A Real Men's Retreat

Homily - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mt 13: 1-23)

Along with my family, I and a few other catholic families from the local parishes just returned from San Lucas Toliman, a small town in Guatemala, located within a tropical forest, high in the mountains. We spent 15 days working with the Mayan people through a Catholic Mission. This was the fourth visit to the mission for my wife, kids, and me; but it was the first visit for the families who joined us. After a few days of settling in, and the fears of existing in a 3^rd world country settled in the minds and hearts of the families who joined us, we began to clearly see God’s hand in the lives of the people around us.

Each day began with a new adventure and project, often traveling to a new village and meeting new people. 

As we worked, at times pounding large boulders with hammers to make gravel that would be used in building with cement, 

or preparing soil for the planting of seedlings, 

later to be transplanted to prevent further mudslides that had devastated so many villages, we were  blessed with working side by side with the local people. What I enjoyed the most about the trip was getting to know the local people as we worked with them.

Whether it was Elde, a construction worker, who was 26 years old, had two children, and a wife who ran away from them. He explained that he made 30 Quetzales a day, about $4 and used every cent to provide food and shelter for his children and his mother who also lived with them. Even thought life was difficult, he still possessed a smile on his face and with such kindness corrected our mistakes.

Or Chona who described that at a young age, her husband, working for the mission was mistaken for a supporter of the anti-military gorillas, vanished from her and her children’s lives without notice. She never remarried, and it took 20 years for her to finally find out that her husband was indeed murdered by the military. Yet, there were to be no repercussions.

Almost everyone we met had a story that represented such pain and horror.... We began to see and hear tragedy like never before, and were able to put a face with each story.

As we walked the street, returning to the mission after a hard day of physical work, we witnessed an older lady dressed in ragged woven traditional clothing, down on her knees gathering one by one, corn kernels that must have fallen off a cart and nestled into the cracks of the cobble stone road. It was at that moment, I could see in the eyes of the kids and adults of our group that they realized starvation and desperation still existed.

But what was so remarkable was that as we visited and communicated with different people from the communities, not one conversation finished without some mention of God, their thanfulness, and how he was the center of their lives.....

He wasn’t just a concept, or an invisible being...... They knew him, recognized him, and experienced him each and every day. I couldn’t help but see the contrast, the spiritual contrast with our lives here in America and what I was experiencing in the small towns and villages of Guatemala.

Maybe that is why I keep coming back, year after year. We have so much, and they have so little, yet they possessed such great inner happiness and joy..... such generosity, such peace. I couldn’t help but think about God’s grace, and how we either accept it.... or just let it float on by like the clouds in the sky, unnoticed. I couldn’t help but think about our connection and relationship with God.

Today’s Gospel states:

“You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see.... they have closed their eyes.....”

Something unexpected happened while we were in San Lucas on the Feast of Corpus Christi. I have heard of the magnificent processions in Central America where the streets are carpeted with beautiful, elaborate and colorful carpets. The carpets are created with colored saw dust, tropical flowers, and fruit. The monstrance containing Jesus if then carried for miles over these beautiful and elaborate works of art.

I had always wanted to see one of these processions in person. Well, not only did my dream come true, but I was asked by the Local Pastor, Father Fito, to carry Jesus, and lead the procession. 

I, followed by the whole town, walked for 2 hours upon the most beautiful carpets I had ever seen. The local town people had been preparing for weeks for this procession and awoke at 3 in the morning to begin building the carpets. There were hundreds, if not a thousand people working together to prepare the road for Jesus. As we walked, we would often stop by a home that had prepared a resting place for Jesus. 

As we entered the home to place the monstrance on a living room alter, the people in the home, just as we entered the room, would immediately fall to their knees and weep. As I witnessed their humble and pure faith.....The feeling was overpowering. They knew who had just entered their home. They recognized Jesus in the Eucharist.... They recognized Him, because they knew Him. We would then pray together, and then bless the home, and then each family member would embrace Jesus with a kiss.

The whole town patiently waited outside the home for this personal encounter, then we would return to the streets and the journey would continue. As we stopped at a variety of homes along the way, the same response occurred. The people inside the home would immediately drop to their knees and weep as Jesus entered, not tears of sadness, but joy and humility. 

