PathToHoliness

Merry Christmas to everyone. Here’s the whole family after midnight Mass. We may have looked bright eyed in the photo but we were asleep pretty soon after we got back to the house.

I don’t know when we started going to midnight Mass for Christmas but it has been a while. It was standing room only at St. Gregory’s. I’m looking forward to a nice quiet day of relaxation and celebrating the birth of Jesus. I will confess to going to Starbucks for a venti Christmas blend though. But that’s the extent of my adventuring out to the retail world. We might take a drive to the beach today though since it’s supposed to be warm one more day before cooling down.

You can’t have enough Nativity scenes this time of year. Our family has escaped the cold and wintery white stuff for the sunshine and relative warmth of south Florida.

I attended early Mass at St. Gregory the Great Church in Plantation, FL. I’m not sure if we’re going to go to Midnight Mass tonight or Mass in the morning. We’ve been going at midnight for years. I personally prefer in the morning. I always fall asleep before midnight and then have trouble getting back to sleep after Mass. Whichever one you pick though, they’re all beautiful!

This is the manger at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. As you can see it’s waiting for baby Jesus. Almost Christmas. Come Lord Jesus.

Our family is headed toward south Florida for the holiday weekend. On Sunday Cindy and I become God parents again to our nephew, Charlie. He and his sister will be getting baptized!

Here’s wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas and safe travels.

Yesterday I was overwhelmed to learn that my brother Paul’s house burned down. This is a photo he sent me from his phone. It was still burning the next morning.

I can’t even imagine what they’re going through right now. Talk about an emotional jolt at best and right before Christmas. On the good side of this, no one was hurt, they have a small “guest house” on their property that he used as an office. It’s a one bedroom, one bath house and they have 6 children, 5 of which still live at home. So they have a roof over their head and good insurance. But they lost a almost all of their belongings. The help and support that poured in from neighbors and friends was unbelievable. I spoke with Paul late in the day and he said one church even had a food schedule for them for the next week!

My first thought was to hop a plane for Atlanta but Cindy helped me think that through. They have more support almost than they need right now and it’s kind of chaotic. Not much I can do there really. We’re going to Atlanta for work in January so we can leave early and stay with my parent’s who live nearby and see them then.

I’ve really had trouble getting this out of my mind since I learned about it yesterday. Besides thinking I need to go help I did say a prayer and many more since. It has also made me think about what is really important. They are all alive, they have a place to stay and they have their faith which remains unshaken! They will rebuild and start new memories.

The film “Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Servant of All” is now .

No truer words have ever been written. For decades, Fulton Sheen served as a shining example of what it means to serve God. His television show, “Life is Worth Living,” reached 30 million viewers a week, and his words were captured in over 100 publications. His inspiration came not just from his teachings, however. Millions were influenced by the way he lived and by witnessing his personal relationship with God.

This new film, “Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Servant of All,” introduces this beloved priest to a new generation — a generation that desperately needs this shining example of what it means to serve God. His messages remain as relevant and powerful today as they were nearly a half-century ago. Through the stories of those who knew him, viewers are reminded of his life and works. He lives on in the memories of those whose lives he forever changed.

It’s a cold day in Missouri on Gaudete Sunday. We just had our first snow of the season and the wind is howling. Hopefully the roads won’t be any problem going to Mass in a short while

Here’s an excerpt from today’s second reading that I thought I’d share. Besides the whole concept of being patient, which is one I need to work on constantly, I like the reference to farmers!

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient. (Jas 5:7-10 Reading 2)

I enjoyed Mass this morning at the Cathedral of St. John The Baptist in Savannah, GA. It was held in the undercroft chapel. Tomorrow’s Mass will be held in the Cathedral though. I’m looking forward to that.

The Cathedral traces its roots back to the late 1700’s when it started as a small frame church. You can read the history here.

I’m attending an agricultural aviators convention. It was billed as being in the balmy south. However, we’ve had near record cold temps. My 20 min. walk to the Cathedral was in 16 degree wind chill. That was chilly!

According to an AP story in the Washington Post, Pope Benedict would like a solar powered popemobile. It’s nice to see a story about our Pope that doesn’t criticize him!

