The mission of Thrive is to transform the lives of young adults and singles by drawing them out of the isolation in which they often live, and into the family life of the Church.

The Catholic Thrive conferences are inspired by the National Catholic Singles Conferences (NCSC) which began in 2005 and continue to draw large and enthusiastic crowds. Dave Sloan, Catholic Thrive co-founder and conference emcee, was a keynote speaker and emcee at the first six National Catholic Singles Conferences.

Thrive conferences feature some of the world’s best-loved speakers, including Phil Mango, Mary Beth Bonacci, and Father Stan Fortuna, CFR. These powerful speakers help us understand what it means to be true men and true women, forge stronger relationships at every level, face down and defeat bad habits and the assault of evil, and give our lives fully to the mission for which God has made us.

Events include live praise and worship and pop music from the world-famous Fr. Stan and the 12 Gates Band and a DJ for dancing as well. Mass is offered each day along with perpetual adoration, reconciliation, and walking rosaries. There are opportunities to make care packages for the poor and homeless. These packages are distributed the day after the conference, and everyone is invited to participate in these encounters which are led by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR’s) who have extensive experience with this work.

The Saturday evening conference gala is a benefit for Singles Serving Orphans (SSO). SSO, which began in 2008, has conducted eight mission trips to Casa de Elizabeth orphanage in Sonora, Mexico, and is expanding this year to include work with orphans in Jamaica. More information on the missions is available at the conference website.

Thrive conferences also include extensive opportunities to get involved with ongoing Catholic groups in the conference areas and across the country. The primary focus of the talks, music, spirituality, and the many conference exhibitors and sponsors, is to get every person connected forever to the Catholic family.

Catholic Thrive Anaheim takes place across the street from Disneyland, and includes beach parties and sports, and tours of LA and Hollywood and the California Missions. Catholic Thrive New York takes place at the New Yorker Hotel and the adjacent Manhattan Center, located across the street from Madison Square Garden in midtown Manhattan. Conference related activities include shows, outings in Central Park, tours of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, and museum excursions.

Thrive is helping to drive a dynamic movement underway in the Catholic Church to reach the largest group of people in every city in America, a group which has until now been largely overlooked—singles. There are over 100 million singles in America, forming a majority of all households. In our cities, the rates of singleness are much higher, and the marriage rates much lower. It is not good for the man to be alone. A full, rich, and thriving Christian life can only be lived in a family context, in God’s Family, and that’s what Thrive is all about.

Until now, there has been no effective way to reach this new, enormous demographic with the message of all that the Catholic Church has to offer. Catholic Thrive conferences and the CatholicThrive.com website are helping to change that.

“Ah”, said the King with a smile, “but you have. All these many years tales of your gallant deeds have reached me. Did you not know that every time you helped one of my people, you were my own true and faithful knight?”

Aren’t many of us like the knight in the story especially we as mothers? We want to be able to serve God through our church and in our community, but it doesn’t seem as if we ever get to that point. We must remember as the knight discovered that it is what we do for others where we are in our walk. Whether it be wiping a child’s runny nose, watching a friend’s children, providing a meal for a family in need, we ARE serving our Lord. Time will come when you will be able to get involved in more church activities and such, but right now we must remember we are where God wants us to be.

[Reviewed by Linda Nelson, Sacred Heart Books and Gifts, LLC]

Denver, Colorado has been chosen as the host of the 2009 National Catholic Bible Conference. On June 26 and 27, ten of the most effective Catholic Bible teachers and Biblical scholars in the country will gather at St. Thomas More Church in Centennial, CO to share the keys to effective Bible study.

In an answer to the call of the Scripture synod held in Rome last fall, the theme of this year’s event is "Scripture in the Life and Mission of the Church." This two day conference will continue the message of evangelization given by Pope John Paul II in Denver in 1993 and elaborate on the message of Pope Benedict at the conclusion of the recent synod in Rome this past October as he called for a "robust and credible pastoral promotion of the knowledge of Sacred Scripture."

The conference will begin with Mass, and then a keynote by His Excellency Archbishop Charles Chaput on Friday morning, June 26. This will be followed by talks that offer opportunities to encounter Scripture in an informative and transformative sense, and inspire participants to put God’s Word into practice.

