Podcasts about flocknote

Episode 100: "There is so much healing happening here; mind, body, and soul. This is certainly shaping up to be one of His 'blessings in disguise.'"---On this 100th EPISODE host Julia Monnin shares with listeners the latest update regarding her husband's "Stage 4 Metastatic Cancer" journey. And, in celebration of this 100th episode, she even welcomes a very special guest to join her. Tune in to find out who!---You can subscribe to Julia's Blog at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theworldisnoisy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To learn more about JRM's 2025 Pilgrimage to France, visit stcharlespilgrimages.com/tritle-monnin---NEW for 2025! Stay in touch with JRM via Flocknote. Subscribe at ⁠⁠journeysrevealed.flocknote.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠journeysrevealed.com⁠

Episode 99: "Deep waters cannot quench love, / nor rivers sweep it away. / Were one to offer all the wealth of his house for love, / he would be utterly despised." – Song of Songs 8:7 --- In this episode, author and host Julia Monnin shares with listeners a talk about St. Thérèse of Lisieux given by Fr. Jedidiah Tritle at the 5th Annual "The World Is Noisy – God Whispers"® Retreat in January of 2025. --- NEW for 2025! Stay in touch with JRM via Flocknote. Subscribe at journeysrevealed.flocknote.com --- theworldisnoisy.com | journeysrevealed.com

Episode 98: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us..." (John 1:1, 14). --- Tune in to this episode to learn more about St. John the Apostle—"The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved"—and why he is the patron saint of friendship. --- "All my longing was and still is that since He has so many enemies and so few friends that these few friends be good ones." - St. Teresa of Avila --- NEW for 2025! Stay in touch with JRM via Flocknote. Subscribe at journeysrevealed.flocknote.com --- ⁠⁠⁠⁠theworldisnoisy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠journeysrevealed.com⁠

What's happening this October? Hello St. Mary Magdalene,  We've got a lot going on this month and you can find all of these events and some additional details on our website (www.smarymag.org), Flocknote, and bulletin! I've included a summary too in this description:  Friday October 27th 5-7pm: Trunk or Treat Friday October 27th 7-9pm: Young Adult party November 1st: All Saints day! Mass times are 7pm on 10/31 and 6:30am, 8am, and 6pm on November 1st.  November 2nd: All Souls Day: Mass times at 8am and 6pm November 5th: Our parish Novemberfest from 1-4pm. Come celebrate with food, fun, and games!  I hope to see you at these events and a huge thank you to all helping to make these events happen!   God bless,  Fr. Chris Visit us: https://www.smarymag.org Support us online: https://membership.faithdirect.net/AZ754

Today we're talking about reaching parishioners and the challenges attendant therein. It is very important to communicate well, and good tools like Flocknote are tremendous aids for parishes. At the same time, we need healthy staffing for our parishes (both clergy and lay staff), and a healthy engagement of lay people in the life and ministry of parishes. This was a fun conversation to have, and even though we haven't figured out all the answers, it's a blessing to be able to try to figure it out together! SHOW NOTES Catholic Young Adults in Fairfield County Word on Fire podcast - Why Parishes Fail to Engage 93% of Parishioners "Why They Follow" - by Matthew Warner Roar Like the Lamb is produced by Chris McHugh - McQ Marketing Group

Bobby talks with friend Matt Warner about why effective communication matters, his work at Flocknote that helps with Church communication, and his new book "Why They Follow: Lessons in Church Communication from That One Lost Sheep." Matt Warner is the founder of Flocknote, an all-in-one software solution helping over ten thousand churches and dioceses better connect with their flocks. He has spent the last twenty years on pastoral councils, leading ministries, traveling all over the country speaking to thousands of church leaders, podcasting, blogging, writing books, and creating innovative media projects that have engaged countless people. He, his wife, and their six children hang their hats in Texas. -- This episode is sponsored by CatholicVote's "The Loop": GOT LOOP? A go-to daily news source is CatholicVote's the LOOP, your one-stop shop for the headlines that matter to you from sources you can trust. The best part? It's all FREE. So sign up today at gettheloop.com -- Thanks for listening! For more info on our talks, books, and resources, please visit our website at: ⁠https://jackieandbobby.com/⁠ If you feel called to support us financially in this ministry endeavor, please prayerfully consider visiting our support page: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/jackieandbobby

Jack Beers is Vice President of Ministry at Dynamic Catholic, responsible for creating a world-class experience for everyone who encounters the ministry. Through his dedication to Dynamic Catholic's mission, Jack has been privileged to be part of many life-changing projects that have impacted the faith of millions. A die-hard New York Mets fan, Jack resides in the Cincinnati metro area with his wife and children. Dynamic Catholic and Flocknote are partnering this Lent to deliver its Best Lent Ever experience to over 9,000 parishes nationwide—for free. Parishes that use Flocknote will now have unlimited access to the program, which delivers two daily videos designed to inspire participants to grow closer to God one moment at a time. Both organizations see this as an unprecedented opportunity to reach parishioners directly and create a daily community-wide conversation. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sayyestoholiness/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sayyestoholiness/support

Some ideas for Lent! Hello St. Mary Magdalene,  Thanks for tuning in to this week's video with me Fr. Chris. I'm joined today by Lita Martinez and we're talking about some ideas for Lent that will help you learn more about your faith and grow closer to Christ. As Lent comes quickly and we begin our disciplines a useful tip is, as we give up something, fill that time/space with something that will bolster your faith.  Details on many of what Lita and I share are below:  1. Bible Study "Parousia" meets Mondays from 6:30-8pm from February 27th until April 3rd AND Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11am March 1st through April 5th. The QR code is in this week's Flocknote (2/17/23) so please come and join one of these two sessions.  2. Join us as we host Floriani on March 10th from 6:30-9pm at Mary Magdalene as they walk us through "What Would Jesus Sing?"  3. March 11th come join World Ablaze for their "Vitae: Life After Roe" conference. Registration information is also included in this week's Flocknote (2/17/23).  4. Lenten Book Study: signup on Flocknote to join these groups or email Lita in the parish office if interested.  Sorry if I missed anything, if I did, it's in this video or you can email us and we'll point you in the right direction.   God bless,  Fr. Chris Visit us: https://www.smarymag.org Support us online: https://membership.faithdirect.net/AZ754

Happy Advent! Hello St. Mary Magdalene,  Thanks for tuning in to this week's video. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It's hard to believe that this weekend is the First Sunday of Advent, the start of a new liturgical year and the time of preparation for Christ's coming. This is a fantastic season of hope and expectation and one of my favorite times of year. So, amidst the preparation for Christmas let's not forget to prepare your heart, mind, and soul for the coming of Christ so that our joy may be full at His coming. Throughout each day in Advent, do something intentional to help both grow your faith and to become more aware of how and where Christ is present in your life.  Also, I wanted to announce that beginning this weekend, we'll be bringing back the Precious Blood for distribution during Mass. I know this is cold and flu season but the chalice is optional, you don't have to receive it if you don't want to. While not necessary to receive from the chalice, the Church also teaches that receiving the Body and Blood during Mass is a more full sign of Communion. How the chalices will work is that we'll have four stations available as you return down the aisles to your seats. After receiving from the rail, return to your seats as normal and on the way you'll see the Extraordinary Ministers with the Precious Blood on your way back. I'm excited to have the chalices return.  Next, I want to thank you all for your patience as we continue improving our sound in the church. Thanks to an anonymous donor we've been able to add several more speakers in strategic locations, rewire our system through the ceiling, and purchase and install a new amplifier, some of which was done as recently as this week. Now we are working to balance the system for both sound and intelligibility so I thank you for your continued patience as we make these fine tuning adjustments.  Finally, I wanted to offer a short catechesis on the Advent Wreath. I'll link to a summary article in the description, and our Flocknote. From what we can tell the Advent Wreath comes from Germany and although we don't know exactly when it started, historical records do show that by the 1600's the practice was widespread. Its circular shape represents God's infinite nature (without beginning or end) and His Love for us without end. The candles symbolize Christ, the Light of the world coming into the darkness of sin and each has its own theme: hope, peace, joy, and love. So, as we get our Advent wreaths ready, let this visible sign remind us all that Christ comes to save us, and that His Love for us is too great to leave us in our brokenness. May the Light of Christ illuminate us all this Advent season and help us to turn away from sin and towards Your Merciful Love!  Let's pray: “Dear Lord, please allow us to embrace Advent in the way the Church intends: as a way to prepare for Your arrival. May everything we do–every gift we send, every party we attend, every meal we share–remind us to prepare space in our hearts for You. Amen.”   God bless,   Fr. Chris Visit us: https://www.smarymag.org Donate online: https://membership.faithdirect.net/AZ754 To learn the History and Meaning, Colors, Symbolism, Themes, and More: https://hallow.com/blog/advent-candles-and-advent-wreaths/

