Catholic Faith and Reflections

This weblog has had approximately 6000 visits in about 12 days time. I will have to get my computer wizard (my son) to give me the breakdown of from where these visits originate, length of time per hit, etc.  

I am pleased whoever is logging on has the opportunity to read what is available here.  

I hope a few minds and hearts are closer to God because of it.

I’d like to refer you to an interesting article published in the May 10, 2010 edition of America, the national Catholic weekly of the Jesuits. It is entitled, “Twelve Things the Bishops Have Learned from the Clergy Sexual Abuse Crisis.” The article is written by Bishop Blase Cupich of Rapid City, South Dakota.  He is the chairman of the Committee for Child and Youth Protection for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

To read the entire article, log on to: America Magazine.

The following is an excerpt from the Pope’s homily in Portugal recently. 

“This is the mandate whose faithful fulfillment ‘must follow the road Christ himself walked, a way of poverty and obedience, of service and of self-sacrifice even unto death, a death from which he emerged victorious by his resurrection’ (Ad Gentes, 5). Yes! We are called to serve the humanity of our own time, trusting in Jesus alone, letting ourselves be enlightened by his word: ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide’ (Jn 15: 16). How much time we have lost, how much work has been set back, on account of our lack of attention to  this point! Everything is to be defined starting with Christ,as far as the origins and effectiveness of mission is concerned: we receive mission always from Christ, who has made known to us what he has heard from his Father, and we are appointed to mission through the Spirit, in the Church. Like the Church herself, which is the work of Christ and his Spirit, it is a question of renewing the face of the earth starting with God, God always and alone.”

Yes, isn’t it true.  God alone is the starting point for all we do. Everything is defined by starting with Jesus who reveals the Father to us in the power of the Holy Spirit.

To read the entire homily, log on to: www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=392808

Well, the voting is over.  I think Catholic Faith and Reflections came in second, although I haven’t seen the official results.  We were 8 votes ahead later last night.

Although we didn’t win outright, I did accomplish what I had set out to do after having been nominated by Chiara, namely, to make this blog more widely known to the entire Catholic community, and perhaps to reach out to readers who will follow and comment on this weblog in the future.

Catholic Faith and Reflections is a part of my diaconal ministry. A form of spreading the Good News, hopefully. The success of this will depend on me being able to post intelligently and in faithfully about things that matter to our Catholic faith and your daily lives. The success of this ministry will also depend upon you, the readers, and what you may have to offer all of us in our  journey of faith.

Of course, ultimately, God’s will will be done as he sees fit to use this means of  communication and evangelizaton.

Thanks to everyone who voted in the Cannon Ball Awards.  I appreciate the outpouring of support.  The winner of the Best Under Appreciated Blog played the game well, and shrewdly. 

Congratulations to the winner.

Over 110,000 visits have been made to this weblog since its beginning a couple of years ago. Thank you all for your interest in what is printed here, and especialy for your continued faith in Christ and his Church.

(Yes, I know the counter says about 11,000 visits. It was accidently reset to zero when it reached 100,000 a few weeks ago!)

Blessings on all of you.

Deacon Bob

Well, it is almost over.  Today is the last day of voting. I am for all practical purposes in second place and have to get 80+ votes today to win. We can do it!! VOTE NOW.

Go to: www.thecrescat.blogspot.com and click on the stain glass like 2010 Cannon Ball  Awards icon on the upper right of the page. This will take you to the voting page.  Scroll down to the category, “Best Under Appreciated Blog” and look for Catholic Faith and Reflections.  Click on the bullet next to it, then scroll down to the bottom of that category only and click on “vote.”

Thanks to all of you who have supported me in this effort!  God bless…

Deacon Bob