Enhancing our Catholic Home: On the Inside



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Inserts for Bulletins, Newsletters & Websites

For June 6-7, 2015

Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Readings can be found at:



Questions, Comments, Suggestions?

Contact Kristina kdeneve@ or

920-272-8304

Dishonoring the Real Presence

By: Kristina M. DeNeve

Adult Faith Formation Coordinator

Diocese of Honolulu

I love Catholic Sacraments; the Real Presence is important to my faith. Therefore, I am deeply concerned when we Catholics (usually unintentionally) talk about Eucharist and the Real Presence in a way that divides rather than unites.

We are being divisive when we belittle nondenominational Christians who pass around small cups of juice. We are divisive when we forget that some Protestant denominations also believe in the Real Presence. (These denominations primarily differ on when the bread becomes Jesus or how long it stays Jesus.) Divisive when we tell our less active Catholic brothers and sisters that they just need to try harder if they don’t understand and/or believe in the Real Presence.

Know that I am in no way questioning Catholic doctrine. Indeed, it is our doctrine that tells me that Eucharist is first, foremost and always a unitive Sacrament. Jesus unites himself to us and we unite ourselves to one another. That we cannot share Eucharist with non-Catholics is a reality that demands our grief. Yes, let’s be proud of this special, life-giving gift. But, we disrespect this holy Sacrament of union when we use it to feel superior to others.

Inserts for Bulletins, Newsletters & Websites

For June 13-14, 2015

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings can be found at:



Questions, Comments, Suggestions?

Contact Kristina kdeneve@ or

920-272-8304

The Mustard Seed and Fewer People at Mass

By: Kristina M. DeNeve

Adult Faith Formation Coordinator

Diocese of Honolulu

Many Catholic Christians today hurt over the diminished number of people attending Mass. This seems contrary to today’s readings, growth out of control. Where is God in all this?

My full-time job for the diocese, the Catholic Church, is to empower people to grow in their faith. But, here’s the rub. What if the Holy Spirit leads someone to worship with a different faith community AND if by doing so, that person grows closer to God, becomes more loving and flourishes as a human being?

Honestly, in this situation, we have genuine cause to celebrate. I personally may be sad they are not sitting with me at Mass. However, our faith calls us to help people know and follow Jesus Christ. We know this happens most fully within a faith community. That said, our Gospel today also suggests that we do not get to control when the grain is ready for harvest. We do not control where the mustard seed grows.

We are simply called to proclaim Jesus and go along with his agenda for growth, in others and in ourselves.

Ordinary Time is not “Ordinary”

By: Kristina M. DeNeve

Adult Faith Formation Coordinator

Diocese of Honolulu

Much of our church calendar is called “Ordinary Time,” which stands for any time that is not another liturgical season, namely Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.

To speak of any Sunday, or of any day, as being “ordinary” is a misnomer. Or at least it should be. Why? Because today, this day, is the only day that exists. And every day is meant to be infused with God. Indeed, St. Paul says as much in today’s 2nd reading, “Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Cor 5:17

To help me remember this, I like to think of Ordinary Time as actually being Pentecost Time. At Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit. Because of our Baptism we too have the Holy Spirit. We died to ourselves and live in the newness of Christ.

Like the disciples in today’s Gospel, even if we think we know Jesus, even if we think we know our faith, Jesus will still astonish us. That is because every day can be a day of Pentecost. Ordinary does not have to be “ordinary.”

Inserts for Bulletins, Newsletters & Websites

For June 20-21, 2015

12th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Readings can be found at:



Questions, Comments, Suggestions?

Contact Kristina kdeneve@ or

920-272-8304

Inserts for Bulletins, Newsletters & Websites

For June 27-28, 2015

13th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Readings can be found at:



Questions, Comments, Suggestions?

Contact Kristina kdeneve@ or

920-272-8304

A Metaphor for Sharing the Faith

By: Kristina M. DeNeve

Evangelization and Welcoming Director

Diocese of Green Bay

Jesus’ experience with the woman with the hemorrhage in today’s Gospel is a great metaphor of what it is like when we share our faith. First, we are like Jesus, walking through our days, living our life. As lay people, we are called to be “leaven in the world.” And, like Jesus, we begin this by being open to whatever life brings us at any given moment.

Second, like Jesus, we do not know who we will encounter and what will be needed from us. Like Jesus, we share our faith simply by how we react to someone bumping into us in a crowd. We share our faith when strangers see how we treat our family and friends who question us in public places. And we definitely share our faith when something significant happens and we tell the other person, “Go in peace.”

Finally, we must never forget that, like Jesus, we can trust that the Holy Spirit will work through us. The power will go out from us too, even if we don’t always know it is happening!

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