by Mary | Apr 30, 2008 | Original NSS, podcasts, prayer
I’m always trying to find new ways to squeeze prayer and Scripture and reflection into my busy days. I have the best of intentions, but, more often than not, I get to the end of the day and realize that I never found so much as five minutes for God. That has changed thanks to the miracle of podcasting. I am now a “Pray-As-You-Go” podcast junkie, waiting for my daily 10-minute Scripture fix to calm my worried mind and take me to a quiet place if only for a little while.
Pray-As-You-Go, which is available on iTunes, gives you a lot of bang for the buck, especially since it’s free. Produced by the Jesuit Media Initiative of London, the podcast begins with music — sometimes traditional chant, sometimes contemporary, sometimes ethnic, always wonderful. Then it continues with one of the Scripture readings of the day, followed by questions to prod you into deeper reflection. The reading is read a second time with further reflection points. (more…)
by Mary | Apr 29, 2008 | family, Original NSS
Thirteen years ago today, Dennis and I were married at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx, just across the street from the apartment building where we began our life together. I will never forget that sunny, windy day, when I felt as though I had been given a second lease on life because of Dennis. The fact that we found each other precisely when we did amazes me and reminds me that our journeys through life may twist and turn but they do so with a purpose. We may not realize it at the time, but when we look back — when I look back, at least — I can see the sometimes difficult path I had been on leading me back to New York from Texas so that I would eventually find the person I was meant to marry. (more…)
by Mary | Apr 23, 2008 | Original NSS
In the span of 24 hours, I have learned of two young mothers who are battling cancer. My heart is just breaking for both of them. Please pray for Kathleen, who lives in my town and has three children with her husband, Tom, and Emilie, who lives in Minnesota and has two sons — one of them newborn — with her husband, Steve. Both of these beautiful and faith-filled women need your prayers and as many other prayers as you can round up.
Email your friends, put them on prayer chains, write them into parish intention books, think of them and say a prayer when you hug your own children and start to cry at the mere thought of having to face what they’re facing.
Emilie has a blog. If you would like to visit, click HERE.
by Mary | Apr 21, 2008 | Books, Idiot's Guide, Original NSS, podcasts
Hey, I’m back from New York and the papal visit, and just in time to tell you about my first experience on podcast. That’s right. You can now download me from iTunes. (Search “Catholic Spotlight.) I think I have arrived!
Chris Cash of Catholic Spotlight interviewed me last week about my new book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Catholic Catechism. Click HERE to listen to the interview. It’s about 25 minutes long, so make sure you have snacks and a comfy chair.
Chris also put out a nifty email flyer about my book. Check it out HERE.
by Mary | Apr 19, 2008 | Original NSS
I was so close when the pope came by on his way out of St. Joseph’s Seminary today, the closest I’ve been to any pope. It was the most exciting part of the very long day.
There will be more stories and photos from me at OSV’s Papal Visit 2008 blog HERE.