Anyone have a fast, solar-powered electric popemobile for his holiness?

The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI would gladly use one as another sign of his efforts to promote sustainable energy and take care of the planet, but one has yet to be offered.

Here’s how EWTN defines Advent:

The word Advent is from the Latin adventus for “coming” and is associated with the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. Advent always contains four Sundays, beginning on the Sunday nearest the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, (November 30) and continuing until December 24. It blends together a penitential spirit, very similar to Lent, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second and Final Coming of the Lord, called the Parousia, and a joyful theme of getting ready for the Bethlehem event.

The traditional color of Advent is purple or violet which symbolizes the penitential spirit. Religious traditions associated with Advent express all these themes.

I used a relatively warm day yesterday to put up our Christmas lights and Nativity Scene. I would love to see more yards with a Nativity Scene in them. Can’t say I’m a big fan of blow up Santas and assorted animals.

At the end of Mass yesterday our Associate Pastor, Fr. Ben Nwosu, sang what he calls the Jefferson City Song. Fr. Ben is from Nigeria where life is very different than we can imagine here in the USA. When he was assigned to our diocese he fell in love with our community so he composed a little song that he started singing after Masses. He says that when he has been back home he’s taught it to his family and friends and they sing it there too. I caught part of the song on my phone to share with you.

The Zimmerman family had a wonderful Thanksgiving day and meal. I can tell you that what I’m most thankful for is my faith and my family. All the rest is just “stuff.”

Speaking of stuff. I am still stuffed. We are so blessed in this country to have so much. I heard on the radio this morning that people were lined up in the freezing cold 12 deep at local retail outlets to get Black Friday savings. I can’t do that and just plain won’t.

Let’s hope that as we prepare for the Christmas season people remember why we celebrate.

After several weeks on the road I’m getting caught up. Can’t believe how long it has been since I posted here. Since we’re about to celebrate Thanksgiving I thought I’d share a post that my wife Cindy did on our AgWired website. We’re so blessed here in America with so much food so it’s a great time to thank all the people who produce it. This includes the farmers as well as everyone else in the food chain that bring it to our tables. As usual, our Holy Father says it well. Here’s Cindy’s post:

Pope Benedict calls agriculture an “indispensable resource for the future” that is not given enough importance today.

During an address on November 14, the Pope reflected on the importance of agricultural work in light of the global economic situation. “In this context a strategic re-launching of agriculture appears decisive. In fact, the process of industrialization has often overshadowed the agricultural sector, which, while also drawing benefit from modern technologies, has nevertheless lost importance, with notable consequences, even at the cultural level. I believe that this is the moment for the reevaluation of agriculture, not in a nostalgic sense, but as an indispensable resource for the future.”

The Pope called for “a truly unified way to a new balance between agriculture, industry and services, so that development be sustainable, and no one go without bread and work, and so that air and water and the other primary resources be preserved as universal goods.”

Something to think about this week as we “give our thanks to God for the fruits of the earth and the work of man.” Amen!

Daughter Chelsea is featured in a YouTube video for Catholic Vote called, “We Are The Catholic Vote.” You can see her at 1:07 in.

CatholicVote.org is a community of patriotic Americans who believe our nation’s founding principles are good and true, and worth fighting for.

BTW. Her Mom, Dad and sisters are the Catholic Vote too!

Please exercise your right to vote and be a voice for the unborn who can’t.

I attended Mass this morning at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Memphis, TN. I’m here to make a presentation at a luncheon.

So, why do I post church photos? Because it’s part of my path to holiness. I believe daily Mass is an integral part of my life and am trying to show that you can make it to Mass even if you travel a lot.

This morning my Knights of Columbus Council #12992 held one of its monthly breakfasts. These are important for several reasons.

To start with, we raise funds to use in our community service projects. Additionally, it’s a really nice way for members of the Parish to enjoy a good healthy meal and visit with each other after Mass. If you haven’t been to a KofC breakfast then watch the video to see what you’re missing.

I don’t get to attend a lot of our events due to work travel but when I do I get some photos and add them to our website and online photo album.