The Family In God's Plan

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Christian family is a communion of persons, a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit. In the procreation and education of children it reflects the Father's work of creation. It is called to partake of the prayer and sacrifice of Christ. Daily prayer and the reading of the Word of God strengthen it in charity. The Christian family has an evangelizing and missionary task.

Text taken from Theology of the Body

One of the reasons I started this blog was to further my understanding of the Catholic faith. I have recently been looking at and having to focus on the dynamics of our family. So what better time than to check out what the Catholic Catechism had to say about the Christian Family.

Picture of the Holy Family taken at St. Sebastian in St. Sebastian Ohio. This is a repost of this picture but I found the window like so many that I find in need of some restoration. So I gave it a little help. Left click the picture for a Great View.

Jesus Walks on the Water

In Matthew chapter 14 we have three stories. The beheading of John the Baptist, Jesus feeding the 5000 and the one here shown in stain glass -- Jesus walking on water.

Matthew 14:22-36
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

Picture of stained glass window taken at St. Jacobs Lutheran Church, Anna Ohio.

Immaculate Conception Church (Stations of the Cross) Botkins Ohio

The Church had a great set of the Stations of the Cross. These were large bronze reliefs lining the side walls of the sanctuary. I was able to photograph all of them from about the same distance and in the same light. Wow, that hardly ever happens. I like them in Black and White but the bronze doesn't look bad either. I was planning on posting all 14 stations but somehow I missed one. Just another excuse to go back I know....Once I do manage to get all 14 look for "A Way of the Cross" post featuring them. Not sure if I will go with Black and White or the Natural Bronze. I went with BW on the collage because I was having a problem getting the bronze to match in all the pictures. The collage is made up of the last six Stations of the Cross. The pictures are not major crops as you will see pictured below these pictures are just minus the frame. After looking at them some more I think the Bronze is growing on me.



Yep, definitely going with the Bronze. (After a Little More Careful and Selective Editing).

Immaculate Conception Church Stained Glass Windows (Botkins Ohio)

I thought I was very fortunate to capture this reflection of the light coming through the stained glass windows onto the floor and pews. I just love it when am able to get an artistic shot.

The stained glass windows in this church are the first modern ones that I have seen. I myself like the detail you find in the multiple glazing's of the more traditional windows. However, they do fit the art and decor of the church. They are very simplistic and mosaic in design.

All the Windows were of saints as shown in the below three collages or Christian symbols as you can see on the back wall on both sides of the full portrait of Mary in the last picture.

You can left click on any picture to get a much larger view.



Pictured below are Saint Bernadette and Our Lady of Guadalupe.



Next we have La Salette the 1846 Mary apparition in France. This may be the two children to whom she gave her message and Our Lady of Fatima.



Pictured below are Saint Simon Stock on the left and Saint Dominic on the right.





Related Links:
Saint Dominic
Saint Simon Stock
Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Saint Bernadette
Our Lady of La Salette

Immaculate Conception Church Easter Altar (Botkins Ohio)

While on my way back home from taking pictures of the Radio Maria broadcasting tower in Botkins I came across the Immaculate Conception Church in Botkins. The church was built in the 60's and is very modern. The church was decorated for the Saturday evening Easter Vigil and Sunday Easter Morning Service.

While this church is not on the National Historical Registry and not listed as one of the churches in The Land of the Cross Tipped Churches, I find it a very fitting church to include here.

I found it to be a beautiful place of worship. All though I must admit I find myself becoming increasingly partial to the old style architecture and art of the Roman/Gothic Churches that first drew me to this project.



Look for more post on this beautiful modern church through out the upcoming week.

He Has Risen Indeed

In churches across the world this Easter the cry will go up, "He has risen!" and the answer will echo back, "He has risen indeed!" In a world facing death from disease, hunger, neglect, war and natural disaster what more relevant message could there possibly be than this, "He has risen!" In a world more alienated from its spiritual roots than ever what more appropriate cry could go up than this, that "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ." May you know his grace and may this Easter be a blessed time as you "Look and live" because "He has risen indeed!"

If you left click on the picture for a larger view you can easily see the angel sitting at the entrance to the tomb in the background. I first heard this at my first Easter Sunrise Service and it has stuck with me ever since.

Picture of stained glass window taken at St. Remy Church Russia Ohio. Text from Reachout Trust Web Page.