Sponsored by Ascension Press, The Augustine Institute, and The Denver Catholic Biblical School, the National Catholic Bible Conference looks to bring people from all over the United States and Canada together to glean both knowledge and encouragement from gifted Catholic speakers including Jeff Cavins, Dr. Tim Gray, Dr. Ted Sri, Dr. Brant Pitre, Dr. Peter Wiliamson, Dr. Mary Healy, Curtis Martin, Thomas Smith, Sarah Christmyer, and Deb Holiday.

Registration is currently open with a discounted rate available for those registered by May 1, 2009. Group discounts are also available Information on the conference and how to register can be found at www.CatholicBibleConference.com , or call 1-888-842-2853.

Participants in Operation Rice Bowl make the small sacrifice of preparing simple, meatless recipes each week, putting the money they would have spent on a big meal into symbolic rice bowls. That money goes to support CRS’ mission to fight global hunger and poverty. An Operation Rice Bowl calendar provides daily reflections and learning opportunities – told through the eyes of people helped by the program — that reinforce ORB’s message and mission.

“Having the Rice Bowl as the focal point for their Lenten observance helps families to think beyond their daily realities and to focus on making a difference in the lives of others,” says Beth Martin, program manager for Operation Rice Bowl. “The program also includes an educational component, sharing stories of people from developing countries that benefit from ORB.”

Last year, Catholics raised more than $7 million through Operation Rice Bowl, 75 percent of which is used to fund hunger and poverty projects in 40 countries. The remaining 25 percent stays in U.S. dioceses to support food pantries and soup kitchens.

Since its beginning in 1975, ORB has raised more than $167 million to fund CRS’ development projects. With participation in almost every diocese in the U.S., many communities and families have adopted ORB as a way to observe Lent.

To find out which local communities and schools are participating in this year’s campaign, please contact Kim Pozniak at kpozniak@crs.org or (410) 951-7281.

Resources for your use, including stories, photos and multimedia, are available at orb.crs.org/.

In these dangerous times, with wars raging on multiple fronts, it is important to remember there are millions of men and women who have volunteered to wear a uniform to serve and protect our great country. Whether you support the war or not, everyone should say thank you to our troops.

I am proud that members of my family have served our country.  My father Robert served in the Navy in the early 1950s.   My Uncle Jack was a navigator on a B17 Flying Fortress during WWII.   My Uncle Jerry served in the Pacific during WWII and my grandfather Daniel Sinise was in the army in WWI.

My brother-in-law Jack Treese served as a medic in Vietnam and wore his dog tags on a rosary with a St. Christopher medal.  I wore that same rosary and dog tags as my character, “Lt. Dan”, in the movie “Forrest Gump”.

With the help of the USO, my brother-in-law Jack, and my friend Jonathan Flora who used a handheld camera, you will see what happened on a seven day trip I took to Iraq last summer which will air this Saturday night on the FOX News Channel.

It was my fourth trip there with the USO.  My goal, as always, was to cover as many miles as possible and to take pictures, sign autographs and shake hands with as many troops as I could in the time I had. Stops included bases in Kuwait and in Iraq – Al Asad, Al Qaim, Ramadi , Habbaniyah, TQ airbase and Baghdad.

It was the first time I have let a camera follow me around on one of these trips.  Over the last six years, I have traveled around the world and all over the United States to visit and perform for our troops with the USO. I have supported many grass roots efforts as well and visited our wounded in the hospitals several times. I could not be more honored to play a small part in helping our troops and their families. We can never do enough for our veterans who have sacrificed so much to keep this nation free.

But we can always try to do more.

On a personal note, I appreciate that FOX News has allowed me to share some of my experiences by putting together a one hour special that is airing this Saturday, Jan. 10 at 9p ET on FOX News Channel.

There are many ways to say thank you to our nation’s troops and veterans. If you are looking for a way to help and get involved, below I’ve listed the Web sites of a few of the charities I support including my own, Operation Iraqi Children.

It is my goal to continue to visit our troops… wherever they may serve.  It is the least I can do for the men and women who continue to do so much for our country by defending the freedoms we all share as Americans.

