Friday, November 15, 2013

(47) Resources For Keeping in Good Spiritual Shape and Leading the Family



RESOURCES FOR KEEPING IN GOOD SPIRITUAL SHAPE & LEADING THE FAMILY
AMDG (Ad mayorem Dei gloriam – For the greater glory of God)

We hope and pray that the participants in this Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal are spiritually refreshed, reinvigorated, and even on fire for the Lord.  To keep the flame lit, some of the following resources should be useful along with an active prayer life, frequent reception of the sacraments including monthly confession, daily Mass, &/or scripture.  Learn about the faith.  Form small Men’s Bible Study/sharing groups in your parish.  May we all take an active part in the New Evangelization especially in this Year of Faith by not only keeping the word, but fearlessly defending it and spreading it in little or big ways as we are able without neglecting our families (always number one after God) by prayer and example, word and deed.  Plant a few seeds and/or add a little water and the Lord will produce a great harvest while Mary nurtures the plant of faith along the way.  There is so much work to do even in our own extended families since so many are drifting as C & E Catholics or have fallen away.  May we all be spiritual leaders in the home, in the parish, and even on the job in applying the social teachings of the Church without calling it that.  The clergy and religious urgently need our help.  They can’t do it alone.  May we all discern the Lord’s will and be His instruments to change the world for Christ.  

ñ  Conference Blog/Website “Becoming True Men of God” at diosteubmen.blogspot.com was set up in January 2012 by the Steering Committee for the Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal as a collection of resources for promoting the Men's Conference.  Then for the rest of the year we maintain the site with articles that should help us to get into good spiritual shape and become better Christians closer to God.  Blog #8 is an article/interview of Danny Abramowicz, our 2012 speaker, with photos from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  Some articles by Danny and by Fr. Thomas Loya, our 2011 speaker, on the Theology of the Body are posted.  Priests and committed laymen are invited to submit articles for consideration to pauls@rio.edu.  A related blog of possible interest with more variety and practical applications of Catholic teaching is “A Little Bit for God and His People” at paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com

ñ  Reason for Our Hope with Fr. Larry Richards (our 2013 speaker) at thereasonforourhope.org/ - Fr. Richards has a radio show Saturdays 8pm-9pm ET and Sundays 11am-12pm ET on Relevant Radio.  Go to relevantradio.com/programs/changed-forever or relevantradio.com to listen to other programs at any time.  Google Fr. Larry Richards to obtain his book, “Be a Man” and excerpts of his talks. 

ñ  Crossing the Goal on EWTN television and radio, both of which can also be obtained on the internet at ewtn.com.  The program features Danny Abramowicz (our 2012 speaker), Peter Herbeck, Curtis Martin, and Brian Patrick.  Tune in Thursday 9 pm, Sunday 6:30 pm, and Monday 6:30 am.  Their website, crossingthegoal.com has resources and blogs by members of their team to complete their mission.  That is to “support and equip men to stand up and live the life they were called to by their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”.  Excerpts of his talks are on youtube.com.  Another website, blessed2play.com gives radio/audio interviews of Danny and other Catholic sports figures.

ñ  Four Fabulous Resources for the Family.  Since the parents are the primary educators of the faith, every Catholic home should have as a minimum the Holy Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and access to EWTN, the Catholic television channel.  For those who cannot and all of us for that matter, the Apostolate for Family Consecration, better known as Catholic Familyland (familyland.org), the family retreat center in Bloomingdale near Steubenville, has constructed four truly incredible websites.......the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church at FamilyCathechism.com* with many links for greater depth; a family guide with video links to supplement CCD at FamilyCatechesis.com, Catholic internet television to watch at any time from a weekly menu at familylandtv.com; and a four step plan to family holiness at FamilyHoliness.com.  IT'S ALL FREE!  *In Spanish: Catecismoparalafamilia.com.
 
