for my Online Journalism I course. Friends and my professor have all commented since about my ability to be personal here, and I couldn't help but smile. Allow me to let you in on a little secret: I've been a blogger in various forms for eight years now. ;) Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled when I learned that blogging would be the cornerstone of this course.

And suddenly, almost strangely, I don't have to write here anymore.

Of course, that doesn't mean I'm shutting the site down. It will remain up, with all multimedia intact, until the Internet explodes. Who knows, now and again I may return with comments on the Church and the media. I'd love to work the religion beat someday. A girl can dream, right?

Thank you to Fr. Larry Polansky, Msgr. John Burton and Fr. Tom Kiely for giving your time (and faces!) to make my feature stories come together. Thanks also to Lois Dark and Ann Polo for allowing me to record at CCM meetings. I'm blessed for having all of you as mentors.

Mark Berkey-Gerard, my professor, made this blog possible, and has turned me into a multimedia princess in the process. I'll be back on the web with him next semester--I'll post a link when things settle down.

And for those of you who have read faithfully or have just stumbled here while looking for cupcake recipes, I appreciate you coming along on both my faith journey and that of Rowan's Catholic community.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Peace be with you!
Melissa

Resources

2009-12-15T00:05:00.000-05:00

There's so much more I wish I could write about here, but given the Catholic faith spans nearly 2000 years, it's ground I won't be able to cover on my own. However, I do want to leave you my top five book recommendations that will further explain much of what Abide With Us has explored.

* Catholicism for Dummies by Frs. John Trigilio and Kenneth Brighenti- This should be the first book purchased by anyone curious about Catholicism. The For Dummies series is famous for its simple, engaging writing style, as well as mini-lessons, handy charts and trivia. Written by two priests, it's incredibly thorough and has an index for looking up specific questions.

* Swimming with Scapulars by Matthew Lickona- When I grow up, I want to be Matthew Lickona. He's a newspaper columnist for the San Diego Reader, writing reviews of various worship services in the area. His new book is about living as a young, devout Catholic in today's world. Funny, honest and sometimes intense, if you like what you've read in this blog even a little, pick up this book.

* Rome Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly Hahn- To be a bit personal, this book was a huge player in leading me back to the Church, and many others credit Dr. Hahn for influencing their faith. Hahn and his wife Kimberly recount candidly and rationally their gradual conversion to Catholicism. This includes tons of Scriptural support for every step of their "journey home." I recommend all of Hahn's work, but this one is a favorite.

* Saints Behaving Badly by Thomas Craughwell- I mentioned this book before when I covered saints, and definitely have to add it to the list. Not only is it educational, but it gives a very real sense of how human and imperfect the Church's saints are. Some of the examples are actually downright comical.

* Introduction to Mary by Mark Miravalle- This book is written by an ordained deacon and covers all of the central elements of Mary's role in our salvation. It also deals with uniquely Catholic beliefs like the Immaculate Conception, Assumption, and her perpetual virginity. This is an easy read and a solid springboard into other Marian works.

Ten more days until Christmas. It's not too late!

Gathering God's Gifts: A New Future for the Diocese

2009-12-12T15:31:00.000-05:00

Note: This post is my final project for my coursework, and is therefore a bit more formal and lengthy. Consider yourself warned. ;) Click the play button to the left of each media player to hear clips from audio interviews. Comments are always welcome!

After over two years of intense debate, discussion and prayer, Bishop Joseph Galante of the Diocese of Camden made a sobering address to Catholics of South Jersey: it was time to reconfigure.

In 2006, there were around 175 priests in active ministry for the diocese. That number has been steadily dropping since, and trends suggest there will be only 85 remaining by 2015. This shortage of priests has only further constricted the tight schedules of those still active; some are already serving as pastor for two or more parishes. Similar problems can be found in areas nationwide. In the most dire situations, some parishes are no longer able to celebrate daily or even weekly Masses.

The solution has come in the form of mergers, clusters and closures of many churches in the area. It has been a difficult process that is still progressing in many places, but a few have already completed their mergers.

The initiative, called Gathering God's Gifts, began in 2004 when Bishop Galante first arrived in South Jersey. He held "speak up sessions" throughout the diocese, inviting clergy and laypeople alike to openly express their concerns and suggestions for strengthening the Church locally. From these talks, six points of focus were developed, among them worship, lifelong formation (growth in faith), and young adult ministry.

Parishes then submitted a proposal to the bishop with their suggestions for the future of their community. Galante considered these proposals and on April 3, 2008, declared his intentions for each parish in the diocese. According to an article from the Associated Press, the diocese's 124 churches will be cut down to just 66.

One of the first seven parishes to complete their merger is the parish of Saint Simon Stock, a merger of St. Edward's in Pine Hill and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Berlin. Both church buildings retain their original names, but they act as a parish community under their new name, Simon Stock.

Lois Dark, Assistant Director of Catholic Campus Ministries at Rowan University in Glassboro, has been a parishioner at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel since 1984. She explained that their merger was completed quickly because St. Edward's Church had been holding Masses in a gymnasium. "It made sense for the bishop to want to move quickly," Dark said.

Despite the move to a proper church for those attending St. Ed's, Dark said that the parishioners weren't completely at ease about merging:

But she also admitted that the changes were necessary. Dark's position at Rowan's CCM has given her insight into the spiritual needs of young people. She noted that churches that are mainly composed of older people are dying out, especially with trends in Mass attendance showing constant decline:

This closing of churches is at the center of the reconfiguration controversy, as some parishioners fervently rebel against the bishop's decision. It is an adjustment process that can be incredibly difficult, even when churches are remaining open.

A prime example of this emotional turmoil can be found in the merger of Sacred Heart Parish with my own church, St. Isidore the Farmer, both in Vineland. Sacred Heart was founded in 1874, and has served many generations of Catholics. St. Isidore's was founded in 1961, and will be the main site of the new parish when the merger is finalized. Monsignor John Burton, who has served as pastor of St. Isidore's for eight years, has been chosen by the bishop to oversee the merger. Burton explained in a telephone interview the reasoning behind the feelings of grief Catholics may experience:

Cathy Pagden, a Rowan University junior, attends the newly-merged Divine Mercy Parish in Vineland. Her home church, St. Francis of Assisi, is historically Italian and Irish. The church has merged with Immaculate Heart of Mary, a Spanish Catholic Church in Vineland. Since the merger, Divine Mercy has been named the "personal parish" of the city's Latino community. Despite the ethnic differences, Pagden said that the two churches have been working together amiably.

"I was kind of mad at first. We didn't want to combine with anyone, and then we combined with a Spanish church. Things are okay now, though. We do things differently--our books are in English, Spanish and Latin. We sing a lot more, and they celebrate holy days that [other Catholics] don't. It's pretty cool," she said.

Lois Dark also said that the merger of her local parishes has gone smoothly so far: "Our church had become stagnant. It was the same people doing the same things. It wasn't all at once, but [now] there are quality. . . changes taking place. Mass attendance has probably doubled. Young adults are active in the different ministries, and because of that, more families are getting involved."

Engaging the Church is exactly what the bishop hopes to achieve, and for Msgr. Burton, it's something that speaks to the very core of Catholic ideals:

For more information about the reconfiguration of the Diocese of Camden, visit GatheringGodsGifts.org, or the diocesan website, CamdenDiocese.org.

I Confess

2009-12-02T23:33:00.004-05:00

I still remember very well the day I walked into my church two years ago and made the first honest confession of my sins. I didn't know the priest; he had arrived after I left the faith, and was new to my parish. I rambled about it having been a long time, about always lying in the past to the priests and bragging afterward. He told me it would be okay, just to sit, relax and talk about it.

