Tenth Anniversary of my consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today marks the 10th anniversary of my consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary by way of the method according to St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe. And so, I am a member of his Militia of the Immaculata.

I do believe that being in the MI has been a major bulwark of my Faith. Along with all the usual practices of my Faith, such as frequent Mass, Confession and daily prayer, being a part of the MI strengthens my Faith experience. I am united in daily prayers to thousands of MI’s about the world, and I am a part of an apostolate that has as its roots the idea of spreading the Gospel message by a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary was the conduit by which Jesus came into the world, and Mary can be the guide and patroness of those who work out the Gospel in their day-to-day lives.

St. Maximilian Kolbe used the latest means of his times to spread the Gospel, and we Catholics today have access to technology that was unimaginable to him. Every individual Catholic with a home computer has access to software that can outmatch anything that he had in his entire “City of the Immaculate” publishing center in Poland. That astonishing fact makes you wonder how well we use the means at our disposal.

 

Are you a creative Catholic? ""Building a Civilization of Love: A Call to Creative Catholics," is my new book exhorting Catholics to apply their faith to change the culture for the better!

Know someone who is an alcoholic or addict? "The Sober Catholic Way" helps Catholics by describing the many ways in which their faith can assist in maintaining sobriety, and is a basic handbook on how anyone can live a sober life. . (Thank you!!)

Official Launch Day tomorrow

Official launch day for this site is tomorrow, Sept 1st, 2012!!! No prizes, balloons or anything. Just felt like posting.

Are you a creative Catholic? ""Building a Civilization of Love: A Call to Creative Catholics," is my new book exhorting Catholics to apply their faith to change the culture for the better!

Know someone who is an alcoholic or addict? "The Sober Catholic Way" helps Catholics by describing the many ways in which their faith can assist in maintaining sobriety, and is a basic handbook on how anyone can live a sober life. . (Thank you!!)

The Mad Robin (with updates!)

NOTE: All of the posts in August 2012 on Paul Sofranko Dot Net will be reposts from an earlier attempt at a general writing blog. New material will start appearing in September. These first few days are just “moving in” and “setting up”. However, this particular post on the robin I almost didn’t bother carrying over as it is dated (it was originally posted in March 2012). But I changed my mind as it’s funny. UPDATE: the robin in question never really bothered Rose again. There ended up being 3 nests about the house, and the various robin families raised at least 3 broods.)

I am outdoors. It is near 11AM and I am sitting on a patio chair situated outside our bedroom window. I am doing this because my wife Rose had insomnia last night, and just after she had gotten to sleep at 7AM she was awakened by a robin hurtling itself constantly at our bedroom window. And so I am out here, in the great outdoors, defending my wife and home against a wild robin.

Rose has a history with robins. In 2010 she placed a ladder up against the side of the house right near one of their nests so she can take photos of their newborn. The robins took issue with this and dive-bombed her. They haven’t forgotten as they have maintained this attitude towards her ever since. I am not making this up, they do seem to be rather attitudinal when she is about outside and this morning is no different (in spite of the fact that our bedroom is inside the house, as is traditional for humans).

They have apparently discovered behind which window we sleep, and are escalating their vendetta against my lovely bride. (It focuses its attack on the window overlooking Rose’s side of the bed.)

It will be an interesting Spring/Summer.

As a side note, I do love the fact that I can just go outside and blather away online on my MacBook. The novelty of portable computing is still with me. I don’t care if that sounds archaic in this mobile society with smartphones everywhere and laptops and tablets taking over from the desktop. This is freakin’ kewl. To be outside in the trees with a laptop, the contrast between nature and technology is nice. Reminds me of MSNBC in the 1990’s, with their high-tech computers everywhere on wood (probably oak) desks.

All I need now is for a robin to poop on my MacBook.

UPDATE: The robin attacked again this morning. (Thursday the 8th) I never noticed as I slept through it. It also helped that the attack did not last long. Rose placed a stuffed bear in the window. The robin fled. So, our bedroom is guarded by a bear. 🙂

UPDATE 2: It is now Monday, and no robin has disturbed us since Saturday. There are 2 stuffed teddy bears, and a flattened aluminum turkey roaster thing duct-taped to the window. Apparently it is enough to convince the idiot robin to not try and attack the window.

