This week America experienced tremendous challenges and pain.  These difficult times can either melt us into more compassionate people or mold us into people full of anger. Blessed Pope John Paul II was shot in an act of terror.  However, this horrible act did not harden his heart, but softened it into a more compassionate one. He even went to the prison to give forgiveness to the man who tried to kill him. In the midst of the pain, suffering, confusion and sadness, I’ve heard many different people giving some very good advice to help us get through it all.  One piece of advice I heard was to look for the heroes, the helpers and the hurting.   In other words, we can sometimes be trapped by our own fear, pain, confusion and sadness.  And while we have to pay attention to our own feelings – especially negative ones – we can’t dwell on them.  We also need to pay attention to the big picture. Angel pointing to the “Stations of the Cross” in Lourdes France. Looking at the big picture helps us to see the inspiring efforts of heroic people and gain encouragement from their selflessness.  These examples can warm our hearts, melting away rough edges and brokenness. This is the procession of the sick which is held each night to ask for special blessings. Every evening, thousands of selfless volunteers help the sick and other people who have very difficult and challenging conditions. By looking at the bigger picture, we also see how these challenges can either mold us into better people with softer and more loving hearts, or hardened hearted people who seek revenge and destruction – like these terrorists.  The environments in which we live have that molding effect.  We therefore have to make sure we put ourselves in good places and with good people who can mold our hearts into something good. In the artist’s hands, seemingly useless sand can be formed and molded into beautiful and hopeful works of art. What better way to describe this reality than through food! Take, for example, a hard cheese like parmesan as an analogy of our own hearts.   When heated, it becomes soft, and less prone to being broken.  The melted cheese can also be made into something useful, beautiful and of course, delicious to feed the hungry when put over something curbed. Parmesan cheese melting in a non-stick pan over medium heat, until the cheese begins to bubble and melt. Like this cheese, our own hearts are vulnerable to being broken.  But the heat of challenging times, like hearing these tragic events, can actually create an opportunity to “soften” our hearts, melting away the edges, and making us more moldable.  These tragic events can either help us to experience more compassion or more hate – depending on who, or what, it is that molds our hearts. Carefully place the softened and melted – not broken – cheese over a clean and not absorbing mold. Hopefully you can see how challenging times melt us, but also shape us.  It may be a “cheesy” analogy, but it makes sense.   The scriptures tell us that we are like clay in God’s hands.  In faithful foodie language, it may be more like melted and molded goodness! Once the cheese is molded and hardens, it can be used as an edible and decorative part of your meal. In this case, the molded cheese cup is used to hold sweet onion and balsamic marinated cherry tomatoes.

Let us pray:   Father in Heaven, we pray for peace in our world, consolation for those who mourn the death of loved ones, courage for those who now face physical and emotional struggles, and thanksgiving for the heroic actions that are trying to bring about a calm and peaceful resolution to the problems in our world.  Keep our families safe, and may these moments fill our hearts with the warmth of compassion in order to mold it into the heart of Your Son, Jesus our Lord.  Amen. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours.

Questions: What advice would you give to people who are hurting in these difficult times?  How can we better mold the hearts of our children, especially when it comes to our faith?  Are there any other examples or analogies of melding and molding that can be used to describe the fragility of our lives?  Your comments and questions are so important to our movement.  Please post your comments below.  And, if you have other questions, post them here or contact our project manager.   Click to read about and watch this student’s impressive video “Isolation to Identity” which raises awareness about depression-related suicides and ways to prevent them. You’ll even glimpse Fr. Leo as he offers a Christian perspective.

APRIL 28 Diocese of Newark Youthfest Kearny, NJ APRIL 30 The Guadalupe Radio Network Presents “The Blood & The Rose” Spiritual Event Vienna, VA

SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE! Ask Fr. Leo for fatherly advice. Any submissions may be used in future Grace Before Meals publications.

