2013 articles      Darlene's background

Darlene Starrs      2014  articles   

Dec 29: My Christmas and New Years Surprise
Pope Francis delivered my Christmas Gift when he addressed the Curia with their Christmas message! While Pope Francis did reaffirm the Curia’s essential service, he also made it quite clear that the Curia is vulnerable to spiritual diseases and sinfulness

 Dec 15: Merry Christmas!
"Have yourselves a Merry Little Christmas"

Dec 8: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Mary, like Christ, is our enduring mother/sister companion on our journeys on earth. She shows us how to be faithful disciples of Christ, through her humble attitude and belief, that she is the handmaid of the Lord

Dec 1: Advent Is Upon Us!
^{Specific hope within the Universal Roman Catholic Church is definitely Pope Francis and his mission}

Nov 24: Giving it all over
I promote the idea of lay evangelists because the Church needs a new thrust in sowing the Word

Nov 17: What's it all about?
In being bombarded each and every day with everything that is not of Christ, it is helpful for me to be immersed in the beatitudes, reminding me of what, I, as a Catholic Christian, am created for in this dark world

Nov 10: It All Starts with that Mustard Seed of Faith!
The Saints were mustard seeds of faith and always an inspiration

Nov 3: Christ for All
If I were to provide a story about Pope Francis, I would say that he is a believer that Christ is meant for everyone to access. Someone our dark world desperately needs is Christ, and Pope Francis is doing his best to promote Christ, whether in the RC Church or in the world

Oct 27: Post Synod Thoughts
There is a legitimate concern on the part of the magisterium. That concern is to do with the question of whether the RC Church must accommodate all sorts of lifestyles and beliefs that are a part of this worldly life. Maybe they do, if Jesus would.

Oct 20: At Synod's Conclusion - A Big Oops!
It is heartening to me, that the Vatican, is making some "gradual movement" into the reality of contemporary societies, to address and include aspects of life, and people that, until now, they have either ignored or shunned.

Oct 13: The Family Synod….Any Surprise?
The most welcoming surprise for me that came from Pope Francis at the Synod
…..was his plea that the bishops speak boldly

Oct 6: Tyranny at the Vatican?
The Synod of the Family is underway in Rome. I am watching and listening for just about everything. Will the tyranny be confirmed? Or, perhaps, You and I will be pleasantly surprised. May the Holy Spirit bless and direct the people and the process!

Sep 29: Does Paternal Work?
^{The Pope’s style while it can be viewed as refreshing, even exciting at times, still speaks of an old, old way of being and doing business in the Church. Overall, I do not believe, a paternalistic approach can move the Church forward.}

Sep 22: Today's Word……"LISTEN"
I cannot stress enough, the importance of the lector ministry.
Someone’s evangelization and increase of grace might well depend on it!

Sep 15: Who is the Pope really listening to?
I am seeing holes in his papacy! The religious sisters of the U.S. continue to be brow beaten by Cardinal Muller and the C.D.F.; no one is talking to the ACP and the Irish Church; excommunications go uncorrected; the universal church remains saddled with an imposed Roman Missal; and women and the laity continue to be kicked to the curb, when it suits a local bishop.
c.f. European and male hegemony in the church...  (Questions From a Ewe)

Sep 8: A Celebration of Mary
Indeed, this day, September 8th, might well be a wonderfully chosen day to begin such a synod. There are all the appropriate images, "Mary", "woman", "ministry", "Christ", "birth" and "Church". Mary’s birthday, might well be, the birth of woman ministry, experienced in a brand new way…….new wine, new way.!

Sep 1: Who Knew I’d Be Broken-hearted!
Alas, it is 2014, and my elation, has fizzled. Oh yes, there is the presence of hope and joy with Pope Francis, but, with the polarization of the Church into pre-Vatican II and post-Vatican II spirituality and theology, it is so very sad and frustrating

August 25: In God’s Mind, Is There Any Reason To Reform Carmel,
For A Post-Vatican II Church?
Did the Carmelites hear about Vatican II? I would think so, 
but they have remained resistant to any substantial change

August 18:  Is there really such a thing as "Eucharistic Famine?
How can the Universal Church grow and move forward in Christ,
if our leadership are politicians and we cannot meet together on the same Vatican II pages?

August 11:  BIG "S" SAINT
Take the time today to read about St. Clare, 
who is known as the best friend to St. Francis of Assisi

August 4: Has the Anglican Church done a Great Service for the RC Church?
We live in a time of "sadly missed ministerial opportunity" in the RC Church,
for believing that Christ would not call women, and therefore, denying women such a vocation. It is not only a "missed ministerial opportunity", but it is also a "missed evangelical moment".

