St. Ann's Parish of Quincy, MA

I can't say enough good things about the work Fr. Michael Drea has been doing with the parish of St. Ann's in Quincy, MA; especially with the young adults of the entire Quincy area. Theology on Tap is a program which he has brought to Quincy featuring speakers and a relaxed atmosphere at Bad Abbott's in Quincy Center. Last fall Kaitlin Keane of the Patriot Ledger filmed a Youtube video with Fr. Drea to discuss the value of Theology on Tap especially amongst the young adults of the Quincy, MA area.

My fiancee and I have been fans of Fr. Drea since we first met him as Deacon Mike at our hometown church. We left that parish because of college and recently moved back to the area and began attending St. Ann's in Quincy, MA and became reacquainted with Fr. Drea. Incidentally Fr. Drea we have chosen to say our Wedding Mass this winter and love his insight into the Lord.

Fr. Drea and Fr. Ronaghan (Pastor of St. Ann's) are doing truly great work keeping the church alive and full. Along with two retired priests who have come back to help in this time of need, Fr. Matachio(?) and Fr. Cutler they bring a new life to the Parish each day.

I am lucky to be part of this parish community and even though I live about thirty minutes away and pass at least five parishes on my way, St. Ann's is my home.

Pre-Cana and Vacation

It certainly has been sometime since I last posted and I apologize. I have been having a few very busy weeks. Here is a slight recap.

May 17-18 was Pre-Cana. A very deep weekend where my fiancee and I spent getting closer than I thought was possible. We delved into every topic that should be discussed prior to marriage, and found we are truly ready for each other and to not only choose to love each other for all time but agree on so many other topics, including finances and how to raise children, which we are very much looking forward to. The folks at the Espousal Retreat Center in Waltham, MA were incredible and the other engaged couples we met were sweet and hopefully we made some lifelong friends.

Then it was off on a family vacation with her family to New Hampshire. I love spending time with them, I feel so welcome and truly a part of the family. Her brother just came back from overseas and we also included her aunt and uncle, which was great.

We spent a few days relaxing, reading, and canoe-ing on the lake there. The only downside for this urban boy was the bugs, but even they weren't so bad. We were able to spend a lot of quality time together and continue to delve into the Pre-cana subjects that we started. All in All a fabulous few weeks.

I should be getting back to more daily postings from here on out. Sorry again to my readers who have missed me. I missed you guys too.

Pre-Cana or Marriage Prep

I have just finished the most spiritual retreat of my life, this weekend at the Espousal Center in Waltham, MA. My finance and I spent the weekend delving into our relationship through the marriage prep course and I am filled with such joy and closeness to my gal, I don't know what to do right now. I am also celebrating our first year anniversary tonight and loving life and loving God for giving me these blessings.

We met the greatest couples this weekend and were truly blessed to have great team couples to help and give marriage prep presentations all weekend. I can't imagine what it would have been like if we tried to enter into the sacrament of matrimony without this great course to help guide us deeper into a more committed relationship.

Thanks be to God

Preparing to Celebrate the Pentecost

As we Catholics celebrate the greatness of Pentecost Sunday and we remember the glory that has come to us, we must be mindful of the demands that God has made. God the Father of all and through Jesus Christ the Son and by the Holy Spirit, we are...

You can complete that sentence in a million ways for all things are from God, whether it is free will or divine sacrifice, we are simply because God either directed or allowed it. We owe Him everything and therefor have a responsibility to that gift. We are responsible to pay Him back, not in monies and work, but in everything, for everything is of God.

This is not to say we must pay the church, though without our monies the church will find hardship, it is to say that every decision we make we must consider what the Lord God has given us. We must make every effort to thank Him for His gifts to us. We must remember the charge he has given us.

Jesus said whomever thirsts and drinks of Him, they will not thirst. This isn't to say we don't need water to, but if we believe and accept Jesus into our lives we will no longer be empty. We are God children and He will nourish us, not with food and drink but with the Holy Spirit. He will give us that which we need. God said to Moses that the Israelites would be a Holy Nation and Jesus opened the doors to all who accepted Him. We therefor are members of the Covenant of Moses and must obey God's commandments. We must also do as Jesus commanded.

It isn't an easy life if you don't believe, but if you have the knowledge of Christ, whom is the truth personified, then it is easy. It is your soul at stake for none enter the Kingdom but through the intercession of Jesus Christ. And Jesus gave the power to decide to His Apostles on earth. It is through His Church that we are shown the way to the Father and through the Church that we are allowed to have our sins forgiven. Jesus gave this power to certain men whom have been allowed to pass on this gift through the Holy See. We are able to be joined to the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments and should dutifully obey the law of God.

I look forward to celebrating the Mass of Pentecost Sunday and remembering the early church and its great sacrifices as well as the great gifts of the Holy Spirit that God sent through Jesus to earth.

Another Theology on Tap

I spent last night learning the basics of advancing parish stewardship at Theology on Tap in Quincy, MA. The speaker, gave a rousing speech about the fundementals of stewardship. She explained the difference between parish stewardship and what can be best expressed as tighthing. The Catholic view on stewardship goes more to being responsible with your decisions because everything we receive is a gift from God.

I like listening to her speak, I wish she had been more explicit with her answers to some of the questions but in all it was a good night.

The final speaker in the session of Theology on Tap at Bad Abbott's in Quincy, MA is going to be speaking on the feminism of the Catholic Church as started and nurtured by Pope John Paul II. I will write more details later but I am certainly looking forward to this night.