Here’s to a great 2009!
God bless America.

Gary Sinise

Don’t miss this weekend’s special “On the Road in Iraq With Our Troops and Gary Sinise” - Saturday 9pm ET! To see the Fox News promo click here. 

Check these links out for yourself:

The United Service Organization http://www.operationiraqichildren.org/

Operation Iraqi Children http://www.operationiraqichildren.org/

Disabled American Veterans http://www.dav.org/

The Wounded Warrior Project http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

The Coalition To Salute Americas Heroes http://www.saluteheroes.org/

Snowball Express http://www.snowballexpress.org/

Fisher House http://www.fisherhouse.org/

American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial http://www.avdlm.org/

Operation Gratitude http://www.opgratitude.com/

Operation Sup port Our Troops Illinois http://www.osotil.org/

Randi strongly advised, “No Christmas letter this year.” She said by now people have had enough of our fluffed up family preening. But as Liz (age 9) says, “Daddy, it’s a win-win affirmation of our ever-evolving self-esteem.” Well, OK, she didn’t exactly say it that way, but she did comment that she liked seeing her name in print, in places other than the Court Report.

So, in keeping with Randi’s request, here’s a New Years Update on the family.

All of the kids are older now than they’ve ever been. Andrew, age 21, is still in Engineering, and this year he gets his lantern along with his conductor’s hat. I advised him, “Don’t wear it in a thunderstorm.”

Hannah, age 20, is set to graduate college and head into the military — Signal Corps branch. That’s communications, and given her many years as a teen-aged girl, she’s well suited for it. She will need to learn to add “Sir” after her “whatever” and “yeah, right.” And I’m not exactly sure how a Commanding Officer will react to eye rolling, no matter how much it’s hidden by her Dior ballistic eye pro.

Jon, age 18, started working at Target. His initial adjustment was a real struggle. The first several nights he tried to walk into the store, and he missed.

Joanna, age 18, is working in a preschool. Randi told her, “See, being a big sister helped you learn all about little kids and their childish behavior.” To which Jo replied, “Living with Dad has helped me a lot more.” To which I responded, “I’m rubber; you’re glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks on you. No reversies.” I finished her off with, “How many of those kids have ever asked you to, ‘Pull my finger,’ huh?”

Sarah, 18, is in nursing. She loves it, except for a few minor things — blood, syringes, dirty bed sheets, people coughing, hospitals, and doctors. She also has this obsessive fear of germs. But I told her, “Hey, lots of us have to ease into their profession. I didn’t like listening to people tell me about their problems the first ten or fifteen years as a psychologist.

Sammy, 16, is learning to drive. He’s our sixth driver under twenty-five. Through some creative insurance financing, we’ve got our bill down to about $217.00….a day. To further ease the burden we are considering informing all the children, “Due to unforeseen economic pressures, we are downsizing. We may have to let two or three of you go.”

Sammy is very thrilled that after a lot of hard work he finally got a part in a local Christmas play. He told me he plays a man who’s been married 25 years. I encouraged him, “Sammy, that’s wonderful. You keep persevering, and maybe next year, you’ll get a speaking part.”

Randi continues to home school, and she’s started a new course for the younger ones: Real Life Deductive Reasoning. We’re noticing the results already. Some weeks back, she purchased a cake for her mother’s birthday. After the cake had been on the table for a couple of days prior to the party, James (age 13) asked, “Is that an ice cream cake?” Mary (12) was quick to mock and correct. “James, how could it be an ice cream cake? The candles would melt it!” Peter chirped in, at full belly laugh, “You guys are clueless. Grandma doesn’t even like ice cream.”

Next year, Randi will initiate a more basic course: Thinking 101.

My relationship with my adolescent daughter, Mary, continues to be strained. When our family therapist asked me why I hadn’t talked to her for a month, I defended myself, “I didn’t want to interrupt her.”

Elizabeth (age 9) is becoming the young lady we always thought she could be. In her fourth grade class she graduated “Magna cum Loudest.” And we finally found the solution to her speech articulation problems. After several years of little progress, of all people, Pete suggested, “What if she took the cigarette out of her mouth?” That’s been a mixed blessing. Liz now speaks more clearly, but she’s been a lot crankier.

