By Tom Venzor
As of May 31, the Nebraska Legislature adjourned sine die (a Latin term meaning without any further day of scheduled business). This marks the completion of the 106th Legislature, First Session.
The reactions to the final day were mixed.
“Remembering D-Day: The Plan, the Invasion, Survivor Stories”
by Ronald J. Drez.
National Geographic Society, Washington D.C., 2004, 61 pages, Grades 4-6.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
I wrote my first “Seedlings” column June 17, 2005, and now I write my last.
From Tom Venzor: In lieu of my normal column, this week’s columnist is Lauren Garcia, the Nebraska Catholic Conference’s Communications & Outreach Specialist. Lauren provides a beautiful reflection on finding love in the ruins of a broken culture of death and seeing the face of Christ and allowing Him to transform our vision, so that we can assist Him n the work of building a culture of life. Enjoy!
“Rosetown” by Cynthia Rylant.
Simon and Schuster, New York, 2018, 149 pages, Grades 3-5.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
In Omaha I have three sisters: Mary Baker, Barb Tranisi and Eileen Newton; but in Lincoln I have seven: Barb Rupp, Rozee Kloke, Patty Krings, Christy Bousquet, Angie Korus, April Kassebaum and Monica Barber.
My Lincoln sisters are members of North American Martyrs Parish where I currently live in residence. The three sisters in Omaha are my siblings, and the seven in Lincoln are my sisters in the Lord.
By Bob Sullivan
So far in this series, we have looked at the literal writings about transubstantiation and the Eucharist in Scripture and a few key Christians throughout the past 2,000 years. After that, we selected the Bread of Life Discourse in John 6 and examined the literal and spiritual senses of those verses. Now we can look at phenomena we call miracles as another way to know and understand transubstantiation and the Eucharist.
By Tom Venzor
As a bit of background, I usually write this column by Monday and the Southern Nebraska Register typically arrives in your mailbox on that Friday. This sometimes makes it difficult to provide the most up-to-date information about the Nebraska Legislature’s activities. Oftentimes, there are major legislative actions that occur in between the time I write and when you read. Had I any ability to accurately write about the future that has not yet occurred, I would do so. But given that I’ll never acquire such a talent, I’ll stick to writing about events that have occurred.
Once you read this column, the Legislature will have nearly completed its business for the 2019 session. Speaker Jim Scheer recently announced that the Legislature will not require the entire 90 days to complete this session’s work. Instead, they will adjourn May 31. The final two days of session (May 30 and May 31) are intended to address any veto overrides and to wrap up final round debate on remaining legislation. This means the Legislature is completing nearly all its substantive work two weeks before the originally scheduled final day of session—and you’ll hardly hear anybody complaining about that fact.
“Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea,” by Lynne Rae Perkins.
Greenwillow Books, New York, 2018, 232 pages, Grades 3-4.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
Recently, I visited Dr. Gianna Emanuela during her trip to the United States when she visited Denver. She extends her greetings to all of us in the Lincoln diocese especially the Marian sisters, volunteers, and supporters of St. Gianna’s Women’s Homes. While driving back, I stopped in Imperial, Nebraska where we have our westernmost office and thrift store, St. Isidore Gift & Thrift.
By Tom Venzor
Earlier this week, the Opportunity Scholarships Act (LB670) received three hours of debate by the entire legislature. School choice proponents and opponents held a civil and robust debate, covering a variety of policy issues related to LB670.
For the bill to receive an additional three hours of debate, Senator Lou Ann Linehan, LB670’s sponsor, must demonstrate she has 33 votes to overcome a filibuster. Absent such a showing, the Speaker of the Legislature will not reschedule the legislation. During debate, Sen. Linehan promised she would work hard throughout the legislative interim to garner the necessary support to revisit the issue next January.
Throughout my columns on scholarship tax credit legislation, I have often focused on the message of school choice proponents, but today I would like to begin focusing on the main arguments put forward by school choice opponents.
“I Am Enough” by Grace Byers, illustrated by Keturah Bobo.
Harper Collins Publishers, 2018, 32 pages, K-2.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
As I wind up my time at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska, I reflect on the countless auction dinners I’ve done with my administrative assistant Pat Walbrecht.
