MV's Diaconate Journey

The Pro-Life movement is something we should support and know is consistent with our Catholic faith. Politically, we may encounter obstacles to Freedom of Speech and we encounter spiritual warfare, as evidenced here:

"In recent months, the Nebraska Democratic Party censured McDonnell and refused to provide access to resources vital to his office. The party led what McDonnell described as a 'revenge' campaign against the long-time Democrat because he supported legislation restricting abortion and transgender procedures for minors."

Our society needs our wisdom. Our society needs to see and experience the Light of Christ. May we follow God's will, and help to change our society, protecting those most in need. . .

Nebraska Sen. Mike McDonnell ditches Democrats over abortion views and censure Nebraska Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha announced Wednesday that he is officially leaving the Democratic party and registering as a Republican.

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"The quality of your work reflects the quality of your character. Focus on excellence in all you do, and success will follow."
Epictetus 💚

This weekend at All Saints Catholic Community, the deacons offer their homilies/preaching/teaching. I feel so very privileged and humbled to be able to offer my homily this Sunday, March 17, 2024, at the 5pm Mass.

I feel led to speak about the People of God. . . Who are they? What are they supposed to be doing? How are the People of God doing?
This has been on my mind all week!

May I invite you to prepare by reading and praying over the Sacred Scriptures for this liturgy?

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031724-YearB.cfm

May I invite you to prepare by enjoying this song:

https://youtu.be/aDdOnl0bHO4?si=GTPQLQRfWVkH8QK7

All are invited. Let's unite. . .

Joan Osborne - One Of Us REMASTERED IN HD!!Official Music Video by Joan Osborne performing One Of Us.

Our country and our citizens need our prayers. Our country and our citizens need our Christian-based values, efforts, and love.

We are all starving for authenticity and the love that only our loving God can provide. This love can be demonstrated through us.

Yes, there is spiritual warfare going on. This is evident. We cannot sit idly by and wish for someone to do something. We have got to spread this genuine love. We have got to exercise our efforts towards justice. We have got to support and elect candidates for all offices who understand this Christian-based love. . . for every person, and not for just a selected few. . .

Hostility Against Churches Is on the Rise in the United States Family Research Council analyzed publicly available data from the past five years to determine whether there has been a

As we celebrate, remember, or consider President's Day, may we never ever forget our country's timeless and eternal roots. We do not need to redefine America nor redefine democracy. . . We simply must go back to our roots:

(President George Washington): “It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor.”

(John Quincy Adams): “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”

(Thomas Jefferson): “Jefferson repeatedly praised the pre-eminence of Jesus' moral teachings over all others. . . [Jefferson] wrote, '[Jesus’] system of morality was the most benevolent and sublime probably that has been ever taught, and consequently more perfect than those of any of the ancient philosophers'" (Barton and Barton, 203).

(James Madison, 4th U.S. President, “Father of our Constitution”) "We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of [humanmankind] for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."

(Andrew Jackson, 7th U.S. President): “It is my fervent prayer to that Almighty Being…that He will so overrule all my intentions and actions and inspire the hearts of my fellow-citizens that we may be preserved from dangers of all kinds and continue forever a united happy people.”

(Ben Franklin, on choosing a moral system for the United States of America): "I think the system of [Jesus’] morals and religion as He left them to us [are] the best the world ever saw or is likely to see" (Barton and Barton, 204).

"The [Founding Fathers] repeatedly stressed the need for religion and morality, which they also called piety and virtue, as the basis for America's . . . system of government" (Barton and Barton, in their book, "The American Story: The Beginnings," 2020, 199; cf. John Adams, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Abraham Baldwin, William Paterson, Governor Morris, Charles Carroll, Benjamin Rush, Daniel Webster, Noah Webster, Robert Winthrop, Adam Smith, Richard Price, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Justice Joseph Story, President Zachary Taylor, George Read, Thomas McKean, Robert Treat Paine, and James Smith in Ibid., 199-206).

