New Catholic Podcasts -- Learn and Have Fun!

Catholic Vitamins (http://www.catholicvitamins.com/): Faith life a little down? Wondering where God is? That’s okay -- it happens to the best of us. This podcast is dedicated to helping you find the right nutrients that can add a lift and just the right amount of ‘zest’ to your faith practice.

The Catholic Foodie (http://catholicfoodie.com/): The Catholic Foodie brings much more to the table than merely recipes and reviews. The show highlights how food - good food - can be a sign to us of God’s love and care for each of us and our families. "Where food meets faith".

Among Women (http://www.patgohn.com/patgohn/AmongWomenPodcast.com.html): “Among Women” celebrates the beauty and grace that women experience in their Catholic Faith and Life.

In Between Sundays (http://inbetweensundays.com/): Gives you the essentials to live in the world outside of church. Being people of faith requires more than just one hour on Sunday...

Great Christian Music -- It Ain't All Hymns & Chants

The iPadre Catholic Podcast always starts with great Christian music that is really, really good -- not sappy or "churchy".

iPadre Catholic Podcast:

iTunes Name: "iPadre Catholic Podcasting >> iPadre Podcast"

URL: http://www.ipadre.net/

Here are some good tunes and Christian Rock groups:

“Do You Dare” by Bree Noble
Link to song

”My Everything” by Jonathan Roberts
Link to song

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” by Karmen Tyler
Link to song

“Jesus Is The Way” by John Polce
Link to artist

“Everyday Eternity” by Take No Glory
Link to song

“Power of One” by Arthur Pope
Link to song

Live Holiness -- Great New Blog by a Young Priest

"Live Holiness" http://liveholiness.com/

Fr. Michael Najim says:

"I love being a priest and I feel a particular call to help people grow in their friendship with the Lord. This is the main reason I began LiveHoliness.com: to encourage and inspire others to be holy which is our ultimate calling."

Care for God’s Creation by Reducing Holiday Waste

As the holiday season approaches, plan ahead to reduce your waste. Be creative and do not add to our landfills. By some very simple methods, you can act on at least two Catholic Social Doctrines: caring for God's creation and living in solidarity with others who must share the world's resources ("living more simply so that others can simply live")

The bad news: An estimated 2.6 billion holiday cards are sold each year in the United States, enough to fill a football field 10 stories high. 38,000 miles of ribbon is thrown out each year--enough to tie a bow around the Earth.

The good news: The California Integrated Waste Management Board has a great website with many practical ideas to help you care for God’s creation this holiday season by reducing your own waste: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/PublicEd/Holidays/ .

For example,

1. Buy rechargeable batteries,
2. Wrap jewelry in a scarf,
3. Wrap a kitchen gift in a new dish towel,
4. Use gift bags and save them for next year,
5. Give movie tickets, ball game tickets or other non-material gifts,
6. Give homemade cookies,
7. Use the Sunday comics as wrapping paper,
8. Make gift tags from last year’s Christmas cards, and
9. Always reuse packing peanuts.

For years, my mother-in-law has wrapped our gifts in the comics or old maps or old scraps of wall paper. For the last few years, my sister and I have put our gifts into those reusable gift sacks loosely wrapped in tissue paper. We easily reuse the bags and the tissue paper.

Socially Just Christmas Shopping Ideas

You can act on the Catholic Social Doctrine of solidarity with people around the planet by making purchases direct from farmers and artisans, ensuring that they receive a living wage from the sale of their products. Fair Trade programs also help farmers with sustainable farming methods, so you are also contributing to the Catholic Social Doctrine of caring for God's creation, too! And the Catholic Social Doctrines of the workers' rights and support of families also apply. You are really following in the footsteps of Jesus with your purchases. For the past two years, I have bought all gifts for out of state relatives from fair trade agencies -- the quality is very good. The "Divine" chocolate brand is superb.

Equal Exchange (http://www.equalexchange.coop/) offers fairly traded coffee, tea, chocolate and snacks, supporting small farmer co-ops using sustainable farming methods.

Oxfam America Unwrapped (www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com) makes it easy to give a donation in someone’s name; let’s face it, our adult relatives don’t need another fruitcake and this way we do not generate a lot of wrapping paper for landfills.

Ten Thousand Villages (www.tenthousandvillages.com) offers delightful, handcrafted products from artisans around the world (jewelry, journals, soaps, toys).

Alter Eco Fair Trade (www.altereco-usa.com) offers fair trade and organic foods (coffee, grains, teas, olive oils, chocolate) while supporting small farmers who are preserving local agricultural biodiversity.

