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

Solitude

I didn’t feel the need to write a blog post this week after reading this post by my long-time friend Dr. Jared Bryson last week. Jared hits upon a key theme for myself lately - seeking solitude and space to reflect and create - as he writes, In Praise of the “Hermit Life”: Solitude, Leadership, and the Extrovert Ideal. I heard from some of you last week, responding to my note about reflection and discernment, and have a feeling Jared’s post might resonate with you too.

Read Jared’s post

Interesting Stuff

I was surprised recently when meeting with a couple for marriage preparation. They commented that they had both gone through eight years of Catholic schools but didn’t really leave with a solid memory of learning about Sacraments beyond Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. They were coming to a new understanding that Marriage is a Sacrament and that’s why they’re coming to the Church for it. That was a light bulb moment for me. If the Sacraments our youth remember are the ones they were the most formed for, how do we ensure they also gain an imagination of the other Sacraments (Sacraments of healing: Reconciliation & Anointing of the Sick; Sacraments of service: Matrimony & Holy Orders)? That came to mind when I saw this Pillar article about The Invisible Vocations Crisis.
Men: Have you ever felt a call to service as a deacon? There’s going to be an information session for a new deacon formation class starting in our diocese. The session is on Sunday, September 7 after the 10:00 Mass at our Cathedral in Springfield. If you’d be interested in going, let me know. You can read more about the diaconate in our diocese (including a video with yours truly) here.

We’re bringing back the Royal Run 5K & 1K Fun Run at St. Elizabeth this November. Read more and sign up.

Liturgy, Feasts, Memorials, & more

Thursday is the Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot & Doctor of the Church.
Friday is the Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope.
Saturday is the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This Sunday’s Mass Readings

This Sunday is the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time. Here’s a link to the Scripture readings for Holy Mass., and here’s a 2 Minute Homily #2MinuteHomily: