Remnant's New or Blog include articles written by apostolate members. The Blog is broken up into sections and is meant to be an easy, quick resource for those working in the areas of Religious Education, Youth Minsitry, Catholic Schools, Confirmation prep and other parish and apostolic work.
Leadership Day Retreat
Here is a sample of a one day quick and easy youth leader retreat from 9am to 10pm which includes three talks, confession, Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, videos, private devotions and more. You could also include a Friday night team building night and sleep over to precede the format given. More »by Matthew Gill (Albuquerque, NM)
[P]ULSE (40 for 40)
July 13, 2010
Practice 7 simple steps which take 40 minutes for 40 days and see what happens to your spiritual formation your interior life. These seven commitments are simple and will help you to live life to the full and begin to enter into the dept and richness of what Christ and His Church has to offer. A good option is to start during Advent or Lent as a group. More »by Matthew Gill (Albuquerque, NM)
P[U]LSE (Destination Unknown)
Destination Unknowns are simple. Ask youth to show up at the church and bring $15, the youth director knows where everyone is going, but the youth don't. When I went on these as youth we had no clue where we were going, that was the fun part. We could be going to a baseball game, movie, service project or scavenger hunt, to us it didn't matter, it was always exciting! More »by Matthew Gill (Albuquerque, NM)
220 years ago on January 23, 1789
Georgetown College becomes the first Catholic college in the United States (Washington, DC). The official date of 23 January 1789 is when the Jesuit order acquired the title to the land that became the core of the campus. More »
36 years ago on January 22, 1973
The Supreme Court of the United States delivers its decision in Roe vs. Wade striking down state laws restricting abortion during the first six months of pregnancy. Not all of the justices agrees with the Court's decision. More »
503 years ago on January 21, 1506
The first contingent of 150 Swiss Guards entered the Vatican. It is a small force responsible for the security of the Apostolic Palace, the entrances to the Vatican City and the safety of the Pope. More »
1721 years ago on January 20, 288
Saint Sebastian's feast day, perhaps the day of his death is celebrated today. Saint Sebastian became widely known from the early centuries of the Church. After Mary & Jesus, Sebastian is one of the most commonly used figures in art. As a Roman captain, he became known for his goodness and bravery. During the persecution by Diocletian, Sebastian would not renounce his Christian faith. Archers shot arrows into his body and left him for dead. More »
180 years ago on January 19, 1829
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust, which is the inspiration for the Charlie Daniels Band's "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" premieres. More »
125 years ago on January 18, 1884
I always wondered if anyone named their child Jesus Christ. It is very ironic that of all the people in the history of the world who could name their child after the son of God it is a Druid pagan that does it. More »
47 years ago on January 3, 1962
Pope John XXIII excommunicated Fidel Castro on January 3, 1962 in line with a 1949 decree by Pope Pius XII forbidding Catholics from supporting communist governments. This decree from Pius XII’s Holy Office, confirmed by John XXIII in 1959 is still valid. In fact, Pius XII worked personally against communism in Italy. More »
1476 years ago on January 2, 533
Mercurius becomes Pope John II, the first pope to adopt a new name upon elevation to the papacy. He had been named after the Roman god Mercury (the god of trade, commerce and merchants). Mercurius decided that it would not be appropriate for a pope to be named after a Roman god, so he decreed that he would be known as John II. More »
33 years ago on December 28, 1975
Dallas Cowboys Catholic, quarterback Roger Staubach, coins the term, "Hail Mary pass" referring to his desperation (and Catholic beliefs), for his game-winning touchdown pass in a December 28, 1975 NFC semifinal playoff game. With 24 seconds remaining, Staubach threw a desperation pass to receiver Drew Pearson, who was being covered by cornerback Nate Wright. More »
What side will you be on?
