Mark Shea on "The Nativity"

Mixed review includes high marks for Joseph and Herod portrayals, disappointment over a Protestant vision of Mary.

A Christmas Classic from Brazil

A Christmas Tale: Jose's Sandals by Paulo Coelho

Jesuit Priest Concedes Loss of Christmas

"Let's just concede Christmas defeat" by James Martin, SJ

Parousian Leadership and Expansion

Many of you may be aware of groups at University of Florida and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette joining the original Parousians of LSU. Indiana University has a Parousians group in the works. We are constantly pushing to network like minded Catholic scholars with a sacramental vision. The Parousians are growing, and that means taking on formal structure to ensure stability and continuity as we grow. Be certain that it does not mean we will ever quit being what brought us together in the first place: a community of friends united in militant charity and fidelity to Truth.

The Parousians see an importance in having local groups at different schools manage their own affairs while having a central leadership structure maintain the original vision of the group, pool resources for intercampus events, promote expansion onto other campuses, and seek new opportunities to evangelize the academy at large.

The Parousian Leadership Council will serve the big picture needs of our growing group. The Parousian Leadership Council is Toby Danna, Ryan Hallford, Caleb Bernacchio, Emily Byers, Angela Miceli, Will Newman, and Paul Catalanatto.

The Parousian Guard will continue to manage all the details of the LSU chapter, as will emerging Parousian Guards at other campuses. The LSU Parousians, having a small abundance of resources, realizes its incredible responsibility to help the new Parousians as they form their chapters.



If you do not know these people, you will learn more about them in the coming year. Please pray for all of the Parousians as we continue this work.

Does a JPII Statue Violate Separation of Church and State?

Following a link from the New Oxford Review, we learn of this debacle in France over a statue of John Paul II and whether or not it violates separation of church and state. Since the Parousians are not stereotypical ugly Americans and because we would never seek to impose our will on the French, we simply ask, have the American people violated our own Constitution by creating a national holiday to recognize the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., another religious leader who made an outstanding political contribution to the world through his advocacy of human rights? Is there a difference between the separation of church and state and the exclusion of people of faith from public discourse and civic recognition? Doesn't this exclusion indicate a hostile position taken by the state towards those who profess religion? Does the current secular concept of freedom of religion reduce those who exercise that freedom to the status of a second class citizen in everything else, especially if their faith informs all their public actions? The Parousians await a French response.

Maclin Horton on the Liberal Conservative

Maclin Horton has an interesting discussion happening on his blog Light on Dark Water. The topic is the liberal conservative. Why a Christian can be a "liberal conservative" but not a "conservative liberal", the difference between the "liberal conservative" and the Catholic neoconservative, and Alasdair MacIntyre's call for a new Benedictine revival all get some treatment in the discussion. So far, he has two posts on the topic, and they are linked below:

The Liberal Conservative (1)

The Liberal Conservative (1a)

Bill Cork on Apocalypto: "A Catholic Masterpiece"

Bill Cork, a friend of the Parousians and thr Director of Young Adults and Campus Ministry for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston offers this insightful review of Mel Gibson's Apocalypto. Several Parousians were overwhelmed by the stunning visual storytelling in the film, and many of Cork's points found their way into our dinner conversation.

Mad Mel's Magnificent Catholic Masterpiece

Notre Dame Professor on Academic Freedom

Founding Parousian Paul Catalanatto offers us this piece from Gary Anderson, a professor of theology at Notre Dame.

Academic Freedom: Is It Really Free, and Is It Really Academic?

Paul Cat on Stephen Colbert's "Truthiness" as Word of the Year

Founding Parousian Paul Catalanatto comments on the reason Merriam-Webster chose "truthiness."

Tobias Danna on Our Lady of Guadalupe and Catholic Evangelism

Since tomorrow is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we offer a piece from the Daily Reveille archives done by founding Parousian Tobias Danna. All of us look forward to seeing Toby in his Our Lady of Guadalupe trucker cap on the feast day of the Patroness of the Americas and the unborn.

What I Saw in Old Catholic Mexico: The Eucharist, the Virgin and Faith

Pope Benedict is Smoking!

Something About the Pope Reminds Us of Elijah

Archbishop Jose Gomez on Prayer

We Live as We Pray

"Saint Gregory of Nazianzus had an expression that should make us think: 'We must remember God more often than we draw breath.'

