by Fr. Justin Fulton
“Look what my friend gave me today. My heart is full. Tomorrow I am four years sober by the Grace of God. Thank you for everything!!!!”
- A text from a former St. Gianna Women’s Home Client to Sister Bernadette at St. Gianna’s
by Tom Venzor
I can hear the words of Andy Williams playing in the back of my head already: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…. It’s the hap, happiest season of all.” That’s right, it’s that time of the year when we at the Nebraska Catholic Conference are counting down the days until the next legislative session.
This year’s legislative session will be a “short” session, but there will be no shortage of public policy and politicking to be had. It begins, as every session does, on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January—or, more precisely, Jan. 5.
I like to write this column about the upcoming session about a month in advance to give Catholics a heads up, so they can more intently think about and pray for our legislature. But I also write this time in advance because over the next couple weeks, Marion Miner, our Associate Director for Pro-Life & Family Policy, will be writing this column.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
Today, I share with you a “memo” that was shared with me during my seminary years at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. I do not know where this “memo” came from, but I have always kept it with me after all of these years. Have a read….
by Paige Brown,
Statewide Pro-Life Activities Coordinator
In the coming days, the Supreme Court will have the unique opportunity to alter the course of America’s history with abortion, which has already violated the human dignity of 62,000,000 preborn children, and millions of mothers and fathers. Opening arguments for Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization are scheduled for Dec. 1. Prayer rallies and demonstrations are scheduled to take place in front of the Supreme Court to commemorate the start of proceedings. A multidenominational prayer campaign kicked off Nov. 18: Pray for Dobbs (www.PrayForDobbs.com). Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant congregations are participating with prayer and fasting in support of the fiercest opponent to Roe v. Wade we’ve seen. Needless to say, people of faith, committed to science, are preparing for this monumental moment.
by Katie Patrick
CSS volunteers teamed up with the Knights of Columbus Nov. 13 to host the annual “Coats for Kids” event at our downtown Lincoln location. This event is led by the Knights of Columbus, who throughout the month of October promote the collection and gather coats, hats, scarves, and gloves at parishes across town in preparation for distribution to the many families we serve at CSS.
“Pumpkin Soup” by Helen Cooper
Macmillan Press, New York, 1998, 32 pages, Grades K-2.
by Tom Venzor
Popularized by Stephen Covey, a concept rooted in the philosophical tradition of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas worthy of reflection is the idea of “beginning with the end in mind.”
Such a question can quickly put any number of things into perspective for us. As a husband and a father, having “the end in mind” has on many occasions quickly jolted me out of failures in charity toward my wife and children. This mindset helps me keep an eye on what I want to become and how I can, with the grace of God, get there.
“Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen” by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann
Schwartz and Wade books, New York, 2018, 245 pages, Grades 4-6.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
Peace be with you.
On behalf of the employees, staff, volunteers, benefactors and Board of Directors of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska, I want to wish each and every one of you a blessed, safe, and happy Thanksgiving!
by Tom Venzor
As the days of November come and go, the Church finds herself living out the final days of our liturgical year. Before the days of Advent come upon us, we have what I personally believe to be one of the hidden gems of the Church’s liturgical calendar: the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The name alone is intense enough to attract our attention!
“Crash, Splash, Moo!” by Bob Shea
Little, Brown and Company, New York, 2018, 32 pages, Grades K-2.
by Katie Patrick
One of the many things I love about Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska is that we fill a gap in the nonprofit community across all of southern Nebraska that others don’t. The programs that we offer include emergency cash assistance, food market and meal services, immigration legal services, refugee resettlement and employment services, and St. Gianna Women’s Homes for survivors of domestic violence and crisis pregnancy. They all offer something that no other agency—or very few agencies—do.
by Bob Sullivan
You probably didn’t notice, but In Layman’s Terms took a little hiatus in September and October. That was because I came down with COVID-19 and ended up in the hospital because I had developed blood clots which ended up in my lungs.
After two weeks of flu-like symptoms, followed by eight days in intensive care in the hospital, I made it back home where I have continued my recovery. As of the writing of this column, it has been over a month since I recognized my first symptoms of COVID.
by Jeremy Ekeler
The Nebraska Department of Education’s (NDE) two-year attempt at state-wide comprehensive sexuality education standards was a divisive disaster. However, the state government’s foremost educational organization did unintentionally teach valuable lessons along the way. Pay attention—there will be study guides and a final test.