Posted in Dinner Discussion, In Memory, Menu Inspiration, Video | 2 Comments »

In the midst of our Lenten journeys, we are currently without a Pope after Pope Benedict XVI retired and prepare for the conclave when our new Holy Father shall be elected. We encourage you to pray for all of the candidates and be a part of this momentous occasion in church and world history. We have shared a prayer in the “Praying Together” section from beholdconference.com which is a great Novena in this time. A joyful Jen Sturdivant (1976-2013), who passed away this morning. Also, we would like to request your prayers for the repose of the soul of Janina “Jeni” Sturdivant, sister of GBM Project Manager Joe Hansbrough, who passed away this morning with her family by her side after an 11 year battle with leukemia. She was 36 and leaves behind her husband Chris Sturdivant and their two sons Alex and William. St. Joseph, Patron of Departing Souls, please pray for us, that the Lord may be pleased. Jeni, Chris, Alex and William. Please pray for them in this tough time.   We would like to continue to encourage you in your journeys, whether you gave something up or have added a daily offering to your schedule. Remember that this is meant to be a time to prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection, so know that you have much to look forward to! If you are struggling with meatless recipes, you can check out our Recipes page for a number of different dishes, including Salmon Fillets with Capers (Fr. Leo’s mom’s recipe). Try these and many other delicious recipes for Lent on Gracebeforemeals.com Another great way to share meals during this Lenten season is with the CRS Rice Bowl program. As you may remember in a recent eBlast, Fr. Leo teamed up with Catholic Relief Services in a video to help spread the word on how we can help make a difference in the lives of the hungry and malnourished. As Fr. Leo wrote, The video highlights the important work done by CRS through the CRS Rice Bowls. I’m sure you’ve seen these little boxes before, a Lenten tradition, in which people put in money as part of the Lenten practices.  Instead of purchasing something that we really don’t need, like a cup of coffee, dessert, candy, or what have you, you simply put that money into the box.  You’ll be amazed at how much we spend on things we don’t need.  The money from the boxes builds up and collectively, it can make a difference in the lives of so many people around the world – people who are hungry, in need, or learning how to be self-sustaining!  Watch the video below and start making an impact today!  Another journey that Grace Before Meals, Ave Maria Radio and Corporate Travel Service would like to announce is a special marriage retreat in Italy. Fr. Leo will be joining Teresa Tomeo and her husband, Dcn. Dominick Pastore to lead retreat-goers to a special trip where they can see some of the most magnificent sites in Rome, including St. Peter’s Basilica, and grow closer to one another and God, from May 18-27, 2014. The retreat is a perfect event for fans of Spicing Up Married Life and Grace Before Meals. Click here to download the registration form. Click here to find out more about this special trip to Rome with Fr. Leo!

Click the picture for recipes from the first season! A new season of Savoring Our Faith has arrived and now airs Sundays at 5pm EDT. We are excited for this season and hope that you can watch it each week on EWTN. Check out their schedule HERE. Click for the show’s schedule   Also, if you subscribe to Sirius XM Radio, you should tune into The Catholic Channel every Thursday at 1pm to catch Fr. Leo’s weekly radio show, “Entertaining Truth” with Tom Leopold, former writer for “Seinfeld” and “Cheers”. And if you don’t subscribe, then you may want to consider it, because these guys are funny!

It is already March and Fr. Leo is already all over the place, having wrapped up a Lenten Parish Mission in Mesa, AZ yesterday, a high school and Catholic Foundation event in Sacramento this evening, and heading to the Holy Trinity Apostolate in Sterling Heights MI before finishing up another parish mission in Raleigh NC from March 10-12. Crazy times! Be sure to keep up with upcoming events by checking out the “Upcoming Events” section in the weekly eBlast and our website at www.gracebeforemeals.com/events. MARCH 9 HOLY TRINITY APOSTOLATE SYMPOSIUM STERLING HEIGHTS, MI CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS. MARCH 10-12 OUR LADY OF LOURDES: PARISH MISSION RALEIGH, NC CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.

SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE! Ask Fr. Leo for fatherly advice. Any submissions may be used in future Grace Before Meals publications.

Posted in In Memory, Recipe-Fish, Recipes, Video, What's On the Table | No Comments »