This sentence may seem radical, but it reflects Jesus’ example and teaching regarding prayer: praying is not a 'duty' that we have to 'fulfill,' it is above all a need of the human spirit, which needs prayer just as the body needs food: without it, the soul dies of starvation."

Emily Byers to Continue Work as Columnist at the Daily Reveille

We have some excellent news to announce. The Daily Reveille has decided to keep on our very own Emily Byers. Her columns have been incredible and eloquent testimonies to the truth and it is a great joy to know that she has the oppurtunity to continue to write. So be sure to take a moment in your prayers to say a prayer of thanksgiving and a prayer for Emily as she continues her good work.

Coming to the Checkers on Sunday

The white flag is waving as we speed almost as fast as Dale Earnhardt Jr. towards the end of the semester. But before the checkered flag drops we will take one more turn around the track with each other as we watch the movie "Shadowlands" which stars Anthony Hopkins as C.S. "Jack" Lewis as he goes through his relationship with Joy Gresham. This movie provides a wonderful finale for the semester as it addresses many of the themes we have discussed this semester, so if you want to take a pit stop from finals, come to Ryan Hallford's residence at 8 o'clock this Sunday. Ryan lives at 4463 Tupello St and directions can be obtained by calling (504)-952-0247.

Paul Cat's "Be a Catholic" and His Review of Thrill of the Chaste

A funny yet saddening satire from founding Parousian Paul Catalanatto on his blog. You'll have to scroll down a little bit to find it.

Let Us Be Catholic

Paul has also done a review on Dawn Eden's Thrill of the Chaste so check that out as well.

Paul on Dawn Eden's Thrill of the Chaste

St. Nicholas

On the feast of St. Nicholas, Warren Throckmorton reflects on one of the stories of St. Nicholas and how we have not grown far from the same problems that St. Nicholas fought. This was found following a link from the New Oxford Review

St. Nicholas Fought Prostitution

Pregnancy Problem Center needs help

From Julie Orr, Baton Rouge's Respect Life Coordinator:

Dear Friends of Life,

The Pregnancy Problem Center needs help. The PPC assists over 200 women a month. One of their staff members who worked two full days a week is out due to her husband's illness (cancer). They are having a difficult time filling in for her, especially at this busy time of year. They could really use more volunteers. Please consider giving ½ day a week to this ministry or whatever time you can give. Anyone can volunteer. They provide the training. Their hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please call 924-1400 for more information.

Please pass this message on to family and friends who may be able to help.

Thank you for all you do to support respect for all human life from conception to natural death.

God bless,


Julie M. Orr
Respect Life Coordinator
Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge

Emily Byers on the Fetal Pain Bill

I'm having a hard time writing this post. I can't decide whether to describe Parousian Emily Byers' latest column as being chiefly "incredible," "amazing," or "unbelievably awesome." This is Emily's last column of the semester, and she ended the semester by turning in one of her best columns (and if you've been reading her columns all semester, you know how high that praise is). So defintely take the time to read it, and make sure to check back in on it to see if the discussion gets lively again. If you've enjoyed reading Emily's columns, be sure to pray for her so that she may continue to be allowed to proclaim the faith in the Daily Reveille next semester.

Emily Byers on the Fetal Pain Abortion Legislation

If you've missed any of Emily's columns, this is the page that contains links to all of her columns during this semester.

Emily Byers writing for the Daily Reveille

Dawn Eden's "Thrill of the Chaste"

If you're looking for Christmas presents, for someone else or just yourself, consider Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your Clothes On from noted Catholic blogger Dawn Eden. She has plugged Parousian Emily Byers and linked to our blog, so we're glad for this opportunity to recognize her as well. So take a look at this book if you need to scratch off another name on the Christmas list.

Thrill of the Chaste from amazon.com

Dawn Eden's blog

University of Florida Parousians

Apparently the University of Florida had a tremendous night last night. Not only was the football team invited to the BCS Title game, more importantly the first meeting of the University of Florida branch of the Parousians was held! Congratulations to the Gators for starting the group, and we will certainly be keeping them in our prayers. If anyone is interested in starting a Parousians group at another university, we'd love to help you out. Simply contact parousians@gmail.com for information and the like. The UL branch should be up and running soon under the directorship of Sarah Metz, so we're looking forward to that. So if everyone could keep the Parousians and its expansion in their prayers, we'd appreciate it.