I told him everything, and when I was done, I heard these familiar words: "God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins. Through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever. The Lord has freed you from your sins; go in peace."

Just like that, ten tons of weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Everything was behind me. I was home.

Most converts and "reverts" like myself can tell a story like this one. It's usually one of the most difficult things they'll ever do for their faith, but the majority will admit that when it's over, the joy is indescribable.

Some get upset with the Church when they hear we confess our sins to a priest. Men can't forgive sins, they might say, and there is no mediator between God and man but Jesus. So where do flawed priests get the authority to forgive sins? How is the Sacrament of Confession biblical at all? These two verses explain the foundation:

[Jesus said to Peter,] "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." --Matthew 16:19

"(Jesus) said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.'" --John 20:21-23

Jesus gave His Apostles the power to wipe away sins in His name, and because the Apostles passed their authority on to others, all our priests can forgive sins. It's not his own authority that does it, but the power of God working through him. We confess our sins simply because the Bible tells us to; the book of James says plainly, "Confess your sins to one another" (5:16). Why would Jesus allow men to forgive sins if he didn't want us to confess to them?

Confession gives us the closure that is sometimes absent from just asking God to forgive us. Like all our Sacraments, it's a real and physical way to express what is happening spiritually. The best part is that our priests are bound to utmost secrecy. Every priest I've spoken with has said that they forget our sins almost immediately, no matter how heinous. Plus, it's also good to have an objective confidante who can counsel us, and spot patterns or motivators we would otherwise overlook.

This video, while humorous, does a fantastic job shedding more light on Confession. There are six minutes of actual content and then bloopers, so it's really not that bad. Check it out; you'll be glad you did.

One last note: kneeling behind the screen is optional today. Many people, particularly in my generation, were raised confessing in a comfortable and well-lit room, face to face with their priest. You usually have a choice of both options. It's also a good idea to choose a priest with whom you feel comfortable.

New beginnings...

2009-12-01T14:03:00.003-05:00

Over Thanksgiving break I was home in Vineland, so I went to Mass at St. Isidore's to visit everyone. I've been going to Mass at the Newman House since October, and it was so nice to return to all the "smells and bells" for a little while.

I picked a good day to show up, and admittedly had planned it that way. Our usual elaborate decor has been stripped down, replaced by plain purple banners that hang behind the altar. Most of the flowers were taken away, and evergreen branches laid in their place. The scent was light, but the transition made me aware of the changes to come on more than just an intellectual level.

This past Saturday evening began the Advent season, the beginning of the new liturgical (Church) year. Our year is broken up into seasons:

Advent- Four weeks before Christmas.

Christmas- Dec. 25 and eight days after.

Ordinary Time- The "normal" time of the year; nothing particularly special celebrated.

Lent- Starts with Ash Wednesday and continues for 40 days until Easter, not counting Sundays. (Sundays are treated as breaks in our fasting, so they aren't included.)

The Triduum- Three days before Easter; the most solemn time of the Church year that includes Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Saturday night, where new converts are baptized and/or confirmed. (Wikipedia, while usually unreliable, is particularly good with explaining the Vigil).

Easter Season- Begins at the Easter Vigil and continues for 50 days until Pentecost.

Ordinary Time- Picks up again until Advent.

The liturgical year is based entirely on the life of Jesus. It makes sense, then, that Advent is a solemn period of reflection and prayer to prepare ourselves to celebrate His birth. The same thing occurs on a larger scale during Lent, which includes fasting. Advent is also at the end of the standard calendar year, and we use it to reflect on the other arrival of Jesus: the Second Coming at the end of time.

I love Advent. Things may be a bit subdued and solemn, but there's also an expectancy reflected in the prayers, songs and rituals we use. It's time to start over. Joy is coming, and this month is perfect for readying ourselves to receive it.

It also means that the carols start showing up at Mass. ;) Here's one you may recognize, performed by guitarist Trace Bundy and singer/songwriter Josh Garrels. The latter writes very raw, sometimes dark, and entirely non-cheesy Christian music. Do check him out.

Belated Turkey Day wishes...

2009-11-27T22:00:00.000-05:00

My Online Journalism professor, being the saint that he is, was kind enough to let us take a hiatus from our blogs this week and enjoy the holiday.

I was so excited at the thought of coming home to turkey and my own bed that I totally forgot to say anything here. Oops. Mea culpa.

Regardless, I hope all of my readers had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Personally, I'm thankful for the opportunity to blog for a grade. That's almost as good as getting paid to play video games!

I'll be back with regular posts on Monday or so. Peace!

The Saints: An Interactive Timeline

2009-11-21T02:01:00.002-05:00

Behold! I come bringing you another super cool multimedia project. :) (What can I say? I get giddy late at night.)

I talked a bit about the saints in a post at the beginning of this month, and I wanted to dig into the topic a bit further with this project. You'll find that I've chosen ten saints from various periods in history, beginning with the time of Christ and ending with the contemporary era. I picked five men and five women saints that have made what I believe are significant contributions to the Catholic Church and the Christian community at large. Some others were virtually unknown while alive, but because I happen to like their stories, I've included them as well.

If you're wondering how we decide who is recognized as a saint, there is a good resource here. Keep in mind that all canonization does is allow the Church the opportunity to formally honor an individual. Everyone in heaven is a saint, and God desires all of us to become saints.

Feel free to click on anything in the timeline you find interesting to explore in greater detail. Click on the plus signs at the bottom to view other entries. There are plenty of links and videos to keep you busy for a while, if you so choose. Enjoy! (I recommend you start with the description tab for each saint.)

Note: Ignore the years listed with the entries; those were required for the timeline to display properly. The dates, however, are accurate and reflect the saint's feast day.

-->THIS WAY FOR THE TIMELINE<--

The Fight for Life

2009-11-20T02:08:00.003-05:00

Please note: In the interest of being open and honest with my readers, the following post contains some personal opinions that may be considered abrasive or offensive. Also, be aware that some descriptions of abortion procedures will be graphic.

Wednesday night's CCM meeting was far from the lively and lighthearted discussions one can usually find. In fact, by the end of the hour, not a sound could be heard from any of us in the house. No one was laughing, either.

Melinda Saffioti had made stoics out of us all, and with very good reason: as part of our pro-life night, she came to speak about the reality of abortion. Personally, I've never been particularly vocal about the things those on the political right call "life issues"--abortion, euthanasia, and embryonic stem cell research among them--but after last night, I find it hard to be silent.

Every day, 3800 children in America are killed by abortions. The reasons vary, and it might be assumed that rape, incest and health reasons top the list, but that's not true. In fact, the vast majority of abortions are performed purely for the convenience of the mother. The Guttmacher Institute, a respected research facility for sexual health, says that:

Three-fourths of women cite concern for or responsibility to other individuals; three-fourths say they cannot afford a child; three-fourths say that having a baby would interfere with work, school or the ability to care for dependents; and half say they do not want to be a single parent or are having problems with their husband or partner.

But it's her right to choose, pro-choice supporters may say. She didn't ask to get pregnant.

True as that may be, Saffioti argued, it doesn't mean the baby that was given life must suffer the consequences. "It's like the cops showing up at your house and sending you to jail because your dad had a DUI," she said.

Saffioti, a 2002 graduate of Rowan University, is a licensed social worker who works as a counselor for women who are considering or have experienced abortion. While Guttmacher reports there is no evident link between abortion and mental health problems, she said that many of the women she counsels have at least some form of post-traumatic stress disorder.