-- Courtesy of the Diocese of Oakland, Social Justice Resources webpage

Malaria No More: Together We Can Beat Malaria

Looking for a way to make a difference in the world? How about buying a mosquito net? They cost about $10 each, and they protect children, especially in Africa. What a great "stocking stuffer" to give for Christmas!

For more information, visit: http://www.malarianomore.org/

Helping our brothers and sisters around the world is a way to express the Catholic Social Teaching of "Solidarity". We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.”1 The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict. -- from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml

Wondering if God is Calling You?!?

Catholic Vocations Podcast
http://www.vocationscast.com/

"Just listen to that little voice inside of your heart, telling you what God wants you to do. Because that is your vocation."

This is a really fun podcast for any young man who thinks maybe, just maybe, God is calling him to the priesthood. Find out what it is like to be a priest, to discern a call to the priesthood. Hey -- it's a podcast -- it's private and just between you and God.

More Catholic Apps for iPhone!

View this excellent 1 minute video on YouTube to see many Catholic Apps for iPhones: http://tiny.cc/iPhoneCathApps

iConfess: A handbook to help you make a good Confession!

iViaCrucis: The Way of the Cross -- meditate upon our crucified Savior any Friday (it's not just for Lent)

iCatechism: Look up a question about your faith! What are angels? What is Confirmation exactly? What does the Vatican say about "just war"? It's all in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Catholic Reflections: a daily scripture passage, followed by a saintly reflection and a prayer in the form of a Mobile Widget.

Divine Office and iBreviary: Pray the Divine Office (aka Liturgy of the Hours)! Give it a go in Latin!

iMissal: Follow along during the Mass! Read the daily readings. Uses the official texts approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops with an entire liturgical year’s worth of sacred scripture.

Prayer: Has the Common Prayers from the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church available in English as well as several other languages.

10 Catholic Commandments: Use this app to pray over the 10 commandments that also offers the option of accompanying music.

Divine Mercy: This app provides different images for each of the Our Father beads, helps you keep track of the day of the Novena you are on, and more.
Hail Mary: Pray the rosary with this app that lets you select the color of your beads, provides scripture readings and images, and is available in several languages.

Catholic Calendar: Liturgical calendar for every year from 1970 to 2300 and beyond.

Social Justice Ministry of the Diocese of Oakland

My diocese has great resources for social justice topics.

Social Justice News is the monthly e-newsletter from John Watkins, Social Justice Coordinator, Diocese of Oakland. Email John and request to be put on the distribution list (jwatkins@oakdiocese.org)

Social Justice Resources (http://www.oakdiocese.org/pastoral/SocialJustice) is a website which has a wealth of information on social justice issues, including educational materials and recommendations for action.

The newsletter and website contain news that goes way beyond the San Francisco East Bay; you can find issues affecting California State, America and the planet.

Catholic Hero on DVD! Soon to Be Canonized

"Molokai: The Story Of Father Damien"

Molokai is the story of a priest, Father Damien, who chose to spend his life serving in a leper colony. The movie is a heroic story of great compassion and persistence in the face of physical hardship and isolation. Filmed on location on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai, the scenery is gorgeous, and it touches on the history and culture of Hawaii.

The Vatican recently announced that Blessed Father Damien de Veuster will be canonized this October.

The movie is available on Amazon, at Christian booksellers and Netflix.

Charity in Truth (Caritas in Veritate), Encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI

"Charity in Truth" is a very readable document especially for those interested in economics, justice, and human development.

You can download and print the document from the Vatican website: <http://capwiz.com/cacatholic/utr/1/NKSYKVONIB/IYJOKVPZVA/3631167291> .

The letter has a great many subtleties and nuances than cannot be appreciated with a few selected quotes. With that caution, here are a few highlights to consider:

*"If we love others with charity, then first of all we are just toward them." (6)

*"A society lacks solid foundations when, on the one hand, it asserts values such as the dignity of the person, justice and peace, but then, on the other hand, radically acts to the contrary by allowing or tolerating a variety of ways in which human life is devalued and violated, especially where it is weak or marginalized." (15)

*"Profit is useful if it serves as a means towards an end...Once profit becomes the exclusive goal...without the common good as its ultimate end, it risks destroying wealth and creating poverty." (21)

*"Openness to life is at the center of true development." (28)

*"Solidarity is first and foremost a sense of responsibility on the part of everyone with regard to everyone, and it cannot therefore be merely delegated to the State." (38)

*"Many people today would claim that they owe nothing to anyone, except to themselves. They are concerned only with their rights, and they often have great difficulty in taking responsibility for their own and other people's integral development. Hence it is important to call for a renewed reflection on how rights presuppose duties, if they are not to become mere license." (43)

*"The exclusion of religion from the public square - and, at the other extreme, religious fundamentalism - hinders an encounter between persons and their collaboration for the progress of humanity. Public life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character." (56)

What They Play: The Family Guide to Video Games

http://www.whattheyplay.com

This family website lists current video games by title and platform, and provides ratings and descriptions so that parents and responsible teens can be informed consumers of entertainment software.