Top 10 Restaurant Meals & Recipe Highlights As promised, my “Blast from the Recent Past” continues!   My objective in this week’s Eblast isn’t to relive the past, but be grateful for each and every experience I’ve had with my family, friends, and God’s great gift of food.  Starting with ten and ending with one – here are my top ten restaurant meals from 2012: #10 Pizza, Chinese & Foodie Friends  Marc Bello and his girlfriend Jennifer are incredible foodies from Pizza-a-Casa in NYC.  They make amazing pizza at their shop where they also offer classes on how it’s made.   Marc and Jennifer joined me for a sampling of a new Yunnan Restaurant, Lotus Blue, managed by a good childhood friend of mine, Jeffrey Lim.  Lotus Blue is not your typical “asian” restaurant. It’s a true fusion of cultures and culinary style with deep, brothy, and bold flavors – including the use of the pungent durian fruit for a tasty dessert! #9 Home Town Food Eating in the Philippines means encountering a lot of fresh seafood, pickled seaweed, whole roasted pig, fried chicken, and rice – all eaten “island style.”  One restaurant, Kai Lui Restaurant in Palawan, really impressed me. Not only did it have a great fusion of Filipino flavors but a relaxing, no-shoes policy. If you are ever in Palawan, dinner at Kai Lui is a must. #8  Auction Dinner with the Baldwin Family As part of my service I try to provide dinners as prizes for charity auction.  One of the prize winners this year was the Baldwin Family, who also happen to be parishioners at the church where I now serve in Millersville, MD.  The Baldwins own a home construction company, so they know the importance of quality in the kitchen!  At their home I prepared three types of pasta, a sampling of flavor-packed bit-sized foods, chutney, and finally three big bites of the fusion fajitas featured on the Food Network – but it was the kitchen that was a gourmet chef’s dream! Trio of pasta – pesto, norcina cream, and amatriciana – bacon and onion.   Trio of meats: garlic shrimp skewers, bacon wrapped pork tenderloin over white truffle potato puree topped with an apple onion.    #7  Asian Gyro in Oklahoma City?    Fr. Hamilton, a good priest friend of mine, was so excited about this hip new food place in Oklahoma City, and after tasting their fusion of flavors, I can understand why!  Delicious.   Foodie Express #6 Eats of Italy in New York’s Eataly I sometimes long for authentic Italian cuisine.  Many small towns have Italian immigrants with the skills and connections to source out authentic ingredients, but I’ve found that Eataly in NYC makes me feel like I’m back in Roma.  If you are able to check it out, make sure you go in the late morning or afternoon to avoid the mega crowds at lunch and dinner times. #5  Ristorante Cecilia Metella Most Italian / Roman restaurants have specialty pastas, but one in particular stands out for me. It’s the world famous Scrigno pasta from Cecelia Metella Restaurant just outside of Rome, near the sacred catacombs.  The meaning behind the pasta, its taste, and – of course – learning how to make it for my TV show Savoring our Faith made it all the more fantastic!   #4  Talk and Eat in Talkeetna, Alaska Finding food in the small villages across America’s largest state was quite an adventure. I was drawn to the hipster-earthy village of Talkeetna, a famous foodie hotspot, known for its love of food and nature. I had to agree with the masses on this one. It is another must if you have the opportunity.   Alaska Trip Part 2 What To Eat    #3  Florida Fiesta! This past year my family went on a vacation to the beaches of Florida. Besides the sun and surf, I also enjoyed the spicy, bold – yet so simple and delicious – Latin influenced foods.  One place I discovered was Fuego Latina, a nondescript Latin food lover’s hot spot in a strip mall. Check out their “sampler” platter – a meal for literally 3 people!   #2  Mission Barbecue As you know, food is only a means to an end for me.  The owners of Mission Barbecue have a similar philosophy. In addition to having friendly and super-fast service, providing some of the best local barbecue in the area – smoking beef, pork and chicken at least 2 times a day – they donate proceeds from their food sales to the Wounded Warrior Project.  For Mission Barbecue, good food is the means to a good end – to help our wounded warriors and first responders.   Culinary Confessions -Mission Barbecue #1 Dinner at Celebrity Chef John Besh’s home with his family! Through my good food-priest-friend, Msgr. Nalty of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, I had a crab salad gumbo dinner with world famous Chef John Besh and his family. It was a beautiful experience. I was able to witness the faith of their family both in their exchanges and in knowing their oldest son was coming late because he was serving as a peer minister for his high school retreat. Later, in another beautiful experience I found ironically amusing, I was able to surprise Chef Besh’s mother and father, who recognized me as the priest on TV who cooks.   To round out my Blast of the Recent Past for 2012, I also want to share my favorite recipe: Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breasts! Click on the picture to access the recipe!   2012 was truly a year of great adventures and achievements, and yet, for many of you, there may have been loss or sadness. We offer all of these to our Lord, good and bad times, and give him praise for everything we have, for we are still here today and have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. May 2013 yield many more great times and accomplishments for each of us as we seek to build stronger families, have better meals, and be ever-pleasing to God.   Be sure to keep checking out the website for updates on upcoming events, recipes each week, new blog posts and articles. And now, registered members can leave comments on events and recipes, so we look forward to hearing from you. We would love for you to share your experiences with us, as you are all part of the GBM “fam”.         For all of you who have received Spicing Up Married Life and want to share it with others, please leave a review on Amazon for others to share in. Your review may help provide insight to those seeking ways to strengthen their relationships in or out of the kitchen. We would love to know what you think of it as well, so please post today! SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE! Ask Fr. Leo for fatherly advice. Any submissions may be used in future Grace Before Meals publications.

