Welcome to the Messy Quest Monday blog tour!

Welcome to the Messy Quest Monday blog tour! Today we are hosting the “blog tour” for Stephen Martin’s new book, The Messy Quest for Meaning: Five Catholic Practices for Finding Your Vocation, from Sorin Books, an imprint of Ave Maria Press. Stephen is a writer; he does PR for a global non-profit, and he writes a weekly column for his local paper, the Raleigh News and Observer. He has been published in America and Commonweal, among other places; this is his first book. Stephen is also a husband and a father.

Recently I had the privilege of asking him a few questions, here is what the author had to say… (continue reading at the Times Union and leave your comments there, you may win a free book!)

Messy Quest Monday is almost here!

Messy Quest Monday? We will be musing this Monday – complete with multiple posts, which will include an interview, a guest post and a book review. But wait – that’s not all! If you leave a comment on any of the posts, your name will be entered into a drawing to receive a free book. And yes, you can enter more than once.

What is this Messy Quest business all about? On Monday we will (continue reading at the Times Union, and please leave all comments there!)

Welcome to the Messy Quest Monday Blog Tour!

Welcome to the Messy Quest Monday blog tour! Today we are hosting the “blog tour” for Stephen Martin’s new book, The Messy Quest for Meaning: Five Catholic Practices for Finding Your Vocation, from Sorin Books, an imprint of Ave Maria Press. Stephen is a writer; he does PR for a global non-profit, and he writes a weekly column for his local paper, the Raleigh News and Observer. He has been published in America and Commonweal, among other places; this is his first book. Stephen is also a husband and a father.

Recently I had the privilege of asking him a few questions, here is what the author had to say… (continue reading at the Times Union and leave your comments there, you may win a free book!)

Ascension

Ascension Thursday is 40 days after Easter.

As we know, Easter is when Jesus rose from the dead. He stayed with his disciples for 40 days, 40 always being a number to pay attention to. The Jews wandered in the desert with Moses for 40 years. Jesus went into the desert, prior to being crucified, for 40 days. Now another 40 days has passed and Jesus must go to the Father. 40 days always reminds us to remember who we are and where we came from, 40 days means to go forward in confidence, that no matter what, God is always with us – as Jesus has promised before He ascended.

He promises to always be with us, but (continue reading at the Times Union…)

On the day of mothers

That’s my mom, Rose. It was her last Christmas, 1990. She would be pleased knowing that a lot of people would see her photo. She could be a bit of a ham… And I wonder where I got that from?

On Mother’s Day 2010, Anne Lamott published an essay on Salon, entitled “Why I Hate Mother’s Day;” I just reread it. While she says some things that I might not say, and she says it in ways that I would not have employed, I think Anne Lamott is onto something here.

Now don’t get me wrong… I am enjoying a lovely Mother’s Day morning today. I awoke to a sweet little gift and a card that made my eyes well up. You see, I never thought that I (continue reading at the Times Union…)

A month of Marian posts – Our Lady of Guadalupe

During this month of May, a month that has us focus on Mary, the Mother of God, I will offer various reflections on the Mother of God. She is an essential part of our Catholic Christian faith, but we do not worship Mary. As the mother of God, she leads us always to her son.

Today, during this Marian month of May, we look to the Patroness of the Americas, Our Lady of Guadalupe. Here is some information from the Saint of the Day page at American Catholic.

The feast in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe goes (please continue reading at the Times Union.)

James Martin, SJ at Spring Enrichment

Each year our diocese hosts a large scale catechetical event, Spring Enrichment. This year’s theme is the Heart of Christ. I remember the first time that I attended Spring Enrichment in 2008, I could not believe it! There was (and is!) such a wide breadth of courses, seminars and speakers to choose from. Since that time, I have not missed a year, and I have been privileged to be an instructor, as well as involved with the planning of events.

This year we have a very major keynote speaker, Father James Martin, SJ. Father Jim… (please continue reading at the Times Union.)