PathToHoliness

While attending a conference in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico this past week I was able to attend Mass at Iglesia María Reina de la Paz.

This church is located right next to the airport runways which can be very distracting when planes are landing and taking off. One whole wall of the church is made of folding glass panels so they can be opened up. They were while I was there since the weather was so nice.

This is the Chapel at Chicago Midway Airport in Concourse C. I was sitting in Concourse A yesterday with a long wait for my flight when I heard an announcement for Mass. That pretty much answered my question about what to do with my time.

I headed right on over and got there a little early. The priest was there waiting too and was very happy to hear Confession. So I got two sacraments!

The Mass was very nice and we had quite a few people show up. Most large airports have some type of ministry like this and I’ve been able to take advantage of them at various times. It is a wonderful work and I pray they are able to continue it.

St. Joseph’s Downtown San Antonio was the church I got to attend away from home last week. It’s just a block from the Marriott’s Rivercenter and Riverwalk. I was there for the Cattle Industry Convention. We had almost 6,000 people involved in raising cattle and producing beef there.

This is the view before noon Mass when they had the Blessed Sacrament out for adoration.

The church was founded in 1868 and can be found at 623 East Commerce Street, San Antonio, TX 78205-2693.

Hello from Panama City Beach, FL. It’s family vacation time and this morning we attended Mass at St. Bernadette Church. This is a view of the Altar before Mass.

After Mass the day care kids all got up in front of us and said a prayer and sang a song and presented the priest with a nice Christmas present. They were very cute.

I pray that you will all have a wonderful Advent week leading up to the birthday of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I just got home yesterday after a 12 day trip to Morocco, Egypt and Jordan. Let’s just say that going to Mass presented a big challenge. I was in Cairo over last weekend and had been assured that there was a Catholic church next to the hotel. It proved to be an Episcopal Cathedral after a couple of the guys in my group and I went there on Sunday for a 6pm Mass in English. There was actually supposed to be a Catholic church nearby. We walked for almost an hour trying to find it until we became uncomfortable with the neighborhood we were walking in at that point.

So, I didn’t make it to Mass and was highly disappointed. The closest I came to a church that I could identify as Catholic for the rest of the trip was the one pictured here that we passed on a highway in Cairo.

I am seriously looking forward to attending Mass today!

I’m currently on a trip with the U.S. Grains Council in Morocco with stops still to come in Egypt and Jordan.

Today I talked my group into stopping by a Catholic Church. This is Notre Dame de Lourdes de Casablanca. Unfortunately my schedule didn’t allow me to attend Mass.

Morocco is a mostly Muslim country but there are quite a few Catholics that are helping spread the faith.

One of my goals in traveling internationally has been to come home with an image of Mary from each country I visit. I was really thinking that wouldn’t happen in Morocco. However, in the back of the church there was a very nice plaster image of Mary holding Jesus. I bought it and made and hope I can get it home safely! That’s my miracle of the day.

Last week I got to attend Mass at St. Augustine Church in Covington, GA. It’s right near my parent’s house.

I used my business trip to Moultrie, GA as an excuse to spend a couple days with family east of Atlanta. Path To Holiness contributor, Chelsea, my daughter came along. She stayed with family while I went south to the Sunbelt Ag Expo.

It was great to see my brother and his family including my Godson. But I have to say, it’s nice to be home with my wife!

In the heart of Las Vegas you will find the Guardian Angel Cathedral. This is where I’ve been attending Mass this week and will do so again this afternoon since we’ve got an early flight out tomorrow.

I know I don’t need to describe the awful things that take place here in this town. I really don’t think it’s called Sin City for nothing. But attendance at daily Mass has been impressive. It’s a great place to find shelter from the activity here and pray for those who are abandoning what they know is right.

I really don’t like coming here because of the activity that goes on. But business often requires it and you just have to be extra careful during your stay.

All you holy Guardian Angels please watch over us and pray for us.

This week I was in Lexington, KY and attended morning Mass at St. Peter Church.

To my surprise the 7am Mass is in traditional Latin. Here’s an iPhone photo image from Monday.