Three times and history dignity has been attacked, blacks 3/5 a person, what's up with that, why does it take us so long to realize right from wrong, what side will you be on? One crazy man has some serious issues, needed someone to blame so he chose the Jew's, how many did he kill before we said it's real, What side will you be on? More »
Nick Vujicic - Man without limbs witnesses HOPE
Nic Vujicic was born without limbs. To see the video of his talk and witness the hope found in his life click more. Hope is a theological virtue that among many things helps us to persevere to the end of our earthly life. Nic is a witness to this hope. More »
St. John of the Cross - The Marriage of Christ to Humanity
This Advent season as we approach the mystery of the Incarnation, the Nativity of our Lord, the Word made Flesh it is good to contemplate slowly this poem of St. John of the Cross. What is really happening when God becomes man. What is happening to God, what is happening to man, what happens to us? My favorite line in the poem is...The Mother gazed in sheer wonder, on such an exchange; in God, man's weeping, and in man, gladness, to one and the other things usually so strange. More »
117 years ago on December 15, 1891
James Naismith, came up with the original 13 rules of Basketball. In the life of James Naismith the inventor of basketball, we see a life of suffering, virtue, creativity and faith. Naismith, with the help of students at the YMCA More »
169 years ago on December 3, 1839...
Pope Gregory XVI issued a papal bull, In Supremo Apostolatus, regarding the institution of slavery. The bull resoundingly denounces both the slave trade and the continuance of the institution of slavery. More »
67 years ago on November 26, 1941
US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signs a bill establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Most agree that Thanksgiving began as a meal between the Pilgrims and the Indians beginning in 1621. More »
45 years ago on November 22, 1963
Author CS Lewis dies. CS Lewiss conversion story and his work for the Glory of God after his conversion ranks with the lives of St. Paul and St. Augustine. Lewis was raised in the Church of Ireland but became an atheist at the age of 13, and remained as such until he was 31 years old. More »
Remnant Feast Day: St. Rose Duchesne
November 18, 2008
Remnant has never played for a parish named in honor of St. Rose Duchesne but we honor all of the America Saints and as an apostolate celebrate and have a special devotion to the American Saints. St. Rose worked mostly in the St. Louis area, but also worked in Louisiana and at the end of her life in Kansas. Remnant did play at St. Louis Cathedral school in New Orleans, which is one of the convents that St. Rose had stayed at while in New Orleans. It was a honor to know that she walked on the same playground where we played for the school kids. More »
Remnant Feast Day: St. Elizabeth of Hungary
November 17, 2008
Remnant has served the two Catholic Churches in Synder, Texas, one of them was St. Elizabeth of Hungary. It was a joy to put on a rally and then a greater joy to teach the parishioners the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. More »
729 years ago on November 15, 1280
Saint Albert the Great dies. Saint Albert was a religious, preacher, superior, bishop, mediator of peace, scientist, teacher and doctor of the Church. He also isolated arsenic, which is used in pesticides, herbicides and insecticides. Saint Albert could be considered the first Orkin Man. "The Great" This title has only been given to four Saints in the 2000 year history of the Church. More »
Remnant Feast Day: Mother Cabrini
November 13, 2008
Remnant has served St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Church in Granbury, TX, putting on back to school rallies for several years. We also had the honor to play at St. Louis Cathedral School in New Orleans on the same playground that Mother Cabrini walked and we saw the convent where she stayed while in New Orleans. While on pilgrimage in New York we were able to pray in the chapel where here body is kept. More »
407 years ago on November 12, 1602
Sebastian Vizcaino arrives on the California coast the first Mass of record in California was conducted by Fray Antonio de la Ascension, a member of Vizcaino's expedition, to celebrate the feast day of San Diego. More »
Prayer for the United States of America
This prayer is attributed to St. Augustine and is found in the 1962 missal. This would be a great prayer to pray before or after Mass, or if you can make it to Mass please pray it daily at home or work. Let us pray and fast for our country. We can do so much for our country and it begins with daily prayer and fasting. More »
Creating Catholic Culture Tip #3- All Hallow's Eve
In our modern culture we are bombarding by the meaningless secular and sometimes satanic custom of Halloween. The true meaning is in the feasts of All Saints and All Souls Day. Read more to find three ways you can create Catholic Culture during All Hallow's Eve. More »
999 years ago on October 18, 1009
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, who hacks the Church's foundations down to bedrock. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is venerated by most Christians as the place of Golgotha, the Hill of Clavary, where Jesus was crucified. It is also the burial place of Christ. More »
2547 years ago on October 17, 539 BC
King Cyrus The Great of Persia marches into the city of Babylon, releasing the Jews from almost 70 years of exile. King Cyrus is the only Gentile to be designated as a messiah, a divinely-appointed king, in the Hebrew Bible. More »
1. LIFE 2. LIBERTY 3. HAPPINESS