"What They Play" uses the rating system by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB); ratings are: EC (Early Childhood), E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone Above 10 Years Old), T (Teen), M (Mature), AO (Adults Only), RP (Rating Pending). The ratings are given from the perspective of caring parents, and are based on types of violence, use of alcohol/tobacco, and other potentially objectionable content.

Know what your kids are playing! Be aware of what you yourself are playing!

"Fast" from Carbon Use and Lower Your Contribution to Pollution

Fasting: Not Just for Lent! Consider spending a month fasting from pollution, taking responsibility for your own contribution to pollution. Here are specific ideas. Consider chosing one and commit to it with your family, friends, neighbors or coworkers:

1. Start or increase recycling of cans, plastic, glass, and/or paper.

2. To reduce junk mail, write to DirectMail.com, National Do Not Mail Registry, Prince Fredrick, MD, 20678. Request that they remove your name from all 3rd class mailing lists. You can make your request at no charge via the internet at www.DirectMail.com/Junk_Mail.

3. Buy cloth bags and use them instead of plastic or paper bags when shopping.

4. Buy and install a low flow showerhead, and take showers instead of baths. (Baths use twice as much hot water.)

5. Reduce time in the shower to 5 minutes.

“Beyond simply appreciating natural beauty, there is the active stewardship of ecological concern. Ecological stewardship means cultivating a heightened sense of human interdependence and solidarity.” -- from Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty

“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” -- Matthew 25:40

The goals of the Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty:

1. Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

8. Develop a global partnership for development

Learn more about the Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty, sponsored by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops & Catholic Relief Services, at: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/globalpoverty/

Free Online Bible Studies from Nationally Recognized Catholic Theologians

Schedule too crazy to attend a group Bible study at your parish?

Here's your answer!

Free, online Bible studies from the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

You may have heard of Scott Hahn, an outstanding theologian and author who converted to the Roman Catholic Church from Protestant Christianity. He understands and expresses Catholic beliefs very clearly, and knows the Bible forwards and backwards.

A number of FREE Bible studies are available at: http://www.salvationhistory.com/studies/courses/online

Topics include:
Covenant Love: Introducing the Biblical Worldview

Genesis to Jesus: A Journey Through Scripture

The Lamb's Supper: The Bible and the Mass

"He Must Reign: The Kingdom of God in Scripture

Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God

Reading the Old Testament in the New: The Gospel of Matthew

The Gospel According to Saint Paul

Catholic Apps on iPhone!

View this excellent 1 minute video on YouTube to see many Catholic Apps for iPhones!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5KftViTzRM&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsqpn.com%2Fcategory%2Ftalk-and-interview%2Fdaily-breakfast%2F&feature=player_embedded


Locate a church when you're on the road!

Find your patron saint!

Pray the Divine Office (aka Liturgy of the Hours)!

Give it a go in Latin!

Absolutely easy to use.

Science and Religion, Not Science Versus Religion

NOVA Science Now podcast has an excellent discussion of science and religion that is respectful of both areas of human research into our understanding of our place in the Universe.

These NOVA Science Now episodes do an excellent job in clarifying how science and religion cover separate spheres of rationale inquiry. Science explores the physical world using human reason, and cannot answer questions such as "why are we here?" or "what is our purpose?". Religion explores the transcendent, that which is beyond the physical world; religion uses human reason paired with faith, and its job is to explore questions such as "why are we here?" and "what is our purpose?" and to probe the nature of God. There is no inherent conflict between the two, no battle that need be fought.

As an example of the harmony between science and religion, I have observed that well over half of the scientists and engineers that I work with at a high tech R&D lab are active in their church, synagogue or temple.

The question is not Science vs. Religion. The question is whether any one person accepts the gift of faith, or rejects it. If they reject faith, then they tend to use human knowledge to support that position. If they accept faith, then they delight in any scientific discovery as glorifying God. "The heavens are telling the glory of God," is a favorite Bible quote for one astronomer who is also a Christian.

