Food for the Soul » Blog Archive » What’s On the Table: Good News Feed!

Posted September 26th, 2012 | Uncategorized

Good News Feed!

Good news travels fast! But bad news travels even faster! We face an uphill battle when it comes to spreading the good news of our Grace Before Meals movement! Besides, there are so many people new to our movement that some things are worth repeating. Whenever I travel to different events, I am always humbled by people saying to me, “I never heard of Fr. Leo or Grace Before Meals before, until a friend introduced me to it all.” That’s great news to me, and it’s even better knowing that our movement grows by word of mouth.

Click the picture to read an article about this past Sunday’s event in York, PA!

With that in mind, and in preparation for a very busy fall season of Grace Before Meals, our team would like to just share a few thoughts, invitations, and reminders. And it’s all good news!

At a recent presentation for couples. One of the men said that his wife “dragged” him there. But after the event, he had so much fun and learned so much that he promised to bring his guy friends the next time!

Our newest book, Spicing Up Married Life had its soft release this past weekend, to commemorate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary.

Carlos and Fe, 50 years ago!

It was a great celebration that began with Mass and then a true fiesta-with singing, dancing, performances, and of course great food prepared by the Executive Chef at the Sheraton, Sam Anderson, my high school classmate.

The beautiful and deliciously plated salad.

During this celebration, I offered the guests a glimpse of the special love my mom and dad have for each other, which certainly extends to my family. I hope you enjoy the video, especially the old pictures of “little Leo.”

I edited this video for my parents. I’m blessed to call them my parents.

As another way to commemorate this celebration, I also used their anniversary date, September 22, as the date to launch my newest book Spicing Up Married Life which has twelve chapters devoted to a monthly dinner date. Why should couples wait only once a year to celebrate their marriage? I say celebrate twelve times. My book can help keep your meal focused through an engaging chapter topic, questions for dinner conversation, and of

course delicious and easy-to-prepare dishes.

The main courses from my new book. According to one taste tester, “This book and cooking the recipe gave us a chance to connect, eat great food, talk, and laugh-something we hadn’t done in a long, long time!”

To get your copy and to receive a discount, order here, and include the promotion code
SUML10. This fall provides our subscribers great opportunities to participate in our movement close and upfront! We will be touring quite a bit throughout our country. Hopefully, there’s an event near you. Click HERE for a listing of our events in the coming months. Bring your family and friends. And, if you don’t live near these event sites, consider planning an opportunity to bring our message to you. To ask for information on how make an event request to bring our message to you, click HERE.

Parishes enjoy the missions, but they’re also an easy opportunity for early and easy Christmas shopping.

And finally, remember, as good news travels fast, business experts tell us that bad news travels even faster. Consider why gossip is a great sin. That’s one reason why the mainstream media offers very little good news. Negative news actually sells and grabs our attention-war, hunger, economic problems, political propaganda against all sides of the spectrum. All of this bad news has negative effects on us-and especially children. I offer this gentle reminder to monitor how much bad news you process in your day and consider how much good news we are willing to hear and talk about.

Fr. Leo with high school students after a fun, engaging, and educational assembly.

Perhaps watch positive TV shows more regularly, like mine “Savoring Our Faith,” moved from Sundays to each Wednesday at 6:00pm on EWTN. Consider more positive reading. And be sure your family dinner discussions put all of the bad news in perspective for your children-no matter how young or old they are. That’s why my book, our website, and our movement encourage a hopeful message in the midst of all of the negativity. We don’t try to sugarcoat anything, but put hope into everything!

Help us to spread good news by encouraging family, friends, and parishioners to sign up for our free weekly blasts and by being part of the movement through our books, our live events, and our shows. Go ahead, and share some good news. After all, good news feeds hungry souls better than no news or bad news.

Fr. Leo with Chef Instructors at a school in Alabama.

Let us pray: Jesus, you tell us to be light for the world and the salt of the Earth. In other words, you tell us to be people of hope (e.g.., spread good news) and to not be bland members of the human race (e.g, serve good food). Keep us ever focused on the message of hope, in the midst of all the challenging news. And help us to be true instruments by helping to spread good news to all we meet today and every day. Amen.

Your postings, comments, and questions really do encourage us and makes us feel like we’re doing something worthwhile. Please post your comments below.