While I was in Sydney, Australia this past summer for World Youth Day one of the Bishop was asked during a catechesis session how American Catholic should vote. The Bishop said that we should keep in mind three things, "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness." He then went on to say that these three should be our priority but in the order than they are in. 1. LIFE 2. Liberty 3. Happiness. Many times the Bishop said that Happiness is put first and people vote based on the economy, many times liberty is put first and people vote based on national security, war, etc. And many times the last on a long list of priorities is Life, the only thing necessary for everything else to matter. Click the More>> to view an awesome video about Catholic Voting produced by Grassroots. More »
517 years ago on October 12, 1492
After one month of sailing and the fear of never seeing land again, Christopher Columbus lands in the New World, bringing Christ and the Faith with him. More »
437 years ago on October 7, 1571
The Holy League (Spain and Italy) destroyed the Turkish fleet at the Battle of Lepanto. The Holy League credited the victory to the Virgin Mary, whose intercession with God they had implored for victory through the use of the Rosary. Pope St. Pius V instituted a new Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Victory to commemorate the battle, which is now celebrated by the Catholic Church as the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. More »
1938 years ago on September 7, 70
A Roman army under General Titus occupies and plunders Jerusalem. The Second Temple was ransacked and burned to the ground. The second temple which was the glory of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation had stood since 515 BC (585 years). More »
1614 years ago on September 6, 394
The Catholic Roman Emperor Theodosius I defeats and kills the pagan Emperor Eugenius in The Battle of the Frigidus. This battle secured the fate of the Catholic Faith as the official religion of the empire. Since the time of Emperor Constantine, Roman citizens and people within its empire held either to the Catholic Faith, paganism or a mixture of the two. Many people in Rome including the members of the senate and the Eastern Emperor Eugenius wanted to return Rome to the glories of Paganism. More »
11 years ago on September 5, 1997
Blessed Mother Teresa an Albanian missionary and humanitarian and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize was born to eternal life. Servant of God, John Paul the Great who beautified Mother Teresa in 2003 asked, "Where did Mother Teresa find the strength to place herself completely at the service of others? She found it in prayer and in the silent contemplation of Jesus Christ, his Holy Face, his Sacred Heart." More »
227 years ago on September 4, 1781
Los Angeles, California, was founded. The orginal name was El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de los Angeles de Porcincula (the City of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels of the Little Portion). It was at Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels church that Saint Francis began the Fransican order in the 1200's and it was his Fransicans with a group of 44 Spanish settlers that founded Los Angeles. More »
Joseph Lopez Lomong
July 3, 2008
With the Olympics gearing up, and athletes around the world are trying to qualify to represent their country, I found this article on ESPN about a runner who is Catholic and his life story. Of how great of a country we do live in, and how Americans need to wake up to the horrors and reality in Sudan and other places. More »
Voting with a Catholic Conscience
June 18, 2008
As November draws near and we start to look into who we are going to vote, many Catholics have a hard time figuring things out. As a true practicing Catholic there is only one true place to start, Pro Life. More »
Creating Catholic Culture Tip #12 - Beer and Wine are Fine
A Beer Blessing - Bless, O Lord, this creature beer, that Thou hast been pleased to bring forth from the sweetness of the grain: that it might be a salutary remedy for the human race: and grant by the invocation of Thy holy name, that, whosoever drinks of it may obtain health of body and a sure safeguard for the soul. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. In this prayer of the Church, the Church calls beer what it is a creature. When man worships the creature rather than the creator, the creature has become a “god”. More »
Prayer of the Week: Litany of Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is one of the greatest gifts of our Church as patron of the Church and patron of the Family he always intercedes for us with his fatherly affection. The Litany of Saint Joseph gives honor to this Saint who is always silent but yet obedient and faithful in scripture. More »
Creating Catholic Culture Tip #11 - Catholic Facial Hair
The Church's Year is the Life of Christ. However you can enter into the year and the Life of Christ you should. Physical reminders such as fasting, icons, etc are a great way to remind our senses and physical body that there should and can be a change in our spiritual life. More »
164 years ago on May 24, 1844
The First Morse code message was sent, reading "What hath God wrought". The message was sent from the old Supreme Court chamber in the United States Capitol to Baltimore. Morse allowed Annie Ellsworth, the young daughter of a friend, to choose the words of the message, and she selected a verse from Numbers 23:23: "What hath God wrought?", which was recorded onto paper tape. More »
Great Quotes - St. Pacian -- died 392 - bishop of Barcelona, Spain
"If you want to know who I am," he said, "Christian is my name, Catholic is my surname."
