tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68786715322648849372024-03-04T23:25:35.329-08:00Debbie's Weekly Roman Catholic Faith BlogInformation to help adult Catholics learn and grow in their faith, e.g. books, websites, Bible studies, reflections from the Saints, Catholic Social Teaching, podcasts, etc. I do my best to review each of my recommendations for orthodoxy and solidarity with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.comBlogger234125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-3584792931070312882013-01-04T11:37:00.000-08:002013-01-04T11:37:00.669-08:00Video Interview with Shawn Jones, a Homeless ManJim Schnitter, member of the Social Justice Committee at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Livermore, California, is working to give a voice to the voiceless through video interviews of the folks who need our help, and the folks who do the helping. Livermore is a very prosperous city in the San Francisco Bay Area, and yet its homeless population of about 100 is generally invisible to the average resident.<br />
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Meet Shawn Jones, a homeless man:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZ044cJ9aAbQ3Vp_O6VEbZxBWHKmt0FxCdIlelOw7PGOoBc-vO5cd7f8gmOsf6OXg3R-q01z-N_VdPuWTxrxRRJ8Pz1AvwJYHLlq9513i91L4f785vDeMJEYPMtdW_k08q9HjFJF9Fp0/s1600/Shawn+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZ044cJ9aAbQ3Vp_O6VEbZxBWHKmt0FxCdIlelOw7PGOoBc-vO5cd7f8gmOsf6OXg3R-q01z-N_VdPuWTxrxRRJ8Pz1AvwJYHLlq9513i91L4f785vDeMJEYPMtdW_k08q9HjFJF9Fp0/s320/Shawn+b.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Below are links to Jim's video interview with Shawn Jones, a well-spoken, homeless man, who lives under a nearby bridge. It is broken up into 3 ten-minute parts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Part 1</span><span style="font-weight: bolder;">,</span><span style="font-weight: bolder;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCWzOAGvU2E">http://www.youtube.com/<wbr></wbr>watch?v=LCWzOAGvU2E</a>,</span></div>
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Part 2, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdO_RPN_cks">http://www.youtube.com/<wbr></wbr>watch?v=OdO_RPN_cks</a>,</div>
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Part 3, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJaquhzwbdQ."><span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s;">http://www.youtube.com/</span><wbr></wbr><span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s;">watch?v=ZJaquhzwbdQ</span>.</a></div>
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It seems that Shawn may be one of the lucky ones who have a good chance of getting a permanent place of their own. This is due to him getting access to some services from government and non-profit organizations.</div>
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Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-73791787079169660182013-01-03T11:28:00.001-08:002013-01-03T11:28:15.927-08:00New Tri-Valley Social Justice Blog gives a voice to the voiceless<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://trivalleysocialjustice.blogspot.com/">http://trivalleysocialjustice.blogspot.com</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">The Social Justice Committee of St. Charles Borromeo of Livermore, California, </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">has started a new blog to promote ministries to the poor and provide interviews</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">with the poor and homeless as well as those who minister to them.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">This is a great way to give a voice to the voiceless and invisible among us.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2_Lo93paBManr5k-O8Aaub4vuyDf4kDxUfS5HxE2Vmkfg0k6o6_fKD245t6ecvWemNOHbzD95ySyvk9l9W4lihMfEkkEnz5tPrqLbMaZdl9OfpWB0sjiynLWMklfn-BtU-cxMIeEWro/s1600/Gary+f2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2_Lo93paBManr5k-O8Aaub4vuyDf4kDxUfS5HxE2Vmkfg0k6o6_fKD245t6ecvWemNOHbzD95ySyvk9l9W4lihMfEkkEnz5tPrqLbMaZdl9OfpWB0sjiynLWMklfn-BtU-cxMIeEWro/s320/Gary+f2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: .HelveticaNeueUI;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><i>About the photo: This is Gary who works FULL TIME but cannot afford a place to live. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: .HelveticaNeueUI;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><i>He is a client of the Livermore Homeless Refuge.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">Jim Schnitter just created this blog -- a good example of how a Catholic can jump</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">in, get started with Blogger (a free online blog tool with canned templates and </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">gadgets) and start communicating to the world. It's not pretty yet, but look</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">at the content! Real stories of real people who are both helping and being </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">helped. Really gives a human face to the troubles of our community.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">Thanks, Jim!</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-6999660076879696532013-01-01T12:00:00.000-08:002013-01-01T12:00:01.925-08:00Catholic Mom has great resources for the family<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://catholicmom.com/">http://catholicmom.com/</a></span></div>