Happy Feast of St. Mary Magdalene! Hello St. Mary Magdalene,  Last week I communicated that we've had a two week delay on our re-opening date, today I'm confirming that we're on track to meet that deadline and confirm that we are planning on re-opening on August 13th and 14th at all Sunday Masses that day. Daily Masses will resume in the full space on August 15th. Thank you again for your patience. To that end, I wanted to share with you all too, in this Flocknote and on our website you'll find a wish list of items for our new sanctuary space. We're asking for these new items in order to ensure consistency, coordination, and coherence of our liturgical items so that they match thematically. It's similar to doing a remodel in your home and needing new furnishings so that the décor matches. Our old liturgical furnishings will be donated to another parish. I have some ideas in mind and am coordinating that in the weeks to come. Also, today, July 22nd is our patronal feast day, St. Mary Magdalene, so I'd be remiss if I didn't share a few thoughts about her. She's often referred to as the “Apostle to the Apostles” a title which denotes her beautiful role and mission as the first witness of our Resurrected Lord. It's not an indicator that she was ordained a priest, she wasn't, but she was given a special role. Our word “Apostle” in English comes from the Greek “Apostelos” which means to send. Biblically we see this word used in the New Testament with a double meaning, indicating either mission or rank (such as Peter and Paul the Apostles). In reference to Mary Magdalene then, it's this first context that the Church applies to Mary Magdalene, that she was sent to announce the Good News of Jesus's Resurrection to the Apostles who were then sent out to proclaim that same message to all the world. Mary Magdalene then, today is venerated in a particular way reminding us that the call to evangelize, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ isn't just a role for bishops, priests, and deacons, but for all the baptized, all those who love Jesus. Therefore, in honor of St. Mary Magdalene, who's an apostle in your life? Who's someone that's bolstered your faith? How can you share your faith with someone today and everyday?  God bless,   Fr. Chris Visit us: https://www.smarymag.org Donate online: https://membership.faithdirect.net/AZ754

The Matt Warner Interview with Matthew KellyNew York Times bestselling author Matthew Kelly interviews Matt Warner.Matthew Warner is a pioneer in the area of Church communications. A husband, a father, an entrepreneur and employer, he is the founder of Flocknote and the author of Messy & Foolish: How to Make a Mess, be a Fool, and Evangelize the World. It's an outstanding book, he is an extraordinary man, and I recently had the chance to sit down with him here in the studio for a conversation. I hope it enriches your life the way it enriched mine. Get Matthew's 60 Second Wisdom delivered to your inbox: https://www.matthewkelly.com/subscribeSubscribe to Matthew's YouTube Channel today! https://www.youtube.com/c/MatthewKell...https://www.matthewkelly.comThe Best Version of Yourself and 60 Second Wisdom are registered trademarks.#MatthewKelly #BestVersionOfYourself #60SecondWisdom #BestVersion #thoughtleader #mattwarner #flocknote #catholic

Looking for something specific? 2:10 When No One Shows Up Stories 8:00 Getting People to Show Up to New/Different Events 10:30 Advertise Ministry Differently (Snapchat!) 14:17 Mentality of Hospitality 18:29 Advanced Notice is KEY 19:47 Syncing Ministry Calendars Straight to Phones 22:54 Who Needs to Have the Info? 24:45 Examine Your Processes 25:39 Save the Dates are Your Friend 27:25 Create "The Purple Cow"  34:34 The Ministry Stretch (Creep) 37:52 It's about the Relationship Shareables (resources)Snapchat is popular right now. Wanting to use it for ministry? Download our PDF on how to safely use Snapchat.  Interested in setting up your ministry calednar digitally so it can directly sync to your kids' and parents' phones? Check out these notes.  We love FLOCKNOTE and if you're looking for a new way to communicate (including texting), check them out.  Seth Godin wrote the fantastic book The Purple Cow: transform your business by being remarkable that caused Jake to rethink his ministry. It may be worth a read!

Dear St. Anne Family, I greet you with affection from the little village of Greccio where I arrived yesterday, walking and singing in the rain - just like Gene Kelly. In 1223, St. Francis celebrated Christmas here with his brothers and friends and began, unbeknownst to him, a tradition that has continued to this day: the representation of the birth of our Redeemer. What is so natural for us - placing a nativity scene at home or reproducing the manger scene in any way possible - originated in these cold mountains. St. Francis' idea is now part of our culture, and as disciples of Christ we have the mission and the joyful responsibility of perpetuating it, passing it on to the next generations. In this way, they too will be able to contemplate and receive the boundless love of a God who became man to save us. " Thus says the LORD: ‘Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The LORD has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel'”. I imagine that, back in the United States, the streets, houses and businesses are filled these days with so many signs of death, fear, and darkness. In the face of that exaltation of the macabre, I announce to you from here that true life that has been manifested in the flesh of a newborn Child. With the holy prophet David I tell you this Sunday: "The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” I invite you to let Christ, the only light of the world, heal the blindness that prevents us from seeing with the eyes of God. In the Flocknote group where we are walking together in the knowledge of St. Francis of Assisi, tomorrow we will share the story of that distant Christmas celebrated here in Greccio. It is probably the most beautiful page of all the Franciscan sources and I encourage you to savor it slowly. Two days ago in the hermitage of the Speco of Narni, Brother Vincenzo explained to me that Francis' main purpose with that first representation was to show the relationship between the mystery of the Incarnation and that of the Eucharist: as the second reading tells us, Christ is priest between God and mankind because, after Mary's courageous and generous yes, he became one of us in everything except sin. In the economy of grace that Jesus initiates, he is the eternal priest who offers the one sacrifice, and the immolated victim is that body that at Christmas we can contemplate for the first time lying in the manger. The Holy Mass is the sacramental renewal of Christ's offering to the Father for us. St. Francis of Assisi teaches us, therefore, that the Mass makes truly, bodily present for us each day, the birth of our Lord in the flesh. All this is to lose oneself and to die of joy in the gentle, humble, tender, and infinite love of the Lord for us poor sinners. If we are not saints, we are miserably losing our lives. Is it possible to refuse the gift of God? Can we close the door to the Child who desires to transform our souls? We know the answer: "He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him." (Jn 1:11) As we have heard in the Gospel, this Christmas, which is already so close, the Master calls you. He wants to give you back your sight. He wants to fill your heart with the only light that is never extinguished; to heal, by touching you, the sicknesses of your spirit. He wants to give you back the innocence and joy of a little child. At St. Anne we want to offer opportunities for you, too, to rise and come closer to Him and live this Christmas with great joy and intensity. To this end, we are preparing activities for children, families and people of good will that will be communicated to you in the coming days. Following the invitation of the Poverello, we want to live these days, the happiest of the year, in Jesus, with Jesus and for Jesus. We will have personal, family and community prayer. There will be joy in our songs, beauty in our liturgical celebrations, charity for the most needy, and hope and peace in the many events that we wish to share with you. The Baby Jesus Mission will return to bring the image of the God who is born for us to the streets of Gilbert and many other cities. We will have opportunities to be reborn again through conversion, mercy, and the grace of sacramental forgiveness. Borrowing the words with which Thomas of Celano described the Christmas of 1223 here in Greccio, our parish will become "a new Bethlehem" where God will come again, and where men will open their lives so that the Divine Child may find a worthy dwelling place in them. Please be attentive to the Christmas activities that will be announced shortly. Participate in parish life as much as possible. Like Bartimaeus, let us believe that Jesus is capable of doing impossible things in us and let us allow his Word and his Body to bring us healing, grace and joy. Only two months left! From the grotto of the Nativity in Greccio, Italy, your brother, father, and unworthy pastor blesses you and wishes you peace. Fr. Sergio

Sanctuary Progress Report Hello St. Mary Magdalene, Today's video is a short update on the progress of our sanctuary project. Make sure you're following us on our website (www.smarymag.org) Flocknote (flocknote.com/smarymag) and YouTube so that you're up to date with all our events and my updates. God bless, Fr. Chris Visit us: www.smarymag.org Support us: https://membership.faithdirect.net/AZ754

We know, we know, we know. It's too early to start celebrating Christmas. But it's not too early to start planning for it. In fact, most churches miss a massive opportunity every single Christmastime…is yours going to miss it again this year? Honestly, it may be the most important year yet to make sure your church doesn't miss out. Be the first to know when we release new video episodes. Subscribe and view all show notes on The Finding Uno Show official website: findinguno.com Interested in Flocknote?  Get started for free at flocknote.com

How should it feel when you walk into a church? And what does the space — the architecture, art, materials, faces, smells, sounds — communicate to us as we encounter it? Where does our mind go? Does it matter? Why is it important that it feel strange and weird? Tune in today for a fun discussion on things that make us feel...different. Be the first to know when we release new video episodes. Subscribe and view all show notes on The Finding Uno Show official website: findinguno.com Interested in Flocknote?  Get started for free at flocknote.com

