Podcast appearances and mentions of jim rafferty

In this episode of Schiffbauer Over Rocks, host Paul Schiffbauer Jr. welcomes Jim Rafferty, Principal of JMRketing, LLC and the author of the inspiring book "Leader by Accident."Jim shares his compelling journey into leadership, as detailed in his book. He and Paul discuss the essential qualities of effective leadership, the role of the INSIGHT Community in fostering relationships, and the importance of a personal touch in business. They also highlight the significance of gratitude in both life and work. And when you get two marketing guys together, they of course are going to talk about all the relevant topics of today.Throughout the episode, Jim's enthusiasm for leadership and marketing is evident as he and Paul enjoy a glass of Balvenie on air.Connect with Jim Rafferty and discover more about his work at the following links:"Leader by Accident": leaderbyaccident.comJMRketing, LLC: jmrketing.comINSIGHT Community: insightconnex.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimrafferty1Special thanks to our host location & sponsor, Casta Cigars Co. for having us.Casta Cigars aims to offer the embodiment of luxury when it comes to cigar smoking. Handcrafted using rare and aged tobacco, every puff is a journey through time and tradition. Visit them online at www.castacigars.com and at their shop in York, PA.

Episode 696: May 27, 2024 playlist: Softcult, "Haunt You Still" (Heaven) 2023 Easy Life Jim Rafferty, "I See Red" (I See Red) 2024 Drag City karen vogt, "cloud forty-six" (diary#5) 2024 Sonic-dialogue Ex-Easter Island Head, "Norther" (Norther) 2024 Rocket Jon Collin, "The Honour and Glory of Whaling" (The Other Dead Sea) 2024 Laboratorio Palestro James Devane, "No More No Less" (Searching) 2024 Umeboshi Goldblum, "Fake Ears" (Tears In Limbo) 2020 Bergpolder Garth Erasmus, "Ambient Khoi" (Threnody for the KhoiSan) 2024 TAL Gary Wilson, "I Want To Be With You Tonight" (A Beautiful Bliss) 2024 Cleopatra K. Freund, "How, On Earth" (Trash Can Lamb) 2024 Soda Gong Rachel Goswell, "Coastline (Ulrich Schnauss Vocal Mix)" (Coastline / Plucked Remixes) 2005 4AD Roy Montgomery, "The Soul Quietens" (Temple IV) 1995 Kranky Email podcast at brainwashed dot com to say who you are; what you like; what you want to hear; share pictures for the podcast of where you're from, your computer or MP3 player with or without the Brainwashed Podcast Playing; and win free music! We have no tracking information, no idea who's listening to these things so the more feedback that comes in, the more frequent podcasts will come. You will not be put on any spam list and your information will remain completely private and not farmed out to a third party. Thanks for your attention and thanks for listening.

Ilya Shapiro talks with me about the SCOTUS arguments on free speech. He is director of constitutional studies and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Bill Hunker and Jim Rafferty opine on 17-116 Charter Change and more $ for animal shelter.

Jim Rafferty, author of Leader by Accident. He was plunged into a leadership role of a scout troop after the previous Scoutmaster was murdered.  Father of two, husband for 34 years, entrepreneur, Jim has learned important lessons including:  Don't go at leadership alone.Don't pretend to know everything. Embrace the Scoutmaster homily...a minute of important principles.  Visit www.leaderbyaccident.com today and buy the book. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/success-made-to-last-legends--4302039/support.

Jim Rafferty, author of Leader by Accident. He was plunged into a leadership role of a scout troop after the previous Scoutmaster was murdered. Father of two, husband for 34 years, entrepreneur, Jim has learned important lessons including: Don't go at leadership alone.Don't pretend to know everything.Embrace the Scoutmaster homily...a minute of important principles.Visit www.leaderbyaccident.com today and buy the book.

Jeff and Lason spend time with Jim Rafferty, author of Leader by Accident, the story of how an unexpected volunteer leadership role fueled an even more unexpected journey into entrepreneurship. Book: https://www.leaderbyaccident.com/

How do we define masculinity in an evolving world? What does a healthy and mature man look like? What are qualities men should be pursuing and which ones undermine his masculinity?  Joining me on the show to have this important conversation is Fr. Jim Rafferty, Director of Spiritual Formation for the Institute for Priestly Formation. Fr. Rafferty offers much wisdom in this episode based on his many years of forming seminarians and priests.  In today's episode, we discuss the challenges of making choices amidst conflicting desires and priorities, emphatically stating that masculinity is best defined in relationship and not as a lone wolf, looking to Jesus as the model of manhood par excellence, embracing weakness as part of life, and learning to see and respond to the popular caricatures of manhood. If you find this episode helpful, please share it with one person who you think would benefit from it. Also, please consider leaving a rating or writing a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Have thoughts about this episode? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.   Websites mentioned in the show: Institute for Priestly Formation Episode 8: How to Discern a Lifelong Vocation with Fr. Jim Rafferty  

Where can you start taking your leadership lessons? In this episode of Incorporating Superpowers, host Justin Recla welcomes guest Jim Rafferty to the show. Jim is the author of the book called Leader by Accident. The two talk about the importance of evolving leadership styles. They talk about the great resignation and other leadership lessons that are highlighted in his book. Tune in today to learn all about Leadership Lessons!

Where can you start taking your leadership lessons? In this episode of Incorporating Superpowers, host Justin Recla welcomes guest Jim Rafferty to the show. Jim is the author of the book called Leader by Accident. The two talk about the importance of evolving leadership styles. They talk about the great resignation and other leadership lessons that are highlighted in his book. Tune in today to learn all about Leadership Lessons!

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to leadership guru Jim Rafferty. Jim talks to us about the need for empathetic leadership. Jim Rafferty is a marketing and communications consultant and Principal of JMRketing, LLC, in Baltimore, Maryland where he resides. A former radio announcer and program director, Jim now puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style. He's also a former Boy Scout leader, the story of which serves as the catalyst for Leader by Accident.

In this episode, Scott Kimbler of GNN interviews Tim Echols about energy policy. In the second half, Tim Echols talks with Jim Rafferty of Old Town Trolley in Savannah, about their utilization of propane in their 51 trolleys.