It makes sense, especially considering the various methods of abortion in use today. Suction aspiration uses a vacuum-like device to literally suck the baby out while the mother is usually conscious; an abortive D&C involves scraping the uterus, and saline injections involve burning the baby from within the womb before inducing labor.

Harsh? Yeah, I thought so, too.

What does this have to do with Catholicism, though? Truthfully, the abortion issue is one that doesn't have to involve God--it's the taking of an innocent life, which is intrinsically wrong. However, as Catholics we believe that God is the author of all life, and it is therefore our responsibility to defend it from the very beginning. This beginning isn't birth, but conception. At the very instant conception occurs, there are 46 chromosomes present in the new fetus, 23 from each parent. From these, we can tell the child's gender, hair color, eye color, and more before it even begins to resemble a child.

A life is a life, regardless of age, and each should be given a chance to fulfill its potential. There are millions of couples worldwide clamoring for the opportunity to be parents. There are options, and abortion doesn't have to be one of them.

Trial By Fire

2009-11-19T22:35:00.000-05:00

When Catholics mention areas of our faith like praying for the dead, and the mysterious realm of purification we call Purgatory, others may raise their eyebrows in skepticism. There can't be a Purgatory--it would negate the entire point of Jesus coming to die, they might argue. Jesus suffered so we won't have to. He paid the price and wiped us clean.

These are all true statements, but this viewpoint is missing a few key details that are essential to understanding what Purgatory is, and why we believe it exists.

God is perfect in every sense of the word. He is the epitome of holiness, purity, and love--in the Bible, every person who has come face-to-face with Him has gone straight to his or her face in awe. In reality, this is how facing God at the end of our lives will be for all of us; in our fallible human state, in the sight of that beauty, we'll be crippled. We can't handle God in His perfection because we are imperfect.

Jesus was sent to die so we gain the opportunity to join God face-to-face in heaven. Of course, sin hinders us on that journey, and if it's serious enough, it can sever our connection to Him altogether. Jesus may wash away the initial mark of our sins, but the hurt they leave in our lives and the "puncture wounds" made in our soul afterward cannot always be healed completely in life. This is where Purgatory comes in.

Check out this passage from 1 Corinthians: If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire (itself) will test the quality of each one's work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.

The foundation Paul mentions here is Jesus, and what we "build" is our life--those deeds and choices that either honor or disobey Him. When we die, we're immediately judged by both our faith in Christ and the things we've done. If all of our works don't stand up to God's standards (and they never can), we need to be purified before we enter Heaven. Voila--Purgatory.

It's important to note here that Purgatory and Hell aren't the same thing. Once you go to Hell, you're there for good, eternally separated from the love of God because you have consciously rejected Him. "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." ;) On the other hand, there is joy in Purgatory; while tradition tells us that Purgatory is worse than even the greatest human pain, the dead are encouraged in knowing that in the end, they'll emerge completely new in eternal peace. This may be a crude analogy, but it's a bit like putting bleach on clothes that were stained after coming out of the washing machine.

That's why we pray for all those who have died. We pray that their time of purification might pass quickly, so they can join God as soon as possible.

"May these, and all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace."

Imaculee Ilibagiza: Forgiveness in Rwanda

2009-11-14T15:19:00.005-05:00

On August 15, 1981, the Feast of the Assumption, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three high school and college students in Kibeho, Rwanda with a message: repent and turn to God in prayer. Pray the rosary. Destruction is coming, and if the whole world turns to God, it can be stopped.

The apparitions continued for eight years, and then in 1994, the inconceivable happened--the majority tribe of Hutus began to murder entire families of the upper class Tutsi tribe. These murders quickly turned into widespread, hand-executed genocide that killed over a million people in a span of three months.

Immaculee Ilibagiza was home from university for Easter break when the genocide began, and 15 years later, she is telling the story of her survival that she credits to the grace of God. I had the opportunity to see Immaculee speak this past Tuesday at Assumption Parish in Atco, NJ. She was a dynamic speaker with a powerful and (believe it or not) almost comedic testimony that I'd like to relay for you. Unfortunately, I was unable to take photos or audio at the event; you can find both at the two links above.)

On the morning of the murder of Rwanda's president, Imaculee's father handed his daughter a set of rosary beads with the instruction to run to a family friend, a Protestant (Hutu) pastor. There was no time to say goodbye.

The pastor hid Imaculee along with seven other women in his 3-by-4 foot bathroom, where they remained for three months unable to speak, move, or eat more than some beans each day. The first week was maddening as Immaculee struggled with feelings of anger, revenge, and impatience. She even thought of leaving the house and allowing herself to be shot by Hutus; it would be easier than being found and hacked to death by machete, Immaculee thought. "These were people who had told us to be good, to love each other," she told us. "I thought, 'Have they lost their minds?'"

Having nothing else to do, she turned to her rosary and a Bible given to her by the pastor. With the Bible and a French-English dictionary, Immaculee taught herself English while praying up to 27 rosaries a day. If she ceased praying even for a minute, her belief in God would falter, so she kept on all day. Each section of the prayer begins with the Our Father, and one of the lines includes: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." Ilibagiza struggled with this line intensely, as it called her to forgive the very people she hated most. Not wanting to lie to God, she did the only thing she could think of: "I said to Our Lord, 'I'm going to skip that part.'"

One afternoon, a group of 300 Hutu warriors stormed the little home where Imaculee and the others were hiding. Her faith shaken and convinced this was the end, Immaculee bargained with God, saying that if they were spared today, she would never doubt Him again. She was told after her release that one warrior had stood with his hand on the bathroom door, only to change his mind. The pastor was Hutu, "one of them," and a minister. He was trustworthy. Floored by God's providence, she has held to her promise since then.

After three months, French troops offered asylum to the persecuted Tutsis, and at 3 a.m., Immaculee and those with her fled to the camp. The Tutsis would eventually overthrow the Hutus and restore balance and peace to Rwanda, though its people have never forgotten the horror. Immaculee lost her parents, grandparents, siblings and almost all cousins in the genocide. She would be approached sometime later by a Hutu family friend who had spent years in prison after the murder of two of Imaculee's second cousins, asking for forgiveness. Relaying the experience, Immaculee said that because Jesus forgave killers, she too was called to forgive.

It was a decision that led her to be labeled a traitor by other Tutsis, but it also opened Immaculee to the opportunity to share her story worldwide. It took only three weeks to write her first book Left to Tell, and became a New York Times bestseller after its release.

Faith gives us the strength to overcome any obstacle, and Immaculee's incredible testimony proves that even life or death situations can be easier to handle with God's help.

You can check out a 60 Minutes feature with Immaculee Ilibagiza here at CBS News.

Preview!

2009-11-12T13:36:00.001-05:00

I'm feeling a little bit under the weather today (read: so exhausted), so I'm going to leave you with the things I'm working on to close out the month of November.

Immaculee Ilibageza- This devout Catholic woman from Rwanda is a survivor of the genocide there; I had the opportunity to see her at a thought-provoking presentation in Atco on her experience and the power of forgiveness. God's grace really can do anything, even give us the strength to forgive a murderer. Check back this weekend for a feature about Immaculee.

The Fight for Life- This week, CCM began to circulate flyers on campus advertising a pro-life evening of prayer and presentations. Interestingly, a feminist organization here at Rowan has now begun to advertise an evening celebrating the right to choose, featuring a Christian pastor, the same night as the CCM event. I'm in the process of working with our student newspaper, The Whit, about the controversy developing between these two groups, and I'm sure it will give me plenty to write about here. At the very least, I'm going to be at CCM next week to cover the guest speaker, who is an alumna.

