Confession

Why do we as Catholics take for granted the healing of forgiveness that can be received from going to Confession?  Why do we devoutly follow everything we are supposed to, except for that?  Why do we not encourage our children to go to confession so it becomes a normal practice as they get older?

I admit, I fell into the category of being lax in the confession category myself.  I never had a bad experience or had a tough Priest give me a hard time, but it was not something I ever really embraced until about 10 years ago.  I hadn't been in AGES and was so afraid to go.  But I gathered up my courage and went to a wonderful Msgr. who I just adore.  Instead of asking why I waited so long to go, or give me a hard time about being away from Confession for so long, he was encouraging and supportive. 

I then started going about twice a year, but still didn't fully understand the powerful healing that comes from forgiveness until listening to a Priest's homily one day at daily Mass.  He gave the example of writing all your sins out and then ripping up the paper into shreds.  That is basically what God does when we confess our sins. They are gone, never to be thought of again.  We should no longer beat ourselves up over them or give them a second thought.  God doesn't.

After that homily I vowed that I would start going to confession more frequently.  I made up a little template in very tiny font in Word with what I need to say and the Act of Contrition that I can take in with me.  Now that I go every couple of weeks, I will say, the hesitation and scariness is gone.  I actually look forward to going and feeling God's healing power.

I encourage any Catholic who has been nervous about going and hasn't been in a while, to take the time to go. Do a good examination of conscience and ask for God's forgiveness.  It will heal you in ways you can not imagine. 

   

Divine Mercy Chaplet

I attended a service for a young man who was attending the Seminary and died suddenly.  Instead of the rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet was sung.  I had never heard it before and it was beautiful.  I immediately fell in love with the beautiful words.  Below is taken from http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/chaplethistory.php which gives the best instruction on praying the chaplet as well as a wonderful explanation of the history behind it. 

The History of the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy

Sister Faustina was a young, uneducated, nun in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Cracow, Poland during the 1930's. She came from a very poor family that struggled on their little farm during the years of World War I. She had only three years of very simple education, so hers were the humblest tasks in the convent, usually in the kitchen or garden. However, she received extraordinary revelations or messages from Our Lord Jesus. Jesus asked Sr. Faustina to record these experiences, which she compiled in notebooks. These notebooks are known today as the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska and the words contained within are God's loving message of Divine Mercy.

In 1935, St. Faustina received a vision of an angel sent by God to chastise a certain city. She began to pray for mercy, but her prayers were powerless. Suddenly she saw the Holy Trinity and felt the power of Jesus’ grace within her. At the same time she found herself pleading with God for mercy with words she heard interiorly:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world; for the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us. (Diary, 475)

As she continued saying this inspired prayer, the angel became helpless and could not carry out the deserved punishment (see 474). The next day, as she was entering the chapel, she again heard this interior voice, instructing her how to recite the prayer that our Lord later called "the Chaplet." This time, after "have mercy on us" were added the words "and on the whole world" (476). From then on, she recited this form of prayer almost constantly, offering it especially for the dying.

In subsequent revelations, the Lord made it clear that the Chaplet was not just for her, but for the whole world. He also attached extraordinary promises to its recitation.

Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you (1541). Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death (687). When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the Merciful Savior (1541). Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this Chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy (687). I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy (687). Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will. (1731)

Prayed on ordinary rosary beads, The Chaplet of The Divine Mercy is an intercessory prayer that extends the offering of the Eucharist, so it is especially appropriate to use it after having received Holy Communion at Holy Mass. It may be said at any time, but our Lord specifically told St. Faustina to recite it during the nine days before the Feast of Mercy (the first Sunday after Easter). He then added: "By this Novena, [of Chaplets] I will grant every possible grace to souls." (796)

It is likewise appropriate to pray the Chaplet during the "Hour of Great Mercy" — three o'clock each afternoon (recalling the time of Christ’s death on the cross). In His revelations to St. Faustina, Our Lord asked for a special remembrance of His Passion at that hour.

heroes

I used to love to read, back when my life was my own and I had tons of leisure time.  Then I went back to college for 3 years and I only had time to read textbooks.  No time to read for pleasure and I got out of the habit of reading books I enjoyed.  Two years after I graduated, I finally started to read for myself again.  Unfortunately since I am so limited on reading time (15 min in the locked bathroom, 10 min in the car waiting for a kid) I have to read books that can be picked up and put down easily.  Short chapters work the best. 