NOVA Science Podcast from PBS
Link to the various podcasts from NOVA: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/rss/podcasting.html
Link to the RSS feed itself: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/rss/nsn-podcast-pb.xml

Episodes:
Defining Science: The Power of Science
Defining Science: Science is Not Dogmatic
Defining Science: Science vs. Religion
Defining Science: Only a Theory?
Judging Intelligent Design

Sorry that I could not put in links to the individual episodes, but if you subscribe with iTunes or Juice or other podcatching software, you can see the list of episodes and listen to these. They are about 17 episodes back from today.

Free Online Bible Study of Gospel of John

The podcast, "Into the Deep", tackles theology and discipleship today. This podcast is a great resource if you want to delve more deeply into your Roman Catholic faith. The podcast is part of the SQPN Catholic New Media consortium.

Among the many great episodes of "Into the Deep" is a 7 part Bible study on the Gospel of John. This Bible study is very faithful to Vatican II (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum). If you haven't attended a Catholic Bible study lately, this is a great place to start. If you are an old hand, you will also get some meat and potatoes to think about.

The website for "Into the Deep" is: http://deepcast.blogspot.com/

The podcast feed is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/deepcast/UnHm

The 7 episodes in the Bible study for the Gospel of John are:

http://media.libsyn.com/media/deepcast/John_exegesis_talk_1_final.mp3
http://media.libsyn.com/media/deepcast/John_exegesis_talk_2_final.mp3
http://media.libsyn.com/media/deepcast/John_exegesis_talk_3_final.mp3
http://media.libsyn.com/media/deepcast/John_exegesis_talk_4_final.mp3
http://media.libsyn.com/media/deepcast/John_exegesis_talk_5_final.mp3
http://media.libsyn.com/media/deepcast/John_exegesis_talk_6_final.mp3
http://media.libsyn.com/media/deepcast/John_exegesis_talk_7_final.mp3

Lectio divina - a way to pray that will astonish you!

Lectio divina is a slow, contemplative way to pray the Scriptures. I learned how to do this from my diocesan coordinator for Small Christian Communities, and I have used it with wonderful results in RCIA, my Small Christian Community group, and various ministry committee meetings at my parish. This can be done alone, but the spiritual insights are astounding when done with a small group. Try it!

Gather in a quiet spot at a time set aside for contemplation and prayer. Allow 20 minutes. Describe the process so that people know what to expect, and guide people firmly through the process.

Select a short, stand-alone passage from the Scriptures. Part of the previous Sunday's Gospel is usually excellent.

1. Read the Gospel. Everyone spends a minute or so in silent reflection.

2. Read the Gospel. Go around the circle, with everyone sharing a single word, short phrase, or image that stands out to them. DO NOT DISCUSS. Be brief. You may need to restate the ground rules.

3. Read the Gospel. Go around the circle, with everyone sharing just a sentence or two about what INSPIRES or CHALLENGES them. Again, do not discuss. Be brief.

4. Read the Gospel. Go around the circle, with everyone giving a short prayer. When all are done, the leader concludes this reflection time with a prayer.

OK -- now you are done with the Lectio divina. Now you can talk freely, discuss, debate, look up references and commentaries, or otherwise go on with your meeting.

Yes! You really read the Scripture passage through FOUR TIMES. Trust me -- try it! The profound insights that have come out of a group of committed Christians all listening to their hearts is beautiful -- and usually everyone has a different and important insight. Lectio divina is a direct encounter with the Living Word of God. No previous experience is necessary! But please follow the directions given above -- it is a time for each person to share whatever comes to their hearts -- it is not a time for Bible study per sec.

Here are some websites that talk about it more:

Written description Fr. Luke Dysinger: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/Catholic/2000/08/How-To-Practice-Lectio-Divina.aspx

YouTube video by Fr. Jim Martin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DxaGZqprrs&feature=related

"Dr. Italy" is a Great Speaker on Catholic Faith!

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio is a fantastic speaker -- a really down-to-earth Italian Catholic who is also a theologian. He really knows how to talk about our faith. His website has great information and links.

At my parish, we showed his DVD program, "Feast of Faith", and everyone loved it! One group got a copy and formed a small discussion group around it. Feast of Faith is all about the meaning of the Mass, how to prepare ourselves for it, what Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is all about, etc. Many parishioners were astounded by how little they understood the profound richness of the Eucharist: have you studied your faith lately? How about since your own Confirmation? Think about it.

I highly recommend Dr. Ambrosio's columns, audio cassettes and DVDs.

http://www.dritaly.com

http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/index.html