July 2014
Planting the Seeds of Faith
gardening

Faith is an integral part of our lives; it is interwoven into everything we do. Summer is a great time to refocus on faith, fellowship and fun.

The way we live our daily lives communicates our faith to the world around us. The choices we make, where we spend our time, what we value � all reflect our commitment to the Christian life. Sometimes we are called to explain lovingly what we believe or speak up on behalf of the poor and vulnerable. Summertime � with its slower pace and (usually) beautiful weather � offers us ample opportunities to share our faith with our friends, family and community. Bring a flower to an elderly person in your neighborhood or share a glass of lemonade with a struggling friend. God�s love surrounds us!

God bless, Heidi Busse

prayer
Independence Day Prayer

Thank you, God, for our country.
In the United States we have opportunities to go to school, to work and to play the games we like to play.
Most of all, we are able to pray to you, Lord.
Today and every day, help us to take care of our country and make it a better place for all people to live.
God Bless America!
Amen.

Church Sign Wisdom

Father Skluzacek

If you�re taking a road trip this summer, pass the time and the miles with a �church road sign contest.� Whoever notices the best (or wittiest) saying on a church sign, wins. Here are some spiritual nuggets that have been seen across America:

1. A clean conscience makes a soft pillow. 2. Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous. 3. Do your best and then sleep in peace. God is Awake. 4. Forbidden fruits create many jams. 5. He who angers you, controls you. 6. If God is your Co-pilot -- Swap seats! 7. Kindness is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back. 8. This Church is "Prayer Conditioned." 9. We don't change the message, the message changes us. 10. God answers "Knee Mail."

Untangling the Catholic Web
By Sarah Reinhard

Catholic web

Thanks to the Catholic world online, I could find other Catholics who not only shared my state in life, but also my enthusiasm for the Faith. It became a special kind of community.

Chances are you�re no stranger to the Internet and that you have some favorite Catholic sites, too. I�ve found, though, through my work both locally in our small parish � and through nationally speaking and writing � that many Catholics just don�t know what�s out there. The world of Catholic content on the Internet is an ocean, not a stream, and like the ocean, it has many hidden depths.

So let�s dive in, shall we?

Discover a large collection of quality Catholic web sites!

Featured items
evangelization

To be a Christian is to be an evangelizer. The good news is you can evangelize -- and Scott Hahn shows you how.

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merciful life

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vbs girl

Weird Animals VBS
Lauren was tired of being called "weird" at school, but after Weird Animals Vacation Bible School her outlook changed as she realized that God loved her no matter what! Click on her picture at left to hear her story.
Learn more at vbs.osv.com

July 3 - St. Thomas
July 14 - St. Kateri Tekakwitha
July 22 - Mary Magdalen
July 25 - James the Greater
July 26 - Joachim and Anne
July 29 - Martha
More about these saints and feasts

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