As a family we're up every morning at 6am to work out at the YMCA. As there are eight of us, I've been hounding the kids to take shorter showers - as I'm last.
So, this morning I commented on how nice it was to have some warm water yesterday. The older two boys shared with me that our youngest, Dominic - age 6, without letting me know, took a cold shower so I could have some hot water. It's 25 degrees outside!
So often I'm so moved and inspired by the nature of God's self-giving love alive in my kids... most of the time anyways. This one goes a long way! ----------------------------
PLEASE SHARE YOUR SHORT STORY that inspires with the sense of God alive in families. Go HERE to post. (We may contact you about featuring it.)
LIVE IT: THE MISSION is to invite families on the great adventure of discovering our identity / mission and Living IT. We Image the Trinity (Get IT?).
Gracie is our 8 year old firebrand. Every day she kicks out little creations that affirm her love for various family members. While I always appreciate these, I made the mistake a few days ago of suggesting that we would soon need to rent a storage facility.
The next day I awoke with a certain heaviness about some things. While getting ready for work, I was struck by at least three, beautiful "Gracie's creations" - a real "pick me up" that so clearly expressed God's loving heart, and the gift of His prolific love so alive in her.
So, of course, the first thing I did was found her and shared all this with her- encouraging her to keep that loving heart flowing. She jumped up and gave me a big hug and, flashing her big brown eyes, simply said unfazed, "Dad, you didn't think that would stop me, did you?"
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PLEASE SHARE YOUR SHORT STORY that inspires with the sense of God alive in families. Go HERE to post. (We may contact you about featuring it.)
LIVE IT: THE MISSION is to invite families on the great adventure of discovering our identity / mission and Living IT. We Image the Trinity (Get IT?).
Friendship is the desire of every human heart- to be in meaningful communion with others, beyond obligation. The Holy Spirit abides in families drawn together in friendship. Such friendship is anchored in God who is Himself a Communion of Persons, the very definition of LOVE - as each Person constantly pours Himself out for the other. This is what IT’s all about: Image Trinity. In Him we discover who we are, what we are to do, and are flooded with supernatural grace to be IT.
What does IT looks like?An entire community being transformed in Love.
Dynamic retreats and events. Engaging television and radio programs showcasing families Living IT. Dynamic resources. Integration through web and social media. Dynamic integration and partnership with Eucharistic communities.
When families discover their identity, they get IT more and more, and become a vital basis for extending IT to other families in need. Imagine-- PreCana, Marriage Encounter and other programs not being an end, but an initiation into a vital community- one grounded in friendship, and fully integrated into local parishes, but accepting that vitality comes from the “living it out” beyond church walls... leaven in the world.
This vision is already happening. Here in Erie, Pennsylavania we are a growing network of families united in friendship and committed to a common vision and mission... a desire to be more deeply formed by our Image of the Trinity, and to live out the implications of that identity.
We are a light on a hill.
Under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Blessed John Paul II, our dream to build a large family retreat on the water here in Erie, as a warm, welcoming, prayer-filled environment for vital family-transformation in our own area, and as a spring board to the rest of the country... including publications, radio, television, resources, programs and conferences. If you are called to help us make this vision a reality, please shoot us an email. Above all, please join us in prayer and work that we all might more fully Image the Trinity.
Become what you are, and the world will know God who IS Love!
THE STORY: So Fr. Rich Toohey, having this knack for WAY-in-advance preparation, texts me- an hour before the Presence for Christmas event: "Can you play 'Let it Be'?"
My immediate thoughts, in no particular order: (1) Our super-talented music leader, Daniel Cabanillas, was going to be absent; (2) There's a reason why I am hanging on to my day job; (3) I've never sung that song before in my life; (4) It's a worship event... the Beatles? (5) It has IT (=Image Trinity) in there... pretty cool!
So, my respectful reply, addressing all those questions: "Are you bringing the hashish?"
