Here is this week's installment of "Five Faith Friday" which contains five, faith-based things I found interesting and am sharing on Friday.
What I'm Excited to Share --
That I have a whole list of events in the works with some of them ready to be shared at this point in time. Traditionally the events have been for men only but there are a few that will be open to both men and women due to the nature of what is being discussed. I'll send out separate e-mails (click here to join the list if you don't already receive them) as reminders.
- Thursday, June 3rd at 6pm - Pints & Prayers social at Weyerbacher. This is for the fellas only. Please RSVP by e-mail or text (937 672 4770). There is no agenda here besides drinking beer and enjoying some fraternity
- Saturday, June 5th at 6pm - Divine Liturgy at Holy Ghost Ukranian Catholic Church followed by Theology on Tap at Dubs on 5th. Men and women are welcome! Have you ever been to the Byzantine Rite? If not, this is a great opportunity to do so. Everyone is welcome and as usual, any Catholic who is in a state of grace can receive Communion. Afterwards there is going to be a talk by Father Paul around the Eastern Rite and specifically on what it means to be an Ukranian Catholic. Please RSVP by e-mail or text (937 672 4770) and we can plan to sit together.
- Thursday, July 8th at 7pm - The Hour That Will Change Your Life followed by Mass at Our Lady of Mercy. This event will follow our traditional format of men only and will take place entirely at Our Lady of Mercy in Easton. We'll meet downstairs for the talk and then proceed upstairs afterwards for Mass specifically for the Pints & Prayers crew. Please RSVP by e-mail or text (937 672 4770).
- TBD- Catholic Beer Tasting for those men 21+ (limited seating). A date and time will be shared soon!
- TBD- Book Club! This is open to both men and women and we will be discussing The Priests We Need to Save the Church book in case anyone wanted to purchase the book and get a head start
- TBD- Confession & Cocktails for all men despite how long you may have been away from confession. The Church is calling you back!
Which Catholic Festival You Should Sign Up For --
Abbeyfest on September 18th. Hosted by the Norbertine's at the Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, PA, this event is like Catholic Disney World for a day. There are food trucks, Catholic booths selling things, confessions, Mass, candlelight adoration, and live music on a professional stage with top of the line sound and video equipment. Archbishop Nelson Perez will be there along with Matt Maher, We Are Messengers, and more. Here are my photos from two years ago if you want a sneak peek! Speaking of Abbeyfest, Matt Maher's "Run to the Father" song was remixed for my favorite show - The Chosen. Check it out!
What We Should All Be Celebrating --
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity this Sunday! Check out Isabella D'Angelo's video of the Mass readings from this weekend and a short reflection before Mass - It's a brilliant way to get you and your family familiar with the readings. We need to be entering into the great celebrations of the Church. Have a special meal, treat the family to a special dessert, or do something else to celebrate. I'll let the Church (via the Catechism) explain the significance of this trinity. "The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the "hierarchy of the truths of faith". The whole history of salvation is identical with the history of the way and the means by which the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, reveals himself to men "and reconciles and unites with himself those who turn away from sin."" (CCC 234) "...By sending his only Son and the Spirit of Love in the fullness of time, God has revealed his innermost secret: God himself is an eternal exchange of love, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and he has destined us to share in that exchange." (CCC 221) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, and now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
What Gesture You Need to Start Doing --
Bowing your head when a Holy name is mentioned. In Philippians 2:9-10 it says, "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth," The Church formalized the custom in the 13th century at the Second Council of Lyons: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow; whenever that glorious name is recalled, especially during the sacred mysteries of the Mass, everyone should bow the knees of his heart, which he can do even by a bow of his head.” 275 of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal says, "A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated." What does it look like? Here's Bishop Schlert, the Bishop of the Allentown Diocese to which I proudly belong, doing so during the celebration of the Mass.
What I Read --
"The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race" by Walter Isaacson. I love Walter's writing. He's my favorite biographer with #1 best selling biographies on Leonardo Da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Ben Franklin, etc. This one just came out in March and already has 3,500 reviews and a 4.7 out of 5 rating and is written about a controversial topic. What does the Catholic Church say about gene editing? From Tom Nash at Catholic Answers: "It can be ethical, provided it does not violate bioethical guidelines, e.g., avoiding research that involves human cloning or the creation and destruction of embryonic human beings via in vitro fertilization and embryonic stem cell research."
Have a wonderful weekend and may God bless you and your family!
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