In the Quiet of Advent, the Call
Image: Daiga Ellaby Well, it's done. The RH Bill has passed in the Philippines. Now the real work begins. Some thoughts on this dreary Monday afternoon, as I ponder what my fellow Catholics and Filipino friends and family are facing: I've been thinking of everything...
Where I’ve Been
Faith: From Project: Sowing Seeds: 101!! Books to Read in this Year of Faith -- includes some of my favorites, some that I've been meaning to read, and many that I've never heard of before. Poll: Catholics want pastors to blog. Yes, Father, we do. It would be a great...
On Old Loves: An Epilogue
Image: Baher Khairy simply put, we grew apart. gone are the shared experiences, the friends, the common threads of existence that we used to be able to draw from, grow from, that nourished us as individuals and as lovers. we were young, and angst was fruit of youth...
Soulmates / Soul Mates in Catholic Doctrine
Our online pro-life group started a discussion over the weekend on "soulmates". It took several interesting turns, and many participated, but I don't know that we completely addressed the gist of the OP's question: He asked: The popular saying goes: may nakalaang tao...
Curriculum 2012-2013 6th Grade
Finally done with curriculum planning! This is for our 10-year-old, going into 6th grade: Religion: Following Christ Reading and Language Arts: Classical Writing Aesop and Homer + her booklist: The Master Puppeteer The Story of a Bad Boy Aunt Vinnie's Invasion Aunt...
It All Comes Down to Love
So you and your friend were hanging around one day on the porch, him fingering his guitar, while chatting with you about life. Suddenly he breaks into song, singing a few lines, and after a while you realize he's singing about your dad and that story you told the...
Videos, Information, and a Call to Action
For a background on all of this, here again is the link to the video of Fr. Sammie Maletta's homily + transcript. Last week, when we thought it couldn't get any worse, we saw Sandra Fluke's opening statement before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee....
Fr. Sammie Maletta’s Homily on Religious Liberty and the HHS Mandate (Transcript)
Prayers for and cheers to this courageous priest-lawyer for speaking the truth! May more of our priests be like him. Spread the word. I'm posting the transcript of his homily here for my parents' benefit. If you see any errors, please comment and I will edit. In...
Lent, In Which I Read Science Fiction
This is my Lenten penance for the year. I just finished reading Icarus Hunt by Timothy Zahn. An exciting read, at least it gets exciting about halfway through. I had to drag myself through the first few chapters because I am so not a science fiction fan. Our kids are...
Some Thoughts on Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of an emptying that continues throughout the forty days of Lent. In the Philippines we call the Liturgical Season of Lent cuaresma, from the Latin word quadragesima, or forty. Today, Ash Wednesday, is like that metabolism boost at the...
Lenten Plans
I am keeping it REALLY, REALLY SIMPLE this Lent. We are using Jenn's Lent for Children. This evening I also put together a music playlist based on the suggestions in this thread. Our mornings will begin with this Lenten Novena: Father, all-powerful and ever-living...
People of Faith, Stand Up and Be Counted
These are exciting times. Religious persecution is a scary thing, I don't think my children even fully grasp yet what is happening right now in the country, though we've explained it to them. But to see people of all faiths standing up for what is right, not just...
Prophetic?
Hm... Those Great Strong Towers of Ice and Steel from Fr. Z, on Thomas Merton's poem penned in 1947, the whole thing here. Ten years later, I'm still processing. How life changed that day. In some ways, for the worse. But for our family at least, much for the better....
Migi’s Curriculum, 8th grade, 2011-2012
Just finished designing Migi's curriculum for the year. I usually start this in May before the previous schoolyear ends but this year we're ending late and so we're also starting later than usual. We school year-round because we travel a bit (with hubby, for work) so...
Yeah, Just Give Up Already
An utterly hopeless piece on our imperfect world made of imperfect beings. Yes, let's reject all "shoulds" since we've armed ourselves from head to foot with all these "can'ts". No wonder the Philippines is in trouble, they're littered with.... dare I say it... yes I...