Faith in God Helps People Cope with Depression

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By Brigid Curtis Ayer

Faith in God helps people cope with depression.

The objective is not to overcome depression, but to learn how to live in and through depression says Father Michael Hoyt, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel parish in Indianapolis, who offered a recent workshop on depression and spirituality.

Hoyt, who suffers from depression and helps counsel others who struggle with it, said it is in our brokenness that we are able to taste the goodness and love of God and receive love from other people.

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Time Management-God’s Way

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Who has the time? I used to ask this question all the time!!

About a year ago, I found myself completely stressed out and doing WAY too many things, yet, at the same time I felt I was NOT doing enough. I wondered how this was possible. While this had been going on for years prior, I finally decided something had to change.

While I’m an eternal optimist with a can do spirit, (which got me into the mess in the first place) I now realize I was simply taking on too many things simultaneously. Looking back, I realize that running a business, supporting a family with a traveling husband, and working as a freelance writer for two active clients along with caring for three school age children and two active Labrador retrievers, well, it was too much! I concluded I was saying ‘yes’ to too many of the wrong things, and then being stuck saying “no” to things that I really wanted to have time for. Things that God was really calling me to.

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Icons: Windows to Heaven

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Icons Draw us into the Divine Presence

(Video: Catholic News Service)

By: Brigid Curtis Ayer

Icons are frequently called “Windows into Heaven” for through them, one gets a glimpse of the spiritual world. For Ed and Alice Clifford, parishioners of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, icons give them a focal point in which to pray. Mr. Clifford said he began his journey towards using icons in prayer during various visits to the Calaldolese Benedictine Hermitage in Lucia, California in1996 where he went for a retreat.

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Freedom in Forgiveness

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Mysterious Freedom Gained by Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a mysteriously freeing action both on the giving and receiving end. I think about my own capacity to forgive and to receive forgiveness. It’s a challenge at times!

How often do we rewrite the parable of the Prodigal Son to fit it into our narrow perception of God and His mercy? Maybe it’s hard for us to accept that God really means what He says when we listen to the words of Jesus, “I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).

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Assisted Suicide Not the Answer

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There is a movement in the United States to legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) in all 50 states. Below is a perspective on Physician-Assisted Suicide that is not often heard, but one worth considering.

Also, below the video is an article I wrote on a proposal to legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide in Indiana. Yes, that’s right, in Indiana. Thankfully, it failed. The article has a lot of really troubling facts about how PAS is used in other states and countries of which most people are completely unaware.

I’d love to get your thoughts and comments on the video and article.

Blessings,

Brigid

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Human trafficking advocate highlights Hoosier epidemic, offers help for survivors

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By: Brigid Curtis Ayer

Human Trafficking not Just an urban problem, but affects the rural areas of the Midwest

FISHERS— Human trafficking of girls as young as 12-years old happens every day right here in Indiana.  Megan McGuire, advocate who works with female survivors of sex trafficking ages 12 to 17 years old, highlighted the horrifying reality of sex trafficking in Indiana saying “it’s happening here in our own backyard.”

The March 23, presentation took place at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Fishers, Ind., at the invitation of pastor, Father Dan Gartland. Gartland became aware of the problem through the town of Fisher’s taskforce on mental health on which Gartland serves as a member.

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Lawmakers consider adding Abortion Reversal Pill to Indiana’s informed consent law

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By: Brigid Curtis Ayer

ABORTION PILL REVERSAL MAY BE ADDED TO INFORMED CONSENT LAW

INDIANAPOLIS—An Indiana House committee heard a bill to expand Indiana’s laws regarding informed consent for abortion to include information on nonsurgical, abortion pill reversal. The Indiana Catholic Conference supports the measure.

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Take up your cross daily and follow Me

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Gospel Reading LK 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?”

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The Cross and the Light creator shares conversion story

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By: Brigid Curtis Ayer

CONVERSION LEADS TO CREATING A MUSICAL PRODUCTION

CARMEL—The Cross and the Light (TCTL) creator, Kelly Nieto, shared her conversion story and her call to share the good news through a modern, high-tech production of Christ’s passion, resurrection and descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Nieto’s presentation at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Jan. 19, drew a large group of parishioners and others who came to hear her witness.

The Cross and Light is an international, critically acclaimed musical and multi-sensory video experience of Christ’s Passion, Resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. The production is an authentic biblical proclamation of the greatest love story of all time which is based in the Archdiocese of Detroit, but has spanned out to as far as Australia. The Gospel extravaganza production comes to Carmel High School on March 10-12, 2017. The performance is being sponsored by eleven parishes in the Carmel deanery.

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Nine Days for Life Prayer

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Would you like to make a significant difference? Would you join me in prayer for nine days for life?

Thank you in advance for your participation and your prayers.

CLICK HERE for the details.

9 Days for Life is an annual period of prayer and action focused on cherishing the gift of every person’s life. 

Surrounding the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children*, the overarching intention of the centerpiece novena is the end to abortion.

However, the novena also highlights many other facets of respecting each other’s God-given dignity, especially by respecting human life at every stage and in every circumstance.

9 Days for Life is an opportunity to:

  • PRAY for the respect and protection of each person’s life;
  • GATHER together in prayer, action, and fellowship with others;
  • SHARE your stories online!

*Typically observed each year on January 22 (also the anniversary of Roe v. Wade), the 2017 observance will be January 23. More information.

Source: USCCB

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