Here's a short and sweet recipe that's perfect for an easy breakfast (or snack) prep- take two simple ingredients and turn them into delicious pumpkin muffins!
By Marilu Cazares
Family Support Services Program Manager,
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
Illness. Disability. What comes to mind when you read those two words? Maybe you know someone who is ill and/or disabled, and that person comes to mind. Maybe you yourself are ill. Maybe you are disabled. Maybe nothing comes to mind. For me, two other words come to mind: vulnerability and fear. Thank God, as of right now, I am in good health, but I know people who are sick and struggling. It’s fair to say that most of us don’t plan for future illnesses or for drastic life changes, but life doesn’t always happen the way we think it will.
By Katie Patrick
For some, the onset of autumn brings excitement for evening campfires, warm sweaters, and hot chocolate. For others, it’s a reminder of the season that follows, bringing cold nights alone on street benches or under bridges.
Success depends on cooperation of all parishioners in the diocese
By S.L. Hansen
for the Register
It’s not enough to encourage (a woman without support) to have her baby. She needs more than that, for quite some time. “We’ll walk with them however long they need.”
Pro-life people from across the diocese have shown their support of children and families in need through the annual diaper drive hosted by the Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (LDCCW).
By Kristina Brandl
Food Market Program Manager, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
“The glory of God is human being fully alive.”
When I first read this quote from St. Irenaeus years ago, I was taken aback. It confirmed the direction I was headed in. I had found so much freedom in pursuing truth and discipline, regardless of how consistently, or well, I was applying that truth. As I am writing this article now, I am reminded once again of how this potent quote continues to affect me; how important it is to both receive the Lord’s love and then return it back by honoring Him in how I live.
By Mark Main
Thrift Store Manager,
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
In 2001, my family decided to go out to dinner at Pizza Hut. As we were pulling up, we ran into an acquaintance of ours from church, Lou Gasper. He asked me if I was a Knight (Knights of Columbus, or KofC). I told him I wasn’t. He proceeded to ask me to join the organization. After a few weeks, I said yes. Little did I know, it was one of the best decisions I would ever make.
“It saved my life being here,” says Stephanie and current resident of St. Gianna Women’s Home in Lincoln. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Stephanie talks about her life as a victim of domestic violence that included having her leg run over by a truck, black eyes, bruised ribs, being strangled, and a lot of verbal abuse - all things she began to accept as normal in a relationship. Now she has a full-time job, people at St. Gianna’s she calls family, and a whole different outlook on life that is full of hope.
By Katie Patrick
As I begin this reflection on the Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, I want to take a moment to acknowledge my fellow columnist, Father Brian Wirth, assistant pastor at St. Peter Church in Lincoln and Director of Catholic Rural Life. His recent homily, which included a letter from Bishop James Conley addressing the upcoming ballot initiatives, reminded us that “God is in control.” In a world filled with noise—news, yard signs, commercials, social media, and controversial conversations—it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Sometimes, I find it necessary to disconnect entirely, even from my phone, to regain focus, clarity, and quite honestly, my sanity.
by John McDonald
Hastings Regional Director, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
It’s all about relationships. As I looked around Hastings Auditorium during our recent Bountiful Harvest banquet, I recognized hundreds of people who have supported Catholic Social Services in Hastings in the past through their donations of time, talent, and treasure. More importantly, I recognized hundreds of people who were, in that very moment, supporting CSS through their presence at this event. That night, our keynote speaker, Christ in the City’s Managing Director, Blake Brouillette, expounded on the goodness of “wasting time” with the homeless friends to whom they minister.
by Katie Patrick
Early one Friday morning at the Catholic Social Services Lincoln front office, Thomas walked toward me slowly, taking time to look around at the others in the lobby, glancing into the chapel, and eyeing the breakfast burritos and coffee we had set out for clients on the kitchen counter. The front lobby was fairly full, with clients eating and waiting for appointments. In the mornings, we host Lincoln Literacy, a nonprofit that teaches English to refugees and immigrants, creating a vibrant atmosphere of hope and renewal.
As he approached, Thomas crossed his arms, leaning in to ask for a gift card to our thrift store next door. He looked tired; his face was clean but discolored, and his clothes were worn and slightly too big. He didn’t appear homeless, but perhaps he was hungry, tired, or both. He told me he had just left the hospital. His mom had bought him a pair of sweatpants when he was discharged, a gesture for which he was clearly grateful, but that was all he had, besides the shirt he was wearing.