472 years ago on May 19, 1536
Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England, is beheaded for adultery. Anne Boleyn was not only part of one of the most disorder families in history but she was a primary instigator of what she called "Church Reform". Her so called reform would cause the Church of England to form and break ties with the Roman Catholic Church and the See of Peter. More »
Creating Catholic Culture Tip #10 - Make the Sign of the Cross
The word Catholic means "universal" and one of the most universal signs of the Catholic Faith is the sign of the cross. For most Catholics this most simple pray and outward sign of our Faith is done daily but the history of the prayer and sign is unknown. Remember the Sign of the Cross is a prayer. We see the sign of the Cross most often as a introduction and closing to our prayers. Catholics love prayer so much they pray before and after they pray. More »
467 years ago on May 8, 1541
Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto reaches the Mississippi River and names it Rio de Espiritu Santo or River of the Holy Spirit. The Mighty Mississippi has had three names. North American Indians called it "Messipi" which means "Big River". Hernando de Soto called the river "Rio de Espiritu Santo" or "River of the Holy Spirit". More »
122 years ago on May 1, 1886
A general strike began in the United States that would eventually lead to the 8 hour work day. 70 years prior to the strike in United States, the idea of the 8 hour work day was being promoted in England. More »
A Catholic Priest - St. Catherine of Sienna & Birth Control
Saint Catherine of Sienna convinced Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome, he had been living in Avignon, France, she wrote letters to Kings and Queens helping their relations with the Pope, she assisted in hospitals and on the streets as people died from the Black Plague. If she lived in our modern day, a culture of death, she might not have even been born. More »
Creating Catholic Culture Tip #9 - Kiss my Feet!
If we have a crucifix in our rooms or hanging around our neck, we can kiss the feet or Christ and venerate the crucifix and our Crucified Lord's body daily. Some Catholic schools and Churches have very large, sometimes life size crucifixes. We can create Catholic Culture by kissing our fingers first and then placing our fingers on the feet of our Savior. More »
Remnant - Analogy of Mississippi River and The Holy Trinity
April 25, 2008
The Mississippi river, which was discovered first by DeSoto in the 1500's was originally named after the Holy Spirit. Maybe it is ironic or providential that the mighty 4000 mile river, originally named the river of the Holy Spirit, teaches us a lesson not only about the Holy Spirit but about the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. More »
794 years ago on April 25, 1214
King Saint Louis IX was born. Saint Louis is the only French Monarch that has been canonized. Not only was he one of the greatest examples of a King, but he was an example of a great husband and father. More »
Creating Catholic Culture Tip #8 - Zero Percent Divorce Rate!