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Here is a family blog from a Catholic families for Catholic families! Really fun and engaging, with activities to teach kids about the faith as well as serious discussions for parents. <br />
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Description from CatholicMom.com<br />
<br />Welcome to CatholicMom.com! Here at the site, we celebrate all things Faith, Family, and Fun from a Catholic perspective. Enjoy fresh perspectives from our wonderful columnists and contributors. Read the latest selections from our Book Club. Check out great tunes from an array of talented Catholic musicians. Help your child make the most of the Liturgy of the Word with our Sunday Gospel activities. Listen to our weekly Catholic Moments Podcast for interviews with special people doing extraordinary things to live out our Catholic faith and share it with others. Come along on one Catholic Mom’s spiritual journey through every day life at Lisa’s Blog. We’d love to hear from you, so be sure to share your comments and email your thoughts and suggestions to Lisa@CatholicMom.com. May God richly bless you and your family!<br />Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-39102987216729685682012-12-30T12:00:00.000-08:002012-12-30T12:00:00.157-08:00Pray the Divine Office with Smart Phone App<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://divineoffice.org/">http://divineoffice.org</a></span></div>
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The Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office, is one of two great prayers of the Catholic Church. The other prayer is the Mass itself.<br />
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This website and free smart phone app teaches you how to prayer this beautiful prayer. The prayer changes somewhat every day, working through all of the Psalms with Bible verses and sayings from the Saints. A really nice way to pray, either alone or with a group.<br />
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<br />Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-38177453200907636892012-12-29T20:28:00.001-08:002012-12-29T20:28:26.680-08:00Catholic TV is a great online resource for Catholics<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.catholictv.com/">http://www.catholictv.com</a></span></div>
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This looks like an amazing resource for anyone who wants to enjoy learning about their faith. They have dozens of different shows -- looks pretty good.<br />
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CatholicTV Mission Statement<br />
<br />CatholicTV®/CatholicTV.com is a beacon of Hope and a unique Herald of the simple, yet profound Message of Jesus Christ, Who is made truly present among us in the Breaking of the Bread.<br /><br />Utilizing powerful technology, we strive to connect People of Faith. Through relevant, inspiring and prayerful programming we educate, teaching the Wisdom of God in the Catholic Tradition, endeavoring to move people of all ages, cultures and attitudes toward the Fullness of Life. <br />Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-29147412071174014472012-12-26T11:23:00.000-08:002012-12-28T11:44:10.420-08:00"American Catholic" website from Franciscans is a treasure<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/">http://www.americancatholic.org</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">Today, the American Catholic website has Catholic news from the </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">Vatican: an article on the Pope's Christmas message.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">This website from the Franciscan Media is full of faithful blogs, </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">videos, books, magazines, Saint of the Day, and fantastic podcasts.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">All are easy to understand and JOYFUL! I love the Franciscan </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">approach to spirituality: full of the Joy of the </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">RESURRECTION of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-84023729378338962372012-12-24T15:24:00.001-08:002012-12-24T15:24:15.717-08:00We have so much to be grateful for ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ4GtLLBvPNQT1UOnb7zQ8A4oh7hN2aZFWMguvprB4GQLw2Dyxw3HXW83Gi02_ge4qbCZtaJeRMfbYLG2C9tXmezs_jfeQgZBhgif9HOXg1Nly4E3yVUp6Gwr03P6MWnu6q9L66_SRR8/s1600/indianman.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ4GtLLBvPNQT1UOnb7zQ8A4oh7hN2aZFWMguvprB4GQLw2Dyxw3HXW83Gi02_ge4qbCZtaJeRMfbYLG2C9tXmezs_jfeQgZBhgif9HOXg1Nly4E3yVUp6Gwr03P6MWnu6q9L66_SRR8/s320/indianman.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is Kahnu. A $325 loan helped him buy bamboo in bulk to make baskets. Now he doesn't have to worry about supporting his family and can send his 5 kids to school. <br /><br />