An unimaginable tragedy suddenly and unexpectedly placed Jim Rafferty in a demanding volunteer leadership role as scoutmaster of a local Boy Scout troop. The story of how that shattered organization picked up the pieces and not only survived but thrived forms the basis of his book 'Leader by Accident - Lessons in Leadership, Loss and Life'. After Jim was let go a few years later from the job he'd held for more than two decades, he came to realize that the challenges and lessons he'd encountered as a youth leader had applications far beyond scouting. He used those experiences to fuel a successful journey into entrepreneurship. As a scoutmaster, Jim imparted dozens of bite-sized chunks of inspiration and life advice to the young men of the troop. Leader by Accident transforms those lessons into life advice for business leaders. Jim Rafferty is a marketing and communications consultant, speaker and presenter, and Principal of JMRketing, LLC, in Baltimore, Maryland where he resides. A former radio announcer and program director, Jim now puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style. Connect with Jim Rafferty: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Amazon

Keeping Pace With Skill is back and LaVar Arrington is talking with Jim Rafferty of Glory Days Grill in Burke, VA. Jim has a philosophy of treating every single customer as his friend and that philosophy has earned his restaurant an award, plus has helped him in the corporate arena. Jim also details the importance of skill gaming and his relationship with Pace-O-Matic. Great insight from a great man on this edition of Keeping Pace With Skill. About Keeping Pace With Skill: Powered by Pace-O-Matic, this podcast is hosted by NFL legend LaVar Arrington and is focused on the positive impact skill games have on small businesses, fraternal clubs, veterans' clubs, and community organizations. Arrington and special guests will have informative and authentic discussions about the industry and the role skill game revenue has played in providing a lifeline to small businesses. Powered By Pace-O-Matic https://www.paceomatic.com/ ============ SOCIAL MEDIA ============ ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/lavararrington ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/paceomatic ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/UpOnGameNetwork ► Instagram: instagram.com/upongamenetwork ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paceomatic_/ ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uognetwork ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaceSkillGames https://www.glorydaysgrill.com/#modalreceh Support the show: https://www.upongame.network/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a Text Message.What if your leadership wasn't planned? What can we learn from becoming a leader by accident? This week on the podcast, William interviews Jim Rafferty, the author of Leader by Accident: Lessons in Leadership, Loss and Life. Leader by Accident recounts the tragedy that thrust Jim into a demanding volunteer role, and how that experience fueled a subsequent journey into entrepreneurship.Jim is a marketing and communications consultant and Principal of JMRketing, LLC, in Baltimore, Maryland. A former radio announcer and program director, Jim now puts three decades of marketing experience to work in helping businesses communicate more effectively with their audiences. Incurably married and the father of two grown children, Jim spends his spare time singing wherever people will listen and sharing cringe-worthy Dad jokes on social media.Check out Jim's book at https://www.leaderbyaccident.com/ and continue learning from this outstanding leader.Support the Show.Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call:Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer:Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube

Jim Rafferty is a marketing and communications consultant and Principal of JMRketing, LLC, in Baltimore, Maryland where he resides. A former radio announcer and program director, Jim now puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style. He's also a former Boy Scout leader, the story of which serves as the catalyst for Leader by Accident. Find out more about Jim at: leaderbyaccident.com jmrketing.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I'm joined by Jim Rafferty. Jim is a marketing and communications consultant and Principal of JMRketing, LLC. He is a former radio announcer and program director. Jim helps business leaders communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style. He's also a former Boy Scout leader, which serves as the catalyst for his book Leader by Accident. In this book, Jim tells the story of how an unexpected volunteer leadership role fueled an even more unexpected journey into entrepreneurship. I'm excited to have him on the show to learn from his unique experiences. Show resources: Leader by Accident book JMRketing Sponsors: Jeremy Clevenger Fitness The Fraternity of Excellence ____ Order my latest bestselling book, You Have the Watch: A Guided Journal to Become a Leader Worth Following Order my bestselling leadership book, All in the Same Boat - Lead Your Organization Like a Nuclear Submariner Order my bestselling leadership book, I Have the Watch: Becoming a Leader Worth Following Become a leader worth following today with these powerful resources: Subscribe to my leadership newsletter Follow Jon S Rennie on Twitter Follow Jon S Rennie on Instagram Follow Jon S Rennie on YouTube The Experience of Leadership book   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A former radio announcer and program director, Jim Rafferty puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style, and bringing that same voice to his work as a speaker and presenter. He's a former Boy Scout leader, the story of which serves as the catalyst for Leader by Accident.

A former radio announcer and program director, Jim Rafferty puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style, and bringing that same voice to his work as a speaker and presenter. He's a former Boy Scout leader, the story of which serves as the catalyst for Leader by Accident.

A former radio announcer and program director, Jim Rafferty puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style, and bringing that same voice to his work as a speaker and presenter. He's a former Boy Scout leader, the story of which serves as the catalyst for Leader by Accident.

A former radio announcer and program director, Jim Rafferty puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style, and bringing that same voice to his work as a speaker and presenter. He's a former Boy Scout leader, the story of which serves as the catalyst for Leader by Accident.

An unimaginable tragedy suddenly and unexpectedly placed Jim Rafferty in a demanding volunteer leadership role. The story of how that shattered organization picked up the pieces and not only survived but thrived forms the basis of his book, Leader by Accident. Suddenly let go a few years later from the job he'd held for more than two […] The post Leader by Accident, With Jim Rafferty first appeared on Business Creators Radio Show with Adam Hommey.

A former radio announcer and program director, Jim Rafferty puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style, and bringing that same voice to his work as a speaker and presenter. He's a former Boy Scout leader, the story of which serves as the catalyst for Leader by Accident.

A former radio announcer and program director, Jim Rafferty puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style, and bringing that same voice to his work as a speaker and presenter. He's a former Boy Scout leader, the story of which serves as the catalyst for Leader by Accident.

A former radio announcer and program director, Jim Rafferty puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style, and bringing that same voice to his work as a speaker and presenter. He's a former Boy Scout leader, the story of which serves as the catalyst for Leader by Accident.

A former radio announcer and program director, Jim Rafferty puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style, and bringing that same voice to his work as a speaker and presenter. He's a former Boy Scout leader, the story of which serves as the catalyst for Leader by Accident.

A former radio announcer and program director, Jim Rafferty puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style, and bringing that same voice to his work as a speaker and presenter. He's a former Boy Scout leader, the story of which serves as the catalyst for Leader by Accident. Listen to The Tony DUrso Show on VoiceAmerica Influencers Platform every Friday at 2pm Pacific or listen on Apple Podcasts or tonydurso.com/podcast.

In this episode, I speak with Jim Rafferty on the topic of how he became a leader by accident, what Jim has learned from that and how you can apply those lessons.★ Jim's Bio: ★ Jim Rafferty is author of Leader by Accident: Lessons in Leadership, Loss and Life, to be published in October 2021 by Morgan James Publishing. Leader by Accident recounts the tragedy that thrust Jim into a demanding volunteer role, and how that experience fueled a subsequent journey into entrepreneurship.Connect with Jim:https://www.leaderbyaccident.com/

Leader by Accident: Lessons in Leadership, Loss, and Life Show Guest: Jim Rafferty An unimaginable tragedy suddenly and unexpectedly placed Jim Rafferty in a demanding volunteer leadership role. The story of how that shattered organization picked up the pieces and not only survived but thrived forms the basis of Leader by Accident. Just as suddenly let go a few years later from the job he'd held for more than two decades, Jim came to realize that the challenges and lessons he'd encountered as a youth leader had applications far beyond scouting. He used those experiences to fuel a successful journey into entrepreneurship. As a Scoutmaster, Jim imparted dozens of bite-sized chunks of inspiration and life advice to the young men of the troop. Leader by Accident transforms those lessons into life advice for business leaders.

Two hours of tunes for baby-boomers and everyone else who loves great music. Its Golden's Oldies 27, with the usual features; the Motown Moment, the Sounds of Surf and the Sixties-Nine. Number 1 hits from the Tymes and Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson plus the Tracks Less Travelled are by Jim Rafferty (yes, Gerry Rafferty's brother) and Fleetwood Mac during the Bob Welch era.For playlist go to my Facebook page; Golden's Oldies (The Chris Golden Show) and search 'playlists' .