Spotlight- I'll be sitting down soon with a grad student who recently converted to Catholicism after 21 years as a Baptist. His story offers insight into the struggles people "on the outside" face when presented with some of the Church's stickiest doctrines.

And speaking of sticky issues...

I Confess- I'm going to talk to a few priests about what it's like to be a confidante for the deepest secrets of so many. There will be Biblical support every step of the way, and maybe even a video (though not of me in Confession--sorry to burst your bubble. ;))

Those are definite ideas that will be showing up here soon. There are also some others in the works that are being finalized as I contact sources; I'll keep those under wraps for a while.

Have a great weekend!

Spotlight: Fr. Tom Kiely

2009-11-07T19:20:00.012-05:00

Priests, just like laypeople, have a wide range of styles and personalities. I've never met a priest I didn't like, but none of them have ever been quite as...extroverted...as Tom Kiely.

Let the photos speak for themselves (the first is Fr. Tom's, and the last two are courtesy of Lisa Falk. I had some photos of my own, but you all have seen them already.):

Despite his obviously mischievous personality, Fr. Tom is genuinely in love with both his faith and his call to the priesthood. His ordination seven years ago led him to assignments at various parishes throughout the South Jersey area before being named Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Camden, and chaplain for Rowan University in February of this year. Since then, he has developed a personal responsibility to young adults in the diocese as he assists them in discovering God's will for their lives, whatever it may be. As university chaplain, Kiely serves to meet the spiritual needs of Rowan students through celebrating Mass five days a week at the Newman House, hearing confessions, spiritual direction, and acting as moderator for Catholic Campus Ministries. He is currently priest in-residence at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Pennsauken.

I sat down with Fr. Tom this week to discuss his own spiritual journey, the finer points of the priesthood, and how working with young people has impacted his life. (Hit the play button on the left of each player to hear an audio clip.)

As one of five children, Kiely said that a strong belief in God and Catholicism was always encouraged and fostered in his family. This encouragement led him to feel called to the priesthood at a very young age, though discovering the vocation (or call by God) early in life is fairly uncommon. He entered the seminary in San Diego, CA immediately after high school, thrilled to be answering the call, but realized two years later that he wasn't ready to make the commitment.

He moved to the East Coast to be with his family as they started a business, taking on various odd jobs in security and sales. The call never let him go, however, and he returned to the seminary for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. For a second time, he felt disillusioned with what he found there, particularly the absence of joy and love of priesthood. Feeling discouraged, he left again, returning to the family business where he was glad to help out. "I really think that God's time isn't our time. Nothing ever needs to be rushed or on a timeline," he said.

This led to an eventual invitation to explore the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, a religious order of ordained men bound together by a particular spirituality. Kiely explained that while he loved the community, it was not what God was calling him to. Each order has a particular "charism" or element that they are focused on, like teaching for the Dominicans, youth ministry for the Salesians, or poverty in Franciscan orders. "You really have to feel drawn to [a community], but you also have to fit into it," he explained. More searching led to a few years spent with the Carmelites, then the Franciscans, but neither were good fits. Kiely remained optimistic throughout the trial and error process. "That's the whole point: it's not my call; it's God's call. I'm just saying yes to it . . . that's where we find our freedom."

The Kielys would eventually relocate to Myrtle Beach as the family business expanded, with Tom going along to work as a banqueter and bartender. He also took the time to travel around the country and through Europe, but knew he was only putting off the inevitable: his ordination. Finally, at the age of 37, 19 years after his first time as a seminarian in San Diego, he prostrated himself at the altar and became a diocesan priest for the Camden diocese, certain that he had made the right choice.

He admits, however, that it took some time getting used to. "People treat you differently, especially older people who are calling you Father, and you feel like you should be calling them Father out of respect," he recalled, laughing. "They're not doing it because of me, Tom Kiely," he said about the reverence people have shown him, "they're doing it because of what I have been called to be--a priest of God. And that beauty and reverence people show the priesthood is just unbelievable."

Now, as Director of Vocations, he acts as an advocate for young men and women with all kinds of backgrounds as they discern if they, too, have a vocation to be a priest or religious sister. He also assists those interested in becoming deacons, couples hoping to marry, and even those wanting to live celibately as singles consecrated to God "in the world." At Rowan, it's not uncommon to find him having lunch with students as they talk about exams, job interviews, and potential love interests. (I have to admit to being one of those people.) Wednesday evenings are CCM nights, and Kiely stays all day to help with dinner, offer Confessions or Adoration of the Eucharist, or just sit around and play cards.

It may sound like fun and games, but in reality, every aspect of his position is meant to bring others to accept the love of God into their lives.

Sharing his own experiences is perhaps what makes Fr. Tom so easy to talk to. Unlike other men who may become priests right after high school or college, he has lived in the world and struggled with every issue and decision that young adults go through today. He offers a final word of advice to Catholic young people:

Physical Signs, Intangible Graces

2009-11-07T01:25:00.004-05:00

Over the winter last year, I was going through a really hard time in almost every way: school was kicking my butt as I struggled to meet deadlines and set up a summer internship; my grandmother was ill again; and my then-boyfriend was laid off unexpectedly. To say I was stressed would be an understatement, and predictably, my faith had begun to suffer. I dragged myself to church on the weekends regardless, knowing that being there far outweighed the benefits of staying home.

After Mass during one particularly rough week, I approached my pastor and, choking up, asked for a blessing. He placed one hand on my shoulder, the other on my feverish forehead, and prayed for God to give me the physical strength and spiritual peace I needed to persevere. It was a beautiful and impromptu ritual, and in the days following, I really did find things were beginning to even out. Beyond that, there was something so comforting in the words and touch that consoled me in a way personal prayer couldn't.

Christianity is full of physical rituals like these that act as instruments of God's very real power. The Catholic Church in particular has seven of these major rituals, called sacraments. We believe that each one was given to the Church by Jesus in order to bring intangible gifts down to our human level. Wisely, He chose to do it through our five senses. Most of these are performed only once as life milestones, but Confession and Communion should both be taken advantage of regularly. That's what they're there for, after all. The Sacraments, coupled with faith, are centering points for all Catholics. It's through them that we truly encounter God. Let's break them down.

The Sacraments of Initiation: These are fairly self-explanatory. The Sacraments of Initiation are what make us fully members of the Church. There are three.

1) Baptism- We baptize by pouring water over newborns and converts as early as possible. Recall that original sin separates us from God; baptism is what washes this away while giving us the strength to resist temptation and follow God's call. (photo) (scripture)

2) Communion/Eucharist- In John 6, Jesus says over and over that the bread and wine He gives to His disciples is truly His Body and Blood. St. Paul confirms this in saying that those who receive Communion without believing this truth (called the Real Presence or transubstantiation) eat and drink judgment upon themselves. At each Mass, we eat unleavened bread and drink wine, entering into communion with both Jesus and others who receive with us. (photo)

3) Confirmation- Kids raised in the Church are confirmed sometime in junior high or high school. Converts can receive it when they and their pastor agree it's time. It is a final sealing of the grace we receive in baptism and strengthen through life during communion; we are considered adults in the Church and are given the responsibility of bring Christ's love to others. To do this, each person is anointed with oil and blessed to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. (photo) (scripture)

Sacraments of Healing: There are two of these that offer peace and strength for both body and soul.

