Seized by Christ

They are experiencing Christianity as joy and hope, having thus become lovers of Christ.

Author: seizedbychrist

  • Unpacking the Prodigal Son Story: A Mythical Hero’s Journey

    The Prodigal Son is one of the most beloved parables from Christian tradition, but when examined through the lens of the mythical hero’s journey, it reveals a deeper, universal narrative of transformation, redemption, and reconciliation. This timeless tale offers a rich exploration of personal growth, rebellion, and the cyclical nature of life. In this post, we’ll delve into how the Prodigal Son mirrors the structure of the mythical hero’s journey and what we can learn from his story.

    1. The Call to Adventure: A Desire for Freedom

    In mythological narratives, the hero often begins their journey with a call to adventure — a desire to explore the unknown. The Prodigal Son’s request for his inheritance marks his own “call” to freedom. He wants to leave behind the familiarity of his home and step into a world where he can forge his own path. This moment reflects the universal human desire to break free from constraints and seek independence, much like a hero departing from their original world to pursue a personal quest.

    2. Crossing the Threshold: Venturing into the Unknown

    The son leaves his father’s house and enters the “distant country,” symbolizing the crossing of the threshold into the unknown. It is here that he begins to indulge in a life of excess, squandering his inheritance. This chaotic journey mirrors the hero’s descent into the “wild” or underworld, where they encounter temptations and distractions that often lead them astray. In mythology, heroes face these temptations as part of their transformation, and the Prodigal Son is no different. His descent represents the dangers of excess and unchecked desires.

    3. The Abyss: Confronting the Crisis

    Every hero must face a crisis — the abyss — a moment of profound despair and self-reflection. For the Prodigal Son, this moment occurs when famine strikes and he finds himself feeding pigs, longing for their food. This marks his lowest point, symbolizing a metaphorical “death” — the hero’s confrontation with their mistakes and the consequences of their actions. The “famine” represents life’s harsh realities and the price one pays for straying too far from balance and wisdom.

    4. The Return: Transformation and Rebirth

    In many myths, the hero returns home after their trials, but they are forever changed. Similarly, the Prodigal Son’s decision to return home represents a moment of transformation. His journey back is one of repentance and self-awareness, symbolizing a rebirth. When he arrives, his father greets him with open arms, demonstrating that redemption and reconciliation are possible, even after great mistakes.

    5. The Hero’s Reward: Celebration and Integration

    After the son’s return, he is celebrated by his father, who restores him to his rightful place. This is the reward phase of the hero’s journey, where the hero integrates the wisdom they’ve gained into their previous life. For the Prodigal Son, this celebration includes gifts such as a robe, ring, and sandals — signs of his full reintegration into the family. In myth, the hero often returns with newfound wisdom, and the Prodigal Son’s return symbolizes the potential for growth and healing, no matter how lost or estranged one might feel.

    6. The Shadow: Conflict with the Elder Brother

    In many myths, the hero’s return disrupts the status quo, often sparking tension with those who remained behind. The elder brother’s resentment toward the Prodigal Son reflects this mythical conflict. The elder son represents the “shadow” — a figure resistant to change, loyal to the old ways, and unwilling to embrace transformation. His anger symbolizes the internal and external conflicts that arise when old paradigms are challenged, and growth or redemption occurs.

    7. Rebirth: Death and Resurrection

    The narrative concludes with a powerful statement by the father: “This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” This moment echoes the cyclical nature of death and resurrection that is central to many mythic stories. The Prodigal Son’s “death” represents his metaphorical fall, and his return symbolizes a form of resurrection — a fresh start rooted in humility and wisdom. The cycle of life, death, and rebirth is essential to the hero’s journey, illustrating that transformation often requires loss and renewal.

    8. The Theme of Repentance and Redemption

    At its core, the Prodigal Son story embodies the theme of repentance and redemption. In many myths, the hero returns after making mistakes, and their journey is celebrated because they have learned from their trials. The father’s willingness to forgive, rather than punish, the Prodigal Son challenges the notion that heroism is about perfection. Sometimes, the hero is celebrated not for their unwavering goodness but for their capacity to learn from their errors and return transformed.

    Conclusion: Lessons from the Prodigal Son

    The Prodigal Son is more than just a biblical tale — it is a powerful reflection of the hero’s journey. Through his story, we learn about transformation, the importance of self-awareness, and the possibility of redemption, no matter how far we’ve strayed. By examining the Prodigal Son through the lens of mythology, we can see that the challenges of life — the mistakes, the temptations, the crises — are all part of the journey toward self-discovery and reconciliation.

