Fr. Jim Chern's Homilies online....great resource

Check his site out - I always find a spiritual nuggent or two and he always makes me think.

POPE APPROVED!

http://chernjam.blogspot.com/

Praying with the Contemplative Branch of the Missionaries of Charity

In addition to my teaching HS and speaking engagements I teach the Missionaries of Charity Sisters, (Mother Teresa's Sister's) in Plainfield, NJ each Thursday afternoon. I try to make it there every 3 or 4 weeks with my family for evening prayer and Adoration with the Sisters who welcome us and everyone with open arms and a big smile.

I have been taking my HS students there the past three years as well to give them a taste of contemplative prayer, contact with the MC sisters, silence and most importantly JESUS! I was able to bring about 16 of my students on May 7th for evening prayer and afterwards a 'meet and greet' with the Sisters. Its a wonderful experience and to my never ending surprise my students really like it!

The peace and joy of the Sisters in the Eucharistic presence of Jesus is a perfect combination. Pray that it will bear fruit in the lives of these young people.

Want to $ave Lot$ of Ca$h????

I learned about this site through a good friend of mine who works for the Church / Ministry like me and has a few kids at home and is looking to save a few dollars. Well, it seems that you can save a lot more than a few dollars. Check out the website below for the details and hear how Melissa is making ends meet. She's been a good friend to me for years and the site id definitely worth a look!!
http://livelargespendless.blogspot.com/

I walked into Safeway with $15 in catalinas, spent $1.40 in cash and walked out of Safeway with 66 items worth $186.51 and with $15.25 in catalinas in my wallet.Totaling my receipts since the Living Well promo began I have received $1340.90 worth of groceries. I have spent $37.42 out of pocket and still have $15.25 in catalinas to spend in the store. I also have received $18 in free gas on a gift card to BP gas stations. If you subtract the catalinas and free gas from my out of pocket expenses, it brings the actual total down to $4.17!

Allan's PODCAST on www.catholicmom.com

I was interviewed in early March by Lisa Hendey of the CatholicMom website, which receives over 10,000 views a day, about Jesus in the House. Here is the link below.

http://catholicmoments.libsyn.com/

Three Mother Teresa Books I reviewed for the Catholic News Service

http://cathexpo.org/articledetails.aspx?articleid=205

House of Prayer in Watchung, NJ A slice of Heaven

I had the opportunity the other day to present at the House of Prayer in Watchung, NJ-right off Rt.22 below the Campus of Mount St. Mary's High School. It's the third or forth time that I have presented there and I feel I needed to make some comments on the wonderful programs and hospitality that they offer. They, Theresina Flannery, RSM Mary Jo Kearns, RSM Eileen P. Smith, RSM have created a wonderful oasis where one is both spiritually and emotionally nourished. As their mission statement says: Rooted in Gospel values and the charism of Catherine McAuley, Mount St. Mary House of Prayer is a spiritual center dedicated to nourishing adult spiritual growth in an atmosphere of hospitality and prayer. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Community of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the center welcomes persons of all faiths to retreats, spiritual direction and a variety of programs and opportunities for holistic growth.
What makes this place so special is of course the people that run it. They are in tune with Gospel and welcome and serve those who are seeking God. I have always felt affirmed and loved in their presence which is the presence of Christ. I encourage all who are reading this to visit their website and more importantly stop by for a short visit to their Chapel and meet the Sisters...and Joan...who work there. You will come away refreshed!!
http://www.msmhope.org/

The God of Surprises

Here's a link to an article I wrote for the Catholic News Service
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/fa_wright.htm

Father Joe-The Man Who Saved My Soul by Tony Hendra

I just finished reading the book, Father Joe: The Man Who saved My Soul and it was a compelling read all the way through. I must admit that I was not prepared for Tony Hendra's life story but I was familar with some of his work on the movie, This is Spinal Tap, and his work with National Lampoon. After a strange beginning tale of an encounter with an older woman-he was 14-he is taken to meet Fr. Joe, a Benedictine Monk in England, where Tony Henda grew up. At times I was disgusted with where Mr. Hendra's life was going and the things he was doing as he left behind all connections to his Catholic faith and training. I was prepared for some Catholic bashing and skepticism which he brought out only to be pleasantly surprised by Fr. Joe's words, non-judgemental attitude and utimately his Christ-likeness in regards to Tony. The selfishness which is a large thread that runs throughout Tony's life was held in stark contrast to Fr. Joe's faith and love and forgiveness.
As one reads this book its easy to want to condemn Tony for all of the bad choices he made which,as all sin does, effects others as well. But it only takes a little reading of the Bible to see many of the great biblical characters and saints who have also fallen into the viscious cycle of sin. One must also reflect on their own life and the failings that we all have before we toss Tony under the bus.
In the end, it is God, working through this humble, odd looking priest, who emerges as the champion of the story.The one who communicates Gods love and forgiveness to Tony and a we see in the end through many, many people that Mr. Hendra had never met. Like most holy people, when you encounter them you feel like you are their best friend and the only one who has this special connection to them. Like I metioned earlier it was a compelling read and it made m hink of those people who come in and out of my life who have the abilit to communicate something of the love of God.

My Review for the Catholic News Service of The Gospel of Fr. Joe

I must say that I liked this book and despite a few objections here and there it's hard to argue with a person who has committed their life to working with the poor and are actually living it out in the slums. The Gospel of Fr. Joe tells what life is like for the poor in Bangkok.

The author, Greg Barrett, a somewhat agnostic Southern Baptist, does a good job writing the story but his lack of understanding of Catholicism and his desire to equate all religions as one and the same misses some golden opportunities to explain the faith that leads his main, real life character, Fr. Joe, in his actions.

http://www.baltcatholicreview.org/subpages/bookreview2-new.aspx?action=171

Wonderful Book by James Martin SJ "My Life with the Saints"

I first spotted this book while at the The Newman Center at Montclair State University. Fr. Jim Chern has brought a number of books for the center and that one caught my eye. I then saw the author on Comedy Central's Colbert and thought he stood his ground pretty well. Anyway, the book focuses on some canonized Saints such as Mary, St. Peter, St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Little Flower, St. Charles Lwanga as well as some others like Pope John XXIII, Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton. Fr. Martin's writing is easy to digest as he talks about these Saints as his friends that have helped him during different stages of his formation He intertwines the lives of these Saints and their struggles, chrism's and conversion with his own experiences. I highly recommend it. For myself it was nice to be reacquainted with Merton, Dorothy Day and St. Francis along with other Saints whom I knew very little about. He cuts though some of the popular 'myths' and stereotypes that have evolved over the years and focuses on when the person meets Christ and how that encounter changes the person forever. It's an easy read and each of the 17 chapters is 20-40 pages.