Tag: catholic

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Weekly Blog

Time for a New Chapter


 
Every once in a while, it’s time for a change, a new chapter in our lives. That time has come for me. 
 
Having worked at Franciscan University for 11 years, as part of both its Steubenville Conference Office and Center for Evangelization and Renewal, I’ve decided it’s time to leave. Working at Franciscan has been the greatest single privilege of my professional career. I love the University, I love its mission, and I love the people I’ve been so blessed to work with on campus and around North America. 
 
I’m not retiring…I get bored on a Saturday. I have a lot of fuel left in the tank. Not sure where I’ll land, but I see God’s hand in all of this. Cyndi and I are looking forward to the next chapter, both at peace and filled with gratitude. God is good!!!
 
It’s also time for a new chapter in my ministry. After blogging for almost 6 years, we’re going to pause…maybe permanently, maybe temporarily. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.
 
In exiting this space, I need to thank two people. First Cyndi, my wife who has supported me in all my endeavors. She’s my best friend and I love her dearly. 
 
Then there’s Mary Kate Cuccari, who has been with me for these 6 years. Whether the blogs, my online course, social media, or general creative genius…she does it all. Thank you Mary Kate for your diligence, outstanding work, support, and friendship. I truly could not have done this without you. 
 
To all those who have followed me, my ministry, and this blog, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Know of my gratitude and prayers for you. Please pray for me, especially as I discern what God has next. 
 
This 2-minute video, which we pulled from the archives, is what my ministry is all about. Feel free to watch.
 
Couple closing points. Please remember…God loves you more than you’ll ever know, no matter what you’ve ever done. Lastly, let’s all pray for our country and our world. We are living in crazy, crazy times. My answer to the chaos (in addition to staying well informed) is the Cross. We know the end of the story. We know Jesus won victory for us. We thank him for dying on that Cross and rising so we can live in His glory. I pray that all of us, including our kids and grandkids, truly come to understand that reality. I’m convinced that if those of this world were more Jesus focused, this would be a better world. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph….pray for us!!!
 
As always, please email me at [email protected] with questions, concerns, comments, or prayer requests. Feel free to reach out now or anytime.
 
God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!
Remember…God made you for Greatness!!!

Mark Joseph

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Weekly Blog

The Gift of Jesus

Forever Christmas has been my favorite holiday. From a spiritual standpoint, it’s the reality of Jesus in His divinity entering into our humanity. With who God is, we witness the humility of Jesus coming to this world in a manger. The story of the three kings. The prophecies of Jesus spoken by many, including from the Old Testament. Without Jesus, where would we be? It all begins at Christmas, with celebration of the Mass, one of the most beautiful Liturgies of the year. 

While there’s so much to reflect on and be thankful for spiritually, I’ve always loved the human elements of Christmas as well. It’s not about the presents but the joy of the season. All the smiles and well wishes. There is more laughing, hugs, and kisses. It seems people are friendlier at Christmas, more genuine, more loving. 

Houses decorated. Lights on trees. Snow on the ground. Christmas cookies in abundance. Family and friends. All the get-togethers and celebrations. It’s a great time. 

Cherished Memories

My Dad’s sister (Aunt Lou) lived right down the street from us. Ten kids in the two families, we saw each other often, us at their house or them at ours’. The annual Christmas tradition took place at theirs’, where my Uncle Pete would have assembled a life-size manger in their front yard. On Christmas Eve, our two families, with dozens and dozens of neighbors, would sing Christmas Carols in their front yard, followed by Christmas cookies and hot chocolate inside. In some years, our family watched theirs’ opening their gifts. We’d often then all go to Midnight Mass. 

My parents would then host a party on New Years Day, where the entire extended family (no small number) and friends would come over for the day, filled with food, fellowship and more fun. 

Fast forward to when I had kids…I remember purchasing a Santa suit. For several years, my cousins Greg and Mike (Aunt Lou’s sons) would alternate, dressing up and coming over Christmas morning. They’d bring for the kids the gifts Santa supposedly forgot to leave the night before. The kids would light up. All of the above are the best of memories. 

