My Heart of the Matter

Thirst No More

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Jesus with the Samaritan woman

Happy International Women’s Day!

The Samaritan Woman

In John 4:5–42, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well in the heat of the day. This was no ordinary encounter. Jews did not speak to Samaritans — and yet Jesus not only spoke to her, He asked her for a drink.

He already knew everything about her — the broken relationships, the searching, the sin. And still, He did not condemn her. He invited her.

He offered her living water — not the kind drawn from a well, but the kind that satisfies the deepest thirst of the human heart. She listened. She believed. And then she ran back to her village to tell everyone she met.

This woman — with all of her past — became one of the first evangelists. An entire town came to believe because of her witness.

On this International Women’s Day, that is worth sitting with. Jesus has always seen women — not as the world sees them, not defined by their past — but as souls worthy of the living water that leads to eternal life.

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give me some water to drink.” 8 His disciples had gone into the town to purchase food. 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew. How can you ask me, a Samaritan woman, for some water to drink?” (Jews do not share anything in common with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus replied,

“If you recognized the gift of God
and who it is that is asking you for something to drink,
you would have asked him
and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you do not have a bucket, and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well and drank from it himself along with his sons and his cattle?” 13 Jesus said to her,

“Everyone who drinks this water
will be thirsty again.
14 But whoever drinks the water that I will give him
will never be thirsty.
The water that I will give him
will become a spring of water within him
welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I may not be thirsty and have to come here to draw water.”

Women

God gave us specific roles in life. Whether I wanted to accept it or not, my role as a young woman was being a wife and mother. The world was different 54 years ago — and like so many women of my generation, I wanted to be heard.

Searching for Direction

I have never dabbled in neo-paganism — otherwise known as witchcraft — or at least that is what I believed to be true at the time. But when I was attending college in the 1970s, we were bombarded with social issues on every side: the war in Vietnam, and the women’s movement, which was gaining momentum on college campuses. I found myself questioning my sense of womanhood.

The Women’s Movement

Getting caught up in the frenzy, one day I reached my breaking point — and I decided to leave. It was Susan B. Anthony Day. Believe me when I say that this was the bravest thing I had ever done as a young adult. Driving from Santa Barbara to Colton was terrifying. I rarely drove on freeways, and yet there I was — alone, with my baby boy, pushing through fear mile by mile. I know without a doubt that God had assigned His angels — His special agents — to get me and my baby boy safely to my mother’s home that day.

Me and my baby boy Mikos

Thank the good Lord that I married young. Though I was caught up in this movement for a hot minute, it was not conducive to my lifestyle. When I was 21, our son Mikos was born — and yet, even then, that rebellious spirit was still running through my blood.

The Connection

How do I make the connection between witchcraft and the current women’s movement? Well, it is not hard to see. Women who are involved in witchcraft are turning to crystals, calling on Mother Nature as their goddess, and embracing New Age beliefs — and in doing so, they are opening every door possible to welcome dark, evil spirits into their lives.

The Devil does not need much. He waits for the opportunity, and then — like the snake in Genesis — he slithers in. Do these women realize they are opening these doors? Some do it with full intention. Others innocently fall into the trap set by Satan. Either way, remember this: Satan loves it when we are in the dark.

Why do these women feel such a need for empowerment? Many are broken and angry. They blame men and what they call patriarchal rules. They turn away from Christianity because they struggle with the masculinity and the nature of God — and some go so far as to believe that God is a woman.

Thank the good Lord that I married very young. Though I was involved in this movement for a hot minute, it was not conducive to my lifestyle. You see, when I was  21 our son Mikos was born. But the rebellious spirit was still running through my blood.

The Connection
How do I make a connection with witchcraft and this current women’s movement? Well it’s not hard to see that women who are involved in witchcraft are turning to the use of crystals, calling on Mother Nature like their goddess. And New Age beliefs are all opening every door possible to welcome dark, evil spirits to enter into their lives. The Devil doesn’t need much, he waits for the opportunity and then, like the snake in Genesis, he slithers into their lives. Do these women realize that they are opening these doors? Some do it with intention, while others innocently fall into the trap set by Satan. Remember Satan loves it when we are in the dark.
Why do these women feel the need for empowerment? These women are broken, angry and blame men and their patriarchal rules. They turn away from Christianity because they have a problem with the masculinity and gender of God.  And some go so far as to believe that God is a woman!