“The World I Live In” by Helen Keller.
146 pages (E-book), 1904, Grades 9-12.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
Here is a picture of my next-door neighbor Nick Shaw and myself back in 1986. At that time, we had no idea Nick would someday be a successful businessman in the medical services industry and myself a priest. Life sure is unpredictable! Here is one of my favorite prayers:
by Jeremy Ekeler
The eruption caused by the Nebraska Department of Education’s (NDE) Health Standards now reverberates in local and national media outlets that are exposing hundreds of internal NDE emails.
These emails were made public after concerned Nebraskans made official records requests. The NDE’s manipulation of process, disregard for parent voices, and engagement with activists are on display in the correspondence. The Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star, and now the Washington Free Beacon, Life News, and Breitbart have picked up the story.
by Katie Patrick
Focused on the theme of love thy neighbor, World Mission Sunday has been a day that I look forward to all year round, and as I read Pope Francis’ message to the universal Church this week, I was struck by his words, “We know that the call to mission is not a thing of the past, or a romantic leftover from earlier times. Today, too Jesus needs hearts capable of experiencing vocation as a true love story that urges them to go forth to the peripheries of our world as messengers and agents of compassion. He addresses this call to everyone, and in different ways. We can think of the peripheries all around us, in the heart of our cities or our own families. Universal openness to love has a dimension that is not geographical but existential.”
“The Second Sky”
by Patrick Guest, illustrated by Jonathan Bentley.
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2017, 32 pages, K-3.
by Bob Sullivan
The slogan, “My Body My Choice” was adopted (pun intended) by abortion advocates many years ago. When an abortion advocate says “my body my choice,” they mean that the mother should be allowed to make the decision whether or not to have an abortion, and no one else in the world should be allowed to interfere with her decision. They are saying that a person gets to make their own decisions about what happens with or to their own body.
As with all propaganda, there is a lot of truth to this statement, but there is also untruth. This is because when we are talking about abortion, we are talking about two bodies (at least).
“My body my choice” works fine when you are deciding whether or not to get a haircut, but it is illogical when you are deciding to drive your carload of friends recklessly. Nor would it work if you decided to blow yourself up with a bomb while in a room with at least one other person.
by Tom Venzor
In honor of Saint Pope John Paul II’s feast day, I would like to offer this tribute to JPII from a couple years ago.
Walker Percy, the acclaimed Southern novelist and Catholic, once said: “In this society, which is post-Christian, post-modern… there is no coherent theory of man.”
By this, Percy meant that the modern understanding of who and what the human person is lacks consistency. Modern man’s understanding—rooted in “a kind of pop scientific idea”—sees the body and the mind as radically divided, rather than unified and working together. “Consequently,” Percy claimed, “the modern man is deranged.” By deranged, Percy did not necessarily mean “insane,” as we might initially assume. Instead, Percy meant something different: modern man is disordered, dis-arranged.
“Edmund Campion: Hero of God’s Underground”
by Harold C. Gardiner, S.J.
Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 1992, 180 pages, Grades 8-10.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
This is a picture of my 2-year-old niece Juliana. Jules is quite the character. Here she is grumpy and frumpy. Her mother tells me this is what Jules did when she was asked to smile for the camera. Juliana reminds me a lot of me, frankly.
“The Someone New”
By Jill Twiss, illustrated by E.G. Keller
Harper, New York, 2019, 32 pages, Grades K-2.
by Marion Miner
During the morning portion of the recently concluded 2021 Bishops’ Pro-Life Conference, attendees delved deeply into important truths about the identity of the human person and the deeply consequential errors that deny them.
As Western culture and law distances itself from those truths—a reality that becomes more apparent with each passing year—it becomes more and more important for Catholics and others of good will to recall, understand, and bear witness to them.
by Katie Patrick
It seems that each time I sign onto Facebook these days, I see yet another gender reveal video from one of my friends. The most popular have been cutting cakes, popping balloons, and lighting smoke or confetti fireworks.
