Fr. Bob's Corner

Education seems only to be only for those 30 or under. The older we get the likelihood of our taking University courses dwindles. What a shame that only the young have this luxury. However, there is a change in the wind these days all because of the internet or web.

The opportunity to take University Courses from the comfort of home at any age is now available from major Universities for a fee. There is also movement toward free offerings of a non-credit nature. As I discover free courses on the web, I will begin making links to them available on the Education tab or page of frbobscorner.com

Here is one free offering now available:

Fr. Thomas Dowd, a priest from the Archdiocese of Montreal and a Theology professor at Concordia University, is now providing his course lectures and required texts free of charge over the web. The material (links) can be located on the tab labeled Education on the frbobscorner home page.

Strange as this title may be, it does not condone sin, but points to moments of conversion. The following is an excerpt from an email sent by Sr. Joan Chittister to subscribers to Benetvision.

“It is not that sin is not sin. It is simply that sin is not the end of the world?and, in fact, may actually be the beginning of a number of things that can be gained hardly any other way in life and without which life is a pitiful place. A bout with greed may be precisely what teaches us the freedom of poverty. A struggle with lust may well be what, in the end, teaches us about the real nature of love. A strong dose of anger may be what it takes to teach us the beauty of gentleness.

There are, in other words, things to be learned from sin. One is compassion. Another is understanding. A third is humility. A fourth is perception. Without the ability to own our own sins, these qualities are all hard to come by indeed.

(more…)

I am always looking for good resources to help people appreciate and understand Christian Marriage. The U.S. conference of Catholic Bishops has been developing a website for just this purpose for a few years, and now has some excellent articles and resources. Whether you are dating, engaged, newlywed, a mature couple, a student, or member of a marriage preparation team, this website probably has something for you. Link: For Your Marriage

Interesting an heplful site on small Christian Communities and resources for faith sharing.
Office of Parish Life: SCC Resource Manual 2005 – Faith Sharing Resources