    Whether you’re exploring the parable for personal reflection or analyzing it from a mythical perspective, the Prodigal Son’s journey offers timeless wisdom. Embrace your journey, accept the lessons that come with both failure and triumph, and remember that redemption is always within reach.

    Written in collaboration with ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025).

  • The Parable of the Prodigal Son: A Preference for the Repentant Son Over the Loyal Brother

    The Parable of the Prodigal Son: A Preference for the Repentant Son Over the Loyal Brother

    The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most well-known biblical stories. While often interpreted as a lesson on forgiveness, there’s a deeper, subversive message embedded in the narrative. The story emphasizes the redemption of the repentant son over the loyalty of the older brother, challenging us to reflect on the nature of grace, transformation, and true faith.

    Let’s break down why this story shows more favor to the repentant son than the dutiful older brother.

    1. The Repentant Son’s Journey

    The Prodigal Son embarks on a journey of transformation. He leaves home, squanders his inheritance, and experiences deep suffering. But the key moment in the story is when he “comes to his senses,” realizing that his life has gone astray. Returning home isn’t just about apologizing—it’s about a profound change of heart.

    His journey isn’t just physical; it’s deeply moral and spiritual. Without experiencing loss and humility, the son wouldn’t have gained the wisdom necessary to understand what truly matters. His repentance is not merely saying “sorry”; it’s taking full responsibility and seeking reconciliation.

    2. The Older Brother’s Stagnation

    In contrast, the older brother represents the opposite of transformation. He has remained “loyal” and “dutiful,” yet he lacks the deeper compassion and self-awareness that the younger son gains through his fall. His loyalty is tied to a transactional understanding of his relationship with his father. He believes that following the rules entitles him to rewards.

    However, when he sees his brother return, he becomes bitter and resentful. His jealousy reveals his inability to comprehend the true nature of forgiveness and grace. While he believes that loyalty should be rewarded, he struggles to accept the father’s generosity toward the repentant son. This exposes the flaw in his view of faithfulness: it’s not just about staying loyal; it’s about embracing grace, forgiveness, and love.

    3. The Father’s Preference for the Repentant Son

    The father’s actions in the story speak volumes. He doesn’t just forgive the younger son—he goes out of his way to restore him to his rightful place in the family. The father’s joy and celebration of the son’s return show that he values transformation over mere loyalty. To him, the younger son’s repentance signifies a deeper, more meaningful change.

    The older brother, on the other hand, cannot understand why his brother is being celebrated. His view of loyalty lacks grace, focusing solely on merit. The father’s actions reveal a profound truth: that genuine transformation and repentance are more valuable than blind obedience or duty.

    4. The Parable’s Subversive Message

    What makes the Prodigal Son so powerful is how it subverts conventional expectations. The older brother, who has done everything right, is not the one the father celebrates. Instead, it is the one who has made mistakes, strayed, and then returned with genuine repentance.

    This aligns with a deeper spiritual principle often emphasized in Christian teachings: God values repentance and the willingness to transform oneself over mere outward adherence to rules or social norms. The story challenges the idea that it’s enough to simply “do your duty” or “stay loyal.” True faith requires openness to growth, change, and grace.

    5. The Call to Radical Grace

    The parable points to a radical message: true grace and forgiveness are not about rewarding those who follow the rules but about welcoming the lost, the broken, and the repentant. The father’s unconditional love for the Prodigal Son serves as a model of divine love—extending forgiveness even to those who have fallen farthest, as long as they return with a sincere heart.

    This challenges conventional ideas of justice based on merit and points to a more inclusive form of love. The older brother’s sense of entitlement contrasts sharply with the father’s generosity, showing that grace operates outside systems of merit and deservingness.

    6. The Lesson for the Faithful

    There’s a deeper challenge here for the “faithful” or “loyal” figures in the story, such as the older brother (who represents the “righteous” or those who follow the rules). The story teaches that loyalty and obedience don’t automatically entitle you to special treatment. Instead, the lesson is about embracing the joy of redemption and the value of grace.

    The older son’s bitterness reveals a misunderstanding of true loyalty. Loyalty isn’t about comparison or competition; it’s about love, compassion, and the willingness to rejoice in the redemption of others. The parable emphasizes that doing the right thing is important, but it must be coupled with a generous, forgiving heart.

