This Year Will Be Different!!!!

By Tommy Fulton, Mobile, Ala. - St. Dominic

When I listened to Matthew Kelly’s CD, given to me by my brothers of The Men of St. Joseph, I soaked up the messages like a bone-dry, thirsty sponge.  There was one message that struck me more than all of the rest.  That message was a quick version of Chapter 21: 34-36 of Luke’s gospel.  In essence, what Matthew Kelly said was, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from …the anxieties of daily life…”

That especially strikes me as important for this time of year.  It apparently struck him the same way, since his message was tailored for the Advent season.  It resonates with me greatly during the period from Thanksgiving through Christmas.  If there is one overarching thing that I love and appreciate about this season, it’s the gathering together of the family…my family.  From the earliest time I can ever remember, that’s been the most positive part of this season.

Regretfully, though, the “anxieties of daily life” fight against our best efforts to experience the warmth and love we share with our family and close friends.  Every year I vow to simplify the holiday spirit and every year I find myself in ultimate panic.

THIS YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT!!!!

If I’ve received anything during my association with The Men of St. Joseph, it is this…

“Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent…” 

I have re-learned the importance of prayer and those few moments of quiet in which I ask God to give me the calm I need to appreciate all of the great things He has provided to me through my family and friends.  I don’t know if I can find the perfect present for everyone, or host the perfect party, or write the perfect Christmas card.  Probably not.

What I can do is use this period of the year to really appreciate the heart of those I love and who love me.  Mostly, I will express to Jesus Christ my gratitude for all that He’s given to me, especially His people…my family & friends.

May all of you have the happiest and holiest holiday season ever!

Butterfly Kisses and a Father's Love

By Tommy Fulton, Mobile, Ala., - St. Dominic

Most of us have heard the song, “Butterfly Kisses”, by Bob Carlisle. If you haven’t, I sincerely hope that you take the time to listen to it. It’s the beautiful story of a father watching his daughter grow from a little girl into a woman. As she grows, her father thanks God for rewarding him with a lasting relationship with her. As a father of four girls and a son, I can certainly relate to those many, many cherished times as they grew.

Bob Carlisle wrote another song that I’ve just recently discovered. The title, “Father’s Love”, is so appropriate for the Men of St. Joseph. Although the words are appropriate for both sons and daughters, this song talks about a father’s relationship with his son. It’s pertinent to the Men of St. Joseph and our theme of putting the family back in the hands of The Father.

The main theme of this song moves from a father’s love for his son to our Father’s love for us. Carlisle assures his son that “there is no power on Earth, like your father’s love…so big and so strong, like your father’s love…” He says that it’s a promise that’s “sacred…a promise from heaven above.” To me, it’s at this point that you realize that he’s talking about God, our Father and His love for us.

“No matter where you go, always know you can depend on your Father’s love…” I know that my father gave me that feeling as I grew up, and I certainly hope and pray that my children know they can count on that from me. The father in the song then assures his son that, “even when my life on earth is through, there’s still a part of me in you…’cause some things are forever…”

The Men of St. Joseph are working hard to help instill this theme into all of us. Especially, though, MOSJ encourages us to remember that there is no power on earth, like Our Father’s love. Bob Carlisle does a beautiful job describing those relationships in both “Butterfly Kisses” and “Father’s Love.” I hope you take the time to listen!

The First Forty Days (Plus One…)

By Tommy Fulton, Mobile, Ala., St. Dominic

On August 29th, I had the supreme pleasure of attending the Men of St. Joseph Retreat at the Visitation Monastery. If ever there are times in your life in which you are given an opportunity to choose your future, this was one for me. During all of our lives, we are given options…different paths which will lead to totally different experiences. My reasons for getting involved in the Men of St. Joseph may not be the same as most of those who are already there.

A long-time friend of mine has made it his life’s mission to get me to leave the Catholic Church. While I have never lost my love and devotion to my faith, I regretted that I’ve not done a great job of defending it. As I listened to all of the opportunities to meet with my Christian brothers in a small group setting, I really wanted to grow deeper in my own Catholic faith. I’ve enjoyed meeting with those men, and still enjoy their friendship and camaraderie, but it left me somewhat unfulfilled.
 
And then, several months ago, I saw a list of small-group meetings that included a 7:00 am meeting of Catholic men at St. Ignatius parish in Mobile, Ala. That list was the same one I had seen many times before, except that it had never included the St. Ignatius meeting. The odd thing is that I’ve not seen that meeting list ever again. That is, the meeting list is still out there, but it doesn’t include the Men of St. Joseph meeting.
 
As I attended the weekly meetings of the Men of St. Joseph (MoSJ), I soaked up the discussions. I was more excited than ever that we were concentrating on the Gospel and attendees were presenting the Bible in ways not often seen in Catholic circles. When the time came for the retreat, I eagerly signed up. I was not disappointed.
 
One retreat is not enough to change an entire life, but our lives take many turns. I know there will be times when it will seem so much easier to step back into the old ways…to find the easier path. There will always be new challenges which take us out of our comfort zone. It would have been so much easier to just continue to attend the MoSJ meetings at St. Ignatius. After all, other guys were doing all of the planning. All I had to do was show up. But, that wouldn’t have been the right thing…for me, or for my parish of St. Dominic.
 
We’ve had two meetings so far at the new St. Dominic chapter of The Men of St. Joseph. I’m thrilled at the early response and the support we’ve received. In a really ironic twist, I owe my rededication to my Catholic faith to the persistence of my friend. Thanks to his efforts to push me away from Catholicism, I’ve become even more dedicated to appreciating and cherishing my relationship with God through Our Lord Jesus Christ. I bet my friend may not see the beauty of that. Too bad…
 
(St. Dominic's Men of St. Joseph meet at the Murphy Center, St. Dominic parish in Mobile, Ala., on Wednesday mornings, 7:00 a.m.)