Sunday Sermon, October 25th -- Catholic Teaching on Immigration (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)

 "You shall not molest or oppress an alien."  Exodus 22:20

The readings cause us to reflect upon immigration which, although not as essential an issue as abortion or religious liberty, is still something to consider in our times.

There are two principles Catholics must hold:  1. People have a right to migrate in order to support themselves and their family.   2. Governments have a right and duty to secure their borders and require immigrants to fulfill certain duties to the State.

Far too many Catholic leaders (and most Catholic Bishops) only speak of the right to migrate and the compassion that ought to be show to immigrants, but almost completely ignore the duty of nations to secure the boarders and regulate immigration.

Adult Faith Formation, Flannery O'Connor, October 22nd, Session 6 -- A View of the Woods, and The River

 Discussing the short stories of Flannery O'Connor, we read this week the stories A View of the Woods and The River. The series will continue into November.

Adult Faith Formation, October 15th, Flannery O'Connor, Session 5 - A Good Man is Hard to Find, and Essays (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)

In this series, we are reading various short stories of Flannery O'Connor. This week, we look at what is probably her most well known and praised story - "A Good Man is Hard to Find." We also consider her reflections on being a Catholic Novelist in the Protestant South.

Sunday Sermon, October 11th -- God is Inviting You to Mental Prayer (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)

The parable of the king who held a great feast and invited many guests, ultimately bringing in the bad and the good alike, stands for the invitation that the Lord makes to each of us for a deeper spiritual life and even contemplative prayer.

 Let no one say, as the ungrateful townspeople of the parable who refused the invitation, that they are too busy for the Lord.  You are invited to a deeper life of prayer! God demands that you become a great saint!  It is by mental prayer, more than anything else, that we become good.

Outline of mental prayer: 1) Introduction, recognize the presence of God and decide on the mystery for mediation.  2) Considerations, consider the love God has shown for you in this mystery of Jesus' life and offer your love to him in return.   3) Conclusion, offer God your petitions and especially ask that you be saved.  Be sure to make a concrete resolution for how to grow in holiness this day.

High School Youth Group, October 4th - The Catholic Response to Atheism - Session 1, Introduction (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)

 In this opening session, we review the class calendar for the year and discuss the theme of this year's youth group: The Catholic Response to Atheism.

Adult Faith Formation, October 4th, Flannery O'Connor, Session 3 -- A Temple of the Hoy Ghost and The Enduring Chill (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)

 In this week's class, we discuss the two most Catholic stories of Flannery O'Connor: A Temple of the Holy Ghost, and The Enduring Chill.

Sunday Sermon, October 4th -- Voting as a Catholic (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)

 Catholics do not vote as Catholics - we are divided along the same lines as any other group of Americans.  However, when we look to Catholics who self identify as "accepting all or most of Church Teachings" (that is, when we look to faithful and devout Catholics), these are far more likely to vote for Trump than for Biden, and have voted for the Republicans more than the Democrats in recent elections. Why is it that devout and faithful Catholics will vote for Trump?

Biden and the Democrats are this year far more pro-abortion than every before. And the Democrat party has alienated pro-life voters. The Democratic Party proves themselves to be focused on the one issue of "abortion rights".  Joe Biden has made it clear that, according to him, a vote for Biden is a vote for abortion.