Carrying Crosses
Today's Gospel parables of the tower builder and the king waging war are simple enough to understand: in order to ensure success, one had better be fully prepared. But the sayings on discipleship that surround these parables are some of the most radical in the gospel. They, too, are not difficult to understand, but are immensely demanding to practice.

Last week, I became one of hundreds of people on visiting day at the Kern Valley State Prison in Delano. I was paying a visit to a young friend of mine, a kid who I had mentored through a life spent in a series of group homes, a kid known now as inmateG-49102.

Polarization has poisoned politics in America.  It has also poisoned dialogue in our Catholic Church.  What should be a respectful interaction of faithful followers of Christ sharing valid insights on issues affecting life in the twenty-first century too often degenerates into name-calling and attacks among the laity, and censure and excommunication from the bishops.  What would Christ expect of us? - by Tony Kowalski

The execution of the medical aid workers in Afghanistan shocked the world.  Six Americans, one German, two Afghans and a British citizen were ambushed, shot and robbed on August 5 in northern Afghanistan. They had been traveling from village to village in that remote part of the country to provide medical care. Tom Little, an eye doctor originally from Delmar, New York had spent forty year in Afghanistan treating diseases of the eye. He was sixty-one and a grandfather. Thomas Grams, 51, gave up a Colorado dentist practice to make dental health available to impoverished Afghan children. Forty-year-old Glen Lapp from Lancaster, Pennsylvania was a nurse.  Previously, Lapp had worked with the victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

The Church in the 21st Century Center at Boston College seeks to be a catalyst and resource for the renewal of the Catholic Church in the United States by engaging critical issues facing the Catholic community.  Many programs can be found online for your spiritual and theological development.

BustedHalo.com is a web e-zine that speaks candidly and occasionally irreverently on issues facing people in their 20's and 30's that intersect with spirituality. Open to dialogue and hearing the stories of young people, BustedHalo never preaches condescendingly, rather seeks to understand and to express the wisdom of Catholic and other religious traditions in away that makes sense to the experience of those "spiritually seeking."

The Center for Progressive Christianity provides guiding ideas, networking opportunities, and resources for progressive churches, organizations, individuals and others with connections to Christianity.

This site offers many daily resources on a wide range of topics for Catholics living their faith in the third millennium.

Perhaps you have never heard of Henri Nouwen or you may be quite familiar with his writing. Either way we invite you to explore this site and discover why the themes of his many books resonate so deeply with people all over the world.

An international, ecumenical
community founded in 1940, Taize,
France by Brother Roger.

In a move to unite U.S. Catholics, the newly formed American Catholic Council (ACC) called today for an historic assembly of the Catholic Church in the United States.

CORPUS (The National Association for an Inclusive Priesthood) is appalled by a recent Vatican announcement that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would treat any “attempted ordination of a woman” as a serious crime against the church. In fact, such an ‘attempted’ ordination would be classified by the church hierarchy as the same category of offense as sexual abuse.

CHECK THEM OUT! Photos of the participants at the recent CORPUS/FCM Conference in Dallas TX

It has been some time since I spoke with a number of you about your interest in the Ministry of Compassion … Interfaith Volunteer Chaplains program. As envisioned, the ministry will provide collaborative / adjunct support to regular military and Veterans Administration chaplains in pastoral service to military members, veterans, and their families.

Registration for the American Catholic Council meeting in Detroit, June 10-12, 2011.  Early registration provides savings. 

ALERT Would you like to see a married priesthood?  PLEASE send an electronic post card to the Vatican asking for this change.

Read the reasons for the delay of the new translation of the missal and also, if you desire, sign the petition to Rome for the delay.  Also you are encouraged to write your Bishop.  Sample letters can be found at the web site.