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This week we chat with our pastor, Fr. Robert, on a wide range of topics about the parish including a bunch of campus projects, how one can get assistance, and as we continue to grow, how to put down roots, get involved, and live our faith.

We were drinking a great bottle of The Federalist Red Blend from Mendocino County, California.

Michalene recommends reflecting on Jesus' words from Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."

Amber recommends Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, a perfumery and herbalist shop in Florence that she visited that has its origins in Dominican monks over 600 years ago who started an infirmary. 

Jeff recommends the latest episode of the Thinking Faith podcast that delves into the issues around AI, the rapid development we are seeing, and the questions we should be asking in a world that could be radically different in just a few years.

Next week will be an audio tour of the liturgies of Holy Week.

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This week as we prepare to celebrate the solemnity of St Joseph on March 20th (usually March 19th, but moved this year because it falls on a Sunday of Lent), we decided to do an episode on fathers, who, like Joseph, aren't biological fathers, but answered unique calls to fatherhood.  Mike McDonnell is on the staff at Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Durham and he shares the story of he and his wife, Katie, adopting their son, Miles.  Fr. James Labosky is a familiar face at Holy Infant celebrating weekend and daily Masses and is also the Director for Continuing Education for Priests for the Diocese of Raleigh.  Both men reflect on their journeys of fatherhood through the lens of what we know of St Joseph's role as the father of Jesus.

We decided on a beverage derived from another type of vine, since we discovered we all actually like root beer, which seems to be a rarity among the company we keep.  We found some bottles of Hank's Gourmet Root Beer, and we would highly recommend (definitely with vanilla ice cream).

Michalene recommends praying the Novena to St Joseph, who knows, you too might end working at Holy Infant...

Jeff recommends an episode of the Ezra Klein Show podcast "The Men - and Boys - Are Not Alright" on which sociologist Richard Reeves talks about his book "Of Boys and Men" about how men and boys, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are falling behind.

And Amber recommends joining Catechism in a Year group as they follow Fr. Mike Schmitz yearlong walk through the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

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This week Michalene speaks with Andrea Thomas, co-director of The Vigil Project, a community of artists making music for the Catholic journey and inviting the Church into prayer through song.  The Vigil Project will lead a True Presence Night of music and adoration at Holy Infant this Sunday, March 12th, at 6:30pm.  All are welcome!

Since we were recording a little earlier than normal, like, brunch time, we decided to enjoy some mimosas.  Just find the least expensive bottles of orange juice and champagne and enjoy.

Jeff's recommendation is from a list of suggestions from Oliver Burkeman's book "Four Thousand Weeks" to "cultivate instantaneous generosity".... if you get that generous inspiration suddenly, don't hesitate to act on it!

Michalene recommends reading the NC Catholic cover article on St Teresa of Calcutta in Cary, which just became a parish and dedicated their new building.  Their high level of engagement reminded her of how Holy Infant was started 50 years ago.

Amber recommends Busted Halo's creative list of things to do to observe Lent, if you are starting to get into a mid-Lent rut.

Next week we mark the solemnity of St Joseph by speaking with a priest and a father of an adopted child about chosen fatherhood.

All music © Vigil Publishing

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In this episode we had the privilege to speak with Irene Dunbar, a founding member of Holy Infant, at her home, where she is regularly visited and brought the Eucharist by the members of our Sick and Homebound Ministry.  You can learn more about this ministry by visiting www.holyinfantchurch.org/homebound

This week we enjoyed the Unshackled Cabernet Sauvignon from California.

Michalene's recommendation is to send a note or give a phone call of encouragement to someone who is homebound, or someone who is a caregiver and may be feeling isolated.

Amber recommends doing your taxes.  On time.  So, like, now, and not at the last minute.

Jeff recommends watching the show that Fr. Robert mentioned in his homily last weekend, Star Trek: Prodigy

Next week we talk with Andrea Thomas, one of the co-directors of the Catholic music group The Vigil Project, as we prepare to welcome them to Holy Infant for our "True Presence Night" on Sunday, March 12th, at 6:30pm.

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This week we spoke with Kelly Adamson who is a campus minister at Dayton University in Ohio and a lay Benedictine Oblate.  Kelly shares how regularly praying one or more of the hours from the Liturgy of the Hours such as Morning or Evening Prayer helps her hear God's constant call through the psalms, canticles, readings, and prayers each day.

We tried the Fre brand alcohol-removed wine this week, both the Red Blend and the Moscato, to mixed reviews.

We've created a page on the website with lots of links to resources for praying the Liturgy of the Hours, whether you want to start with simplified Morning or Evening Prayer, all the way to having a prayer for each hour just like a monk:  www.holyinfantchurch.org/hours

Michalene recommended discerning whether you might be interested in helping with small groups next year for our JYM ministry for middle schoolers.  Email her at

Amber recommends using the Hallow app to pray one of the hours of the Liturgy of the Hours, Night Prayer or "Compline".

Jeff recommends going on a retreat or visiting Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastery which is just outside of Charleston, SC.

Jeff also mentioned an app where you can the location of others around the world praying at the same time as you, it also has all of the prayers for praying the Liturgy of the Hours, it's called the Divine Office app.

