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About John C Connell
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Blog postHey there, did you hear what the pope said now?
Have you ever had someone see you coming and begin a conversation that way? If people know you’re Catholic, I bet your answer is yes, of course.
Pope Francis yet again set the secular press (and world) on fire last month, with news of the release of a documentary showing the pontiff expressing his opinion on the need for same-sex civil unions. As problematic as that is, it didn’t take long for both the media and social content cr -
Blog postToday the Church celebrated St. Bartholomew, referred to as Nathanael when first introduced to Jesus. He was given an amazing compliment by the Lord when told he had “no duplicity in him”. It’s ironic that the man with no duplicity has two names. I suspect however that Jesus gave him the name Bartholomew like he gave Cephas the name Peter. I’ll have to read up on that.
So Bartholomew was a straight shooter. Here in Texas, we love guys who won’t BS you. But how awesome it must’ve been -
Blog postIndependence Day weekend 2020 was unlike any other national birthday celebration in my life. I sat and stared out the front window at our flag a lot as it jumped and swayed in the warm Texas breeze. For the first time it felt like the holiday wasn’t uniformly treated as such.
I started jotting down some truths that I feel should always be self-evident, but that occasionally need to be repeated for the benefit of others. So for my kids sake, I collected my thoug -
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Blog postIn December of 2014, while most of us were preparing for Christmas, a lone man in Nigeria knelt in prayer. His country was torn and terrorized by insurrection and senseless violence. Both the circumstances, and the lives lost, weighed heavily on his shoulders.
The man was Catholic Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme, and where he prayed was his chapel in front of the Blessed Sacrament. That day, as he knelt before the exposed Eucharist, he experienced a miraculous vision of Jesus Christ, standi -
Blog postSince our news industry is obsessed with fear and negativity, you may not have seen this amazing story recently about one man’s incredible generosity. A couple months ago NPR posted a short story on a man who intentionally led a frugal life, so he could leave millions to children’s charities after his passing. (LINK)
Alan Naiman was a social worker and a foster parent. You could surmise from his choices and lifestyle that he was both called and equipped to serve children.
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Blog postWe dragged ourselves out to Mass Tuesday morning. In case you missed the memo it was a Holy Day of Obligation, The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. We were tired after a long night but happy to be together. In Texas, even those who do not want to stay up late ringing in the new year tend to lie awake half the night, due to the non-stop neighborhood firework displays.
The Mass was uneventful, except for the music which seemed too slow for a New Year’s morning, when we are thinki -
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Blog postI always say nothing beats a good confession! The big do-over. The soul carwash. The prodigal returning – again. However you think of it, the ability to truly restart with a clean slate is one of the gems of our faith – and one of God’s greatest mercies!
And every great confession begins with an examination of conscience, which we are getting to.
For Catholic Professionals willing to embrace the Sacrament of Reconciliation (either for the -
Blog postClerical sex, abuse, scandal and outrage are the words on the tip of every practicing Catholic’s tongue lately. The sickening revelations that a highly influential American Cardinal is also a serial homosexual predator, that sexual crimes have been perpetrated, even cultivated, in various American dioceses for decades and that the hierarchies of both America and Rome have been supposedly “in the know” for quite some time, have detonated a seismic eruption felt across the Catholic world. &nbs
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Blog post“His mother said to the servers, ‘Do whatever he tells you’.” – John 2:5
There are many reasons to love Mary. As followers of Christ, we hold her up as the symbol of humility and service. She is the perfect role model for devoutness, quiet strength and steadfastness. Her story is of a woman not seeking the spotlight, but only the will of God. That cooperation with the Holy Spirit led her to become the first disciple, while her Lord was still in her womb. It also led her all the -
Blog postSaint Mother Teresa of Calcutta is one of the most noteworthy Catholics in modern history. Mention her name and images of a small, frail and elderly nun comforting the sick, holding children or kneeling in prayer come to mind. But this little woman was also an inspiring entrepreneurial spirit, a passionate and driven voice for the needy to world leaders and a titan of management!
When we think of people changing the world, many innovators and captains of industry spring to min -
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