Latin Mass Ministry

Individuals of the Diocese of Lexington served through this ministry are expected to be members of a parish of the diocese, and may request the celebration of other sacraments with the permission of their local pastor.

We had a choir chanting responses and songs. You can hear what they sounded like here:

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Fortunately for me they had paperback booklets with the Mass in Latin and English so I could follow along.

The last couple days I’ve missed daily Mass just due to my schedule of travel and meetings. However, this morning I have the pleasure of attending Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Kansas City, MO. This church is managed by the Redemptorists order.

I’m heading out to my annual pheasant hunt in South Dakota with several of my clients today and we’ve already made plans for attending Mass while there.

This morning I had the pleasure of attending Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Dardenne Prairie, MO. This is the church where I have been able to attend an evening of recollection once in a while which is put on by the Wespine Study Center.

Mass was actually in what they call the Chapel which I guess was the original church. There is a large new church on the same property. I really like the Chapel though because it’s smaller and more “traditional.”

Here’s a meditation from their Sunday bulletin:

Mary, the mother of God, was very aware of the enormous blessings God showered on her and she gave credit to Him as the one “who has done great things for me.” Do we recognize the many gifts which God bestows on each of us? Do we also sing His praises by sharing our gifts?

That’s my message to my wife Cindy. Today’s our 29th wedding anniversary! This photo was taken after breakfast this morning. We’re relaxing for a couple days at a Lake Ozark B&B.

It may sound a little sweet but I love my wife as much as ever. We started dating in college and got married the week after I graduated. I seriously encourage all married couples to keep working at it. It is worth it. Even when it isn’t easy. I would have to say that sharing our Catholic faith has been a real blessing in our marriage. Cindy converted prior to our marriage and that was her decision and I’m very grateful that she did and that the Lord has blessed her with a great faith.

This morning we attended Mass at Our Lady of The Lake. This is the huge statue of Mary that sits on top of the church overlooking the lake.

So I wish everyone a happy holiday weekend and if you are married then I pray for you and hope you have a long and satisfying marriage. Here’s a marriage prayer I found online.

We thank you, O God, for the Love You have implanted in our hearts. May it always inspire us to be kind in our words, considerate of feeling, and concerned for each other’s needs and wishes. Help us to be understanding and forgiving of human weaknesses and failings. Increase our faith and trust in You and may Your Prudence guide our life and love. Bless our Marriage O God, with Peace and Happiness, and make our love fruitful for Your glory and our Joy both here and in eternity.

This morning I got to attend Mass at St. Francis of Assisi in Bakersfield, CA. It’s not the first time I’ve been here or to the church. It looks like they’ve got a major construction project going on. I hope that means the parish is growing.

I can’t say that all the travel I do is very exciting but I sure do get to attend Mass in a lot of different churches and meet a lot of very interesting people.

I’ll be back on the road tomorrow and hope to start the day with Mass at St. Francis again.

On a recent trip to Atlanta, GA my wife Cindy and I attended daily Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in the downtown area. I meant to post this a couple weeks ago but better late than never.

We are in the heart of downtown Atlanta, Georgia. Our parish is 128 years young and is alive with history, cultural and socioeconomic diversity, and spirit! The downtown area is experiencing a rebirth and renewal. We welcome new and existing residents of this area, as well as visitors from neighboring hotels and convention centers.

We invite you to worship with our community, to live as a good steward of the gifts God provides through any of our outreach ministries, to strengthen your faith through our varied educational programs, and to join with other parishioners for one of our social activities.

Last week when I was working in Washington, DC I was lucky enough to be staying a couple blocks from the Cathedral of St. Mathew The Apostle.

I’ve been able to attend Mass here a number of times over the years. It’s one of the places that Pope Benedict said Mass when he visited the United States.

Established in 1840, St. Matthew’s originally was located at 15th and H Streets, NW. Construction of the present church began in 1893 under the direction of Monsignor Thomas Sim Lee. The first Mass was celebrated on June 2, 1895. The church was dedicated in 1913 and designated a cathedral in 1939 when the Archdiocese of Washington was established.

The Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle, which honors the patron saint of civil servants, plays a major role in the Catholic life of the nation’s capital. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Washington.