ñ  The Catholic Men's Fellowship of Greater Cincinnati has resources, including a handbook, for forming small men's sharing groups at thecall.org.  They consist of committed men, principally Catholic, who recognize their need for God's help. They gather in Christ's presence in an atmosphere of trust, equality, and anonymity to share personal feelings and experiences. The members of a group unconditionally accept each other and prayerfully support one another while discussing the Bible and spiritual reading.  One may contact “Kent Linnemann (CMF)” <cmf@thecall.org>, kentlinnemann@juno.com with questions. 

ñ  Lighthouse Catholic Media at lighthousecatholicmedia.org produce and distribute CDs by great speakers on a variety of topics.   Utilize your time well while driving, especially if you have a long commute every day, while doing routine work, or working on your computer.  Some of their CD's can be found in the back of many churches and are changed periodically.

ñ  Tabor Life Institute at taborlife.org has resources relating to the Theology of the Body and the wisdom of Church teaching on sexuality, explaining the reasoning behind it.  It has much of the work of Fr. Thomas Loya, (our 2011 speaker) and host of the radio programs, “Body of Truth” and “Light of the East” on CatholicRadioInternational.com.  E-mail taborlife@earthlink.net.

ñ  Catholicscomehome.org – a movement to reach drifting Christmas & Easter Catholics and those who have fallen away and have lost the faith completely, motivating them to come back to the Church.  Refer people to it.

ñ  St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology at salvationhistory.com distributes books by the popular Scott Hahn and other great theologians.  E-mail mattleonard@salvationhistory.com.

ñ  Christophers.org – a movement founded by Fr. James Keller, author of the books “You Can Change the World” & “Change the World from Your Parish”.  It promotes the power of one person with God’s help to make a difference in the family, in the parish, and in the community.  The emphasis is on the positive.  Don’t just complain; do something.  Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”

ñ  Complete Books as St. Faustina – Divine Mercy in My Soul - www.alabamacatholicresources.com/PDFs.html.     


Some Websites For Keeping in Good Spiritual Shape & Leading the Family

* diosteubmen.blogspot.com – Men’s Conference Blog, “Becoming True Men of God”.  Info & Spirituality.
* paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com – Related blog with greater variety, “A Little Bit for God and His People”.
* thereasonforourhope.org - Fr. Larry Richards (2013 speaker) & the Reason for Our Hope Foundation.
* crossingthegoal.com – Danny Abramowicz (2012 speaker) & his Crossing the Goal Apostolate and TV.
* taborlife.org – Fr. Thomas Loya (2011 Conference speaker) and his Theology of the Body Apostolate.
* diosteub.org, usccb.org, vatican.va – official websites of the diocese, Catholic Bishops, and the Vatican.
* familyland.org – The Apostolate of Family Consecration (Catholic Familyland) family retreats..
* FamilyCathechism.com – Catechism of the Catholic Church for the family online with reference links.      
* Catecismoparalafamilia.com – the same Family Catechism in Spanish.  Both are interactive.
* FamilyHoliness.com – a four step program for family holiness.
* FamilyCatechesis.com – guide & video links to supplement CCD for parents, primary educators. of the faith.
* familylandtv.com – Catholic internet television on demand at any time.  Choose from a weekly menu.
* ewtn.com & click on television – EWTN Television on the internet.
* ewtn.com & click on radio - EWTN Radio on the internet.
* relevantradio.com – Relevant Radio on Sirius and the internet (Fr. Larry Sat. 8 pm & Sun. 11 am).
* CatholicRadioInternational.com – Catholic Radio International on Sirius.
* blessed2play.com/show-archives– radio/audio interviews of Catholic sports figures.
* purefashion.com – gives great modest but fashionable dress guidelines to help parents with daughters.
* lighthousecatholicmedia.org - CDs by great speakers - a variety of topics to hear while driving, working, etc.
* thecall.org – resources for starting up a men’s sharing and Bible Study group
* salvationhistory.com – Scott Hahn and his St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.
* catholicscomehome.org – a movement to bring drifting and fallen away Catholics back to the Church.
* christophers.org – motivates and gives examples of how individuals can make a difference for good..
* MediaApostle.com – projects of the Daughters of St Paul to make Catholic movies, redeem the media, & use it well.
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St. Joseph, model of a true man of God, pray for us and that the Men's Conference yield many spiritual fruits.
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