By Tom Venzor
Last week, the Judiciary Committee advanced LB519, introduced by Sen. Julie Slama of Auburn. The legislation is an omnibus bill for several different human trafficking proposals. Included in this package is LB516, introduced by Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, which the Nebraska Catholic Conference supported earlier this session during public hearing.
LB516 is a critical step forward for Nebraska in combating the modern-day slavery of human trafficking. The legislation ensures all children in Nebraska who are being sold for sex (one major form of human trafficking) are recognized as abused and neglected children. It also ensures that these children are subsequently connected with needed support services.
“Hello, Lighthouse” by Sophie Blackall.
Hachette Books, New York, 2018, 48 pages, K-3.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
After some of the Apostles were thrown into prison for preaching about Jesus Christ and the Church He founded, they were miraculously rescued in the cover of darkness. “But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, ‘Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life’” (Acts 5:19-20).
In other words, the angel of the Lord sent the apostles back in the arena of life to do the work of the Lord by preaching the Word. It is evident they did it for the Lord God.
By Tom Venzor
When the Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on the Abortion Pill Reversal Information Act (LB209), they heard from two medical professionals in particular. One of those professionals was a Lincoln OB-GYN,
Dr. Robert Plambeck. If you’ve delivered a child in Lincoln, there is a chance Dr. Plambeck was your OB-GYN. After all, Dr. Plambeck has delivered more than 4,000 babies since 1991.
“Spooked: How a Radio Broadcast and the War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America” by Gail Jarrow.
Calkins Creek Publishers, Honesdale, Pennsylvania, 2018, 139 pages, Grades 5-8.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
After Sister Bernadette, Sister Karen and Sister Carol informed the ladies at St. Gianna’s Women’s Homes that I will be leaving my position at Catholic Social Services in June, they all put their heads together and planned a pizza party on-site at St. Gianna’s as a surprise going-away event for yours truly.
Now, there have been other pizza parties there before and I usually try to make them, but am not always successful because of my schedule. The sisters always invite me, but this time reminded me several times, which I thought was rather odd. Even my administrative assistant, Pat Walbrecht, asked me if I was going.
Despite all of this, I did not suspect that it would be an occasion to hold a surprise going away party. Needless to say when I arrived, I was surprised beyond description. Because my birthday was a few days prior, there was even a birthday cake and ice cream. 
The touching ‘frosting on the cake,’ so to speak, was a special poster made and signed by the ladies and children which used 10 different kinds of candy. The clever thing about the poster was that the names of the candy were used in the message. If you are unable to read what the poster says by looking at the picture, it reads (the names of the candy in italics): “Father, you’ve given us Good & Plenty reasons to miss you! We could Orbit the entire Milky Way and never find another priest to Eclipse U! We have Mounds of love for you! You always go to the Extreme mile. You are worth 100 Grand (three bars!) to us! We will always cherish our time with you Now and Later. Best wishes, hugs and Kisses. From the women and Runts at St. Gianna’s!
There were even two little handprints from one of the “runts.” The kids were especially interested in showing me this work of art! After singing happy birthday and praying, we all had our fill of pizza, lasagna, cake and ice cream. I plan on keeping the poster and eating and sharing the candy.
When I leave in June, in addition to missing the wonderful staff, volunteers and clients at CSS, I am going to miss the Marian Sisters, ladies and children at St. Gianna’s. How can I ever forget them, especially after such an incredible going-away party?
Through the intercession of St. Gianna, may the ladies and their children always be safe at St. Gianna’s as they grow closer to Almighty God Who is their Father. St. Gianna, pray for us!
By Bob Sullivan
In Part I, I posed a quiz, in which I asked readers to circle the correct definition of transubstantiation:
By Tom Venzor
In a historic moment on May 27, 2015, the Nebraska Legislature eliminated the death penalty after a 30-19 vote to override the governor’s veto. Over a year later in November 2016, after extensive public debate, Nebraska voters overwhelmingly supported the “repeal of the repeal”—or, in other words, the reinstatement of the death penalty.
Since the reinstatement, countless events surrounding the death penalty have taken place in our state and globally for the Church.
“Quiet,” by Tomie DePaola.