(Within the 4th verse of “The Star-Spangled Banner”) “Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heav'n -rescued land praise the power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation! . . . And this be our motto – ‘In God is our trust.’”

A wonderful resource:

Barton, David and Tim Barton. The American Story: The Beginnings. Aledo, TX: Wallbuilder Press, 2020.

I offer a timely PSA, aimed towards our men:

"You will journey with other men who have also experienced abortion. The retreat offers a supportive, confidential and non-judgmental environment where men can reconcile past abortion pain and begin the process of healing. Our team of deacons, priests and men who have also lived this experience understand this pain and are there to affirm and support you. We ensure complete confidentiality along the road to peace and healing."

https://www.projectjosephdallas.org/project-joseph-calendar

Spiritual warfare is for real, my friends. . .

The University of Houston is set to display a "piece of art" for most of the year 2024.

Per the artist of this piece of art:

"“The luminous figure is a nod to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as seen in the detail adorning her collar. With Ginsburg’s death and the reversal of Roe, there was a setback to women’s constitutional progress,” sculptor Shahzia Sikander wrote in her artist statement."

In my words:

What is more important . . . "women's constitutional progress" . . . or all of our progress towards living a life which respects life from conception to natural death, and living a life which resembles that of our Lord, Jesus Christ. . ? Are these equally important. . ? (cf. 1 Cor 10:31-11:1).

When we think in terms of this life, I understand why some would argue for abortion. . . When I think in terms of living a life within Gospel values, I see differences. . .

May we pray for us all. May we pray for wisdom and guidance. May we not be confused by those who want us to turn more towards ourselves than towards our loving God.

University of Houston to display 'pagan' pro-abortion statue with features reminiscent of RBG A giant, gold testament to pro-abortion advocacy is set to be displayed at the University of Houston for the bulk of 2024.

We can see all the problems in our society, in our nation, and in our world. We have forgotten our history, our divine beginnings. This is our core problem. We have forgotten!!!

May we reflect upon the beginnings of humanity and our nation. May we study and reflect upon the biblical principles of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States. May we remember. May we learn. May we act. May we vote. . . We have got to preserve the divine beginnings of our humanity and our country!!!!

From the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States:

The national government:

“must establish and administer justice (Amos 5:15; Jer 22:3), which is God’s mandate . . .

to ensure domestic tranquility (1 Tim 2:1-2) . . .

to provide for the common defense (Lk 22:36; 1 Pet 2:13-14; Rom 13:1-5; ). . .

to promote the general welfare (Acts 10:34; Deut 10:17; Mal 2:10; Mt 5:45; Rom 2:11,13) . . .

[and] to secure the blessings of liberty (Lev 25:10)”

(Barton, David and Tim Barton, "The American Story: The Beginnings," Aledo, TX: Wallbuilder Press, 2020, 231f.).

We see the violence, the conflicts, the drugs pouring through our southern border, the human trafficking, the administration of justice to certain people, the administration of injustice to certain people, the selective enforcements of laws, the desire for and ex*****on of excessive power within our governments for their own purposes, and more.

We must learn, we must remember, we must act, and we must vote!

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Per the attached article:

"As of January 16, [2024], DOE investigations into potential Title IV violations have been opened up at over 30 universities since October 2023. This includes several prestigious institutions, such as Columbia University, Cornell University, Wellesley College, Tulane University, the University of California at Los Angeles, Rutgers University, Stanford University, Brown University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Harvard University, which is also under federal investigation, is facing a lawsuit over what the plaintiffs refer to as the leadership’s inaction against 'severe and pervasive' antisemitism on campus."

We have many fine universities right here in Texas, which are doing things the right way! I feel so very blessed and privileged to have attended and received a degree from Texas A&M University in College Station!

More accusations of antisemitism lead to federal investigations at dozens of universities The U.S. Department of Education is currently investigating dozens of universities over allegations of antisemitism on their campuses.