Book Review: Holy Goals for Body and Soul

Holy Goals for Body and Soul: 8 Steps to Connect Sports withGod and Faith
by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki with Joe Paprocki
Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 2013

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, is a hockey-playing, marathon-running bishop known as the “Holy Goalie” by those he plays hockey with.  In keeping with the Ignatian idea of “finding God in all things,” he wrote Holy Goals for Body and Soul to inspire teens and young adults to find the spiritual in the world of sports. 

Bishop Paprocki focuses on eight key lessons that can be learned from sports and applied to life and one’s relationship with God:  overcoming fear, dealing with frustration, coping with failure, developing fortitude, cultivating faith, valuing family, forging friendships, and having fun.

Writing in a conversational style, Paprocki shares stories from his own experiences as well as inspirational stories about others. He offers concrete advice for living a faith-filled life while taking care of one’s body at the same time. 

While this book is geared towards young people, those a little further along life’s path, especially those who are athletes, will appreciate the lessons as well. 

Lent with St. Francis, Wednesday of 2nd week of Lent

We must hate our lower nature with its vices and sins; by living a worldly life, it would deprive us of the love of our Lord Jesus Christ and of eternal life, dragging us down with it into hell. By our own fault we are corrupt, wretched, strangers to all good, willing and eager only to do evil, as our Lord says in the Gospel: Out of the heart of men, come evil thoughts, adulteries, immorality, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, shamelessness, jealousy, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these things come from within, from the heart of man, and it is these that make a man unclean.(Mk 7:21-22) - St. Francis, Rule of 1221

Lent with St. Francis, Tuesday of 2nd week of Lent

Remember the word of our Lord, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you (Mt. 5:44). Our Lord Jesus Christ himself, in whose footsteps we must follow (1 Pet. 2:21), called the man who betrayed him his friend, and gave himself up of his own accord to his executioners. Therefore, our friends are those who for no reason cause us trouble and suffering, shame or injury, pain or torture, even martyrdom and death. It is these we must love, and love very much, because for all they do to us we are given eternal life. - St. Francis, Rule of 1221

A Reminder about Diocese of Springfield Catholic Women's Conference

I promised I would plug this on a regular basis, especially since I will be working the CatholicMom table with featured presenter Lisa Hendey (this will be the first time I ever get to meet her, even though I've "known" her through the internet for ten years):

Save the date and register today! Lisa Hendey, the Founder and Editor of www.CatholicMom.com and the author of three books, including The Handbook for Catholic Moms and a regular radio guest and the host of the television program "Making the Grade", is coming to Western Massachusetts for the Diocese of Springfield Catholic Women's Conference on Saturday, April 26th, 2014.

Other featured speakers include:

Sister Eleanor Spring, who was born and raised in Springfield, entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield in 1964 and will be celebrating her 50th year as a member of this religious community in 2014. She os employed by Western Mass Regional Women’s Correctional Center as Group Facilitator. She acknowledges that working with incarcerated or post-incarcerated women is her passion.

Kerry Weber is the managing editor of America, the national, Catholic, weekly journal published by the Jesuits.  Kerry  worked as an associate editor for Catholic Digest magazine before moving to New York City, where she earned a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2009.

To register: Women's Conference Brochure

Lent with St. Francis, Monday of 2nd week of Lent

It is well for those who die repentant; they shall have a place in the kingdom of heaven. Woe to those who die unrepentant; they shall be children of the devil whose work they do, and they shall go into everlasting fire. Be on your guard and keep clear of evil, standing firm to the last. - St. Francis, Rule of 1221

Holy Week Vocation Retreat at Daughters of St. Paul

For Single Women ages 18 - 35

April 16 - 21, 2014

Mass, Community Prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, Silent Retreat Day, Conferences, Apostolate Experiences, Sacred Triduum, and Easter Celebration.

Contact: vocations@paulinemedia.com or daughtersofstpaul.com/vocations

Lent with St. Francis, Saturday of 1st week of Lent

We must refer every good to the most high supreme God, acknowledging that all good belongs to him; and we must thank Him for it, because all good comes from Him. May the most supreme and high and only true God receive and have and be paid all honor and reverence, all praise and blessing, all thanks and all glory, for to Him belongs all good and no one is good but only God (Lk. 18:19).