Jim Rafferty is the author of “Leader by Accident: Lessons in Leadership, Loss and Life,” 2021. Leader by Accident recounts the tragedy that thrust Jim into a demanding volunteer role, and how that experience fueled a subsequent journey into entrepreneurship. Jim is a marketing and communications consultant and Principal of JMRketing, LLC, in Baltimore, Maryland. A former radio announcer and program director, Jim now puts three decades of marketing experience to work in helping businesses communicate more effectively with their audiences. https://leaderbyaccident.com/ (https://leaderbyaccident.com/)

Contact Jim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimrafferty1/

Jim Rafferty is the author of Leader by Accident: Lessons in Leadership, Loss, and Life, to be published in October 2021 by Morgan James Publishing. Leader by Accident recounts the tragedy that thrust Jim into a demanding volunteer role, and how that experience fueled a subsequent journey into entrepreneurship. Jim is a marketing and communications consultant and Principal of JMRketing, LLC, in Baltimore, Maryland. A former radio announcer and program director, Jim now puts three decades of marketing experience to work in helping businesses communicate more effectively with their audiences. Incurably married and the father of two grown children, Jim spends his spare time singing wherever people will listen and sharing cringe-worthy Dad jokes on social media. https://www.leaderbyaccident.com/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/TYtZ0BM2rtE --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/richard-lamonica/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/richard-lamonica/support

In this HCI Podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanhwestover/) talks with Jim Rafferty about the vital role of language in a healthy organizational culture. See the video here: https://youtu.be/IJu_WkXvJwE. Jim Rafferty (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimrafferty1/) is a marketing and communications consultant and Principal of JMRketing, LLC, in Baltimore, Maryland where he resides. A former radio announcer and program director, Jim now puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style. He's also a former Boy Scout leader, the story of which serves as the catalyst for Leader by Accident. Please leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts! Please consider supporting the HCI Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=69688020. Check out the Human Capital Innovations (HCI) Academy: Courses, Micro-Credentials, and Certificates to Upskill and Reskill for the Future of Work! https://hciacademy.talentlms.com/. Check out the LinkedIn Alchemizing Human Capital Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/alchemizing-human-capital-6884351526333227008/. Check out Dr. Westover's book, 'Bluer than Indigo' Leadership, here: https://www.innovativehumancapital.com/bluerthanindigo. Check out Dr. Westover's book, The Alchemy of Truly Remarkable Leadership, here: https://www.innovativehumancapital.com/leadershipalchemy. Check out the latest issue of the Human Capital Leadership magazine, here: https://www.innovativehumancapital.com/hci-magazine. Ranked #6 Performance Management Podcast: https://blog.feedspot.com/performance_management_podcasts/ Ranked #6 Workplace Podcast: https://blog.feedspot.com/workplace_podcasts/ Ranked #7 HR Podcast: https://blog.feedspot.com/hr_podcasts/ Ranked #12 Talent Management Podcast: https://blog.feedspot.com/talent_management_podcasts/ Ranked in the Top 20 Personal Development and Self-Improvement Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/personal_development_podcasts/ Ranked in the Top 30 Leadership Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/leadership_podcasts/

When put into the position of leadership by accident, author Jim Rafferty did just that. Alex Garrett talked with former Scoutmaster Jim Rafferty about his new book, “Leader by Accident: Lessons in Leadership, Loss, and Life” !

When put into the position of leadership by accident, author Jim Rafferty did just that. Alex Garrett talked with former Scoutmaster Jim Rafferty about his new book, “Leader by Accident: Lessons in Leadership, Loss, and Life” !

When put into the position of leadership by accident, author Jim Rafferty did just that. Alex Garrett talked with former Scoutmaster Jim Rafferty about his new book, “Leader by Accident: Lessons in Leadership, Loss, and Life” !

In Twelfth Night, Shakespeare wrote of greatness: “be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘em. Thy Fates open their hands.” And so it is with leadership. Sometimes, fate has a way of getting us to step up. That's exactly what happened with Jim Rafferty. A tragic crime robbed his son's scout troop of their Scoutmaster, and Jim was selected to step up. He thought they must be mistaken, but he accepted the responsibility and found more in himself than he knew there was. His growth as a leader served not only the Troop 328, but became essential a few years later when his role was eliminated at a company where he spent two decades of his career.Jim's story of accidental leadership holds lessons for us all. Full show notes are available at: https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/leader-by-accidentPlease subscribe to the Timeless & Timely newsletter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.timelesstimely.com/subscribe

Ray Schwetz and Donyshia Boston-Hill get business empowerment from Jim Rafferty, an entrepreneur, 3-decade radio announcer and Program Director, marketer, and author of "Leader By Accident."

Jim Rafferty is a marketing and communications consultant and Principal of JMRketing, LLC, in Baltimore, Maryland where he resides. A former radio announcer and program director, Jim now puts three decades of marketing experience to work helping businesses communicate better, writing in a conversational and entertaining style. He's also a former Boy Scout leader, the story of which serves as the catalyst for his book Leader by Accident. https://www.leaderbyaccident.com/Walter Wolf, author of The Right Rehab, has been an Interventionist and treatment placement specialist for the past seven years. Prior to becoming an interventionist, Walter produced studio and independent films and television for 30 years. Walter Wolf also launched his consulting practice in 2015, helping others who are just beginning to navigate this daunting journey. https://www.therightrehab.com/

Not all incredible influencers initially set out to be in the spotlight or to become the leader. Their rise to leadership is usually framed not by a desire for a title but by a respond to a need. Our guest Jim Rafferty shares about this being the case through his new book, Leader by Accident: Lessons in Leadership, Loss and Life. Jim is not only an author, but he is also an entrepreneur serving as the Principle of JMRketing, LLC.We learn how an unforeseen event led to Jim answering the call to lead and how this would repeat itself years later when he began his own business. We ask Jim to touch on one of his core strengths of storytelling and on the role stories can have in leaving a lasting impression.We discuss the need for stepping outside our comfort zones, as this is often where we most challenge ourselves and experience our greatest growth. Jim touches on the importance of gratitude and on being able to ‘give yourself a pat on the back' and how we need to acknowledge our progress. You will be particularly inspired by something as simple as ‘6 more words' and how words can have an incredible impact personally and organizationally. After picking up Jim's book, you will begin to start looking for and apply your own ‘scoutmaster minutes' in your life. Be leaders of intention even if it is initially by accident. To learn more about Jim Rafferty and to get a copy of his book, ‘Leader by Accident: Lessons in Leadership, Loss and Life', visit https://www.leaderbyaccident.com/Be sure to Support and Follow us by Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let's crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