You Don’t Need A Man

The demasculating of men is very apparent in this movement, and it is slowly taking a toll on young men. This ideology is riddled with confusion — and sometimes young men simply do not know how to react. My advice to them is to seek out a well-grounded young woman who is serving God. And my advice to young women is this: if you want to be treated like a queen, treat a man like a king.

Stepping Into The Masculine Role

God created men to be the head of the household. When that is disrupted, it throws off the entire order — the role of a man, the stability of a family, the peace of a home.

I know this firsthand. My husband Mike wants nothing more than to take care of me and our family. Nothing pleases him more than fulfilling his role as husband and father. I need his protection, and I welcome everything he does for us.

4 He must manage his own household well and ensure that his children are submissive and respectful in every way. 5 For if someone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the Church of God?

Falling Into The Trap

Satan is the father of lies — John 8:44 — and he deceives even the most elect — Matthew 24:24. We need to become the example God called us to be. Falling into the trap of deception will only lead to emptiness. We, as women, must step up and become completely whole. With Christ, there is no partiality between men and women. Once we come on board, the gifts set aside for us will be poured out — so abundantly that we will have more than enough to share with others.

The Gifts

I prayed for years about having a platform to share the Gospel — and the Lord gave me this blog. It came through a long, vivid dream in which He instructed me about the name: My Catholic Roots Are Showing. When I woke up, I said, “No, Lord! That title will offend Protestants. It’s too long!” The following night, I had the very same dream. That was all the confirmation I needed. This blog has now been in existence for almost ten years.

My Prayer

Lord, may we all drink from the living waters You provide for us. Blessed Mary, thank you for being the greatest role model for all women. Bestow on all women the gentle spirit of Your Blessed Mother. Amen.

 

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My Heart of the Matter

The Testimony

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Me and Yosellin

When God Surprises You: Reflections from a Parish Catechist

Called to Serve

No amount of preparation can fully ready a catechist for what God has in store at a retreat. That truth has been learned firsthand over five years of volunteering at the parish — and every single year confirms it. Each year brings its own unexpected graces, challenges, and moments that no lesson plan could have anticipated

A Welcome Surprise: An Unexpected Aide

Last year brought a particularly joyful development: the gift of an assistant. When it was discovered that Yosellin would serve as aide for the class, the news was met with genuine delight. She was not a stranger — she had been one of the students in a previous Confirmation preparation class, which made her presence all the more meaningful.

The 2024 Class: Diversity as Providence

Yosellin’s quiet, introverted nature had made her stand out from the very beginning, back when she was a student herself. Placed in a room full of unfamiliar faces, she nevertheless found her way — gradually, gracefully — into a circle of friends. That class left a lasting impression, and not only because of Yosellin.

It was, quite simply, the most diverse group ever encountered in this ministry. Half of the students came from private Catholic schools, many of them already friends from their years together at St. Norbert School. They arrived comfortable, confident, and at ease with one another. The other half came from five different local public high schools — a mixture of backgrounds, experiences, and comfort levels that made the dynamic both rich and challenging.

The Catholic school students settled in quickly. For the others, it took a little more time to warm up — to let their guards down, to trust the space, and to begin to feel that they, too, belonged.

An Unexpected Courage: Preparing to Speak

When Yosellin approached with a request to share her testimony at the retreat, the news came as a genuine surprise. Her quiet, introverted nature had always been one of her most defining qualities — the last thing anyone would have expected was a desire to stand before the group and speak. Yet when she explained what she wanted to share, it became immediately clear that this story needed to be heard. It mattered.

At the following meeting, however, doubt crept in. Yosellin found herself uncertain about standing up in front of everyone. The courage that had surfaced one week seemed to waver the next.

Moved by the Holy Spirit

Then the retreat arrived — and with it, something remarkable.

The Holy Spirit had other plans. Yosellin followed the main speaker, and what unfolded was nothing short of astonishing. She spoke with an eloquence and poise that no one could have anticipated — natural, clear, and deeply moving. Her words touched the girls in the room in a way that only truth spoken from lived experience can. She was not performing. She was witnessing.