Radio Maria (A Christian Voice in Your Home)

I found Radio Maria quite by accident as I was scanning for something to listen to on the radio. There are currently two stations in the Western Ohio area. WHJM in Anna went on the air in May of 2006 and the newest station, WULM in Springfield has been on since May 31 of 2008. The Call Sign WHJM stands for "With the Hearts of Jesus and Mary". You can imagine my surprise to find that Anna had a radio station. Now of course if I was Catholic there is a very good chance I would have known that. The radio station is promoted through the local churches. But when I heard 88.7 FM Anna, Ohio I just had to stare at my radio and say to myself did I hear that right.

Of course I had to Google it when I got home. Between Google and my conversation with John Koening the Ohio Operations Manger (Yes, I called the radio station), I found out the following:
The transmitter / antenna was located in Botkins. They were leasing the old AT&T tower. The radio station was licensed to Anna Ohio. (Makes no sense to me.) The local headquarters and broadcasting studio is in Minster

John invited me for a tour and I was more than happy to show up with my camera. There I met John and one of the volunteers that helps keep the station running named Ernestine. Pictured here is John explaining how the transmitter works and Ernestine who is a dear and a joy to talk with, working on a Bible study. John is also an amateur photographer and there is a good chance we my hook up for a picture outing.

The radio station was actually started in Milan, Italy for the local parishes in 1983. By 1990 it had grown to cover all of Italy. By the year 2000 the radio station was broadcasting from over 30 countries and opening up shop in the United States. Alexandria, Louisiana was the first station to broadcast in the U.S. and became the headquarters for all American broadcast. Anna and Springfiled Ohio were added in 2006 and 2008. For more details about this Ministry be sure to check out these related links:

Radio Maria
Wikipedia Radio Maria
Wikipedia WHJM





The following prayer is called the Radio Maria Prayer and was composed by Pope John Paul II.

"Mary, guide us in our major decisions and give us strength in times of trial so that we may, with humble courage, follow the hidden ways of Heaven, keeping faith with God and mankind so that we can bring the joyful message of Christ, the Savior, to the hearts and minds of all. Mary, guiding star of evangelization, be with us. Be with Radio Maria as guide and be its protector."

You don't have to be near a transmitter to listen to Radio Maria. You can catch it on the Web at www.radioamaria.us.

Sunday's Comin' (Video)

I have been a fan of this ever since I first heard "It's Friday but Sunday's Comin". I was surprised and happy to find it on You-Tube. It inspires me every time I hear it.



I had another post that was named this that was getting hits by people looking for this video. I have since changed the name of that post because I thought it was misleading. I did have the video as a feature at the bottom of the posting section when I first found it at the beginning of Lent but pulled it because I thought it made more sense to post it closer to Good Friday. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

The Family of God (An Answer to Prayer)

It's the phone call or in this case the text every parent dreads ("Your child is hurt"). My wife text me instead of phoning because she knew I was in a meeting and while I probably wouldn't answer the phone, I might sneak a peek at a text. I flashed the message to the person who was sitting next to me and said I have to go.

In my haste I forgot that my wife had dropped me off at the meeting. So I'm scrambling around the parking lot looking for a car that isn't there. Of course I feel stupid once I remembered, but all I could think about was my son being rushed to the ER. I could of just ran back into the meeting and asked for a ride, but I don't know if at that point I was too embarrassed to do so or my mind was still muddled with concerns about my son. Instead I took a brisk walk to the ER. It's a small town and the hospital wasn't far. I made it in less than 10 minutes. Note I said brisk walk not run. No need for both of us to be in the ER.

My son had just arrived and had just came to. He had been out/unresponsive for over 20 minutes. He was groggy and not very coherent. All kind of wild thoughts were running through my mind on what could be going on with my son. In the long run after a battery of test including a spinal tap. We knew nothing. The good news was that Nothing BAD showed up in the test. The frustrating part was nothing conclusive showed up either.

The short story and good news is all is well with Tyler. We are chalking-it-up to a nasty virus and lack of proper rest. However during the course of his stay in the ER an amazing thing happened. When I arrived I was greeted by the former pastor of a church my son had recently visited and done some youth activities. Tyler's name had gone out on a prayer chain before he even made it to the hospital. The former pastor was joined by the current pastor and his family and a youth worker and several youth from the church. Five of Tyler's Classmates were there as well as a teacher. Our own youth pastor rounded out the list. The response of the Family of God to my son's illness was overwhelming.

I am thankful to God and the people He has put into my son's life and for their many prayers. I am positive they are what led to his speedy recovery.

Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:1-23 (NIV) That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear." The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"

He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Check out this link on a great article by Dr. Marcellio D'amrosio "Farming the Seeds of Faith". The Parable of the Sower and the Seed - a Double Meaning

Wikipedia Link Parable of the Sower

Picture of stained glass window taken at St. Jacobs Lutheran Church Anna Ohio. You can left click the picture for a larger view.