As we walked the streets of San Lucas, it was Jesus leading the way.... I cannot adequately describe the feelings and emotions that I experienced.... It was beyond words.

I know that many of you do not have easy lives, and many of you have endured tragedy as well. But the experience in San Lucas has shown me that it is through trials, tragedy, and discomfort that God’s hand and his grace can often be seen most clearly. And for you who can see Him, the gospel says: “Blessed are your eyes, because they see and your ears because they hear. Amen I say to you, may prophets and righteous people longed  to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Let us take a moment and reflect upon our own lives.

Let us think about the spiritual soil within us, the place prepared for and cultivated for Christ to grow within us. What is our relationship with God? Do we talk to him everyday? Are we able to experience Christ in the people around us? Can we see how he is using all the situations of our lives to grow closer to him?

We must ask ourselves, What are we doing to cultivate the spiritual soil within us, the soil that can accept God’s grace, his spiritual seeds, and that will allow deep roots to grow within us.

The seed sown on rich soil in the one who hears the word of God, understands it, and who bears fruit.

As I was leaving Guatemala, Father Fito explained that the Guatemalan people live in a reality different that ours. And that even if we wanted to, we cannot live in their reality, and they cannot live in ours..... that is just a fact!

But what is our reality...... Does it contain Jesus within the center..... and do we see him, hear him, and experience him everyday? Blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear....... We might not be searching the cracks in the road for spilt corn..... But are we searching for God, His Voice, and His Grace in the people and circumstances around us?

Honestly.... We must ask ourselves..... are we truly looking for God in the people and circumstances of our lives..... or are we allowing him to just float on by, unnoticed, like the clouds in the sky....

Holy Land 2012 Pilgrimage (During Lent)

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Please pray about Joining Liz and I on the wonderful Pilgrimage. 

Why did we choose NAWAS International Travel Inc. for our Pilgrimage? Because they have been organizing tours for 62 years. Their experience, contacts, guides, knowledge of the area, and background will guarantee  the highest quality pilgrimage and they have an international reputation for reliability.

Father Vince, Father David and myself are offering this pilgrimage opportunity to a maximum of 50 pilgrims. The open slots are filling quickly and will be on a first come first serve basis. Please let us know if you would like to participate in this wonderful opportunity. There is a $300 deposit to reserve your slot. 

There is additional information available for those who have an interest, just e-mail me at patkearns@sbcglobal.net 

The Family Mission Project

Mount Lassen - My Spiritual Climb

Here is Mount Lassen, Less than an hour drive from Redding, California.

 The summit is at an elevation of 10, 500 feet.

Yes - It is still considered an Active Volcano.

May 22, 1915 - The final and most major eruption, as seen from Anderson, California. 

Anderson is 40 miles from the summit.

The trail-head begins at an elevation of 8500 feet.

And peaks at 10,500 feet.

Check out My Spiritual Climb

Are You Man Enough?

The real question is: Are you man enough for a spiritual adventure that just might change you life?

Along with the “Men of Faith” Catholic Men’s Group, Deacon Pat Kearns from "Our Lady of Mercy Parish"  in Redding CA. from the Sacramento Diocese will lead another Spiritual “In-Motion” Retreat  while backpacking on the famous and beautiful Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).

A group of Men (16 years old and above) will journey along the trail while incorporating spiritual exercises and manly adventures.


Each Day will consist of:

Morning and Evening Prayer

A teaching by Deacon Pat or another clergy on aspects of “Manly Character”

“An Hour of Silence” meditating on the lesson of the day while hiking

Evening Group Reflection and Sharing

As well as fellowship, laughing, joking, fishing, eating, campfires, and nourishment that feeds the soul.


When: Labor Day Weekend. The group will meet at Our Lady Of Mercy Parish in Redding CA on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 in the afternoon and caravan to the drop off point. The Spiritual Adventure will end on Monday, September 6th 2010 (Labor Day) midday.


Where: The Pacific Crest Trail Near Castle Crags State Park.

Cost: There is no cost. You are only required to supply your own food and supplies.

Information: For more information you can log onto www.catholic-men.blogspot.com or feel free to contact Deacon Pat Kearns at:   e-mail:    patkearns@sbcglobal.net.

