Holy Week Poll

It may be a little early for this poll but here it is:

I'll be in church on . . .
check all that apply
Palm Sunday
Holy Thursday
Good Friday
Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday
All of the Above
I'm pretty much moving in for Holy Week
See Results

Over 500 participated in the Rite of Election in the Diocese of Little Rock

Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert prepared those coming into the Church at Easter with a condensed version of Catholic teachings and gave them a stern warning.

On Feb. 7, 8 and 10 the diocesan administrator led ceremonies in Fort Smith, Rogers and Little Rock for the catechumens who will be baptized and the candidates who will be received into full communion during the Easter vigil. More than 500 adults and children participated in the ceremonies with their sponsors and families.

Administrator asks at Rite of Election: 'So you want to be Catholic?'".

Remember in your prayers . . .

. . . all those who are preparing to enter the Church this Easter. With the Scrutinies having begun for those in RCIA and many making their first confessions pray that they prayerfully consider the promises they will soon be making as they are received into the Church.

There is an RCIA prayer list in the sidebar. If you would like to be added, or know someone you would like to add, please leave a comment or email catholicconverts.blogspot.com

#100 on the blogroll!

Let's welcome Marie at Naru Hodo. as the 100th member of the Catholic Converts blogroll!

Catholics Come Home

I came across a new website today called, Catholics Come Home.

The website contains tons of information that would be helpful to anyone seeking more information on the Catholic Faith.

From the website:

Catholics Come Home, Inc. is an independent non-profit Catholic apostolate that creates effective and compassionate media messages and broadcasts them nationally and internationally, in order to inspire, educate and evangelize inactive Catholics and others, and invite them to live a deeper faith in Jesus Christ, in accord with the magesterium of the Roman Catholic Church.

One initiative they have taken on is to create a series of television commercials. The first is available on YouTube:



Here are the other two:
Movie (very powerful)
Mix1

Welcome Samantha

Welcome Samantha at Homeskool Daize to the Catholic Converts blogroll.

Taking Back Vatican II

Blog number 98 on the blogroll: Taking Back Vatican II . . .

Lenten Devotions/Practices Question

Our last poll was before the start of Advent and we recently had a discussion question up about Confirmation names. So, I thought it was time for a new topic.

What are your favorite Lenten devotions or practices?

Please leave a comment here or if you like write a post on your own blog and leave a link.

Behold Your Mother: A Bouquet of Love to Mary from Her Children

The topic of Mary's role in our Catholic Faith has been discussed here before. It is a common point of struggle for converts. One of the best people at explaining Catholics' devotion to Mary that I've come across is Heidi Hess Saxton. She has created a new blog: Behold Your Mother: A Bouquet of Love to Mary from Her Children.

Also, be sure to check out Heidi's new book Behold Your Mother: Mary Stories and Reflections from a Catholic Convert which I posted about here.

Some catching up

My apologies to those who have emailed or commented about being added to the site . . . I'm slow sometimes.

Joyful Catholics at RECONnecting to the Truth and Under the Poetree share their conversion/reversion story.

Connecticut Catholic shares How I Came Home to Rome: My Conversion Story.

Catholic Ponderings is a new Friend of Catholic Converts.

And last but not least to join the blogroll is In Defense of the Children of Light.

2008 Catholic Blog Awards

The 2008 Catholic Blog Awards are accepting nominations beginning at noon CST on Friday, February 15 until noon CST on Friday, February 29.

I believe there are several blogs on the Catholic Converts blog roll deserving of a nomination so be sure to nominate your favorite.

Behold Your Mother: Mary Stories and Reflections from a Catholic Convert

I have had the privelege to read an advance manuscript of Behold Your Mother: Mary Stories and Reflections from a Catholic Convert by Heidi Hess Saxton and published by Bezalel Press. A revised and expanded edition of With Mary in Prayer, the book is expected to be available in time for Easter and Mother’s Day.

A true love story between a Mother and her Son, between the adopted children of God and their spiritual Mother, Behold Your Mother gives us a glimpse rarely seen into Mary’s life. At a time when many are confused by Mary’s role in salvation history and find it hard to connect with her through scant scriptural references, Saxton shows us Mary’s humility, love and devotion to our Lord, Jesus Christ, as mother, wife, homemaker and caregiver. Furthermore we are immersed in Mary’s joys and sorrows, not unlike our own yet ever more magnified by her unique closeness to Jesus Christ.

We see how Mary’s total abandonment to the will of God and her interactions with key figures in her life, and that of her Son, would have shaped and driven her stewardship of Gods most precious gift of Grace. By reflecting on Mary as a simple handmaiden and pondering what her thoughts must have been throughout her journey with Christ we are able to draw near our Blessed Mother on a human level as a basis for our spiritual relationship with her.

For those who embrace Mary as the Mother of God, and through adoption as brothers and sisters of Christ as their own Mother, Behold Your Mother is a wonderful prayer book filled with meditations and prayers sure to draw one closer to Christ by a deeper understanding of Mary’s total devotion to him.

For those who struggle to understand Mary’s role in our relationship with Christ, Saxton’s reflections draw clear Mary’s humanity. Each page points to Mary’s role not of deflecting glory from her Son, but rather of directing our praise to Him. Her station as perfect model for our devotion to Jesus Christ shines throughout Saxton’s writing.

A wonderful addition to your own library, Behold Your Mother: Mary Stories and Reflections from a Catholic Convert would make a great gift to those coming into the Church during this coming Easter season or to anyone struggling to understand the honor Catholics offer to Mary. It would also be ideal for Mother’s Day as it is a beautiful reflection of a mother’s love for her children and a child’s love for mother.

Be sure to look for Behold Your Mother: Mary Stories and Reflections from a Catholic Convert by Heidi Hess Saxton. You can pre-order and save by visiting Mommy Monsters Inc.

It must be Lent and Easter is approaching

Check out the keywords used to find this blog from the last couple of days. Notice a trend? It seems like "guide to confession and examination of conscience" and "confirmation names" seem to be popular searches lately. Click images for larger view.