What Yosellin shared was this: she had suffered from depression — a depression that had led her to thoughts of suicide.

Depression: A Cross Carried in Silence

Yosellin’s struggle had begun early. Her relationship with both of her parents had been strained, leaving her with a persistent and painful sense of being unseen. Her father worked long hours, and by the time he returned home, exhaustion had consumed whatever emotional energy remained. Her mother’s relationship with her had been marked by instability from the start.

By the eighth grade, Yosellin had reached a breaking point. Alone in a way that felt total, and without confidence that her parents could help, she began experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Mental health struggles like these often remain associated with embarrassment or shame — a stigma that contradicts the compassion of Jesus and is contrary to the foundation of Catholic Social Teaching. No diagnosis, no darkness, no suffering — none of it can alter or diminish the God-given dignity of a person. Every suffering soul remains a beloved child of God, a God of healing and hope.

Depression is far more than prolonged sadness. It is a complex illness that can profoundly impair a person’s mental and physical functioning — affecting not just moods, but also the ability to think clearly, to concentrate, and to focus. Those afflicted often suffer in silence, unrecognized by those around them.

Yosellin had been one of those silent sufferers. And now, through grace, she was silent no longer.

Adoration

This year’s retreat was about transformation — and what unfolded this weekend was nothing short of a miracle. God moved mightily in the souls of these young people, and many were genuinely, visibly transformed.

Though my group was scattered throughout the hall, the effort to find them — to pray with them, to encourage them toward the confessional — was worth every moment. With four priests hearing confessions, more than half of the students brought their sins before God and walked away renewed.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for Your holy presence at this retreat. Pour out Your continued grace upon every young man and woman who participated. Thank You for using each of us who volunteered as instruments to guide them into Your loving arms. May the seeds planted this weekend take deep root and bear fruit that lasts. Amen.

 

 

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My Heart of the Matter

Purifying Your Soul

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Me and Prudie

We Are in the First Week of Lent

The season of Lent has begun — forty days set apart for fasting, prayer, and penance. It is a sacred invitation to examine the soul honestly and return to God with the whole heart.

Confessing Our Sins

Sin is a reality of daily life, and that is precisely why confession is not optional — it is essential. Going to confession every five to six weeks has become a spiritual discipline, but during Lent, the frequency increases, because the desire is to remain close to God and walk in His grace.

Daily Mass is a profound gift, and it does help cleanse the soul of venial sin. Venial sins are indeed forgiven by receiving Communion and by the other intercessory prayers of Mass. That said, the confessional remains irreplaceable. The regular confession of venial sins helps form the conscience, fight against evil tendencies, and allow Christ to heal and strengthen the soul for progress in the life of the Spirit. There is no such thing as a “free pass” into heaven — but there is a merciful Father who never tires of welcoming His children home.

My Pew

There is an unspoken rhythm to Sunday Mass. For those who attend faithfully every week, the same spot, the same kneeler, the same corner of sacred space becomes part of how the soul prepares to meet God. So when someone else is already sitting there, the disruption is real — and the irritation that follows is understandable.

Is it wrong to feel that way? Honestly — yes and no. There is nothing sinful about having a preference or a routine. The frustration becomes a problem only when it pulls the heart away from worship rather than toward it. The woman and her son are also God’s children, made in His image, present at Mass for reasons only God fully knows. Perhaps the boy on his phone needs someone to pray for him. Perhaps the mother is exhausted and this Mass is all she has left to hold onto.

The invitation here is not to abandon the routine — it is to let the irritation become a prayer. Offer it. Let God do something with it.

My Parking Spot

Moving to another pew is not quite as simple as it sounds. Mike drops off at the front of the church before parking in his usual spot — his assigned parking space, naturally. By the time he walks in, he knows exactly where to find his seat. A change of pew would require a change of coordinates for the whole operation. For now, the routine holds.

Offering It Up to God

This Lent, the resolution is to offer these small annoyances to the Lord. The irritation of a displaced seat, the distraction of a child on a phone — these are small things. And small things, surrendered to God with intention, become something beautiful. The spirit will no longer be broken by something as ordinary as a different face in the usual pew. Offer it. Let it go. Let it become a prayer.