Are you a creative Catholic? ""Building a Civilization of Love: A Call to Creative Catholics," is my new book exhorting Catholics to apply their faith to change the culture for the better!

Know someone who is an alcoholic or addict? "The Sober Catholic Way" helps Catholics by describing the many ways in which their faith can assist in maintaining sobriety, and is a basic handbook on how anyone can live a sober life. . (Thank you!!)

Sober Catholic Books on Facebook and Google+

My books, The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics and The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts now share a Page on Facebook and Google+ entitled “Sober Catholic Books”:

SoberCatholicBooks on Facebook and Sober Catholic Books on Google+

I have decided that it would be easier to promote and market them if they shared a page, rather than each having their own as they have up until this point.

As there will be other books, I figure that it is best to consolidate them now.

“Plus” them and “Like” them!

I am working on a 10 Commandments book. I do not know when the completion date is yet.

NOTE: All of the posts in August 2012 on Paul Sofranko Dot Net will be reposts from an earlier attempt at a general writing blog. New material will start appearing in September. These first few days are just “moving in” and “setting up”.

Are you a creative Catholic? ""Building a Civilization of Love: A Call to Creative Catholics," is my new book exhorting Catholics to apply their faith to change the culture for the better!

Know someone who is an alcoholic or addict? "The Sober Catholic Way" helps Catholics by describing the many ways in which their faith can assist in maintaining sobriety, and is a basic handbook on how anyone can live a sober life. . (Thank you!!)

“Author offers two Catholic takes on recovery” : The Catholic Sun of the Diocese of Phoenix reviews my two books

The The Catholic Sun, newspaper of the Diocese of Phoenix, AZ has written 2 reviews of my books, The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics and The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts.

Robert Curtis is the reviewer. According to the Sun’s bio of him, he is “a life-professed Lay Dominican, is the author of 17 books, holds a master’s in creative writing, teaches composition at the University of Phoenix and creative writing at Rio Salado College.”

One of my favorite passages: “Sofranko, a recovering alcoholic himself, has added one more element to the whole scheme of fighting addiction — hope. While many or even most self-help books suggest that we are the only ones capable of fixing our brokenness simply by reading the book, Sofranko elevates the place of prayer in the healing process and reminds readers of the necessity of relying on God for the grace to overcome our addictions.”

More good stuff can be found at the review, right here: Author offers two Catholic takes on recovery

(Via The Catholic Sun.)

NOTE: All of the posts in August 2012 on Paul Sofranko Dot Net will be reposts from an earlier attempt at a general writing blog. New material will start appearing in September. These first few days are just “moving in” and “setting up”.

Are you a creative Catholic? ""Building a Civilization of Love: A Call to Creative Catholics," is my new book exhorting Catholics to apply their faith to change the culture for the better!

Know someone who is an alcoholic or addict? "The Sober Catholic Way" helps Catholics by describing the many ways in which their faith can assist in maintaining sobriety, and is a basic handbook on how anyone can live a sober life. . (Thank you!!)

Writing After Darkness Falls

I have noticed that I seem to be more focused on writing after the sun sets. Perhaps it is because I’ve worked second shift in a day job since early 2008, but perhaps not.

Maybe there is just something about when darkness falls that enables me to actually zone in on writing more so than in the daylight. When the sun is shining (or even when it is a rainy, melancholic day like today was) I seem to prefer either reading or going outside to do things.

I suppose I should just roll with it and accept that that is what is.

NOTE: All of the posts in August 2012 on Paul Sofranko Dot Net will be reposts from an earlier attempt at a general writing blog. New material will start appearing in September. These first few days are just “moving in” and “setting up”.

Are you a creative Catholic? ""Building a Civilization of Love: A Call to Creative Catholics," is my new book exhorting Catholics to apply their faith to change the culture for the better!

Know someone who is an alcoholic or addict? "The Sober Catholic Way" helps Catholics by describing the many ways in which their faith can assist in maintaining sobriety, and is a basic handbook on how anyone can live a sober life. . (Thank you!!)

Amazon Reviews: The Connected Church: A Tech Guide For Church Leaders & Parishioners by Brad West

I just posted a review on Amazon for Brad West’s new book entitled:

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: The Connected Church: A Tech Guide For Church Leaders & Parishioners

(Via Amazon.)