    Conclusion: The Preference for the Repentant Son

    The Prodigal Son’s story clearly favors the repentant son over the older brother. It places a higher value on transformation, humility, and the willingness to embrace grace over mere fidelity or rigid adherence to rules. The father’s response teaches us a profound lesson about the nature of divine love and forgiveness, encouraging us to look beyond our assumptions about justice, loyalty, and merit.

    The older brother’s jealousy and anger reflect the common human tendency to measure worth based on performance. But the parable calls us to embrace a more radical, compassionate vision—a vision where even the most flawed and broken can be redeemed, and their return is celebrated, not condemned.

    Yes, the story of the Prodigal Son does show a preference for the repentant son—and in doing so, it calls attention to the importance of grace over judgment and transformation over stagnation.

    Written in collaboration with ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025).

  • A Call to Adventure: Finding Meaning Beyond Science

    In today’s world, it’s easy to get caught up in the quest for knowledge. Science explains how things work, but it doesn’t answer the deeper questions that stir our hearts: Why do we exist? What’s the purpose of life? These questions go beyond facts and data, and no matter how much we learn, they always seem to lead us back to one truth: there’s something more.

    Science can’t explain the deeper mysteries of the universe, nor can it help us understand what our lives truly mean. We may wonder if there’s a purpose to our existence or if we’re just drifting through an indifferent world. This is the call to adventure—the deeper yearning within us to explore what lies beyond the material world, to seek answers that resonate with our souls.

    Pope Paul VI once pointed out that our desire for spiritual fulfillment is a natural part of being human. We all feel the pull toward something greater than ourselves. The search for truth is a journey, a challenge, but one that ultimately leads to growth and transformation. For many, that truth is found in Jesus Christ, whose teachings of love, forgiveness, and redemption offer answers to our deepest questions.

    The journey to spiritual fulfillment isn’t easy, but like any great adventure, it’s about stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing the unknown. It’s not just about seeking answers—it’s about finding the right answer that brings purpose, peace, and connection to our lives.

    If you’ve ever wondered if there’s more to life, this is your invitation to begin the journey. The answers are out there, waiting to be discovered. Will you take the first step?

    Written in collaboration with ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025).

  • Building a Welcoming Parish: A Call to Action for the Knights

    How Knights of Columbus Can Strengthen Parish Community Through Outreach

    A strong parish is more than just a place of worship—it’s a spiritual home. Yet too often, new parishioners go unnoticed, never truly connecting with the faith community. As Knights of Columbus, we have a unique opportunity to change this by creating a more welcoming and engaged parish environment.

    The Problem: A Disconnected Parish

    Currently, our parish’s welcoming process is limited. Once new members are added to the collection envelope mailing list, there is little follow-up. Even our parish business director rarely sees their faces. Many new parishioners attend Mass but struggle to feel like they truly belong.

    As Knights, we are called to serve. By taking an active role in welcoming others, we can foster a sense of belonging and deepen the faith experience for all.

    A Vision for Parish Connection

    Imagine if every parishioner were part of a small group—similar to our Lenten study groups—but based on neighborhoods. New members would automatically be connected to a group near them, ensuring they find fellowship from the start. As groups grow, they would naturally divide, maintaining strong, personal connections.

    While the Church cannot share personal information without permission, there are still many ways we, as Knights, can integrate new members into the community.

    What We Can Do as Knights

    1. Be More Intentional in Greeting Others

    • Welcome parishioners at the church doors before and after Mass.
    • Engage in conversations at the donuts and coffee area after Mass.
    • Ask, “How long have you been part of the parish?” If they are new, introduce them to others.

    2. Help New Parishioners Connect

    • If someone has been a parishioner for over a year, ask if they’d be willing to help welcome and get to know new members.
    • Gather basic location information (such as neighborhood) to connect parishioners with nearby Catholic neighbors.
    • Encourage active members to invite newcomers into existing groups or ministries.

    3. Introduce New Members to Others

    • If a parishioner has been in the church for less than a year, personally introduce them to several people at the same Mass.
    • Make an effort to engage with them regularly—it takes about eight interactions with the between a person and the new parishioner over several months before he/she feels truly connected.
    • Learn about their work, hobbies, and background to foster genuine relationships.
    • When the time is right, ask if they’d like to meet other parishioners from their neighborhood and help facilitate those introductions.

    Next Steps

    • Identify Knights willing to take an active role in greeting and introducing parishioners.
    • Develop a simple system to track and connect new members to others in their area.
    • Work alongside parish leadership to enhance the overall welcoming strategy.