Microlending really does break the cycle of poverty. I love investing in very hardworking entrepreneurs in the USA and across the globe! <br />
<br />
For the Advent and Christmas season, the best thing I can do is to help others like Kahnu. <br />
<br />
Learn more about microlending through Kiva and see what my parish's social justice committee is doing: <br />
<a href="http://www.kiva.org/team/st_michael_parish_social_concerns_ministry">http://www.kiva.org/team/st_michael_parish_social_concerns_ministry</a><br />
<br />
<br />Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-41675785834314245522012-12-19T21:48:00.002-08:002012-12-19T21:48:40.942-08:00O Wonderful Savior Who Became One of Us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.credomag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/incarnation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://www.credomag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/incarnation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Son of God ... worked with human hands; he thought with a human mind. He acted with a human will, and with a human heart he loved. Born of the Virgin Mary, he has truly been made one of us, like to us in all things except sin. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">--- <a href="http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/epub/index.cfm">Catechism of the Catholic Church</a>, Chapter Two, Paragraph #470</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-38489757966928544472012-12-19T11:43:00.000-08:002012-12-19T11:43:00.074-08:00Weekly Guided Bible Readings with Christian Scholars from Seattle Pacific University<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.spu.edu/depts/uc/response/new/images/2010-autumn/lectio-preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.spu.edu/depts/uc/response/new/images/2010-autumn/lectio-preview.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Here's a great resource that I just found in iTunes U: Explore the scriptures with your own personal guide!<br />
<br />
Description: This free online weekly reading program allows you to
explore God's Word with the guidance of an outstanding biblical scholar
who has a deeply personal Christian faith.<br />
<br />
Lectio: Weekly Guided Bible Readings<br />
Center for Biblical and Theological Education<br />
Seattle Pacific University<br />
<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.spu.edu/centers/cbte/">http://www.spu.edu/centers/cbte/</a><br />
<br />
On iTunes, here is the link:<br />
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/lectio-weekly-guided-bible/id394891633?mt=10">https://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/lectio-weekly-guided-bible/id394891633?mt=10</a><br />
<br />
iTunes U is a section of iTunes that presents lectures (usually free) from many different colleges and organizations. I found the Seattle Pacific University lectures on C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien to be excellent and given by men and women of faith, which makes all the difference when lecturing on Christian authors.<br />Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-44141099348721607852012-12-17T09:04:00.001-08:002012-12-17T09:04:41.922-08:00Epiphany in the Year of Faith: Blessed John Paul II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://c.tadst.com/gfx/600x400/epiphany-usa.jpg?1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://c.tadst.com/gfx/600x400/epiphany-usa.jpg?1" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> They came from the East ... strange pilgrims: Wizard Kings,<br />
the Magi. They passed through Jerusalem.<br />
<br />
They were led by a mysterious star, by outer light itself....<br />
But they were led even more by faith, by inner light. They arrived ...<br />
and prostrated and adored him....<br />
<br />
Through that pilgrimage to Bethlehem, the Magi ... became the<br />
beginning and symbol of all those who come to Jesus through faith....<br />
<br />
They became the beginning and prefiguration of those who come<br />
from beyond the frontiers of the Chosen People of the Old Alliance,<br />
and reached, and keep on reaching Christ through faith...<br />
<br />
Epiphany is the feast of the vitality of the Church....The Church<br />
is herself when men -- like the Shepherds and the Kings from the<br />
East -- reach Jesus Christ through faith, When they find God in<br />
Christ-Man and through Christ.<br />
<br />
So Epiphany is the great feast of faith.<br />
<br />
Taking part in this feast are those who have already reached<br />
the faith and those who are still on the way to it. They take part with<br />
thanksgiving for the gift of faith, as did the Magi, who were full of<br />
gratitude and kneeled before the Child. The Church takes part in<br />
this feast and every year becomes more conscious of the vastness<br />
of her mission. To how many people must she still bring the faith!....<br />
But the Church can never call a halt, because she is aware of that<br />
great gift, the gift of the incarnation of God. She must go on always<br />
seeking the way to Bethlehem for every person and every time.<br />
<br />