I've covered discernment many times in previous episodes on what to look for and best practices when making decisions. But today, I've taken a spotlight to errors I continuously hear from young adults about making decisions. Joining me on the show again is Dr. Tom Neal, expert on the spiritual life and discernment, to banter and dissect some of these errors we commonly hear. Yes, this episode is critical of certain approaches, but if you are looking for the positive teachings that undergird our critiques, please listen to those previous episodes with Dr. Neal, Fr. Gallagher, Fr. Rafferty, Sr. Garrett, etc. In today's show we look at cynicism's impact on discernment, why it's a good idea to be open to feedback and accountability, why your desires and interior motivations are part of the discernment process, how to be patient with the lack of clarity in discernment, and how to find the balance when looking for external signs to confirm a decision.  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drmariosacasa/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmariosacasa/ Interested in more episodes like this one? Check these out: 73. Are you healthy enough to discern a vocation? with St. Josephine Garrett 49. God's Plan with Fr. Timothy Gallagher 33. What is Prayer? With Dr. Tom Neal 25. Spiritual Desolation with Fr. Timothy Gallagher 8. How to Discern a Lifelong Vocation with Fr. Jim Rafferty

James Rafferty, aka Baby No Name, is on the search for a publisher and wants to get eyes on his book. PDF versions if you would like to read. Just need an email DM on Twitter @JamesRa92869019 with small donations welcome, send to jimrafferty@hotmail.com★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

There is nothing quite like a neighborhood sports bar. They are equal parts unofficial town halls, community centers, and places of athletic worship. When you have a global pandemic however, they become shells of their former selves. Jim Rafferty of Kelly's Korner Tavern, in Placentia, CA, sits down to talk about the future of his beloved neighborhood institution during COVID-19, where both bars and sports alike have had operations suspended, and what the future may hold. The Best Ceats Podcast brings unprecedented access to the Orange County hospitality industry each and every episode. Bringing you the best stories, and the people behind them with every interview, The Best Ceats Podcast showcases the very best of Southern California's bars, restaurants, and beyond. To support content like The Best Ceats Podcast, please consider supporting The Best Ceats, at:https://Patreon.com/TheBestCeatsTo learn more about Ali Coyle, as well as her debut track “Trust. Me,” please see her official website:https://alicoylemusic.com

Discernment is tricky business and discerning a lifelong vocation is down-right hard! Knowing how to listen to God's will, shifting through our desires, and ultimately having the confidence to make a decision is no small task. Knowing what to listen to in prayer and how to respond appropriately is the focus of today's episode. Joining … Continue reading "008 – How to Discern a Lifelong Vocation with Fr. Jim Rafferty"