    Conclusion: A Parish Where Everyone Belongs

    By taking these small but meaningful steps, the Knights of Columbus can be the driving force behind a more connected and engaged parish. Welcoming new members is not just an act of kindness—it is an act of evangelization that strengthens the entire Church. When people feel seen, heard, and valued, they are more likely to deepen their faith and become active members of the community.

    Let’s step forward in our mission as Knights and make our parish a true spiritual home for all.

    Written in collaboration with ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025).

  • The Christian’s Heroic Journey: Ancient Myths and the Call to Faith

    The Christian’s Heroic Journey: Ancient Myths and the Call to Faith

    The Forgotten Heroic Role of Every Christian: Reclaiming the Lost Heroism of Faith

    Throughout history, myths and ancient stories have conveyed profound spiritual truths, shaping civilizations and guiding individuals through the complexities of life. However, in modern times, these narratives have been largely forgotten or dismissed as mere fiction. Within the Christian tradition, this loss has led to a misunderstanding of the faith, where holiness is often seen as passive or reserved for a select few saints. In reality, the Christian life itself is meant to be a heroic journey, one that every believer is called to undertake. The saints were not meant to be distant, unattainable figures, but models of the struggle that every Christian must engage in.

    This misunderstanding has resulted in a faith that is often reduced to adherence to doctrine and ritual, rather than a transformative path of meaning and purpose. The Catholic faith is not simply a system of moral rules, but a call to spiritual adventure, deeply embedded in the human experience and reflected in the structure of ancient myths. To reclaim this understanding, we must look to the archetypal patterns found in these stories, patterns that point us to the true heroic journey—the journey toward God.

    The Cost of Staying Passive: Apathy: The Slow Death of the Soul

    Many Christians feel disconnected from God, not because He is distant, but because they have settled for a passive faith. Ask yourself: Are you truly satisfied with where you are? A faith that lacks challenge quickly becomes stagnant, leading to frustration and even despair. Every great story—both in Scripture and in life—shows that growth only happens through struggle. The cost of remaining passive is not peace, but spiritual decay.

    The Rewards of the Heroic Path: Faith as the Ultimate Adventure

    Faith is not meant to be mere obligation—it is an adventure. What if the life you dream of is waiting for you on the other side of this journey? The saints were not born different from us; they were ordinary people who decided to engage fully with their faith. By stepping into the unknown and trusting God, they found a fulfillment that nothing else could provide. Transformation is not just about reaching heaven—it is about living fully now.

    The Illusion of Comfort: False Security: Trading Purpose for Passivity

    Many avoid effort because they believe they are choosing comfort. But are you really comfortable? Or are you just avoiding difficulty while quietly suffering from lack of purpose? The world offers distractions, but these distractions cannot replace true meaning. Choosing the path of faith may seem harder at first, but it brings a real and lasting fulfillment that worldly comfort can never provide.

    Myths, Meaning, and the Spiritual Path: Ancient Stories as Roadmaps to God

    As Jordan Peterson explains in Maps of Meaning, myths serve as psychological and spiritual maps that help individuals navigate the chaos of existence. These narratives depict the struggle between order and chaos, good and evil, suffering and redemption. In many ways, these themes mirror the Christian story. The hero of myth is often one who steps out of comfort and into the unknown, faces trials, undergoes transformation, and returns with newfound wisdom. This journey is reflected in the life of Christ, who enters into human suffering, conquers sin and death, and calls His followers to do the same.

    Unlike secular myths that leave the hero’s victory as an open-ended possibility, the Christian story presents the final and true archetype in Christ. He is the fulfillment of all previous heroic patterns, and His life serves as the ultimate guide for believers. Yet, His journey is not merely to be admired from a distance—it is to be lived out by every Christian. Baptism initiates this journey, and the sacramental life provides the structure and means for transformation. Each believer is called to carry the cross, to descend into suffering and darkness, and to emerge renewed in grace, ultimately becoming co-heirs with Christ in the Kingdom.

    The Call to Something Greater: Hearing the Call: Will You Answer?

    God does not call the qualified—He qualifies the called. Throughout Scripture, we see how He chose reluctant, flawed individuals and led them to greatness. Consider Moses, who doubted his ability, or Peter, who denied Christ—yet both became leaders of the faith. What if God is calling you now, but you are too afraid or too distracted to hear? Every hero must first answer the call, and ignoring it does not make it disappear.

