As we prepare for the Eucharistic Congress in 2019 you'd be hard-pressed to find a better read than the Encyclical discussed in the article here at the National Catholic Register!!! ...
Embracing our Deeper Mission
During the last several weeks, articles have been appearing here in the One Voice about the upcoming Diocesan Eucharistic Congress to be held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center (BJCC) on June 28-29, 2019. I am excited about this upcoming event—particularly because it can serve as both a “wake-up call” as well as an opportunity...
Roadmap to Discipleship (Eucharistic Congress and Beyond!)
“You can’t get there from here.” This comical line has been used in more TV shows and comedy sketches than you can count. But the phrase derives some of its humor from the reality that we all feel sometimes, that of being helplessly incapable of getting where we want to be or unable to...
Our Mission (Should we choose to accept it)
The word “Mission” or “Missionary” is one of those church-y words that calls up immediate mental images. A common word with what seems like an easy definition. Our Office of Discipleship and Mission website is “disciplesonmission.com” and there was a very intentional debate about choosing that specific name. What is a missionary, and what...
Disciplines of Discipleship:
Matthew 28:19 is one of the most often quoted and easily recognizable verses in the Bible. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I...
Why have a Eucharistic Congress?
This article first appeared in the One Voice.“…through the Eucharist!” These words are spoken often by Bishop Baker about the upcoming Eucharistic Congress. Any idea, any plan, any theme that has been mentioned is followed up with these words. While the Church is engaging in conversations about becoming better disciples, or how to better...
What is a Eucharistic Congress?
The first time I heard the term Eucharistic Congress was in the mid-1990’s. Someone was trying to refer to a commonly sung hymn, and he referenced it saying, “You know, the one from the Eucharistic Congress.” Well, I knew the hymn, but I certainly did NOT know the Eucharistic Congress. The phrase called to...
I Don’t Go To Church To Socialize
If you go around a Catholic diocese touting the value of small groups, discipleship groups, home groups, small Christian Communities, or whatever other vocabulary happens to be the phrase of the day, you are likely to come across this reaction: I don’t go to Church on Sunday for other people. I go to worship...
Are small groups a new fad?
One comment we’ve gotten a lot since beginning the conversation about making disciples through small groups here in the Diocese of Birmingham is: Small groups seem like a fad that is sweeping through protestant churches. It’s a phase that’ll likely fizzle out because it isn’t what we as Catholics have done for thousands of...