Tuesday @ LunchMusings from Deacon Michael Halbrook for your Tuesday lunch time

Starting Things

I’ve been pondering the mentor who once said to me, “I finally figured you out. You’re a starter. You start things” a lot lately. I blogged a bit about that last year (read it here), and I’m finding that theme continue pretty significantly.

Last week I shared about the work I’ve been putting into writing and starting Emmaus Disciples. Read more about it - Emmaus Disciples.

At the same time, I continue my day job, keeping our part of the Adobe Consulting team always pushing Adobe’s own marketers forward in their use of our newest digital marketing & experience solutions as quickly and effectively as possible.

I’m also close to launching an idea I had a handful of years ago (right around the time I was ordained): an online community of and for deacons from around the world, and an interview-style podcast with and about other deacons - an oral history of the diaconate, if you will. As I’ve started to reach out to deacon friends to invite them to be a part of it over the last few weeks, the enthusiasm has been exciting!

Finally, God has put a whole new thing to “start” in front of me. Read more about the priests who came to dinner last Friday night and what happened.

Our Youth are starting things too!

Back on Saturday, July 26, I was thrilled to see so many of our youth show up at the kickoff outing of their year with Young Disciples Society. Some of the high schoolers have put together a great plan for the year, including meetings, events, and prayers & reflections to share with their high school peers and our younger teens in 7th & 8th grade. Their next gathering is this Sunday. All from 7th grade through high school are welcome. Read more.

Interesting Stuff

Today is our Bishop’s birthday. Happy birthday, Bishop Paprocki!
Pope Leo shared some thoughts with those gathered for the digital creators and online influencers gathered in Rome last week. Read a report here.
In an interview, the incoming director of the Vatican Observatory talks about how faith and science can work together, and names three emerging scientific fields that merit the Church’s attention: advancements in protein structure (through AI), climate change, and artificial intelligence. Read more.
The Miami Archdiocese has been able to start to offer Mass and offer pastoral support at “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida. It is good that those being detained there again have access to pastoral care and the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.

Liturgy, Feasts, Memorials, & more

Quite the lineup this week! Founders, Doctors of the Church, and more…

Today is the memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the oldest basilica in the West dedicated to the Mother of God.
Tomorrow is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (forty days before the feast of the Triumph of the Cross.)
Friday is the memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest (founder of the Order of Preachers. Thanks be to God for the Dominican Sisters who ran our grade school and helped raise us!)
Monday is the memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin (disciple of Saint Francis who founded the Poor Clares.)