May we joyfully prepare our homes and hearts for the reception and celebration of the Bethlehem event.

The Good News

The Farm Sanctuary

www.farmsanctuary.org

The FARM SANCTUARY began in 1986 and has worked tirelessly to promote legal and policy reforms that promote respect and compassion for farm animals.

As stewards of the earth and its creatures, we have a responsibility to the humane treatment and care of all animals. Our domestic animals especially! They are the ones that have been cultivated to trust humankind, remarkably so in many cases, their inter-connectedness with their caretakers being a powerful bond.

Farm animals, like our domestic household animals, do get abandoned, abused and neglected. The FARM SANCTUARY rescues and adopts out, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, pigs, chickens...etc., which you can imagine is an amazing under-taking!

Perhaps one of their biggest tasks has been their advocacy of farm animals to the United States Department of Agriculture and the American Veterinary Medical Association. The Farm Sanctuary has been the leader in raising awareness to inhumane practices in factory farming.

During this Christmas season, in honor of the farm animals that surrounded our Lord at His birth, we are bringing awareness to organizations that advocate for better stewardship of these creatures.

Please consider supporting the FARM SANCTUARY and their fine work!

Inspiration Blooms

Meditate on the Holy Family

~by Sister Marie Rene, S.S.J.

Sister Marie Rene exhorts us to meditate on the Holy Family and the presence of God "with us" in a most holy perspective.

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Father Ron's Column

When Was the Last Time You Skipped?

~by Father Ron Camarda

Father Ron invites you into your childhood past and sharing a moment of childlike glee that might be worth a try again...or not! You decide. In either case, your spirits will be lifted!

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In the Key of "G"

Advent is a Time of Preparing

~by Mary Galvano-Bajohr

Mary reflects on the music of the Advent season and answers a few questions about what we hear at Mass this time of year. Christmas music? She has some great insight into the sounds of the Church's Christmastide season.

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Artfully Speaking

Encore of Paintings As Prayer

Rick and his wife Susan are finishing up the huge move to their new home and are caught up in a multitude of logistics...the least of which is internet connection. So this week, we encore one of Rick's great columns, Painting as Prayer.

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Susi's Commentary

A Time of Preparation

~by Susi Pittman

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Invite Susi to Speak

Susi Pittman, author and founder of CatholicStewardsofCreation.com is available to speak to your school, club or organization. *

She loves sharing her passion and love for the creatures of this world with her audience! Susi is about saying "yes" to God when it would be easier to say no! She is about teaching others how to see the created world through the eyes of a dedicated steward, as God's "stand-in." She is about believing that you can do anything you want to do and enjoy getting there, heartbreak and all! If it is the challenge of change, Susi helps people rise to the occasion with all the vigor and enthusiasm that serving God as caretakers demands in this wonderful life.

For booking information, please call (904) 735-5979 or email susi@catholicstewardsofcreation.com

Currently scheduled to speak at Incarnation Church, Sarasota Florida, January 25, 2011, 7:00PM

Steward Alerts

Visit the Video site of our friend FATHER JEFFREY MICKLER

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Vatican to Broadcast Christmas Masses

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Catholic Advent and Christmas Traditions

Steward Activities

For the children, we recommend: THE ANIMAL'S CHRISTMAS EVE by Gail Wiersum

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Catholics: How to bless your Christmas Tree

Organic Gardening

We recommend Organic Gardening Farming Magazine published by Liam McDonald. Sign up for their beautiful OGFM digital magazine at www.organicgardeningfarming.com

CLICK HERE to view Susi's article in this month's issue, "Garden Harmony" (page 22)

Wellness & Nutrition

Surviving Holiday Weight Gain

This is the time of year when family, friends and colleagues share a whole lot more than just casual conversation...it is the season of wonderful food and festive holiday drinks. Surviving the season without weight gain can be a veritable road of pot holes...if not a little "pot belly."

We recommend this article from the Cleveland Clinic of the Miller Family Heart & Vascular Clinic, to make your Christmas season a happy healthier experience!

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Stargazing

Christmas Greetings to the Astronauts

Would you like to send Christmas greetings to the Space Station? How about a Christmas TWEET? NASA invites you to their site to do so.

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Share a Link

Starlight: The Sheep of Hillside Sanctuary

CLICK HERE to watch a story much like Bambi, and a happy ending that will have you cheering.

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"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men of good will"

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The eternal question, "Why did the chicken cross the road?" has perplexed humankind for centuries. I just spent ten minutes talking with the chicken and I have the answer. Unfortunately, by request from the chicken, I am not at liberty to share it with humankind.

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