4) Confession/Reconciliation- Jesus gave His Apostles the power to forgive sins, and we believe this in turn extends to all priests. Under a seal of unbreakable secrecy and in private, we confess all serious sins since our last confession; basically, these are any acts or thoughts that violate the Ten Commandments. We then receive a penance--a prayer or other act that we perform afterward to express our sorrow and intent to change--and absolution, forgiveness of our sins from Christ working in the priest. (I'll write more about this, including Biblical support, in a future post.) (photo)

5) Anointing of the Sick- Not just for the elderly or terminally ill, the Anointing of the Sick is open to anyone who is very sick, undergoing or recovering from surgery, pregnant, etc. We believe in God's ability to heal and work miracles today just as He did in Biblical times. (photo)

Sacraments of Service- We all have different paths in life, but everyone is called to serve God in some major life role separate from their career. Two of the sacraments are meant to mark the beginning of these roles.

6) Marriage- Marriage is something that has been present since the beginning of human society, a permanent oath made before God between one man and one woman. In Catholicism, the priest only acts as a witness who blesses the rings and the couple during the rite. The husband and wife are the ones that give themselves completely to one another of their own free will when taking their vows together. These vows always include the promise to be always "open to life" (children). Contraception, therefore, violates the vow. (photo)

7) Holy Orders- Jesus made Simon his first Apostle, the rock on which He built the Church, and gave him a new name, Peter (Greek petros, "rock") to reflect that. Peter and the other eleven Apostles were the first priests, who in turn passed on the authority given to them by Christ to other men. This process continues today and has remained uninterrupted through Holy Orders. (photo)

Funny story...

2009-11-06T16:48:00.000-05:00

(I'm not sure how relevant to anything this is, but oh well--let's call it off-beat Friday, okay? :) )

Yesterday, I learned that in times of crisis, having faith is so much better than not believing in anything. After a very reluctant chat with my mother in the morning, I trudged over to get my H1N1 vaccine at a student clinic on campus. My doctor said his grandkids had gotten it, and as a medical professional who has seen me for 18 years, he recommended I get vaccinated, too.

Ironically, I had just left my Online Journalism class, and said to my professor on the way out that I'd see him Tuesday, assuming I didn't have a reaction, oink oink.

Next time, I won't jinx myself. They asked me to wait around for ten minutes following my vaccination, just to be sure that I would be okay. Well, about five minutes into the observation period I felt like someone had shoved cotton in my ears. Weird. A minute later, I was lightheaded. Weirder yet. I went over to the nurse who had vaccinated me and told her that I wasn't feeling well. The next thing I knew, I was on the floor of the health center surrounded by a half dozen nurses.

Oops.

I'm fine now, but the recovery process was certainly scary--I had never blacked out before in my life, and I was shaking when I regained consciousness. (This is likely because of a muscular condition I've had since I was born--it acts up when I'm super stressed or weak.) As soon as I realized what was going on, I turned to prayer. I got a text message right after that from one of the girls at CCM: "Are you okay? I'm right here."

Talk about guardian angels! Lisa had coincidentally been vaccinated just as I lost consciousness at the other side of the room. She stayed with me after I was stabilized and brought into a back room to wait for my parents.

Thanks be to God, I'm doing just fine today; they think it was a combination of nerves and not having enough to eat that day. But as someone who doesn't do well at all under emergency situations, I learned two important lessons from the experience:

1) Faith in God's presence in our lives can be an incredible comfort when we are alone, afraid, and have no one to turn to. I probably would have had a complete meltdown without prayer to keep me alert and focused.

2) The Christian community is more than just a group of people that share religious beliefs--we are family because we share the same Father. Family is called to look out for and support one another, even when it's scary or inconvenient.

I'm just glad to be doing okay. My dad joked last night that it would be hilarious to find out next week that The Whit had covered the clinic--I work as a features reporter and copy editor for them. Of course, there would be a photo of the nurses vaccinating students, with yours truly blacked out in the background. I've got to admit, he cracked me up. :)

Saints among us...

2009-11-02T19:15:00.002-05:00

It's a common Catholic tradition that everyone has a patron saint, usually the saint who is recognized on his or her birthday. When people ask me who my patron is, I love the looks on their faces when I laugh and say, "All of them!"

Yesterday, I celebrated my 20th birthday on the Solemnity of All Saints, a holy day in the Church's calendar. This means that I technically have every single person in heaven as personal advocates. Not too shabby!

So many people are under the impression that saints are these incredibly holy people that lived sinless lives. Even I struggle with that at times, and I was raised in the Church. Let's set the record straight right now, though: saints aren't perfect. Far from. If God had desired a bunch of perfect robots, He would have never created us with free will.

How would you react if I said that among our list of recognized saints, there are repentant murderers, prostitutes, thieves and rapists? St. Paul (who wrote many of the letters in the New Testament) personally tortured and oversaw the murder of many Christian martyrs; St. Francis of Assissi was an aristocrat known for his love of liquor and partying; St. Augustine struggled with lust, and the term "ladies' man" is a bit of an understatement here--he even fathered a child out of wedlock. One of the first saints we informally recognize is Dismas, the thief who was crucified with Jesus and begged for His forgiveness. There is a whole book of these stories called Saints Behaving Badly. It's a lot of fun, so check it out.

Saints aren't just those that the Church recognizes publicly for some heroic deed. With every decision we make to do good for someone else or avoid temptation, we are a little bit closer to heaven and sainthood. So many of the saints are ordinary, and that's beautiful. When we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and become fully initiated members of the Church, we often take the name of a saint who we want to make our role model. My Confirmation saint is Maria Goretti, a 12-year-old girl from a small town in Italy who was stabbed 14 times after refusing to have sex with her father's apprentice. The apprentice (who, after a vision of Maria from prison years later, repented) said that Maria refused because she wanted to protect him from sin. Two days later, on her deathbed, she forgave him, telling her mother that she wanted him to join her in heaven someday. It was this instant, unprompted forgiveness and commitment to purity from such a young girl that inspired me to choose her when I was confirmed at 13.

Just as we ask our friends and family to pray for us, we believe that those in heaven (including Mary) continue to love and care about those of us still alive, and are always praying to God for our needs. In essence, they are our friends and allies that have already reached the goal we on earth still strive for. In great or small ways, they are our success stories. Armed with that knowledge, we can be assured that we're never alone in the journey. I think that's pretty awesome.

Max Kolbe (patron of journalists), pray for me!

St. Mary's of Providence in Photos

2009-10-29T17:27:00.005-04:00

And here, as promised, is a selection of some of my best photos from the trip. Trust me, you really don't want to look at a hundred pictures of us acting like goofballs at one in the morning.

Thanks so much to John Higginbotham for tech support, and Phil Wagner for helping to expedite the repair process as the entire slideshow managed to explode. It's working now. I do believe in miracles!!

The embedded slideshow looks disproportionate on the blog, so click the link below to view it. Pause button is on the left--I recommend you use it for ease of viewing.

Enjoy! Have a great weekend--I'm going to spend it at home, celebrating my birthday. :D

--->This way for the slideshow!<---

Finding Peace

2009-10-29T17:19:00.000-04:00

Wow. What an amazing weekend I had.

As you're probably well aware by now, this past weekend I went on retreat with a group of people from Rowan's Catholic Campus Ministries. I'm going to split the story into two posts for this week--one for a personal reflection, and the other for pictures.

We stayed at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, PA, grounds that are cared for by the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, a community of nuns. I can say with confidence that I've never seen a place quite so beautiful (or to be frank, so huge). As soon as we walked in, I looked up at the ceiling, and literally felt breathless. My friends weren't kidding when they said I would be amazed! The best part is that it's only about an hour and a half from Rowan.

The first thing we did on Friday night was set a basket in the middle of the conference room floor. We were instructed to write down any private prayers or goals we had for the weekend, and as a song played, each of us put our papers in when we felt ready. These were burned at the conclusion of the retreat, which I thought was freeing--a physical sign of what God had already done.

There were discussions and Bible studies throughout the weekend which focused particularly on how our faith affects our experience as college students. While the discussions were mostly open-ended, I noticed that they continued to drift back to distractions, and how often our busy lives and relationships can impede us from growing in our relationship with God. It was agreed by the whole group that the weekend would be used to rekindle that relationship, to find that silent place inside ourselves to "be still, and know that [He is] God" (Psalm 46:10).

Perhaps one of the most personally powerful experiences for me was our quiet hour, where we were free to do as we pleased, providing it was spiritual and we spent most of the time on our own. It hadn't started to rain yet, so I headed outside to walk to grounds. I was amazed at how much you miss in the busyness and noise of city life. I became fixated on the rhythm of my stride for some reason, and as I walked, a line from Scripture came to me: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; on your own intelligence rely not. In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I've just recently come out of a wonderful three year relationship, and while we remain best friends, I'm now left wondering what the future holds. This weekend, I remembered that God is the sort who loves us and will never lead us wrong. During a private conversation with our chaplain, he used a simple card trick to show me how, regardless of what decisions I make that take me down the wrong path, God will always give me the tools I need to get back on track.

It can be difficult to forget the past. It can be even more difficult to forgive, especially when we need to forgive ourselves. But if we can let go and realize that God has already forgiven and forgotten our pasts, we can move forward. By the time we left St. Mary's on Sunday, the healing was finally beginning, and not just for me. I'm now closer to my CCM family than I ever was, and am starting to regain my peace. It was a long time coming, and I'm definitely grateful.

Catholic Culture: A Photo Essay

2009-10-22T21:35:00.007-04:00

After spending way too much time figuring out how to make Flickr work, here's a collection of photos that I hope will illustrate that Catholicism isn't just about religion, but family and community, too. (Again, have mercy on me: taking photos in church without a flash, I've discovered, is super difficult. All things considered, I think this came out pretty well.)

Thanks so much to Cathy Pagden, who assisted me in the planning process for this project, and Fr. Larry Polansky, for being an able confidante and willing guinea pig for me.

I'm off to retreat in Elverson, PA tomorrow afternoon with CCM. Minus an annoying cough, I'm feeling much better, and am beyond ready for this weekend. Peace!

Please note, captions are available in full screen mode. The button is in the bottom right corner of the slideshow. If you still can't see them, click "Show Info" at the top right. The pause button is on the bottom left. It's so much better than staring at nameless people, I promise.

The English are crossing the Tiber!

2009-10-21T14:55:00.005-04:00

Edit, 28 Oct. 2009: It has been brought to my attention that, as I predicted, I did botch some key details of this story. First and foremost, the group at the center of this potential conversion is the Tradtional Anglican Communion (TAC), which is not to be confused with the Anglican Communion. The TAC is based worldwide, and not just in England, so the post title of "English" is a misnomer. Furthermore, negotiations for conversion were initiated by those within the TAC, and not the Pope; he only responded to a request from them, and before that was not involved in any sort of intervention. Again, thanks for the information. That's what you all are here for, after all. I appreciate it. ~MLP

I would be remiss as a Catholic blogger (and really, as a journalist) if I didn't cover yesterday's bombshell from the Vatican. In a history-making move, Pope Benedict XVI has made provisions for traditional Anglicans to convert en masse to Catholicism, if they so choose.

I haven't yet found anyone willing to break down the release in layman's terms, so I guess this laywoman will give it her best shot. Bear with me. (I know I have at least one priest reading--COUGH--and he is free to correct me if I botch this.)

First, some background: the Anglican Communion (the Church of England in Britain and the Episcopalian Church of the USA) have been rocked by splits and infighting for a solid decade now over the decision to ordain both women and openly gay men and women as clergy. (Tradiotional Anglicans and Catholics believe, in a nutshell, that only men should be priests because Jesus and His twelve Apostles were all men--He could have chosen women, and had plenty as friends to choose from, but didn't.) Conservative members who disagreed with this progressive move formed other churches under the jurisdiction of bishops in North Africa.

The situation has only gotten worse since, and people on both sides of the debate have been holding their breaths, wondering if the entire Communion will crumble. That was when the Pope stepped in. The conservative side of the Anglican Communion has been in negotiations for an unspecific amount of time about being received into the Catholic Chuch. Benedict has "bent the rules" to ease the transition of these groups by allowing them to retain their unique rituals and hymns while under the leadership of Anglo-Catholic bishops. The new converts would become their own "floating diocese," bound by background instead of geographic location (we do the same thing for the Military Diocese).

Opinions are mixed about the decision, with liberals accusing the Vatican of overstepping their bounds or deepening divisions, but for conservatives in both Churches, this signifies hope for healing.

Jesus founded one Church--not 35,000 separate denominations and churches (according to the Barna group). We're now one huge step closer to seeing that unity made reality again. Regardless of opinion, I think we'll all be praying.

Thomas Peters over at the popular blog American Papist has tons of commentary and resources on the issue. There's also this collection of opinions from the New York Times, compliments of my Online Journalism professor, Mark Berkey-Gerard.

Suffering

2009-10-21T13:59:00.002-04:00

I feel dead.

Okay, maybe I shouldn't be such a drama queen, but only I would be lucky enough to get sick the week of midterms. God's idea of humor and mine are apparently two very different things--I guess that's what it means when Scripture says "My ways are above your ways, and my thoughts are above your thoughts." Ha.

I've heard a few Christians voice disapproval about the way we Catholics tend to dwell on suffering, and I guess I can see where they come from; from where I sit at the Newman house, I only have to look up to see a large, wooden crucifix on the wall. That crucifix is a staple in every single Catholic church worlwide; each one hangs a crucifix in a prominent place behind the altar.

Well, why? In other non-Catholic churches, almost all display an empty cross, and the rationale makes sense. That business--the Crucifixion--is done with, right? Even we proclaim that at Mass when we sing, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again."

Wrong. It doesn't stop there. If the Crucifixion was a one time deal (and it was, in reality), only the people alive in Jesus' time would have been saved. But because the one dying was God Himself, the event transcends time. That one sacrifice continues now, and will continue until the end. That's why Catholics wear and display crucifixes--without suffering, we'd have no hope. We never want to forget that.

That's why in times of sickness or trouble we "offer up" our sufferings in prayer for ourselves and others. Anything is possible for God, and if we humbly give Him ourselves in weakness, it's amazing how we'll be blessed in return. It also helps to remember as I go through a whole box of tissues that He suffered much worse. It puts things in perspective.

So, as some old school folks say, I guess I'll just "quit complaining and offer it up!" :P

The best way to keep your peace of heart is to accept everything as coming directly from the hands of the God who loves you.

--St. Paul of the Cross

Things to Come

2009-10-15T13:45:00.001-04:00

Midterms are coming like a bullet train, and in the interest of not failing my four other classes, I thought I'd take a step back and do some hardcore studying. In the meantime, here's a quick teaser of what I'm working on for the next few weeks.

* Pro-Life night: The Catholic Church has remained consistently committed to the protection of the most weak and vulnerable among us, particularly the unborn and infirm. God, we say, is the author of all creation, and we are therefore obligated to defend that life "from conception to natural death." That said, abortion, genocide, and euthanasia are some of the most cutting issues to faithful Catholics, and we are always praying for a return to a defense of life. We couldn't mark the nationwide Pro-Life Sunday on October 4, but CCM will be holding several events and devotions this Wednesday that I'll cover and post soon.