I’d invite you to reflect on the good memories from your childhood, your Christmas experiences among them. Think about this time of year as compared to others, then and now. Even the memories you’re making today. If you’re like me, you smile more and are nicer. You’re looking to surprise someone with a gift or nice note. You’re wanting to make someone a little happier, maybe help them with a burden they’re experiencing. 

I think that’s what Christmas is all about. It’s what Jesus is all about…LOVE!!! What would the world be like if every week of the year we were all as generous, compassionate, forgiving, and loving as at Christmas? The love of Christ is the answer…yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 

As we leave this Christmas season and head into a new year, please understand that Jesus loves you more than you’ll ever know, no matter what you’ve ever done. Let us share that love with as many people as humanly possible….all year long. 

I sincerely hope that you and your family had a very Merry Christmas. On behalf of my wife Cyndi and Mary Kate, who does all the creative work, Happy New Year. May God abundantly bless you and your family. 

As always, please email me at [email protected] with questions, concerns, comments, or prayer requests. 

God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!

Remember…God made you for Greatness!!!

Mark Joseph

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Weekly Blog

Standing His Post 

I had the privilege to be on the Board of Catholic Men’s Fellowship (CMF) of Pittsburgh for several years, serving along-side some wonderful men who became good friends. At that time, one of the primary things CMF did was put on its Annual Gathering of Catholic Men. Then COVID hit, having a negative impact on all events…boy do I know that story in working in the Steubenville Conference Office at Franciscan University. 

On Saturday, September 23, I had the opportunity to reunite with several of my CMF brothers at the 15th Annual Gathering of Catholic Men. Having stepped away in 2017-18, it seems like a lifetime ago and yet we just picked up where we left off. It was wonderful being with brothers in Christ, sharing in and being part of the fellowship which bonded us back then. It was a good example of community, the importance of brotherhood, especially in this crazy world we’re living in today. 

That crazy world is a great segue to Mark Houck, who in my opinion stole the show on that Saturday. That’s not an easy thing to do being preceded by Chris Stefanick and Ennie Hickman, two of the best speakers in the Catholic world…btw both of them did a great job, delivering their own impactful messages. That said, it’s difficult to compare with the story told by Mark Houck. 

As you might remember, in 2020 Mark was arrested at gunpoint; 20+ FBI agents surrounding his house, banging on his door at 6:30AM, with his wife and 7 small children at home. All this actually happened on September 23rd (Feast Day of Padre Pio), 3-years to the day of the Gathering just a little over a week ago. Mark told the gruesome story, including how he was mistreated by the FBI that day all the way up to him being acquitted after refusing a plea deal most people would jump at. 

Hopefully CMF will have it up on its YouTube channel soon. I’d encourage spouses to watch it together, as my wife and I did. 

There are so many things I could talk about from Mark’s story that day, but the point which continues to resonate with me is Mark “standing his post”. As he said, just showing up, doing his job, doing what the Lord calls him to do. His examples were that of a husband and father. A pro-lifer who for more than a decade has been praying every Wednesday at the same abortion clinic. A ministry guy who’s helped men for years through his apostolate, The Kings Men…doing great stuff which I’ve experienced firsthand.  

Mark made an observation about how we’ll ultimately be judged by our Lord, Him looking at that gap between the life we led and that which God anticipated for us with all the graces He gave us individually. Did we do what he called us to? Did we stand our post? Did we show up? Did we do our job? 

My “schtick” is the love of Christ. My catch phrase is that in “understanding and internalizing the unconditional love of Jesus Christ, the unimaginable is achievable”. There’s a lot there that requires a lot of unpacking. One of those points is this…when you truly know the love of Christ, you have to give it away. 

