MADISON — Fariba Roughead, a convert from Islam to Catholicism, will share her personal testimony to facilitate interfaith dialog.
She will speak on Monday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. at Holy Name Heights, 702 S. High Point Rd.
Following the model of New Evangelization, as encouraged by the Magisterium and modeled by Saint John Paul II, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis, Fariba’s intention is to deepen mutual understanding and respect, the first essential step to evangelization. |
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The fourth part of the Kerygma is giving witness to the saving love of the Lord to others, to go forth as missionary disciples.
Too often as Catholics, we have quietly and individually lived out our faith, but seldom have we equipped believers to share that faith with those around them.
Believers focus on their relationship with God; missionary disciples help others grow their own spirituality. Believers embrace a deep prayer life which is seldom shared with other people; missionary disciples boldly and joyously pray with others out loud and speak of their love for Christ.
Any pastoral renewal seeks to help our leaders and people grow in their understanding and practice of missionary discipleship. We can look at missionary discipleship through the lens of Jesus’ two commands, “Follow me” and “Go forth.”
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The original Christmas crib was built at Bethlehem.
Centuries later, St. Francis of Assisi built another Christmas crib and made it popular.
According to The Life of St. Francis of Assisi by St. Bonaventure, in 1223, St. Francis received permission from Pope Honorius III to set up a manger with hay and two live animals — an ox and a donkey — in a cave in the Italian village of Grecio.
He then invited the villagers to visit the scene while he preached about “the babe of Bethlehem.” (Francis was supposedly so overcome by emotion that he couldn’t say “Jesus.”)
The Christmas crib inspired a group of German POWs in Algona, Iowa, to build a Christmas crib.
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| Journey with Faith Deacon Lawrence Oparaji |
One fateful Christmas season some years ago, something very significant happened in a family.
A mother came back from Christmas shopping and was welcomed by her eight-year-old son Daniel and her much younger daughter Jane. The children were so excited and eager to see what their mum bought. She, however, asked them to allow her to freshen up and rest a little before unveiling the Christmas goodies.
The unveiling eventually came, and the children were handy and active. There were gifts for their daddy, for their mummy, for their aunties and uncles, for their grandpas and grandmas, for their family friends and for their cat and dog.
Eventually the shopping bag was empty! Looking at the empty shopping bag, Daniel became sad and moody. Discovering Daniel’s sudden mood change, his mother became worried, and asked him what was wrong with him.HAZEL GREEN — After a snowy drive to the southwest corner of the state, Bishop Donald Hying traveled to St. Joseph School, Hazel Green, to celebrate Mass and visit with the students and staff.
Bishop Hying, Fr. Ken Frisch, and Deacon Larry Tranel celebrated 8:15 a.m. Mass with the students as well as a full church of family members, parishioners, and friends. |
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Years ago, Sister Victricia chose seventh and eighth graders for the Kieler Immaculate Conception grade school choir. Miraculously, I was chosen. At rehearsals, however, whenever I sang, Sister stopped playing the piano and stared at me. My voice was changing. To survive her stares, I began to lip-sync long before I ever heard of it.
A positive thinking friend told me, “Maybe Sister was admiring your singing.” If so, why did she quit staring after I stopped singing? Dad often said that the Louisburg Langes can’t sing. Fr. Ron Lange, my missionary first cousin, agrees.
Perhaps this is a senile illusion, but now I think I can sing a little better at Mass. Because of old age, however, when celebrating Mass I often refrain from singing hymns that I don’t know to conserve my limited energy for parts that I proclaim and for the Gospel reading and homily.It’s a scene familiar in many Decembers. A Christmas tree, Christmas music, Christmas cookies, old friends getting reacquainted, new friendships forged, and even a visit from Santa.
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This is the second article in a two-part series about Bishop Robert Barron address to an audience of senators, representatives, and Capitol’s Hill staffers at the Library of Congress.
Next, I referenced the strange and illuminating account in the sixth chapter of Isaiah regarding the call of the prophet. Isaiah says that he saw the Lord in the temple surrounded by angels crying “Holy, Holy, Holy.”
The Hebrew term here is kadosh, which carries the sense of “other.”
God is not one being among many, not one true thing among true things; rather, he is the source of existence itself, the unconditioned ground of all that is — and this entails that he is greater than all of the particular projects and desires that customarily preoccupy us.
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This is the second article in a two-part series about Bishop Robert Barron address to an audience of senators, representatives, and Capitol’s Hill staffers at the Library of Congress.
Next, I referenced the strange and illuminating account in the sixth chapter of Isaiah regarding the call of the prophet. Isaiah says that he saw the Lord in the temple surrounded by angels crying “Holy, Holy, Holy.”
The Hebrew term here is kadosh, which carries the sense of “other.”
God is not one being among many, not one true thing among true things; rather, he is the source of existence itself, the unconditioned ground of all that is — and this entails that he is greater than all of the particular projects and desires that customarily preoccupy us.
In my columns during the season of Advent, I am reflecting on the Kerygma, the basic proclamation of the Gospel in its essence.
Last week, I pondered the first part of this Good News, which is the radical, unconditional, and eternal love of God for us, a love that we cannot even begin to grasp! Our experience of the Lord’s saving mercy is the basis of our spiritual response to God’s remarkable initiative, as Jesus breaks into our lives in all joy and promise.