Summary of today's show: On a special Thursday news edition of the show, Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Fr. Roger Landry, and Gregory Tracy discuss the week's headlines, including the Pilot special report on a Boston pilgrimage to Cuba; the retirement of three long-serving pastors; the sale of St. James in Wellesley; National Catholic Education Association convention in Boston next week; and a profile of the work of the diocesan archives. Finally, the panel took some time to discuss the importance of the Easter Triduum, especially Holy Thursday and Good Friday and the unique differences from all other liturgies. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Gregory Tracy, managing editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese Links from today's show: Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot's and The Anchor's websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. Today's topics: Visiting Cuba; retiring pastors; diocesan archives; the Triduum 1st segment: Scot wished Susan a blessed Triduum. He said what stands out for him today is that there isn't a Mass today at the Pastoral Center. Susan said the Holy Thursday Mass of the Last Supper is worth waiting for. Fr. Roger said the Chrism Mass is traditionally held on Thursday morning. There can also be a Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper for those whom it would be impossible to attend the regular evening Mass, but that requires a bishops' permission. Scot said part of the Holy Thursday observance is to process from the Church with the Blessed Sacrament to a place of reservation to hold vigil with the Lord. Scot wanted to start with the news this week, especially the Pilot's special coverage of Pope Benedict's trip to Cuba. Greg said he and his wife, Donis, who wrote most of the articles, accompanied a delegation of Boston pilgrims who went to Havana to go to Mass with the Holy Father, but also visited cultural sites as well as the work of Caritas Cubana, the Church's social service agency. Donis also wrote a story detailing Cardinal Seán's long relationship with the Cuban people. When he was first a priest in Washington, DC, he worked closely with Cuban-Americans in serving refugees and others. Scot said the Cardinal talked a bout how conditions in Cuba changed significantly after 1998 when Pope John Paul II visited Cuba. The cardinal went to Cuba in 2003 for an apostolic visitation of the seminaries. “I found that of the 80 or so seminarians, 90 percent of them were converts who attributed their conversion to [Pope] John Paul II's visit to Cuba,” he said. Scot noted that Raul Castro declared Good Friday to be a national holiday this year after Pope Benedict's visit. Cardinal Seán said, “Hopefully the Church will be allowed a greater presence in the media — in Catholic radio, Catholic newspapers, and the like… and will be allowed to have a Church presence in schools and hospitals, something that today they are not allowed to do.” He added, “I think the Holy Father's presence brought the world's attention to Cuba, which is a good thing because it helps to put pressure on the government to continue to change and to allow greater freedom to the people of Cuba,” he said, “which is something we would all like to see.” Fr. Roger said being in the presence of Christ's Vicar on earth is a powerful reminder that the reason for the Pope was Peter and the reason for Peter was Jesus and it's all real. It's a powerful reminder that the Christian story is all true and it's not just history, but a present reality. He said it's also curious that while Good Friday will be a civil holiday, we also heard that 42 Cubans arrested during the visit last week that they will remain in prison through the Triduum. Scot said he enjoyed the profile of the Educational Travel Alliance, which has been leading trips to Cuba for the last 10 years. He noted that the founder has personal reasons for this work. For Eizenberg, the trips are also closely linked to his personal experiences. He said the words of his mother, a survivor of a Nazi death camp, echo in his mind whenever he brings a group to Cuba. “She used to say, ‘We knew we were really in trouble when no one was coming (to Germany) anymore and we were left alone with them,'” said Eizenberg. “I don't want that to happen to the Cuban people anymore,” he added. In the future Eizenberg is hoping to develop a campus ministry program facilitate student mission trips to Cuba. “Campus ministries go everywhere in the world to help people, but they don't go to Cuba,” he explained. “We shouldn't keep Cuba off the map,” he said. Greg said the more they got to know the travel organizers the more they realized that there was a story in their work and mission. Greg said his impression of Cuba is that it's a country stuck in time. It's essentially stuck in 1959, at the moment of revolution. “Cuba is unlike any other place we have taken anyone,” added Rice. “You feel like you are really touching people's lives — be it the tour guides, the waiters, everyone — which is unlike anywhere else in the world since now society is so homogenized everywhere.” “By nature, the American people are very generous,” added Eizenberg, noting that people who go on his exchanges often come laden with everything from soaps and spices to nail polish and children's toys — items that can be found on any U.S. store shelf but can be nearly impossible to obtain for ordinary Cuban citizens. Susan said thought it was interesting how Eizenberg said he was immediately hooked on Cuba and thought he could make a little difference. She said one doesn't have to change the world, if you can change one person's life. Greg said his group visited a senior center and brought little fun-sized candy bars to hand out and one of the women said these were extremely valuable. She said her grandchildren might see one of these per year if they're lucky. 2nd segment: Scot noted the news of official appointments in the Pilot this week, including the granting of senior priest/retirement status effective June 5: Fr. Richard Crowley, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Middleborough, Fr. Francis Daley, pastor of Sts. Martha and Mary, Lakeville, and Fr. James Rafferty, pastor of St. Paul in Hingham. Fr. Rafferty received an award as a priest of the year on Tuesday after the Chrism Mass. Susan noted her work with Fr. Crowley and how much he has done in that parish, along with the other pastors. Scot said the parish in Lakeville is in a beautiful location. Scot said Fr. Jim Rafferty took some heat a couple of years ago for a decision he made about admission of child of a lesbian couple. Fr. Roger wrote an editorial at the time about how Fr. Rafferty took heat for this decision, which he believes was appropriate given that the child would have been taught at school that her situation at home was immoral. Fr. Roger said Fr. Rafferty was really looking out for the best interests of that child. Fr. Roger noted that Fr. Rafferty is looked up to by all priests, young and old, and has set a good example of being a pastor. Scot said he was impressed by the way Fr. Rafferty handled that situation. Also in the Pilot is Vatican approval of the sale of the former parish church of St. James to the town of Wellesley where they will build an athletic center. Scot noted that the parish had been in vigil for several years and he hopes that this will bring closure and help the town of Wellesley. There is a special insert in the Pilot this week for the National Catholic Education Association, which will hold its national conference in Boston next week. Susan said it's a very large event over three days. It attracts national speakers and lots of attention. She said it's convenient for the conference to come to Boston because they don't get to travel for conventions lately. Scot said the Inner City Scholarship Fund had it's annual dinner to raise $3.7 million for Catholic school scholarships. Greg said they always want to do a story to acknowledge the work that they do. One of the students who receive help spoke at the dinner. In making the announcement Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Tucci also recognized Fortune Kalala, a senior at Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, who was the evening's student speaker. Fortune, a scholarship recipient and honor roll student, moved to Lawrence when he was 13 from Mozambique where he had lived in a refugee camp with his family. After years of fleeing political unrest and civil war, Fortune began the 7th grade not knowing any English. After two years of hard work, he was accepted to Central Catholic High School and was able to attend because of a scholarship provided by the Inner City Scholarship Fund. In the Anchor this week is a profile of the Archives of the Diocese of Fall River. Fr. Roger said it's part of a continuing series on diocesan agencies. He said the Archives keep the history of the diocese. Those records are very important for future Catholics to understand what happened in the past. Susan said Robert Johnson Lally, the archivist in Boston, has been extremely helpful for her when she researches her own topics. She finds the material to be gripping and amusing. Scot said he went through the archives once to read all the files used to plan the visit of Pope John Paul II to Boston in 1979. 3rd segment: This week's benefactor card raffle winner is Joseph Szymanski from Boston, MA He wins the CD “The Truth” by Fr. Larry Richards and “The Stations of the Cross in Masterpiece Art,” a set of 6”x9” prints. If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit . For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM's weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. 4th segment: Scot and Fr. Roger discussed that the Triduum is a season of its own, inaugurating the Easter season. Scot said one of his favorite George Weigel columns, “Easter changes everything.” In the Gospel readings of the Easter Octave, the Church annually remembers the utterly unprecedented nature of the paschal event, and how it exploded expectations of what God's decisive action in history would be. No one gets it, at first; for what has happened bursts the previous limits of human understanding. The women at the empty tomb don't understand, and neither do Peter and John. The disciples on the road to Emmaus do not understand until they encounter the Risen One in the Eucharist, the great gift of paschal life, offered by the new Temple, the divine Presence, himself. At one encounter with the Risen Lord, the Eleven think they're seeing a ghost; later, up along the Sea of Galilee, it takes awhile for Peter and John to recognize that “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7). These serial episodes of incomprehension, carefully recorded by the early Church, testify to the shattering character of Easter, which changed everything: the first disciples' understanding of history, of life-beyond-death, of worship and its relationship to time (thus Sunday, the day of Easter, becomes the Sabbath of the New Covenant). Easter also changed the first disciples' understanding of themselves and their responsibilities. They were the privileged ones who must keep alive the memory of Easter: in their preaching, in their baptizing and breaking of bread, and ultimately in the new Scriptures they wrote. They were the ones who must take the Gospel of the Risen One to “all nations,” in the sure knowledge that he would be with them always (Matthew 28:19-20). They were to “be transformed” (Romans 12:2). So are we. Fr. Roger's editorial this week examines the heart of Holy Week, which the Heart of the Christian faith and life itself. The heart is who Jesus is and what he's trying to do. Pope Benedict notes that the people around Jesus at first acclaimed an idol of their own imagination rather the Jesus as the real Messiah and King. Jesus came to give witness to the truth. Jesus is the axis of truth on which everything depends. In being crucified, Christ becomes the power and wisdom of God. We need to recognize Jesus as the truth and not separate him from the truth that he taught. In our relativistic age, people reject the idea of truth. Scot noted that this Holy Thursday is a much bigger deal than Opening Day for the baseball season. Susan said these three days are the jewel in the crown of our liturgical year. We celebrate and remember the ongoing Eucharist in our lives. These aren't holy days of obligation, but Susan said her church is packed at every service because how much richer Easter is when we've walked the walk with Jesus. Scot said some will ask why they're not holy days of obligation. Fr. Roger said the Church would never dream of making something so significant mandatory. A practicing Christian would never be forced to go; they're going to want to be there. That's how it's supposed to be for us as Christians. To call it an obligation would be to downgrade it. Scot noted that the Holy Thursday Mass has two significant differences: the washing of the feet of 12 men and that the Mass has no actual dismissal, but continues to a place of adoration. Greg noted that the connection to the Passover seder and how the least important person, usually the youngest child, would wash to hands of all those present. Jesus takes this last place and then goes further to wash feet, which in the Middle East feet are considered lowly and unclean. Fr. Roger noted that the Book of Revelations says were are cleansed in the blood of the Lamb, and Jesus takes on the form of a slave to wash us in his own Blood. Then he gives us the chalice of his Blood, where he continues his love to the extreme. He institutes the priesthood to continue to feed us and wash us across time and space. Like a parent for a small child, Jesus washes us and feeds us. Scot noted that on Good Friday, it isn't a Mass, we hear the Passion from the Gospel of John, and we have the veneration of the Cross. We also pray profound prayers of petition for the world. Susan said we are a Church of sign and symbol and much of what we do doesn't have words. We hear the Passion of the Lord and we kiss the cross, and it's a powerful action. Scot said there will not be an episode of The Good Catholic Life on Good Friday and wished all listeners a Happy Easter. 5th segment:

Summary of today's show: On Tuesday of Holy Week in the Archdiocese of Boston, Cardinal Seán celebrates the Chrism Mass with the priests of the archdiocese, blessing the holy oils used in sacraments for the next year and renewing their priestly vows. In a special broadcast from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor, first, discuss the Mass and Holy Week with Fr. Jonathan Gaspar and the listen to and reflect upon Cardinal Seán's homily to the priests, which each year is the one he prepares for with the greatest reflection and prayer. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor **Today's guest(s): Fr. Jonathan Gaspar Links from today's show: Today's topics: Cardinal Seán's homily at the Chrism Mass 1st segment: Today the show is being broadcast from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross following the celebration of the Chrism Mass. He is joined by Fr. Jonathan Gaspar and Fr. Chris O'Connor. Fr. Jonathan said it's always great to see so many priests turn out. Fr. Chris said many priests make a conscious decision to come from all over the Archdiocese in order to receive the oils used in sacraments and to renew their priestly vows. Many can't come because they are needed in their parishes. Scot said it seems the Cardinal puts extra time and effort into his Chrism Mass homily. Fr. Jonathan said the Cardinal loves to preach, but he spends a great of time preparing for this one in particular, offering the priests a message of hope and encouragement. He said the Cardinal has spent many nights over the past few weeks in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and at his desk writing his homily. Scot said Cardinal Sean said the Chrism Mass is a sign of unity across the archdiocese in the sacred chrism consecrated today to be used in every sacrament of baptism, confirmation, and anointing. Fr. Chris said all of those sacraments are connected to this Mass today. Another element of unity is the presence of Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Methodios. Both the Metropolitan and the Cardinal spoke of the need for Christian unity. Scot said there is a luncheon for priests after the Mass at the cathedral and each year two priests received awards for their service. Fr. Jim Rafferty and Fr. Dave Palmieri were the recipients this year. Scot noted that Fr. Rafferty received unfavorable press coverage for a pastoral decision a few years ago at St. Paul's in Hingham and this was a chance to highlight his service and to reaffirm him as one who preaches the faith in season and out of season. Scot said Cardinal Seán also mentioned during his homily how many priests tell him they first had an inkling of their vocation from their childhood priests who mentioned the possibility for the call in their lives. Fr. Jonathan recalled his own childhood priest who planted the idea of a vocation in him as a boy. He said Cardinal Seán told priests that the first way to foster vocations was to just smile and show the joy of the priesthood. 2nd segment: Scot said the Chrism Mass is the second big event of Holy Week after Palm Sunday. In many places, Chrism Mass is on Holy Thursday morning, but in big dioceses they move it to another day because priests need to get back to the parishes for Holy Thursday evening for all the preparations that must be made. Fr. Chris said in Rome it will be held on Holy Thursday. He said Pope John Paul II used to publish a Holy Thursday letter to the priests of the world giving them something to reflect on. He's hoping Pope Benedict issues such a letter this year. Scot said priests at this Mass renew their priestly promises from ordination. After 14 years as a priest, Fr. Chris reflected on the renewal and he recalled the words, “Lord, I am unworthy.” In the midst of our own brokenness, Christ continues to call us to minister to his people. It also brought him back to his ordination day, being with his brother priests and celebrating the gift of his priesthood. The only large gathering of priests for Mass like this is the ordination Mass. The Cardinal asked three questions of the priests to renew their priestly vows. Fr. Chris said the Cardinal also asked the priests to pray him as a priestly leader. At another point, the vicar general kepis up and reads the names of all the priests who have died in the past year. About 25 priests were named this year. Scot said he reflected on how every priest present knew that one day their name would be read in this Mass. Fr. Chris said all Christians need to be cognizant of their own mortality and death, but the proximity of Easter reminds us of the promise of eternal life. Now we will hear from Cardinal Sean's homily for the Mass and we will stop periodically to comment on it: Good morning everyone. Your eminence, Metropolitan Methodius, Brother Bishops and Priests, Deacons, Fellow Religious, dear brothers and sisters in the Lord. I first learned about the great tradition of Boston when John Wright became our bishop when I was a seminarian and he would regale us with many stories about Boston. But my favorite story of his was about Mayor Curley. Once when he was running for mayor, he was opposed by one of his lieutenants, a big, garrulous red-haired Irishman who I think was the police or the fire chief at the time. When his opponent had a political rally he decided to go. When he got there, he asked to speak. He said, “You know, every great man in history has had a betrayer. Caesar had his Brutus, Washington had Benedict Arnold, and our blessed savior had Judas. And you know? They were all redheads. Once I was visited by a priest who was very discouraged. He thought he was a redhead… He said: “Bishop, I am the worst priest in the world.” I said to him, that is quite a distinction. I asked him about his ordination and first mass. I said, “Did you fight over who was going to be first in line at your ordination? Did you betray Christ for the collection? Did you chop off someone's ears with a machete? Did you then run away and hide? I was of course comparing the worst priest in the world with the first priests in the world, the apostles. The vocation of the apostles begins with the joyful discovery of Christ, and with the reckless abandoning of their boats, their nets and their families, to follow the Lord. It wasn't too long however, when they were soon in competition with each other and worried about their retirement benefits, like who was going to have the thrones on the right and the left. They spent most of the first Sacred Triduum locked in the Cenacle, while it was the women who followed Jesus through the Stations of the Cross and to Calvary. To me one of the most poignant scenes in the Gospels is the apparition of the Risen Lord on Easter to the 11 remaining apostles. They're hiding out in the Cenacle with the doors bolted. Suddenly, Christ is in their midst showing them his wounded hands as if to say: “See how much I love you.” The reaction of the apostles certainly must have been one of very conflicted emotions. First of all, they were overjoyed to see that Jesus was alive and in their midst. Secondly, they would have felt a profound shame and embarrassment because of their cowardly behavior. The apostles did not surface even to bury Jesus' body after the crucifixion. Had it not been for Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, Jesus' body would have been cast into a common ditch to be savaged by vultures and dogs. But Jesus' love and forgiveness is so great, He does not even remind them of how badly they have behaved, but instead gives them the gift of the Spirit so that these sinners could become wounded healers. I find immense consolation in the fact that the Gospels give us, not pious platitudes, but a gritty, realistic portrayal of our first priests, the apostles. They were ordinary men like ourselves, full of humanity and shortcomings and idiosyncrasies. They were entrusted however, to carry on the most important mission in the history of the world and despite all of their weaknesses, they did an extraordinary job. Scot said one the ideas that stood out to him was that the people entrusted by Jesus to spread the Gospel were not those who had the courage to follow the Way of the Cross and stand at the foot of the Cross. Fr. Chris said we only know for sure that the Virgin Mary and John the beloved apostle were there. He loved how he picked up on the flaws and foibles of the apostles because it shows that by Christ picking these flawed men we see that the Church's ministry is about reconciliation. He reconciles them to himself in order to send them out to tell about the power of forgiveness. Scot said the cardinal has immense satisfaction that the Gospels give us a gritty, real, intense view of the apostles. Our Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of saints. Fr. Chris said it goes back to the incarnation, that Christ became human so we might become divine. Christ is present to us and offering us an opportunity to die to self, so we might live in him. That's what he calls us all to, regardless of state in life. I'm sure that all of us at one point have felt a certain envy of the apostles. We imagine how wonderful it would be to be there and hear Jesus' voice, to see his miracles, to experience the closeness, the companionship and joy of being in his presence. It is ironic however, that the apostles' worst behavior came about while Jesus was still with them. They came into their own after the Pentecost experience. It's then that they go out boldly to proclaim