Archive for July 2017
BreakThrough the Reasons for Those Arguments
Couples often notice when arguments arise they are typically the same arguments that have occurred before, just set on repeat! Why is that? Conflict and hurt feelings are normal aspects of married life but what isn’t normal, or at least need not be so, is remaining gridlocked in stale and unhelpful patterns of relating. And…
Read MoreMary Mackillop Prayer
Ever-generous God, You inspired St Mary MacKillop to live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and constant in bringing hope and encouragement to those who were disheartened, lonely, or needy. With confidence in your generous providence and joining with St Mary MacKillop, we ask that you grant our request….(name your request). We…
Read MoreAre you getting the help you need?
5 Ways Seeking Help Can Make Things Worse  ” I read books that told me to love more and give more… but they just made things worse.” Inspirational, quasi-advice type books written by well-meaning people who have gone through the normal ups and downs of married life are often of little use to couples struggling…
Read MoreThe Power of Two
by Byron & Francine Pirola By its very nature Matrimony has the power to renew the Church and all of society. Matrimony is the vocational sacrament within which the vast majority of adult Catholics live, and yet its capacity for teaching, renewing and leading the Church is largely overlooked. All Sacraments reveal a dimension of…
Read MoreTill Death do We Duel
Is your marriage plagued by an unhealthy spirit of competition? Competition is part of human life and has many benefits for individuals. One of the most obvious is that it encourages us to extend ourselves and develop our abilities. There’s nothing like a bit of competition to push us past our normal limits. The dark…
Read MoreWhy Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio chose to be pope Francis?
When elected pope in March 2013 Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, chose Francis as his papal name in honour of St Francis of Assisi. He is the first ever Pope Francis. Pope Francis explained that he had done so in solidarity with the world’s poor. He explained that, as soon as it…
Read MorePriests as spiritual fathers
The Church has always seen priests as spiritual fathers, called to spiritually nourish their people with the Sacraments and inspire new generations of men and women to follow Jesus faithfully in every sphere of life. They are also called to be joyful models of self-giving love as celibates dedicated to God and the Church. In…
Read MoreSaint Francis
From Party Boy To Radical Christ-Follower St Francis (born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone) was the popular son of a silk merchant who dreamed of a military career during the Crusades. He was generous and popular and lived a luxurious lifestyle. In his early 20s he was captured and imprisoned after a skirmish with a…
Read MoreThe man village
Where a child’s own father is struggling or absent through separation, extensive work commitments, prolonged illness, death or some other circumstance it’s even more important for families to have a support network which includes good father figures. And besides, even the most dedicated father can lack interest or skill in an area where his child…
Read MoreDads + Kids = Kids + Church
Kiara Pirola examines some recent statistics on the unique impact that fathers have on their children’s spiritual development and decisions about worship practice later in life. For families where religious tradition is important, interesting statistics have emerged on the different impact of fathers and mothers on the continuing faith practice of their children. In 1994,…
Read MoreThe Ultimate Guide To Family Prayer For Busy Parents
Every family is unique and their family prayer life will be too! What works for one family would be impossible for another. Whether it’s highly structured like the Rosary or Divine Office or less formal like meditation or spontaneous prayer, there is a style to suit every family as it grows and changes. Whether your…
Read MorePraying with Younger and Older Kids
Praying with younger kids Toddlerhood is a demanding and often frantic time. It can be tempting to delay introducing regular prayer, but as chaotic as it may be, younger children are more receptive to new traditions. Keep it Short A wiggly three year old will have trouble sitting still for an entire Rosary, so don’t…
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