I love books that have a positive message or are inspirational.  There is a set of books I just love.  It's called Coffee with Nonna and More Coffee with Nonna by Vincent Iezzi.  They seem very simplistic; stories of this author's Italian Grandmother (Nonna in Italian).  And while that doesn't sound particularly inspiring, they are amazing.  His grandmother may not have been the most educated, but she had a worldly knowledge that came from experience.  Like Jesus, she taught lessons in stories.  I've met only a few people in my life that had the beautiful ability to weave a life lesson in what seemed like an innocent story.

 
While sometimes later in life it is realized the stories may not have necessarily been entirely factual in nature, they always had the perfect moral lesson.  There are so many that I enjoyed reading.  Stories of how the birds used to be all white, but as they helped Jesus, they earned colors.  How certain animals were selected to be there at the birth of Jesus as they represented various stages of our Savior's life.  And how the Magi were each told a special secret by an angel to share with the Infant Child when he was born.  The secrets were discovered and told to King Herod who laughed at what he thought was the silliness of them.  But it turns out they were to represent the areas that Jesus would travel to teach and ultimately die. 

But perhaps my favorite is Nonna's thoughts on heroes.  This is one I will share in more detail.  

Vinnie was young and had a rather large comic book collection.  Mind you this was during the war.  As he listened to the stories of what was going on in the war he wished his super heroes from his comics would come to the rescue and win the war.  So he proceeded to write his favorite superhero and waited in quiet anticipation for him to win the war.  Much to his disappointment nothing happened.  So one day when they were collecting paper for the war efforts, he dumped all his comic books into the heap.  His Nonna was very proud of his sacrifice but was confused when she discovered why he did it. 

She went on to explain that sometimes people are hero's in life only once.  It's not their destiny that they should always do heroic things.  Perhaps there was one moment in time that they did something self sacrificing and became a hero for someone.  Reminded me of the story of the starfish.  The little boy kept throwing them back in the water and a passerby remarked that it was a pointless waste of time and wouldn't make a difference as there were so many strewn along the beach.  The little boy proudly replies, "It made a difference to that one".

But back to Nonna's story.  She explained that each person on this Earth is charged with being a hero once in their lifetime.  And for her grandson, his generous donation of paper was his. 

I do believe that.  We can aspire to be like a hero, a priest, a saint, or beloved relative.  Oftentimes we put these people on pedestals and our standards are so high; they are unattainable.  But if we think about a hero as Nonna did, we don't have to be perfect, saving the world every day.  Even what we may deem as insignificant can be monumental to that person at that time.  We can just do something nice for someone once, and be a hero in their eyes.  

That's all God asks.  Not that we be perfect all the time.  But that we love our neighbor and help our fellow man. 

March for life

Today was the ProLife March in Tulsa and while I was unable to attend, I loved looking at the beautiful pictures on Facebook.  It is amazing to see people of all faiths coming together to support the right to life.  Everyone deserves the right to the life that God has provided.  Not one of us has the right to take away someone's life, especially from the most fragile, innocent, beautiful babies.  These are gifts from God and
should be celebrated, not exterminated. 



I repeat again, we all have the right to live.  Children are not inconveniences to careers, school, and busy lifestyles; they are extraordinary miracles.  While our timing may be off, His is not.  He has perfect timing and each one of us is here today because someone believed in His timing and chose life.  Could you  imagine if your mother chose her career, school, or lifestyle rather than giving birth to you?  


Of these lost lives, we have lost part of our future.  We've lost great leaders, scientists, teachers, Priests, Nuns, mothers, and fathers.  Think of diseases that could have possibly been cured by one of these lost souls who could have become an amazing scientist.  Wars that may have been avoided because we lost a great peacemaker.

