From blogger Roma Waterman:
Not everyone experiences Easter the same way. For some, it’s a table full of family and laughter. For others, it’s serving in church, pouring out...
In an interview before his passing, Centering Prayer pioneer Fr. Thomas Keating shared his thoughts on dying to encourage others to engage the “small deaths” of contemplation:
Most of our troubles are in the brain. Those are the habits of thinking that are unquestioned, or that have been habits of years. When the brain dies, all of the background material and context, or the unconscious [and other] influences, everything is gone. So for the first time in our conscious life, we can make a ...
The Church traditionally celebrates the birth of St. Joseph on May 1 and this Jubilee Year, the Church honored him and all workers in early May. As the patron saint of workers, St. Joseph symbolizes the dignity of ...
When we say that God is ineffable, unsearchable, unknowable, we are perhaps trying to express the notion that we can never reach the full depth of God’s love – somehow, there is always more to God’s love than what we’ve already uncovered. This is perhaps why there is always a yearning associated with ...
As we celebrate Mother’s Day, let’s reflect on this beautiful prayer (edited for length) from Education for Justice, a project of The Ignatian Solidarity Network.
Let us rejoice in Mary, our mother and sister, and know her presence at our side as she once stood at the side of her Son, Jesus. May she...
Contemplative practice is our best attempt to allow ourselves to be fully seen and known by God. Therein lies one of the great challenges of contemplative practice, as we are well-conditioned to hide our wounds – the fear...
Earth Month has drawn to a close. Let’s continue to be good stewards of the health of our planet and its inhabitants. Did you know that only 5-6% of plastics are recycled (regardless of what the container might say)? Most of it ends up in ...
The Way Toward Easter
In this time of conflict and violence,
When so many are armed and angry,
We walk with the peacemakers,
on the difficult road toward peace.
In this time of mourning for ...
Seek out a new (or not so new) acquaintance’s story [for Lent]. When we hear the narrative of someone else’s life, we learn fresh ways that God moves through our lives and connects all our stories to God’s own. And, when we become closer to a person by knowing more about them, the door of our heart opens a bit wider, and we catch a new glimpse of God’s image....
As stewards of God’s creation, we must do our part to improve the health of our environment and its inhabitants. While recycling is very worthwhile for metal, glass and paper, at least 91% of all plastic will end up being buried, burned, or in our oceans and waterways.
We can shift away from our throw-away culture by...
Create something [for Lent]. You don’t even need formal materials for this. Gather what’s near at hand, give thanks for these supplies, and wait for them to present themselves to you in new, combined forms. This kind of prayer allows us to celebrate the goodness of the created world and get a glimpse into the divine imagination...
In a March 17, 2025, statement, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) cited estimates that the number of undocumented persons living in this country who came as children exceeds three million. For a majority of these Dreamers, the ...
The MMOC Contemplative Core team invites you to an exploration of the foundations of Christian life:
Living the Trinitarian Life -
A Dance of Love
presented by Deacon Bob Smerek
Join together with Deacon Bob as we examine the meaning of the life of the Trinity, and discuss practical applications of the Trinitarian dynamic for daily living.
Two sessions will be held:
A Lenten "Dance" on March 29, 2025, 10-11:30 AM...
As has been noted in our weekly bulletin, the movie “Romero” is being shown Sunday afternoon, March 23, at 3:00 p.m. in the parish hall. Archbishop St. Oscar Romero was...
A group of nine U.S. bishops will lead a nine-day prayer service for migrants and refugees in an online series from March 14-22, overlapping the feasts of St. Patrick and St. Joseph, traditionally observed by Irish, Italian, and Polish immigrants...
Laura Stephens Reed of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship offers more suggestions for entering into contemplation during Lent:
Move your body. Sometimes I am most amenable to the Spirit’s whisperings when I am moving just enough to quiet my mind. Walking or repetitive motions often ...
Last week, MMOC parishioners distributed a booklet about Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU) and their work during 2024. MMOC is a congregation member, along with over 30 area congregations of many faith traditions. MCU identifies its core issue work: environmental justice, campaigning to ensure equal protection from environmental and health hazards; breaking the ...