This is a true story. Why there are NO divorces in Siroki-Brijeg!! Now let me tell you about a most beautiful tradition the Croatian people have for marriages. In the town of Siroki-Brijeg, not one single divorce has been recorded among its 13,000 inhabitants. More »
144 years ago on April 22, 1864
The U.S. Congress passes the Coinage Act which mandates that the inscription "In God We Trust" be placed on all coins minted as United States currency. We must imprint on our heart, what is imprinted on our money, if not our motto becomes hypocrisy. The band Creed once said, "On our god, we print, 'In God we trust'." More »
487 years ago on April 17, 1521
Martin Luther speaks to the assembly at the Diet of Worms, refusing to recant his teachings. The previous year, Pope Leo X had issued the Papal bull Exsurge Domine, demanding that Luther retract forty-one of his 95 theses criticizing the Church. More »
45 years ago on April 16, 1963
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. pens his famous Letter From a Birmingham Jail while incarcerated in Birmingham, Alabama for protesting against segregation. In the letter Dr. King speaks of unjust laws and quotes Saint Thomas Aquinas and pleas for human rights and dignity. Here is the letter written in the spirit of Saint Paul who wrote some of his biblical epistles from prison. More »
The Pope is here!!!
April 16, 2008
Please remember to pray for our Holy Father and his pilgrimage here in the United States of America. More »
The House that Ruth Built- The Real One
April 15, 2008
I was watching "The Sports Reporters" a few weeks ago and at the end the gentlemen go around and have their "parting shots". Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe gave his two cents on the Yankee stadium closing for the new one and how people are sad because the old stadium was the one that "Ruth built." or is it? More »
106 years ago on April 14, 1902
James Cash Penney, age 26, opens The Golden Rule, a dry goods and clothing store, in Kemmerer, Wyoming, in partnership with his employers, merchants Thomas M. Callahan and William Guy Johnson. More »
Immaculata University - The Birthplace of Women's Basketball
April 8, 2008
Tonight is the Women's College Basketball Championships. The growth of the women's game started all the way back in the 1970's in a little Catholic University of an all girls school. More »
3 years ago on April 2, 2005
Pope John Paul the Great dies at 9:37pm. His last words: AMEN. Our Apostolate began in part because of Pope John Paul's outreach to the youth and his call for the youth to enter into the New Evangelization. More »
Creating Catholic Culture Tip #7 - Pray when you hear an Ambulance
Praying when you hear a siren is a great witness to anyone who might be in your presence, in the car with you, etc. when you hear the siren. It is my hope that if I am ever in an accident and someone hears my siren there will be people praying for me. More »
Lou Holtz
April 2, 2008
Lou Holtz coached for more than 30 years including a National Championship in 1988 with his team he is known for Notre Dame. More »
Fulton J. Sheen - Analogy of a cash register and particular judgement
March 31, 2008
Many teenagers work at jobs in which they use cash registers and at the end of the day must make sure the the money in the draw equals the money on the paper ribbon. If they are ofter a few cents the boss is merciful, but what if they are off a few hundred dollars. More »
726 years ago on March 30, 1282
The people of Sicily rebel against the French king Charles I, in what becomes known as the Sicilian Vespers. The Sicilian Vespers rebellion was a Sicilian response of disapproval of French arrogance, abuse, rules, etc. According to one legend, the rebellion started after a Sicilian woman went to a church in Palermo to look for her young daughter, who had spent the whole day there praying, only to find her being raped in the church by a French soldier whereupon the mother then ran into the streets, shouting Ma fia! Ma fia! (meaning "My daughter! My daughter!" in medieval Sicilian dialect). Some have claimed that this is a plausible explanation of the origins of the word "Mafia". More »
137 years ago on March 27, 1871
The first international rugby football match, England v. Scotland, was played in Edinburgh at Raeburn Place. 48 years prior to the first international match, rugby was created by a school boy named William Webb Ellis. William was frustrated with the rules of football (soccer) and decided to break the rule by carrying the ball and running with it, rather than kicking it. More »
America the Catholic - 15 Texas cities with Catholic names
March 27, 2008
Everything is big in Texas even Catholic Culture. 15 Texas cities are named after Catholic Saints or devotions. The Alamo pictured here, was originally a Catholic Mission. My favorite city name is Corpus Christi, Latin for the Body of Christ. So many just say, "I am going to Corpus." This means, "I am going to Body." Don't leave out Christ say the full name in honor of the Blessed Sacrament. More »
55 years ago on March 26, 1953
