Catholicism WOW! …because our Catholic faith is so amazing.
For upcoming meeting topics and details, please scroll down.
WHAT IS CATHOLICISM WOW! ?
Given that many are unaware or distracted by misinformation or lack of information about Catholicism, we need to be explorers and companions. Come join other explorers as we seek to discover how our faith continues to survive and thrive 2,000+ years and counting, despite of human frailty and mistakes. But then, Jesus promised that the gates of Hell would not prevail over his church.
What kind of things do we discuss? In the past, we have watched and discussed Bishop Robert Barron’s video series on Catholicism, the Saints, and the Mass. We’ve also read and discussed the lives of the saints, our Pope’s writings, and have explored topics in the news, as well as protecting the environment, racial justice, participants’ experiences in and of Catholicism, and myriad other topics.
You are warmly invited to join our remote Catholicism WOW meetings via Zoom.
We will start at 7 pm every Wednesday via ZOOM. We stop at 8 pm.
Want to attend? Please tell us to add you to the guest list.
Signing up to get the link does not oblige you to attend the meeting, it just tells us you might attend some of the remote meetings. You can eat dinner during the meeting. You can arrive late. You can leave early. We are all supporting each other as we explore our amazing Catholic faith.
Please join us. We look forward to seeing you!
Yvette and Ned
Questions? Contact us
Yvette (925) 640-0024 yvetteniccolls@gmail.com
Ned (925) 209-1271 niccolls@comcast.net
7 pm April 16, 2025
“Honoring Activist Sophie Magdalena Scholl
"How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone who will give themselves up undividedly to a righteous cause?" said Sophie Scholl, who gave her life resisting the Nazi regime.
This week we will take a look at the life of this inspiring young woman. Also, we prepare ourselves for Easter and pray that Jesus will fill our hearts for love of God and neighbor.
Homework, if you have time and inclination:
1. Please read the Gospel scripture reading for Easter Vigil Saturday April 19 Luke 24: 1-12.
2. Please read Sister Joan Chittister's Lenten Guidebook pp. 22-24 about Sophia Magdalena Scholl.
3. Historians, you may be interested in the YouTube video "Sophie Scholl - The White Rose - WW2" which traces the rise of Hitler's ruthless regime with historical photos and film clips.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG8U8UydZNE. (19 min 12 sec)
4. Please read the attached article "No waivers for Catholic relief efforts: the devastating impacts of the end of USAID" from America - the Jesuit Review
5. If you participated in Busy Person's Retreat, please attend the meeting after the 10 AM Mass on Sunday April 13 in the Hecker Room.
Discussion Questions:
1. What would it be like to find the tomb empty as these women did in Luke 24?
2. Sister Joan says "we need a passion for life, a surge of gratitude so deep that we will do whatever it takes to guarantee the fullness of life for the entire world". What does Sophie Scholl have to say to you this Easter season about "giving new life"?
3. Tell us about your Lenten journey.
4. Imagine you were transported in time to the start of Lent next year. A new Catholic asks you "what Lenten practices can you recommend that will really help me make the most of Lent?" What would you say?
Gospel
At daybreak on the first day of the week
the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus
took the spices they had prepared
and went to the tomb.
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb;
but when they entered,
they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were puzzling over this, behold,
two men in dazzling garments appeared to them.
They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground.
They said to them,
"Why do you seek the living one among the dead?
He is not here, but he has been raised.
Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee,
that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners
and be crucified, and rise on the third day."
And they remembered his words.
Then they returned from the tomb
and announced all these things to the eleven
and to all the others.
The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James;
the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles,
but their story seemed like nonsense
and they did not believe them.
But Peter got up and ran to the tomb,
bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone;
then he went home amazed at what had happened.
Guillotine execution of a student who defied Hitler - Sophie Scholl - The White Rose - WW2
ZOOM Info LINK:
Topic: 4-16-2025 Catholicism WOW - honoring activist Sophie Magdalena Scholl activist
Time: Apr 16, 2025 07:00 PM to 08:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84812422876?pwd=a5bmp74xSCVUSPBa0y27I6vSWe0EfX.1
Meeting ID: 848 1242 2876
Passcode: 718875