Monday, July 18, 2016
Friday, July 15, 2016
Get to know Father Innocent, CFR, 2016 Catholic Men's Conference Speaker #mensconference #iconsspotlight #EWTN
Brothers! August 6th is around the corner!
Please pray for a lukewarm brother today and invite them to the 2016 Catholic Men's Conference!
Please register them or have them register at:
Register Today!
God Bless!
Please read and learn about Father Innocent below:
What lead you to enter the Franciscan community?
I felt the call to the priesthood early in high school. Living in Lincoln Nebraska, there were many young diocesan priests who were great witnesses of Christ and the Gospel. It wasn't until my Brother and I went to New York City during college for a mission trip that we came in contact with male religious orders. Their radical witness to Christ with the vows, their dedication to prayer, their joy, and their witness of community life was very attractive to me. Christ definitely "captured" my heart during that time and that was the beginning of my journey into religious life.
Based on your work with the homeless and addiction, what do you believe is the greatest cause of addiction?
Addiction of all types are usually just "symptoms" of deeper sufferings. Men who come to live with us usually feel abounded and lonely in their life. You could say that they feel "orphaned" and are just looking for a family to belong to. Often our homeless brothers have experienced trauma in their life, usually connected to the breakdown of the family or some kind of abuse. This causes great interior pain and suffering, thus they will look for any type of medication for the pain to go away. This is where the Friars try to meet the men, right in the midst of their pain. We try to be a comforting presence to help them experience the love and mercy of Christ. We try to create a space where they can let go of the "world medications" of drugs and alcohol and receive the true healing that Christ's desires to give them. I wake up every day super grateful for the gift to walk with my brothers on this journey of healing.
Have you had to help men addicted to pornography? What is the greatest challenge in helping men break this particular form of bondage?
Unfortunately, pornography is becoming an epidemic in the culture. Like any drug, pornography has the great capacity to hold people in bondage and cause great suffering. As of thirty or forty years ago, pornography was very hard to get and for the most part was not socially acceptable. Today, with the onslaught of technology and the erosion of a true Christian culture, all someone has to do is turn on the TV or the I-phone and they are one click away from pornography. Unfortunately, this type of culture can suffocate young men and woman as they are searching for happiness and the true meaning of life. Once again, suffering and loneliness can cause young people to want to "self medicate," which often takes the form of substance or pornography. To begin the healing process I believe that three things are helpful: The gift of authentic relationships, especially with God; living the principles and the spirituality of the 12-Steps; and service to others. This is the invitation we give to anyone who comes to us with a desire to find freedom.
As a Marvel comics fan and admirer of Captain America, what do we need to do to become a Christian super-hero?
I really appreciate this question! Christianity has only one superhero and Savior, and that is Jesus Christ! The amazing thing about being a Christian is that Jesus allows us to share in his power. He gives us his Holy Spirit in order that we might share his power and presence in the world. What does this look like? When we love our neighbors and lay our lives down to serve them, Christ becomes present in the world. We we choose virtue over vice, the presence of Christ shines through us. When we allow the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5) to be made manifest in our daily lives, Jesus is alive!
Remember, watch Father Innocent's show, Icons Spotlight, every Wednesday evening at 9:30PM on EWTN.
God Bless!
Please pray for a lukewarm brother today and invite them to the 2016 Catholic Men's Conference!
Please register them or have them register at:
Register Today!
God Bless!
Please read and learn about Father Innocent below:
What lead you to enter the Franciscan community?
I felt the call to the priesthood early in high school. Living in Lincoln Nebraska, there were many young diocesan priests who were great witnesses of Christ and the Gospel. It wasn't until my Brother and I went to New York City during college for a mission trip that we came in contact with male religious orders. Their radical witness to Christ with the vows, their dedication to prayer, their joy, and their witness of community life was very attractive to me. Christ definitely "captured" my heart during that time and that was the beginning of my journey into religious life.
Based on your work with the homeless and addiction, what do you believe is the greatest cause of addiction?
Addiction of all types are usually just "symptoms" of deeper sufferings. Men who come to live with us usually feel abounded and lonely in their life. You could say that they feel "orphaned" and are just looking for a family to belong to. Often our homeless brothers have experienced trauma in their life, usually connected to the breakdown of the family or some kind of abuse. This causes great interior pain and suffering, thus they will look for any type of medication for the pain to go away. This is where the Friars try to meet the men, right in the midst of their pain. We try to be a comforting presence to help them experience the love and mercy of Christ. We try to create a space where they can let go of the "world medications" of drugs and alcohol and receive the true healing that Christ's desires to give them. I wake up every day super grateful for the gift to walk with my brothers on this journey of healing.
Have you had to help men addicted to pornography? What is the greatest challenge in helping men break this particular form of bondage?
Unfortunately, pornography is becoming an epidemic in the culture. Like any drug, pornography has the great capacity to hold people in bondage and cause great suffering. As of thirty or forty years ago, pornography was very hard to get and for the most part was not socially acceptable. Today, with the onslaught of technology and the erosion of a true Christian culture, all someone has to do is turn on the TV or the I-phone and they are one click away from pornography. Unfortunately, this type of culture can suffocate young men and woman as they are searching for happiness and the true meaning of life. Once again, suffering and loneliness can cause young people to want to "self medicate," which often takes the form of substance or pornography. To begin the healing process I believe that three things are helpful: The gift of authentic relationships, especially with God; living the principles and the spirituality of the 12-Steps; and service to others. This is the invitation we give to anyone who comes to us with a desire to find freedom.
As a Marvel comics fan and admirer of Captain America, what do we need to do to become a Christian super-hero?
I really appreciate this question! Christianity has only one superhero and Savior, and that is Jesus Christ! The amazing thing about being a Christian is that Jesus allows us to share in his power. He gives us his Holy Spirit in order that we might share his power and presence in the world. What does this look like? When we love our neighbors and lay our lives down to serve them, Christ becomes present in the world. We we choose virtue over vice, the presence of Christ shines through us. When we allow the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5) to be made manifest in our daily lives, Jesus is alive!
Remember, watch Father Innocent's show, Icons Spotlight, every Wednesday evening at 9:30PM on EWTN.
God Bless!
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