A lot of churches struggle to get folks involved in their various ministries. And a lot of church members are slowly drifting out because they haven't managed to get more deeply plugged into your community. What if in just two minutes, you could solve that? And at the same time, grow every single ministry at your church to bigger than they've ever been? Here's a simple way to do it. Be the first to know when we release new video episodes. Subscribe and view all show notes on The Finding Uno Show official website: findinguno.com Interested in Flocknote?  Get started for free at flocknote.com

We've all had those days. Sometimes it seems like every day is like this. You start with a nice, organized to-do list. Then five minutes into the day you're putting out fires, responding to emails, reacting to interruptions...and then? The day is over. And none of the important stuff on your list got done. Sound familiar? In this episode, we give you a simple framework to help take back your day, tame the urgent, and get back to doing the most important parts of your work. Be the first to know when we release new video episodes. Subscribe and view all show notes on The Finding Uno Show official website: findinguno.com Interested in Flocknote?  Get started for free at flocknote.com

Church leaders know that some software can make life so much easier, saving time, money, and headaches. But they also know that sometimes church software does the total opposite, ending up as frustrating and counterproductive. What's the difference? And how should your church navigate choosing various types of software to make sure you get it right? Be the first to know when we release new video episodes. Subscribe and view all show notes on The Finding Uno Show official website: findinguno.com Interested in Flocknote?  Get started for free at flocknote.com

Today's topic is close to our hearts here at Flocknote and The Finding Uno Show as it is based on our favorite parable of the one lost sheep. If you have 100 people in your group and one stops showing up would you notice that person was missing? And if so what do you do about it? Come learn this powerful insight into building relationships and growing your ministry. Be the first to know when we release new video episodes. Subscribe and view all show notes on The Finding Uno Show official website: findinguno.com Interested in Flocknote?  Get started for free at flocknote.com  

Do you know the purpose of a church logo? And what makes a good one? How do you think yours stacks up? A strong church logo scores well in all 4 of these key categories...tune in to find out what they are, and learn how to make sure your logo is in tip-top shape. Be the first to know when we release new video episodes. Subscribe and view all show notes on The Finding Uno Show official website: findinguno.com Interested in Flocknote?  Get started for free at flocknote.com

For the first time in US history less than half of Americans belong to a church. Less than half! Tune in as we dig into all the data in this latest Gallup study including understanding why the last 20 years in particular have been so significant. We'll discuss what this means for the future of the Church and what we should do about it. Be the first to know when we release new video episodes. Subscribe and view all show notes on The Finding Uno Show official website: https://www.findinguno.com Interested in Flocknote?  Get started for free at https://www.flocknote.com

At Flocknote, we get to see thousands of weekly emails from churches. Many churches, who otherwise do a great job communicating, still make a lot of common mistakes in their weekly email newsletter. Come learn about 12 of the most common mistakes...and how to easily fix them! Be the first to know when we release new video episodes. Subscribe and view all show notes on The Finding Uno Show official website: https://www.findinguno.com Interested in Flocknote? Get started for free at https://www.flocknote.com

In this episode, Andrew visits with Matthew Warner, founder and president of Flocknote, a technology company with a mission to build a more connected Church. As part of this mission, Matthew is driven to understand and educate priests and ministry leaders on how to connect specifically with the middle 82 percent of Catholics. Those Catholics that are neither dynamic nor absent Catholics but, rather, somewhere in the middle in terms of involvement. Andrew and Matthew discuss communication, leadership, fundraising, ministry and even touch on a few favorite television shows of theirs.

Today we start a 3-part series on Media Ministry. My first conversation comes after a conversation I had with a friend and associate in Texas. She works in campus ministry, and raved about how much Flocknote has been helping her stay connected to the students in which she ministers. I myself use Flocknote in my local parish, but I also know that it’s a company that some parishes do not currently use. I reached out to Flocknote to see if they’d be willing to explore the ins and outs of the software, and thankfully, they were willing. And so I sat down and spoke with Matthew Sewell. Matthew is the Diocesan sales lead at Flocknote and has worked there for almost 7 years. He shared some of the growth that Flocknote has experienced since the global pandemic of COVID-19, and how Flocknote can help us stay connected to our faithful parishioners – and non-parishioners – especially at a time like today.

Sanctuary Renovation Hello St. Mary Magdalene, Happy Divine Mercy Sunday! Today I'm so excited and blessed to be able to share with you the design for our sanctuary renovation! The picture will be on display at all Masses this weekend. Also, you'll hear from Geoff and Ruth Stricklin from New Jerusalem Studios who've been helping with the sanctuary design. Just to give a summary here of the main points in this video: 1. This is the fruit of our fundraising endeavors as a parish over the past 3.5 to 4 years. 2. This is fully funded and will NOT incur additional debt to St. Mary Magdalene. 3. Two campaigns and an anonymous donor have made this project possible. 4. This will enhance our current space by gifting us with some beautiful sacred art to help us further enter into the liturgy. 5. I am continuing efforts to build a parish hall and am re-evaluating our options. 6. This sanctuary project is slated to begin sometime late this summer and will take ~120 days to complete once we start. 7. As new information becomes available I'll share the details with you. 8. This project has been approved by the Diocese of Phoenix. 9. Beauty and art in the liturgy help us to encounter God more easily, just as Christ's Incarnation reveals God to us, so too does Sacred Art reveal the mysteries of our faith and of the Mass. Unfortunately YouTube wouldn't let me include the picture here so make sure you check out the Flocknote dated 4/9/21 to see the image. God bless, Fr. Chris Visit us: www.smarymag.org Donate online: https://membership.faithdirect.net/AZ754​ Visit New Jerusalem Studios: https://njerusalemstudios.com/

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, In just five days we will celebrate Christmas. The event that we have been preparing for with such enthusiasm - that hidden mystery of which Saint Paul speaks today - is almost here. In this final stretch, I want to encourage all of you not to become distracted now that we are so close to the end. Many may be tempted to think that since they have not lived Advent to this day as they would have liked, it is too late. Some may think, "I have lost the first three weeks, and in the few days that are left, there is no longer time to fix my mistakes and make up for my negligence." After all, how can we remedy in five days what we haven't done in 20? I am going to propose three commitments that can save your Advent, if you have not lived it well so far, or that can help you finish your preparations for Christmas if you have used the time well. The first commitment is the imitation of Mary in today's Gospel. Just as She welcomed the message of God and pondered it in her Heart, I want to invite you to meditate on the mystery of Christmas for 15 minutes a day. If you do this until December 25th, that will be an hour of silent meditation before Christmas. I assure you that in one hour, God can change a person's heart. To help in this meditation, tomorrow I will post on Flocknote some reflections on the mystery of Christmas that can guide your prayer. You could also use the readings from this Sunday, or those of Christmas Day, or other books and materials that you are familiar with and will help you. But, whatever you do, don't steal those fifteen minutes from God! Hang in there like a champion! The second is to make a good confession before Christmas. To arrive at December 25th without being in God's grace defeats the whole purpose of Advent and Christmas. As Origen, a father of the Church, said, “What is the use of Christ being born, if he is not born in you?” Don't let that happen. At St. Anne, the last chance for confession before Christmas will be Tuesday, December 22nd. On that day we will offer 12 hours of confession. You can also go to other parishes if you prefer, but make your heart clean for the coming of the Child Jesus. By the way, I have a favor to ask of you. On these days when we offer extended confession hours, there are always a lot of people who come, and some of them are what Saint John Marie Vianney, the Holy Cure of Ars, used to call "big fish" - people who have not confessed for a long time or who especially need the grace of the sacrament because they have sins that weigh heavily on their consciences. For this reason, I ask all of you that more than ever that day we all strictly adhere to the confession of sins so that every confession can be heard, and that none of those "big fish” go without receiving the grace of a new life that God has come to give us. The last commitment is charity, which I propose to you in the form of forgiveness and reconciliation. God does not forgive a person who is unwilling to forgive from the heart his worst enemy. Do not let Christmas arrive with enmity in your heart for anyone. I encourage you, if necessary, to pick up the phone and communicate with that person who wronged you, or for whom you have any resentment, hold any grudges, or with whom you have separated due to a problem or an argument. It may be one of your siblings or one of your parents, an old friend or an acquaintance. Ask them how they are, wish them a Merry Christmas, ask for their forgiveness without trying to justify your anger. Do whatever it takes so that when the Child Jesus knocks on the door of your heart to fulfill the promise he made to David in the first reading, you can present him with a heart reconciled with God and also reconciled with all your neighbors. Prayer, conversion and reconciliation. Do this in these few days that are left and your Christmas could be the beginning of a new life. We ask Saint John the Baptist and the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph to grant us fidelity to God in these resolutions and that we receive Christ as they did: with faith, with great expectation and with extraordinary love.