Simon and Shuster Books for Young Readers, New York, 2018, 32 pages, K-3.
By Tom Venzor
Last Wednesday night, the Nebraska Legislature’s Revenue Committee advanced LB670—the Opportunity Scholarships Act—to the whole legislative body. The legislation was advanced by a vote of 5-2-1. Supporting the legislation were Senators Lou Ann Linehan (Elkhorn), Mark Kolterman (Seward), Mike Groene (North Platte), Tom Briese (Albion), and Brett Lindstrom (Omaha). Opposing the legislation were Senators John McCollister (Omaha) and Sue Crawford (Bellevue). Present not voting was Senator Curt Friesen (Henderson).
“The Easter Story” by Gennady Spirin.
“The Easter Story” according to the Gospels of St. Matthew, St. Luke and St. John from the King James Bible. Henry Holt and company, New York, 1999, 32 pages.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
Earlier this Lent, I had a chance to talk to a single mother with a small boy in church, where there is a set of beautifully done Stations of the Cross. She is someone we have helped with rent and utilities preventing a homeless situation. She is someone interested in becoming a baptized Catholic.
By Bob Sullivan
One of the great things about being Catholic is the fact that we all agree on the doctrines and dogmas of the Church, commonly called the “teachings,” right?
“Wonders and Miracles: A Passover Companion” by Eric Kimmel.
Scholastic Press, New York, 2004, 136 pages, Grades 7 and higher.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
In my latest meeting with Angela Reiling, our volunteer coordinator in our Lincoln office named after St. Joseph, she gave me an update of some of the volunteer projects on the near horizon.
By Tom Venzor
In an unprecedented policy shift, Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services (“DHHS”) will no longer be Nebraska’s Title X grant recipient. Instead, the federal government has awarded the grant funds to a private organization, Family Planning Council of Nebraska. This development negatively affects the Nebraska Legislature’s ability to ensure that Title X grant funds, consisting of taxpayer dollars, are not used to subsidize the abortion industry.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
Not long ago, I called a priest friend who recently talked to a former Swiss Guard who had worked for the future St. John Paul II. They had a policy back then that if any members reported late for their shift, they would have to volunteer at the Missionaries of Charity (MC) convent nearby. The MCs are the order of sisters founded by St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. It should be mentioned that the members of the Swiss Guard are all tough men, tough guys in a good sense, with the mission of guarding the Vicar of Christ who sits on the Chair of Peter.
By Bob Sullivan
Those who reject Catholicism have varied explanations for their decision, but one of the reasons you might hear is, “truth is found in science, not theology.”
Strangely, the person offering this opinion is rarely a scientist. Because of this, they are simply telling you that they have more faith in science than in God, or the Church’s understanding of God.
By Tom Venzor
“We are facing an enormous and dramatic clash between good and evil, death and life, the ‘culture of death’ and the ‘culture of life.’ We find ourselves not only ‘faced with’ but necessarily ‘in the midst of’ this conflict....”
These words come from Saint Pope John Paul II’s famous encyclical, The Gospel of Life. And their truth was verified during last week’s legislative committee hearing on LB209, a pro-life policy that would empower every mother seeking an abortion with information giving her a second chance at choosing life.
“Substitute Teacher Plans” by Doug Johnson, illustrated by Tammy Smith
Henry Holt and Company, New York, 2002, 32 pages, K-2.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
By Tom Venzor
Join us for Catholics at the Capitol (Wednesday, March 27). Our annual advocacy day gives Catholics the opportunity to engage in the legislative process and advocate on important public policy. The morning program, held at St. Mary Church (14th & K), will include Mass, an educational program to learn about legislative issues, and advocacy with your state senator. There will also be an optional lunch ($10) program at the Newman Center (transportation provided), featuring several state senators and their experience of faith and politics. Invite family and friends. Visit www.necatholic.org for more details and registration information.
March 20 marked the halfway point of this year’s 90-day legislative session. Day 1 of the session seems like ages ago and Day 90 is hardly visible on the horizon.
“The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & The Fall Of Imperial Russia,” by Candace Fleming.
Schwartz & Ward Books, New York, 2014, 292 pages, Grades 9-12.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
One of my favorite flowers is the crocus. Why? Despite not being the most beautiful, they are the first to pop through the earth, some years as early as mid-February. They remind me of the upcoming resurrection of the dead on the last day.