How do you speak with your children about hopeful news in the midst of all the bad news they hear?
Have you ever shared the Grace Before Meals message with others-including non-Catholics?
Fr. Leo hears so many stories about how people have experienced some conversion through our message. Do you have similar a good news message that you would like to share with our “fams” (short for “families,” as we don’t really have “fans”).

EVENT: The Montana Catholic Conference: That All May Be Fed.
Fr. Leo is going back to Great Falls, MT to speak at the Montana Catholic Conference September 28-29.Click here to find out more: http://www.montanalife.org/

EVENT: DATE NIGHT FOR COUPLES!

Though Fr. Leo won’t be there, you can go to Holy Family Catholic Church in Davidsonville, MD, which is offering their second church wide “date night” and will have Spicing Up Married Life books available for any couple who would like to take advantage of free babysitting and a romantic evening with your spouse, whether dating, engaged or married. Check out the Catholic Review Article at http://www.catholicreview.org/article/home/parish-national-efforts-fortify-marriages-through-date-nights

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Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

5 Responses to “What’s On the Table: Good News Feed!”

Father Leo,

It was Wonderful meeting you and receiving your message. My little girl was SO tickled to meet you!! She was the teenager at the reception before the event in York, PA. We enjoyed the event immensely. Nothing we have ever done or seen compares to this. We only knew a couple of people there but It was like a large dinner party of close friends where it was ok to talk about Everything and everyone felt loved, considered, and welcome. You did this.

It was so nice of you to ask the children to come on stage with you and to share in the meal you prepared. I cannot speak for all the children but my daughter “DD”, Deirdre, wanted so much to get up on stage with you.

You made a Big change in our everyday family life. While sitting in the audience next to my daughter she said “See people really do Need to sit down at the table, together.” I have three children and myself. My other two children are much older than Deirdre and trying out their independence to see what they do in the world. Deirdre and I got in to the habit of eating dinner at the ice cream counter in our family room. I prepare our dinners on Saturday and we just reheat them during the rest of the week. The counter was an easy place for her to eat and watch TV while I ate and prepared for my many volunteer organizations.

We were at Grace Before Meals on Sunday. Monday evening, Deirdre arrived home from school and I arrive home from work at the same time. We cooked dinner together and sat at the dining room table. After we said grace, Deirdre said “You listened to the Priest. You did this because he said so. I am glad. This IS nice.” Deirdre is in 8th grade now and it will only be a few more years until she too goes off to college and out in the world to find her place in it. Sitting down to dinner at the dining room table together makes us feel more like a family even though it is just the two of us now. Thank you for reminding me this is how it was for me growing up, how it was when my older two were home and how it should still be…especially when it is just the two of us now.
Posted by Heather Marshall on September 27th, 2012 at 12:03 am.
Father Leo,

On Sept. 20th, my second great-grandson LEO Robert Andrew K. was born to my granddaughter Addy (a Registered Dietitian and top in her Class of 2012 at Culinary Institute of Michigan, majoring in pastry) and her beloved Justin, an incredible chef and instructor at Culinary Institute of Michigan.

Now I’m praying that “my” “Baby Leo” will follow in YOUR footsteps!!!

Prayers for you and your ministry every day. I’m hungry for penne with pasta sauce that you prepared for us at the Maria Stein Retreat Center on Divine Mercy Sunday (Fr. Michael Hinterschied’s birthday!)

Ginger
Posted by Fr. Leo on September 27th, 2012 at 9:50 am.
Fr. Leo it was such a pleasure to meet you this past weekend in Great Falls at the Culture of Life conference. My friend and I enjoyed your talk immensely and you had us in stitches! Thank you for signing my cookbook and having my picture taken with you. You’re such an inspiration and so on fire for our Lord! Thank you again.

Lorraine
Posted by Lorraine Nielsen on September 30th, 2012 at 5:46 pm.
Happy anniversary to your parents. Thanks to them for nurturing your priestly vocation.

Jae
Posted by Fr. Leo on October 10th, 2012 at 4:17 pm.
Fr. Leo; What a beautiful story of your parents love you show in the video. It can be seen on every picture the love they share with each other and their family. May their love continue to grow with each passing year. Thank you for sharing their story.

Sandra
Posted by Fr. Leo on October 10th, 2012 at 4:17 pm.

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5 Responses to “What’s On the Table: Good News Feed!”

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