Epiphany is the feast of God's challenge!<br />
<br />
-- Blessed John Paul II<br />
6 January 1979</span></span></span>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-67293610485277396802012-12-13T06:24:00.003-08:002012-12-13T06:24:44.833-08:00Father Jay Finelli has great podcast, blog, app<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Noteworthy; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ipadre.net/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">http://www.ipadre.net/</span></a></div>
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Father Jay Finelli podcasts and blogs "on all things Catholic and then some" with warmth and kindness. He loves to answer our questions of faith.</div>
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Every episode he shares contemporary Christian music which is a real joy to listen to -- upbeat and toe tapping, not schmalzy and sugary.</div>
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His smartphone app makes it easy to download episodes and send in questions. </div>
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Father Jay's explanations of the Sacraments and Catholic teaching and doctrine are spot on, and delivered with kindness in a pastoral way.</div>
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Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-15989059801593181782012-12-12T06:56:00.002-08:002012-12-12T07:07:39.571-08:00The Catholic Underground: great website by priest<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">
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<a href="http://catholicunderground.com/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors="true"><span style="font-size: x-large;">http://catholicunderground.com/</span></a></div>
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Father Chris Decker has a great website with videos, podcasts, Twitter feed, and articles to help us all learn about our faith so we can grow in our faith ... and especially live out our Catholic discipleship in 21st Century America.</div>
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Shows offered by The Catholic Underground:</div>
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CU Weekly</div>
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CU Specials</div>
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Life Is Still Worth Living</div>
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Fridays with Benedict</div>
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Finding Your Keys</div>
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The Catholic Underground's Mission Statement</div>
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TheCatholicUnderground exists to explore the intersection of the Catholic Faith and the work of modern technology. Our programs aim to bring the Eternal Truths of the Catholic Faith to the Digital Continent, the Church’s newest mission field, in a manner that is both approachable and unwavering.</div>
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Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-33126733119519914822012-11-28T17:06:00.000-08:002012-11-28T17:07:30.795-08:00Emma's Gift: a True Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>St. Charles Borromeo parishioner, Donna McKenzie, shared this story about the true meaning of the Thanksgiving season. Donna and her husband, Bob, work nightly with the guests at the Livermore Homeless Refuge in Livermore, California. Donna and Bob have also given up their garage to store supplies for the homeless. The events below took place on November 21, 2012.</i></div>
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The story I'm going to tell you is truly about a "gift of love."</div>
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The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, I was in the garage sorting through clothes to bring to our homeless friends and a car stopped in the middle of our driveway. I looked up and a man, woman and child got out of the car and walked up the driveway towards me. The man said, "are you Donna?" and I said "yes."</div>
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He and his wife looked down at the little girl named Emma and she looked up at me and at the same time handed me her little pink piggy bank. As I reached for it, she said, "this is for the homeless." I was speechless and stunned! </div>
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Emma and I sat down on the driveway and opened her piggy bank and counted $6.12. </div>
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I told her that maybe she should keep half of it in her bank and I would take the other half for the homeless. She answered me with, "I want them to have it all because tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I'm going to have turkey. I have a warm bed with covers and they don't have any."</div>
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Her dad said this gift was completely Emma's idea. They had been downtown recently and she saw some of our homeless begging and asked her parents what they were doing and they explained it to her.</div>