Randi and I continue to work on our marriage. After attending one of those marriage enrichment classes (Randi went. I had three softball games that day), Randi asked that I show her more affection. So, now whenever we go to the Mall, I hold her hand the whole time. If I let go, she shops.

About three weeks ago, Randi’s purse was stolen along with all of her credit cards. I haven’t reported it yet. The thieves spend less than Randi.

As for me, I continue to cope with unending work-related stress. I average close to seven hours a week on the radio. Minus breaks, it still totals nearly 18-minutes. On top of that I have a pending workman’s comp claim against the network. My orthopedist says I have a work-related repetition injury — elbow inflammation from reaching over the microphone to grab my hot coffee. I spilled some on my finger once, but my lawyer informed I wouldn’t get more than a couple of hundred grand for it. Hardly worth the legal effort.

And so summarizes another action-packed year in the Guarendi household. My analyst says I have grown admirably in my ability to hold it all together, as I juggle my working out, softball games, buffet breakfasts, massages, relaxation training, tanning sessions and naps. Randi still refuses to work for a living, so once again, the effort falls totally on me. Last month I took it upon myself to fill out applications for her at Mason’s Concrete Packing, Joe’s Transmissions, and Harley’s All Night Diner– all midnight shifts, as she does teach some during the day. If she continues to drag her feet, I will be forced to see a client on either Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays, right now my much needed days off.

Blessed Christmas, er….New Years, to you all. Hope your family life is as fulfilling as ours has come to be.

The Guarendis

Dr. Ray’s Family Resources are available in Special Television Packages (they actually look like books, DVDs, and CDS, not TV sets) at http://www.DrRayDVD.com

Holy Cross Family Ministries, Easton, Mass., furthering Father Peyton’s work and vision under the sponsorship of the Congregation of Holy Cross, is conducting a year-long celebration of the anniversary with the theme “Honor his memory. Continue his mission.”

It is urging families to kick off the celebration by praying the family Rosary in their homes during a special novena January 1 to 9, 2009. Families and individuals can sign up on Holy Cross Family Ministries’ website - www.hcfm.org - to pray this novena and also to list their intentions and to pray for other intentions that have been posted by individuals on the site.

Holy Cross Family Ministries has offices in 17 countries and all of them will be observing the Rosary Novena Jan. 1-9, as well as conducting many public activities during 2009 including Holy Hours, Rosary rallies, Masses and gala celebrations with music, food and dance. In Ireland, a statue of Father Peyton will be erected. In the Philippines, a Telethon will be conducted where people will phone in their commitments to pray the family rosary. Other activities are planned in Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay. Most of the international offices will conduct the annual “Try Prayer! It Works!” contest on Fr. Peyton’s famous message “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together.” Students K-12 submit artwork, poetry and essays to reflect the theme.

Also, chapters of the Father Peyton Guild throughout the world, promoting his cause for beatification, will sponsor various Rosary activities.

Several Catholic television outlets will be scheduling biographical programs on Father Peyton and selected programs that the Catholic media pioneer produced.

Father Peyton was born on January 9, 1909, in Caracastle, County Mayo, Ireland to a family that prayed the family Rosary in their home nightly. He died June 3, 1992, and his cause for sainthood was opened on June 1, 2001, bestowing on him the title “Servant of God.” His cause is being continued by the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

In his 51 years of ministry devoted to the Blessed Mother, her Rosary and to families, Father Peyton conducted 40 Rosary rallies worldwide that drew 28 million people, including 2 million in 1964 in Brazil and in 1985 in the Philippines. He also produced more than 600 radio and television programs that featured hundreds of Hollywood stars. His famous slogans encapsulate his mission, “The family that prays together stays together and “A world at prayer is a world at peace.”

“Father Peyton’s most sacred insight, the goal toward which his whole fascinating life was directed, was to encourage families to come together daily to pray the Rosary.  He saw so many benefits to this simple practice,” said Holy Cross Father John Phalen, CSC, president of Holy Cross Family Ministries. “Let 2009 be a year of strengthening the family through the family Rosary!” he added.

