Tag Archives: #allaboutthegrace

Contemplative prayer group offers community and solace

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By Brigid Curtis Ayer

Carmel—Silence is hard to come by in today’s noisy world, but not for those who attend a tri-weekly, contemplative prayer group at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, in Carmel.  Silence drives the experience of encountering Jesus.

Barb Gryna, who created and leads the prayer group, says the format draws together a small group seeking peace and conversation with God. The group’s genesis provided a way for Gryna to deal with her anxiety and depression and support others suffering with it. Gryna say one need not have depression or anxiety to attend, the group welcomes anyone who seeks to deepen his or her relationship with God.

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Cuperino Aviation Club takes flight and faith to new levels

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By Brigid Curtis Ayer

Noblesville— The Cupertino Aviation Club takes flight and faith to new levels as it expands its scope in a club relaunch effort this fall.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel parishioner, Tom Beckenbauer, founder and president of the Catholic Aviation Association, said the local Cupertino Aviation Club, allows him to combine his passion for flying and his Catholic faith. “It’s a way that I can pass on all that God has given me to others.”

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Loaves and Fishes Ministry chair “Sees Christ” while Serving others

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Father Ted Rothrock (in black) is flanked by St. Elizabeth Seton Loaves and Fishes ministry leaders. Father Rothrock blessed the many bags of donated food. They loaded into the trucks destined for the Merciful Help Center.

Carmel–Susan McIntosh, chair of the Loaves and Fishes ministry at St. Elizabeth Seton parish in Carmel says she “sees Christ in the people” she serves. The St. Elizabeth Seton food outreach ministry recently conducted its Blue Bag food drive.

Loaves and Fishes ministry partners with the Merciful Help Center at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel to collect food, restock the pantry, and help clients ‘shop’ at the food pantry located on the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel campus on 146th street in Carmel.

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Miraculous Moments–Out of Gas

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Miraculous Moments–Out of Gas

Story submitted by Monica Jones, San Francisco, CA

Last summer, I made a road trip to a friend’s house that lived about 30 miles away. I had good directions, but soon realized I was lost. What was even worse was I was just about out of gas. Yikes!!! I was totally lost, no where near civilization or a gas station. I couldn’t even get a signal on my cell

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A Pope and a President

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Speaker highlights Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan’s alliance to Defeat Evil of Soviet Communism

By Brigid Curtis Ayer

The parallels of their lives were uncanny. The comradery and mutual affection they shared was genuine. Their alliance, undeniably, toppled more than the Berlin Wall, and the Cold War era, but perhaps forever changed the international, political, and moral landscape for ages to come.

Paul Kengor, New York Times bestselling author, offered his timeless and little-known insights into the relationship of Pope John Paul II, and President Ronald Reagan, during a recent presentation in Carmel, IN. These stories are outlined in his 600-plus page book, “A Pope and a President.”

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The State’s Interest in Marriage

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traditional_marriage

State’s Interest in Marriage

The state has an interest in marriage. Marriage, in a secular sense, is for the purpose of perpetuating citizens, civilization and taxpayers. Marriage is the institution that bonds the mother and father together to care for their offspring so the state doesn’t have to. Putting religion and the recent constitutionality of same-sex unions aside, the state has a very important interest in marriage between one man and one woman, in a permanent, monogamous union. The logical reason supported by history is marriage across time and culture creates order and stability in society. 

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“Cone of Silence” Prayer Works for Me

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All About The Grace –Perspectives on Faith, Culture & Media Savvy

Do you remember the “Cone of Silence”? Think Nickelodeon TV, MeTV, or if you are old enough, perhaps you recall it from your after-school television viewing.  If you are not familiar with it, the “Cone of Silence” is a device used by good guy Control agents from one of my favorite 1960’s television comedy spy shows called Get Smart. The main characters, the Chief and Maxwell Smart, also known as Agent 86, attempt to have “top secret” conversations inside a plastic double dome that appears from the ceiling at the press of a button. The scenes where this “silent” chamber is used for private conversations results in exaggerated speaking and listening. It’s hysterical. You see, the gadget rarely works as designed rendering the characters virtually mute to each other. Subsequently, it requires shouting so they can be heard. This exercise hardly accomplishes the desired goal of a “top secret” conversation, to prevent the bad guy organization, known as Kaos, from getting wind of their plan.

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Bounce Back

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Learning how to bounce back in today’s world offers Christians a strategy for success when trials arrive.

As part of my prayer time, I listen to Father Al Lauer’s “Daily Bread” radio broadcast.  I also read the “One Bread, One Body” booklet reflection on the daily Eucharistic readings for the Mass. Father Al, founder of Presentation Ministries, a lay apostolate under the Archbishop in Cincinnati, and a personal friend, died in 2002 of cancer. While I miss him very much, he wrote and taught prolifically. He produced hundreds of pamphlets, videos and audios.  His materials offer rich and challenging insights. Teaching in union with the Magesterium of the Church, Father Al unpacks the complex in simple language.

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“God can make a Message out of a Mess”

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This summer I had the opportunity to meet Kelly Schaefer and hear her heart-wrenching, yet incredibly inspirational story. It really got me thinking about how I would handle her situation if it had been mine. One the one hand, it makes me think that with “God All Things are Possible”, because Kelly really makes that Scripture quote real, in that she really has overcome so much with perseverance, and ultimately God’s grace–made all things possible.

To say  I was blown away by Kelly, might be an understatement. I came away from Kelly’s presentation with four reactions. First, I have to honestly say, it help me put my own “trials” in perspective. Another thought I had was wow, even with my strong faith in God, I’m not sure how I would handle becoming a quadriplegic over night. Third, it made me appreciate even more the gifts I have been given. And, finally, it challenged me think about how well I am using my gifts for God’s glory.

If you are ready to read an inspirational story, I invite you to read on. And I’d be interested to hear your thoughts and reactions to Kelly’s story.

Blessings,

Brigid

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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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