He incites his class at school but wait til you see the kind of Dad he is at home:

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Doesn't this man make you glad to be alive!

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Another thought for Monday: the 31st

Our Gospel Scripture reading on this Monday morning, New Year's Eve, seems startling. We just finished celebrating the birth of Christ, and today many of us are preparing for a less religious celebration of the end of the year, followed by a new beginning tomorrow with our resolutions. But here is a reading about “Beginning” given to us before the beginning of the New Year.

I think it brings to mind the opening of Genesis, which also begins with "In the beginning," as if by our resolutions we hope to recreate ourselves with the New Year. So why is this reading given to us today? It reminds us of a Beginning before the creation of all things in Genesis, even before the beginning of time. This Beginning points us to the foundation of all reality in God--Christ Himself, the Word of the Father dwelling with the Father and the Holy Spirit “before all things were made.”

The reason for reading it today is that it reminds us that before beginning our attempts at renewal in the New Year, there is always “the Light” of Christ who “was with God and who was God.” Our renewal is always through Christ "who came to dwell among us" at Christmas—the real New Year begins with Christmas.

New Year's Day will soon pass and be gone. We will turn our attention to Easter where Christmas bears fruit: we will celebrate our becoming "children" "born of God," just as at Christmas we celebrated “The Word” being born of a woman. This reading asks us to stop for a moment in our celebration and think of where it all began—“in the Beginning”—in the love of the Father for the Son through the Holy Spirit.

That's something to celebrate.

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December 31, 2012
“On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me: seven swans a-swimmin’”. The elegance of the swan in her natural habitat is picturesque beyond doubt: beautiful, trusting, confident. The natural habitat for the married couple is with one another in trusting relationship together. As we reach the last day of 2012 have we given each other our time, dated enough this past year, grown closer together in our marriage?

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December 30, 2012
“On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me “six geese a-layin’”. Marriage can often be about layin’ down one’s life for ones spouse even if in a figurative sense. The two become one flesh. In what ways have I “lay-ed” down my life for my loved one, my spouse, this past year?

December 29, 2012

“On the 5th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me – 5 gold rings.” It only takes one ring to marry. In fact, it doesn’t even have to be a ring or of gold. The “I do!” is the core of your vow. Plan five things that you will DO for your marriage this week.

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December 28, 2012

“On the 4th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me – 4 Calling Birds.” What do you call each other? Can each of you think of four loving pet names you could call each other? Ask which one your honey likes best.

December 27, 2012

“On the 3rd Day of Christmas my true love gave to me – 3 French Hens.” Some have interpreted this lyric to refer to the Trinity. Another possibility is that God forms the 3rd person in the marriage relationship. It’s a mystery. Ponder it.

December 26, 2012

“On the 2nd Day of Christmas my true love gave to me – 2 Turtle Doves.” As a species, turtle doves are known to form strong pair bonds, thus they are a symbol of devoted love. You don’t need the doves, just act like them – minus the messy part.

O O O O O O O O O O (especially for the married) O O O O O O O O

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December 25, 2012

The 1st day of Christmas: Christmas day can be busy, even hectic, as you prepare food for guests or travel to relatives. Share the work. If you feel ready to snap, take a 5 minute “sanity break.” It’s called prayer. Remember Jesus’ words to Martha. (Luke 11:41-42)

Merry Christmas:

The Very First:
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for the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings: the Prince of Peace.


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Morning Mass Group celebrates:

Marge, our host, opens her home to us:

Sister Maureen, Susan, Mary Frances, Maryann:

Nancy, Barbara, Jackie:

Linda, Deacon Gene, Simon

Mary Frances, Ann, Linda, Barbara, Nancy, Simon:

Our Hearts are Broken:

Tragedy Talking Points
by Dr. Brad Schwall

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The following guidelines may help you in addressing the incident with your children based on the information currently known about the tragedy to this point.

>Avoid exposing children to too much media coverage.
>Avoid fostering rumors and speculation about the tragedy.
>Age and Stage Responses


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Preschool-2nd grade – discuss the incident only if the child has heard any of the news. There is no need to inform the child of the tragedy if the child does not know about it.


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3rd- 5th graders are more likely to have heard the news. Decide whether to bring the issue up with 3rd and 4th graders based on their temperaments.

>Check for what your child knows – Ask, “What have you heard today?"

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You may choose to approach the subject with children in 6th grade and older.

No matter your child’s age, consider the following responses based on how you believe you need to address the tragedy with your child.

>The tragedy is isolated and tragedies like this happen rarely.
>The fact that this tragedy happened does not mean there is an immediate danger where you live.
>Emphasize that safety precautions are in place in schools.
>Reflect what your child may be feeling – “I know this is scary news. It is very sad.”
>Emphasize empathy for the victims – “It is very sad that this happened to those families and children.”

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Teenagers may reflect on the fragile nature of life and the unpredictability of life.
The conversation may focus on:

>Validating your child's feelings - it is OK to feel scared or sad
>Emphasizing that your child is safe
>Empathizing with the victims

St. Joseph Cruising Crusaders: 2012

A preview of what's ahead:
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