Home

Grow

Grow Grow Description goes here.

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Lily of the Mohawks

Attention: open in a new window.

I remember being fascinated when I saw and heard the name Kateri Tekakwitha for the first time. As a young person, I thought this woman’s name sounded so poetic and had a certain flare. As I began to read about Kateri Tekakwitha, I found that she carried within her life a great deal to fascinate. Kateri Tekakwitha was a 17th-century Mohawk Indian and Catholic convert. Her short life was marked by great suffering and sacrifice. The Jesuit missionaries were influential in her conversion to the Catholic faith.

What is striking about Kateri Tekakwitha’s life and person is her strong determination in the midst of struggle and great human suffering. Within the short 24 years of her life she experienced the deaths of her parents and brother, and she herself had long-term effects from the smallpox epidemic of that time. Her uncle raised her after she was orphaned and did not accept her wish to become a Christian. As if this were not enough, Kateri chose to deliberately cause physical pain to herself in order to imitate the sufferings of Jesus’ crucifixion and to offer this pain for the salvation of souls.

Read more... Add new comment

Aren’t We Blessed?

Attention: open in a new window.

by Paul Gallagher

At a reception after the Easter Vigil, one of the newly baptized came up to me. He’s an eighth grader and was prepared to receive the sacraments through RCIY. I’ve only met him a couple of times, but he seems like a great kid. He had been invited to attend one of our religious education classes by a friend. A personal invitation by another teen is what started the process. God took care of the rest.

Read more... Add new comment

Springtime for the DRE

Attention: open in a new window.

by Paul Gallagher

tulips As I’m writing this post, the daffodils and crocuses in my area have already faded, only to be replaced by a whole host of tulips. Spring has come early this year, and I couldn’t be happier.

Journeying with the Scriptures in Lent

Attention: open in a new window.

by Kathy Henry

LENT Many years ago I was inspired to create an interactive Lenten bulletin board based on the popular children’s board game, Candy Land. Using colored construction paper squares, I fashioned a winding path to represent the 40 days’ journey from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday. Instead of Lollipop Mountain and King Candy’s Castle, I created stops along the way that reflected the Gospel readings for the six Sundays of Lent and ended at Calvary. Visual clues were given to hint at the weekly stops, and a Scripture verse citation was added each week. Students were encouraged to look up the passages, write them out, and memorize them. Incentives were offered, and many participated.

Over the years, I have become particularly inspired by the Scriptures of Lent. For me, they speak of our humanity and of God’s great love for us, no matter what. And no matter what spiritual state I may be in when Ash Wednesday arrives, the 40 days that follow are usually good for some serious reflection on the Word of God and my desire to respond.

Read more... Add new comment

Lent as a Catechetical Leader

Attention: open in a new window.

by Paul Gallagher

cross shadow Our annual Lenten journey has begun. I don’t know about you, but it seems like I always start this penitential season really well, but then quickly fall into the same old busy-ness of parish life. In fact, for most catechetical leaders, Lent is our busiest time of the year. How do we counter that?