the gospel and to share with the world what they have received. Though we have not had the privilege of walking over the hills of Galilee in Jesus' company, we have received the same Spirit that the apostles did on Holy Thursday, on Easter Sunday and on Pentecost. And now the mission must continue, despite our weaknesses and shortcomings and all obstacles. Christ is counting on us just as He counted on those simple fishermen to preach his gospel, calling people to conversion and discipleship, building a community of faith around the Eucharist. Like those first Christians in the Acts of the Apostles, we must be united in embracing the teachings of the apostles, fellowship and prayer, and the breaking of the bread. Holy Thursday is a very special day for us priests; indeed this very Chrism Mass is an extension of Holy Thursday. On that first Holy Thursday, Jesus washed the feet of his apostles and commanded them to love one another in the way that He loves us. He also commanded them to celebrate the Eucharist, “Do this in memory of me.” And later on that same evening, Jesus tells his first priests: “Watch and pray.” Today, 2,000 years later, Jesus is telling us the same thing: we must love one another, we must celebrate His Eucharist, and we must watch and pray. In Chapter 14 of the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke reports how Paul and Barnabas gather the faithful at Antioch and they reported what God had done with them and how God had “opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” Pope Benedict has lifted that beautiful phrase, “the door of faith,” “Porta Fidei,” for the name and theme of his letter announcing the year of faith beginning in the fall. It will mark the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the second Vatican Council, convoked by Blessed Pope John XXIII, and which also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, published by Blessed John Paul II. We are people of faith. Faith defines our identity and motivates our actions. Faith is our most precious gift. I am so grateful to have been born into a family of believers, the faith and example of my parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles was so life giving to me as child. And I am ever grateful to my uncle, Father Jerry Riedy, who baptized me into the faith. Scot said although priests today haven't walked with Jesus in Galilee, they have received the same Spirit the apostles did on Pentecost. Christ is counting on these priests just as He did on the apostles. Scot said the Cardinal has a passion for gathering the people of God around the Eucharistic table each week, because it is where we show our love for one another. Fr. Chris said the early Christians did this to show their love for Christ. There is an equality at that table. All are invited and equal in the eyes of God. We receive communion, we are brought deeper into the mystery of God and are meant to share it with our brothers and sisters in the faith. Scot said Cardinal Seán later told the priests to open the door of faith to people and how grateful he is to his family for opening the door of faith to him. We are all called to show people the beauty of our faith in our lives. Fr. Chris said we learn by imitation and example and so when we see the example of those who love the Lord and willingly give their life in service to the Lord we see the love for Christ conveyed and that faith is infectious. Preparing these reflections today, I decided to consult my concordance of the Bible. I found that the word faith appears four times in the Old Testament. However, in the New Testament, which is much shorter, the term faith appears over 250 times and the word believe also appears over 250 times. It is impossible to read the New Testament without appreciating how important faith is. Faith means not being an orphan, having a father who is our God and having many brothers and sisters. Faith is a home where we dwell and move and have our being, where we discover how much we are loved and who we are. Faith is a relationship with Christ, a loving and trusting and enduring friendship. Indeed the mission entrusted by Jesus to the apostles is not first of all to announce the gospel, but first of all to believe in him. As priests we are called to be men of faith, teachers of faith and witnesses of faith. The epistle to the Hebrews tells us that faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. After a beautiful passage celebrating the faith of our ancestors throughout salvation history, the author of Hebrews exhorts us: “Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus the origin and crown of all faith.” A few weeks ago I was invited to give the opening talk at a retreat for 75 young Jesuits here in Boston. A Jesuit Father who is a missionary in Siberia had organized the retreat and invited me. Afterwards, he presented me with a beautiful Russian icon of Our Lady. He told me that in Russia it is said: You do not choose the icon, the icon chooses you.” A very interesting perspective. Well, faith is born of a glance. Not so much ours, but that of Christ. The account of the vocation of the Apostles begins by the assertion Jesus looking at them. Jesus saw Andrew and Peter. Jesus saw the sons of Zebedee. Jesus saw Matthew. And having seen them, having fixed his gaze upon them, Jesus calls them to a life of discipleship. We should ask ourselves: “when did we become aware that Jesus had set his eyes on us?” When did we recognize His voice, and His invitation – “Follow me.” Each of us has our own vocational story. For each of us, there is a precise moment for each of us where we became aware that Jesus was looking at us. Certainly, there were many other moments: moments of enthusiasm, moments of definitive choice, and moments of decision to renew ourselves in the face of trials and difficulties and trials in our ministry. Even moments of remorse and shame when we had to cast ourselves on the mystery of our Lord's mercy, like Peter in the courtyard of the high priest, when the Lord turns and fixes his gaze on Peter, who goes out and weeps bitterly. To be under the gaze of the love and mercy of Jesus and to put our eyes fixed on Him, this is faith and from that faith comes every call, every following and even our ministerial vocation which unites us to Jesus who with love, compassion and tenderness sees the crowd and is moved because they are like sheep without a shepherd. Seeing our people's needs, Jesus sends us. Indeed as priests, we must persevere in running this course with our gaze fixed on Jesus, the origin and crown of all faith. It is our own Boston Marathon with many a Heartbreak Hill. It is a long distance run, not the frenetic sprint of the person anxious to be everywhere, who feels indispensable, who never has time for smile, who is not capable of listening, and who does not have the capacity for a profound silence. We need to witness the faith not by adopting the rhythms and times of this world, but rather by responding to the urgency of the gospel. “Faith comes through hearing” (Romans 10, 17) and it is as men of faith, that we must build our lives on the Word of God. There are so many demands on our time and attention, and our energy is not limitless. It requires discipline in the organization of our time to guarantee that each day we can be nourished by listening to the Word of God. Our celebration of the liturgy is also a crucial contact with the power that comes from God's Word and from the Sacraments. Regardless of what one may feel about the new translation, the changes in the liturgy have been an opportunity for us to focus with greater attention to the words we are praying. The Chrism Mass allows us to glimpse the grace of belonging to a presbyterate. It is this in this presbyterate, united to Christ and one another that the gifts that we received by the imposition of hands can be stirred up and enlivened. Here all of our struggles and triumphs are melded into one. The hidden sacrifices heroically made by some of our brothers, the special graces, the pastoral genius, the tireless dedication come together to forge our presbyterate. We are a body that together regenerates itself. Together we share the responsibility to announce the Gospel and to build up the Christian community. You often hear the expression: “keep the faith.” But what we really need to do is not keep the faith, but spread it around. Our faith grows stronger when we share it with others. All of us remember fondly the priests who mentored us in the faith. Now it is our turn to share these treasures. We are earthen vessels bearing treasures. The world is being overcome with darkness. To me one of the most chilling phrases on Jesus' lips are the words: “When the Son of Man returns will he find any faith on the earth?” In great part it depends on us. We who are Christ's priests have a huge responsibility to announce his Gospel in season and out of season. Scot said this was news to him about faith and belief in the Bible. It's important for the growth of the Church to understand that faith and belief are fundamental. Fr. Chris said we have to remember that faith is a gift from God to us, which we can accept or reject. It's also important to remember how grateful the Cardinal was that his parents were believers that they imparted their faith to him. How grateful we should be to those in our lives who have imparted the faith to us. Sometimes when we're lacking faith, the best way to grow in faith is to tell the Lord and then to