Friday, June 29, 2012

The Graduate

Although her wedding is the big news of the summer (58 days to go!), May 11 was also an important day for Lauren.  Nine of us drove to Richmond to celebrate her graduation from VCU.
Art Honors
Magna Cum Laude
University Deans Scholarship
University Honors
Just sayin' . . .
At first I had no idea how rigorous this photography major would be--honors classes; learning and applying the details of both darkroom and digital printing; and the sheer number of hours required for the artistry (concept, vision, what have you) as well as craft.  Being a fast reader or writer can save time for many students, but there is no way to create what Lauren did without hours and hours and hours of effort.  She is an amazing woman.
 We couldn't be prouder!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Fortnight for Freedom

The Catholic bishops of America have called for a "Fortnight for Freedom," a time of prayer, action, and witness.  We are asked to focus on the continuing struggle for religious liberty.

Click here to view an inspirational video from catholicvote.org.

And here is what the bishops have said, "The fourteen days from June 21—the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More—to July 4, Independence Day, are dedicated to this “fortnight for freedom”—a great hymn of prayer for our country. Our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power—St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter and Paul, and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. Culminating on Independence Day, this special period of prayer, study, catechesis, and public action will emphasize both our Christian and American heritage of liberty. Dioceses and parishes around the country have scheduled special events that support a great national campaign of teaching and witness for religious liberty."


Our parish is sponsoring Eucharistic Adoration, Benediction, and prayer for the next two Friday evenings.  In addition, the rosary will be recited in the church before EVERY mass for two weeks:  our 3 dailies, plus the weekend services.

Tonight our family will decide how we will participate.

Sometimes I don't believe this mandate will last or ever be enforced.  Then I think about how entrenched Roe vs. Wade is, and how few people probably realized 40 years ago that it could even happen or where it would lead.