Congratulations on these New Catholics!

To Rachel and Paul Balducci and their boys Elliot, Ethan, Charlie and August: a new baby boy on July 16th: Henry Ephrem. Check out his pix here!

To Ann Elise and Daver and their children Duncan and Marissa: a new baby boy on July 18th: Russell Tobias. Take a look at him here!

As for our new little Catholic, he is 3 lbs 3 oz and growing strong. We hope to soon be getting a date and time for his arrival. We have not settled on a name, we really need to meet him first, but he is very active and his sister now seems to have figured out that he is on the way.

St. Joseph, Pray for us.

Oh, St. Joseph,
whose protection is so great, so prompt, so strong,
before the throne of God,
I place in you all my interests and desires.
Oh, St. Joseph,
do assist me by your powerful intercession,
and obtain for me from your Divine Son
all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power,
I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most Loving of Fathers.
Oh, St. Joseph,
I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms;
I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.
Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me and
Ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath.
St. Joseph, Patron of departed souls - pray for me.

Amen.

God Shed His Grace on Thee

Dear women of faith in this nation,

May we unite this day in prayer for our world sisters who do not enjoy the privileges that we have been blest with.

Let us shed ourselves of the useless energy that we put into debates and judgements on our neighbors
over their choices of schooling for their children,
or family sleeping arrangements,
or breast feeding versus bottle feeding,
or mom's employment outside of the home,
or material possessions.

Let us put our lives and cares in the presence of God and seek discernment for ourselves. With our needs in the tender care of the Lord, Our God, our way will be made clear and our spirits will know peace. We must support, encourage and pray for one another. We must ask for God's will in all things and trust in His perfect will for ourselves and others.

I beseech each of you to to bind yourself in prayer to those who do not rest in the blessings that we know:
The mother in Darfur whose pregnancy was conceived as a result of rape.
The mother in Afghanistan who risks her life by teaching her daughters how to read.
The orphans of mothers killed in Iraq.
The heartbroken mother in China who has abandoned her baby girl.
The migrant workers in our own country who live in horrific housing conditions.
The victims of human trafficking.
The victims of abortion.
The women who work 20 hour days making clothing sold in our country.
For all human needs.

Remember these souls and hold them close in your prayers. God loves them too.

The Good Saint said "with privilege comes responsibility." I stand convicted.

Let us not forget that
God so loved the WORLD that He gave his only begotten son that who so believeth, believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Jn 3:16

May the power of the Holy Spirit guide the leaders of our nation.

Peace and All Good to you this July 4th, 2007

My First Real Mother's Day

will be this Friday, July 6, 2007. This will be the first birthday of my daughter. I look back at the trials and blessings of the last year and wonder sometimes how we overcame it all. God blessed our family with our daughter but also with faith, extended family, wonderful friends, and any variety of random angels.