Summary: Today's readings invite us to do an examination of conscience and to ask ourselves what kind of soil we are. The Lord himself explains to us the meaning of the parable in today's Gospel. What falls to each of us, then, is to ask ourselves this question: Are we are bearing much fruit? Or on the contrary, has the Word of God been sown into our souls, but not been an authentic source of new life? In the long version of the homily, which can be found tomorrow on Flocknote, I reflect on the power of the word - even the human word - and the importance of not giving way to words that can harm our hearts. Is our Christian life deeply rooted? Or are we inconsistent and give up when the time of testing comes? Do we live trapped by the worries of the world, not allowing the seed of the Word to bear the fruit of holiness? Are we inconstant in our life of faith? If we look at our lives, could we describe them as a "fruitful harvest?" as described in today's psalm? The image of the seed also tells us about the patience of the Sower. God is the one who waits. He awaits the fruit and does not tire of waiting. However, time by its very nature does not last forever. The Lord is willing to wait a lifetime, but when he sows, it is in the hope of finding fruit. Are we bearing the fruit of eternal life? May the Lord grant us to be good soil. May we work that soil by cooperating with the grace of God, removing the stones, opening the furrows, and watering it with the water of prayer, the sacraments and charity. Yes, let us work because today’s sufferings are nothing compared to the glory that will one day be revealed to us. From now on, let us live on every Word that comes from the mouth of God. Long version: Have you stopped to think about the power of the word? The words that we have heard throughout our lives have formed us into the people that we are. We have been shaped by so many words. Those that were spoken with love and affection made us better. Those spoken with hatred or indifference opened wounds that we may still have written on our souls. The word is the vehicle of culture, of faith, of our worldview. A word can lead us to be born again or it can destroy a person's existence. Words born of silence are charged with life and meaning and empty words make our lives barren.They can give us hope or drown us. They can communicate grace to us, or lead us away from the path that leads to life. Today's readings speak to us of the Word of God. In his Word, God communicates with us. That God speaks to us means that he has made us his listeners, that he has called us to a relationship with him, that he invites us to share a path that gives meaning to our lives. God has spoken to us! If human words are so powerful that they can change the history of men and societies, how much more effective and irresistible is the Word of God! His Word brought the entire universe out of nothing. His Word dresses the flowers of field every morning and hangs the stars in the sky every night. The Word of God gives life to the dead, heals the sick, limits the glamour of evil in the world. To those who are lost, it shows the path that leads to glory. It cleanses and purifies those who are unclean. To those who despair, it shows the path of light and hope. This is the Word that we hear every Sunday at Holy Mass, the Word that the Sower spreads tirelessly in the soil of our souls every week. The Word of God is a seed that gives eternal life to those who receive it. God speaks to us to give us life! To introduce us to his friendship, to open his intimacy to us. It is a Word charged with love, and really, with fullness. It pours down on us like rain and snow (Is 55:10), hoping that we will receive it, but we no longer know how to listen. There is so much noise, so many other meaningless words, so many false speeches, that man has refused to have a friendly and saving conversation with God. The Word of God is not one more word among others. It Is The Word. The Word that is the foundation of everything that exists (Gen 1), the Word that will one day judge the world. (Jn 12:48) The Word that is sharper than a double-edged sword. (Heb 4:12) The Word that will not pass because it is eternal (Mt 24:35), because it is God himself. (Jn 1,1) The only Word full of wisdom that makes us rich in the eyes of God. Dear brothers and sisters: what words do we hear? The book of Proverbs says: "Dishonest mouth put away from you, deceitful lips put far from you." (4:24). To whom do we listen? Whom do we trust? What kind of soil are we? “The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit." The worries of the world make our soil barren, choke the seed of God’s Word. Are we far from the worries of the world, or caught up in them like flies in a spider web? Yesterday we celebrated the memorial of St. Benedict. He spent 3 years in a cave as a hermit in Subbiaco. Three years in isolation. In speaking about him, St. Gregory the Great has these words: “Wishing to please God alone, he lived as a hermit in the presence of the all-seeing God. He withdrew from the world of men, knowingly unacquainted with its ways and wisely unlearned in its wisdom”. Wisely unlearned in the wisdom of the world. What a beautiful way to describe the state of a soul far from worldly anxieties! There is no other way to let the seed grow in our hearts. May the Word of God, pondered in the silence of the heart, received in prayerful and silent listening, celebrated in the Sacraments of the Church, offered to us by those who give it to us in the name of the Lord, bear abundant fruit. Lord, help us to listen to you. Teach us to enter into conversation with you. Offer us, once again, the gift of your friendship. Make us echo your Word in the world so that whoever hears us listens to you. Give us the humility of those who are silent to listen to others, and, above all, to You. Help us to always choose well the words that come out of our mouths, so that it is always "good, constructive and timely". (Eph 4:29) Make us rich soil like Mary and make us learn from her to always say: "Let it be done to me according to your Word." (Lk 1:38)

We look back on the Feast of Corpus Christi. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton links: SEAS Website (https://seascc.org) SEAS FaithDirect (for online giving) (https://membership.faithdirect.net/TX440) SEAS YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5tfH3WUo7MvVCx-MS0NRzg) SEAS FaceBook (https://www.facebook.com/seaskeller/) SEAS Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/seaskeller/) Sign-Up for SEAS updates with Flocknote! (https://seascc.flocknote.com/) Fr. Flynn's Twitter (https://twitter.com/Fr_Flynn) Things we mentioned: Biblos.com (https://biblehub.com/) 2019 Pew Research Study on Belief in the Eucharist (https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/08/05/transubstantiation-eucharist-u-s-catholics/) Jesus is the Answer, Song (from YouTube user KeeMeeWeeTEAM) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uZJiHb2ENU) Blessed Imelda Lambertini (https://www.nashvilledominican.org/community/our-dominican-heritage/our-saints-and-blesseds/bl-imelda-lambertini-2/)

What do we have in common with grain and grapes? St. Elizabeth Ann Seton links: SEAS Website (https://seascc.org) SEAS YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5tfH3WUo7MvVCx-MS0NRzg) SEAS FaceBook (https://www.facebook.com/seaskeller/) SEAS Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/seaskeller/) Sign-Up for SEAS updates with Flocknote! (https://seascc.flocknote.com/) Fr. Flynn's Twitter (https://twitter.com/Fr_Flynn) Things we mentioned: The Chrism Mass: Two acts, one purpose (from NTC) (https://www.northtexascatholic.org/local-news-article?r=UV0K3SE627&send_to=%2Fsearch-news%3Fquery%3Dchrism%2Bmass%26x%3D0%26y%3D0) I LOVE LUCY STOMPING GRAPES (from YouTube user Edvin.) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUxjOS3g6Uc&t=3s) About David Goggins (from DavidGoggins.com) (https://davidgoggins.com/about/) Veni, Creator Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit, Creator Blest) One of the most widely used hymns in the Church...A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite it. A plenary indulgence is granted if it is recited on January 1st or on the feast of Pentecost. (From EWTN) (https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/veni-creator-spiritus-come-holy-spirit-creator-blest-11897) General Conditions for Plenary Indulgence (from EWTN) (https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/conditions-13362)

