Francis has been Pope for ten years! People have been trying to put him in one slot or another.
I have been fascinated by the recent flood of articles trying to make sense of Pope Francis’ ten years.
How do you make sense of Pope Francis?
Mindwalk Podcasts: Latest posts and thoughts...
Jesus – the Ultimate Bridge Builder
Over a lifetime, we each learn the stories of where we fit and don’t fit, and who are our good and bad guys. Sadly, at least in the eyes of God, for most of us, it is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid the trap of building walls instead of bridges.
A picture of polarization today?
Two images, a “Wise Old Woman” and a “Beautiful Young Lady” merge into one picture.
In this Vincentian Mindwalk explore with me what this picture can teach about deep polarization today.
Abortion – There is No Doubt…
Pope Francis leaves no room for doubt about where he stands on what abortion. He has been unambiguously clear that the humanity of an unborn child must always be protected. Will we win the pervasive threats to life in a “throw-away culture”?
I Predict the Synod will…
The Church has just begun a three-year process focused on not only truly listening to each other. We are called to listen to the Holy Spirit whose view spans all of time and eternity. Most visitors to Vincentian Mindwalk are aware that Pope Francis is playing the “long game”on reading the signs of the times today just as Vatican II did in the mid 20th century. I predict … at least 3 simultaneous “synods”!
Do we need a reset?
Over the next three years of the “synodal process”, Jesus is asking us to gather in the upper rooms of our homes, dioceses, countries, and finally in Rome. To respectfully wait for and listen to the Spirit speaking not only to our hearts but in the hearts of our sisters and brothers. He is asking us to walk together.
Playing the Short Game Or the Long Game?
Jesus could have handed out copies of his encyclicals – the Sermon on the Mount, Beatitudes, the Our Father. Rather, he gave us his preaching as guides to understand the next stage of the journey of the Body of Christ to discover the fulness of eternal life in God!
How Can You Disagree With the Pope… and others?
The church is a family, “God’s people”. Family fights are the worst. But disagreements are part of any family or community. Suppressing them leads to frustration and dysfunctional behavior. Our goal must be to be reconcilers, not dividers.
Pope Francis Wants To Hear From You!
The Synod is “intended to inspire people to dream about the church we are called to be, to make people’s hopes flourish, to stimulate trust, to bind up wounds, to weave new and deeper relationships, to learn from one another, to build bridges, to enlighten minds, warm hearts, and restore strength to our hands for our common mission.”
Is “Our Father” a Challenging Prayer?
God willing, after all this, we will think no longer in terms of ‘them’ and ‘those’, but only ‘us’” (No. 35).
For this reason, I have wished to devote the Message for this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees to the theme, Towards An Ever Wider “We”.
Pledging a “Better Kind of Politics”?
Pope Francis calls us to “build a better kind of politics”. The USCCB suggest almost a “12 step program” for building community as envisaged when we truly commit to what we pray for in the “Our Father”.
How a “Street Sister” Opened the Eyes of a Gifted Collegian
We are all called to fan into flame the idealism of youth. Sr. Rosalie calls us today to be mentors by our example as we walk among the least of our brothers and sisters.
Which Labor Day Are You Celebrating?
Is Labor Day the last hurrah of summer? The weekend to catch supposedly fantastic sales? A recognition of the dignity of work? It is all that and more!