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AMERICA Magazine
A balanced Catholic weekly magazine published by the jesuits of the United States for an intelligent Catholic readership. Go online to subscribe.

Liturgy
This link will keep 'parishioners-at-large' in touch with current creative liturgy sources and resources that respect a variety of 'traditions' within the Church.

Voice of the Faithful
A 'movement' of lay Catholics 'inspired' by the abuse scandal calling for greater accountability of bishops to 'Catholics in the Pew.'

Survivos' Network for those Abused by Priests or Religious
A National Network of self-help support groups for people abused by clergy or religious.

Bishop Accountability
Vital information about the disclosure of sexual abuse and related issues affecting Catholics in the pew and the manner in which Bishops continue to exempt themselves from accountability

National Catholic Reporter
A national Catholic lay newspaper covering events not usually covered or presented with a clerical bias in the local diocesan press or but of concern and interest to Catholics.

COMMONWEAL Magazine
A 'lay' Catholic weekly publication with an accent on an intelligent analysis and commentary on curent issues, trends and concerns of interest to Catholics.

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Daily Scripture

+ 7th Week of Easter

We are to be consecrated in truth.

Readings: Acts 20:28-38 Psalm 88:29-30, 33-36 John 17:11b-19

Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they may also be consecrated in truth. [John 17:18-19]

Read the Gospel very slowly and if possible, out loud and if necessary, three times! Although John’s literary style is quite complex, the farewell prayer of Jesus is as powerful as is Paul’s farewell message in Acts.

It is not likely that these passages are the actual words of Paul and Jesus. They are compositions that Luke and John or whoever wrote in their name and are based on the oral tradition of the sayings of Jesus and the preaching of Paul. They were written in the style of farewell addresses of prominent leaders of their times in order to win the attention of early believers to whom the message of truth was entrusted.

The ‘truth’ that is being proclaimed is not from a catechism nor is it a defined doctrine or dogma. It is the core truth about the God who spoke through the prophets and then through Jesus about the universality of God’s love.

During this time of immediate preparation for Pentecost, we are invited to think about our own responsibility to pass on the ‘truth’ of God’s goodness entrusted to us in Christ and how we are to live that truth in our daily lives, each in our own unique way. No one of us can do this alone and so we much join hands literally and figuratively within the community of believers everywhere.

To live the ‘truth’ is to live in the Spirit of Jesus Christ the fruits of which are charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, moderation, self-control, reverence, etc. I’m sure you memorized these ‘fruits of the Holy Spirit.’

These are the true ‘marks’ of our authenticity as believers.

A sabbatical for healing....

Tuesday September 6, 2011

My good friends,

As many of are aware, I have been fighting a battle against anxiety and depression extending back to my years advocating for victims of clergy abuse. It’s a long story and I don’t think it is necessary or appropriate for me to comment further except to state that it has taken a toll over the course of the 20 years or so that I was dealing with the issue, most of those years behind the scenes and out of the public eye.

I considered myself strong enough to handle the challenge but over time, I sleepless nights got to me, probably due to an unhealthy guilt about challenging the Church that I loved. I suppose psychologists my suggest that I transferred my devotion to my own mom to ‘Mother Church.” Who knows? It’s not an outrageous hypothesis.

In any event, I was on a prescription sleep aid – you know, one of those so-called non-addictive kinds but that can become habit-forming. Then I began to experience the rebound effect – anxiety. And it was all down hill from there. I recognized the signs and sought help but the anti-depressants and other anti-anxiety drugs were not helpful and over time have made the symptoms worse. This is not a blame game… Many good doctors did what good doctors do, but sometimes the prescription meds don’t work. At least they didn’t work for this sensitive soul. So in consultation with my trusted psychiatrist, I decided it is time to become drug free. He established a tapering down plan but it is not an easy journey, Moreover, it takes several months to get some of them out of one’s system, so I have decided that it would not be wise to do that on my own even under the supervision of my psychiatrist. So I have decided to do it ‘in patient’ at Guest House in Rochester MN, a well-known center located near the Mayo Clinic.

I expect to be there for as long as it takes to become drug free.

I will eventually have access to email and hopefully will be able to carry on my website ministry in time.

In the meantime, I ask for your kindly thoughts and prayers as you can count on mine.

I hear the winter begins early in Minnesota but the warmth of healing is more important that the cold air and heavy snow.

As the saying goes, “I want my life back” so that I can do all the things I have loved to do for almost fifty years.

My best to you and more.

Father Lasch

Guest House
4800 48th St NE
Rochester MN 55906