  

There are other alternatives to abortion; one being adoption.  A friend of mine brought her 3 adopted children to the march and asked if they wanted to make a sign.  They got to choose what was on the sign and they wanted them to say "I'm adopted".  It was heartwarming to see their smiling faces holding their home made signs made with paper and marker.  These 3 beautiful children are here because their natural mothers chose to have them and give them up rather than take their lives.  Their sacrifices formed a beautiful family that may not have been here otherwise.    

Willing to receive

"When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better"


How many times do we question God when something happens that we don't anticipate or when something doesn't go our way?  Maybe we don't get the job we wanted, a family member gets sick, we struggle financially, or He takes someone from our lives?


Sometimes things happen that we don't necessarily want but they are ultimately for our own good.  When we are open to the possibilities and accept His will, we can find joy we may not have ever known.  Instead of questioning Him, we need to trust and have faith that He knows what is best for us. 

It takes all kinds of personalities

I have a small faith group that I belong to with about 7 ladies from my Parish.  We meet once a month at a local coffeehouse and discuss a topic, usually a virtue.  We use the Faith-filled Catholic Women's Bible and study guides, which I highly recommend.  It's very therapeutic to be able to spend some time away from home and work with ladies who can relate to my struggles, challenges, and can celebrate with me in my triumphs.  We're all around the same age and are mothers.  We come from different backgrounds but all support each other spiritually and emotionally.    

Today, while discussing our topic of Peace, it came up as it has in prior meetings, about different personality styles.  We're a pretty varied group.  Some of us quite extroverted (I'll admit, I'm one), and others very quiet and more introverted.  It's a wonderful mix and makes for great discussions.  Today we were discussing our personality style versus our husband's style.  It was amazing how so many of us are very opposite, personality wise anyway, from our spouse.

As in my case, I am what my husband loveingly dubs "his social butterfly".  I love being around people and HATE being alone.  If I am off work and no one is in the house, I'm out either shopping or looking for someone to eat lunch with or visit.  My mom is a pretty good standby for such occasions.  I would never eat alone at a restaurant or watch a movie alone. The thought would never even cross my mind.  

My better half on the other hand I think would sometimes prefer to eat alone.  He is just fine with his own company and has even been to the movies by himself.  He can't imagine how I can spend 3 1/2 hours with an old friend at Hideaway "catching up".  He can't fathom how we would have enough to say.  I on the other hand can not imagine why he has such a difficult time in social situations.  I always loved the company Christmas parties whereas he'd dread going.  But being the loving husband he is, he would faithfully attend with me, patiently waiting for the evening to end.   

But as my ladies and I agreed tonight, opposites do indeed attract.  As I pointed out, if my husband talked as much as I do, we'd be in terrible trouble!  He is very introverted and quiet, but is a WONDERFUL listener.  He has the ability to let me vent and get it out of my system and then be my voice of reason.  I need his calming personality to help offset my hyper one.   

Personalities played a very important role in who Jesus chose to be his disciples as well.  They were all across the spectrum with varied personalities.  Peter seemed impulsive, passionate, but yet conservative.  James and John were thought of as boisterous and fervent.  Thomas was more on the gloomy, pessimistic side while Andrew was positive.  Matthew appeared quite methodical and Philip was not very confident.  So if Jesus loved each of these faithful people, with their numerous personalities and flaws, we have complete faith that He loves each of us. There is room in the life of the Church as well as the Kingdom for each of our personalities. 

 

Lost time

Do you ever feel like time just flies by and there is never enough of it during the day?  Always chores to do, meals to make, groceries to buy, clothes to wash and put up, baths to give, little teeth to brush, diapers to change, hands and faces to wipe, errands to run, concerts to listen to, games to cheer at, karate practices to go to, scout meetings to prepare for, birthday gifts to buy and wrap, parties to attend, friends to visit, relatives to call, school conferences to attend, and little kids to chase back to bed 10 times a night.

Wow, I'm exhausted just typing it all.  No wonder I feel like I want to crash in bed each night.  But by having all these time consuming things, that means we have families to care for, loving friends, a home, vehicle, job, and a full life.  That definitely makes all the work worthwhile. 