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When she returned home, she told her parents what she wanted to do with the money she had been saving.</div>
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I offered to give her $1.00 to start her savings again and she would not accept it.</div>
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Once again, I was humbled by a little girl who understood at her young age about giving and sharing and mostly, about caring.</div>
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Emma is 6 1/2 years old.</div>
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In all the excitement, I hugged her and her parents, told them they were doing an awesome job raising their daughter and then they were gone. </div>
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I didn't get their names, except for Emma, who I will never forget.</div>
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I have the $6.12 in pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters....and I'm thinking "ice cream for our homeless." They love it....and it's a real treat for them....</div>
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....thanks to Emma.</div>
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<i>If you would like to volunteer at the Livermore Homeless Refuge, or provide other support, please Call Sandra Chesterman at 925-525-1200 or go to www.LivermoreHomelessRefuge.org</i></div>
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<i>Story edited by Jim Schnitter, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Livermore, CA.</i></div>
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Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-57149487808356323342012-11-24T12:48:00.000-08:002012-11-24T12:48:09.480-08:00Ethical Eating: Fair Trade and Farmers' Markets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj93tADv8Y1LC9IeYNzNUyuIEpS64LLKK1RQQj19BiMOH78OIAG6ReYC8WhO70SA0SfDMHli5cYqB688HuSLUsf_5eXl117IGpgGo4gDmFhKHeSxcuFXVj73FYGyKbkg-bSbNs_mdAAc/s1600/FairTradeLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj93tADv8Y1LC9IeYNzNUyuIEpS64LLKK1RQQj19BiMOH78OIAG6ReYC8WhO70SA0SfDMHli5cYqB688HuSLUsf_5eXl117IGpgGo4gDmFhKHeSxcuFXVj73FYGyKbkg-bSbNs_mdAAc/s1600/FairTradeLogo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Then the King shall say to those who will be on his right: ‘Come, you blessed of my Father. Possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked, and you covered me; sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.’ -- Matthew 11:34-36 </i></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">California Hotline 211: Help for the Needy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dial for help with food, housing, employment, health care, child care, elder care. Translators are available. Please help spread the word about this valuable resource from United Way of the East Bay. 180,000 people are helped each year through this hotline. Learn more at: </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.211california.org/">http://www.211california.org/</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">Food for Thought on the Ethics of Eating. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We serve the common good by eating what is good for the earth and good for farmers and workers. Eating is a moral act. Why? The ethics of eating is about food choices. We can choose foods that are grown in ways that are good for the earth so that soil and water quality remain optimum for years to come. We can choose foods that are grown for the good of the farmers with fair compensation for their labor, and with protection of their health and safety. So eat what is good to grow and grow what is good to eat: that is the ethics of eating! -- from the National Catholic Rural Life Conference (<a href="http://www.ncrlc.com/">http://www.ncrlc.com</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">How Do I Buy Ethical Food? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Start with local farmers' markets and Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolate. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For your city, just google farmers' market associations.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Livermore Year Round Sunday Farmer's Market runs Sundays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the parking lot of the historic Southern Pacific Train Depot at L St. and Railroad Ave. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Pleasanton Farmers' Market is Saturday morning, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Main & W. Angela Street. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">All grocery stores carry products with the Fair Trade label on the package, from Ben and Jerry's chocolate ice creams to coffee and tea. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-11422398889545400402012-11-19T20:56:00.002-08:002012-11-19T20:56:30.814-08:00Advent Retreat in San Lorenzo, CA, by MaryKnoll<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDNnLnFnNxBuZBt0GwICOiDaF6nE8kt4mSJKtMeFpkhWSnNJyKMPI6aOuG2LmLDjMC90kUdzg-rPi3SsB4dZdLXx3BIpoeuiNtQhh-8S2F371A1Tj-iX5wqZvrA_JVWiDFaO9SjplpkM/s1600/saint-cajetan-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDNnLnFnNxBuZBt0GwICOiDaF6nE8kt4mSJKtMeFpkhWSnNJyKMPI6aOuG2LmLDjMC90kUdzg-rPi3SsB4dZdLXx3BIpoeuiNtQhh-8S2F371A1Tj-iX5wqZvrA_JVWiDFaO9SjplpkM/s320/saint-cajetan-01.jpg" width="177" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/AdventRetreat2012">http://tinyurl.com/AdventRetreat2012</a></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Advent Retreat: What is God hoping to birth in you?