Promote Catholicism Day & Silence

Here’s something awesome: Promote Catholicism Day preceded by a day of silence.

Here’s the scoop:

World Communications Day 2012 is Sunday, May 20. The 2012 Catholic Media Promotion Day will follow on Wednesday, May 23 and Thursday, May 24.

On Wednesday, May 23*, we’re asking you to take a one-day break from posting on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Pinterest, etc… and use that day to reflect on the Pope’s words about the role of silence in communication and evangelization.

Then, on Thursday, May 24, please share the fruit of that day of prayer and silence with everyone, by posting (here) your answer to the question: “What in Catholic Media has had an impact on me during the past year?”

I’m on it, folks! In fact, it can be no accident that this is happening on a week when I’m feeling especially frazzled.

Here’s to new media silence on Wednesday! Are you in?

The Value of Face-to-Face

I love how the internet and the media-that’s-not-really-”new”-anymore has opened many doors and windows in my life.

I’ve made friends who are not virtual in any way, though miles may separate us. We drink our coffee via Twitter, share joys via email, follow each other’s lives via blogs. We ask for sudden prayers through texts and even call from time to time to sob and pray out loud.

There is no doubt, to me, that the digital continent is a blessing in my life.

You can read the rest at the Catholic Writers Guild blog.

Let the fun continue – another chance to win

If you stop over at Faith & Family Live, you’ll notice that Rachel is reviewing Catholic Family Fun today.

And you can win a copy!

Rachel says, in part,

I don’t mean to gush (I’m not getting paid to do so!), but I was just so pleasantly surprised by how handy and useful this book really is. I have older boys and I can still see getting a lot of ideas for the whole family.

As someone who has long admired and followed Rachel and been part of the crew at Faith & Family on and off, I’m in my happy zone right now.

Go on over and enter the contest, and while you’re at it, check out the rest of the great work they’re doing over that way.

Last Week’s Writing: Lots of Mary

Here’s your linky-roundup of my other writing from the last week:

“Sharing Mary” at New Evanglizers

Sometimes, it’s far easier for me to talk about my faith than it is to live my faith.

Take Mary, for example.

I have a huge and ever-growing devotion to the Blessed Mother, and I’ve even written quite a bit about her. Most weeks, at my blog, I do a whole post about her or inspired by her.

So you might have the (false) impression that my kids know all about Mary. You might assume (wrongly) that my family prays the rosary. You might (mistakenly) think we do all sorts of Marian things in May every year.

Truth is, this year is the first time I’ve actually set up a May altar.

Join me there.

Tech Talk at CatholicMom.com: A Great Rosary App

Without my iPad, my prayer life is vastly different. For one thing, I lose my prayer book.

I added the Rosary HD app from ESB Solutions to my essential apps folder just last week. At $2.99, it’s a bargain. Take it fromsomeone who continues to search for the perfect rosary app.

(No such thing, sorry to say, but this one’s definitely a keeper!)

Let me walk you through Rosary HD and tell you what I love about it.

Read it all.

Review of Great Resources for Kids at CatholicMom.com

Excuse me if I sound a little hurried in this review. My seven-year-old returns from school soon and when she sees this pile, I’m going to lose them all. There’s no way my four-year-old will remain oblivious when her older sister shows interest.

And how could they NOT be interested in the beautiful books Pauline has sent to me for review? I’m still debating if I want to share them…

Read the rest for three great new titles from Pauline.

Celebrating May with Flowers

I’ve been Catholic long enough to know better.

I’m surrounded by blooming flowers: on the side of the road, in various flowerbeds, in the yard.

And I have young kids.

So what’s my excuse for not having a May altar of some sort before now?

Read the rest at Columbus Catholic Women.

Blog Talk at Catholic Writers Guild Blog

There’s something appealing about a good picture with a good blog post. I started using images as a matter of course when I noticed some of my favorite bloggers doing it.

It’s like a challenge, sometimes, finding the picture that expresses the post. Sometimes it’s a way of sending another message in the post.