  
Msgr. mentioned in his homily one day last week that we are now in ordinary time.  Jesus was born, the Magi did their job by finding the baby and now we can calm down.  He of course said it jokingly, but there is definitely an element of seriousness in what he said.

We rush through Advent in order to get decorations up, oftentimes as soon as Halloween is over.  Rush around like crazy people during the Christmas season, rush through Christmas, and rush to get the decorations down.  We rush around so much we can feel like we've lost time.  We need this ordinary time to stop and take stock in what blessings we have and to listen to God.

During our crazy busy day, do we take time out for God?  Do we have a conversation with Him, asking Him to be with us as we make our way though our hectic lives?  Do we take the time to say a rosary in the car on the way to work, say our prayers while gardening or doing dishes?  There are really lots of opportunities to spend with God throughout our day.  Before work, stop and say a quick prayer.

There is no excuse to let a day go by without stopping to think of our Creator and thank him for all the things we have to do.  We are truly blessed!  

Air plants

I just purchased 5 air plants to keep at the office.  I had one years ago and neglected it and it died.  Yes, I know, it's pretty hard to kill something that only requires a soaking in water twice a week and some air.

Air plants are not only attractive, they are unique as they do not require any soil or fertilizer.  They can withstand neglect pretty well as long as it is not for too long.  They can grow just about anywhere and will change colors over the year as they bloom.  When they are in need of water their leaves will curl up and have a dried out appearance.  A healthy soaking and some indirect sunlight will revive them back to normal.  Occasionally they will need dried dead leaves pruned off to maintain their beauty.   

The correlation to ourselves is pretty close.  We don't technically require much to survive although we are spoiled and want more for comfort.  But besides food, water, and shelter, we don't need a whole lot to survive. But we don't want to just survive.  We want to thrive.  In order to do that we need a health relationship with God.

We need daily prayer and conversation with God in order to bloom otherwise we too tend to wither up and dry out.  A healthy "soaking" of prayer time, retreat, or Bible reading can again revive us and show our true beauty.  We too occasionally need the old dead leaves of bad habits, sins, and vices to be pruned in order to maintain our healthy appearance physically as well as emotionally. A good confession will purge us of old deadweight and the forgiveness of God will cause a renewed strength.

God's Image

Saw this quote on Facebook and wanted to share:

"Love your body "as is." Look at the mirror and appreciate YOU. Focus on your positives. Don't focus on the parts of you that you wish to change. Many times only you are the one who focuses on them. Nobody else does. Just be grateful to be alive and that you are a wonderful soul who is living in a body."

How true is that?  We always find something wrong with us and never seem to be happy.  "If I could just lose 15 lbs., if my hair was thinner/thicker/wavier/straighter, if I was taller/shorter, if I was darker/lighter, if I did/didn't have freckles, if my eyes were blue/brown/hazel/gray, THEN I'd be happy.


God made us all in His image, so we are all beautiful in our own way.  Like a potter molds a creation out of clay, he molded each and every one of us.  If we were all the same, how boring would life be?  By allowing us to have different features, he has given a beautiful variety to the human race and we need to appreciate our own spot in it.     





People are like roses.  Rose bushes of course look beautiful from afar.  You can see their beautiful colors against the green of the vines and leaves.  However, if you get close enough to observe one, you can admire the intricate details of each petal.  Each curve, each layer, each bud is so delicate just like each one of us.  Very specifically made and cared for.
  
The next time you are tempted to make a resolution to change the way you look, ask yourself why?  Who are you trying to impress?  Who are you changing for and why?

God had a reason for you to be the way you are and He loves you just as you are.    

Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth. 
God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 
God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.   ~Genesis  1: 26-28

10 Ways to be a better Dad

I was traveling around the world of blogs, and discovered a blog by a Dad who posted about this pamphlet he received when his son was born.  It is entitled "10 ways to become a better Dad".  I was curious, so I continued to read and really connected with what he posted.  While not all of us are lucky enough to have a Dad like this, I can honestly say, my husband has more than fulfilled this prerequisite.  Even though we are totally different personality wise, we make a good team and he is a wonderful father to our four children.  I feel very blessed that my children will go out into the world knowing what a good father should be like.