</strong></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Keep the holiday season in perspective this year.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Join us the first weekend of Advent for quiet reflection and faith sharing as we ponder the Advent stories of Mary and Joseph and Elizabeth and Zechariah and ask ourselves, "How is God calling us to make God's love present in our lives and in the world?"</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Where:</b></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-left;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Maryknoll Region Center</div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-left;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Regional Center</div>
</span></span><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="address" x-apple-data-detectors="true"><span style="color: black;">16642 Ashland Ave.</span></a></div>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: -webkit-left;" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="address" x-apple-data-detectors="true"><span style="color: black;">San Lorenzo, CA 94580</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img height="200" src="https://api.tiles.virtualearth.net/api/GetMap.ashx?ppl=24,,37.70488,-121.9345&z=12&h=200&w=200" style="text-align: -webkit-left;" width="200" /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: -webkit-left;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=00101nc8yvP08Mq7xL0aEq9vGS5vaXYnRh4C3uLOM9E6P5fnwCLGvzB99JdNSDntvKnJL8uDFrlmKLkugJwgv6qucn8JHDK3wE6Ogg6TijB28e_O_E9m1qLodl19OLAc8yoXXOP4PtF67qgn7LKqOibPIYTVxS_Hkwi2UvKlTKoJ-BWK0sBPrSOhWwKZtEO6hc7iH4whmpLTKE_ZA2xNiHqYdK-30oeIosLZVQg1lrLj60=" id="idDrivingDir" shape="rect" target="_blank" title="Driving Directions">Driving Directions</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When:</b></div>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true"><span style="color: black;">Friday November 30, 2012 at 6:00 PM PST</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-to-</span></div>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://2" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true"><span style="color: black;">Sunday December 2, 2012 at 1:00 PM PST</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=00101nc8yvP08NxZ95hn_2WzjoKaVHRcKZx2gOPr6563fSu-jnXlOyeHOTDEygzIGQhAZgEBe93hRMNJy3LtG7jY5FdFledY9FaoL7Q7fglrZ4r9-vguqLsYanVxSqXiNtDJE9oi_970J4Q4EnkhVvACwMGgLYHaOUuB6cnJJZdARt7afY3HYcCzv7iEwcfmn-Y2BKy-lOuYAE=" id="lnkAddToCalendar" shape="rect" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank" title="Add to my calendar"><span style="color: black;">Add to my </span></a></div>
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Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-87269589109564876442012-11-10T09:23:00.004-08:002012-11-10T09:23:48.928-08:00Prayer for Victims of Hurricane Sandy from Catholic Relief Services
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iTx-b6eNELgbL3Zt_npoMQUm32CUJqmHNFY6VbWY6KvF4c8w-67tDuI7ejrNwel-sMyeKfNnHO7oIhNgB5uvb4z3gahf25QthdvN4FAi3GEcweK9okj3QCNnvZvCOhUCyz48wksav3Q/s1600/bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iTx-b6eNELgbL3Zt_npoMQUm32CUJqmHNFY6VbWY6KvF4c8w-67tDuI7ejrNwel-sMyeKfNnHO7oIhNgB5uvb4z3gahf25QthdvN4FAi3GEcweK9okj3QCNnvZvCOhUCyz48wksav3Q/s1600/bible.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">For Those Impacted by Hurricane Sandy
Prayer
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">God of Mercy,
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">You who created the universe and ordered it through a simple command, we humbly come to you today
as your beloved children. We pray for those affected by Hurricane Sandy in the Caribbean and
Northeastern United States. Grant us the faith and perseverance to trust in you and seek first your
Kingdom.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Above all, may this natural disaster serve as a reminder of the frailty of our lives and our
interdependence. May we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters affected by Hurricane Sandy
in the U.S. and the Caribbean, and may our day to day living always reflect our responsibility towards the
poor and humanity as a whole.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">We pray, through your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and
ever.
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Amen.
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Sample Petitions:
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Use any of these as part of the Prayer of the Faithful in Liturgy or a prayer service.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">For the Church universal, that we honor our call to solidarity and respond with lives of compassion and
healing for the poor and all of creation.<br />
We pray...