By Tom Venzor
“I know this bill will allow for more students with similar stories as mine to have a choice in their education, a choice that could change their lives.”
These were Jacob Idra’s closing remarks during last week’s Revenue Committee hearing on LB670, the Opportunity Scholarships Act, a legislative bill providing more private education choice for low-income and working-class families in Nebraska.
Jacob is a freshman at Creighton University. When he’s not lighting up a room with his smile and his fashionable attire, he’s studying business. But his story begins long before Creighton University. His story begins in Africa.
“1917: Red Banners, White Mantle” by Warren H. Caroll.
Christendom Publications, Front Royale, Virginia, 1981, 141 pages, Grades 10 and higher.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
Recently, I listened to a voicemail from a young woman. It was at the end of the day. The tone of her voice contained an element of urgency. I called and left a message. The next morning, we were able to connect.
By Bob Sullivan
“The family who prays together, stays together.”
- Venerable Father Patrick Peyton
By Tom Venzor
Robert George, a leading Catholic intellectual, has long recognized that the West is experiencing a clash of orthodoxies. This clash, George notes, is between the Judeo-Christian worldview which has formed Western civilization and the “isms” that seek to displace and supersede the foundations of Western culture. These “isms” typically pertain to “sexuality, the transmitting and taking of human life, and the place of religion and religiously informed moral judgment in public life.” He identifies these “isms” as “contemporary American life-feminism, multiculturalism, gay liberationism, [and] lifestyle liberalism” which he names “the secularist orthodoxy.”
“The Young Chef: Recipes and Techniques for Kids Who Love to Cook” by Mark Ainsworth
Culinary Institute of America, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, 2016, 191 pages, Grades 9-12.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
I remember my dad telling me that during the Great Depression, when the doctor came calling at his house when one of his siblings was sick, he did his best to hide, because whatever awful-tasting medicine the sick sibling was forced to take, they in turn would have to take. He had vivid memories of an old man, wearing a tall black hat and long trench coat, with a big black bag full of disgusting pills and syrup.
By Tom Venzor
“If indeed ‘the just ordering of society and of the state is a central responsibility of politics,’ the Church “cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice’” (Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel, no. 183).
The Nebraska Catholic Conference’s annual advocacy day, Catholics at the Capitol, is just around the corner (Wednesday, March 27). And you (and all your family and friends) are invited!
“Jacob Have I Loved” by Katherine Paterson
Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 1980, 215 pages, Grades 8-12.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
Not long ago, a man lost his job. He was very stressed because he was married with children. Despite having historically low unemployment rates, these things happen for any number of reasons. Like many families, up until the job loss, they were living paycheck to paycheck.
By Bob Sullivan
Kazimierz Majdański was a Polish seminarian when the Germans invaded Poland in 1939. He was arrested by the Nazis and imprisoned in the infamous Dachau concentration camp, in southern Germany.
The survival rate for Polish priests in Dachau was approximately 33%. As a Polish seminarian, Majdański’s chances were no better.
By Tom Venzor
“We shall not weary, we shall not rest, until the culture of life is reflected in the rule of law and lived in the law of love…. Whether, in this great contest between the culture of life and the culture of death, we were recruited many years ago or whether we were recruited only yesterday, we have been recruited for the duration.”
These words were spoken to hundreds of pro-life leaders by the late, great Father Richard John Neuhaus. And they have been read by thousands more since then. Though over a decade old, these words remain as true today for pro-life advocates.
“Alma and How She Got Her Name,” by Juana Martinez-Neal.
Candlewick Press, Somerville, Mass., 2018, 32 pages, Grades K-3.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
When individuals and their families are living paycheck to paycheck, it doesn’t take much to upset the apple cart and create a financial crisis. Not long ago, a priest in the diocese received a call from a woman who is straddling between her middle and elderly years. She was in crisis mode.