Here's the list of the 10 ways to be a better Dad.
1. Respect your children’s mother.
2. Spend time with your children.
3. Earn the right to be heard.
4. Discipline them with love.
5. Be a role model..
6. Be a Teacher.
7. Eat together as a family..
8. Read to your children.
9. Show affection.
10. Realize a father’s job is never done.

I wouldn't argue with any of the points.  I think they covered it all pretty well.  I think a true father should imitate the attributes of God our Father.  Strong yet loving.  Firm yet forgiving.  Wise yet willing to listen.  A man who can help paint a pinewood derby car, go to an orchestra concert at school, chauffeur to and from school, help pick out a girls outfit, watch preschool TV shows, make a Burger King run, help find lost glasses, do the dishes, grocery shop, do the laundry, take a sick kid to the Dr., tolerate family pictures, and read a child a million books is definitely a keeper in my book.  God bless Dads!

“Take this Scapular, it shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and a pledge of

peace. Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire.” This is Mary’s

promise made July 16, 1251 to Saint Simon Stock.

"OUR LADY WANTS EVERYONE TO WEAR IT (THE BROWN SCAPULAR); IT IS THE SIGN OF
CONSECRATION TO HER IMMACULATE HEART.” – Lucia dos Santos (Child seer of Fatima)

Let God's love in

Have you noticed how some people are just naturally negative, always seeing the bad in their life, never appreciating what they have, and seeming to enjoy bringing other people down?  I hate feeling negative and stressed.  It causes me to feel anxious, my heart races, stomach hurts, and I feel sick.  I can't imagine feeling that way all the time. 

I wonder if you just get to used to it you forget what it once felt like to feel good and happy.  Kinda like boiling a frog; slowly over time people let the negative into their heart and it grows slowly there until it overcomes them.  Feeling positive and happy is a distant memory.

But it doesn't have to stay that way.  Just as the negativity slowly took over, the positive can also grow until it overtakes the negative.  Let God's love into your heart and like a seed, take root.  As God is more and more involved in your life, the seed of His love will slowly fill up the negative heart and continue to grow and grow, branching out and expanding. 

Pleasing to God

On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens,
"You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

 During daily Mass one day last week at the Cathedral, Fr. Van spoke of how beautiful this quote is and how we should strive to please God so we too can hear these words.  He is right.  This needs to be our main focus.  We spend so much time trying to please everyone else, from our spouse, our kids, our boss, our friends, our parents, even ourselves.  But who we really need to strive to please, whose opinion really matters, is not any of the above mentioned, but God our Father.

There are many ways we can please God.  We just need to be more conscientious about it.  Loving our neighbor, caring for the sick and poor, asking forgiveness, spending time in prayer, and following His commandments; these are just some of the ways we can please our Lord.  He is a loving Father who always forgives when we ask and listens when we speak. 

This week, evaluate yourself and whether you are acting in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.  If not, ask forgiveness, receive his blessing, and try again. 

Gifts

It was mentioned today about how God gives us gifts and talents.  I've been in discussions about this topic before and I think it's definitely something that is worthwhile contemplating;
"Do I fully recognize and use the gifts and talents that God has bestowed on me?".  Oftentimes it can be more difficult to recognize these in ourselves but we see them in others. 

I've taught religious awards in Boy Scouts and this is one of the topics.  There is an exercise where each person has to write what gifts and talents they see in their peers.  Of course with 5 teenage boys, there is no telling what you're going to get.  But when they really pause to think about it, they can see some great things in each other.  Usually it ranges from being smart to being good in sports.  While these are wonderful talents, they are not the only gifts that we receive.  They may be the most obvious if someone does well in school or is a star on the football team, but the Holy Spirit has given us gifts through confirmation that take more time to identify.

I feel that I have a talent of teaching children of all ages.  I can relate to the little ones up to the big kids.  I've taught elementary kids in Cub Scouts and Religious Education and the bigger boys religious awards in Boy Scouts.  I love teaching ideas through discussion and examples and love it when you can see something click in a child.  You can literally see it all over their face.  They have made the connection and their eyes light up, they usually sit up straight, mouth open, and are literally absorbing in what you are saying.  They get it. 