My husband and I used a piñata for the announcement of our twins in May. As the candy spilled out, I was confused by the mint green color thinking at first in the sunlight it was blue, but as I reached down to pick up the chocolate-wrapped candy, “It’s a Girl!!” was clearly marked on all of the pieces. Two girls! Even though they have yet to arrive, as their mother, I’m already concerned about the teenage years of fashion, boys, and staying out past midnight. Superficial concerns perhaps, but influential ones just the same. I’m also feeling guilty for all the sleepless nights I gave my own parents when “just one more party” seemed so harmless to me back then. Honestly, I don’t know how parents sleep at all. Hopefully, I will learn.
by Paige Brown
The dust has settled, and the echoes of laughter and conversation heard from the Bishops’ Pro-Life Banquet and Conference have faded. The banquet boasted a total of nearly 500 guests, including by some accounts the largest turnout of young people to date. College and high school students, young professionals, young parents, local pro-life leaders, seminarians—the pro-life generation showed up like never before.
by Dr. Terrence Nollen
Dear Readers:
Recently, the Plum Creek Literary Festival was unexpectedly cancelled. This festival is held each year at Concordia University in Seward. It is a delightful and engaging event. Writers and illustrators across the Midwest come to the Concordia campus and give talks and presentations on their works.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
Over the past summer and now headed into the fall I have done a lot more jogging. I’ve never really had a romance with jogging. It seems as if Purgatory may have some form of jogging in it. But I have come to appreciate it more. It is a good way to clear the mind. A rosary usually gets prayed during a 3-mile run. It is a welcome respite getting away from the news of the world and the mud and the muck of social media.
It’s also a good way to find out how out of shape I am.
by Tom Venzor
On Oct. 1, the Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Catholic Church in the United States begins its annual Respect Life campaign. This campaign helps Catholics “understand and value the gift of human life and help build a culture that cherishes and protects it.”
And if there were ever a time for a Respect Life campaign, the time is now.
“Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909”
by Michelle Market, illustrated by Melissa Sweet.
Harper and Collins, New York, 2913, 32 pages, Grades 2-4.
by Katie Patrick
In the past month, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska has welcomed a family of 10 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a family of seven and a family of six from Syria, a young woman from Burma, a family of four from South Sudan, and a family of six from Afghanistan. It’s been an incredible month!
The family from Congo has a message for us, but before I get to their story, I thought it would be good to have a quick recap of what refugee resettlement looks like in the U.S.
by Tom Venzor
Before I jump into my regularly scheduled broadcast, I want to take a moment and thank everybody who prayed for or attended this year’s Bishops’ Pro-Life Banquet & Conference. We had an incredible crowd of almost 500 people for the Friday evening banquet and around 100 attendees for the Saturday conference. It was a great moment for celebration, solidarity, and learning. While I will write more about the weekend’s festivities and activities in next week’s column, for now you’ll want to mark down Sept. 23-24, 2022, on your calendar so you don’t miss out on next year’s banquet and conference.
In this year’s Respect Life Month Statement, Archbishop Joseph Naumann—who also happened to be this year’s pro-life banquet keynote speaker—says: “While attacks against human life seem to grow ever more numerous and callous, we know that Christ has conquered sin and death.” The archbishop continues, “Jesus asks us to be as leaven in the world, to bring His light to the darkness.”
“Gunner: Hurricane Horse”
by Judy Andrekson, illustrated by David Parkins.
Tundra Books, Toronto, 2010, 95 pages, Grades 4-6.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
This past Friday I had an opportunity to pick up my mother and head to Nebraska City to watch a Lourdes Knights football game. While I have always been enamored by the genius of eight-man football, I must admit we did not primarily go to the game to watch football.
“Let Liberty Rise! How America’s Schoolchildren Helped Save the Statue of Liberty”
by Chana Stiefel, illustrated by Chuck Groenink.
Scholastic Press, New York, 2021, 40 pages, Grades 1-2.
by Tom Venzor
“Patriotism,” says Father Gregory Pine, O.P., “seeks an outlet.” The anniversary of September 11th is perhaps the strongest evidence in our own times of this fundamental fact about patriotism.