By Tom Venzor
Hands shot up by the dozens last week when Senator Steve Lathrop, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, sought to determine how many people intended to testify in committee hearing on LB167, a controversial bill to ban conversion therapy for those experiencing same-sex attraction and gender identity issues. And while the in-person testimony of proponents and opponents lasted for over three hours, this was no comparison to the mass of letters and e-mails received by Chairman Lathrop to be entered into the public record—more than 1,000 letters of support and 1,500 letters of opposition.
“A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919” by Claire Hartfield.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, 2018, 198 pages, Grades 7-9.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
Remember when it was windy and below zero? It was at that time a single woman with multiple children of various ages came to our office. She was with her oldest child. He was hungry, shivering, and without a coat.
By Bob Sullivan
The ministries of acolyte and lector were once part of the diaconate, the process through which a man received Holy Orders.
By Tom Venzor
Our human sexuality—like so many other aspects of our humanity—has been damaged by Original Sin. In our own day, human sexuality has been distorted in countless ways: the general acceptance of contraception, unapologetic access to abortion, the rise of no-fault divorce, the fabricated right to so-called same-sex marriage, and the normalization of gender dysphoria. Our fallen state and its effect on our human sexuality plays out not only on the larger stage of culture but also on the smaller—yet vitally important—stage of the law.
“Fox the Tiger: I Can Read” by Corey R. Tabor
Harper and Collins, New York, 2018, 32 pages, Grades 2-3.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
Have I ever told you how blessed we are to have the Marian Sisters at St. Gianna’s Women’s Home? Well, if I haven’t, let me restate it: we are.
By Tom Venzor
Surrounded by hundreds of school choice advocates, Senator Lou Ann Linehan, chairwoman of the Revenue Committee, announced the introduction of legislation that would have a transformational effect on thousands of low-income and working-class families.
The legislation is LB670, known as the Opportunity Scholarships Act, which provides more scholarship opportunities to low-income and working-class families to attend a private or parochial school of their choosing. The legislation produces more scholarship opportunities by offering higher financial incentives—through state income tax credits—to persons who make donations to non-profit scholarship granting organizations.
“The Blizzard” by Betty Ren Wright, illustrated by Ronald Himler
Holiday House, New York, 2003, 32 pages, Grades 2-3.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
Remember that recent cold snap? A homeless man came into our main lobby in order to warm himself, for it was a cold day.
When people who are living on the streets come in, I love talking to and getting to know them. When people are living as such, it is often due to substance abuse, mental illness or both. Nevertheless, they are all created in the image and likeness of God.
By Bob Sullivan
My friend Wayne Ringer read that memorizing things is good for your brain. Wayne thought about that for a bit, then he picked up the phone and started calling his friends, asking them if they were interested in reciting the Gospel of John from memory.
Luckily, Wayne has a lot of friends, and 22 of us said we were interested in doing so. There are actually 21 chapters of John, but the 6th chapter is pretty long, so that chapter was divided between two guys.
I was one of the guys Wayne called. One thing about being Wayne’s friend is that you get to talk to Wayne quite a bit, and it is commonly about doing something fairly spiritually challenging in the near future. Everyone needs a friend like that, don’t they?
“Brixton Brothers: The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity,” by Mac Bennett, illustrated by Adam Rex.
Simon and Shuster, New York, 2009, 179 pages, Grades 3-5.
By Tom Venzor
A recent piece by the Lincoln Journal-Star Editorial Board wasted no time criticizing Governor Pete Ricketts’ biennial budget proposal for including a pro-life provision that prohibits taxpayer dollars from subsidizing the abortion industry. The editorial advanced two arguments to support their disapproval. Both arguments miss the mark and fail to paint the whole picture about this critical pro-life language.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
On a day when many places were closed due to heavy snow, many members of the Lincoln Diocesan Counsel of Catholic Women (LDCCW) gathered at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly.
By Tom Venzor
Last Friday, State Senator Joni Albrecht of District 17 (representing Wayne, Dakota, and Thurston counties) introduced a bill in the Legislature that would give mothers who have begun the abortion pill process a second chance at choosing life. This life-saving legislation will be a key priority for the Nebraska Catholic Conference this legislative session—we hope you join us as advocates on behalf of abortion-minded mothers and unborn children.
“Bound in Ice” by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace.
Calkins Creek Press, Honesdale, Penn., 191 pages, 2017, Grades 6-9.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
Recently, one of the priests of the diocese came to our main office, wanting to chat about a married couple and their family in need; a family that he sees in the pews.