Dr. Jonas Salk announces his polio vaccine. The virus called poliovirus (PV), enters the body orally, infecting the intestinal wall. It may proceed to the blood stream and into the central nervous system causing muscle weakness and often paralysis. More »
Creating Catholic Culture Tip #6 - Passing by Jesus
How often (daily) do you pass by Jesus! We literally daily pass by chapels, churches, cathedrals and perhaps even basilicas. It is a great tradition to make the Sign of the Cross as we pass by a place where Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament. More »
374 years ago on March 25, 1634
Catholic Settlers landed in what would be called St. Mary's County, Maryland. Jesuit priests also came with the settlers and were successful in their relations with the Indians of the area as well as building St. Mary's Church the first Church in the English Colonies. More »
The Office - Commandments and Divine Love
March 25, 2008
This week the works of St. Augustine, St. Jane Frances de Chantal, St. Peter Chrysologus are featured they included quotes on the commandments as well as Divine love. More »
Fulton J. Sheen - Analogy of the Food Chain and Holy Communion
March 24, 2008
According to Fulton Sheen the great thing is that humans are not the end of the food chain, the spiritual food chain that is. All the energy and gifts of humanity DIE with humans unless the human is willing to die to self and consecrate (give them self to God). Like the sun, minerals, plants and animals, humans MUST be consumed by God if we are going to have any further life than mere humanity. More »
28 years ago on March 24, 1980
Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated by El Salvadoran government troops as he held the consecrated host up during a Mass. Romero was killed by a shot to the heart on March 24, 1980 while celebrating Mass at a small chapel near his cathedral following a sermon where he called on Salvadoran soldiers, as Christians, to obey God's higher order and to stop carrying out the government's repression and violations of basic human rights. More »
Prayer after Touchdown
March 24, 2008
One of the many great things about history is to know when something happens. It can be something big in history like the American Civil Wary (1861-1865) or something small in history like the invention of the paper clip (1899). So I was watching ESPN and they had a piece on prayer after a touchdown. Wonder when that came to be? More »
179 days ago on March 23, 1839
the first recorded use of "OK" as an abbreviation was used in the Boston Morning Post. "OK" is an abbreviation for "oll korrect", which is a misspelling of "all correct". "OK" means that all is correct. The word okay is the single most used world on the earth because of its universality in so many languages and cultures. More »
208 years ago on March 21, 1800
208 years ago on this day in 1800, Pope Pius VII was elected Pope in Venice in a rather unusual coronation, wearing a papier-mache papal tiara. He could not be elected in Rome, because Rome was seized by the French army. More »
2052 years ago on March 20, 44 B.C.
Julius Caesar's funeral took place after the emperor was assassinated by a group of senators. Julius Ceasar had placed himself higher than any other citizen, including the senators. Not only was he higher than other citizens, but he made himself into a god. More »
Remnant Q&A - Why do we have Confirmation?
February 1, 2008
We have Confirmation because Jesus knew that we would need strength. Christ gives us the Sacrament of Confirmation so that all will have access to the strength necessary to reach Christian perfection. More »
Thoughts from the March for Life - Jeremiah
January 23, 2008
Thoughts from St. Rita Life Teen's and Youth for Life's trip to DC for the March for Life. More »
Remnant Feast Day: Mary the Mother of God
January 1, 2008
Remnant has a special devotion to Mary. In 431 AD at the Council of Ephesus, the Church officially endorsed the Marian title Theotokos, the Bearer of God, the Mother of God. This is what Christ and the Apostles taught and what the faithful believed and what we still believe. We have a mother on our side and she always brings us closer to her son. More »
Remnant Feast Day: St. John the Apostle
December 27, 2007
Saint John the teenage Saint. Remnant has had the joy of serving St. John the Apostle school and church in our own diocese of Fort Worth, TX. St. John's has hosted our annual Lock-in for Life several years. We also provided a rally and holy hour for the Church of St. John in Foley, MN. St. John the apostle is usually shown in art as the apostle with no beard, click more to find out why. More »
Remnant Feast Day: Saint Stephen (First Martyr)
December 26, 2007
Remnant has served Saint Stephen's Catholic Church in Weatherford, TX. St. Stephen is the first martyr and his story can be found in Acts 6:8-59. St. Stephen's parish is also the parish where two our Remnant's members, Matt and Andrew Gill received the Sacrament of Confirmation. St. Stephen pray that we may be bold in living our faith and be the martyrs buying dying to self and to sin.