* St. Mary of Providence retreat: The people at CCM who have been around for a while tell me that our fall retreat next weekend will provide ample opportunities for great photos. I'll be bringing my camera and an open mind...I've never been on retreat of my own free will, so I'm pretty excited. A lot has been going on in my personal life lately, and I'm looking forward to recharging my batteries. (They also tell me the nuns are fantastic cooks. I'm not complaining.)

* Speaking of photos, keep your eyes open this week...let's just say I have a rather large photo project in the works with my church at home. It will be experimental and a bit nerve-racking, so wish me luck! I've never been much of a photographer, but it's time to learn. Hopefully I won't disappoint. (It's too bad I won't be taking Photojournalism until next semester.)

* Immaculee Ilibageza- On November 10, Assumption Parish in Atco, NJ will be hosting Immaculee Ilibegeza, a Catholic who survived the genocide in Rwanda. We heard last week about how Immaculee's faith allowed her to persevere through almost a year of horror, and now I have the opportunity to hear her in person.

Keep checking back regularly--these are only the big features! If you're anxious for more, offer it up in prayer for my good grades next week. ;) I'll be back!

Peace.

By the way...

2009-10-15T01:20:00.001-04:00

I just want to mention that this blog is now a part of a huge Catholic blog site called St. Blog's Parish,* and I'm thrilled to be included as one of the newest bloggers in their directory. When visiting, you'll find Catholic blogs by all sorts of people from every state of life. Check it out. You can find me in the Resources section! :)

*There's actually no actual saint named St. Blog, nor an actual parish (church community) of that name. Hehe.

The Challenge to Love

2009-10-15T00:49:00.003-04:00

In my intro post, I mentioned that I'm a member of Catholic Campus Ministries here at Rowan, and have been blessed more times than I can count since transferring here and finding them six weeks ago.

Our Wednesday night meetings often feature guest speakers, and we were joined last night by Andres Arango, the Director of Campus Ministries for our diocese. (A diocese is a geographical area used for Church government; they're headed by a bishop.) After opening the meeting with prayer, Arango told us a little bit about himself; originally from Colombia, he was an industrial engineer who moved to the United States in 2001. Eventually, he left his engineering position behind to pursue his real love: serving Jesus and His Church. It was that love he planned to discuss with us that night, and the conversation took us in directions we would have never expected.

"Who is Jesus? Go on, just say what you think," he told us encouragingly. There were a few minutes of silence, then words came from around the group. Confidante. Savior. Security. Inspiration. The list went on this way.

After a while, he stopped us, throwing out a second question: "How do you know Jesus is God?"

We all stared at him. "How do you know He's real?" Clearly, this wasn't going to be a normal meeting. We went on to talk about how God isn't some sort of far away deity who remains detached from our lives, but rather one who wanted to be so involved that He became man. While present on earth, Jesus shared every pain and temptation that we experience today. After His resurrection and ascension into heaven, we were sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us; this means that God is always with us, and alive in us. It also means that we act as instruments of God's love to others.

Andres told us of an interesting encounter he had about five years ago that exemplifies this perfectly. Out late after a long day, he stopped at his favorite Mexican place and found a homeless woman there who called to him. Guilt-ridden, he tossed her a few dollars and started to walk away, feeling very holy and righteous. For a second time, the woman called to him. "Hey. Can I...have a hug?"

"The ten seconds I spent thinking felt like ten hours," he told us, laughing. "You know, a million things went through my head. 'Does she have a gun? Is she gonna take my wallet? I wonder when was [sic] the last time she took a shower...what got me to do it had nothing to do with me. It was the Holy Spirit. It was the love of Jesus alive in me. As soon as I hugged her, she started to cry--it was probably the first time in a long time she felt connected to someone. But, you know, that moment changed both our lives."

There were more stories like this one, and perhaps I'll retell the other in a future post. What we learned tonight was that we need to get out of our comfort zones and allow God to use us to reach the poor in both body and spirit. "The challenge tonight is to believe that Jesus is here, right now, in us...and to develop a personal relationship with Him," Andres said.

That's a challenge, for sure. But "nothing is impossible for God" (Luke 1:37).

Andres Arango with Ann Polo, director of the Newman house.

Photo courtesy of Dana Douress.

Alive again...

2009-10-08T14:28:00.003-04:00

Faith is rarely ever easy, and it shouldn't be. The truth is hard to take, too, at times. My friend V once told me when I was struggling with adjusting to my new lifestyle (which involved giving up a few sweet vices), "We should never seek after what makes us happy, but rather what's True."

Admittedly, I resented that comment for a long time. Yet, as I hung on, God continued to console me, to keep me strong, and say "Yes, I am still here." He used a lot of things to do that--friends, books, and long talks with (very patient) priests all included. However, the single biggest thing that kept me going, and still does today, is music.

It was Victor Hugo that said, "Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." I may sound like a typical college student saying this, but hearing a song that speaks to my situation, and promises hope in the midst of struggle, does wonders for me in my wearier moments.

So, as I cook up my next (actually newsworthy!) post this weekend, here is one song that has been close to me lately.

Matt Maher is one of the only Catholic musicians who has successfully broken into the mainstream Christian contemporary music scene, and with good reason. This song, "Alive Again," is the first single off his new album of the same name. It comes from St. Augustine, a man who went from living a life of promiscuity to the priesthood, eventually being named both a saint and a "doctor of the Church."

Here's an excerpt from the full quote of Augustine's:

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.

And a live acoustic performance:

Saved!

2009-10-06T14:19:00.005-04:00

Last winter, my baby cousin Cameron was baptized at my church by one of our deacons. While my family doesn't typically go to church, weddings, funerals and baptisms bring them out in droves. I remember in the parking lot seeing one of the baby's relatives that hadn't been at the ceremony.

"Hey!" my mom called out, glad to see him. "Why weren't you at church?"
"Oh, I'm not a...I'm a Christian," he told us, a little aggressively.

I bristled; this wasn't the first time I had encountered something like this. I was going to let it go, but to my surprise, Mom replied without hesitation, "Yeah, so are Catholics."

For a while after my reversion in 2007, comments like this hurt and confused me. Where did people hear some of the things they would tell me? Why did they think they had the right to tear me down? Last spring, it even happened during a Sociology lecture without me saying a word to invite the criticism. It took some time before I realized that this happens because people don't know what we're really about. Our rituals are ancient and often solemn; we offer respect to Mary, saints, and priests who act as our guides. But are we saved? Do we Catholics have a living and vibrant relationship with Jesus?

The answer is the same one that can be given for any other church or religion: sometimes. Sure, there are many Catholics who practice the faith without believing it, but there are just as many others who do "love the Lord . . . with all their strength" (Mark 12:30).

The primary difference between Catholics and other Christians is that there is usually a concrete moment where a Christian repents and accepts Christ into their life from that point forward. Some believe that nothing you do, no matter how horrendous, can cause you to "lose your salvation." Catholics believe that while we are saved through faith, it is a process that takes our entire lives, and does not occur in an instant. If we sin, we can be separated from God until we turn to Him and confess our sins in the Sacrament of Confession (more on this later). While doing good things cannot save us, neither can faith alone. Our faith is only alive if we live it out. Without works, our faith is dead.

Put simply, our view of salvation looks like this:

[Living faith] + [Obedience to Jesus' teachings] + [God's grace (free mercy and love)] = [Heaven]

I've been saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also in the process of being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved at the end of my life (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). [Those verses used as references were from Catholic.com, a handy site that explains a lot about the faith.]