Every year on September 11th a genuine outpouring of living memory takes places. Americans across the country recount experiences of that dreadful morning when our country came under attack. They share not only their own personal experiences, but they tap into the shared tradition of others’ experiences.
by Katie Patrick
To an outsider, Ogallala, Nebraska may not seem like a final destination or safe haven but it’s going to be a fresh start for this family. Having fled their home down south due to violence, the family was driving through Nebraska and pulled off at an Ogallala exit for medical reasons. After encountering the kindness and generosity of the people in Ogallala, the family decided to make it home.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
9/11’s first recorded victim was Father Mychal Judge, OFM, a Catholic priest who also served as a chaplain to the FDNY. He came that morning so that others may have Eternal Life.
by Tom Venzor
Last Call. If you haven’t registered for the Bishops’ Pro-Life Banquet & Conference, it’s that time: Last Call! Registration will shut down at 11:59 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 12). So, stop what you’re doing, visit www.necatholic.org, and get yourself (and your family, friends, and parishioners) registered for the banquet and conference. The banquet is on Friday evening, Sept. 17, starting at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour and banquet dinner to follow—keynote speaker: Archbishop Joseph Naumann, Chairman of Pro-Life Activities for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The conference is on Saturday, Sept. 18, starting at 8:30 a.m. with the Rosary and a day full of excellent conference talks beginning at 9 a.m.
“Hurricane Katrina” by Ellen Rodger
Crabtree Publishing Company, New York, 2007, 32 pages, Grades 4-6.
by Tom Venzor
Before I jump into my column, I want to take a moment to remind you about the Bishops’ Pro-Life Banquet and Conference. I’ll save you the full details as I’ve previously written about them, and you can also find them at www.necatholic.org. But I’ll at least offer a snippet right now.
by Katie Patrick, executive director,
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
Last Tuesday, I received a phone call from a young man who came as a refugee from Afghanistan in 2000, when he was just 5 years old. Catholic Social Services had resettled his family then, and he had questions regarding the process of how they were admitted and resettled in the Lincoln community.
I asked a few more questions about his family, and as he listed the names of his siblings and his mother, I immediately recognized who I was speaking to.
“Little Cliff’s First Day of School”
by Clifton L. Taulbert, paintings by E.B. Lewis
Dial Books for Young Readers, New York, 32 pages, 2001.
by Katie Patrick
A bowl of Lucky Charms for breakfast. Diet Dr. Pepper in the afternoon. Fries as a side. And ice cream with Hershey’s chocolate syrup before bed. Sounds good, right? I think so! It’s my sweet tooth and salty tooth at their best, not to mention the afternoon caffeine boost. Truth be told, this was my diet until a few years ago when I decided to start eating healthier.
We hopefully make those kinds of decisions the older we get, don’t we? We start paying attention to the consequences of a bad diet because we finally start to feel their effects, like how too much sugar in the morning can leave you hungry a couple hours later; how too much caffeine can keep you from falling asleep at night; and how your blood sugar levels go up if you eat too many carbs.
Did you know that hunger refers not to just the lack of food, but to the lack of nutritious food? More precisely, we call it food insecurity. Food insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.
by Bob Sullivan
In my last column, I explained that Critical Race Theory (CRT) fosters an identity crisis in which the only solution is to discriminate against yourself as well as those who you deem to be oppressors.
As you can see, that is a vicious cycle, for as soon as someone succeeds in taking down an oppressor, they themselves may find themselves at the top of the power struggle, thereby becoming the target of those who are envious of them. Anyone wishing to avoid the fate of being discriminated against, must do all they can to hold themselves down so they can sustain their identity as a victim. They must continually engage in just enough activism (retaliation and protest) against the perceived oppressors to maintain their status as a victim, but avoid too much success for fear that they will lose their victim status and become an oppressor.
by Tom Venzor
It’s that time of year for you, your family, your friends, your parishioners, your neighbors, your enemies, and anybody else you can think of to register for this year’s Bishops’ Pro-Life Banquet and Conference, which you can do at www.necatholic.org.
“Mount St. Helen’s 1980: Fiery Eruptions”
by Gare Thompson.
B.E.S Press, 2017, 240 pages, Grades 4-6.
“Rosie the Riveter” by Christine Petersen
Cornerstones of Freedom, 2nd Series, Children’s Press, New York, 2005, 48 pages, Grades 4-6.
by Jeremy Ekeler,
Associate Director of Education Policy
The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) released their highly anticipated second draft of Health Standards July 29. Of particular interest is the Human Growth and Development portion of these standards. It is in this area that the NDE embedded troubling, ideological, and harmful concepts in the first draft. Let’s begin with some context for how we got here, and then talk about the new draft.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
Hello, all! Peace be with you.