Father Phalen is inviting families to pray the novena of Rosaries for “world peace and any particular petitions dear to the hearts of your family members,” and “to add this simple prayer for Father Peyton’s beatification at the end of your Rosary:

Dear Jesus, Father Peyton devoted his priestly life to strengthening the families of the world by calling them to pray together every day, especially the Rosary. His message is as important for us now as it was during his life on earth. We beg you, therefore, to hasten the day of his beatification so that your faithful people everywhere will remember his message that the family that prays together stays together, will imitate him in his devotion to your Mother and ours, and will be inspired by his holy life to draw ever closer to you with childlike confidence and love. Amen.”

Holy Cross Family Ministries is comprised of Family Rosary, which Father Peyton founded in 1942 in Albany, N.Y., with locations in 17 countries; Family Theater Productions, which Father Peyton founded in 1947 in Hollywood, Calif., and the Father Peyton Family Institute, Easton, Mass., and Lima, Peru.

For more information about the 100^th anniversary celebration of Father Peyton’s birth, go to http://www.hcfm.org/ or call toll-free 1-800-299-PRAY (7729).

Instinctively, you slip through the house to check on your child. You just need to make sure the kid’s okay and then you’ll be able to go back to sleep. But, when you open their bedroom door you see . . .

What do you see?  It’s every parent’s greatest consolation to see their child sleeping soundly, nestled under their covers.  How wonderful, too, would it be to see them with a rosary wrapped around one hand, having fallen asleep while praying? Throw in a Bible sprawled open next to them and you’d weep for joy, that is, if you hadn’t already fainted. Hey, it’s possible! But, whether we want to admit it or not, we’re a bit scared, for it’s at these times that the possibility of evil seems most real, too.

Evil is, indeed, real

Most parents become painfully aware of this from the moment they are blessed with a child. We suddenly have this little person in our care that we would do anything, even give up our own lives, to defend.  But, in our attempt to protect or shelter our children, do we fail in equipping them with the tools to battle evil? Sure, we tell them not to talk to strangers, warn them to look both ways before crossing the street, and to be on guard against all kinds of predators. But, what about the predator of the soul?

“St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle . . . and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, through the power of God, cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.” This is from the traditional St. Michael prayer we say so often, but do we listen to the words? Do our children know that the devil wants to corrupt and pervert everything good in this world, including their souls?

Jesus said it, to beware the one who destroys the soul (Mt 10:28). We have to be on watch, and know how to battle the “murderer from the start” (Jn 8:44). The devil is a sly one, and certainly doesn’t show his true self, but rather subtly, seductively attempts to lead us down the path to destruction. Naturally, we don’t want to petrify our children. We don’t want them to live in constant fear. But, we do want them to know how to be aware of the “wickedness and snares” of the devil and his minions. Christ already defeated Satan when he died on the cross for all humanity. So, with full confidence that our victorious Lord is on our side, we can face evil in the world and show our children how to do the same.

Get Ready for the Fight

The most elementary and maybe the most crucial way we can arm our children, even at a very early age, is to show them how to love.  Self-giving love is the antidote to sin and is one of the greatest weapons against the devil. If we can instill in our children a care for others and a willingness to sacrifice for the good of others, all made possible through a life of Grace, we will be building up powerful soldiers of good.  We do this primarily through our own example. Thankfully, there are many other good ones out there, too.

Allow me to offer one more, a boy named Teddy, from the first book of my new faith-friendly fiction series, Teddy Gyros: Kid Vampire Slayer.  Filled with thrills, laughs, mystery, and heart, the book is a fast, fun read, but also carries a powerful message. In it, I show how evil works toward the ultimate destruction of people and their families, but even a young kid can stand up against it. Heavy stuff, yes, but it’s done in a way that’s not too scary (but scary enough!), and is entertaining and inspiring for children ages 8 to 13– and adults, too.  (Shameless plug, I know. And yes, you’ll have to read it to see who wins in the end!)