Creating Catholic Culture Tip #5 - Give public glory to God
St. Benedict says in his rule #42, to "attribute to God the good one sees in oneself." It is awesome to see professional athletes honoring God for the great skills they have been given. When you are in public don't be afraid to give God the praise. More »
Remnant Feast Day: Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 12, 2007
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of ALL the Americas. Remnant has served parishes under the title Our Lady of Guadalupe in Fort Worth, Synder and Lubbock, all in Texas, as well as a church in Biscoe, NC under the title Our Lady of the Americas. Since her appearance in 1531 in Mexico City, the Americas have not been the same. More »
8th Annual Lock-in for Life
December 11, 2007
Thank you to all who attended the Lock-in for Life. We had 131 youth attend from 10 different parishes. Money raised from the Lock-in will send youth to Washington DC for the 7th annual Remnant March for Life Pilgrimage. Please remember you essays are due this Friday. If you did not get a shirt because we ran out they will be mailed to your youth director after Christmas. More »
Remnant Feast Day: Immaculate Conception
December 8, 2007
"Mary, conceived without sin pray for us!" What a great gift Mary is to all of us. Remnant is consecrated to Jesus through Mary under the title Immaculate Conception. We began our annual Lock-in for Life, placing it the weekend of this feast day, in honor of the Immaculate Conception. Remnant also lights a candle each January at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception as a reminder of our consecration and asking Mary to pray for our apostolate for the upcoming year. More »
Creating Catholic Culture Tip #4- Saint Nicholas Day
St. Nicholas Day is always at the beginning of advent it allows us to begin thinking about generosity and the ultimate generous gift of God sending his only begotten Son to save us. Make sure to beginning your advent celebrating St. Nicholas Day in honor of this great Saint and model of generosity. More »
Creating Catholic Culture Tip #2- Rise before the dawn
Tip #2 of 101 - If we can wake up and await the earthly dawn (the sun) this is good practice as we await the heavenly dawn (the Son). Psalm 119:147 says, "I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words." One of the greatest ways to create Catholic culture is to begin the day awaiting God's presence. More »
From the Road...
July 11, 2007
Just a quick update from Saint Louis. Remnant is playing at Alive in You III (St. Louis) this week... More »
"America Dream" by Switchfoot
March 19, 2007
Continuing the series of the Oh! Gravity album we come upon my favorite track of the entire album. More »
Taking a Break
March 1, 2007
Song of the Week will be closed for the next two weeks... More »
What's your Conversion Story?