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">For government officials and relief workers in the affected areas of Hurricane Sandy, that God will
provide them the wisdom and resources to respond effectively to those in need.<br />
We pray...
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">For our extended family in the Caribbean and Northeastern United States who suffered from Hurricane
Sandy, may they find the strength and comfort to overcome the challenges they face.<br />
We pray... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Source: Catholic Relief Services -- a PDF file at the link below</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://donate.crs.org/site/DocServer/Final_Hurricane_Sandy_Prayer_v2.pdf?docID=8603">http://donate.crs.org/site/DocServer/Final_Hurricane_Sandy_Prayer_v2.pdf?docID=8603</a></span><br />
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Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-44559089547731702562012-11-07T12:10:00.002-08:002012-11-07T12:10:29.237-08:00Help Victims of Hurricane Sandy Through Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities USA<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="webkit-fake-url://6C7FC81F-84CC-465A-893F-A60EB7B2D1FE/imagejpeg" /></div>
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Follow this link to make a donation to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Catholic Charities USA is helping people in the United States while Catholic Relief Services is helping people in Haiti and other islands hit hard. Thanks!<br />
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://usccb.org/catholic-giving/opportunities-for-giving/helping-victims-of-hurricane-sandy.cfm">http://usccb.org/catholic-giving/opportunities-for-giving/helping-victims-of-hurricane-sandy.cfm</a></span><br />
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<br />Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-27306347667323889442012-11-04T10:07:00.001-08:002012-11-04T10:07:17.652-08:00National Catholic Rural Life Conference: The Ethics of Eating<span id="Heading" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">Here is an awesome article from the National Catholic Rural LIfe Conference at:</span></h1>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.ncrlc.com/page.aspx?ID=9">http://www.ncrlc.com/page.aspx?ID=9</a></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The ethics of eating is about food choices, but much more than choosing vegetables over snack foods or a home cooked meal over fast food. Yes, part of this is choosing foods that are nutritious and healthy for us, then enjoying such food with family and guests. But just as important is choosing those foods that are grown and processed in responsible, sustainable and just ways. </span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span id="Copy"><img src="http://www.ncrlc.com/admin/uploads/Misc/cal_farms_002%20web.jpg" style="display: block; float: right; height: 183px; padding: 8px; width: 275px;" /><br />
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One measure is to grow foods in a way that are good for the earth.</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As consumers, we can support the efforts of all those who practice sustainable agriculture and land stewardship. They make sure soil and water quality remain optimum for years to come.</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As consumers, then, we should eat those foods that are good to grow.</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We do this not only for the good of the earth, but also for the good of those who tend the earth and harvest our food. Our food choices can support the kind of food production that fairly compensates farmers and workers, and ensures their health and safety.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We serve the common good by eating what is good for the earth and good for farmers and workers. That is why we say<b> </b><i><b>eating is a moral act</b></i><b>.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Needless to say, not all foods are produced in sustainable, fair or just ways. The industrial food system is based on intensive productivity that can and does have adverse impacts on farmers, process line workers and the environment. When we buy and eat foods produced in this way, we are supporting a system that is causing harm to others and to God's creation.</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So how do we find foods produced sustainable, fairly and justly?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A good place to start is with local farmers: you can see how they grow food and know how they treat the land. Visit a farmers market or join a <a href="http://www.ncrlc.com/page.aspx?ID=240" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>CSA</b></a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b>Fair Trade</b></a> foods are another source: You can support farmers in other countries who receive a fairer share of the food dollar. And protect the natural environment while they're at it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our food choices can help sustain rural communities by making sure family farms thrive and multiply, not dwindle and die.</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So eat what is good to grow and grow what is good to eat: that is the ethics of eating!</span></b></div>
