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The Practicing Catholic

Intentionally, joyfully living the faith ... we hope.

Discernment

So How is Catholic School Treating Your Family?

February 2, 2016 by Lisa Schmidt 5 Comments

So how is Catholic school treating your family? That’s the question Joel and I have received a lot since enrolling our oldest child in Catholic school and not homeschooling this year. Given it’s National Catholic Schools Week, the time seemed right to offer a response to that FAQ.

Posted in: Homeschooling, Schmidt, Lisa Tagged: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Catholic Education, Catholic Schools, Catholic Schools Week, children education, Discernment, Holy Leisure, Homeschooling, Mary Undoer of Knots, Not Homeschooling, St. Benedict

Sometimes life takes you down new and unexpected roads

August 24, 2015 by Lisa Schmidt 26 Comments

During my undergrad years, I took class titled Death as a Part of Living. During the first lecture, we took an informal quiz of sorts that had us inventorying life events — a job change, marriage, the birth of a child, a death of a loved one, a move, starting college, etc. The more events a person experienced … [Read more…]

Posted in: Family, Homeschooling, Schmidt, Lisa Tagged: Catholic School, Discernment, Homeschooling, Mary Undoer of Knots, Not Homeschooling

Thirsting for Holy Leisure: Our Decision to Homeschool

September 24, 2014 by Lisa Schmidt 31 Comments

When we started this journey, I’m not sure that Joel or I would have been able to even defend our choice to homeschool. So WHY, indeed are we even doing this? When the going gets crazy, and it did and does, what’s the overarching goal that we can come back to, to help us reset and regroup rather than prematurely throw in the towel? Well here’s a little behind our WHY, and it’s what I come back to when the going gets tough.

Posted in: Homeschooling, Schmidt, Lisa Tagged: Discernment, Homeschooling

Should I Write More About Deacon Formation?

September 19, 2012 by Deacon Joel Schmidt 12 Comments
Diaconate Ordination

Joel reflects on the process of discerning deacon formation with the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, especially in light of the demands that the formation process puts on his young family.

Posted in: Faith, Family Tagged: Catholic New Media Conference, Conception Abbey, Deacon, Diaconate, Discernment, Miscarriage Ministry, Monks, Perinatal Loss, Vocation

Learning to Discern God’s Will

August 22, 2011 by Charlotte Upah Leave a Comment

Have you ever wondered how other people have learned to discern God’s will? George Mueller, a nineteenth century English pastor who was known for his life of prayer and his close walk with God, once shared this simple method for determining God’s will through prayer and the Word: I seek at the beginning to get … [Read more…]

Posted in: Faith, Guest Contributors Tagged: Discernment, God's Will, Mother Teresa, Prayer, Scripture, The Best Gift Is Love

Ideas for Fostering Vocations

January 14, 2011 by Lisa Schmidt 2 Comments

In honor of National Vocations Awareness Week, a few ideas on fostering vocations.

Posted in: Faith, Schmidt, Lisa Tagged: Discernment, Family, Holy Orders, Marriage, National Vocation Awareness Week, sacrament, Vocations

Discerning With Love

January 12, 2011 by Mary Ann Pometto 1 Comment

Editor’s Note: Our weeklong focus on vocations continues in conjunction with National Vocations Awareness Week. Today we feature our friend Mary Pometto who shares a little of her personal discernment testimony. We first met Mary when she worked for our local Catholic radio apostolate, and we are honored that she provided this piece for us. Her joyful … [Read more…]

Posted in: Faith, Guest Contributors Tagged: Discernment, Eagle Eye Institute, love, Mary Ann Pometto, Nun, Religious, Sisterhood, Vocation
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