Today I share a picture of my niece Cecilia admiring some beautiful flowers.
by Bob Sullivan
Racism is evil, and it still exists in the United States. Is Critical Race Theory (CRT) a Christian response to racism?
CRT found its start in the 1970s when a group of intellectuals including academics and activists proposed that the civil rights advances of the 1960s had stalled, and the nation was in need of a booster shot. CRT claims that racism is still alive in American hearts and minds, traditions and behaviors, habits and instincts. In fact, racism is sometimes so subtle that everyday phrases, habits and thought patterns are actually unknowingly guided by racism.
“A Voice of Her Own: The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet”
by Kathryn Lasky. Illustrated by Paul Lee.
Candlewick Press, Cambridge, Mass., 2003, 48 pages, Grades 3-5.
by Tom Venzor
In just under two months (Sept. 17 and 18), the Nebraska Catholic Conference will be hosting our annual Bishops’ Pro-Life Banquet & Conference. After hosting last year’s event virtually via Zoom, we are thrilled to host an in-person gathering this year.
As usual, the banquet will be on Friday evening (Sept. 17), starting with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. and followed by the dinner banquet at 6:30 p.m. The conference will be on Saturday (Sept. 18), starting with a Rosary at 8:30 a.m. and followed by several excellent talks running from 9 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. All the gatherings will take place at the Embassy Suites in downtown Lincoln. If you are already sold on attending and don’t need to read anything more, visit www.necatholic.org and register to attend!
by Father Justin Fulton
Friends, I share this week a eulogy given by Sister Andrea who cared for Fr. Rudy Oborny. It is beautiful. Rudy passed in May. He loved the poor and some of his estate went to help the poor at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. Please pray for your priests living and deceased. Please pray for the people we serve... you. God bless and keep you all.
by Tom Venzor
Before I get rolling with my column, I should say this: if you haven’t read the column by Katie Patrick, the new executive director for Catholic Social Services, you should go do that. I say this because Katie is a wonderful person with a big heart and, more importantly, she’s my sister-in-law. In time, our family will attempt to take over the entire Southern Nebraska Register! Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming:
It’s the year 1776. You’re a priest. And you’ve heard Colonel John Nixon deliver the first public proclamation of the Declaration of Independence outside of the Pennsylvania statehouse. You’re overjoyed by this newfound freedom from British imperialism. You also fear for what’s to come and wonder to yourself, “Can this American project last? Will its foundations, built on the inalienable rights endowed by our Creator, survive the test of time and people?”
by Bob Sullivan
When you were growing up, you may have learned about “the birds and the bees” from your mom or dad, and you may have sat through some “sex education” courses at school. If some people have it their way, this type of education will not happen for your children and grandchildren.
Today, there is an enormous effort to change the way our children learn about their bodies, their desires, and their relationships. One effort is through pornography, and the other is through K-12 schools and “sexual education” programs, which are very different from sex education.
“The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library”
By Linda Bailey, iIllustrated by Victoria Jamieson.
Greenwillow Books, New York, 2017, 324 pages, Grades 3-4.
by Katie Patrick
Malémbe, Malémbe. Slowly, Slowly.
When I moved to the Democratic Republic of Congo in October 2010, these were the words I heard from the local Congolese most frequently. I had just finished graduate school at Seton Hall University in New Jersey where I spent a fair amount of time commuting to internships in Newark and New York City. Life was hectic, complicated, and tiresome. Even when you’re not in a rush, you’re hurrying to catch a train, a taxi or a bus.
By Tom Venzor
We live in an age that misapprehends basic facts about the human person. Unborn babies are treated as non-persons and waste to be discarded. One’s biological sex is considered malleable and changeable at the drop of a hat. Marriage has been eviscerated of its meaning. Countless in poverty live without their most basic needs being met. Technology is a controlling feature of everyday life, alienating us from our very land, families, and communities. The list goes on.
In an age that misconstrues so many basic facts about reality, it is important to return to the ABCs on any given topic. For example, when it comes to evangelization, it can be easy to dive deep into the nuances of moral theology or the personalities of popes. But instead, we often must return to the fundamentals of the Gospel in the faithless age we live in: God became man to free us from the bondage of our sins, that we might have eternal life with Him, if we but accept the gift of His saving grace.