It may seem difficult, and honestly, it really can be. But, as my pastor put it once, all good things are worth working for in the end...

Credo

2009-09-29T14:23:00.002-04:00

Credo means 'I believe' in Latin, traditionally the official language of the Church. (Today, most Masses are held in the vernacular, though.)

It can be surprising sometimes to hear some of the things that people say Catholics believe. I've had people tell me that I worship Mary, the Pope, statues, a piece of bread...the list goes on. Actually, none of that is true, and these next few posts will be dedicated to setting the record straight.

First, take a look at the Nicene Creed. This statement of belief was developed in the 4th century, and is professed by Catholics at every Sunday Mass. (Note: 'Mass' is what we call a worship service.) I'm going to use the creed as a reference point for explaining our core beliefs in a simpler way. So, without further delay:

The Quick and Dirty Creed

We believe in one God who made everything, both concrete and abstract, like heaven and angels. There is no other God beside Him. However, God is present in three forms, or persons. The three persons all make up one God. They are:

Father- Yahweh, all-powerful, all-knowing, present everywhere, creator and judge. He is the God of the Jews in the Old Testament.

Son- Jesus (Christ), the savior of all mankind. God the Father formed Jesus from Himself ("begotten, not made" means they're the same in essence, just separated). After the fall of man from grace, we needed a redeemer to heal our shattered connection to the Father. Scripture explains what happened next: "For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Jesus came down from Heaven, and was born of a human woman (making Him both fully God and fully man, like us in every way except imperfection) to suffer and die for our sins/failings. Jesus is God, and in dying, He took our place before the Father so that we don't have to experience eternal punishment (Hell). After three days, however, Jesus miraculously rose from the dead, defeating death and suffering while promising all those who believed in Him the same--Heaven, eternal paradise with God, after we die. (Those who don't accept Jesus will still go to Hell.)

Holy Spirit- Wisdom, comforter, inspirer. The Holy Spirit is the drive in us to do good, to be moral, and to follow God faithfully.

We believe in only one Church that is protected by God; it is universal and has descended from Christ through his disciples and those who became leaders after them. We believe that baptism--a washing in water with prayer--washes away the original sin of Adam and Eve and gives us the strength to fight temptation. We believe that all the dead that accepted Jesus while alive will be given new life at the end of time.

Amen--"this is true"--this is what we believe.

The Story So Far

2009-09-26T13:57:00.005-04:00

I suppose that before I get into the soul and substance of this blog--the lives of others--I should probably talk a little bit about myself, where I've been, and what I'm doing now.

While I was born into an Italian Catholic family and attended CCD (Sunday School) for eight years, we never went to church. Sometimes, Catholicism can be a simply cultural part of one's heritage where the religious side is almost completely absent, similar to non-religious Jews. Since it was made clear to me that I was being raised in the faith to continue tradition and make the family happy, I didn't really care about what I was taught, especially when it came to the more difficult elements. By the time I got into middle school, I learned to tune out and gossip with my friends instead of paying attention. A few times, I was almost even kicked out of the class for being noisy or contrary--I was always that smartass kid that had to rebuttal everything. (I think that same stubbornness is what keeps me going today when I face opposition; I was once in the same place and defended the same anti-Catholic arguments).

Nevertheless, I was too close to "the end of the road" to stop catechism, so at 13, I received my Confirmation, became an adult in the eyes of the Church, and didn't show up again for another 4 1/2 years. During that period, high school started, and I eventually got into the New Age movement. When the initial "I'm being spooky and rebellious" streak wore off, I discovered that the Pagan umbrella of faiths were very peaceful, beautiful, and offered me the spiritual independence I was looking for.

I called myself Pagan off and on for the next two years, but deep down, it felt empty and showy. Odder yet was the actual power my friends and I experienced, something very real and tangible that was downright unnerving at points. One night, two of us got simultaneously sick in the middle of a "ritual" as they call it, and as I laid dizzy and nauseated in cold sweat on my best friend's floor, I knew that this was no longer fun and games. Coincidence or not, it scared me enough to convince me to walk away.

Almost a year later, I stumbled onto a Christian website for former Pagans, and I once again began railing against everything I found wrong with the religion. That year was hard on me, though, and I often struggled with feelings of loneliness, apathy, and depression. By New Year's Day of 2006, I knew I needed a centering point, something to be guided by, in my life. I had never stopped believing in God, and in the early hours of that morning I reluctantly reconciled with Him and began the rocky journey as a non-denominational Christian.

That, too, was lacking for a variety of reasons, and despite my hatred of it, I was continually pulled closer to Catholicism. Many of my new Protestant friends insisted this was a bad idea, but I could no longer just push my feelings aside. It took me over a year and a half of research and prayer, but to my horror, I realized that I could no longer refute the truth I never let myself see in the Catholic Church. Just after Easter in 2007, I went and made the first honest confession of my sins (I used to lie to their faces as a kid, then brag about it afterward) to a priest who was challenging but very good to me, and rather than finding condemnation and shame, I found real mercy.

Since then, I've been making up for lost time. That's only the abbreviated version, and I'm going to make it a point to discuss some hairy topics in the future, like Confession and what is (in my humble observation) lacking from other Christian denominations.

Let me make it very clear here that I'm not out to offend anyone. I have many "brothers and sisters" that are Protestant who have encouraged and challenged me throughout the years, and I love them wholeheartedly for their passion. I'm also not directly trying to win converts to Catholicism, but I would like to invite those of you who are curious or no longer Catholic to keep an open mind and an open heart while you read. Again, do comment here with anything you're interested in or confused about. Part of the new age of journalism is the aspect of community, so "come, let us reason together."

This week, we start the real fun. I'm ready; are you?

Hello, world!

2009-09-24T13:30:00.001-04:00

When starting a new blog, I always feel like I should say something...groundbreaking. This time, however, words are escaping me, so I'll keep it simple:

Welcome to Abide With Us, potentially the coolest Catholic blog on the web. ;) Well, that's my plan, in any case.

The majority of Americans are familiar with Catholicism in some way--there are nearly 68 million registered Catholics in the United States according to the National Council of Churches--but I've found that most are fuzzy on the details. In the past few years, I've heard a number of erroneous and misleading claims about the Church and our beliefs, both from other Christians and from those of different faiths. Sometimes, misinformation even comes from fellow Catholics.

As an amateur journalist, I find that disturbing, and so clearing up those errors is my first goal in creating this blog. It was said once that millions of people hate the Church, yet only hundreds understand her (I'll return with the actual quote later). I hope to be able to present the Catholic faith with honestly, fairness, and joy. If I'm lucky, someone out there will learn something. Any lessening of confusion or hostility toward the Church because of this blog will make the whole endeavor worth it.

Beyond that, I was absolutely floored when I moved up to Rowan a month ago to find a vibrant and faithful community of Catholics on campus. Considering only 25% of American Catholics go to Mass on a regular basis, and many of that percentage are older, this was certainly a surprise. I'm going to cover these college Catholics in detail over the next ten weeks, highlighting what they do, why they do it, and how it ties into the college experience.

We're not stereotypical, and we're not doing this because our parents force us. We're not what you likely expect, and I hope you'll be surprised (and impressed!) by what you see.

Of course, as a Catholic myself, I'll be coming along for the ride and occasionally writing about my personal experiences. Feel free to leave me a question, comment, or suggestion. I'll do my best to respond as quickly as I can. Thanks in advance for reading and sticking with me--I promise to make it worth your while.

Peace be with you!
Melissa