Posted in Dinner Discussion, Recipe, Recipe- Pork, Recipe-Meats, Recipe-Turkey, Restaurants, Video | 2 Comments »

Advent Prayer & Christmas Blessing by: Fr. Leo E. Patalinghug, December 2012 Let your Spirit come down upon us like the dewfall. Behold, the incarnation of God’s saving Grace. For the babe born at the stable feeding stall, Revealed God’s love, witnessed face-to-face. In a time when darkness covers the mind and heart of man, A Savior, truly God, makes real the hope from above. His cry, anointed and blessed, expels fear from the land, And He shows us mercy, faith, hope and God’s just love. Our restless hearts remain restless until You, Jesus, enter in. A banquet You bring to starving, empty souls; Thirst is quenched by the covenant chalice to those who drink, And for us prodigal ones, His mantle of mercy enfolds. May this rhyme, prayer, blessing and verse, Remind us of the divine gift wrapped in Christ’s humanity. For Mary’s yes brought the gift of God’s birth, And Christmas brings to souls God’s holy and complete serenity.       In these final days of Advent preparation, the celebration of Christmas joy, and hopeful expectations of a prosperous New Year, I pray you and your family experience the intercessory love of Holy Mary, St. Joseph, and your saintly patrons, so that you may be filled with God’s abundant love.     I look forward to keeping in touch with you over the coming year, through visits, letters, emails and various appearances. Be sure to stay connected by subscribing to our website www.gracebeforemeals.com, following us on Facebook and Twitter, and telling your friends, families and parishioners to do the same. Also, remember to watch the new season of Savoring our Faith on EWTN and please pray for us as we continue our apostolate of family, food, and faith in 2013.  Have a Blessed Christmas and New Year! Fr. Leo recently had the opportunity to sing a popular (and prayerful) Christmas Song, “O Holy Night,” accompanied by Mr. Paul Shaffer, the world famous musician who plays for The Late Shownbsp;with David Letterman.  A link to the performance is below for your “listening pleasure.”   Click here to listen to “O Holy Night” by Fr. Leo and Paul Shaffer (The Late Show with David Letterman)   Fr. Leo also hosted, “A Very Entertaining Christmas” special for the Catholic Channel, with Tom Leopold. The show will air Christmas Day on SiriusXM 129.      And, because it’s a season of Christmas sweets and Joyful giving, I’d like to share two more special sweet treats! First, a Christmas cookie recipe that my younger cousin Riza Empeno made for the family.  I asked her where she came up with the idea, and she “admitted” it came straight from Giada DeLaurentis from the Food Network.  And, since I’m not much of a baker, I share this Food Network recipe with all of you – definitely approved by my family. Click Here for the recipe. Nephew Emmanuel and Cousin Riza sharing a little sweet treat for a Christmas Party  Finally, to put us all in the mood, here’s a sweet rendition of a Christmas song.  It’s sung by the great nephew of a priest friend.  Little Benjamin (2 years old) tries his best to sing it for his mother (and for all of you).  But, when he forgets the words, he just makes it up.  Thanks to mom who helps him find the cutest and sweetest ending! Benjamin’s Jingle Bells 2012 AND, be sure to listen to a special NPR interview with Fr. Leo on the show Tell Me More, slated to air on Christmas Eve* at 2pm in the Washington DC area. For broadcast times in your area and to listen to the recording after it airs, you can check out their website here. *Subject to change. SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE! Ask Fr. Leo for fatherly advice. Any submissions may be used in future Grace Before Meals publications.

