The best thing i could possibly do with my friday night

Middle school talent show = WIN

Unnecessary Quotes of the Day

But who really even KNOWS what that means, anyway!

Texas WOULD Be the One to Do This

Texas governor declares sovereignty.

"Here Comes Everybody"

Blessed Easter, everyone.

One of my favorite things about Easter is the Vigil Mass, at which newcomers to the faith are baptized and confirmed. I've heard in several places that this year, that's about 150,000 people, among them my Uncle Richard. Pray for him and all our new Catholics.

Read Deacon Greg's homily. It moved me to tears -- not just welling up, which diaper comercials do, but actual rolling tears, which is not at all a common occurrence.

I hope to write more about Missions at some point, but you all know how I am.

And God bless you all.

Back Alive

...barely. And just a couple kids left to be picked up. It was... An experience.

Good Friday Weather and a Smart Kid

One of my boys made the observation that it's been sunny all week, until today.

Good Friday Procession

Through downtown McAllen- cross and all. The kids have been, for the most part, incredibly well behaved all week. I'm so impressed and proud.

Evening prayer

Good kids

It's been a long day and they definitely earned this break.

Waiting

there are more people that seats on the buses. So here we are.

Alone and slightly creeped out

One of the first groups back. In the kitchen waiting to start dinner. reminds me of that one scene in jurassic park.

Lots of Planting

See? Cats.

Setting up the meeting hall.

Mobile blogging Missions

I haven't worked with high schoolers in a while. It's like herding cats. So is teaching middle school, but at least i have recognized authority over them and they're not as clever as these kids. But, so far so good!

Sometimes

...i feel compelled to voice my profound gratatued for the life i have been blessed with. This palm sunday is one of those days.

My Boy Matt Maher and a Great Example of Ecumanism

Matt Maher is a Catholic singer/songwriter whose music I've had a substantial crush on for years (the music, not the guy, I swear). Last year, he finally released an album (Empty and Beautiful, his 4th) on a "mainstream" Christian label, a pretty big deal when we're talking about a guy who wrote a song that starts with the word "transubstantiation".

I stumbled on this interview he did for The Christophers. The whole thing is great and I recommend it, but I was particularly impressed by his explanation of the difference between Catholicism and Protestant denominations, the truth of the Church, and what Catholics and Protestants can offer each other. It's right after the halfway point, if you'd like to skip ahead.

"We are ritual, habit oriented people [. . .] If we do that so much,
doesn't it make sense that God would make that sacred?"

"Words mean something, and the problem with pop culture is it keeps
devaluing that meaning."

I've seen and heard Matt "perform" five or six times. Actually, perform is totally the wrong word. I usually cringe at terms like "worship leader", but in the contexts I've seen him, he's been exactly that, and excellently so. It's never the Matt Maher Show, it's always a genuine expression of praise that pulls the attention of all present right where it's supposed to be. As the kids say, this guy is legit.