    The Risk of Missing Out: The Regret of an Unlived Faith

    If you refuse the call, life will still happen to you—but you will not be shaping it. Many fear failure, but the real danger is regret. The worst thing is not making mistakes; the worst thing is looking back and realizing you never truly lived out your faith. If you do not step forward, you risk never experiencing the depth and richness that a life fully committed to God can bring.

    The Institutional Church and Its Role in Preserving the Heroic Path: The Church: A Fortress or a Battlefield?

    The Catholic Church, in its role as the guardian of truth, has historically been cautious of movements that threaten to distort or dilute doctrine. While this caution is necessary, it has also contributed to a perception of faith as static rather than dynamic. The institutional structure of the Church should not be seen as an obstacle to personal transformation but as the very framework within which the heroic journey unfolds. Tradition, doctrine, and sacramental life do not stifle spiritual adventure; they provide the path and safeguards necessary for true growth.

    The challenge for modern Catholics is to reclaim this heroic calling within the proper structure of the faith. The saints were not passive figures who merely followed rules; they were spiritual warriors who embraced the struggle and emerged transformed. Every Christian is meant to do the same. The hero’s journey is not an optional path—it is the essence of Christian life. To live the faith fully is to embrace the adventure of holiness, to fight against sin and despair, and to participate in the divine narrative that leads to ultimate redemption.

    In reclaiming this understanding, the faithful will not only deepen their own spiritual lives but also revitalize the Church itself. The world does not need passive adherents to a religious system—it needs heroes willing to live out the truth, fully engaged in the battle for meaning, virtue, and ultimate salvation.

    Written in collaboration with ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025).

  • Microspheres Key to Church Renewal

    I am dedicated to helping to promote the Kingdom of God in my parish and in my diocese. My goal is to find a way to promote the faith such that by 2030, the Archdiocese would be 4 times its current size, and have 1 priest for every 100 men.

    Although my view really doesn’t  matter, I see nothing wrong with the Teaching of the Church, the Hierarchy, or the Magesterium. As far as I can see, the shortcoming is in the gap between the priests and the lay people.

    Although a parish may be the size of several brigades, it is as useless as a mob without some structure, network, and relationships.

    Unfortunately, most of the time, it seems that the only thing that separates Catholics from the rest of the world is that 1 hour on Sunday when they actually separate themselves from the rest of the world.

    If you know a tree by the fruit it produces, then you would have to say that most Catholics are unaware of the treasure that God is. They have been given a gold mine, but they act like it’s just yellow plastic.

    These days most people prefer interacting with media, rather than with other human beings, often even in their own families.

    I believe that the “Sense of Community” one has with his church or parish is directly related to the number of microsphere relationships (average of 30 minutes per week per person) he has within that church.

    Would it take a network of 5, 10, or even 20 microsphere relationships experienced as shared lives, shared service, and shared support to create that sense of community? This would create the kind of environment where Catholics could find God and respond to their vocations.

    If we could develop within the Church support groups for everyone, many of the problems that the Church now experiences would disappear.

    It was the communities of brotherhoods that allowed Civilization to survive the invasions of Europe that occurred 1000 years ago. Something of that kind will be required to survive the current assault on our faith.

    I do not believe it is necessarily the Church’s responsibility or even within their capability to bring about this change.

    Tom Neugebauer

    Seized by Christ

  • Neighbor Definition

    I am in the process of trying to analyze what the Bible refers to as Neighbor.

    The Bible says to Love your Neighbor. It also says that whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me. In the days of the Bible, if it involved a distance of more than 20 miles, the best you could hope to do was send a package or a gift.

    The word Neighbor translates to Vecino in Spanish. Vecino is like the word Vicinity. And the direct literal translation from Spanish to English is Near.

    A Neighbor is a person who is near. I would say that a neighbor is a person within your Microsphere.

    The Bible says to whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me. The least of these would extend to those who you see regularly, but who are considered less by society.

    That includes children, women, the poor  and the infirm.

    It also extends to strangers and your enemy. But even in these cases, it refers to a stranger that comes to you. And it also addresses an enemy who is near to you.

    None of these references for neighbor, least of these, Stranger, or Enemy is a reference to significantly beyond your microsphere. I think this also brings in what the Catholic Church says about subsidiarity, that we are to focus on taking care of things at the most local level.

    If we want to deal with what takes place in a foreign land, Jesus sent his disciples out with just their sandals, and not even any food to eat. He did not send  them out with goods as gifts that might influence the receivers.

