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In a new episode of ‘Health and Holiness’, I talk about Lent and my quest for balance between being and doing, between listening and talking, between prayer and work.
Saint Joseph, whose feast the Church celebrates on March 19, is an inpiring model during these first weeks of Lent.
Links: Website | Feed | iTunes
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
On Saturday and Sunday, March 19 & 20, PopCap will donate all its proceeds from the sale of iPhone and iPad games to the International Red Cross for their ongoing relief efforts in Japan.
During these two days, all PopCap iPhone/iPod touch and iPad games are up to 70% off.
Plants vs. Zombies is one of my all-time favorite games for the iPad, and was highly recommended by Mac Barron in the podcast Catholic in a Small Town and by Nick and Pat in their show In Between Sundays.
Among the other games on sale to support the efforts of the Red Cross in Japan are Bejeweled 2, Bookworm and Peggle. Fantastic games that I still play all the time. Highly recommended!
Here is the full list of PopCap Games on sale for Japan:
iPhone / iPod touch: $0.99
iPad:$1.99
On March 19, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saint Joseph. In a blog post on Patheos.com Pat Gohn reminds us why Joseph is such an important saint.
The Catholic Church has long-venerated Joseph for this single, powerful idea: it was into Joseph’s hands that God entrusted his most precious treasures—his Son Jesus, and Mary, his holy mother. As Mary and Jesus are entrusted to Joseph, so too, does the Church, entrust itself to Joseph’s active patronage and paternal protection, as Patron of the Universal Church.
You can read the blog post by clicking here: Joseph’s Way
In this week’s episode of The Secrets of the Hobbit, Fr. Roderick and Dave discuss the differences between Tolkien’s books and the film adaptations by Peter Jackson. Should the movies duplicate the books, or can they add layers of interpretation? Biblical narration, musical performances and movie adaptations of famous books might have a lot in common.
Also in this episode: Gandalf, the dwarves and Bilbo team up for the first time during rehearsals in New Zealand; filming in 3D; the relationship between Tolkien’s books and Peter Jackson’s movies and the possible return of Legolas.
Links: Website | Podcast Feed | iTunes
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
By Kathleen Setina-Herbert
If you’re anything like me, time is a precious commodity. If one of your promises for Lent is to make more time for prayer in your life, I would highly recommend the U.K. Jesuits’ Pray-As-You-Go podcast.
Pray-As-You-Go is not a thought for the day, a sermon or bible study, but rather a framework for your own prayer. The sound of cathedral bells invite you in, giving you a moment to quiet your mind. Then a short musical presentation from the monks of Pluscarden or Glenstal Abbeys, the Community of Taize or the Westminster Choir further bring you into a prayerful state. Sometimes a contemporary piece or the south African male choir group Ladysmith Black Mambazo change it up a bit.
Then listen to a short scripture reading along with questions for personal reflections pertaining to that scripture. Given this framework, talking to God in your own words is made easy.
Available in iTunes, or at their website http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/ allows download as an MP3, WMA or as a .zip file to your device. Or listen on-line.
Pray-as-You-Go allows you to listen to and reflect on God’s word, grow in your relationship with God and become more aware of his presence in your life. All in 12 minutes a day. Who says promises are hard to keep?
One of the strong themes in the final book of the Harry Potter saga is that of Forgiveness and Redemption.
In a new episode of ‘The Secrets of Harry Potter’, Jim Beeghley, Fr. Roderick, Lyn Francisco and special guest Denise Roper look at how several main characters find redemption through forgiveness in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’.
Links: Website, Podcast Feed, iTunes
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Wonderful to have you back! Great to hear Fr. R back on the panel.
In recent weeks, I have connected with many great bloggers and other media users through social networking. One of them is Chris Williston. I came across his name while taking a look at the new Austin Catholic New Media Group website.
Before that, I had actually already seen Chris’ name on Facebook through “People who you may know” in the sidebar and also on Twitter through “Who to follow”.
Chris told me about his blog, This Pilgrim’s Progress. “This Pilgrim’s Progress is a collection of honest contemplations from a pilgrim on the journey of faith. As a former Protestant minister and theologian, my writing reflects a man digging into the light and mysteries of the church, putting them into conversation with the everyday realities of life.”
I myself have struggled in faith, and have found Chris’ blog to be very inspirational and encouraging. If you get a chance, I strongly encourage you to check it out at http://thispilgrimsprogress.com and if you’re interested, you can also check out Austin Catholic New Media group at http://www.austincnm.com/
You can follow Chris on Facebook and on Twitter:
Do you have any favourite pilgrimage sites that you have visited? Please feel free to comment below.
In the February 14 episode of the America Magazine Podcast, “A Catholic Broadcaster,” veteran broadcaster William F. Baker talks about his long career at WNET, the flagship public television station in New York, and how his Catholic identity nourished him in his work.
Drawing on his relationship with Cardinal John J. O’Connor, he also offers some lessons for the church on how to deal with the secular media.
The America Magazine Podcast is published weekly and features interviews with the editors, writers and friends of the magazine. The podcast is hosted by Tim Reidy.
Links:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Did you ever want to know more about the Catholic Faith? If you’re already a Catholic, perhaps you want to enrich your knowledge about certain topics. No need to go farther than your computer screen at http://www.CatholiCity.com
This is a rich site which includes a Statement of Belief as well as Principles of Conduct and offers many types of media on a myriad of topics. Whether you’re in the market for a CD to listen to on your daily commute or to download to your device, a Catholic novel to read, current Catholic News & Commentary as well as a Resource section, it’s all here.