I walked away from Mark’s talk convicted. Like you, I’m on this journey. What does it mean to stand my post, to show up, to do my job…do what the Lord calls me to do? In the end, how is our Lord going to look at my “gap”? Please keep me in your prayers as I pray for you. And let us together pray for Mark Houck and his family. 

You may have heard…Mark is running for US Congress. Given what I know about Mark, his walk and his experiences, I couldn’t feel any better about endorsing him. He’s an example for us all, standing his post, doing what our Lord has asked him to do. I’d invite you to join my wife and me in supporting Mark’s candidacy financially…. 

As always, please email me at [email protected] with questions, concerns, comments, or prayer requests. 

God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!

Remember…God made you for Greatness!!!

Mark Joseph

Categories
Weekly Blog

There’s a Jesus Revolution

Several weeks ago, I went to see Jesus Revolution, an absolutely wonderful movie that’s based on a true story. It was the cover story of Time Magazine on June 21st, 1971. You can read the article here. 

Greg Laurie, still the Pastor of Harvest Church in Southern California, wrote the book which the movie is based on. It’s the story of a failing Church and a struggling Pastor named Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer), who is introduced to a hippie preacher named Lonnie (played by Jonathan Roumie of Chosen), by his daughter. Chuck does the unthinkable by inviting Lonnie into his Church to preach, also inviting his hippie friends and a band to do what wasn’t considered true Church music. 

More and more hippies then attended services, with the Church growing so much that they had to build a big tent. Baptisms were done in droves, in the Pacific Ocean. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Pastor Chuck addresses the hippie congregation by saying (paraphrasing), “no matter what sin you’ve committed, no matter what sin you’re currently living, you’re welcome here, where you’ll experience forgiveness and freedom”. WOW!!!!!!!!!! One of many times I teared up…pure joy. You may have heard before, “the Church is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints”. Do yourself a favor…go see Jesus Revolution. 

Relate the above to what went on at Asbury University, where a revival was sparked by students spontaneously staying after a regularly scheduled chapel service on February 8, 2023. Following the gathering, Asbury President Kevin Brown sent out a brief two-sentence email: “There’s worship happening at Asbury. You’re welcome to join. An estimated 70,000 visited the campus for the revival through February 19th. 

I don’t know if you see it, but something’s happening. There’s a thirst, a hunger that people have. And they’re acting on it…including our Catholic Church. You may have heard of the launch of the National Eucharistic Congress, that will culminate in a revival in Indianapolis, in July 2024…with 80,000 in attendance. I’m honored to be on the programming team…it’s going to be a great gathering. 

I’m also privileged to work at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where we see this enthusiasm for our faith all the time. If you’ve never been, come visit. You’ll see a campus full of students truly on fire for our Lord. Come to one of our Steubenville Conferences and be blown away by what you experience. I guarantee you, you’ve never seen a Liturgy celebrated like at Steubenville. Our conferences are truly life changing, clearly the work of Jesus. 

In 1969, then Fr. Joseph Ratzinger said, “From the crisis of today the Church tomorrow will emerge a Church that has lost much. She will become small and have to start afresh, more or less from the beginning”. Prophetic words from our last Pope. The world, including our country, is in crisis. Not unique to all of Christianity, the Catholic Church has suffered significant losses. The statistics show that far fewer have a faith life compared to past generations. 

Stipulating to the above, people are seeking. They don’t always know what it is they’re looking for, but they’re looking. They’re yearning to fill the God sized hole they have in their chests. We know there’s only one answer…and that’s JESUS!!! 

What to do…love God, love your neighbor, and share the love of Christ. What else? Go see Jesus Revolution. Engage in the National Eucharistic Congress. Come to a Steubenville Conference. All will be life-changing…I guarantee it. Invest in your own faith journey. And then go light up the world. 

Btw, you can listen to a brief interview of me by Drew Mariani on Relevant Radio, on all of this here. (from minute 40 thru 47ish) 

As always, please email me at [email protected] with questions, concerns, comments, or prayer requests. 

God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!

Remember…God made you for Greatness!!!

Mark Joseph