Mustard Seeds

I'm Back

2010-10-05T13:18:00.000-04:00

Ok...A lot has happened since May of 2009....I think I will try to blog again! Stay tuned!

Technology

2009-05-03T01:33:00.002-04:00

So......once again it has been months since I posted.

I am overwhelmed with all of the choices to stay in touch/stay informed with others through technology. I just got a new Blackberry.....so.....I have Facebook, Twitter, 4 Marks, this blog, an IPod for podcasts and RSS feeds.....I don't think I have time to work anymore. I am not sure how to best incorporate all the information. I need to go to a class on how to use it all...but be effective.

Is this what God envisioned for his flock? That we tweet our every movement?

IPOD

2009-01-18T22:55:00.001-05:00

I want to use my IPOD more....and I think I have found just the site/blog to do that....check these links out:
http://catholicipod.stblogs.com
http://catholicipod.com
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!

Where does the time go......

2009-01-18T21:43:00.002-05:00

So....October was the last time I posted, what a slacker! I guess I thought I must post something profound or not at all!

Second week of Ordinary Time....I have made it to mass two weekends in a row....ok, so the goal is not to miss Sunday mass in this first part of Ordinary time. I know, many go to daily mass...my goal is not to miss Sunday mass. One step at a time! Mass during the week is also a goal. I just wish there was a 7 pm mass close to my home.

I went to mass at St. I's in Monfort Heights tonight. Love Fr. Don Mcarthy...he even had some holy humor in the homily. They have what looks like a very well organized youth group.....Ryan and I may start to attend this parish some.....I would like him to make the trip to Steubenville for the youth retreat in the summer....as it looks like public high school for him next year.

Prayers this week for President-elect Obama.....and all those who are attending the March for Life!

A Call for a Rosary Novena

2008-10-19T21:41:00.002-04:00

A Call for a Rosary Novena
By Fr. John Corapi
www.fathercorapi.com
Among the most important titles we have in the Catholic Church for the Blessed Virgin Mary are Our
Lady of Victory and Our Lady of the Rosary. These titles can be traced back to one of the most decisive
times in the history of the world and Christendom. The Battle of Lepanto took place on October 7 (date
of feast of Our Lady of Rosary), 1571. This proved to be the most crucial battle for the Christian forces
against the radical Muslim navy of Turkey. Pope Pius V led a procession around St. Peter’s Square in
Vatican City praying the Rosary. He showed true pastoral leadership in recognizing the danger posed to
Christendom by the radical Muslim forces, and in using the means necessary to defeat it. Spiritual
battles require spiritual weapons, and this more than anything was a battle that had its origins in the
spiritual order—a true battle between good and evil.
Today we have a similar spiritual battle in progress—a battle between the forces of good and evil, light
and darkness, truth and lies, life and death. If we do not soon stop the genocide of abortion in the
United States, we shall run the course of all those that prove by their actions that they are enemies of
God—total collapse, economic, social, and national. The moral demise of a nation results in the ultimate
demise of a nation. God is not a disinterested spectator to the affairs of man. Life begins at conception.
This is an unalterable formal teaching of the Catholic Church. If you do not accept this you are a heretic
in plain English. A single abortion is homicide. The more than 48,000,000 abortions since Roe v. Wade in
the United States constitute genocide by definition. The group singled out for death—unwanted, unborn
children.
No other issue, not all other issues taken together, can constitute a proportionate reason for
voting for candidates that intend to preserve and defend this holocaust of innocent human
life that is abortion.
I strongly urge every one of you to make a Novena and pray the Rosary to Our Lady of Victory
between October 27th and Election Day, November 4th. Pray that God’s will be done and the
most innocent and utterly vulnerable of our brothers and sisters will be protected from this
barbaric and grossly sinful blight on society that is abortion. No woman, and no man, has the
right to choose to murder an innocent human being.
May God grant us the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and counsel to form our conscience in
accordance with authentic Catholic teaching, and then vote that well‐formed Catholic conscience.
Please copy, email, link and distribute this article freely.
God Bless You
Fr. John Corapi
www.fathercorapi.com

A New Archbishop

2008-10-19T21:27:00.005-04:00

Friday, Darlene called and told me of the new Archbishop. I knew we would be getting a new Archbishop....just didn't know how the process worked. I am happy that the appointment is from outside of the diocese and that he has been a parish priest.....I hope to attend the mass in December to formally recognize our new Archbishop.