Here’s a small fraction of what’s offered:
CD’s and MP3′s:
Catholic Novels:
News & Commentary
Literally hundreds of Catholic writers on current, searchable topics and opinions, including Culture & Politics, Faith and Morals, Family Life, Reviews, History, Pro-Life matters and more.
Resources
This is a fraction of the Resources list, but it includes: EWTN, USCCB (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops), Mass Readings, Voters’ Guide, Catholic Baby Names, Our Sunday Visitor, and (do I dare I date myself like this?…) The Baltimore Catechism just the way you remember it.
And lest I forget, be sure to sign up for The CatholiCity Message. About once a month you’ll receive an entertaining, sometimes surprising and oftentimes quirky message containing commentary, reviews, jokes and unique information from its vast network of resources. Trust me, they will not share your email or personal information.
Note: The Mary Foundation offers the CD’s and downloads free of charge, but an optional donation is always welcome. St. Jude Media offers its three novels for free as well, but also accepts donations. Shipping is free in the United States.
On a personal note, one of my first forays into Catholic New Media was to this website. I ordered the CD from the Mary Foundation of The Rosary/Divine Mercy Chaplet. It also includes common Catholic prayers and a short history of the rosary. I had wanted to order one for my sister-in-law as well, but the company does not accept referrals. In other words, they won’t bombard anyone with material which that person has not personally requested. Nice. So I ordered two and sent one to her.
I installed the rosary recitation onto my iPod and sometimes fall asleep listening to the beautiful voices drawing me into prayer. Somehow I know Mary doesn’t mind if I fall asleep before completing the entire rosary.
So what are you waiting for? The Catholic Church Simplified is only a few mouse clicks away.
As always, I welcome your comments.
Thanks for the tip. I’ve never heard of it before.
Great resources!
The special Facebook and YouTube pages dedicated to the memory of John Paul II previously announced by the Vatican are now live.
New videos will be added to the YouTube channel on a daily basis. Both video and (subtitled) audio recordings will illustrate the pontificate of John Paul II year by year. The YouTube page can be found on this address: http://www.youtube.com/johnpaul2
The Vatican already had an official YouTube channel, with videoclips of talks and activities of Pope Benedict XVI: http://www.youtube.com/user/vatican
In a news report on Vatican Radio, the Vatican calls the Facebook Page concerning John Paul II in view of his Beatification “a novelty”:
“Unlike other initiatives already present on the Internet in various forms, initiatives by private individuals not associated with the Holy See,” the new Facebook page “carries the joint signatures of Vatican Radio and of the Vatican Television Centre. It has been approved by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and is, of course, open to all users of Facebook.”
“The general objective is to accompany the course of the Beatification using the instruments technology makes available, making full use of the resources at our disposal and, at least in part, of the vast documentary archives held by Vatican Radio and the Vatican Television Centre.”
http://www.facebook.com/vatican.johnpaul2?sk=wall
Already more than 16,000 people ‘liked’ the new Facebook page; a number that will probably grow considerably over the next few days.
I think we need to carefully consider this new trend — that in an attempt to build “place” among those “living” on the open network we hath christened “web”, we enter a narrow side eddy of the major highway, Facebook. Does Facebook’s operational model have our best interests at heart? Should the new evangelization co-opt itself to work through, with, and in, its sub system where issues of privacy and profiling are perhaps even more an issue? Should we bother setting up outposts or portals within the Facebook template to draw people out to “our place” or just evanglize there? Can we do both? Can our poresence on Facebook, as on the web in general, be effective in drawing people into real communio with man and God outside of the virtual domain?
I have my doubts. Facebook stats show that 56% of Face-people prefer to commune and interact within the virtual realm. The rise of SecondLife and similar alternative e-social and e-sexual worlds challenge not just the media missionary’s tools but also his approach — how far into the machine (and its culture) can we go before Christ’s message is massaged by the delivery mechanism itself — the media is the massage, in McLuhan-speak. What should our virtual cathedrals, our media mission houses, look like at this point? Are they on a solid foundation or shifting sands? Do we as Catholics have enough spiritual momentum and credence within the e-population to be heard when we caution against the excesses and abuses of people gorging on the social networking fest when we sit at table? Are SYSOPS, those mysterious system operators who drink diet coke and know to turn dials and throw switches to make the black box whirl and buzz, are they sworn to secrecy? Did we forget, or no longer care, that intimacy requires privacy? Why is this blend of gemeinschaft (intimacy) and geselschaft (anonymity) potentially dangerous for the common weal and for souls?
Just some thoughts that came to mind reading your article.
pax
Anton
Lora, and 
jeff are discussing. 
Cristina D is discussing. 
Lora 12:19 am on March 22, 2011 Permalink |
The windshield worked beautifully. Excellent sound quality. Have you ever tried focusing prayer as a method for relieving physical ailments? I’m trying to learn more about it because I suffer from neck and jaw pain when I’m stressed, and I realize I’m doing this to myself. Maybe a topic for a future podcast.
jeff 4:13 am on March 20, 2011 Permalink |
Sounded GREAT! No wind noise whatsoever!