In the rest of the post, I share my favorite free photo and image sources and a few tips for image use.

Two Little Words, Much Appreciated

It was a strange-looking envelope, made even more so by the fact that no one in the house has a birthday in early May.

Who could be sending a card?

Read the rest at Amazing Catechists.

Kevin Lowry Reviews CFF

I didn’t remember, when I posted my “twitter-view” with Kevin Lowry earlier today, that he was reviewing Catholic Family Fun as the final stop on the Book Tour today.

And what a review. He starts,

Yes, I’m a husband and father of eight kids. But family fun doesn’t always come naturally – even (or perhaps especially) in what is often thought of as a “large family.” I dispute that eight kids is a large family, but that’s not the point. My role is too often that of dispute mediator, grievance adjudicator, and apologist for reality (“No, it’s not worth $1,000 for you to clean the basement.”)

Even worse, I fear that perhaps… I’ve become too detached from fun. It’s my own fault, really. I refer to my wife in jest as my “social director” and far too often defer to her in matters that might be construed as “family fun.” Maybe it’s my professional upbringing. I’m a CPA, for crying out loud.

I mean, seriously. Catholic family fun? I really am clueless.

He continues later,

I have a deep and resounding love for my kids, but this won’t help if I don’t invest in them. My love takes the form of time, talent, and sure – treasure. But the ideas in this book don’t require much of the latter.

Kevin gave the book high marks, which I so appreciate. I can’t wait to hear about how his family likes his new Family Fun Mentality. Bet there’s going to be some fodder for interesting blogging there…

This just in: my book is “wicked awesome” and I have “unique humor”

The first stop on the Book Tour train today:

Michelle at This Little Light is part of the Book Tour today, and she says my book is wicked awesome. She even made a graphic. Enjoy it with me, wouldja?

(go ahead, click to enlarge: it's worth it)

Aside from winning my heart with the cool graphic, Michelle also points out a challenge I think many of us face:

Years have passed since my introduction to parenting, and I’ve gained some knowledge—and my composure. I don’t sweat the small stuff anymore, but boy, I still need a good hand-holding from time to time. My biggest issue lately:

putting the chores aside

and just having fun with my 42-pound bundle of joy. I get too caught up in the to-do list and the housekeeping and the busyness of life. And that’s where the lovely Sarah Reinhard AND her “manual” come in.

I found myself nodding along and then I remembered that she was talking about MY BOOK.

It’s a book *I* need too, folks. One that I’ll be relying on heavily this summer. Don’t get the impression AT ALL that just because I’ve written the book I’m struggling any less than you, because I’m NOT. (Do the caps help emphasize that? HUH? DO THEY? CUZ IT’S TRUE!)

Go on over and read all of Michelle’s review, if only to see that graphic up close and to enjoy the beauty that is her blog design.

Also on the Book Tour today:

The lovely Ellen Gable Hrkach highlights my “unique humor” in her review at Plot Line and Sinker:

Sarah Reinhard is no stranger to fun. Anyone who reads her columns, blog posts, Tweets or Facebook messages, knows what a wonderful sense of humor she has and what a great writer she is. She has taken two of her strongest talents and made them into a book on how families can have more fun together, not only fun, but fun with a Catholic twist.

Thanks, Ellen. I’m cueing some maniacal laughter as I type…

We need moments of joy and laughter

So says Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur in her review at Catholic Lane:

Moments of joy and laughter can create lasting memories for both you and your children. Laughter can reduce tension and stress which can help make the challenge of parenting a little bit easier. But, in the midst of our busy lives, where should we begin? How can we incorporate more fun into our family lives without it being just one more thing to add to our lengthy to-do lists?

Sarah Reinhard comes to the rescue with her new book: Catholic Family Fun: A Guide for the Adventurous, Overwhelmed, Creative, or Clueless. Reinhard aims to “join [the] beauty of Catholic faith with the fun of family life, and create a set of activities that you will experience as both memorable and instructional.”

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