Blog

mission and confidence

The message of Christianity is one of self-distrust. You cannot do it on your own. We hate hearing this because we feel like it denies or limits our power. "I have the power" we say to ourselves, "I'm confident I can do this, build this, become this." Jesus doesn't think so.

Confidence is a compound word meaning With Faith, to have faith in one's own ability to accomplish, to succeed. The gospel tells us to stop having confidence in ourselves. We cannot accomplish. We cannot succeed. Apart from Christ, "you can do nothing."

I said this is a part of the gospel message, which means that it is supposed to be "Good News". How is this good news? Are not the greatest and most powerful among us men and women who had confidence in themselves, who excelled in their abilities?

Church Life, SpiritualityMichael GormleyJuly 3, 2011Mission, activism, self-distrust, work

New Podcast series

Veni, Sancte Spiritu! Come, Holy Spirit!

This is the theme for Life Teen, Inc., and thus for all their Summer Camps. Last week I was priviledged to host a whole week, delivering the HS as best as I could. The fine folks at the camp (looking at you, J.P.) recorded many of my talks and turned 'em into mp3 files so that I could share with you all through my podcast just what I have been up to.

The first one is the opening talk of the week, so there is a lot of invitations being extended to people who may not want or be ready for a relationship with the living God. We go easy on them because we don't want to push people away right off the bat. Faith is a big deal. We ought not to assume that everyone is open and ready to "go deeper" or "lean in" to it.

Catechesis, Church LifeMichael GormleyJune 15, 2011Covecrest, Holy Spirit, Talks

Dangerous, Stupid, and Hilarious

Here are some photos of what happens when silly people take over the liturgy. These pictures were taken at a cathedral in Austrailia in 2008. I got them from a blog on Oz's liturgy. The post was entitled Gospel with a Double Sommersault and Pike - Degree of Difficulty?

They were just too funny to not post. Followed are some Cardinal Ratzinger quotes on the liturgy.

Church Life, FunMichael GormleyMay 6, 2011Liturgy, abuses

Address from Bishop Conley on New Mass Translation

You ought to read this address given by the man in charge of implementing the corrected translation of the Roman Missal into English for the Archdiocese of Denver, Bishop James Conley.

This is superb, properly framed in Catholic theology and liturgical tradition, and just down right inspiring.

Sing a New Song with Your Lives

Here are some quotes that are illustrative:

Let me say this: I’m very excited about the changes that are coming and about the opportunities we have for an authentic liturgical renewal. Practically speaking, implementing the new Missal means that all of us will be learning new translations of long-familiar prayers and responses. This makes it a perfect moment in the life of the Church for a new “eucharistic catechesis”.

Church LifeMichael GormleyMay 6, 2011Liturgy, new translation

The Professional Church: discipline (part 3)

Whatever the character trait you are looking for in a new hire, there is one quality above all that must be present in abundance. This quality is more fundamental than self-motivation, has a great impact than candor, and gets better results than efficient org charts.

This quality is discipline.

In the world of the Church we see personal discipline as the foundation stone of Christian living. After all, the word "disciple" means "One who is disciplined". In the business world, disciplined thought, action, governance, planning, and disciplined resource management is the key to profit and success. As social sector workers, instead of private sector, profit is not a measure of what we would label "Success". But even so, discipline remains the fundamental characteristic of any great parish, school, diocese, or other Catholic organization.

Quoting the influential Jim Collins:

"Mediocre companies rarely display the relentless culture of discipline - disciplined people who engage in disciplined thought and who take disciplined action - that we find in truly great companies. A culture of discipline is not a principle of business; it is a principle of greatness."

Collins wants to apply the main principles from his book Good to Great to the world of the non-profit, so he wrote a monograph called Good to Great for the Social Sectors. I draw from this small booklet because it addresses many of the problems faced in the parish.

Church LifeMichael GormleyMay 4, 2011discipline, hiring, parish staff, professional

CMG Safe Environment Certified