Following is the post off the archdiocese web site:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2008

POPE NAMES COADJUTOR ARCHBISHOP FOR CINCINNATI

The Holy See announced today that Pope Benedict XVI has appointed the Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr, currently bishop of Duluth, Minn., and treasurer of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to be coadjutor archbishop of Cincinnati.
As coadjutor, he will assist Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk and then succeed him upon Archbishop Pilarczyk’s retirement. Roman Catholic bishops are required to submit their resignation to the pope upon the age of 75, which Archbishop Pilarczyk reaches in August 2009. The pope may accept the resignation immediately or after some time.
“I hope that all the members of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are as happy as I am about the appointment of Archbishop Dennis Schnurr as coadjutor archbishop of our local church,” said Archbishop Pilarczyk. “I wish Archbishop Schnurr many years of fruitful and joyous service in our midst. I know that the days of all of us will be bright because of his ministry here.”
Archbishop Schnurr, 60, organized the highly successful 1993 World Youth Day which brought the late Pope John Paul II to the United States in 1993. A canon lawyer, he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, in 1974 after studies in Rome. He spent three years in parish ministry, three years in graduate studies and five years in diocesan administration before working on the staff of the papal nuncio to the United States from 1985 to 1989.
In 1989, he was hired by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to oversee the Conference’s peace and social justice projects. As general secretary of the USCCB from 1995 until 2001, he oversaw a staff of 350 and a budget of $50 million. He became bishop of Duluth in 2001. Today he remains highly active in the USCCB as its treasurer.
“It is humbling to be called by the Holy Father to serve as the Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati,” he said today. “Relying upon the help of God and the prayers of the People of God, I have accepted the nomination. I am grateful to our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, for the confidence he places in me.”
“I am particularly thankful to the Holy Father for asking me to serve with Archbishop Pilarczyk, whom I have known for nearly twenty years and for whom I have the highest esteem,” Archbishop Schnurr added. “He served as President of the NCCB/USCC when I was Associate General Secretary, and I had the opportunity to work closely with him on a number of Conference projects. He appointed me National Executive Director of World Youth Day 1993, which brought the Holy Father and 500,000 young people for a week-long celebration of the faith in Denver, Colorado. I look forward to once again being able to collaborate closely with and work under the leadership of Archbishop Pilarczyk.”
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 26th largest Catholic diocese in the country, with almost 500,000 Catholics, and has the eighth largest network of Catholic schools in terms of enrollment. The 19-county territory includes 220 parishes and 113 Catholic primary and secondary schools.

Important People and Events

2008-10-11T15:06:00.006-04:00

I was sitting at a Women's Conference (St. Gertrude's in Maderia, Ohio) last week listening to two fabulous speakers, Tim Staples and Father Wade Menezes. I started to think about how many really wonderfully Catholic conferences and speakers I have been to in the last 4 years since my re-vert to Holy Mother Church. Yes, I listen and leave these talks on fire for the truth....and I keep scraps of paper, but have I kept a concise list, a really great spiritual journal...no. Can I recreate the full list, probably not. But I can document what I do remember and continue from this day to record my thoughts and feelings when I return home from these wonderful opportunities of grace!

Ok, so to start. The first conference I attended when I returned to the church was a Women of Grace conference (October 2005). It was held in northern Kentucky. I was blessed to meet my dear friend Crazy Catholic Sue there! The speakers were Johnnette Benkovic, MaryBeth Bonacci, Fr. Edmund Sylvia...and more. It was a wonderful weekend, full of praise, worship, a spontaneous rosary group that just happened during a break! I knew at that conference that I was hungry for the truth....I was coming to realize that no matter how far down the sinner path I had gone......I am forgiven and he always takes me back.....whew....I had work to do, but felt so loved!

Since that first conference I have been blessed to hear and see a Cardinal of the church, many wonderful and holy Priests, and lay people such as:

John Cardinal Foley, Father John Corapi (twice), Father Mitch Pacwa, Father Leroy Smith (twice), Father Bill McCarthy (twice), Father Gregory Bramlage, Father Andrew Apostoli, Father Wade Menezes, Father Anthony Brausch, Tim Staples, John Martignoni, Carmelo Cortez (three times), Dan Schneider, Bill Richart...and others that I will add as I remember!

I recently attended a conference for vocations here in Cincinnati that was terrific, The Call of the King Conference. Follow this link for more info: http://www.cincinnativocations.org/stmichaelprayerwarriors.php

The Catholic Warrior

2008-10-10T22:47:00.000-04:00

I picked up a book on spritual warfare at the anniversary celebration of "Our Lady of Light" at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center in August. I am reading the book for the second time. "The Catholic Warrior" by Robert Abel. I think it is great....short...to the point.....easy to read. Makes me think....makes me want to act. You can find the book at http://www.catholicwarriors.com/

I love the Holy Spirit Center....if you are ever in Cincinnati...you must spend time there! http://www.olhsc.org/

Mustard Seeds

2008-10-10T22:21:00.000-04:00

Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
– Luke 13:18–9
And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
– Mark 4:30–2
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
– Matthew 13:31–2
The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us what Heaven's kingdom is like." He said to them, "It's like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, but when it falls on prepared soil, it produces a large plant and becomes a shelter for birds of the sky."
– Thomas 20

Welcome To My Blog Site

2008-10-10T21:51:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Connie's blog.....Mustard Seeds. The daily ramblings of a 40 something woman.

I am.....a believer and follower of Jesus....devotee of Mary (mom of Jesus).....mom of one great teenage son....dutiful daughter.....head of household (as defined by the IRS).....full time employee of the state of Ohio.

I am.....trying to live and grow in my Catholic faith in this ever changing world. Whew.