GOD ALMIGHTY

THE CALL TO SERVE ~ CLICK IN THE CENTER OF THE SCREEN TO PLAY

CONVERSION

CONVERSIONS OF OUR HEARTS CAN HAPPEN AS QUICKLY AS ST PAUL FALLING OF HIS HORSE. SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN THAT WILL HELP US SEE THINGS MORE CLEARLY AND OUR HEARTS BECOME RENEWED. IF WE ALWAYS SEEK TO BETTER OUR LIVES, THEN WE HAVE TO BE OPEN FOR CHANGE, EVEN IF IT IS PAINFUL. CHANGE IS NEVER EASY BUT IT IS THE ONLY ROAD TO A BETTER LIFE.

CONVERSION OF ST PAUL READ HERE

CONVERSION OF HEARTS CLICK HERE

IN SEARCH OF HEAVEN

Dust and the Helix Nebula Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, Kate Su (Steward Obs, U. Arizona) et al.

Explanation: Dust makes this cosmic eye look red. The eerie Spitzer Space Telescope image shows infrared radiation from the well-studied Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) a mere 700 light-years away in the constellation Aquarius. The two light-year diameter shroud of dust and gas around a central white dwarf has long been considered an excellent example of a planetary nebula, representing the final stages in the evolution of a sun-like star. But the Spitzer data show the nebula's central star itself is immersed in a surprisingly bright infrared glow. Models suggest the glow is produced by a dust debris disk. Even though the nebular material was ejected from the star many thousands of years ago, the close-in dust could be generated by collisions in a reservoir of objects analogous to our own solar system's Kuiper Belt or cometary Oort cloud. Formed in the distant planetary system, the comet-like bodies have otherwise survived even the dramatic late stages of the star's evolution.

A JOURNEY TO HEALING

SEXUAL ABUSE IS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR ANY CHILD. THERE IS HOPE TO OVER COME THE PAIN AND TO FIND MEANING TO YOUR SUFFERING.

CLICK HERE

JOURNEY OF HOPE ~ From violence to healing

CLICK HERE

MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED FROM WRONG DOINGS OF OTHERS. PUTTING PEOPLE TO DEATH FOR THE EVILS THAT THEY HAVE DONE, DOESN'T BRING HEALING. IT HAS TO COME FROM WITHIN. I HAVE BEEN VIOLATED AND LEFT FOR DEAD YET I WOULD NOT WANT ANYONE TO BE KILLED FOR WHAT WAS DONE TO ME. WHY? AS LONG AS SOMEONE IS ALIVE, THERE IS HOPE. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD.

GOD'S DESIGN

WHEN WE LOOK UP IN THE DARK OF NIGHT AND SEE THE STARS THAT GO ON AND ON, AND THROUGH TELESCOPES WE CAN SEE BEAUTIFUL LIGHT PATTERNS, IT MAKES ME WONDER WHERE HEAVEN IS LOCATED. WE ARE ON A JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE THAT DOESN'T LAST AND IF WE FORGET ABOUT THIS, WE WILL BE CAUGHT UP WITH OUR EARTHLY THINGS AND NOT BE PREPARED FOR OUR LAST JOURNEY THAT WILL TAKE US TO WHERE NO ONE HERE HAS REALLY SEEN YET KNOWS EXISTS.

Planetary Nebula NGC 2440 Credit: NASA, ESA, K. Noll (STScI) Acknowledgment: Hubble Heritage Team (STScI / AURA)
Explanation: Planetary nebula NGC 2440 has an intriguing bow-tie shape in this stunning view from space. The nebula is composed of material cast off by a dying sun-like star as it enters its white dwarf phase of evolution. Details of remarkably complex structures are revealed within NGC 2440, including dense ridges of material swept back from the nebula's central star. Near the center of the view, the star itself is one of the hottest known, with a surface temperature of about 200,000 kelvins. About 4,000 light-years from planet Earth toward the nautical constellation Puppis, the nebula spans over a light-year and is energized by ultraviolet light from the central star. The false-color image was recorded earlier this month using the Hubble's Wide-Field Planetary Camera 2(WFPC2), demonstrating still impressive imaging capabilities following the failure of the Advanced Camera for Surveys.