Now more than even, Catholic Men need to unite, create friendships, support each other, and obtain spiritual nourishment in a method conducive to authentic manhood, as Godly Men!

Time for a Pilgrimage! Have you ever thought about Medugorje?

Međugorje or Medjugorje (Croatian pronunciation: [ˈmɛdʑuɡɔːrjɛ]) is a town located in western Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Herzegovina region around 25 km southwest of Mostar and close to the border of Croatia. 

Today the town is best known due to claims of apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to six Croats since 24 June 1981, and is now visited by thousands of pilgrims from around the world as a Marian shrine. The shrine is not yet officially recognized by the Catholic Church, and more than likely will not be formally approved until the visionaries have either stopped receiving apparitions or have died.

The name Međugorje literally means an area "between mountains". At an altitude of 200 metres above sea level it has a mild Mediterranean climate. The town consists of an ethnically-homogeneous Croat population of over 4000. The Roman Catholic parish (local administrative and religious area) consists of five neighbouring villages, Međugorje, Bijakovići, Vionica, Miletina and Šurmanci.

Our Lady of Međugorje

"Our Lady of Međugorje"  is the title given to the Blessed Virgi Mary by those who believe that she has been appearing since 24 June 1981 to six Herzegovinian Croat children in Međugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina (at the time in Yugoslavia).

Međugorje has become one of the most popular pilgrimage sites for Catholics (and people of other faiths) in the world, with thousands visiting each year. It has been estimated that 30 million pilgrims have come to Međugorje since the reputed apparitions began in 1981.Many have reported phenomena including the sun spinning in the sky or changing colors and figures such as hearts and crosses around the sun.

It is reported that the Virgin Mary gives messages on the twenty-fifth of every month to seer Marija Lunetti (Pavlovic), as well as on the second of the month to seer Mirjana Soldo (Dragicevic)

The messages reputed to Our Lady of Međugorje have a very strong following among Catholics worldwide. On June 4, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI publicly blessed a statue of Our Lady of Međugorje in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City.

Here is the Itinerary for the trip

We Made It - 150 miles of Kayaking (A Men's Spiritual Retreat)

Here is the group of men who had enough guts to set out on a 150 mile "Men's Spiritual Kayaking Retreat."

We packed our kayaks with gear and off we went. Here is my son Sean.

Here is my rig, a double kayak packed with everything you could think of......

Here we are leaving on the adventure.

We had some great camp spots.
Sometimes in campgrounds, and sometimes like here on a sand (or boulder) bar.

We fished

We ate

We laughed

But we also experienced many moments of pure holiness and were engulfed in His Grace.

Here we are 150 miles later..... 

Tired Yes, But A group of men changed in many ways.

Check out the videos below and see why.

Part I of the Adventure

Part II of the Adventure

Part III of the Adventure

We Made The Spiritual Ascent - Climbing God's Mountain.

My brothers, along with our sons made the spiritual journey up 

Half Dome in Yosemite National Park on Saturday.

This was a "Guys Only" trip - reserved for Men's spirituality.

Here is my son Sean taking in the force and beauty of God's creation.

The views were spectacular.

Although the weather report threatened bad weather, 

God gave us a perfect day.

We climbed to 9000 feet.

There was something so special about making a spiritual climb.

Father and Son experiencing life together.

We were a group of 8 men making this journey of over 15 miles, 11 hours of hiking, and a climb of over 4500 feet. Here is my brother Kevin, the eldest brother who just 7 months ago was battling Cancer with Chemo and Radiation therapy treatments. He is amazing!

My brother Dan, my training partner, we hiked for 3 months together preparing for this climb. 

We prepared well Dan, thanks for you support, your kindness, and for your joy!

The waterfalls were indescribable.

This is the mountain that we climbed. (With God's help)

The Adventure Begins

We reached the top!

Off To Climb The Mountain

We are off to climb the huge mountain tomorrow. 4 of my brothers and our sons will climb half dome early Saturday morning (12 hours of hiking, 17 miles, 5000 foot ascension) while the girls of the clan play in Yosemite village.
.

We will ascend as close to heaven as possible, pushing our bodies, and uniting our physical struggle with spiritual struggles. We have trained well and are ready, I am excited and look forward to sharing the adventure with you in a few days. Look forward to a great video and pictures.....