February 26, 2007
Saint Josemaria Escriva said, "Being chosen by God means, and demands, personal holiness." I think this qoute can be broken down into four stages of the spiritual life, four stages of change or conversion. More »
"College Kids" by Relient K
February 9, 2007
Here's a special double edition of song of the week this week!!! This one is an oldie but a goodie for those who know Relient K. More »
"Oh! Gravity" by Switchfoot
February 9, 2007
Here is the first of the series from Switchfoot's new album, "Oh! Gravity" I figured it would be best to start with the first song and the title of the album. More »
"Love is a Fast Song" by Copeland
February 2, 2007
I found out that this band was going to be touring with Switchfoot this spring and wanted to check their music out. Turns out they have a lot of great songs and I wanted to write about one of them. More »
"High and Low" by Greg Laswell
January 26, 2007
I just heard this song on a TV show the other day and I ran to iTunes to download it. The whole album is really good. More »
"Burn Out Bright" by Switchfoot
January 5, 2007
FINALLY!!! That is all I have to say with Switchfoot's newest album "Oh! Gravity". I had a hard time deciding which one I wanted to write about, so starting with this one I will be writing on ALL the songs on this album and later on the year I will probably do a series on their music. So get ready! More »
"Christmas Song" by Dave Matthews Band
December 22, 2006
Tis the season and I thought I would write about a Christmas Song entitled, "Christmas Song ." More »
"Simple Gifts" by Elder Joseph
December 15, 2006
I first heard this song from Copland's "Appalachian Spring". The melody is very simple, quaint, and beautiful. I chose this song because when you think what is the gift? It's the gift of the Holy Spirit. More »
Saint Irenaeus of Lyons - Great Ananlogy for Baptism and Confirmation
November 10, 2006
Like dry flour, which cannot become one lump of dough, one loaf of bread, without moisture, we who are many could not become one in Christ Jesus without the water that comes down from heaven. And like parched ground, which yields no harvest unless it receives moisture, we who were once like a waterless tree could never have lived and borne fruit without this abundant rainfall from above. More »
"What are They Doing in Heaven Today?" by Washington Phillips
November 10, 2006
This song is so unique and yet so touching that I had to put this up here. More »
"Square One" by Tom Petty
October 20, 2006
I was pretty excited today when I looked at my list of songs I have done and I saw that I hadn't written about this Tom Petty song. It's such a great song and I was excited I can write about it. More »
Creating Catholic Culture Tip #1- The Rosary: Display & Pray
Make the rosary a part of your everyday life. Hang a rosary on your windshield, wear it on your belt, display it proudly but at the same time know what the rosary is and most important pray what you display. More »
"Bridge over Trouble Water" by Simon and Garfunkel
October 6, 2006
So this is my 10th song I've done. woo hoo! Well I hope y'all will like this one. One of the most prolific duos in the music industry was and probably ever will be Simon and Garfunkel. Songs like "Ms. Robinson", "I am a Rock", and of course "Scarborough Fair." Out of all the greats I decided to write about one of the great and most recognizable songs from them, "Bridge Over Troubled Water." More »
"For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield
September 22, 2006
I thought long and hard for this next song. It's such a powerful song, for it's time when it came out and even now when applied in the right context. More »
"Believe" by Yellowcard
September 11, 2006
Former President FDR said "...a date that will live in infamy." He was speaking of course of the attack on Pearl Harbor, but 60 years later we had another event on a date that will live on forever, September 11. More »
"Wonder of it All" by Monday Morning
August 9, 2006
Hello friends. I hope you all are ready for a new round of "song of the week"! This song is a great one and click on more so you can read all about it. Peace! More »
"Like a Rock" by Bob Seger
June 9, 2006
So I had my IPOD on shuffle the other day and one of my favorite artists came on, Bob Seger. I've been listening to him for a long, long time. One of his most memorable songs, "Like a Rock", came on and I immediately thought of whom else, St. Peter. More »
"Song for a Friend" by Jason Mraz
May 26, 2006
This song I stumbled across by accident which is weird because I really enjoyed this song. I think it's the way it has been written. I have always thought just the way the title says, a song for a friend. It wasn't until I started this weekly posting when I started going deeper and I could see this being a conversation with our heavenly father. More »
"3x5" by John Mayer
May 23, 2006
Yes I know I didn't write an entry last week and I apologize! BUT that means there are going to be two this week! I know you all are very excited about that. So this one I ran across the other day and this one is a personal testimony from my past summer. More »
"Politicians" by Switchfoot
May 12, 2006
I've been holding back from doing Switchfoot because they are one of my favorite bands, and I really wanted to do a good job. I also have been holding back because I didn't know which song to use. There are so many great songs! However, I sat through and started listening, and felt that "Politicians" was a great song to chose. More »
"On the Way Down" by Ryan Cabrera
May 5, 2006
Time for another song of the week and this one is "On the Way Down" By Ryan Cabrera. This song is of course a love song, but when I think about this song I think about a different love that has saved me, Mary the Mother of God! More »