Today’s Solemnity of Pentecost is always a cause of great joy for Christian people celebrating Christ’s gift to his Church: the Holy Spirit. It is a gift that the Lord's disciples are continually called to accept because without Him there would be no life, no holiness. If the Church is the Body of Christ, the Holy Spirit is the soul of that living Body.One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is unity, the communion of diverse nations and peoples that unite in the confession of the same faith in the risen Lord. We are united by faith, and we are also united by charity without which we are nothing. In a very beautiful commentary to the account of the first Pentecost, Saint Augustine wonders why marvels such as we heard about today - people from different countries understanding the preaching of the Apostles, each one in his own language - don’t happen today. The saint answers by saying that with the Holy Spirit, God has poured divine love into our hearts, and this love is a language understood by men of all times and all peoples.The Church is always open to all who want to find Christ. The movement of the Spirit goes from the inside out, and drives us to come out of ourselves. In the special circumstances of these days, I want to take advantage of this celebration of Pentecost to express on behalf of our entire community my joy in those who have been coming from other parishes here to Saint Anne in recent weeks. We are very happy that you are with us and I hope that you will feel comfortable enough to keep coming here. We are very happy to serve you and we receive your families with great joy. We are indebted to you.To all the parishioners of St Anne, I ask you to make a special effort these days to welcome those who are not parishioners here. In his letter to the Galatians, Saint Paul reminds us that some of the fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, peace, joy, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, and mildness (Gal 5:22-23) You may recall that a few months ago I said in one of my homilies that our parish should be the city at the top of the mountain. In these days, on more than one occasion I have had the feeling that our parish has also been the mustard seed that the Lord speaks of in the Gospel, which when it grows, ends up becoming a bush so big that “‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’” (Mt 13:32). Many people have found refuge here with us. Some have come because, thanks to our staff and volunteers, everything is very well organized. Others have come because the system of acquiring tickets in advance via the Internet greatly facilitates participation in the Mass and avoids long and tedious waiting; others have come because the safety measures in place here inspire confidence; others because they know that here they can continue receiving Holy Communion in the mouth if that is the way they choose to receive the Lord. Others have come because, thank God, we have a very large church and their parishes do not have space for everyone. Others have come because of the reverence with which we always, but especially in these times, treat the Lord in the Eucharist. These people are like the birds in the parable - they have come here looking for the grain of the Eucharist, the shelter of inner peace, the grace that perhaps they could not receive in their communities.The admirable attitude of so many of our parishioners, who have been serving in so many ways these days, is a fruit of that Holy Spirit that we celebrate today at Pentecost. We have received a lot from the Lord here at St. Anne and now we have to share what God has given us with our brothers and sisters from other communities with the joy of bearing witness to Christian love.Since we have more and more people interested in returning to the Masses at the parish, beginning next weekend we will add more Masses to allow more opportunities, more ease and more space for everyone. We do not want anyone to be unable to come to Holy Mass for lack of space. I asked the Bishop for permission for the 3 priests at St. Anne to celebrate up to 3 Masses each on Saturdays and Sundays and the answer was yes. Beginning next week, on Saturday afternoon and evening, we will have two Masses in English and one in Spanish. On Sundays, 4 Masses in English, all in the morning, 2 Masses in Spanish in the afternoon, as well as a Latin Mass at 3 in the afternoon. You will find all the details on the parish website.We do not know when we will be able to return to our usual Mass schedule because the requirements of social distancing and spacing depend on the civil and ecclesiastical authorities, but I am confident that with the new schedule all those who wish to come to Mass will have the opportunity to do so. I apologize for the number of times we have changed the schedule in recent weeks and I cannot assure you that this will be the last time we do so because this is a new situation for everyone. We will have to see how events unfold. I ask that you keep the lines of communication open so that you are properly informed.The change of schedules and the addition of Masses on Saturdays and Sundays also means that we will have less time between Masses. We will have to celebrate shorter Masses, possibly without music at some of them, so that everything will go according to schedule. I also apologize in advance for that, but for now the priority is that people who wish to do so are able to participate in Sunday Mass.Finally, I also ask for your collaboration. As you have seen in these last few weeks, we now need the cooperation of many volunteers. With the added Masses we will need more people and I encourage you to volunteer where you can. We will notify you on the parish website and Flocknote about the needs, but I ask you now to be willing to volunteer. We cannot ask our current volunteers to dedicate 6 hours every Sunday for several months. We have to divide the work among all of us. We are going to need “all hands on deck” as is said in English. With everyone’s help, and with the grace of the Holy Spirit, we will surely get it done.We ask the Lord that the Holy Spirit will fully unite us to Christ, that he will make us courageous disciples in today's world, and that at St. Anne and throughout the Church, he will grant us the grace of unity and joy in service of our brothers and sisters.

Gabe and Chris reflect on the Ascension of the Lord, and share their favorite Pope St. John Paul the Great stories...JPII, we love you! St. Elizabeth Ann Seton links: SEAS Website (https://seascc.org) SEAS YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5tfH3WUo7MvVCx-MS0NRzg) SEAS FaceBook (https://www.facebook.com/seaskeller/) SEAS Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/seaskeller/) Sign-Up for SEAS updates with Flocknote! (https://seascc.flocknote.com/) Fr. Flynn's Twitter (https://twitter.com/Fr_Flynn) Things we mentioned: What the Catechism says about the Ascension (from USCCB.org) (http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/174/index.html) Novena to the Holy Spirit: Friday after Ascension Thursday -- Saturday, the Vigil of Pentecost (from EWTN) (https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-to-the-holy-spirit-13406) Novena to the Holy Spirit (form praymorenovenas.com) (https://www.praymorenovenas.com/novena-to-the-holy-spirit) The Final Hours of Pope John Paul II (from www.youtube.com/user/romereports) (https://youtu.be/gEQKbB5sKKc) Important dates in the life of Pope John Paul II (from USCCB) (http://www.usccb.org/about/leadership/holy-see/pope-john-paul-ii-timeline.cfm)

Chris shares two practical ways to share your faith with others. "Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence..." - 1 Peter 3:15 (https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/bible) St. Elizabeth Ann Seton links: SEAS Website (https://seascc.org) SEAS YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5tfH3WUo7MvVCx-MS0NRzg) SEAS FaceBook (https://www.facebook.com/seaskeller/) SEAS Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/seaskeller/) Sign-Up for SEAS updates with Flocknote! (https://seascc.flocknote.com/) Fr. Flynn's Twitter (https://twitter.com/Fr_Flynn) Things we mentioned: St. Paul Street Evangelization (https://streetevangelization.com/about/) The Content Of The Kerygma - Good News For The World! (from Catholic Missionary Disciples) (https://catholicmissionarydisciples.com/news/the-content-of-the-kerygma-good-news-for-the-world) Proclaiming the Kerygma - Fr. John Riccardo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye8D8p54C4c)

As Mass and Confession have opened up, we're slowly working our way back to a regular Sacramental life. Also, Gabe and Chris compare our current situation to preparing for the eschaton (end times). St. Elizabeth Ann Seton links: SEAS Website (https://seascc.org) SEAS YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5tfH3WUo7MvVCx-MS0NRzg) SEAS FaceBook (https://www.facebook.com/seaskeller/) SEAS Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/seaskeller/) Sign-Up for SEAS updates with Flocknote! (https://seascc.flocknote.com/) Fr. Flynn's Twitter (https://twitter.com/Fr_Flynn) Things we mentioned: Fr. Flynn's April 30th Parish Update (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mlLD-w-bX4) Bishop Olson's April 29th Pastoral Letter (https://fwdioc.org/news-4-29-20-beginning-public-celebration-of-masses-en.pdf)

Update on Chris's mom, we go "off-roading", reflecting on Fr. Dennis Smith's homily, and holding on to Hope! Mass and Confession are opening back up! Click here for all the details. (https://seascc.org/massupdates) St. Elizabeth Ann Seton links: SEAS Website (https://seascc.org) SEAS YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5tfH3WUo7MvVCx-MS0NRzg) SEAS FaceBook (https://www.facebook.com/seaskeller/) SEAS Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/seaskeller/) Sign-Up for SEAS updates with Flocknote! (https://seascc.flocknote.com/) Things we mentioned: 5pm Sunday Mass, April 26, 2020 (Homily from Fr. Dennis Smith at 19:47) (https://www.facebook.com/seaskeller/videos/2595042284117802/) World War 2 in Colour Docuseries (https://worldmediarights.com/portfolio/ww2-in-colour/) Free Catholic Study Bible App (https://www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/app) Fr. Richard Heilman's U.S. Grace Force (https://usgraceforce.com/)

We're quarantining real hard, Chris's mom moves in, and sacrifice for 8 year-olds (and the rest of us). St. Elizabeth Ann Seton links: SEAS Website (https://seascc.org) SEAS YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5tfH3WUo7MvVCx-MS0NRzg) SEAS FaceBook (https://www.facebook.com/seaskeller/) SEAS Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/seaskeller/) Sign-Up for SEAS updates with Flocknote! (https://seascc.flocknote.com/) Things we mentioned: Bishop Olson's Pastoral Letter (4/17/2020) (https://fwdioc.org/news-4-17-20-bp-olson-pastoral-letter-preparing-return-to-public-mass-en.pdf) SEAS Outreach Ministry (https://seascc.org/outreach-ministry) Spiritual Survival Guide: Episode 3 (Feat. Father Nghia Nguyen) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTpK_cULEQ8)

My Palm Sunday homily is usually one of the shortest of the year. Today more than ever, the story of the Passion must occupy the center of the Liturgy of the Word.I want to invite you all in these days to join Christ in his mystery of death and resurrection. Day by day, read a little piece of his Passion and enter there. Enter not only the scene, but the Heart of Jesus who, at every step, loves, suffers, redeems and gives himself for us.I also want to remind you of the Lord's words to St. Faustina Kowalska: "...There is more merit to one hour of Meditation on My Sorrowful Passion than there is to a whole year of flagellation that draws blood, the contemplation of My painful wounds is of great profit to you, and it brings Me great joy..." (Diary, 369). Take advantage of such a source of so much merit and spiritual gain.This Easter will be special for everyone, unique in many ways because of the distance from the Lord in the Eucharist. Tomorrow, the Gospel of the Holy Mass will be that of the Lord's anointing in Bethany. Tomorrow through Flocknote, I also want to make available to you a meditation that I prepared for women who did the Spiritual Exercises organized by Catholics in Action in California last year. This meditation was written with women in mind, but I hope everyone can take advantage of it.Mary of Bethany could not be physically next to Jesus at Calvary, but nevertheless, truly she was with Him and consoled Christ in his pain during his Passion. This Holy Week, you cannot physically be with the Lord in communion either, but, like Mary of Bethany, you can be truly united to Jesus and be a great consolation to Him, accompanying Him every step of the way.St. Paul has told us that Jesus "emptied himself" in the Passion. In the Gospel, from the cross, the Lord has shouted in a powerful voice: "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"In these days when all of us feel a little, or perhaps very, abandoned, we find comfort in the Passion of Jesus. Let us know that his Heart also felt what we are feeling, but multiplied far above what we can imagine. At the same time, along with Mary, let us keep hope burning, because for Jesus the cross was not the end, and for us these dark days will not have the last word either.Lord, we walk with you. We want to follow you and be by your side. Help us to suffer like you, to live like you and to die with you. Help us to love to the extreme as you love us. Because only by dying with you can we one day also be resurrected with you.Mary, help all the families of St. Anne in these days, and all those who love you. Help us to be, with your son Jesus, the grain of wheat that, dying, bears much fruit. With you, hand in hand, because without you we can do nothing, we begin this Easter journey. Let it really be the beginning of a new life.

