On occasion, our Grace Before Meals movement will send out some “Blasts from the Past,” not only because the messages are still relevant today, but it also helps us remember how far we’ve come!

Check me breakin’ it down.

Shout out to St. Patrick’s School

We would like to give a shout out to St. Patrick’s School in North Hollywood, CA, who we recently donated a number of older editions of Grace Before Meals to. Here’s what Carlos Tobon, their Religion, Science, Spanish, & Music Instructor, shared with us:

“Thank you so much for the books!…[We gave] the books out to the families, and we have been hearing nothing but praise for the book’s recipes and reflections!”

We are glad to support these great children and their school. Do you know a church group or school that could use or appreciate old books? If so, feel free to reach out to our Project Manager, Joe Hansbrough, at jhansbrough@gracebeforemeals.com.

Speaking of “Joe”, the following Blast From the Past is from April 30, 2008 and recognizes a number of different Joes: St. Joseph, Pope Benedict XVI (aka Joseph Ratzinger), Msgr. Joseph Luca of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and some “Regular Joes” of the faith. We apologize for the lack of pictures from the original blast, but they’ve either been lost or replaced…but that just goes to show how far we’ve come! Thank the good Lord for organization!

Remember, feel free to send me your thoughts, prayers, questions and comments at askfrleo@gracebeforemeals.com. God Bless!

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Originally Published: April 30, 2008

No Regular Joe!

Tomorrow, May 1, is the great celebration for all those named Joseph and all those who work for their families!  Tomorrow is also a feast day for me, because my name is really Jose-Leo – that’s why my family calls me “Joey”!  (BUT, only family, please!)

It’s a blessing to be named not just after Pope St. Leo the Great, but also to share the name of the foster father of Jesus.  That simply means I am definitely going to celebrate with Joseph tomorrow!

But not so fast!  Tomorrow’s feast day actually has a qualifier. It’s not just a celebration of the regular Joes in the world, but Joseph THE WORKER!  Tomorrow’s feast day is a national holiday in Italy, where Catholics have a strong devotion to this saint.  It’s strange, but Italians (like Americans with Labor Day) commemorate work as a “gift” by taking a day off.  All irony aside, I want to dedicate this blast to a few hard working Joes!

St. Joseph the Worker

First, even though we now call him Pope Benedict, his baptismal name is Joseph Ratzinger.  I don’t want to rehash the papal visit of two weeks ago, but I can’t help be amazed at this 81-year-old pontiff’s work ethic.  Immediately after he returned from the United States, he was granting more audiences, including presentations at concerts, meeting heads of states, and leading liturgical services.  Just the other day I saw him in upbeat form, ordaining about 30 men to the priesthood!  I don’t know about you, but if I had just returned from a jam-packed, six-day, tour on the other side of the Atlantic, I might need a vacation before I got back to the intense work of the papal office!  But not this Joe – now nicknamed the Pope of Hope!  So, when we’re ready to complain about all of the work we have to do, let’s look to the pope for an example of untiring service!  He reminds us that in the midst of all our work, we can dedicate our labors and efforts to God, thus elevating the mundane responsibilities and prayerfully seeing them as privileges and part of God’s plan!

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, before becoming Pope Benedict XVI

Another hard working Joe is one of the beloved pastors of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.  This man was ordained the year I was born.  Now, I still can’t picture myself having even lived that long, but I’ll bet that many years of service would leave me pretty tired!  Yet, after 30-something years of ministry (and a dedicated and demanding priestly ministry), he’s still building beautiful new churches, renovating historical chapels, leading a humongous professional staff, and shepherding over 4,500 families!  He is also a mentor who works very, very hard to strengthen priestly fraternity.  Msgr. Joseph Luca is the one who actually helps me improve my culinary skills by hosting a monthly prayer meeting with a group of about 15 to 20 priests.  It is there that I have the opportunity to try different recipes and techniques.  But after many years of service, you would think he would rather receive an invitation to these events instead of hosting them.  His work is the catalyst for our gathering.  His hospitality is the reason for guys to return.  Although I do most of the work in the kitchen, Msgr. Joseph Luca is definitely working the hardest to ensure a spiritual fraternity among our priests.