It is, in short, an excellent primer and guide for pastors and parishioners who need such a handy tool to help decide on technology for the parish and how to use online strategies to evangelize and build an online presence.

The Connected Church

NOTE: All of the posts in August 2012 on Paul Sofranko Dot Net will be reposts from an earlier attempt at a general writing blog. New material will start appearing in September. These first few days are just “moving in” and “setting up”.

Are you a creative Catholic? ""Building a Civilization of Love: A Call to Creative Catholics," is my new book exhorting Catholics to apply their faith to change the culture for the better!

Know someone who is an alcoholic or addict? "The Sober Catholic Way" helps Catholics by describing the many ways in which their faith can assist in maintaining sobriety, and is a basic handbook on how anyone can live a sober life. . (Thank you!!)

On Suffering, Writing and being a Catholic Writer

One time when I was driving around I heard something on the radio about how “nothing bad ever happens to writers” because what other people call “bad” is just “material” for writers.

On other words, if something bad happens to you, use it in some writing project. Take advantage of the bad and transform it into something good.

This reminded me of how we as Catholics are supposed to view suffering: to accept them all as an opportunity to share in the sufferings of Christ on Calvary and become more closer to Him. To paraphrase Jesus in Matthew 16:24; “If you wish to be my disciple take up your Cross and follow me.”

Well, then it seems as if the best way for a Catholic to cope with the meanness of life is to be a writer (or some other artistic person). The bad things that happen to you are to be seen as necessary for your Salvation (See the “If you wish…” quote above) and as material for creative projects. There also lies the possibility of adding the command of “preach the Gospel to all Nations.” Use your suffering to unite with Christ and for material for projects and to show how this is the Gospel in action.

This doesn’t mean preaching literally the Gospel, but to paraphrase something originally attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel, if necessary, use fiction.”

NOTE: All of the posts in August 2012 on Paul Sofranko Dot Net will be reposts from an earlier attempt at a general writing blog. New material will start appearing in September. These first few days are just “moving in” and “setting up”.

Are you a creative Catholic? ""Building a Civilization of Love: A Call to Creative Catholics," is my new book exhorting Catholics to apply their faith to change the culture for the better!

Know someone who is an alcoholic or addict? "The Sober Catholic Way" helps Catholics by describing the many ways in which their faith can assist in maintaining sobriety, and is a basic handbook on how anyone can live a sober life. . (Thank you!!)

Welcome to this Journey

Welcome to “Paul Sofranko Dot Net”, my “Home on the Web”. It isn’t my first one in the blogosphere outside of my regular sobriety and spirituality blogs, but this will be it, for whatever it’s worth! I have tried this twice before, but abandoned them after a short while. Such are things.

I am a Catholic writer, meaning that I write in a Catholic-frame-of-mind. My stuff may not be overtly Catholic, but there hopefully should be a Catholic feel and sensibility to it.

My name is Paul Sofranko (hence the blog’s name, catchy, eh?), and I am also a sober alcoholic. I have other blogs devoted to sobriety: Sober Catholic and The Four Last Things. This place is to be a site where I can write and post things that are not applicable to those blogs.

“This journey,” as per the title of this initial post, is just my “primary” online venture, a recording and repository of creative efforts, meditations, musings and meanderings. Snippets of writing and poetry may appear here. I have an avocation to write (fiction and freelance) and this may be a sounding board. “Primary,” inasmuch as my fiction, poetry, freelance and overall ramblings will be general in nature, not subject to the focus that my older blogs have.

Anyway, that’s it for now. Until later. 🙂

NOTE: All of the posts in August 2012 on Paul Sofranko Dot Net will be reposts from an earlier attempt at a general writing blog. New material will start appearing in September. These first few days are just “moving in” and “setting up”.

Are you a creative Catholic? ""Building a Civilization of Love: A Call to Creative Catholics," is my new book exhorting Catholics to apply their faith to change the culture for the better!

Know someone who is an alcoholic or addict? "The Sober Catholic Way" helps Catholics by describing the many ways in which their faith can assist in maintaining sobriety, and is a basic handbook on how anyone can live a sober life. . (Thank you!!)