Our conversation continued over the phone. There was a sense of something bigger than both of us going on. I recall a good friend, Fr. Mike Najim, once stating, "YHWH means 'One who tears up our plans.'" Little did we know that RCIA candidates would be joining us that evening- many of whom were new to Catholic experience, and inquiring how this faith integrates with the real world. Little did we know that many were coming with heavy hearts and in need of hearing God say, "I've got this. I'm in control. Let it be."
It all came together in this powerful message by Fr. Rich, connecting Beatles' "Let it Be" to Mary's "Be it done unto me according to Thy Word." I gave Louis Nicolia, our violinist extraordinairre, a simple chord sheet just before we began. Along with Mary I was pressed to surrender my music-leading insecurity and say "yes" - make it a prayer from the heart (regardless of the effect on eardrums), with Mary's conviction that what God calls us to, He will provide for.
Let IT Be!
PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN US for the ENCORE- our final stop for what has been an amazing "four week journey into the heart of Christmas." Awesome music begins with Jared Cooney at 6:25 p.m. Faith story by Pastor Rick Crocker of the Erie City Mission. Daniel back in the saddle leading worship. Fr. Rich bringing it all home. NEXT WEDNESDAY, December 21, 6:30 p.m. St. George Catholic Church.
Presence for Christmas is an outreach of Image Trinity... a four-week journey into the heart of Christmas. Please join us on this great adventure of discovering and living out our identity and mission: in our capacity to love, we Image of the Trinity (Get IT?).
Image Trinity is a family-driven, nonprofit organization with a big vision and mission for our families, communities and the world. Please partner with us with by your prayers and (tax deductible/ board accountable) financial support.
The first video is an uplifting message by Fr. Rich Toohey. The second is a powerful, faith-story shared by Brenda Newport of The Women's Care Center. Presence for Christmas is a four week journey into the heart of Christmas - JOIN US!
Presence for Christmas (P4C) is a "four week journey into the heart of Christmas." Ignited in 2010, P4C is Advent journey marked by weekly gatherings comprised of uplifting story, song and prayer. Each week individuals and families bring their "prayer candle" and placed it at the Burning Bush, which will collectively illuminate Jesus Christ in Exposition. Our Living IT Gathering Guide will help keep families talking and praying throughout the season of Advent.
Oh...the magic and wonder of Christmas! Remember looking through the Sears and JCPenny catalogues as kids? Wondering, hoping and praying for that special thing? Can you remember all the lights and colors, all the special decorations inside and out? The aromatic smells of something baking... most likely Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole singing in the background? How about Rudolph and Frosty on television, along with special gatherings and events....
Sure, for many of us there was the Advent Wreath, and Christmas Mass. But let's face it, for most of us these were momentary things to endure to get back to the main event.
Life experience is a great teacher. And it's worth asking: What is the meaning of Christmas? Is it all about the presents? If so, where are those presents today? What enduring, meaningful impact did they have on our lives? How are we different because of them?
Let's keep it real. Particularly for many of us Catholics, "faith" is often a tedious obligation, hoops you jump through-- that give us a sense of doing what we should. Is there more? Christmas has so much more to do with personalpresence than with materialpresents. While presents are an important part of Christmas, at the heart of it all is the fact that we have been fashioned for God. We need God. We need so much more than cliche, or empty obligations... we need to know God. Christmas is a grace-filled season where God offers us His Presence. He is the Present. And He makes us Presents to each other!
Presence for Christmas is a journey into the Heart of Christmas... an invitation for you and your family to slow down, set aside the distractions and tune into God with expectant faith that He will be Present. God wants to be so much more than an obligation. He wants to do so much more than dwell among us. He wants to dwell within us.
Come join us for all four evenings. You'll be deeply touched by each of the stories. Come with your needs, concerns, hopes and prayers. Come join in a community seeking God together... enlivened by "something more." God bless!
Image Trinity is a movement of families. Our identity and mission is simply this: You Image the Trinity! (Get IT?) We invite you to partner with us. Read more about our mission. Help us make our "Living IT!" television program possible.
To advance this movement, we depend entirely upon your generosity of prayers, involvement, and financial support (to the left). Thank you.
If you are interested in an Image Trinity event in your parish or community, please contact us: Stephanie@ImageTrinity.com