By Tom Venzor
I will never grow tired of repeating these words of Pope Benedict XVI: the Church “cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice.” The Church has a responsibility to “reawaken the spiritual energy” that produces the search and commitment to justice in our political society. Justice does not come about by passivity or apathy. It is an effort that requires courage, vigilance, and regular activity.
But we can only exert effort where there is opportunity to do so. Fortunately, during this legislative session there will be several opportunities for engaging in the political process, with the aim of transforming the culture.
“El Deafo” by Cece Bell, illustrated by David Lasky
Abrams Books, New York, 2014, 233 pages, Grades 3-5.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
I recently paid a visit to St. Louise Gift & Thrift, one of our four thrift stores. Having thrift stores across the diocese has been a blessing. In many of my letters and publications, I ask people to consider donating items not needed from around their farms and homes. These items are either given away directly to needy individuals or families, or sold at one of our thrift stores. The profits used to pay rent, utilities, a charity grant for counseling at our Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center, or for some other individual need.
By Bob Sullivan
Each day is full of good and bad experiences. Some things are the consequences of a person’s actions, but sometimes there seems to be no obvious rhyme or reason as to why something has happened.
In those cases, some say it is all due to a person’s luck, such as the luck of the Irish, dumb luck, or just plain old bad luck. Luck is defined as something which happens by chance. Others say that good and bad things happen by mere coincidence. A coincidence is defined as an incident in which two or more things correspond in nature or in time of occurrence: “co-incident.” Some chalk it up to karma. Karma is defined as the sum of a person’s actions which decides their fate.
All of these concepts are contrary to Christianity. The Church has always taught that all good things come from God (Psalm 127, James 1:17). The Church has also always taught that all bad things, difficulties, and sufferings, are the consequence of sin, first of all original sin, but also the personal sins we commit (1 Corinthians 15:21, CCC 403 and 408).
By Tom Venzor
Recently at Mass, I saw in my pew a “Family Consecration to the Holy Family” brochure printed by the Knights of Columbus, and I laughed.
I laughed because of a recent political debacle associated with the confirmation process for a Nebraska attorney, Brian Buescher, who has been nominated to the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska.
Buescher, a Catholic, has been on the receiving end of anti-Catholic rhetoric from some members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. The anti-Catholic rhetoric against Buescher centers on is his membership since age 18 in the Knights of Columbus—a damning association, if there ever was one (please note the sarcasm).
“Amina’s Voice” by Hena Khan
Salaam Reads, New York, 2017, 197 pages, Grades 4-6.
By Father Christopher Kubat
Technically, CSS is supposed to be open on Christmas Eve morning; however, I always give our employees that day off. Since last-minute stragglers come in on Christmas Eve, I always come in to the office in the morning.
By Tom Venzor
Before I jump into my column, I want to wish everybody who has been reading my column over the last year a very Merry Christmas! I am honored and humbled you take even a few minutes of your day to learn more about the work of the Nebraska Catholic Conference and how together we can build the common good through political—and, ultimately, cultural—engagement. You are a gift to the Church and a sign of the love of God! May the Incarnation of God, through the Christ Child, bring you the joy and peace that your heart desires!
“The Holy Bible: The Infancy Narratives”
St. Matthew, Chapter One and Two. St. Luke, Chapter One and Two
“The Night Before Christmas”
by Moore, Clement; photos by Raquel Jaramillo.
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, New York, 2001, 32 pages, All Ages.
Christmas is one of the happiest days of the year. We celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The finest way to do this at home is to read one of the Infancy Narratives from the Bible.
St. Matthew emphasizes the role of St. Joseph in the birth of Our Lord. In Chapter One, an angel appears to St. Joseph in a dream and tells him: “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit, she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” This emphasizes St. Joseph’s earthly fatherhood as well as demonstrating that Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophesies concerning the Messiah.
