Catholic Watchmen

Being astute in Catholic leadership is vital for parents nowadays. The need also presents significant challenges when it comes to perusing, discerning and choosing what is intellectually healthy and of redeeming value for children.

Given the creation of parish-based Synod Evangelization Teams across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and the related May 20 Activated Disciple Seminar that drew more than 1,500 people to Minneapolis, I’m running into a good number of the faithful who are seeking to better understand what’s going on.

More than 5,300 pilgrims traveled with the same mind and spirit May 6 on the 10th annual “Walk to Mary” in eastern Wisconsin.

Reminding myself to live in the joy of Easter throughout the year may sound like a lofty sentiment and a daunting quest. Yet we are in Eastertide — giving me plenty of opportunity keep that attitude alive and create the fruitful habit of proclaiming the Gospel message of Easter joy at every opportunity God presents me.

Going through The Catechism in a Year podcast — thank you, Father Mike Schmitz — has been a fun and helpful daily activity for my wife (my best friend) and me, keeping both of us centered on what is true as taught by the Church through sacred Scripture and tradition.

The Lenten trifecta of fasting, prayer and almsgiving can lead to peace, solace and absolution through personal conversion and self-sacrifice — through love of God and love of neighbor.

Better to bear the trials and tribulations of life as crosses with a support system, rather than go it alone, and to celebrate triumphs in unity. While the pandemic curtailed many activities, including the annual Archdiocesan Men’s gathering, the conference is returning after a three-year hiatus.

Reading and discerning through Archbishop Hebda’s post-synodal pastoral letter to the faithful and how it necessitates “walking together” (synodos) via small group fellowship truly goes in lockstep with our Catholic Watchmen movement. I’m sure that many Christo-centric ministries, apostolates, guilds and gatherings — formal or informal — would agree and find that regular small group engagement has the power to sanctify, strengthen and solidify members or participants.