NunEssential

Please remember to send in the postcards to your Senators and Representatives urging them to protect life and reject FOCA. If you can, please write a personal note with your postcard expressing your concerns and desire to defend and protect innocent human life. It only takes a few minutes, so please put a stamp on the cards and mail them! Don't have any postcards? Contact your diocese today!

I just had to write about our Dominican friend here in Seattle, Fr. Tom Kraft. Fr. Tom died last week of terminal cancer. He was 55. Fr. Tom was one of those people who radiated the love and zeal of Jesus. He always had a smile on his face and a humble and humorous manner about him. He welcomed you when he saw you and he was always going from one place to the next, spreading the love of Jesus wherever he went. He loved his priesthood and he loved God's people. The Dominicans and those at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Seattle did an astounding job today organizing one of the most resplendent and piercing funeral liturgies I have ever witnessed. The church was packed to standing room only with people of all races and ages. We had all come to pay tribute, grieve and celebrate the life of a man whose "yes" to God changed us all forever. Fr. Tom's brothers and sister and niece gave moving eulogies about their beloved brother and uncle, a man who brought authenticity, music, ...

Pope Benedict XVI has his own youtube channel! Rock on! Click the link to see all the latest updates, news, homilies etc. of our wonderful Holy Father.

Check out the Theology of the Body blo g by one of our fab priests, Fr. Samuel Medley, SOLT

Someone sent this to me this morning, thought you might like it: News Flash: WE WIN! by Fr. John Corapi As we prepare to enter a new era in politics and perhaps society in general, keep something in mind: WE WIN! No matter what political party is in power at a given point in time, in the end those that remain faithful to Jesus Christ win the war. We may have to fight many battles outnumbered and even despised and looked upon as criminals and outcasts by a society that is unraveling and degenerating into something no one could have imagined. What matters is that we run the race to the finish line and fight the good fight. Don’t “go with the flow,” for as the great Archbishop Fulton Sheen reminds us, “Dead bodies float downstream.” More than ever we shall have to be strong in the faith. Regular and worthy reception of the sacraments, constant prayer, and rigorous study of the faith is now essential, not merely a luxury. The front line and primary battle is going to be the fight ...

Check out this new ad on the Catholic Vote website, very thought provoking. Please pray for our country at this decisive moment in history.

Here's a neat video one Sister's vocation story (don't know which community)

lol! I liked this one- RECALL NOTICE... The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed "Subsequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed. Some other symptoms include: 1. Loss of direction 2. Foul vocal emissions 3. Amnesia of origin 4. Lack of peace and joy 5. Selfish or violent behavior 6. Depression or confusion in the mental component 7. Fearfulness 8. Idolatry 9. Rebellion The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factor...

Hello to you all on this First day of 2009 and on the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. So much is going on the world today. It's interesting, listening to and reading the latest words of the Holy Father. He is calling on all of us to have a conversion in order to change the world. It's easy to sit back and point out all that is wrong with the world, but the hard part is looking within ourselves and seeing what needs to be changed in order to help that change along. The Holy Father recently said, "If people only look to their own interests, the world will certainly fall apart." This is certainly true. At this time in history, when it seems more than ever that people are sensing a dramatic change on the horizon, we need conversion, we need Christ. How often we relegate Christ to the farthest corners of our lives, and only call upon Him when we are in trouble or when we want something. How rude! I don't like that when people do that to me and yet how freely we d...

Here is a link to a document written by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith concerning the dignity of a person. Good stuff, read it.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, the whole world is in movement. Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem to be counted in the census, reminding us that the world today is also traveling toward its definitive encounter with God. The journey of the Holy Family toward the moment in which God enters the world from the womb of Mary, in the Person of Jesus Christ, for all human eyes to see, reminds us that we too are moving on our own journey through this life, in company with millions of others, to our own definitive encounter with God. Mary and Joseph found no comfort, no welcome, no shelter, no understanding from the world on this journey. They followed and were supported by heavenly inspirations and light, the presence of angels, and their own profound faith in God’s never-changing goodness and His ever-present Providence. This was their strength and consolation. We also should not expect too much help from the world on this journey. The world has no space for God. No time...

Here are some excerpts from Cardinal Arinze's book on priestly celibacy and other aspects of the priestly life.

You will love this. Our novices are awesome! lol!

Pope Benedict's message for World Day of Peace " Fight Poverty to Build Peace" Christ brings new hope and splendor T he nearness of the Lord is the reason for our joy

Our Canonical Novice Servant, Sr. Megan Mary Thibodeau, just visited Ghana with one of her novices who is from the area (Sr. Rejoice). The following is a short reflection Sr. Megan gave about her trip. I think you will find it beautiful and inspiring. "Peace. I know so many of you were praying for me during my trip to Ghana and I wanted to share with you a few of the highlights.... So, Ghana was glorious. It was non-stop activity for 2 weeks but that is not a complaint. They showed me more than I ever could have imagined and I feel like I got a little glimpse at what real life is like there. We landed in Accra the capital and then drove about 12 hours north to Damongo. The last 100kms was on the worst road I've ever been on....more like a riverbed than a road. We stayed at a "bungalow" (little compound) that belongs to the diocese with the 3 women who are coming this week to begin formation. They are good, faithful women and lots of fun too! They laughed at...

This is a real and tragic portrait of many American teen girls. Read this article . We as women must come to a healing within our own femininity and maternity to pass along to our young girls. They desperately need to see true womanhood in the world today. They deserve better than the trash the world is trying to feed them. May Our Lady of Guadalupe intercede for women all over the world.

Check out this article about a Planned Parenthood employee encouraging an undercover reporter to lie in order to protect a rapist. Protecting the rights of women? I think not. Women deserve better than abortion.

Planned Parenthood clinics in certain states are selling gift certificates for purchase during the Christmas season that can be used for abortions. Read more here . Wrong, just wrong.

They pray for us, let's pray for them!

Interested in learning more about what we can do stop FOCA? (the "Freedom of Choice" Act President-Elect Obama has pledged to sign once he enters office that will open to doors to abortion in all stages and remove further rights for the unborn) Visit www.fightfoca.com to learn more and sign the petition to help stop this horrid legislation.