Posted in Audio, Holiday, Merry Christmas, Prayers, Recipe, Recipe- Dessert, Video | No Comments »

For a chef, mastering timing for cooking is essential to making a great meal.  That knowledge of timing is also important for life.  We have to know when to slow down, move forward, jump into something, or back off.  It’s not an easy lesson to learn, but one that’s worth considering in this week’s blast, especially since it’s now time for us to announce some exciting news. Cooking times are difficult enough without the pressure of cooking under the time restraints for TV! An interview with FOX, Spring 2012.   First: my new book Spicing Up Married Life is finally set to hit the market in September.  This book took several years for me to write.  Many times I asked in prayer, “Lord, why is this taking so long to write?”  But when the production team determined September 2012 as the launch date, I realized God’s perfect timing allows me to dedicate this book to my parents who celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on September 22. Perfect timing, God! Yes, this book will not only have colored pictures of the food, it will even feature easy to make desserts! Yes, a miracle, that I actually made desserts for this book, which is probably why it took so long to write!   By the way, subscribed members will receive a 10% discount for this book when purchased directly from our site. Details coming soon. Second:  I am also pleased to announce that I’ve received a new assignment.  While I enjoyed my five years serving on faculty at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, I missed parish life terribly, and I knew in my heart it would be time to transition soon.  My new assignment doing part-time work as a parish priest at Our Lady of the Fields in Millersville, MD, will also provide me opportunities to continue my work with Grace Before Meals.  It’s a perfect fit and comes at a perfect time. The Rainbow, that came at the perfect time for Noah and his Ark, signifies God’s promise. By the way, an all-new season of ”Savoring our Faith” on EWTN is set to air in January, with special episodes appearing this holidy season. Catch the show every Sunday at 8:30pm EDT. Me and the two trained chef assistants for the new show. Meet Chefs Randall and Jacob. I’m very excited returning to parish work while continuing the apostolate of Grace Before Meals-a basic extension of my work as a priest.  If you’re ever in the area, and I’m saying Mass, stop by and visit! Third:  I finally got a new car after my previous one was deemed a total wreck after hitting a deer.  While I obsessed about the type of car to purchase for about 3 months, I came across an unplanned “Pre-Labor Day Sale” that offered me a great deal.  The salesman was a great guy who really helped me discern when and what type of car to purchase.  His name, Anthony Miller (who I highly recommend at Fox Chevrolet in Laurel, MD) reminded me of the name St. Anthony-the patron Saint who helps you find things (like the right car)-and Miller of my new parish in Millersville, It gave me some assurance to my decision for a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox.  I know that seems like a complete stretch, and perhaps a bit superstitious, but the timing of the purchase couldn’t have been better.  Again, another perfect timing moment for God! A picture of the new car with a background of the parish church building, Our Lady of the Fields, Millersville, MD. And finally, I wanted to share with you a video that captures the need for perfect timing. It features my nieces and nephews in a fiercely friendly cooking competition.  Last year’s competition was won by the Girls’ Team, based on the technicality that the Boys’ Team went over the allotted time.  This year, the boys worked very hard on timing, and their creativity and taste brought them to victory.  Nephews Vs. Nieces 2012 Watch the fun, and perhaps you may be inspired to host a similar event in your own home.  There’s no better time than the present to make more efforts to bring your family together and celebrate some fun with food-especially in this busy time of the new school year. Click to watch the heated Cooking Competition between nephews and nieces. Just like Iron Chef!…well, maybe not quite, but fun and intense nonetheless. Learning time management-in cooking and in life-is a lifelong lesson to be learned.  May I suggest that learning this timing requires making sufficient time for prayer, especially since God certainly knows how to provide the right things at the perfect time!   The Atlanta Eucharistic Congress Procession for the Young Adult Gathering, Summer 2012. I addressed this enthusiastic crowd about the need to make time for prayer as an adult-no more childish prayer-pray like a real man and real woman, but with childlike faith.

Let us pray:Father in Heaven, all times and seasons obey Your law. Help us to be better managers of our time by making sure we spend sufficient time in prayer with You. May our days in this new season of Grace be blessed, and may we always trust and be patient, knowing that You provide us with perfect timing. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

In this featured section, I offer talking points for you to share with family or with the GBM family. Your responses, questions, or even random ramblings encourage us to continue the work of our movement. Please post your comment or question below. Have you ever experienced God’s providence in timing? Do you consider yourself patient person-someone who doesn’t mind waiting? How do you learn patience? What special food takes the longest to cook but is so worth the wait? On a separate note, do you like my choice of car? Many of you picked the color, but does my choice fit my personality? Are you as excited about the new book, Spicing Up Married Life, as I am to share it? SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE!