However, while I feel I have the talent of teaching, I wish I had more of the gift of wisdom and understanding.  I feel I have had to work hard to understand some concepts of the faith. It has taken me a journey of 37 years to make the connection on some concepts, while others seem to just be born with the natural gift of understanding and the ability to use it.  This is something I feel I need to pray about more; to more fully be able to use the spiritual gifts that were given to me.

Although not a spiritual gift, I have noticed, especially recently as I've joined Toastmasters, that my speeches generally tend to be motivational. I consider myself a pretty positive person, generally seeing the bright side of things, realizing that God has a plan, and as the saying goes, seeing the glass as half full.  As I've been presenting more and more in Toastmasters, my speeches tend to be positive in nature, typically reflecting on determination and success stories.  Someone mentioned that I had a future as a motivational speaker.  While I think that was quite an embellishment, I was honored that they recognized that in me.  I am trying to figure out if this is what God wants me to do.  Not necessarily to be a national motivational speaker, traveling across the world spreading my thoughts, but maybe there is someone at these weekly meetings that is benefiting from what I'm saying.

I believe God puts people in your life at the time you need them.  This was something a favorite instructor said at St. Gregory's College, and I truly do believe it.  People come and go in and out of our lives and I think some are only meant to be in your life for a short period of time.  However, their affects can be everlasting.  That is how this instructor was for me.  I had 2 or 3 classes with her and have not seen her since.  But, the inspirational thoughts she shared during these classes left a permanent impression on me.  Perhaps there is someone in these Toastmaster's meetings that I am able to reach through my speeches and I am just meant to touch their life for a short time. 



 

St. John Neumann

As I was in daily Mass today, Msgr. spoke about St. Neumann in his homily.  I was intrigued as he spoke of a man who was so devoted to his Priestly calling, he gave up everything.  He was ordained a Bishop in Philadelphia and was so disliked by the people in his Parish, he was very unhappy.  They didn't disagree with his theology or practice, but genuinely disliked him as a person due to his heritage.  He was Bohemian and they felt he was beneath them.  He asked to be transferred to an other location but was told that the Holy Spirit wanted him where he was and so he was to remain.  He was so devoted to the people, convinced in his calling to Priesthood, and obedient to his superiors, he remained Bishop in Philadelphia until he passed away.  I was so impressed by this amazing man who must have been terribly lonely having no family in this country and disliked due to his background.  I felt for him as he had to have had tremendous strength and faith in the Lord to remain in a place he was not welcome.  But he did so much good and became a beloved Saint.  I looked up some more info. online about him and it is found below.

Retrieved from http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=70   

This American saint was born in Bohemia in 1811. He was looking forward to being ordained in 1835 when the bishop decided there would be no more ordinations. It is difficult for us to imagine now, but Bohemia was overstocked with priests. John wrote to bishops all over Europe but the story was the same everywhere no one wanted any more bishops. John was sure he was called to be a priest but all the doors to follow that vocation seemed to close in his face.

But John didn't give up. He had learned English by working in a factory with English-speaking workers so he wrote to the bishops in America. Finally, the bishop in New York agreed to ordain him. In order to follow God's call to the priesthood John would have to leave his home forever and travel across the ocean to a new and rugged land. 

 

Feastday: January 5
b. 1811 d. 1860 

 

In New York, John was one of 36 priests for 200,000 Catholics. John's parish in western New York stretched from Lake Ontario to Pennsylvania. His church had no steeple or floor but that didn't matter because John spent most of his time traveling from village to village, climbing mountains to visit the sick, staying in garrets and taverns to teach, and celebrating the Mass at kitchen tables.

Because of the work and the isolation of his parish, John longed for community and so joined the Redemptorists, a congregation of priests and brothers dedicated to helping the poor and most abandoned.

John was appointed bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. As bishop, he was the first to organize a diocesan Catholic school system. A founder of Catholic education in this country, he increased the number of Catholic schools in his diocese from two to 100. 

We can all aspire to be as devoted as St. Neumann; realizing that God may put us in a place we are unsure we are suited or prepared for but with His guidance, we can be successful.  We must have faith, hope, and trust in the Lord.