Seminarian Spotlight: Words of Encouragement
By: Paul Collins and Brad Easterbrooks, AMS Co-Sponsored Seminarians who attended Forum 2018 in San Diego
Paul Collins shares: I try to remember that every cross is an opportunity for spiritual growth, though we may not see it. I think a good place to start with the current situation’s potential for growth is in the following quote:
“Satan: “I will cause anxiety, fear, and panic. I will cause churches to lock their doors. I will cause Christians not to worship together on Sunday. I will cause the sacraments not to be given or received. I will cause fights to break out at the grocery stores and on social media and inside the home. I will cause greater animosity between nations. I will cause turmoil inside and out.”
Jesus: “I will restore the family. I will bring husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters closer together. I will greatly strengthen the communal life of religious brothers and sisters. I will greatly strengthen the spiritual lives of my priests. I will bring dinner back to the kitchen table and to the refectory. I will help my children slow down their lives and appreciate what really matters. I will teach my children to rely on me and not on what is of this world. I will deepen my children’s faith in me. I will renew their prayer life. I will deepen their love for me and for one another.”
-Fr. Jerome Zeiler
This is my prayer for this time: that the forced slow down of our lives brings families closer to each other and gives priests a chance to rediscover the heart of their vocation, which is their relationship with Christ.
Brad Easterbrooks shares: During times of uncertainty, I have learned that we have an even greater opportunity to rely on God’s guidance. Jesus assures us that no matter the storm that rocks our boat, he gives us a deep peace through our faith and relationship with him (cf. Matt 8:23-27). For the first time for many of us, we lack access to a public mass, which reminds us that there are many around the world who do not ordinarily have access to the sacraments. We hunger for the sacraments because they bring God’s grace into our lives. I hope to use this time to pray even more, in hopeful anticipation of the day when we can return to mass as a community to raise our voices together in prayer. I am keeping everyone in my prayers, especially those affected by this virus. Keep praying, because Jesus is still with us in the boat. God bless you this day.
Recent Posts
Active Duty, Reservist, Guardsmen, and Civil Service Women, I call and invite you to the 2018 Worldwide Faith Formation Forum. Our goal is to have at least 50 military women attend Forum. The women serving in our military take on a special role of being Christ to our country, our units, and our families.
Did you know that AMS chaplains serve over 1.8 million Catholics in the military? Our need for priests is great! Providing for the spiritual and sacramental needs of men and women in uniform and their families is an essential task, and priest-chaplains are in higher demand now than ever before.
Have you ever sensed a calling from the Holy Spirit to Serve and to Lead? You may be called to discern for a position on the MCCW World Wide Board!
Greetings from the Central Region! It’s been a good season for us, as we’re all still reminiscing over the February 2017 MCCW retreat at Conception Abby in Conception, Missouri, which was titled “Listen and open your the ear to your heart”.
Back in the day, I remember parents were excited to send their children back to school. Today, most parents dread Back to School.
"Surrender to the Holy Spirit", Asia Regional Retreat. 2-5 November 2017, South Korea
In the Pacific Region, the catholic women of the chapel groups have been participating and providing faithful events over these summer months. Many of the Pacific regional CWOCs held celebrations, retreats, and reflections in honor of the 100th anniversary of our Lady of Fatima