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</span>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-49670792593881368052012-10-31T18:02:00.001-07:002012-10-31T18:02:05.129-07:00An Election Year Prayer from Cardinal Burke<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />O Lord Jesus Christ,<br />You alone are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.<br />In Your Church You show us the Way,<br />You teach us the Truth, and You give us Your Life.<br />Grant, we humbly beg You,<br />that, always and in all things, we may<br />be faithful to You in Your Holy Church,<br />and to Your Vicar on Earth, the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI.<br />Grant also, we beg You,<br />that, in these times of decision,<br />all who profess to be Catholic<br />and who are entrusted with the sacred duty to participate in public life, may, by the strength of Your grace, unwaveringly follow Your Way and faithfully adhere to Your Truth, living in You with all their mind and heart, for Your greater glory, the salvation of souls, and the good of our nation. Amen.<br /><br />Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of America, Pray for us.<br />Saint Thomas More, Patron of Religious Freedom, Pray for us.<br /><br />-- By His Eminence Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura</span>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-52966648249756677052012-10-28T18:49:00.000-07:002012-10-28T18:49:03.013-07:0060 Second Catholic Videos: "Faith Matters" -- from our bishops!<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>Faith Matters</em> - a sixty-second reflection about faith, family and the issues that Catholics care about. These short messages, recorded by the bishops of California, air on Catholic radio stations around the state.</span><br />
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Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-50175658083680479162012-10-26T20:50:00.002-07:002012-10-26T20:50:38.479-07:00Spiritual reflections from JustFaith Ministries<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This image is called "Be Still" from Just Faith Ministries program: STILLPOINT...In the Eye of the Storm.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The website provides reflections carefully crafted to accompany you in your practice of 'engaged presence,' as you draw the world of crying need and awesome complexity into your heart and center.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">STILLPOINT in the Eye of the Storm comes in weekly installments each Thursday as reflections, resources and reminders for engaging spirituality in times like these.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Find the blog at:</span></div>
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<a href="http://stillinthestorm.wordpress.com/"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: large;">http://stillinthestorm.wordpress.com/</span></a><br />
Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-70996052896009987842012-10-26T20:23:00.001-07:002012-10-26T20:23:20.787-07:00Video on Living in Poverty from US Bishops<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tour Poverty USA Video from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Catholic Campaign for Human Development: What's life like at the poverty line? It's one impossible choice after another—between food and medicine, getting to work or paying the heating bill. But there are ways out.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Watch the video, join the discussion, learn more at this link: </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Catholic Social Teaching: Human Dignity. “Belief in the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all Catholic social teaching. Human life is sacred, and the dignity of the human person is the starting point for a moral vision for society. The principle of human dignity is grounded in the idea that the person is made in the image of God. The person is the clearest reflection of God among us. We are required to honor the human person, to give priority to the person.” -- Catholic Charities Office for Social Justice, <a href="http://www.osjspm.org/" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.osjspm.org</a><br /><br /><i>You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more. --Psalm 10:17</i></span>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-84786759189013235692012-10-20T11:41:00.000-07:002012-10-20T11:41:06.368-07:00Register to Vote! Deadline Oct 22nd!<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: small; text-decoration: none;">Read more at: <a href="http://stm-scm.blogspot.com/2012/10/register-to-vote-online-deadline.html" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;">Register to Vote Online: Deadline October 22, 2012!</a></span></h3>
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<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation."</b> -- Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops<b> </b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Register to vote online: <a href="http://www.vote411.org/" style="text-decoration: none;">www.vote411.org</a></span></span></div>
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Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878671532264884937.post-50298565384197554542012-10-20T11:13:00.000-07:002012-10-20T11:13:17.845-07:00Video of Sr. Helen Prejean on Why Catholics Should Be Against Death Penalty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sr. Helen Prejean, well-known as the author of Dead Man Walking and The Death of Innocents, told the remarkable story of her spiritual journey accompanying those who have been condemned to death. During her reflection, she recounted stories of faith that lead her to advocate against the death penalty. She spoke of her conversations with Blessed John Paul II who strongly opposed state-sponsored killing. She challenged Catholics who belong to a Pro-life Church to protect the lives of those who are guilty of terrible crimes as well as the lives of the innocent. She asked the assembly, at this historic time, to work for an end to the Death Penalty in California by supporting Proposition 34 on the November 6 ballot. October 7 was designated as Respect Life Sunday by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.</span>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282674620224207469noreply@blogger.com0