This week Grace hosts Fr. Brad and the happiness department of Flocknote a parish communication company. Courtney Shows up and joins Flocknote. Who wins? Find out!FlocknotePatreonFacebookWebsite Remember, rating and reviewing helps a lot. Contact Us:quizzicalpapist@gmail.com@fr_quizzicalSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/quizzicalpapist)

Here's a pope who came from nothing, spent his life fighting for the Truth, and ended up practically saving the world. Better to be frail in body and strong in will, than the other way around. SUPPORT THE POPECAST: patreon.com/mattsewell DOCUMENTS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE * ESSAY: The Banners of Lepanto (https://www.crisismagazine.com/2016/the-banners-of-lepanto) by Fr. George Rutler * ESSAY: Our Lady of the Rosary and the Battle of Lepanto (https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/blog/our-lady-of-the-rosary-and-the-battle-of-lepanto/) by Fr. Steve Grunow * POEM: Lepanto (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47917/lepanto) by G.K. Chesterton * * Consueverunt Romani (http://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius05/p5consue.htm) by Pope St. Pius V (Call to Prayer) BIOGRAPHIES OF POPE ST. PIUS V * Pope St. Pius V (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12130a.htm) in the The Catholic Encyclopedia * Pope St. Pius V (https://projects.flocknote.com/note/2393498) in Flocknote's Popes in a Year * Pope St. Pius V (https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-pius-v-pope-452) at Catholic News Agency * Pope Pius V (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_V) on Wikipedia

It's a Popecast first, folks. The first time we're covering two popes in a single episode AND the first of three times in Church history that two brothers each held the Chair of Peter – and interestingly enough, also the first of three times that the brothers reigned back-to-back. Mama must've been so proud. SUPPORT THE POPECAST: patreon.com/mattsewell LINKS * Pope Sisinnius (https://projects.flocknote.com/note/3089965) (Flocknote's Popes in a Year) * Pope Sisinnius (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14028a.htm) (Catholic Encyclopedia) * Pope Sisinnius (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Sisinnius) (Wikipedia) Pope Constantine (https://projects.flocknote.com/note/3089979) (Flocknote's Popes in a Year) Pope Constantine (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04294b.htm) (Catholic Encyclopedia) Pope Constantine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Constantine) (Wikipedia)

This week's pope has a bit of an ironic name. During his six years in the Chair of Peter, nothing too exciting happened, and certainly nothing that seemed to live up to, uh, how we currently define "hilarious."   Become a patron and get early access to Popecast episodes, ask a question to be answered on the show, and get special bonus content – patreon.com/mattsewell   LINKS  Pope St. Hilarius (Flocknote's Popes in a Year) "Four Saints with Laughably Ridiculous Names" (Denver Catholic) Pope St. Hilarus (Catholic Encyclopedia) Pope Hilarius (Wikipedia)

This week's pope is defined by two words. Charlemagne and iconoclasm. And no, I'm not talking the Trump Twitter kind of iconoclasm. BECOME A PATRON: patreon.com/mattsewell   LINKS Pope Adrian I (The Catholic Encyclopedia) Pope Adrian I (Wikipedia) Pope Adrian I (Flocknote's Popes in a Year) Excerpt on Paul Afiarta in Thomas F.X. Noble's The Republic of St. Peter The History of Charles the Great by J.I. Mombert (1888) Duodecimum Saeculum by St. John Paul II (On the 1200th anniversary of the Second Council of Nicaea; 1987)   DUBIA LINKS Full text of the five dubia – LINK "Submitting dubia is a standard part of Church life. It's not unreasonable to expect a clear answer." by Stephen Bullivant, The Catholic Herald – LINK "On Pope Francis, High Horses, and Seeking a Simpler Faith" by Matthew Sewell, N.C. Register – LINK

What does Bishop Barron have in store for 2018? Find out in this episode where he talks through several exciting new projects, talks, and initiatives. A listen asks how to choose good books, ones that help your faith rather than harm it. NOTE: Get your free Lent Reflections booklet from Bishop Barron here >> http://wordonfireshow.com/lent Topics Discussed 0:05 - Introduction, the FOCUS Conference, the Santa Barbara mudslides 5:50 - What are the upcoming talks Bishop Barron has scheduled for 2018? 8:00 - What is special about the upcoming vocation conference? 9:45 - What are the upcoming CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players episodes Word On Fire is filming? 13:40 - What are the Word On Fire Classics? 16:30 - What is the new Word On Fire Institute? 18:20 - What will be the purpose of the Word on Fire Bible 20:55 - What will Word On Fire's partnership with Flocknote provide? 23:15 - What is the Mystery of the Mass film series? 25:22 - What does Bishop Barron's USCCB committee on Evangelization and Catechesis entail? 28:15 - How do you judge whether a spiritual book will help or hinder your faith? Bonus Resources Books Bishop Barron's Favorite Books (PDF) Word on Fire Classics To Light a Fire on the Earth: Proclaiming Christ in a Secular Age by Bishop Barron

I talk with Matthew Sewell about Flocknote, an email and text message based communication tool for churches. You can find Flocknote at Flocknote.com. Show notes for this episode are available at waiting-tables.com/episode/flocknote-church-communication-tool/.

## Honeypot * What is the Honeypot module? * What prompted you to contribute the Honeypot module? Why was it originally created? Flocknote (two employers ago) user registration A bunch of my blogs / comments * What methods or techniques does honeypot use to detect bots? A literal ‘honeypot’ Time delay * What types of foms can it protect? * What’s different about Honeypot vs. other spam prevention modules like CAPTCHA and Mollom? Avoid punishing the user (explain)   ## Drupal 8 and Future of Honeypot * How did the port of Honeypot to Drupal 8 go? * Have you started developing new sites in Drupal 8? And if so, how’s that going? * How have spammers adapted to tools like Honeypot, and how do you try to keep ahead of them?” “More spam getting through Honeypot lately” (https://www.drupal.org/node/2646380)   ## Community Issues * You’re also involved a bit in other open source communities for projects like Ansible. How does the Drupal community compare? What are some things you would like to see improved? * Is there anything you’ve done to make sure you can continue to maintain this open source project among many others both on drupal.org and github, and not get burned out?

