Trump cares only about getting richer and being liked by the cool kids (1%). Period. He’s turned everything else over to the Right’s Project 2025 fever dream of destroying the past 70 years of government. Everything else is a distraction for these two things. Everything.

We remember Paulist Fr. Brad Schoeberle in this week's edition of our "Things To Know" newsletter:

Like addicts or alcoholics, when enough of the American people experience enough pain, they will change. Apparently, an ocean of information is not enough. All we have left is pain. Embrace the suck!👋😎

Spirituality of a scientist who is also qualified in theology 👇😎 youtu.be/LE_NFQzxUrE?...

#Trappist Fr. Isaac Slater provides a definition of "judging" in this snip from an episode of @deaconspod.bsky.social. He is author of the @litpress.bsky.social book “Do Not Judge Anyone: Desert Wisdom for a Polarized World.” Please listen to the full episode at: open.spotify.com/episode/2xSS...

Real and deep👇

Amen!👋😎

👇😎Compassion?! Yes, please!

Great book! Much for meditation👋😎

👋😎Got Friends?👇

This is the 19th death of a person in custody of ICE since Trump turned it into a poorly-trained personal army of terror.

Indeed. The Lord did not command that we beat swords into ploughshares so that gaslighting grifters could farm rage.

No one should mourn the old clerical system of the Catholic Church in the United States, but that system at least prevented the insane zealotry that we see today. The problem is that today prominent representatives of that clerical system are supporting that zealotry.

Can’t we just say no one should be shot for their political views? Do we have to canonize the guy too? I’m looking at you, Bishops Barron and Dolan😳

What I’m meditating on currently: When they sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind; (Hosea 8:7) And Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. (MT 26:52) And Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” (MK4:23) 👋😎

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The “old guys” are up😎👍🏻

paulist.org/ministry/dea... Deacons on Mission to America! Join us👇😎

Isaac Hecker has 3 new sons!😎

Three new Paulist Affiliate Deacons make first promise at Passionist Retreat House in NYC!😎

Paulists Deacon Affiliates and wives on retreat at the Passionist Retreat House in NYC👋😎

Real people. Real pain👇

Subscribe! Great stuff! You’re welcome! 👋😎 youtu.be/Wt5FqKWMHBw?...

In this special new episode of our podcast @deaconspod.bsky.social, Deacon @pmrtv.bsky.social, Deacon @deacondrew.bsky.social, and Deacon @dnd2.bsky.social reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis:

One of “ the good guys”👇😎

A brand new episode of our podcast @deaconspod.bsky.social dropped this morning! Today, @pmrtv.bsky.social, @deacondrew.bsky.social, @dnd2.bsky.social, and Deacon Tom speak with Paulist Deacon Chris Malano, a Paulist seminarian who is slated to be ordained a priest on May 17:

Enlarge to distinguish Stars from Galaxies

Pope Francis Remembered. Be uplifted👇😎

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Mt 25:21).

We invite you to join us online this evening, Saturday, April 26, for the 2025 Spirit of Hecker Awards. Please discover all of the details here:

"The FDA is suspending a quality control program for testing milk and other dairy products due to reduced capacity in its food safety and nutrition division... Another disruption to food safety programs after the termination and departure of 20,000 HHS employees..." www.reuters.com/business/hea...

Trump and DOGE want to slash the FDIC's workforce by 20%, leaving fewer watchdogs on the beat to police Wall Street misconduct. Remember: the FDIC was created during the Depression to protect people's deposit accounts. Gutting it could lead to another financial meltdown.

The oil industry buys off Congress. No action on climate. The NRA buys off Congress. No action on guns. Insurance companies buy off Congress. No action on health care. The list goes on and on. Money in politics is the root of our dysfunction.

“If we Christians lived the Gospel, non believers would be more amazed than if we did miracles.” This is all Pope Francis did. This was all he asked of us. This is why he was loved. This is why he was opposed. 😎

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In the last two episodes of our podcast "Deacons Pod" (@deaconspod.bsky.social), Deacon Dennis Dolan (@dnd2.bsky.social) has defended the role of #empathy in our society and culture. Here's a snip of that defense of empathy in the episode "Having Hope When Optimism Dims":

Today's new @deaconspod.bsky.social episode also has our first podcast crossover: The inclusion of @heidischlumpf.bsky.social's powerful interview with @drclarkm1.bsky.social on "The Francis Effect" about the devastating impact of the U.S. funding cuts for USAID and @catholicrelief.bsky.social:

A brand new episode of our #podcast @deaconspod.bsky.social dropped this morning! Today, @dnd2.bsky.social and @deacondrew.bsky.social discuss Sunday's Gospel passage about Jesus and "the woman taken in adultery" and the troubling issues raised by recent actions of the U.S. federal government:

LETS GOOOOOOO #boston #handsoff #handsoffboston

Lean into Lent! Another benefit of pursuing painful self knowledge ( bearing your cross!) is that you have more compassion for other imperfect humans. You find you’re so busy judging yourself that you don’t judge others fulfilling another commandment😎

Lean into Lent! Humility is ultimately a grace given by God. But we can dispose ourself to receive it: Pray for it. Practice giving grace and giving way to others. Pay attn to your own sins and failures. Painful self knowledge prevents delusion abt ourselves. When embraced we find the truth😎

Lean into Lent! Sr Mary Margaret Funk, OSB is a nun/ monk . She worked for years in inter religious dialogue with monks from Asian traditions including the Dali Lama. These monks asked her,”What in the Christian Tradition would be comparable to Enlightenment?” Sr Meg said, “Humility”, Wow!😎

Lean into Lent! Humility is one of the most praised virtues in Christian spirituality. It allows us to be open to God’s actions in our growth. It is not poor self esteem or being a doormat. It is seeing clearly the truth about ourselves. Its root word is earth: down to earth; feet on the ground 😎

Deacon Dennis Dolan (@dnd2.bsky.social), one of the #Paulist Deacon Affiliates, reflects on the purpose of #Lent in this clip from a recent episode our podcast "Deacons Pod" (@deaconspod.bsky.social):

Lean into Lent! If the goal of Lent is to improve our ability to love (and it is!), we need to develop the powers necessary to love: patience and humility. Imagine trying to love without them! Can I love if I’m prideful (full of myself) or intolerant? Can I love if the focus is always on me? 🤷‍♂️

Lean into Lent! Lenten praxis is supposed to improve our ability to love. That’s the goal of Christianity: love of God and others. Love in the sense of “ willing the well being of the other”. Not love in whipping up feelings. Love is an act of the will not emotions. We can ALWAYS chose to love 😎

Some spiritual reading resources with a lot of variety to get you started: www.paulistpress.com?srsltid=AfmB... orbisbooks.com litpress.org

Lean into Lent! Imagine the embarrassment of a motorist who had his car towed in only to be informed by the mechanic that it was out of gas!🤦‍♂️ Spiritual reading ( Bible, Lives of Saints, books on prayer, meditation, etc.) is the gas! At least 15 mins a day. No gas/ no go!😎

Lean into Lent! Ancient Catholic practice of Mindulness with our favorite nun ( female munk)👇😎 open.spotify.com/episode/3B5B...

Try this link to listen to Sr Meg Funk OSB explain the ancient, Catholic practice of mindfulness that will help you Remember God and make your Lenten changes effective😎 megaphone.link/SM6596259390