“Because They Marched: The People’s Campaign for Voting Rights That Changed America” by Russell Freedman.
Holiday House, New York, 2014, 83 pages, Grades 5-8.
By Fr. Justin Fulton
Recently, I was able to take some time away from the office and visit my mom back in the hometown of Auburn.
It was nice to have a few days experiencing the summer that shaped me for 18 summers of my life. I would go to coffee with the local farmers. I went fishing at a pond. I did some small-town golfing, went to my uncle’s farm, watched some baseball, and re-connected with a lot of good friends and family. It was refreshing to see the stars at night again and live simply. I am grateful for the time to get back to the roots where people know me as “Hacksaw” or “Fult” and not necessarily as “Father Fulton.”
by Tom Venzor
We are now on the summer Southern Nebraska Register publication schedule. You know what that means? It means you only get to use my column for fire kindling every two weeks instead of every week. If you need extra columns to light up in flames, I believe my beautiful bride, Makayla, is collecting a pile of them somewhere.
On a slightly more serious note, in my last column (“A Potpourri of Updates”) I discussed my childhood hatred for the smell of potpourri. I must issue a correction. I stated that my hatred continues and is experienced when my wife compels me go into the craft store, Michael’s, a place that I believe the famous poet, Dante, writes about in the sixth circle of the Inferno. That claim upset her. She wanted the record corrected, lest you all think she’s a Michael’s shopper. She is not. She’s a Hobby Lobby shopper!
Now, in all seriousness, the last time I wrote we were on the cusp of ending the legislative session. I’m happy to report the legislative session has been over for about two weeks. And as I mentioned in my previous column, two legislative bills the Nebraska Catholic Conference sponsored were to be vetoed by Governor Ricketts. He did indeed veto those bills. The Unicameral subsequently overrode his vetoes.
“Paul Writes (a letter)”
By Chris Raschka
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Grand Rapids, Mich., 2018, 32 pages, Grades K-3.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
Many times when I pray at the casket of a deceased child of God, I look intently at the hands of the deceased. I meditate deeply about what those hands have done.
This is especially true of deceased who are fathers. Think of all of the miles travelled, lessons given, lessons learned, and lives touched by those hands. A father’s hands fix things. Those hands sacrifice. They feed. They help give hugs. They show love. They show trust, make deals, and build relationships. They mend. They serve. They steady us so we can learn how to ride bikes.
by Tom Venzor
As a kid, and now as an adult, there are few smells that I hate more than potpourri. Why? Well, I can’t give you a good answer. But Grandma—God rest her soul—always had something in her house that smelled like potpourri, and I never liked it. And, now, occasionally when my wife compels me to make a trip into Michael’s craft store, that hatred for potpourri returns.
But as much as I hate the smell, the word itself is about as good of a description as any for this week’s column. There are a garden variety of updates worth providing, so I’ll tackle them one-by-one.
“The Library Book”
by Tom Chapin and Michael Mark, illustrated by Chuck Groenink.
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, New York, 2017, 32 pages, K-3.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
This weekend, we will honor and mourn the lives of American heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in dying for the cause of freedom. Memorial Day. As we pause to celebrate the reality that there are causes worth dying for, perhaps Memorial Day provides us with an opportunity for an examination of our own consciences.
Do I sacrifice daily? Do I think of others before myself always? What or who would I die for? How do I emulate Jesus and His Sacrifice? Do I know Jesus in the face of the poor?
“Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Mary” by Gail Jarrow.
Calkins Creek, Honesdale, Pennsylvania, 2015, 175 pages, Grades 6-9.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
I remember the pride I had when I stood at the podium of my high school class’s commencement exercises in May of 1999.
Looking out at a gymnasium filled with neighbors and townspeople, family, classmates, and lifelong friends who had spent the good chunk of years together, I mustered out something somewhat coherent. And then to top it off I said something to the effect of, “On behalf of the Auburn High School Graduating Class of 1999 we hereby declare ourselves eligible for the Auburn Alumni Basketball Tournament and Festivities.” It was pretty cool to represent our 78-person graduating class as we headed our separate ways and into the real world.