St. Luke develops the role of the Blessed Mother in these marvelous events. In Chapter One, St. Luke recounts the Annunciation and the Visitation which culminates with one of the most profound prayers in all of Sacred Scripture, The Magnificat. In Chapter Two, St. Luke tells us of the birth of Jesus and of Mary wrapping Him in swaddling clothes and laying Him in a humble manger. In St. Luke’s Gospel we are introduced to the shepherds coming to greet and adore Jesus. Both Infancy Narratives of the birth of Our Lord are poignant, personal and edifying.
It is particularly instructive for the father or mother of the family to read one of these accounts before opening presents. My father-in-law, Edward Dailey, understood the beauty and need to share the accounts of the birth of the Messiah. Each Christmas Eve, before opening the presents, he would either read the Infancy Narrative from St. Matthew or St. Luke. The reading of the birth of Jesus by the patriarch of the family impressed the importance of this holy event. We all understood that the presents could wait, because God the Father had sent the perfect present to humanity.
In addition to this sacred material, the reading of a delightful poem such as “The Night Before Christmas” can add joy and spontaneity to Christmas Eve. Written by Clement Moore, a seminary professor of Oriental and Greek languages in New York, the poem was published anonymously in 1823. It became wildly popular and remains so to this day. One would hardly expect such a well-liked poem to have been written by a scholar of classical languages, but truth is stranger than fiction. The book is filled with photos of all the events in the poem. We see a family going to bed and later being awakened by the arrival of St. Nicholas and the tiny reindeer. All of the photographs depict the joy and happiness of the event as the family sees St. Nicholas filling the stockings with care. St. Nicholas has a happy face and truly is a “right jolly old elf.” When he goes up the chimney, readers will want to also say: “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”
As your family gathers together on this holy evening, I hope that you choose one of the Infancy Narratives for the joyful edification of your family. It is both instructive and pleasing for children to hear the Infancy Narratives.
Additionally, add to the pleasure and fun of the night by reading the delightful “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Moore. You can help make Christmas Eve both instructive and entertaining for your family by using sacred and secular readings. I hope that you have a joyful Christmas.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
During my college years, while at home, my uncle, then in his mid-50s, came over for a visit. As he bent over to give his mother a kiss, my Irish grandmother grabbed his bald head and planted a kiss right smack on top and said, “You’re just my little boy!”
Saying nothing, I thought, ‘Little boy? Lady … he’s an old man!’ He seemed so ancient at the time.
By Bob Sullivan
You know the Eucharist is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. The bread and wine become the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ when the priest consecrates the bread and wine during the Eucharistic prayer, which is during the Mass. “This is my body.” “This is the Chalice of my blood.” The Eucharist is not a symbol, it is not simply a spiritual thing, it is not a recalling of the Last Supper, and it is not bread or wine. But you know this.
By Tom Venzor
Things Jesus Never Said: Thy Legislature Come! But even if Jesus never said these words, we know that Christ calls us to anticipate the advent of many things in life, including the advent of a new legislative session.
By Dr. Terrence Nollen
Dear Friends of the Children’s Literature Bookshelf: It has been a pleasure writing these columns for you and your family. I hope that the titles have brought joy and insight to you. I know that I have benefited greatly from writing the book talks for the Southern Nebraska Register. May you and your family have a Blessed Christmas. 2019 should be another exciting year for children’s literature. Thank you so much!
You may read all the reviews of the past year (and of several previous years as well!) at this link. I hope that this list will give you some ideas for books that might make nice Christmas presents.
By Father Christopher Kubat
Doesn’t it seem we are often in a hurry? And why does it seem when we need to leave for an appointment or an engagement, something pops up that needs our immediate attention?
By Tom Venzor
The apparition of Our Lady at Guadalupe, inscribed on the tilma worn by Juan Diego nearly 500 years ago, is pregnant with meaning and purpose. As Father Peter John Cameron, OP, recounts in his book, Mysteries of the Virgin Mary: Living Our Lady’s Graces, “[t]he ‘first impression’ of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the indigenous people [of Mexico] must have been shocking.”
“Genevieve’s War” by Patricia Reilly Giff
Holiday House, New York, 2017, 222 pages, Grades 4-6.
By Father Christopher Kubat
Recently, I visited my biggest Seedlings column fan… my mother, Mary Barbara, in Bellevue.