October 11, 2012 This week’s episode: Welcome to the Year of Faith! This Special Edition is a departure from our normal format in order to give listeners an overview of great resources for the Year of Faith. Links for this episode: The Year of Faith is actually slightly longer than a full year: October 11, 2012 through November 23, 2013.  It has a three-fold focus: knowing our Catholic faith, living it out both sacramentally within the church and in the world, and sharing the faith through evangelization and catechesis. This is a wonderful opportunity to make a plan for yourself as to what you might do to grow in those three areas. Here are some links to help us get the most out of this year. An Overview of the Year of Faith Here’s the official Vatican home page for the Year of Faith (Annus Fidei). Pope Benedict’s Apostolic Letter introducing the Year of Faith is Porta Fidei or “The Door of Faith”. Deanna Bartalini has prepared some helpful study questions to help you get the most out of the Pope’s letter at the New Evangelizers website. The Calendar for the Year of Faith highlights special Vatican-sponsored events for the coming year including special days to celebrate the canonizations of new saints, lay and religious vocations, confirmations, World Youth Day, devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist, Mary and Marian devotion, and more. The Pope and the bishops of the world are meeting in a Synod through the month of October. The theme of those meeting is the new evangelization. The document that contains the agenda for those meetings is found here. The USCCB (United States Catholic Conference of Bishops) has their Year of Faith website here. You’ll find many resources including: a Year of Faith Q & A a good line-up of videos on a variety of topics Knowing Your Faith Get to know the Bible. Most newcomers to bible study get comfortable by first looking at the Gospels and the epistles of the New Testament. Here’s an excellent bible commentary series on the New Testament for personal study or for groups, plus a New Testament study bible to with wonderful study helps built right into its pages. Get to know the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This landmark reference work is the first update to the universal catechism the Church has had in 400 years, since the Council of Trent. It’s a masterpiece of all the Church believes, worships, lives, and prays. The Year of Faith celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Catechism’s reception. Find one at your local Catholic bookseller, or you may enjoy these resources The Catechism is online on the Vatican website. But there’s an excellent online “searchable” Catechism, too! Start by learning the Precepts of the Church. Read the Catechism in a year by email. The makers of FlockNote have come up with a strategy by offering small chunks of the Catechism delivered to your email each day. Sign up or get more details here. United States Catholic Catechism for Adults YOUCAT: the Catechism for youth Read the Documents of Vatican II. The Year of Faith coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the start of the Second Vatican Council. Read the documents online, or buy a copy from your local Catholic bookseller. Need a place to start? Try reading Lumen Gentium (The Dogmatic Constitution of the Church). It is 8 chapters long and it is the key to unlocking the themes of the council found in the rest of the documents. Also, coming soon: a film on the historic Council known as Vatican II. Discover Catholic programming to strengthen your faith through the national television ministries of Catholic TV and EWTN, and look to your local diocesan programming as well. Don’t forget Catholic radio networks, many of which can be found here. If you enjoy new media, SQPN is a Catholic podcasting network. Or, subscribe to Catholic newspapers, magazines, and your diocesan paper. Watch a DVD. Try the 10-part Catholicism DVD series from Word on Fire. It is often shown in parishes and dioceses, as well as on Catholic television. It is also available for purchase. Take a course. Pillars of Catholicism is a free online course that is being offered by the professors of John Paul the Great University. This series is a self-professed crash course in the fundamentals of the Catholic Faith. It consists of 13 episodes, each a half-hour long. A new episode will be unlocked each week and will be permanently accessible. The course and all materials it provides are free. Interested in subject matter related to women and the feminine genius? Watch for my new book, Blessed, Beautiful, and Bodacious: Celebrating the Gift of Catholic Womanhood, due for release in March 2013. And for your personal and group study I recommend the ministry of Endow, which supports nearly 20,000 women in study groups across the US and Canada. Living Your Faith Get more out of the Mass. Try these resources: Fr. Robert Barron from Word on Fire offers thoughtful audio sermons every week. Check out the entire Word on Fire website for more Catholic content. USCCB website lets you read the day’s Mass readings, or hear them with the audio versions, plus listen to video reflections on their subject matter. Magnificat is a print subscription, or use their app for your smart phone to access the daily readings, commentary, and morning and evening prayer. Find a Mass near you or when you travel. Pray more and increase your devotional life. Here’s a few suggestions: Discover the Liturgy of the Hours. Longtime the prayer practice of priests and religious, many lay people enjoy praying the liturgy of the hours in whole or in part. You can purchase a breviary from your local Catholic bookseller, or online, by going to Universalis or the Divine Office. Modified versions of morning prayer and evening prayer are found in Magnificat. Receive a plenary indulgence for your religious practice by fulfilling certain requirements during the Year of Faith. Elizabeth Scalia offers understanding on the plenary indulgence. Make a holy hour, or go to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Find a chapel that offers Adoration here. Pray a prayer for the new evangelization. Learn how to pray the Rosary. Learn how to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Sharing Your Faith A baptized Catholic is baptized into the mission of the Church. Therefore, we, too, are called to spread the faith to others. Get started with these resources: USCCB has suggestions for sharing the faith through the new evangelization. Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States. Share articles and blog posts from Patheos’ Catholic Portal. New Evangelizers website has blog posts and free resources that can help you make a faith connection with others. Amazing Catechists, led by Patheos’ columnist Lisa Mladinich, supports those called to the work of faith formation and religious education. Catechist’s Journey with Joe Paprocki also supports catechists. Share religious books with friends and family. Watch for Catholic Books that are offered for review in the Patheos Book Club when you see them suggested here on the Catholic portal. Plus, visit your Catholic bookseller for titles that may be of interest. Links to my archived articles on easy ways to share your faith with others from my column at Patheos, “A Word in Season”: The Heart of Evangelization Must Beat in Us The Jesus Moment Tithing on Social Media What Would You Like Me to Pray For? A.S.K.: Ask, Seek, Knock — Three Steps toward Praying with Others Official Icon of the Year of Faith Christ the Pantocrator – Cefalu, Sicily (Photo by Xerones, on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/xerones/464417485/in/photostream/) The information shared here is also found in numerous links I prepared for my column at Patheos. Read the original article here. You can subscribe to it via RSS or email here.  Other shows of related interest: AW 147: on the Pope’s Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei on the Year of Faith AW 128: on the Liturgy of the Hours Also: visit Among Women’s Catholic Resources page.  

There's a lot for Catholics to "like" about the theme for the Church's 2013 World Communications Day. The theme? Social Networks: portals of truth and faith; new spaces for evangelization. Both the Catholic hierarchy and the faithful appear to be taking the internet more seriously than ever by focusing both attention and - of late - financial capital on internet - based evangelization. We'll be chatting with the five Catholic leaders whose new media efforts will help to explain this trend. They'll also tell us what they think should be next on the horizon for Catholics' use of new media in 2013 and beyond.Matt Warner, CEO and Co-Founder of Flocknote (http://www.flocknote.com/)Ashley Collins, Co-Founder of Peter and Paul Ministries  (http://www.peterandpaulministries.com) Devin Jones, Co-Founder of Peter and Paul MinistriesJosh Simmons, Founder and CEO of ECatholicWebsites.com (http://www.ecatholicwebsites.com/)Harold Fickett, Managing Editor (USA) for Aleteia.org  (http://www.aleteia.org/)

There's a lot for Catholics to "like" about the theme for the Church's 2013 World Communications Day. The theme? Social Networks: portals of truth and faith; new spaces for evangelization. Both the Catholic hierarchy and the faithful appear to be taking the internet more seriously than ever by focusing both attention and - of late - financial capital on internet - based evangelization. We'll be chatting with the five Catholic leaders whose new media efforts will help to explain this trend. They'll also tell us what they think should be next on the horizon for Catholics' use of new media in 2013 and beyond.Matt Warner, CEO and Co-Founder of Flocknote (http://www.flocknote.com/)Ashley Collins, Co-Founder of Peter and Paul Ministries  (http://www.peterandpaulministries.com) Devin Jones, Co-Founder of Peter and Paul MinistriesJosh Simmons, Founder and CEO of ECatholicWebsites.com (http://www.ecatholicwebsites.com/)Harold Fickett, Managing Editor (USA) for Aleteia.org  (http://www.aleteia.org/)