DOMINICANS MARCH FOR LIFE

CLICK HERE

DOMINICAN DOG ~ PAX VISITING DEATH ROW

This is Pax, my dog for many years who is pictured visiting the inmates on death row at the Louisiana State Prison (Angola) where there is over 100 men waiting to die. There are over 2 million people in prison. What can we do about it? We need more rehabiliation programs. CLICK HERE

Do you have a therapy or Assistance dog that helps others?

New Community for the Deaf

Fr. Tom Coughlin, OP Miss, on the extreme right, has been deaf since birth. He had a strong calling to become a priest and joined the Dominican order yet found it difficult to live in an all hearing community. Fr Tom felt called to found a group of men who are deaf to become priests so they could minister completely to the deaf community. They are moving to the diocese of San Antonio and any support you can give them would be wonderful. The disabled are often over looked, not appreciated and often not accepted. We need people who have a disability and are not afraid to follow their dreams to encourage others to continue on no matter how difficult the road is. Their patron is Blessed Margaret of Castello. Web site of the Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf

BOLD LAMBS AMONG WOLVES BY Fr. Philip N. Powell, OP

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

SEVEN DISGUISES IN WHICH GOD CAN SEND HIS GRACES

Seven Disguises In Which God Frequently Sends His Graces
In the disguise of ingratitude from friends.
In the disguise of being misunderstood.
In the disguise of failure.
In the disguise of being dishonored.
In the disguise of sickness.
In the disguise of poverty.
In the disguise of our daily work.

Our Lord isn’t anxious for us to suffer so let’s not complain to Him any more than is necessary! He sees us in our misery and looks forward to our final victory. If we could only appreciate the great work He’s doing in preparing these crosses for us. - St. Thérèse of Lisieux

"The suffering endured for God are the greatest proof of our love for Him" - Saint Alphonsus Ligouri

THE OLD CLOISTER

FINDING HOPE IN AN OLD CLOISTER CLICK HERE

SAINTS WEREN'T PERFECT

Saints Weren't Perfect, Pope SaysClaims Holiness Is Something Everyone Can Learn VATICAN CITY, JAN. 31, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The saints are not people who never made mistakes or sinned, but who repented and were reconciled, says Benedict XVI. This fact is a personal consolation for the Pope himself, as he explained in today's general audience. Addressing some 6,000 people in Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father dedicated his weekly address to focus on three of St. Paul's closest collaborators: Barnabas, Silas and Apollos. The Pontiff explained that on occasions Paul had confrontations with them, at least with Barnabas, because of differences of opinion on specific questions. "Hence, also among saints there are oppositions, discords and controversies And this is very consoling for me, as we see that the saints have not 'fallen from heaven,'" the Holy Father said. "They are men like us, with complicated problems. Holiness does not consist in not making mistakes or never sinning," Benedict XVI continued. "Holiness grows with the capacity for conversion, repentance, willingness to begin again, and above all with the capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness. "And we can all learn this way of holiness."

SETTING GOALS ~ FINDING COURAGE TO OBTAIN THEM

Fr Augustine Tolton was the first black priest in the United States. He and his family were slaves. His father escaped, then went off to fight in the Civil War. Later his mother and the other children escaped, traveling a very long journey to get to the river to cross to freedom. It is a story about Augustine's faith in God, working in a factory much of the year, then for three months going to school. It was a time where blacks were oppressed, even in our churches, but Augustine maintain his faith in God. He wanted to be a priest. Several parish priests saw his goodness and started teaching him about God. Augustine wanted more. He started to clean the churches and help in any way that he could. The more he loved God, the more he wanted to become a priest to help his people. The parish priest and other priests started to help him more with his education. They too saw his potential of becoming a priest. They wrote to seminaries and religious communities to accept him but none would allow a negro to enter their communities or their seminaries.. but the priest would not give up his efforts to help Augustine back in the 1800. It was the church in Rome who accepted Augustine to come and join the seminary. Augustine left for Rome, traveling all alone, by trains, ships, horse and wagon to get to where he would study the priesthood. Knowing how hurtful people were to those of his color, he had great courage to follow his dream no matter what he would experience along the way. Augustine's life is a testimony to no matter how difficult our lives have been, we need courage to continue on no matter hard it will be to reach our goals and our potential in life... as Augustine did from going from being a slave to becoming a priest who was educated in Rome.