Msgr. Joseph Luca

Finally, the last Joe I want to highlight are really “Joes” plural.  They are the seminarians with whom I had the opportunity to serve this past year.  As this academic year comes to a close, I will complete my first year as a faculty member at my venerable institution.  I recognize how these guys are working, and working hard!  Beside the rigors stress of post-graduate studies, these guys are also taking their prayer lives very seriously.  Oftentimes I’ll pass by the chapel and see men on their knees in prayer, or sitting silently for meditation.  It’s really quite humbling.  These guys also take time for service in the community and in their various pastoral field education assignments.  Many of them drive about one hour each way for these field education assignments.  They also work very hard to make sure they develop all the effective human skills to make them as effective instruments as possible.  The four pillars of formation (i.e., human, spiritual, pastoral and academic formation) keep these guys from being regular Joes.  These “Joe’s,” through God’s grace, will also be transformed into those Joes of our faith, who are really heroes!

Seminarians at Eucharistic Congress in Charlotte, NC (2009)

Consider those in your own family those who work hard.  Perhaps you can reward them for their work, or at least thank them!  In an age when the male or “father” figure is either missing from the family scene, or made to look like a bad guy – or worse, to look stupid – let’s consider a dinner conversation about St. Joseph the Worker and see how we can be more like him.  It’s possible to do.  I just gave you three examples of what meditation of St. Joseph’s life did for these men.

We can all learn much from St. Joseph who – often as a loving observer, which is often also God’s perspective – showed us that he is no regular Joe!

A Double-Stuffed Chicken Parmesan!

This week’s extraordinary portion of a chicken Parmesan I for no ordinary Joe.  It’s a Double-Stuffed Chicken Parmesan, served over fresh field greens.  It’s prepped in a pan and finished off in the oven to create a crispy outside texture while keeping the inside of the chicken tender, moist and well-seasoned with my version of a quick marinara!  Click here for the recipe.

Double-Stuffed Chicken Parmesan (Serves 4)

Chicken

4 chicken breasts

Eggwash: 2 eggs beaten with 2 teaspoons water

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs

salt and pepper

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons regular, salted butter

8 slices provolone cheese

Marinara sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

¼ cup minced white onion

1 garlic clove, finely minced

4 tablespoons finely minced fresh parsley

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons tomato paste

½ cup white wine

2 cups tomato sauce

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375°.  Butterfly chicken breasts and pound to tenderize.  Season chicken with salt and pepper on each side and dredge in all-purpose flour.  Pass both sides through egg wash and dredge in bread crumbs.  Heat olive oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet, and cook chicken for about 2 minutes on each side, or until each side turns golden brown.  Remove and place on a baking sheet.

Marinara sauce

Heat olive oil in a saucepan.  Add onions, garlic, parsley, and pepper flakes and cook until onions become translucent.  Add the tomato paste and wine and mix together.  Let this cook for about 2 minutes.  Add the tomato sauce and season with salt and pepper.

Assembly and baking:

Spread a tablespoon of marinara on one side of the chicken.  Add a slice of provolone cheese and then fold the chicken over.  Add another tablespoon of marinara on top of the chicken and another slice of provolone.  If necessary, use a toothpick to keep the chicken together.  Cook uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes.  Serve over field greens,marinated with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.  This dish combines the flavors of chicken Parmesan, but with a tinge of white wine in the marinara, and doubled over for an “extra” reason to celebrate!

Prayers for Workers

Be sure to say a prayer for all of those in your family who are working hard to keep the family together.  They may be in a “regular job” like all the other “regular Joe’s,” but with faith, they, too, can be transformed into laborers who are building up the kingdom of God, right here and right now!

Let us pray:

For the gift of labor, we thank You!  For the gift of the laborer, we thank You!  For those who are treated unjustly at their work, we implore Your mercy; and give them strength and change the hearts of their employers to be fair and kind.  For those who are unemployed, we ask they receive Your help and guidance to find meaningful work.  For all of us, help us to work in Your vineyard so that we, too, can experience St. Joseph’s joy in caring for Jesus by working and caring for those in need.  Amen.

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