Do you ever use Facebook or any other social media? A lot of times Facebook can be downright depressing. Some try to argue sports over a post. Others try to win political arguments. Some folks air out their dirty laundry on Facebook to an audience that pretty much doesn’t give a care. It can get ugly.
by Bob Sullivan
If there is one tried and true way to determine if you are on the path of discipleship or not, it is to discern whether you are seeking recognition, praise, power, or authority. If your desire is for any of these things, you are on the wrong path. You have seen a perfect example of this wrong path if you have noticed a large billboard in Lincoln which says, “Stop Male Supremacy in the Catholic Church! Ordain Women Priests!”
The argument over authority in the Church is nothing new.
by Tom Venzor
The days are waning for the Nebraska Legislature. As those days wane, legislators, lobbyists, and citizen advocates alike eagerly await the summer months which lie on the other side of the chasm that is adjournment. In the meanwhile, these interested parties are doing all they can to advance or stomp out legislative bills. For the Nebraska Catholic Conference, these waning days have our attention focused on LB298. This legislation would close the unemployment insurance benefits gap for work-authorized immigrants. Your action is needed now: contact your State Senator and ask them to advance LB298.
But, you might be asking, why is LB298 good policy? And why should you advocate for it?
“Trudy’s Big Swim: How Gertrude Ederle Swam the English Channel and Took the World by Storm” by Sue Macy, illustrated by Matt Collins.
Holiday House, New York, 2017, 32 pages, Grades 2-4.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
I turned 40 earlier this year. I must admit I enjoy growing older. But at the same time, I’m not sure if my lipids and my body enjoy growing older. I’ve found it takes a lot more work to keep weight off. One has to be intentional about eating right and exercising. No longer can we focus on “maintenance.” As we get older, we have to focus on “mission” when it comes to being healthy. If we don’t, we gravitate to becoming mediocre.
If we focus on maintenance instead of mission we become mediocre.
“Can I Be Your Dog?” by Troy Cummings.
Random House, New York, 2018, 32 pages, K-3.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
Simply put, Jesus Christ—both fully human and fully Divine—was conceived by the Holy Spirt and was born of a human woman, the Virgin Mary. He didn’t fall from the sky. He chose to be born of a woman.
All human life is born from women. Jesus’ human nature was born of a woman.
Is there a higher, more noble, and more dignified role than the vocation of mother? The same way Jesus came to earth, we all came as well... every one of us was born of a woman.
By Tom Venzor
As has happened before, you will read this column after a major legislative debate I would like to update you on, but I am writing this a couple days before the debate takes place.
“The Proudest Blue. The Story of Hijab and Family”
by Ibtihaj Muhammad. Illustrated by Hatem Aly.
Little, Brown and Company, New York, 2019, 32 pages, K-3.
by Bob Sullivan
When I was a student at UNL, I saw an ad for an opening at a Lincoln bar. They needed a bouncer. I applied and the manager called me in for an interview.
Everything was going well until he asked me how I would handle things if a fight broke out in the bar, and in the process of breaking it up, one of the patrons took a swing at me. Not thinking deeply, I said that I would pop the guy in the nose and throw him out the door. The manager’s face fell. “Thanks for coming, that’s all I need to know.”
by Tom Venzor
Our major piece of legislation, LB364, will be up for debate very soon, as early as Monday (April 26). If passed, this legislation will transform the lives of children across Nebraska. LB364 ensures more educational scholarship opportunities for low-income families.
Every parent deserves the ability to choose an education that is best for their child. No parent should be denied this fundamental right. LB364 helps families lacking financial means to exercise school choice by increasing the number of scholarships available to those families.
By Fr. Justin Fulton
This time of year always gets to me. Around about mid-April to early-May, my adrenaline starts to pump. The weather beckons me outside. And a call from the forest directly hits my heart. I am a self-proclaimed morel mushroom hunting addict! Growing up in southeast Nebraska, I have it in my blood.
This time of year, thousands of Nebraskans head into the hills looking for a spongy-looking, delicious fungus: the morel mushroom. Once found, a hunter is surprised with joy!
“What Did You Do In The War, Sister?” by Dennis J. Turner.
Cincinnati Book Publishing, Cincinnati, 2018, 299 pages, Grades 10-12.
By Fr. Justin Fulton
Recently, I had a chance to speak with Veronica Hotovy, an employee at St. Gianna Women’s Homes. Veronica is a talented young woman, filled with faith and energy.
by Bob Sullivan
The Congregation For the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF)1 recently released a declaration on whether clergy could bless same-sex unions.