Send a test version of your email to yourself, and to others including a personal message. Up to  5  addresses may be entered separated by a comma “,”.

Email Address(es): thoward@getrenegade.com (Separate multiple addresses with a comma “,”)   Personal Note: Send both HTML & Text versions

View HTML Version View Text Version View Printable Version

Posted in Dinner Discussion, Events, Prayers, Video | 6 Comments »

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!

NEW VIDEO:

Grand Opening: St. James Coffee Shop!

Take a look at this blessed an unique coffee shop in Rochester MN. Yes, there is a Eucharistic Chapel and yes, they are cheaper than Starbucks!

Having just returned from another Steubenville Conference in Rochester MN (truly fantastic once again!), I thought this would be a great time to promote the opening of a great new Catholic coffee shop called St. James Coffee, complete with a Eucharistic Chapel and good coffee to boot…and it officially opens today! Check out my tour of the place and if you are up in Rochester MN, be sure to stop in for more than just a good cup of Joe, but the Grace of God. The perfect place to share Grace Before Meals!

Want an Odd Job Assisting Fr. Leo?

Don’t worry, it is not that odd! Fr. Leo and the GBM team are looking for young adults with a culinary background and missionary-hearts living in the Baltimore area to potentially assist with the cooking at events in the future. As we seek to create the best presentations and demonstrations possible, there is much work that needs to be done at each event, so your help could make a big difference. The position is not regular, but does offer payment. If you are interested in this opportunity to help Fr. Leo with food preparation at different events, please send your resume and information to assistant@gracebeforemeals.com. Think of it as a cool and helpful way to gain culinary and spiritual training!

Coming Home 20 Years Later!

Originally posted November 12, 2008

A few weeks ago, about 50 “ young” men returned to their alma mater for their high school reunion.  I wanted to stress “ young” because I was one of them!

We celebrated our 20 year Mount St. Joseph high school reunion.  It was strange to walk through halls where I once wandered aimlessly as a lost freshman, where friends played practical jokes on each other, and where I was yelled at a few times by teachers. We celebrated on the grounds of the newly constructed sports stadium with homecoming victories over our rivals in football.

For a few hours, several of my classmates shared life updates, visited old classrooms, marveled at the new structural additions, and most importantly, remembered moments that made high school more than just a building.  In that brief reunion with my former classmates, I must say that it was good to be home.

Students at Mount St. Joe are referred to as “Mount Men.”  Our patrons are St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, and St. Francis Xavier, the founder of the Xavarian Brothers, the order of religious brothers that staffs this school and many others around the world.  The Mount “Tower,” part of the original building, still remains a focal point for the modern campus.  It is a symbol of what each Mount St. Joe student is to exemplify – a strong, enduring, visionary beacon for the community and world.  Even though none of us former students would have admitted it 20 years ago, we were all very proud to be a part of the Mount family.

Looking back, I realize the high school years can be some of the most challenging for young people.  It’s a time of internal conflicts: bodies (and hormones) develop at an unbelievable pace, but limited psychological and life experiences prevent teens from fully understanding these inevitable changes.  As high school students, we wanted to be treated as adults, yet we tended to act like unruly kids.   Change occurs so quickly that some teachers hardly recognize students after a summer of growth spurts.  Parents marvel at how clothes sizes change as dramatically as voices drop from tenor to squeaky baritone.  The amount of transformation that occurs in a young person during this time requires the watchful eyes of faithful teachers.  Change can be good, if we change into something good .  Therefore, teachers must see that their objective isn’t simply to educate students so they can graduate.  Teachers must see their vocation as vital assistance to parents in the formation of these children through academics, virtue- based development, and by sharing the gift of service with others.

Thank God for good high schools like Mount St. Joe, a place where the Brothers, Priests, and lay teachers watch, guide, and care for students as they would a brother or son.  As parents entrust children to these institutions for about 8 hours daily, school should be an extension of the family. At the Mount, we are a large family of brothers.  Granted, it isn’t perfect, but what is perfect this side of Heaven?