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry **Today's guest(s):** Brandon Vogt, author of the book "The Church and New Media" * ["The Church and New Media"](http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=pilo0e-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1592760333) * [The Church and New Media website and blog](http://www.churchandnewmedia.com) * [Brandon's blog, The Thin Veil](http://www.thinveil.net) * [Computers for Kids in Kenya](http://donate.crs.org/computerskenya) **Today's topics:** The new book "The Church and New Media" **Summary of today's show:** Brandon Vogt joins Scot to discuss his new book, "The Church and New Media," which features 12 contributors who write about how the Church can best take advantage of the new communications technologies and the culture of the Internet to spread the Gospel of Christ on the "digital continent" **1st segment:** Scot welcomed Brandon to the show. He asked how the idea for the book came about. There are 12 different chapter authors. Scot is impressed that he's only 25 years old. Brandon said his whole 24th year of life was devoted to considering the lives of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati and St. Therese of Lisieux and how much they accomplished in their short lives. So he felt free to reach for this book. He's also considering how much of a revolution in communication we're having in society and he found that the Church is stuck in the middle of this huge tidal shift. He also noticed a lot of individual Catholics as well as apostolates and ministries using modern technologies very effectively and faithfully. Finally, he noticed that the majority of the Church is doing a poor job, especially compared to Protestants and other religions. We're about a half decade behind the secular world too. A lot of people are becoming interested but don't know where to start. As a 25 year old, he didn't think he could write expertly on these topics, so he set out to target a number of experts in their fields to write, including Scot Landry, who wrote on new media in the diocese. Scot said the Church is sometimes accused of being a couple years behind, and so Scot was overjoyed to see someone doing a project like this and [Our Sunday Visitor](http://www.osv.com/) to being involved. Brandon said OSV was enthusiastically supportive of the idea. The thought it would reach many people. Each of the contributors to the book have a huge social media platform that they can use to promote the book to their readers and followers. He also wanted the book to affect official Church communications structures in parishes and dioceses, and OSV is very well-connected in that realm. Brandon is a convert to Catholicism and Scot has a theory that the Holy Spirit is working to encourage converts to our faith to help lead us and contribute their passion that led them to the Church. Brandon has noticed a lot of the most passionate and excited Catholics tend to be converts because every single one of them chose it. They sought it out and wrestled with the reasons not to be Catholic and ultimately chose the Church. Brandon was born and raised Presbyterian and received all the basic instruction, but it never really hit home for him. He never really committed to him. When he went to college in 2004, on the first Sunday at University of Florida in Tallahassee, he decided to choose whatever church was closest to his dorm in order to satisfy his obligation. That one was Methodist and it changed him in a very deep way and discovered the presence of Jesus, a love of Scripture, the presence of the Holy Spirit. At the same time, his girlfriend since high school was Catholic and when they started to discuss marriage after college, they started to talk about what church they should attend. So he started to research Catholicism and discovered the campus ministry called [Brotherhood of Hope](http://www.brotherhoodofhope.org/), based in Somerville, but with a ministry at the University of Florida. He met with a brother from the order every week for a year to discuss Catholicism. He found Brother Jason was eerily like him: raised Protestant; studying science; joining the same Methodist campus ministry; and exploring Catholicism his senior year in college. He had walked the same path before him. Brandon went through RCIA and entered the Church at Easter 2008. He even had 30-40 people from the Methodist campus ministry come to the Easter vigil to celebrate his journey. He's only been Catholic for three years. Back in May 2011, he was invited as part of a group of 150 bloggers from around the world to go to a special meeting at the Vatican. He was also able to attend the beatification of Pope John Paul II. He found himself wondering how in the world he got to the point of sitting literally on the roof of the Vatican and writing this book. Jennifer Fulwiler wrote the second chapter of the book in the book on how blogging and the community of Catholic blogs led her from atheism to Catholicism. Cardinal Seán said about her: >It was especially uplifting to read Jennifer Fulwiler's account in Chapter 2 of how Catholic blogs helped lead her from atheism to the Truth of the Catholic faith through the information and friendships she found as a young mother online. Let us pray that many other "Jennifer Fulwilers" will be led to experience the saving love of Jesus Christ through the Church's embracing and living on this digital continent. * [Jen Fulwiler's blog, "Conversion Diary"](http://www.conversiondiary.com) Scot is inspired how new media allowed Jennifer to encounter a community of Catholics who she would never have encountered otherwise in her daily life. She had started a blog as an atheist challenging Christianity and people came to her blog's comment boxes and started conversations with her. Those commenters pointed her to good resources countering the arguments made by her atheist friends. Brandon said the anonymity of the Internet can be a huge boon for someone learning about the faith because they can do so with a stigma or being ostracized. People can explore Catholicism through the safety of anonymous commenting on blogs. He added that the Internet enables you to find a true representation of what a religion presents itself as. He said it's common for Protestants to build Catholic straw-men which claim Catholics believe things they don't really, such as worshipping Mary. Now it's all available online. **2nd segment:** Scot said it was common a few years ago for some people to say that new media and the Internet are a fad, but that's been proven false. Brandon said the statistics are overwhelming. [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com) has over 750 million users around the world. Pew Research Center just released a study that [Twitter](http://www.twitter.com) sees 350 billion tweets every day. (Twitter is a 140-character messaging service and a tweet is one message from a user, maybe a quote, a link to an article, a comment on a piece of news.) Brandon said Pope Benedict XVI is one of the most perceptive on new media in the Church, calling it a new digital continent. If Facebook were a country, it would be the third-largest in the world after China and India. Brandon said on [YouTube.com](http://www.youtube.com), 2 billions of videos are watched every day and every minute 24 hours of new video is uploaded. Scot said in the first chapter, Fr. Bob Barron writes that posting his videos on YouTube allow him to interact with secularists. * [Fr. Robert Barron, Word on Fire](http://wordonfire.org/) Fr. Barron has posted more than 200 videos on YouTube and received more than 1 million views. His organization has done some research and found the most likely viewer is a 20-something male who has no religious background. Fr Barron asks where else he could have an audience of such young men. Fr. Barron writes about the YouTube heresies, cataloging what he encounters in comments on his videos: A skewed understanding of who God is; a mythical being; all religions are the same; and Religion's relationships on science and on violence Fr. Barron said we need to understand the environment in which we're participating. Marcel Lejeune is one of the campus ministers at Texas A&M, one of the largest Catholic campus ministries. He writes in the third chapter about connecting to young adults. New media turns out to be the ideal way to connect with the missing demographic in the Church. * [Texas A&M Catholic campus ministry](http://aggiecatholic.org/) He also writes about their innovative method of connecting with a very transient group of people, college students, using [Flocknote](http://www.flocknote.com). * [An innovative way to register parishioners](http://marysaggies.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-we-asked-our-parishioners-to-bring.html) Flocknote allows people only to receive information that they want in the forms they want: email, Facebook, text messaging. Flocknote is a product created by another book contributor, Matthew Warner, who writes about new media in the parish. Texas A&M's Catholic campus ministry average eight students entering the priesthood and religious life as well as the thousands who return to parishes as laypeople who have strong formation. **3rd segment:**The second section of the book talks about how new media is used in formation. [Mark Shea](http://markshea.blogspot.com/) writes about the dangers and benefits of blogs. [Fr. Dwight Longenecker](http://www.dwightlongenecker.com/) writes about what's really important and the danger of online apologetics: >...I am not convinced that many souls are won by argument. It is famously said about apologetics that you can win an argument and lose a soul. The apologetics on my blog are woven into a much bigger picture of Catholicism. I want the reader to glimpse the power and the glory of the Catholic Church, but I also want them to glimpse the humanity and humor of being Catholic. In other words, I want them to glimpse the art of being Catholic — not just the argument for being Catholic. * [Jonathan Sullivan's review of the book](http://catholictechtalk.com/blog/2011/07/16/book-review-the-church-and-new-media-by-brandon-vogt/) Scot said it's true of all ministry, not just new media. Brandon would nuance it by saying that there are some people are indeed looking for arguments *for* the Catholic Church. But it is true that arguing for the sake being right never wins anyone into the loving, accepting, inclusive world of the Church. When you're vitriolic and angry, it doesn't convey the love of Christ. Fr. Longenecker writes with humor and reverence, charity and truth. Brandon said blogging is a medium made for current events and commenting on what's going on the world. He notes that blogging is egalitarian so that everyone online can have the same voice as, no matter where they are or their economic background. It allows people who to break news and for people to gather around and talk about it. What bloggers like Mark Shea and Fr. Longenecker do is bring the Church into the story, to bring the Church's teaching to bear and allow a conversation to take place. Scot writes in Chapter 7 about new media in the diocese, especially what we do in the Archdiocese of Boston. He believes that what we have in Boston is as great as anywhere. He said [CatholicTV.com](http://www.catholictv.com) is the best place anywhere to view Catholic video content. The [Pilot's website](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com) has won awards. Our diocesan website, [BostonCatholic.org](http://www.bostoncatholic.org), is widely recognized for being a great website, especially in its faith formation content. Brandon said it's obvious to him that the Archdiocese of Boston is a model for dioceses across the world in new media, including smartphone apps and other initiatives. In the next chapter, Matt Warner shared what parishes can do in new media. He has his hands on the pulse of online Catholicism and he's very practical. He's the founder of Flocknote. He's also looked at what's working and not working in parish websites. For example, a parish looking to use these social media tools, start a blog, revamp a website and want to connect with people not attending church, this chapter provides many answers. New media builds community and these chapters, including Lisa Hendey's chapter, recognize this. Scot said Matthew encourages parishes to form a qualified digital communications council and that's also a way for young people to get involved in the parish. These are the people who know how to reach the people aren't in the parish right now. The ideal member of the council would be college graduates looking to get involved in the Church and these people would also be the future leaders of the parish. Brandon said this is his generation and he sees the problems and tensions on both sides. The young adult demographic is the most difficult to reach and yet the most engaged in new media. New media is a movement of God to give us these tools at a specific time in Church history. Both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict have said the same. By inviting young people to participate in the structure of the church, you're connecting them to the structure of the Church. Also, many young men and women who come to religious vocations say that their vocations began with being involved with the parish in a way like this. Brandon ends his introduction by saying the Church is not just the institutional Church, but is every Catholic. Will the Church remain silent in the digital sphere? >The world is waiting and listening in the virtual sphere. Will the Church remain silent, or will her voice be proclaimed from the rooftops (and the laptops)? Will she plunge the message of Christ into Facebook feeds, blog posts, podcasts, and text messages, or will she be digitally impotent? Brandon said new media is already being harnessed for all kinds of purposes, some of it inimical to the Church and her message. The Church needs to begin to use this tool. The printing press was used to undermine the Church because the Church did not at first see the utility of the press to spread her message. Scot mentioned Lisa Hendey's chapter on her website at [CatholicMom.com](http://www.catholicmom.com), a community of Catholic moms sharing their lives with one another. Tom Peters of [American Papist](http://catholicvote.org/discuss/index.php?show=papist), writing about how new media can encourage Catholic activism. Brandon said CatholicMom.com is a digital front porch for moms around the world to discuss what it means to be a Catholic mom today for moms who might not otherwise have a way to connect with other Catholic moms they can relate to. Many of the moms find themselves feel isolated without other Catholic moms with the same values and outlook. Tom Peters writes about how new media can be used to promote the Catholic social teaching of the Church. In his blog, he rallies his readers to take action on political or social issues in the news. They call representatives and other leaders, send letters, and make a real impact. In the final chapter, Sean Carney, founder of [40 Days for Life](http://www.40daysforlife.com/blog/), the world's largest pro-life movement, where thousands of people pray for an end to abortion. They were able to organize this movement globally using new media.