September 2005

Last Day of Pilgrimage

by Steve Ray on September 30, 2005

Last Day of our Pilgrimage After a fascinating and and virtually perfect pilgrimage over the last 8 days, we concluded our pilgrimage today with dinner on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem during a beautiful sunset. This picture was taken of Charlie and Lori Anderberg as our group wound our way along the Via Dolorosa [...]

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Too Busy to Blog!!

by Steve Ray on September 29, 2005

Things are going EXTREMELY well with our pilgrimage to Israel! The 50 pilgrims are delightful, intelligent, enthusiastic, and extremely tough. We have visited all the sites in the Galilee region and just completed our second day in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. I am very proud of these marvelous folks. I have been speaking on the bus [...]

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We’ve Arrived!

by Steve Ray on September 24, 2005

We’ve arrived! We’ve arrived – in more ways than one. Not only did we arrive in Jerusalem yesterday, but when we got off the plane we received our official Guide Cards issued by the Ecclesiastical Authority in the Holy Land and the Commission of Christian Pilgrimages. We have arrived! Usually these cards are only issued [...]

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We’re Off to Israel

by Steve Ray on September 22, 2005

We are leading a pilgrimage for 50 people following the Footprints of Mary and Jesus. Janet I leave today and arrive early to make sure things are ready for the group. We are VERY excited to our favorite holy sites with all these excited Catholics. If you are interested in joining us for future pilgrimages, visit [...]

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Samuel is Baptized

by Steve Ray on September 21, 2005

We had the pleasure of seeing another little pagan become a Christian last Saturday. Our new Grandson Samuel Tarcisius was baptized by Deacon Dan Foley in our parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I am very proud of my son Jesse and daughter-in-law Anna. By the way, the moment they stood up with Samuel, he filled [...]

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Sinner and Apostle

by Steve Ray on September 20, 2005

Wednesday is St. Matthew's Feast Day. He started out as a despised and hated tax collector. I wrote an article for those who want to learn more about this interesting sinner and apostle. “If looks could kill, he’d be dead. The Jews glared at Levi as he counted his coins. Tax collectors in Israel had [...]

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Catholics on the Court

by Steve Ray on September 19, 2005

Bush's nominee as next US Chief Justice, John Roberts, is a practicing Catholic. Peggy Noonan remarked yesterday on EWTN that some Democrats are now questioning whether Mr. Roberts, as a practicing Catholic, could sit on the US Supreme Court, because he might be "too conservative!" If John Roberts is confirmed, he will be the 4th [...]

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So, It’s Unconstitutional to Say the Pledge

by Steve Ray on September 17, 2005

Yesterday a stupid Federal Judge ruled it was unconstitutional to say the Pledge of Allegiance in schools because it contains the words “under God.“ So, what happens if a kid actually does say the Pledge of Allegiance, gets arrested and goes to court in front of the same stupid judge? He will have to hold up his [...]

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Seminarian Killed, others in bad condition

by Steve Ray on September 16, 2005

News Flash from my Friend Tim Staples: “I just received tragic news from a good friend in Kansas City, Kansas where I just did a conference some weeks ago and met three wonderful seminarians who were and are on fire for the faith. Those three seminarians that I met, along with another seminarian, were in [...]

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Samuel has Arrived!

by Steve Ray on September 14, 2005

My son Jesse and his wife Anna just had their 3rd delightful baby, our 4th grandson and our 5th grand child. He was born around 3:30 PM Wednesday, September 13. He weighed in at 8 lbs. 3 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. We are very proud! His name is Samuel Tarcisius. Both names are taken from [...]

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JJ & JJJ

by Steve Ray on September 13, 2005

  Here is Jerusalem Jones and his grandson Jerusalem Jones, Jr. (Steve Ray with his grandson Dominic). These are great hats called Tilley Hats and we use them for filming in the Middle East. I bought them for my grand kids too. You can see the Tilley Hat website at here, and you can read [...]

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Cross vs. Crucifix

by Steve Ray on September 12, 2005

The Cross & the Crucifix Feast of the Exultation of the Cross — Wednesday, Sept. 14 (From a letter Steve wrote to a Evangelical Protestant who asked about the Catholic Crucifix) Dear Evangelical Friend: You display a bare cross in your home; we display the cross and the crucifix. What is the difference and why? [...]

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Unusual Group of Catholics

by Steve Ray on September 10, 2005

Every once in a while I meet a group of marvelous Catholics who have made it a priority in their lives to learn more aboiut and to fall in love with Jesus and His Church. This is the calling of ALL Catholics and many us follow that call, but too often Catholics grow lethargic or take their [...]

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Heresy of Secularism

by Steve Ray on September 10, 2005

SECULARISM: A HIDDEN DANGERby Carlos Palad, Defensores Fidei Foundation, Philippines "To secularize" originally referred to the state's arbitrary appropriation of Church property. For this reason, we speak of the "secularization" of the vast Church-ruled lands in Germany in 1803, the "secularization" of Catholic schools and universities in Spain several times, etc. These historic roots of [...]

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Off to Rockford

by Steve Ray on September 3, 2005

We are off to Speak in Rockford Illinois at the: 3rd Annual North Central Catholic Family ConferenceDates: September 2-4, 2005Location: The ClockTower InnRockford, Illinois This Year's Conference Theme is:“Do This In Memory of Me“ For more information, click here.

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Helping the Church in Louisiana

by Steve Ray on September 1, 2005

The Windowon August 31, 2005A Catholic Look at Society, Culture and Politics   Deal W. Hudson In This Issue: Katrina Devastates Dioceses on Gulf Coast How you can help: You can contribute online at: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/news/katrina.cfm. You can mail checks to: Catholic Charities USA 2005 Hurricane Relief Fund, P.O. Box 25168, Alexandria, VA 22313-9788. Or call: [...]

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