By Bob Sullivan
One of the common modern misperceptions of Christianity is that there was an “Old Testament” god and now there is a “New Testament” god. The “Old Testament” god was grumpier, angrier, and much more wrathful than the easy-going god we have today.
By Tom Venzor
As a child, my understanding of the concept ‘trade’ was limited. Trade was something you did with baseball cards. If you were a knucklehead like me, you traded the baseball cards of your favorite athlete, Nolan Ryan, to your “girlfriend” for a handful of dimes. I can still hear echoes of my mom’s disappointment the moment I told her about this “brilliant” trade. Apparently, love is blind even at age 8.
As an adult, this concept of trade still predominates. Instead of baseball cards, I now trade ineffective football players for better football players to maximize fantasy points, so I can beat my father-in-law, Dan, in our next head-to-head fantasy football bout—all of this, of course, for bragging rights.
As a lobbyist at the legislature, my concept of trade has broadened. In some instances, senators might trade votes on an issue to gain support for another issue—some call this form of trading a compromise or the art of the deal or getting to ‘yes’ or, depending on the gravity of the issues involved, selling your soul. The concept of trade has also been present in discussions about human trafficking legislation. Trafficking involves the trade of a human being for a certain service, sometimes labor or sometimes sex—a practice universally condemned by any human being with the slightest sense of conscience.
“Fault Lines in the Constitution: the Framers, Their Fights and the Flaws That Affect Us Today”
by Cynthia Levinson and Sanford Levinson.
Peachtree Publishers, Atlanta, 2017, 235 pages, Grades 6-9.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
I do not know about you, but I am not a huge fan of chicken salad. Don’t get me wrong. I love chicken—fried, baked, boiled, whatever… but chicken salad?? That said, for those who are not fans of chicken salad, my sister Barb’s concoction will change your mind. It has apples, raisins and other secret ingredients to make it one of a kind.
By Tom Venzor
The liturgical year ends with a powerful—albeit underrated—solemnity: Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This Sunday solemnity is often overshadowed by Thanksgiving festivities, which turn the hearts and minds of many to Christmas shopping. Even Advent eclipses the solemnity, as if the end of the liturgical year is a mere stepping stone toward the Incarnation that Advent anticipates.
But the Solemnity of Christ the King is a feast worth pausing for.
“Giving Thanks. Poems, Prayers and Praise Songs of Thanksgiving,” by Katherine Paterson, Illustrated by Pamela Dalton.
Handprint Books, San Francisco, 2013, 56 pages, Grades 3-6.
By Fr. Christopher Kubat
When I was assigned to Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska in 2003, I mistakenly thought I would have to give up doing some of the things I enjoyed as a priest assigned to a parish, namely teaching RCIA classes.
By Bob Sullivan
Does the Church teach that a sacramental marriage is incomplete, unless the husband and wife consummate the marriage? A great way to explore this interesting question is to look at the Holy Family. If Mary remained a virgin perpetually, this would seem to suggest that consummation is not a basic requirement of an indissoluble marriage in the Catholic Church.
By Tom Venzor
The wisdom of the saints is found in the way they lived. The saints exemplify heroic virtue and embody the Gospel. Animated by the Holy Spirit, they radically lived for God and neighbor. They reveal that, with divine grace, a life lived in imitation of Christ is wholly within our grasp. In short, saints reveal to us the way of charity.
This is as true for the saints of old, as it is for the saints of today—and for all those in between, like St. Thomas Aquinas. In fact, it is from St. Thomas Aquinas that I want to draw some lessons about public discourse on political issues.
“A Boy of Old Prague,” by Aulamith Ish-Kishop.
Dover Publications, Mineola, N.Y., 1963, 90 pages, Reading Level: Grades 4-6.
Comprehension Level: Grades 4 through adult.
By Father Christopher Kubat
In October 1859, The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a young Belgian immigrant woman named Adele Brise, on the east side of Green Bay, Wisc. (just 20 minutes northeast of the present-day city). I had heard of the Our Lady of Good Help shrine and know of a handful of people who have visited the site.
By Tom Venzor
I first met Jack Odgaard when I was a third-year law student at the University of Nebraska College of Law. The summer prior to meeting Jack, I had taken part in the Blackstone Legal Fellowship sponsored by Alliance Defending Freedom, a not-for-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