I believe that storytelling is a great way to impact our culture. Using vampires as a metaphor for the very real threat of evil in the world, I hope to help parents equip their children with a sense of courage, responsibility and empowerment, knowing that, no matter how big or small you are, with Christ in your corner and His love in your heart, you can and will defeat evil.

When we open the door to our child’s room, we will most likely see them sleeping safely there. Big sigh of relief. They most likely won’t be grappling demons or out fighting vampires, like Teddy does, but let’s hope we can return to our room and rest assured knowing that they can and will, when they have to.

Michael Sortino is a husband, father of four, and an author who strives to make the world a little bit better through the gift of story. See his new book at http://www.sortinomedia.com/. You contact him at michsort@gmail.com.

Do you sometimes feel lost on what the Church teaches? Or do you just want to know more about the Church and what she teaches? Are you non-Catholic and interested or curious about what Catholics believe? Or are you responsible for introducing others to the mysteries of our faith? Then let this book, by Shenandoah Brown, SFO guide you in an exploration of heart and mind about the teachings, beliefs and disciplines of the one true Church founded by Christ. Explore such questions as: Why is the Bible hard to understand? How did the Church start and get where it is today? What is the Mass? What are Sacraments? Who is God and why do we need Him? Why is pro-life important?

This book discusses teachings and practices plus their relation to Holy Scripture. It includes scriptural exegesis, Bible study questions, prayer forms and devotions for spiritual formation over 409 pages and 32 chapters. It is written for use by seekers and students from the High School level and up. It’s an ideal tool for a personal exploration of the Faith or as a valuable resource for parish teen and adult study groups such as Inquiry or RCIA. Its organization makes it an ideal companion for the Catechism of the Catholic Church for those involved in these formal classes.

The author brought to the development of this book many years of experience as a catechist. Shenandoah Brown, SFO, was professed into the Secular Franciscan Order in 1989 and she served her Fraternity first as Vice Minister and later as Minister. She’s taught classes in Catholic subjects for several years and served civilian and military parishes as facilitator and RCIA coordinator, including the RCIA at Camp Foster MCB and Kadena AFB on Okinawa, Japan from 1995-97. Her husband and helper, Jim, is a retired US Navy Religious Program Specialist with a BS degree in Business and Religious Studies from Regis University. Jim has taught religious education at all levels for over 30 years in civilian and military parishes worldwide and he served as a consultant on this book.  The couple has allowed their years of practical experience with and as students of the faith shape this book’s presentation of Catholic doctrine and practice.

What is unique about this dynamic new book is it’s inclusion of progressive spiritual formation along with accurate doctrinal information and Biblical exegesis in between one set of covers. A pedagogical modal for classroom usage is also included.

Lamp Unto My Feet has four sections following the organization of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Part 1, “Beginning - General Basics” — six chapters covering the Bible, the nature of the Church, creeds, history and what we believe about God, the Trinity and why. Spiritual formation for this section consists of monastic antiphonic responsorial prayer plus the Our Father. Part 2, “Intermediate-More Catholic Topics” — eleven chapters covering the Mass, liturgical life, monasticism, pro life, Marian dogmas, the Rosary and Catholic devotions. Spiritual formation for these chapters consists of monastic prayer, prayers of the saints and the Our Father. Devotional prayer and the Rosary are introduced. Part 3, ”Sacramental Life of the Church” — seven chapters covering the sacraments, what they are, what they do, why we need them and their relation to Scripture. Spiritual formation here looks at devotional prayers and introduces litanies. Part 4, “Mystagogia” — eight chapters covering advanced prayer, mysticism, Catholicity in daily life, conscience, forgiveness, suffering, domestic church and apologetics. Spiritual formation here consists of guided contemplative, meditative, iconic and scriptural meditative prayer.

To sample some of the contents and order this great resource, please click here.

[This story is part of the collection of faith stories found at keys2heaven.com, a place where you can share your own journey of faith. Every month, the nationally-known piano duo, the O'Neill Brothers, pick one of the contributed stories and write an original piano composition to accompany it. The story of Michael Biasini is the story for September. The stories and music are available for a subscription, and the entire inspiring package will be wrapped up in a compilation CD and accompanying booklet in November, 2008. The music is also available as mp3 downloads.]