It sometimes happens that you take a topic and run with it so much that we feel compelled to offer you a part two. That’s what we’re doing with Monday’s topic. On Tuesday, fill the phone lines again with your takes about loved ones who are away from a practice of the faith. Whether they’re still away, one their way back or have come home, we can learn a lot from each other, especially as it has to do with how we continue to love them, pray for them and gently nudge them back toward a love for the Church.

Almost every day of our lives, we face situations where we have to “perform” in some way. These opportunities range from the home to our academic environment, from the workplace to the gym or athletic arena. While all of us are created equal in dignity, we’re not all equal when it comes to how well we fare in these areas. We may be more motivated to do certain things well, and other things less well. Of course, we should give our all, no matter what it is that we undertake. As you examine your life, would you say you are generally an overachiever, gaining results beyond what your apparent abilities would indicate, or have you at times been an underachiever in certain endeavors? There are no right or wrong answers, just a chance for us to discuss how to strive to be our best selves in everything we do. Join us with your take on Thursday.

Just exactly what are “boundaries” in our interpersonal relationships? They can be very Christian if done the right way. But so many of us struggle understanding just where to draw certain lines. Do you feel like you have to be everyone’s good friend? Are you easily taken advantage of? Is it hard for you to say “no” to people? How do you formulate your boundaries differently for family, friends, neighbors, co-workers? This is what we’ll talk about on Tuesday. Do join us!

If you have children, you know what a big deal it is to achieve certain milestones and moments in their lives. These are often chronicled in a variety of ways – photos, videos, inscriptions on a wall, a scrapbook, you name it. And they include a million different things, from taking their first steps, to receiving their First Holy Communion, from riding a bike without assistance, to catching that first big fish. On Monday, let’s celebrate the early accomplishments in the lives of your children. Call 833-288-3986 to join the conversation.

RESOURCES:
Melissa Villalobos’ story – https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/07/03/chicago-womans-healing-is-miracle-in-cardinal-newmans-sainthood-cause/

54 Day Novena

We’re presenting more and more topics that you suggest to us. That’s the case on Wednesday, when we take up a suggestion by a listener named Jenny and talk about the fate of some of our rural parishes. We’ll let Jenny herself set up the topic:

I heard that you take show topic ideas? If so, I have one. There is an epidemic of small town, rural parishes that are financially solvent and pillars in the community that are closing because of the lack of priests. Dioceses across the midwest and northeast are particularly affected. My parish is one of those that are on the potential closure list. Whereas the bishops are doing what they feel they need to do, the concern is that since the rural parishes are smaller, they do not matter. It seems a numbers game rather than a souls game. Jesus tells us to go to the ends of the earth. That also means to the ends of the cornfields, too.

Jerry and Debbie rescheduled their topic on Monday to allow you to weigh in on the latest mass shootings in the United States. Not surprisingly, you had a lot to say. So much so, that we are doing part two of this important topic. As we mourn, pray and look for rays of hope, we look forward to hearing from you with your heartfelt thoughts on Tuesday.

Parenting is hard. It doesn’t come with a how-to manual. Without God and faith, it’s hard enough. Do you strive to seek God’s help and His will in how you raise, train and discipline your children? Do you pray about what’s best for them? Do you pray with your spouse and turn to Scripture for advice on raising them? Do you make sure they receive their sacraments? Do you try to make sure they get the best possible religious instruction? How do you make God and our faith the center of your important task of child-raising? Share your take on this with Jerry and Debbie on Friday.

On Thursday, it’s our monthly show for you to call, text, e-mail or post on social media any prayer intentions you would like the world to pray for. We’ll get to as many of them as we can on the air, but even if we don’t get to yours, we will gather them all and offer a prayer for all of your intentions at the end of the show.

Suffering is a part of life. In fact, Our Lord Jesus Christ makes it clear that without suffering (“Take up your cross daily and follow me…”), we cannot be His disciples. The goal of discipleship is eternity in Heaven with Jesus. On Tuesday, Jerry and Debbie invite you to call with your take about someone you know and love who is suffering, and, perhaps, even dying. Would you take that individual’s place if somehow you could be given the opportunity? Maybe it’s your spouse, one of your children, a good friend, a neighbor, a co-worker or a fellow parishioner. This would be the ultimate sign of true love. Let’s all learn from each other.

LINK: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/pattyknap/arizona-womans-blindness-miraculously-cured-through-st.-charbel

While we should never do anything in order to be seen by others and applauded for our efforts. still, it’s a fact of life that we work harder and flourish more when we have a sense of accomplishment that is partly due to others expressing their appreciation. Every one of us has experienced being unappreciated – or worse – when we’ve poured ourselves into a task. This could range anywhere from the workplace to the home, from your volunteer work to going out of your way to help a friend or a neighbor. On Monday, let’s talk about this idea of feeling unappreciated, and how we can use it to draw closer to Jesus and increase our dependence on Him alone.