And now for Chris...

So...hopefully you've heard about this YouthStock thing already. But here is one more plug for this awesome event:

I wanted to give you a taste of Chris Padgett...the keynote speaker/musician for YouthStock 2010. He is an amazing speaker and musician, and along with causing you to crack up laughing, he has the ability to talk about faith in a way that is awesome, personal, and meaningful to those who listen.

Check out Chris's latest Music Video, "I'm in Love," and then watch his video reflection on what the song and video are all about.

See more about Chris here: http://www.chris-padgett.com/

Below is one of my favorite videos that shows the funny side of Chris. He and fellow Catholic speaker/musician, Bob Rice, perform their song (a story of conversion from "hand motion sickness") for a room full of Youth Directors.

Filioque

"Filioque" is a Latin word meaning, "and (from) the Son," and is part of our Nicene Creed. It refers to the part where we say the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son - emphasizing the equal divinity of all 3 persons of the Trinity. This word is somewhat famous as a contributing factor to the Schism between Eastern and Western Christianity.

Right here in Tulsa, there is a band that has named themselves after this famous word, and this band is who will be providing some of the music, along with Keynote speaker Chris Padgett (http://www.chris-padgett.com/), at YouthStock 2010, coming up on April 9th.

Here is a short video of them having fun playing an acoustic version of one of their new songs, "Victorious."

"I don't have any food."

These were the words I heard today, said in a voice slightly shaky from trying to hold back tears.

They were said by a man coming into the Office Annex to ask for help today, but this was no unique situation. Every single day, at least a few, if not many, women, men, and children come here to St. Mary's to ask for help...whether it's for food, or bus tokens so that they can get to a doctor's appointment, or help with paying a few bills so that they can continue to live in their apartment.

And these people ARE helped. Hilary Elias, our Justice and Peace coordinator, meets and talks with them, and if we have the resources to help them, we do. Some receive assistance to pay an overdue bill, or receive bus tokens to get where they need to go, or some go home with a bag full of groceries to get them by for just a little bit.

The groceries come from donations of our parish community. Have you noticed the barrels in the Vestibule of the Church? They are an opportunity for you to respond to our brothers and sisters in Christ that come to our door at St. Mary's and say simply..."I don't have any food."