    This model seems most like how the Amish and Mennonites live. The Mennonites have missions, but they mostly go live with the people and be an example. The Amish model does not allow for traveling great distances

    Regards

    Tom Neugebauer

    Seized by Christ

  • Keeping Focused at Church

    Sometimes when I come to mass, I can be preoccupied with some project or some family matter, and it seems I can go through the whole liturgy, without actually being mentally there.

    I love being in the presence of the Lord, but the quiet time can let my brain go active.

    So, to compensate for this, I have been starting to participate, that is, add active steps to engage with the mass.

    First off, at the start of the service, the priest always does what is called the “Penitential Act, that starts with some sort of sin reflection, then the Kyrie, and ends with a prayer of absolution from the priest. I always try to pay enough attention to be able to do a sign of the cross as Father finishes that prayer. I do this as a way of accepting his blessing.

    Second of all, at the start of the Communion rite, Father says prayers, and blesses the bread and wine before starting the last supper prayers. I always try to do a sign of the cross on myself as Father does the same on the Bread and Wine.

    I do this, because the bread and wine up to that point, are not different from any other bread and wine. But they are blessed by the priest in anticipation of becoming the Body and Blood of Christ. In the same way, when we come to mass, we are not any different from any other human (except having been baptized, I suppose), so I accept the Priest’s blessing of the gifts with blessing of myself in preparation for receipt of the body and blood of Christ.

    And then when the priest raises up the Body of Christ, and then the Blood of Christ, I observe the juxtaposition of the Crucifix and the Eucharist/Blood, and say “My King and my God”.

    I find it interesting that the words to Panis Angelicus – Bread of Angels, was written by my patron saint – Thomas Aquinas.

    In addition, “My King and My God” were the words spoken by St Thomas, the Apostle, after he put his hands into the wounds of Jesus after his resurrection.

    So if I manage to stay engaged enough to remember to do these things, I consider that I have concentrated fairly well. Sometimes I just have to acknowledge that I missed.

    If this helps you, then it was worth sharing. If you do similar things, please share them so we can learn from each other.

    Regards

    Tom Neugebauer

    Seized by Christ

  • If You Are Inspired

    Pope Benedict XVI says that Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, or a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction. 

    C.S. Lewis says that there are 5 physical descriptions of heaven: 1) Being with Christ, 2) Being like Christ, 3) Being illuminated, 4) Being entertained and 5) Having a position (as sons of God). These are earthly representations of the real, spiritual heaven.

    I believe that a Christian experiences the physical descriptions of heaven while he is still in Jesus’ Kingdom on Earth. And he bears something of that heaven with him so that the rest of us can have a glimpse of it.

    You cannot make the encounter or event happen, but you can prepare yourself, so to let God know that you are willing to receive His outpouring. And the Bible says that he who seeks shall find.

    The most effective thing you can do is get together with other Christians to discuss the teachings of the Church as presented in recent Church documents. This will help you to grow in understanding of the Bible, the Church, and the state of Christianity in the world. And in addition, you will have the support of brothers.

    At St Max, we currently have at least 3 different groups that do this:

    That Man Is You; Fridays, 5:30-7:00 AM in Kolbe Hall: Men discuss the role of men in their families.

    Your Holy Family Ministries; Tuesdays, 6:30 to 8:00 PM in Room 215: Men and women discuss the recent documents of the Church related to the family.

    Amore Laetitia, Thursdays, 6:00 – 7:00 AM in Kolbe Hall: A recent Apostolic Exhortation on marriage is discussed by men.

    Getting to know more about God and your faith takes priority over service. Let your service grow out of your knowledge and love of God.

    Remember: this does not replace your sacraments.

    Regards

    Tom Neugebauer

  • Valley of the Shadow of Life

     

    Those are the people who say to God: “Thy will be done.” No soul that seriously and constantly desires Joy will ever miss it. To those who seek, it is found. To those who knock, it is opened.

    Ah, the saved . . . what happens to them is best described as the opposite of a mirage. 

    What seemed, when they entered it, to be the vale of misery, turns out, when they look back, to have been a well. And where present experience saw only salt deserts, memory truthfully records that the pools were full of water.

    The good man’s past begins to change so that his forgiven sins and remembered sorrows take on the quality of Heaven

    And that is why the Blessed will say, “We have never lived anywhere except in Heaven”

    And perhaps ye had better not call this country Heaven. Not deep Heaven, ye understand. “Ye can call it the Valley of the Shadow of Life

    C.S.Lewis – The Great Divorce