FR AUGUSTINE TOLTON CLICK HERE

A BOOK ABOUT FR AUGUSTINE TOLTON CLICK HERE

VIDEO ABOUT THE TOLTON STRUGGLES CLICK HERE

ARE YOU A GOOD SAMARITAN?

Small part of an article by fr. Timothy Radcliffe, o.p. the former master of the Dominican order.

An experiment was carried out in New York. A group of seminarians were asked to prepare a homily on the parable of the Good Samaritan, as part of learning how to preach. They prepared their texts in one building and then had to walk down the street to a studio, where it was recorded on video. An actor was dressed up as a wounded man lying on the pavement covered with blood, begging for help. 80% of them walked passed him and did not even see him. They studied the parable and even composed beautiful words about it, but they could walk by the wounded man and ignore him.

HOW CAN WE BE THE GOOD SAMARITAN TO HELP OTHERS THAT WE DON'T KNOW?

CLICK HERE FOR THE WHOLE ARTICLE

LITTLE BOOK OF HOPE

ARE YOU DEPRESSED? CLICK HERE

Life is tough. It is filled with injustices. It might seem that people don't care. I care. Look for places where you can find hope. Enclosed are a few articles that might encourage you. All things are passing. Have courage.

My little book of Hope has no pages. It is waiting to be written. Are there people out there wanting to write about Hope? There are people waiting to read about it. If we can save one person from killing themselves because they have lost Hope, then that is one person spared.

Click on the articles about Hope if you are in despair.

TAKE A MOMENT TO PRAY

Along my journey, I met many people who were suffering from long term abuse. I met people separated by war, some were able to escapee while others were unable to leave. There is over two million people in prisons, families who have been displaced, victims who were traumatized. There are children who are unwanted in all parts of this world with no one who wants them, especially the handicapped children. We who have so much choose to spend our money on things rather to make us feel better, but find no heart to help a poor child. Why are we so pulled away from helping others? By reaching out to others, we help ourselves. Take time and pray about your journey... where are you going with your life?

I felt so hopeless many years ago because I never felt I could recover from what happened to me. All those years being traumatized and what helped me through was my faith in God and to keep going on the journey even though I didn't think I could make it. So, I encourage you to keep going no matter how difficult it is to do so...

PATRON OF THE UNWANTED ~ Blessed Margaret

Blessed Margaret of Castello, was born blind, hunchback and one leg shorter than the other. Her noble parents were ashamed of her, locked her up for years in a cell in the forest, then abandoned her in the city of Castello, Italy where she became a beggar in order to survive. Later she was taken in by a family, became a Dominican then went out to help people in prison, and the unwanted. Click here to find more about Blessed Margaret. Pray for all those who are unwanted in this world that they might find hope.

THE BEGGAR SAINT Benedict Labre

Saint Benedict Joseph Labre had an unusal and difficult life. He was very poor and homeless but he became a saint which is God's way of showing that the ordinary who have nothing of their own can still focus their life on God and find hope for their life, NO MATTER WHAT RELIGION YOU ARE. click here for the life of St Benedict Labre.

ST CATHERINE'S HERMITAGE

St Catherine of Siena was torn between going out into the world to help the poor and living a contemplative life that was focused on the Lord. My St Catherine's Hermitage is a small retreat in the middle of town where I can be in prayer in a house of peace. It has a chapel where I go to pray.. where I can regroup again to go out into the world and help people. St Catherine of Siena was a person who was bold in her ways.. unafraid of standing up to Bishops who have lost their way, doing evil or hurting people by abusing their power. Even though I never thought I would become a Dominican and especially looking up to the life of St Catherine and Blessed Margaret of Castello the patron on the unwanted, I found that both their lives have encouraged my own vocation to continue on.

St Catherine of Siena

Blessed Margaret of Castello

~THE JOURNEY~ welcome

Everyone has their own journey that they are on and perhaps you would like to share your journey, too.

We might be on the same train which is taking us through this life as unique souls that we are.

Sr Paulina Quinn op