The Sacrament of Penance

Why do Catholics confess their sins to a priest? The answer goes deeper than tradition or obligation — it goes straight to the nature of sin itself.

Sin is, before all else, an offense against God — a rupture of communion with Him. At the same time, it damages communion with the Church. For this reason, conversion entails both God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church, expressed and accomplished liturgically through the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church makes clear what confession does for the soul on even the most human level:

“The confession (or disclosure) of sins, even from a simply human point of view, frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others. Through such an admission man looks squarely at the sins he is guilty of, takes responsibility for them, and thereby opens himself again to God and to the communion of the Church in order to make a new future possible.” — CCC 1455

And for those who confess with honesty and a complete heart, the mercy of God is boundless: when Christ’s faithful strive to confess all the sins that they can remember, they undoubtedly place all of them before the divine mercy for pardon.

Indeed, the regular confession of venial sins helps form the conscience, fight against evil tendencies, and allow Christ to heal and strengthen the soul for progress in the life of the Spirit.

This is not a burden. It is a gift — one of the most merciful gifts Christ left His Church.

Two Confessions

During COVID, there were two back-to-back confessions — and the story behind them is worth telling.

It had been announced that one of the parish’s regular priests was being transferred to another parish. Because of COVID, confessions were held in the open area of the church, with room dividers standing in for the privacy of the confessional.

Having gone to confession the day prior with Priest A, the decision was made to return the following day — not primarily to confess sins, but to thank Priest B, the priest who was leaving. There was no other way to express that gratitude. Everyone was keeping their distance, and the room dividers created the only real opportunity for a private moment.

As the dividers were being arranged, a careful eye watched to determine which priest had gone behind which partition. Priest B appeared to be behind one of them. From the back of the church, the line formed quickly — and the wait began.

This was not a confession of sins. It was a confession of gratitude.

The Same Sin

When the moment finally came, the familiar prayer was offered: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was yesterday. The room divider concealed the priest’s face — but not his voice. It was not Priest B. It was Priest A.

“You confessed these sins yesterday,” he said.

In a flash of panic, the reply came: “I know. I can’t get past them.”

It was a lie. Said in the confessional. To a priest.

Priest B was never found. The goodbye never happened. But the next morning, Mass came — and with it, Communion. And that small white lie, a venial sin born of embarrassment in the most sacred of spaces, was met with the mercy of Christ in the Eucharist.

The Pew Report

The numbers are sobering. According to Pew Research Center data, of self-identified Catholics, only 23% reported a sacramental confession at least once a year. Despite the Church’s requirement that Catholics go to confession at least once a year — with more frequent confession highly encouraged — polling has consistently shown that over half of U.S. Catholics go to confession either less than once a year or not at all.

This parish is a different story. The lines for confession speak for themselves. On the evening of February 23rd, with several priests hearing confessions, more than 100 souls came forward to receive the mercy of God in the Sacrament of Penance. That is not a statistic — that is a revival.

Finding Freedom

There is nothing more beautiful than walking out of the confessional absolved. The soul is purified. The mind is cleared. The weight that the Enemy had been carrying on behalf of the sinner is gone — and communion with Christ is restored.

So if you are Catholic: go to confession.

God already knows every failure. There is nothing hidden from Him — not one dark corner, not one shameful moment. But the Enemy knows them too, and he uses them differently. Where God offers mercy, the Enemy offers chains — whispering daily that the sin is too great, that it cannot be forgiven, that return is impossible.

It is a lie. Of those who go to confession regularly, about two-thirds report “a clear sense of forgiveness, reassurance of God’s mercy, and interior peace.” The God of the universe is not waiting to condemn — He is waiting to welcome.

This is what Lent is for: to look honestly within, to name what is there, and to purge the dust and shadows so that the soul can see the Son clearly once more.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, forgive the transgressions of Your children. Purify our souls and heal the deep wounds of our past sins. May we enter this Lent with full confidence in Your mercy and Your desire to restore us.

For those who have stayed away from the confessional, soften their hearts and free them. Remind them that You are not a judge waiting to condemn, but a Father running to meet them.

Free us all. Amen.

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