Today’s appearance on “‘On Call’ with Wendy Wiese”

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I was on the “‘On Call”’ with Wendy Wiese” radio show today. It went well. Wendy Wiese is an excellent host and made me feel at ease. There was a 10 minute interview with me followed by my fielding calls from the listeners.

This link is the archives of previous shows, including today’s. Just follow the instructions on the page to download the show. Or, just use this link to listen (it starts playing right away, so be sure to have headphones or else be alone: Paul Sofranko appearance for May 1, 2013.

There’s a chance I may reappear, if so, information will be posted here.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

UPDATE: I WILL be on the “On Call Show with Wendy Wiese”, for Wednesday, May 1st

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UPDATE: Wendy Wiese contacted me and rescheduled me for next Wednesday. I was supposed to be on April 16th, but I cancelled a few days earlier as I was getting sick.

I will be on the “On Call Show with Wendy Wiese”, Wednesday, May 1st at 1PM CT (2PM ET)!

A description of the show, from Relevant Radio:

“Wendy Wiese keeps a variety of professionals On Call™ from an array of specialized fields to support you as you live out your “domestic Church” – helping you to keep your faith at the fore in your everyday life. Focusing on the important issues that families face through the lens of our Catholic faith, you’ll hear topics ranging from Post-Abortion Syndrome, eating disorders, pornography addiction, or substance abuse to Spiritual Direction. Our experts address issues that affect normal, everyday families, and they strive to help our listeners with their own struggles – you are the most important part of the conversation. Tune in for useful information and practical advice from a Catholic perspective.“

If it goes well, I’ll be a recurring guest.

For more information, here’s the show’s website: “‘On Call’ with Wendy Wiese” and Facebook Page: “‘On Call’ with Wendy Wiese Facebook Page.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Not Saints Yet

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Number 9, over at Catholic Alcoholic mentioned today about a new organization for Catholics suffering from addictions. Called Not Saints Yet, it is, to quote from their website, “…a new organization whose goal is to evangelize, or re-evangelize, Catholics, especially those in recovery.”

It is run by Ken J, of the Calix Society in Philadelphia. I remember Ken J from several years ago when he was a member of Catholics in Recovery (later Recovery for Christ), a now defunct online social network for Catholics suffering from addictions.

In addition to their above-named mission of evangelizing Catholics, Not Saints Yet also seeks to become a clearinghouse of information about other organizations that are helping Catholics in recovery.

You can find more information about the Calix Society at this link.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

How can I repay the LORD for all the great good done for me?

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The Responsorial Psalm for Holy Thursday’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper holds a wonderful prayer that can be used for an attitude of gratitude:

Psalm 116: 12-13; 15-17

How can I repay the LORD

for all the great good done for me?

I will raise the cup of salvation

and call on the name of the LORD.

Dear in the eyes of the LORD

is the death of his devoted.

LORD, I am your servant,

your servant, the child of your maidservant;

you have loosed my bonds.

I will offer a sacrifice of praise

and call on the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people…

(Via USCCB.)

For truly, how can one “repay the LORD for all the great good done?” He has indeed “loosed my bonds” from the grip of alcohol. And forever and ever “I will offer a sacrifice of praise and call on the name of the LORD.”

Perhaps one can repay by carrying the Gospel message forward, as well as helping others realize the healing power of the Sacraments.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The Seven Penitential Psalms and the Songs of the Suffering Servant

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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has an excellent resource on their website for the final day of Lent, as well as for Good Friday meditations. The Seven Penitential Psalms and the Songs of the Suffering Servant are taken from their New American Bible translation.

I frequently use these in preparation for when I really need to make a good Act of Contrition; I say them all though in succession. They do take a lot out of me. Nevertheless they are very efficacious in helping me get in the right “frame of mind,” and increase my willingness to go through with the Sacrament of Confession.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

“Buy the Book: Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics” book review on Catholic Alcoholic

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Number 9 over at Catholic Alcoholic has reviewed The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics, and she likes it!

You can read her review over here:

Buy the Book: Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics

(Via Catholic Alcoholic.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Online Video Conference Recovery Meetings

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Over at the Matt Talbot Way of Recovery Yahoo email discussion Group, I had floated the idea of having online video conference recovery meetings.

