During his homily at the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families, Pope Francis spoke on the importance of sharing little gestures of love within the family. These little acts of love are vital to the heart of a parish family, too. Here are some examples of little gestures we can do within our parishes to welcome others and foster a culture of encounter. What ideas can you add?
When You Don’t Know the Memorare
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. A deacon’s wife walks into her weekly Catholic moms group. She meets and greets with her fellow sisters in Christ; they enjoy coffee and conversation together and offer intercessory prayer for one another. 90 minutes later the gathering draws to an end and the leader says, “Let’s […]
Springtime Photo Dump
It’s been awhile since I’ve shared photos of our family and kids, so here’s a quick photo dump. — Das Schmidt Haus, Easter 2015 — Okay, it wasn’t really Easter, and Cy, Iowa State’s mascot, didn’t attend church with us. But let’s pretend because I need an obligatory family Easter photo. Maybe I should Photoshop the […]
Leaving God at the Altar, Finding Him in My Housekeeping
“It is most laudable in a married woman to be devout, but she must never forget that she is a housewife. And sometimes she must leave God at the altar to find Him in her housekeeping.” I first read those words by St. Frances of Rome back on March 9, her feast day. Depending on how you feel […]
Being Deacon: Not Quite Ready for Primetime
It’s been a few weeks since I was ordained a permanent deacon. After four years of deacon formation, there were still some things for which I was not totally prepared. Here are seven … Quick Takes style. — 1 — Everything — A good friend of mine, Deacon Andrew pictured with me above, was […]
Why I’m Feeling Spiritually Vulnerable These Days
There is one photo I didn’t include in the ordination highlight reel. This one. It was taken during the ordination Mass, and it’s a moment I’ve reflected on a lot lately. That moment captured there may very well be one of the last times I sit with my husband during Mass for the foreseeable future. And for […]
Totally Dependent on God
Editor’s Note: One of the graces throughout Joel’s diaconate discernment has been the opportunity to become friends with the wives of the other discerning men. One, Charlotte Hunkele, has become a spiritual mentor; she has a gift to articulate and explain the faith in such beautiful ways. During one of our retreat weekends, Charlotte shared […]