Fr. Tim - Thanks for sharing the pro-life article from the America magazine. We haven't won the war against abortion, but we are winning some of the battles. Take care.

The link below connects an excellent article in America magazine. The author talks about her conversion from pro-choice to pro-life. She expresses well our cultural understanding of sexuality and how this easily leads to abortion. When children are an accidental or unwanted by product of sexual relations, abortion is a ready tool to solve a problem. When they are seen (and are) a blessing from God, abortion no longer is accepted. Worth reading:

http://www.americamagazine.org/content/art...fm?article_id=10904

An article written in the tradition of "The Screwtape Letters" by C. S. Lewis is linked here:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MmFmM...VlYjU4ZmViNzg=&w=MA

Does this work? Anyway, it is really clever and well written.

Yes, I both married my niece and was a proud Uncle at the same time. It was a nice event at St. Bartholomew's parish in Fort Worth where my sister and her daughters are members.

Fr. Tim--your niece and grandnieces are all beautiful. What a happy day they had! Were you there as her proud uncle or did you marry her or maybe both?
Glad to see the forum up and running again and that there are some guidelines in regards to fairness, decency, etc.

This is a picture of my niece who got married with one of my grandnieces.

I have upgraded this website and now pictures can be loaded as well as commentary. Below is a picture of my grandnieces at my nieces wedding. We just had a lot of first communions and confirmations at St. Mark. I think that people would be interested in seeing some pictures from church members of these events or of other events. May be you have some wedding pictures to share or something else pertinent to parish or faith life. Here's your chance.
 
Aren't my nieces cute?! They waved to the crowd all during the ceremony.

My grandnieces at their cousin's wedding, Friday, June 22, 2008

Before the First Communion Masses, there was a lot of noise in the church, I think because there were a lot of visitors and people excited about the ceremony. I haven't noticed that at other Masses with the possible exception of the Sunday evening Mass. There should be some time to socialize before Mass, but it would be better if this were done in the foyer.

Music during the Mass is not meant as a distraction but is part of the ceremony. We play and sing during the Offertory for this reason. Do you think it should be silent?

Dear Father Tim,
Would it be possible to remind parishoners that there should be little to no talking while in church? The volume has gotten to the point where it's very hard to pray, quiet the mind, and remember we are in the presence of God.

Also, the music and the volume being played just before the offetory is distracting. Again, I (and those I've heard in the congregation) find it hard to concentrate. The music (if any is played) should be something that is spiritual in nature.

Thank you for all your care and concern! We are very blest to have you.

Regards,
Susan

Wishing you a Happy Father's Day, Father.
Thank you for your gentle guidance and ministry.
Thank you for your "yes" to God.
As you always bless us here is a blessing for you, united with St. Paul, (Ephesian 3:14-19) we pray before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

I hope this works better. Good luck

The Forum is Back! Yeah! More opportunity to express your ideas, opinions, thoughts and hopes to the parish community. However, I have upgraded the service and I am able to see I.P. addresses and block users who abuse the site. While controversy should not be banned nor disagreements, any kind of abuse (as I see it) will not be tolerated. That said, I hope that people can again enjoy this site and use it to express faith.

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