The 12 Days of Christmas & 2010

Hope everyone is having a blessed Christmas ! (which goes to Epiphany, Jan. 6th). For our visitors, wanted to post links to the book and film lists again to look over. With the snow season upon us there's more inside time, time to share a book or film with a spouse or other family members.


Finally, here's a past Christmas video reflection from Fr. Robert Barron, - still good ( 6 min.)

Merry Christmas !


P.S. Here's a video review of the currently popular book "The Shack".

The "Big Storm", and January Coffee Sunday

The "big storm" turned out to be about only 3-5" in Rockville / Ellington, - just enough for the kids to have some fun. Roads were slippery but thank God we didn't lose power in the area.

The 4 p.m. vigil was really packed, with some people standing, and the 11:30 a.m. Sunday Mass was pretty well attended, leaving the earlier morning hours for cleaning up the cars and
driveways. All in all a good weekend to finish reading our November selection, held over into January. Also looking forward to hearing more about the trip to PA for the retreat / Scott Hahn conference.

The conversation last time came around to Dorothy Day, one of the people featured in our current book. She's also featured in the recent book on the saints by James Martin S.J. ( youtube clip here - intro to his book ).

Hello to all our Christmas visitors, - wanted to invite you to either with us, or on your own, to take a look at our preliminary book / film list and find something that catches your eye / heart, and give it a try.

See you at the next Coffee Sunday !

Continuing Our Book .....

It was great getting together this morning at Coffee Sunday ! Due to personal schedules not everyone was able to finish the book, so we'll continue into January.

For those unable to come today, and for our visitors here, to see what we've been reading, please scroll down to the last two posts.

Briefly, a few things we discussed today included the recent PBS ban on religion. There's an interesting commentary about that by Fr. Robert Barron on youtube. He also has a fine website here.

Hope everyone's Advent Season is going well !

A Moment With A Few Film Previews

Just came across this youtube clip of Fr. James Martin S.J. It's from his "Who Cares About The Saints ?" DVD. It's also a plug for his two books on our list here , - "In Good Company", and "My Life With The Saints".

Also, have a look at Fr. Robert Barron's review of the recent Coen brothers film, "A Serious Man".

Hope everyone's enjoying "A Century Of Catholic Converts". See you all at the December Coffee Sunday !


P.S. Here's a video clip from Fr. James Martin S.J., ... good for a few chuckles ....

Hey ! Our first Coffee Sunday Discussion Group

Looks like an informal Coffee Sunday get-together is going to work out well for everyone. We had fun discussing "A Man For All Seasons", ... very interesting, especially in light of the parallels within our present day culture.

The next selection is "A Century Of Catholic Converts", 46 mini biographies. We have two extra copies for those who didn't get one on Sunday. Let Marc know by using the email here on the Blog, and we'll get one to you ( at a discount).

We also thought we'd like to try the suggestion of "The Miracle of Marcellino" ( older B&W version) for December, - it's certainly one to enjoy with the kids as well. It can be rented in the area, - just remember to get the older version. And, "Amazing Grace", ( Amazon link here ), the story of William Wilberforce was suggested as well, so we might have two for December.

We'll look forward to seeing everyone at the next Coffee Sunday, the first Sunday in December where we'll discuss "A Century of Catholic Converts".

Coffee Sunday next week

Coffee Sunday is coming up this week and it looks like most of us have already seen "A Man For All Seasons" ! It'll be fun to see everyone and talk about it, and to vote on our next selection for December.
Yes, we have a selection already set for November, - only because we haven't yet gathered to vote on what we'd like to read/ see next.

Here's the Book list along with some generic Book Club Questions for starters. Here is the new Film List.
Again, everything is informal, just time to share interest in books and film with Faith perspective.

Thomas More, St. Bruno -

As grace would have it, in honor of St. Thomas More's connection to the Carthusians, in today's Mass, Oct. 6th, we celebrate St. Bruno, founder of the Carthusians, ( honest, we didn't plan this).

* Reminder, - for our convenience, here are a short list of questions to consider as we see the films and go through the books. Q&A and book / film list.


Short biographies about St. Bruno are below in both audio and written versions.

Audio -
http://www.franciscanradio.org/MP3Files/SOD/1160.mp3

Written -
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/Saint.aspx?id=1160

The first selection !

Good to see and speak with each of you at our Coffee Sunday this week. It looks like we're all heading into "A Man For All seasons", - looking forward to the comments and discussion.

A group of us from the parish got together and went to see a film documentary in Hartford ( two years ago ?) "Into Great Silence", about the Carthusian Monastic life. Interesting to learn that Thomas More at one time was discerning a vocation to the Carthusians.

How Do I Participate ?

Welcome to the St. Joseph Book & Film Discussion Blog !

The quotes to the upper right and top of the page will serve as guide and theme to what we're about.

This new parish-based discussion is an opportunity for exposure to books and films that might not be offered in a secular group.
New selections as well as opportunity for discussion will be the first Sunday of every month, unless otherwise noted.

It was great to speak with each of you who stopped by the display table ( Sunday, Oct. 4).
If you enjoy the concept of this endeavor, help it grow and let others know about it !


Participating is very easy, here's a brief explanation of how it works, -

1. Books and films will be selected to appeal to the broadest segment of parishioners.

Future selections can be suggested and voted on by everyone participating. Each new book / film will be posted on the blog and/ or in the bulletin ahead of time.

To keep selections accessible and reasonable cost-wise, the goal will be to try to find books in the 175 - 300 page range or films that can be found at the public library, video rental stores, or purchased used and discounted on Amazon or other online sellers.


2. Anyone can participate either in person together at our Coffee Sundays, and by posting comments here on our Blog.

Comments will be screened before publishing. Criticisms are welcome as long as a Christian attitude of charity prevails.

Feel free to send a link to friends and family.


3. Being a parish-based endeavor, references to the New Catholic Catechism, United States Adult Catechism, and / or Compendium, and writings of John Paul II, and Benedict XVI will be useful while reading books / viewing films.


At our next Coffee Sunday, - the first Sunday in October, there will be an information table set up with our first book / film selection.

* Our first selection is, ..... the film "A Man For All Seasons", winner of 6 Academy awards.


* Please follow this link to view all selections and discussion questions.


Feel free to post comments / suggestions / questions here or via email.

Fr. Robert Barron

A great find of late has been the web ministry of Fr. Robert Barron.


His brief topical video clips are engaging in content and in presentation, and range from reflections about the culture, to book and film reviews.


Have a look -

http://www.wordonfire.org/WOF-TV/Commentaries.aspx#ytPil_video

Scroll down and try out "New Trends in Religion" in America.

Men's & Women's Retreats

St. Joseph's Abbey
Spencer, MA

Over the years, St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, MA has been a favorite destination for men's and women's small group retreats from our parish.

The bottom group photo was taken on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2001, two days before 9/11.