Recently someone accused me of being “so judgmental.” It wasn’t meant to be a compliment. Yet when we think someone is wise we might say that they have “good judgement.”  What’s the difference? Are both true? In a world where being judgmental is a high cultural crime, how do Catholics understand right and wrong? In this talk, Dr. Ed Sri talks about judging, right and wrong, faith and love. Read my review below to see if this talk would be good for you to hear (spoiler, I think it would be good for all of us to give a listen). 

If all you know about St. Francis is that he likes animals then you might want to see why millions have revered this great Saint for the last 800 years. By examining Francis’ life, this film helps the viewer to look inward to their own life of faith. St. Francis is one of the most loved saints in all the world, but do we really know him? Cities, schools, hospitals, and churches around the globe are dedicated to him, but why? He can be found in gardens across the country, but he must be more than just a birdbath. Check it out...

As St. Joseph plans to celebrate Christmas this year in the midst of a global pandemic, I want to encourage everyone to make this Advent a time to prepare our hearts and homes.  I think this video is worth the time to view as Christmas draws near.  The story of the birth of Jesus is a familiar one. We’ve heard it many times. The temptation is to zone out when we start to hear it because we think we fully understand. In this talk on Advent and Christmas Dr. Scott Hahn shows us new ways to understand the birth of Jesus Christ. This new understand could certainly add depth to one’s celebration of Christmas. Check out the review of Prepare the Way of the King for yourself. 

2020 has been a trying time to get the faithful to the sacraments.  St. Joseph has made great effort to offer the Holy Mass and to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation safely.   One way we can better prepare ourselves for Christmas in this Advent season is to crate peace in our hearts through 'letting go' of all the sins we are holding onto.  Confession is the gift to give to yourself this season to set yourself free again.  If you need a little motivation to return to Confession, then read my review of Dr. Scott Hahn’s talk The Healing Power of Confession. You may just need to hear what he has to say about this beautiful Sacrament. Also, Dr. Hahn is pretty entertaining if you’ve never heard him speak. 

A couple days off from school, even if it is school at home, means the kids are going to start to get squirrelly. If you are anything like my wife and I, you may get tired of the endless loop of meaningless children’s media they consume. You might want to try this show on Formed called, “The Wonderful World of Benjamin Cello.” The show reminds us of some of the greats in children’s programming like Mister Rogers or Captain Kangaroo (though not at their status of course). We felt like you could tell a lot of thought went into the content and style of the show. It might just be the kind of show to start a conversation in your house. Check out my review to see if it is right for you. 

This week across this great land we will celebrate Thanksgiving. While some may find it difficult to find things to be grateful for, I do believe there is much for which we can give thanks. And it’s true that this year may look different than every other year. We may not get to celebrate in the way we are accustomed. How are going to give thanks this year? What does this seemingly secular holiday off our faith?

On October 31st 2020, Fr. Michael McGivney was named Blessed by Pope Francis. This means that a miracle was attributed to his intercession and Fr. McGivney is one step closer to becoming a recognized Catholic Saint. Fr. McGivney is most known as the founder of the Knight of Columbus a fraternal organization of Catholic men. There is more to Fr. McGivney’s story than the Knights and there is more to the Knights than pancake breakfasts.

Christmas Outreach, our 27 year program of bringing a bit of Christmas cheer to the less fortunate, will continue this year in spite of Covid 19. God is good! We have a new format for the trees in the church, making it much easier to see and select an envelope, and we have added virtual trees. That's right, you can choose your envelope from your phone, tablet, or computer.

Why are we here? Why does anything exist? Does God exist? These are some big questions. These questions and many more are tackled in The Search on formed.org. At the beginning the pandemic I reviewed Episode 1 of The Search. I’m back to review Episodes 2 & 3. You don’t want to miss this review or this incredible study. (SERIOUSLY, just go watch Episode 3 right now. Worth it.)

A short video highlighting some of the activities going on at St. Joseph Parish

Every single time I’ve learned something new about the Mass, the next time I attended I had a more profound experience of prayer. Knowing about what we are about when we gather together for Mass is so helpful in growing in our love for the Mass. The Catholic Mass has so many hidden gems that help us to worship well and by learning about them we can see how the Mass really is the source and summit of our faith life. One easy and convenient way to learn about the various aspects of the Mass is to watch this series of brief videos (really 2-5 minutes each!) called The Elements of the Catholic Mass. Check out my review below.

A quick video explaining some of the many things going on in our great parish

At the visitation for one of my friend’s grandfathers a group of about 15 men came in, gathered around the casket, and began to pray the Rosary. The crowd that was gathered was moved and amazed at the faith of these great men. Later we looked into the casket and saw the rosary of my grandfather-in-law. The beads were worn, the metal was discolored. This was a rosary that was prayed often. This beautiful witness to the power of the Rosary has always stuck with me. Dr. Ed Sri gives the talk reviewed below all about the Rosary and why it matters to Catholics. Title Praying the Rosary Like Never Before

Bishops Document on how to be a good Catholic Citizen

Here is a link to the Archbishop's article about voting.