It is a good idea to read the actual CDF document, which is very short.
“Lucky Broken Girl” by Ruth Behar
Puffin Books, New York, 2017, 257 pages, Grades 4-7.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
Back in October, I had the chance to celebrate a Mass for my family at my uncle’s farm in Nemaha County. It is always a treat to be able to feed the flock that fed me. It’s an honor to be able to give Christ to everyone, especially my family.
“Celebrating A Christ-Centered Easter”
by Emily Belle Freeman and David Butler. Illustrated by Ryan Jeppesen.
Ensign Peak, Salt Lake City, 2018, 32 pages, Pre-3.
by Tom Venzor
The Nebraska Catholic Conference intentionally chose “Bearing the Light of Christ in the public square” as our vision statement. These nine words capture our daily work, which is sustained by the daily Bread which is Christ Jesus.
by Fr. Justin Fulton
Only Jesus Christ can take manure and make it fertilizing agent, giving growth to seeds which will fuel and feed His children.
Only Jesus Christ can take dark clouds and heavy rain and bring about a glorious rainbow for the world to behold.
“Take It To The Queen: A Tale of Hope”
by Josephine Nobisso. Illustrated by Katalin Szegedi.
Gingerbread House, Westhampton Beach, N.Y., 2008, 32 pages, Grades 3-5
by Fr. Justin Fulton
It is that time of year to start planting a field or a garden. Soon folks will be out in fields with planters or on all-fours in a backyard planting for the upcoming summer months. Planting a garden is a pastime in Nebraska. Planting a field of crops is paramount to our quality of life in Nebraska. Our lives are literally tied to the earth.
by Jeremy Ekeler,
Associate Director of Education Policy, Nebraska Catholic Conference
Saint Pope John Paul II is a hero to countless Catholics across the world. Many admire the young Karol Wojtyla’s courage in the face of a Nazi-occupied Poland, which became training for his tenacity to opposing totalitarian political regimes as pope. Others cherish the undivided attention John Paul gave to each person he encountered. And nearly everybody reveres the profound relationship he had with our Lord.
“The Lost Son Comes Home: Stories Jesus Told” by Tim Ladwig.
Discovery House, Grand Rapids, Mich., 2019, 32 pages, Grades K-3.
By Fr. Justin Fulton
There’s an old tune performed by Willie Nelson that seemingly comes up in my mind about every mid-week when the due date for this column comes about.... “Funny How Time Slips Away.”
By Bob Sullivan
Many saints, theologians, and faithful disciples of Christ have told us that pride is the root of all sin.
St. Augustine identified pride as the cause of Satan’s fall from Heaven. Whether it is Augustine, Aquinas, G.K. Chesterton, or your grandmother, those who follow Christ know that pride separates us from our neighbor, and God.
By Tom Venzor
Before I begin my weekly legislative rant, I want to offer a reminder.
Last week, I wrote about the Catholics at the Capitol online series we launched a few days ago. Earlier in the week on Tuesday, we featured Archbishop Lucas and Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers to talk about the 2021 legislative session. As sometimes happens, I’m writing about an event that has not yet occurred, but will have occurred once you read this. However, I can tell you already—based on my predictions—that it was awesome and, if you couldn’t make it, you missed out on a great event. But, don’t worry, you can access a recording on our Facebook page or our website (www.necatholic.org).
Also, you won’t want to miss part two of our three-part series.
“Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera”
By Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann.
Holiday House, New York, 2020, 40 pages, K-3.
By Fr. Justin Fulton
“They remind us that old age is a gift, and that grandparents are the ring linking generations, to transmit to young people the experience of life and faith. Grandparents, so many times, are forgotten, and we forget this richness of safeguarding and transmitting roots.”
- Pope Francis
Last week I had an opportunity to pray morning Mass with some of the diocese’s retired priests at the Bonacum House. It was a joy to see some of the “old-timers” renewed in their vigor by participating in the greatest gift of all: receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Praying that simple, 18-minute morning Mass with them has stuck out in my heart and memory these past few days.
By Tom Venzor
“A good Catholic meddles in politics.”
“Legislative issues are won by those who show up to the Capitol.”
These maxims—taken together—are a two-step recipe for success as a faithful citizen.
The first maxim—from Pope Francis—is a reminder of the responsibility for each and every Catholic to engage in the political sphere.