July 28: The lesson of the waistcloth
We, as a people of God, and the Roman Catholic Church, also need to cling to God,
and we most certainly must be listening to Him, otherwise we might become of no use

July 21: Women bishops
Isn’t it sad that bestowing one of the highest offices of the Church to a woman,
could create such a problem? Really, quite ridiculous!

July 14: The Lord’s Word does not return to Him empty
I sometimes find all the discussion surrounding the Church and particularly the Church Institution, dizzying, disheartening, and frustrating,  and SO returning to the Word and the Lord’s promises is not only reassuring, but restores my psychic and emotional well-being

May 25: Excommunication Again, Enough Already
Do away with excommunication and start communicating

May 19: The Catholic Church is Beyond Reform? What? Who says

May 12: Just a reminder
Pope Francis’s First Obedience is to Christ.
When Christ summons Francis to this place or that place, he must go!

May 5: As Pentecost approaches
As Pentecost approaches, I find myself musing about the marvellous events of over 2,000 years ago. Imagine, somewhere across the world, in Palestine, was a seemingly ordinary man, born of a seemingly ordinary woman, doing extraordinary things, like miracles, and preaching with what could only be described as divine wisdom

April 28: The weeds will grow among the wheat!
Following and serving Christ is not a popularity contest. If we are truly with Christ, we will have enemies! It’s probably a true sign of Pope Francis’s Christian vocation, if, by speaking and acting in the name of Christ, he is drawing heat

April 21: Happy Easter Everyone! 
Ordaining married men might well stymie the cause of women, however, with a precedent in place, where local Churches are encouraged to solve particular ecclesial problems, it seems reasonable to assume that the solution of ordaining women is a future possibility

April 14: Holy Week 2014
The smell of the palm might well serve as a reminder of the fragrance of Christ, especially during Holy Week

April 7: Saint Marie of the Incarnation, Canada’s Mother of Church 
I was so very pleased that Pope Francis named Blessed Marie of the Incarnation a  Saint on April 2. She is referred to as the Mother of the Canadian Church and was a founder of an Ursaline Order of Nuns in Quebec

March 31: Still Looking for a Credible Explanation?
Father John Shea, an Augustinian priest in the United States, has put “his money where his mouth is,” as the saying goes.  He has written a letter to Cardinal Sean O’Malley asking for a clear and CREDIBLE explanation of why women cannot be priests.  He wrote another open letter in 2012.  Such a letter did not go unnoticed and he received a couple warnings and his contract to teach at Boston College was not renewed

March 24: God grant him many years!
Francis needs at least 10 years to have a significant impact on the church. This would allow him to appoint like-minded men to the College of Cardinals and to dioceses all over the world

March 17: Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
This 6th century saint might well be doing the very same ministry today in Ireland and around the world.  There are still human beings who hunger and thirst for the living Word of God.  Perhaps, there is a lot of Patrick in Francis! I pray that there is a lot of Patrick in us all!

March 10: Who Is It That Is Asking For A Drink Of Water?It has been rightly said that Francis needs to be stronger about the issue of clerical sexual abuse, but the excitement about him is profound and points to a global need for God

March 3: No women, no wine!
Vatican II women are the New Wine for a New Evangelization
c.f. To accomplish a new evangelization, the Church needs women

Feb 24: Pope Francis is Vatican II?
It is my contention, that to be truly Vatican II, Pope Francis must do away with the archaic belief that Christ would not call women to teach, preach, and sanctify - the duties identified with Holy Orders

Feb 17: What of Church Reform?
Complete a Survey for Catholic Church Reform
I highly recommend and encourage you to go to the Catholic Church Reform website and complete a survey for Catholic organizations and individuals. Why fill it out?  There remains hot button issues to be addressed and resolved. Issues such as the closure of parishes, the shortage of priests, 
more sexual abuse cases, the role of women, the decentralization of Rome

Feb 9: What St. Bernadette tells us about Christ and the Poor
Those who belong to Christ and who suffer, particularly, with long term illness, are God’s poor. Bernadette had to cope with Asthma, so she is willing to help with those who must also endure this disease.  Bernadette’s story attests to the enduring and abiding presence not only of Mary, but of Christ, who is our Lord, our redeemer, our lover, our brother, our friend, and our healer 

Feb 2: Standing in God's light
“The way I see it, if Pope Francis is truly all about justice for the poor and the marginalized, then he is also all about the advancement of women in all aspects of society, including (if not especially) religion. But this is exactly where his train goes off the track. The question of the role of women seems to be his stumbling block”.  (Lori Dexter)