pray. We become a better athlete by practicing the motions of the sport, and we grow in faith by acting in faith. Scot said the Cardinal said our faith grows stronger as we share it with others. We all have a huge responsibility to preach the Gospel in season and out of season. Fr. Chris quoted the First Letter of Peter, “be prepared to give a reason for your hope,” for why we believe. What are the highlights of our own faith conveyed in 3 minutes that we would give to someone who asked? I often tell the Jesuits that I'm a little envious of them, since they have 35 craters on the moon named after Jesuit fathers. We Capuchins only have a cup of coffee…. One of the best spots to drink a good cappuccino is the Piazza of San Eustachio in Rome. If you have ever indulged yourself at one of the cafés there, you may have noticed the lovely church which looks like many other Italianate churches, except for the fact that on top of the church where one usually expects to find the cross, there is a huge set of antlers. I am sure that there is some pious explanation for the antlers, perhaps some story about San Eustachio running over a deer and miraculously providing venison for 4000 orphans. However, if you ask the Romans why there are antlers on the top of the church you may hear the story that I was told. Apparently, a young Roman nobleman married a beautiful bride in that church, but soon after the marriage she absconded with the best man. Today the man would have gone on the Jerry Springer show. The husband was disconsolate, and in his grief and rage had the antlers placed on the roof of that church. In Italian, a man who has deceived by his wife is referred to as “cornuto” which means having horns. I am told that ever since the antlers went up, there are very few weddings in that church. Accordingly, for many Romans, the antlers on the church betoken defeat and sadness. During this year of faith we need to climb up and pull the antlers down and lift high the cross, the triumphant, life giving cross. Our people need us to be confident and joyful teachers of the faith. Cardinal Dolan spoke of going to a conference by Cardinal Wright on Evangelization, expecting a deep theological treatise. The message of the eloquent Bostonian was simply – smile! Pope Benedict constantly dwells on relationship of faith with joy. The word joy appears sixty (60) times in the New Testament. The very word Gospel means glad tidings. We are messengers of that joyful news. Scot said when he lived in Rome, he never saw the church the Cardinal referred to. Fr. Chris said he is going to Rome this summer and he's planning to check it out. Scot said the Cardinal seemed to be saying that we should tear down anything distracting us from the faith and in its place to lift high the Cross. But the cross isn't about grief. The cardinal referred to Cardinal Dolan speaking of the joy of having received the Good News and letting it permeate out hearts, even before the cross. Fr. Chris quoted St. Theresa of Avila: “Lord, save me from long-faced saints.” We should see the cross as something beautiful and life-giving. Showing the joy of the love of Christ attracts people and is an invitation to the gift of faith. The people need to glimpse our own faith. They need teachers who are witnesses. In our priestly support groups and circles of priests, we need to talk about Christ and our love for the mission that He has entrusted to us. It is because the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus are talking about Jesus, that the Risen Lord draws near and breaks open the Scriptures for them. That experience made their hearts burn within them. Cleopas and his buddy never finished that dinner – they got up from that table probably without even paying the check and ran back to Jerusalem with the waitress chasing them down the road. They were filled with joy, and wanted to share that joy and good news with their brothers – “we have seen the Lord and we recognized him in the breaking of the bread.” Pope Benedict XVI, in Porta Fidei, writes “faith grows when it is lived as an experience of grace and joy.” He warns us not to grow lazy in the faith, and urges us to focus on Jesus Christ, because “in him all the anguish and longing of the human heart finds fulfillment.” At the Chrism Mass, I like to make an appeal, a challenge to my priests and to myself. In the past, I have asked us all to work harder on our preaching. I have asked that every priest make a serious retreat each year – I had to go down to St. Petersburg last year to make sure Bishop Hennessey was not offering the enneagram and reiki. Actually we are very grateful for the wonderful work Bob Hennessey is doing on those retreats. I have asked that each priest develop a personal rule of life to assure the balance we need to pray hard, work hard and play hard. I have asked that each priest join a priest support group to be able to build a truly spiritual fraternity with a deep sense of shared mission. This year I would ask that each priest, myself included, to recommit ourselves to our own ongoing formation. Each of us is ultimately responsible for his own ongoing formation, which needs to be spiritual, human, theological and pastoral so that we might be the teachers of the faith our people need. Pope John Paul II wrote in Pastores dabo Vobis: “Ongoing formation aims at increasing the priest's awareness of his share in the Church's saving mission”. “The priest's permanent formation appears not only as a necessary condition but also as an indispensable means for constantly refocusing on the meaning of his mission and for ensuring that he is carrying it out with fidelity and generosity. By this formation, the priest is helped to become aware of the seriousness and yet the splendid grace of an obligation which cannot let him rest, so that, like Paul, he must be able to say: “If I preach the Gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel”(1 Cor. 9:16). At the same time, the priest also becomes aware of a demand, which insistently comes from all those whom God is unceasingly calling to salvation. Scot said in the seminary it's important to remind the seminarians that formation doesn't end with ordination. Fr. Chris said none of us are finished products. The disciples on the road to Emmaus were on a journey and each priest has to grow theologically and pastorally. He said he was intrigued by the list of challenges the Cardinal gives each year to the priests for them to work on. It's helpful to look on all of them and see where they've grown. One year is was about working on homilies. Another year was about taking a serious renewing retreat each year. Another year, they were to form a spiritual fraternity. This year it's about ongoing formation. Fr. Chris said it's a good reminder to all of his priests. Scot recapped the end of the Cardinal's homily. For the Church, the Year of the Faith is to be the year of the New Evangelization. Our personal ongoing formation will help us as a diocese in our task of imbuing our pastoral planning with the new evangelization which means taking the Gospel to those who have grown cold, to reach out with a new ardor and with new methods, turning our parishes into communities of evangelizers where every parishioner feels a call to share their faith, to be a part of the mission to make Christ's Gospel loved, and to promote a civilization of justice and love. I am very grateful to Bishop Arthur Kennedy for his willingness to help us to equip our people for the challenges of the New Evangelization and for promoting our ongoing formation. I know that it seems daunting but I am confident that this Year of Faith will be great grace for our Church if we priests take advantage of this time to renew ourselves in an ongoing conversion that is a response to Christ's loving call. Spiritual writers speak of a second call, actually there are many moments when the Lord glances at us as He did to Peter, after Peter's fall and what I call the “Last Breakfast” when the risen Lord, having examined Peter in his love, says “Follow me” again. As we renew our ordination promises may we recommit our lives to Christ, to our brothers and sisters, in the service of the Gospel whose Heralds we are. May the Lord grant each of us a faith that bestows confidence and courage, generosity and joy, as together we work to build up Christ's Kingdom. Together we want to take down the antlers of sadness and defeat and weathervane of doubt and uncertainly and lift high the cross. What St. Francis calls the book that contains the greatest love story in the history of the world – and we priests are all part of that story. God bless you. Scot said it's his sense that the Cardinal's hope is that each parish will come alive and each Catholic will be motivated to share their faith. Fr. Chris said it's an insight that originates with Pope Benedict XVI, who is always talking about this new evangelization, re-presenting the Gospel to those who have grown cold in the faith, re-introducing the idea that Christ is the life and the Resurrection. Scot previewed the liturgies of the rest of the week. He said beautiful images from these liturgies taken by George Martell can be found at . Scot and Fr. Chris said the best way to prepare for Easter is to participate in all the liturgies and services of Holy Week. Fr. Chris reminded everyone that tomorrow night is the final light of The Light Is On For You for this Lent, where the sacrament of confession will be available in every church and chapel from 6:30-8pm.