During the reunion, I was so proud to learn that from a class of about 200 men, three of us became Catholic priests and one non-Catholic student was ordained as a Protestant Minister.  Many of my classmates are now working in secular industries. Some serve in the military, in manual labor, as doctors, lawyers, real estate agents, and a handful are fire fighters.  Classmates spoke lovingly about their wives and how proud they were to be fathers.   It did my heart good to see how one guy who arrived after the opening speech and prayer bowed his head to offer Grace before he ate his meal.  I was even more honored to celebrate the Mass for several of my classmates, many of whom expressed their congratulations and prayerful encouragement of my work as a priest and as host for the Grace Before Meals movement.  Some were surprised to learn that I entered the seminary only six years after graduating high school.

The homecoming reunion weekend at Mount St. Joseph made me reflect on the importance of religious orders that focus on the education of young people. We need more teachers who see that educating young people is more than a job, it’s a calling from God. We need more high schools that challenge young people to grow, not just in body, but in mind and spirit. We need families to ensure that what young people are learning in high school are life lessons and not just useless facts. Too often we hear stories of teachers who use the classroom to indoctrinate students in relativistic tendencies, to question authority (especially legitimate religious authority), and who try to convince children that opinion is fact

These problems in high schools are very real.   What is necessary to make certain high school becomes a good foundational experience for young people?  The parent, the primary educator of the child, who talks with sons and daughters about what’s being taught in school.  And after all, the best place for home schooling is the kitchen table.

After 20 years, it was wonderful to see a good number of us Mount Men, some prodigal sons, return for this special homecoming.   We may not have had a fattened calf prepared for us, but we did feast on four years of memories.  And at Mass, the greatest learning institution in world history, we celebrated the fact that we were more than classmates; we were students of truth, children of God, and brothers in the Lord .

A Mature Palate!  Vitello ai Funghi – Veal and Mushrooms.

20 years ago, I never thought that I would become a priest, and I had no idea that food would become such an important part of my life.  20 years ago, I don’t even think that I could grasp a concept that combines priesthood and food .

Recently, I had an opportunity to be a guest on the show Franciscan University Presents where we discussed that very unique combination of theology, food, faith, and family.

In the discussion with Fr. Michael Scanlon and Dr. Regis Martin, the concept of maturity in regards to faith and food was presented analogously.  We can’t appreciate certain theological concepts or even certain foods as children, because we have not yet grown up.  20 years ago, I would have never thought that I could ever enjoy a pan-seared slice of veal with a wild mushroom sauté.  For me, pizza and nuggets were all I needed.  On occasion, I eat foods that young people enjoy, but I definitely changed in that I would much rather have something fresh, with more veggies, and bold flavors that doesn’t require ketchup .  Perhaps, moms and dads can make this very mature meal for their young high school students as a way to test the maturity of their palate.  I can tell you, we didn’t get this in our high school cafeteria.  At that age, I don’t think we’d even know what to do with it .

Please click here for the recipe.

Homecoming!

Being back at my old high school forced me to examine how much I’ve grown up.  I did some pretty stupid things as a youngster , from which I have learned many lessons , especially through the act of confession.  I’m still learning some of those lessons.  One thing I’ve learned for sure, even after 20 years, Mount St. Joseph is still like a home.   The priests, brothers, and teachers of my alma mater made sure the students were raised to be men who would continue to be true gentlemen and lifelong students – always learning, always growing!

Let us Pray:

Father, high school can be a tough time for young people. We pray that all involved in educating high school students can do so with patience and familial care.  Give to the students a desire to learn and the motivation to grow.  Protect them from harmful things that can destroy a young person’s future, even his or her life .  Give to parents the grace to be patient with young people especially by helping them to remember, they, too, were young once . Let’s not forget to pray for the entire staff – the lunchroom crew, the janitorial staff, the coaches who urge us to victory, and even the bullies who hopefully grow up in life.  And Father in Heaven, during the month of November when we remember the faithful departed, grant to all our teachers who have died eternal rest .  Amen.

This was Brother Donald, the MSJ Librarian.  In all four years of HS, this man was the only one who gave me detention for talking too much in the library. We miss you!

CONNECT WITH US @

 SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE!

Posted in Blast from the Past, Food for the Body, Food for the Soul, Food for Thought, In Memory, Past Emails, Recipe, Recipe-Meats, Recipes, Vegetables, Video | 4 Comments »