I’m not exactly sure how it all happened… From Senior Vice President and single woman, to wife, stepmother, church secretary, lay minister and catechist, graduate student, blogger, (not just here, but here and here also!) Catholic writer, retreat leader and public speaker. And now this blog will be hosted by the Times Union blogging platform, which is a great honor and privilege!
As I like to think, one day I came home from work in New York City and went to sleep at my house in Nyack. The next day I woke up here in Clifton Park and went to work in Glenville. Just like that!
This blog is called There Will Be Bread, because the idea of bread is central to life and central to the Catholic eucharistic theololgy which I love and try to live each day. We encounter Christ in the bread that is eucharist and we meet Christ around the table and in life, in one another. It is a meal in which we come to give and not just receive.
My day job, which I love, is Office Manager, at The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Glenville, NY. St. Edward the Confessor in Clifton Park is where I worship, and where I am active in lay ministry, mostly liturgical in nature. Currently I am pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies at St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry. Additionally, I do work for Living Hope Ministries as part of their confirmation retreat series.
I am Roman Catholic. You will not hear me say that I am a (fill-in-the-blank) traditional, progressive, orthodox, liberal, conservative Catholic. Labels for me are divisive and not helpful for the most part and I avoid them. Catholicity demands, at least as I see it, a way of life that is both/and, not either/or alone. In general, if I were to use labels, I would be accused of being too conservative for liberal Catholics and too liberal for conservative Catholics. So be it, I say let us come to the table and let Christ do His work.
Sometimes I feel like Dorothy in Oz now that I live such a different life, and so unexpectedly! The biggest difference is I don’t need any red shoes – I am already at home and you are welcome here!
Fran you have an amazing blog, I’m touched that you visited me! Thank you.
LikeLike
Even though the River of Stones did not work out for me, it helped me discover your beautiful blog. I am typically silent, but that post… Oh my gosh, I cannot stop thinking about that writing. I want to luxuriate in it, gorgeous! Thank you for coming by!
LikeLike
Hi Fran! I am enjoying your blog. Come by and visit me at Home in Douglas.
LikeLike
Hi Fran! I nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger Award: http://onlyspartanwomen.com/2012/05/23/kreativ-blogger-award
LikeLike
Thank you so much! I am honored!
LikeLike
I love reading your posts! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
LikeLike
HI: Would you like to join us in our Sunday Snippet. It’s hosted by someone who runs a Catholic blog?
LikeLike
Dear Seeker, thank you for asking, but I just can’t commit to doing that right now. I poked around to find out more about it and it looks like such a great blog gathering/sharing of good posts – so thank you again!
LikeLike
Fran, just read your reflection in “This Day,” which lead me to your blog. You are a breath of Catholic fresh air! Keep writing and God bless you!
LikeLike
John, welcome to the blog, and thank you – I am humbled by your comment! Having just reread my last post, rife with grammatical errors, I am even more thankful. Peace and blessings to you!
LikeLike
Read your reflection today in Give Us This Day and it led me to your blog. It was a blessing as it reminded me that I have been pruned and need continual pruning in order to experience new growth through the Holy Spirit. Thank you.
LikeLike
Agnes, thank you and welcome to the blog, a place where I try to work out some of the pruning with my words. Peace.
LikeLike
All the best Fran….
You are a source of light in this dark world
Blessings beloved
LikeLike
You are far too generous with your words, but I thank you and we all thank God!
LikeLike
Please immediately remove from your blog all images of my artwork depicting the Great O Antiphons. Your unauthorized and unattributed use of these images is a violation of copyright law. Linda Witte Henke (www.lindahenke.com)
LikeLike
Fran, thanks for visiting my blog. It gave me the chance to find yours!
LikeLike
Thank you – my friend Brad shared your post this morning, and it touched me deeply. To be opened… our quotidian journey, peeling away the layers of what closes us off from God and one another, what keeps us from ourselves. Peace to Renee, and blessings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fran, your blog is warm and inviting until I start getting distracted by all the ads. I’ve tried to avoid going this way with my site (www.lectorresources.com). Is it worth the bit of chump change we might get for cluttering up our good content with Motley Fool ads and the like? Would really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks… George
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I do appreciate your candor. Timing is a bit off to spend extra cash, but you’re right. It may have to wait, but it will happen. Thanks and God bless.
LikeLike
Thank you. I appreciate your candor. I have not really had the cash, but I need to do so… when this virus matter is over, hopefully that will be done!
LikeLike
I stumbled here. It looks like a good blog. I’m sorry to see it no longer updated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. The pandemic has kind of done me in writing wise for the most part, I am hoping to get back on track.
LikeLike
Hi Fran,
Just read you in This Day which led me here. I appreciate the grace and gentle question you ask about the type of servant we are: faithful or wicked, the truth that we can be both and the encouragement to offer ourselves anew each day to a loving God. Thank you!.
Can you share info about the icon of Christ in your header photo? I am always in search of good ones!
LikeLike
Greetings! Thank you for your kind words. I always say God gives the words and I just try to type using the right keys!
The icon is by Bro Mickey McGrath OSFS. He has his a website- http://www.bromickeymcgrath.com
LikeLike
Oops hit enter too soon. Anyway you can also find him on Facebook. His work is beautiful.
God bless you!
LikeLike