There seems to be some interest, and if any readers are also interested, kindly sign up as a member of the Matt Talbot Way of Recovery. Instructions on how to do that are in this post. Once approved, you can either start a post, or search for the “Online video conference meetings” thread and add your interest there.

If you’re not interested in joining, declare your interest in the comments section of this post, or on the Sober Catholic Facebook Page or Google+ Page.

Thank you!

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

St. Joseph

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Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the Patron and Protector of the Universal Church. In his role as husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, he is an excellent role model for us alcoholics.

Stjoseph
While not directly related to alcoholism and addiction, many of us grew up in dysfunctional families. I can exclude myself from this, my parents weren’t perfect, no one’s are, but I have no major complaints. Many were raised in trying circumstances and in varying methods of parental compassion and effectiveness. As a result many alcoholics and addicts do not know what it means to be raised in a good home, where everything is provided, including love and other emotional needs.

In 1964 Pope Paul VI gave a talk while in Nazareth in which he described the village where Jesus was raised by Joseph and Mary as a “school” by which we can gain much knowledge of an ideal family life merely by reflecting on how Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived. You can read his reflections here: Reflections on Nazareth.

(Via Papal Encyclicals.)

Those who have had less that stellar parenting while growing up can turn to Joseph and Mary. Page 86 of AA’s basic text, Alcoholics Anonymous offers a suggestion that as we go about our day, we may pause a while when faced with difficulty and ask God for help and direction. As the Church teaches that saints can have an intercessory role (much like when we ask each other to “please pray for me”) we can always quietly ask Joseph and Mary, “Please be a parent to me now, Joseph and Mary. The road I am on right now is difficult, I need the guidance that only a Mom and Dad can give.”

You can read more about St. Joseph at Catholic Online.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Parish WebStore

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I have added a new service to Sober Catholic, and that is adding affiliate links from the Parish Webstore to the sidebars. You can see them as you scroll down along each side, the nice blue on white logo.

I have replaced my old Amazon affiliate links with these. I have done this for several reasons: Parish WebStore is Catholic and Amazon isn’t; I make a greater commission on PWS sale versus Amazon; and I was selling diddlium squattum (Latin for “not much”) with Amazon.

Doug Venne, Sr., the founder of PWS bills the Parish WebStore as a Catholic alternative to Amazon. Whereas with Amazon you could look up Catholic subjects (like Mary and the Saints) there is no guarantee as to the authenticity of the Catholic work. It might not be orthodox, and it may even be a non-Catholic work with the intent on deceiving Catholics. One never knows. But with Parish WebStore, every book has to have a Nihil Obstat and an Imprimatur, thus certifying that it is authentic Catholic material.

I have several PWS affiliate links: those along the right-hand sidebar are linked to the “Addictions” section of PWS, those along the left: to the general store or specific subjects related to the block of links right around that affiliate link. So, right by the section of links on “The Catholic Church and the Bible,” there is an affiliate link that should take you to that section of the Parish WebStore that sells Catholic Bibles!

I’ll be tweaking the links today, as well as adding them to my other blogs: Paul Sofranko Dot Net and The Four Last Things. Every affiliate link should have something identifying it, but otherwise it should be related to the block of links above or below it. Nevertheless, once in the Parish WebStore, you can travel all about it.

Parish WebStore sells many things besides books and CDs. They also sell jewelry related to the Sacraments, such as First Holy Communion and Marriage. So, if you know anyone getting married within the next year, stop on in at the Parish WebStore through any of my affiliate links, make your way over to the jewelry section, and buy buy buy!!! 🙂

I would greatly appreciate it that when you do patronize the Parish WebStore, you do so through the links on any one of my blogs. It is an attempt to raise money for me. Most, if not all funds received will go to my site-hosting fees. If I can raise much more than what I need to keep these sites hosted and online, then the excess may go to other needs. It is a good way for Catholic bloggers to raise money for themselves.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Matt Talbot Facebook Page

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For those of you on Facebook, someone has created a Matt Talbot Facebook Page, about life of Venerable Matt Talbot.

Go and “Like” it!

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)