Next week we go on location to Irene Dunbar's house.  Irene is a founding parishioner of Holy Infant, incredibly active in ministry and serving the parish however was necessary, and now on the receiving end of our sick and homebound ministers who bring her the Eucharist and visit when she is unable to make it to church in-person.

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This week Amber spoke with Rosemary Herhold, a parishioner of St Francis in Raleigh who began the Greener Lent program in which we participate here at Holy Infant.  You can sign up to participate in Greener Lent online now: https://greenerlent.org/

Our wine of choice to continue along the green theme is the Broadbent Vinho Verde from Portugal.

Amber's recommendation is to sign up for this year's Crop Walk team which is the after of Sunday, April 2.

Jeff recommends choosing one Lenten discipline in three categories... 1) One shift I can do to make me healthier and feel better physically, 2) One shift I can make to get closer in my relationship with God, 3) One shift I can make to improve a relationship with another person.

Michalene recommends the documentary A Place at the Table: African Americans on the Path to Sainthood which is available on Formed.  You can get a free subscription to Formed through our parish website: https://holyinfantchurch.org/formed

Next week Jeff talks to Kelly Adamson, a campus ministry at Dayton University and a lay Benedictine oblate, about the Liturgy of the Hours, how she integrates this form of prayer into her life, and how it has impacted her.

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This week Amber got together to chat with two married couples from our parish, one who have been married for 50 years and the other for just a few months, as we celebrate National Marriage Week.

Our wine this week is the California Red Velvet from Cupcake Vineyards, along with some dark chocolate.

Michalene recommends the New Wine Lent Devotional for 2023 from Blessed is She.

Amber recommends checking out this crazy TikTok video of a sibling rivalry leading to "Mass" going a bit off the rails.

Jeff recommends listening to Cardinal McElroy's interview on the Jesuitical podcast on how his vision for a more welcoming church.

Next week we'll talk with Rosemary Herhold, founder of the Greener Lent project which we are taking part in at Holy Infant.

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This week Amber, Michalene, and Jeff were joined live, in-"studio" by Holy Infant's new coordinator of communications, Stacy Paper.  Get to know a little about Stacy, and her hopes and dreams for helping tell the stories of all the great things taking place in our parish, helping us to share those stories with others as a way of drawing them closer to Christ and into God's family.  Welcome, Stacy!

Our wine of choice for this episode was an Argentinian Malbec called "The Show" from Bieler Wines, inspired by Stacy's theater background and preference for red and dry wines (and originating from the same country as our Holy Father Pope Francis!).

Michalene recommends liking Holy Infant on Facebook as we get more active with our online presence.

As a result of a special God-wink, Amber recommends either Confirmation sponsors to reach out and check in on those who've they sponsored in the past, and/or for all of us to reach out and catch up with our own sponsors.

Stacy recommends doing something for yourself today!!  You deserve it!

Jeff recommends the Glenstal Book of Daily Prayer which is an accessible way to begin building a habit of praying the Liturgy of the Hours, Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, or Compline with a simplified psalter, beautiful prayers, and iconography.

Next week as we observe National Marriage Week Amber will speak with two of our wonderful married couples, one couple who are newlyweds and the other who have ben married for over 50 years!

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As we celebrate the feast of St Francis de Sales this week, Michalene speaks with Fr. Jack Kolodziej, the Provincial of the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, about the spirituality of St Francis de Sales and the Oblates.

Our beverage this week was the Gentleman's Collection 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon No. 1 from Lindeman's Winery.

Click here to read Pope Francis' letter on the fourth centenary of the death of Saint Francis de Sales from December 28, 2022.

Click here to see Br Mickey McGrath's image of the quote, "Happy are the hearts that bend, for they shall never break."

Michalene's recommendation was to write a note to someone who's been on your mind who you've meaning to reach out to to let them know you've been thinking of them.

Jeff recommends this article from America Magazine on the lessons the Church could learn from the resurrection of Barnes & Noble over the past few years.

Amber recommends checking out the trivia game on the Hallow prayer app.

Next week we'll be joined by Stacy Paper, our brand new communications coordinator on the staff at Holy Infant!

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In this week's episode we explore the meaning of the Filipino Santo Niño feast and how we will celebrate it this as a parish community this Sunday.

We "stellabrated" with the Stella Rosa "Red" wine.

Photo of the Santo Niño being returned to Cebu at the end of WWI in 1945.

Michalene recommends checking out this video of an adorable kid who seems to have a better understanding of baptism than most of us.

Amber recommends the 10 week personal retreat we are offering, "Lift Up Your Heart", by John Burns, based on the Introduction to the Devout Life by St Francis de Sales.

Jeff recommends a post from the Where Peter Is blog, "5 Quotes from Pope Benedict that Changed My Life"

We'll be off next week with the short week and preparing for a number of upcoming events, but be sure to check out our next episode on January 26th as we prepare to celebrate the feast of St. Francis de Sales the weekend of January 29th & 30th, featuring an interview with Fr. Jack Kolodziej, OSFS who is the provincial of the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.

Long Road Ahead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100588
Artist: http://incompetech.com/