Deacon Michael L. Russo was ordained to the Diaconate in 2010 in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, PA and is the Associate Director of Diaconal Formation and the Ministerial Coordinator of Adult Enrichment and Lay Ecclesial Ministry for the Diocese. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Sacred Scripture and Systematic Theology from St. Vincent Seminary where he serves as a member of the Adjunct Faculty. He and his wife Nancy reside in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Jesus: His Story in Stone is a reflection on still-existing stone objects that Jesus would have known, seen, or even touched. Each of the seventy short chapters is accompanied by a photograph taken on location in Israel. Arranged chronologically, the one-page meditations compose a portrait of Christ as seen through the significant stones in His life, from the cave where He was born to the rock of Calvary. While packed with historical and archaeological detail, the book’s main thrust is devotional, leading the reader both spiritually and physically closer to Jesus.
'My whole life, it's been assumed, Western civilisation is an old bitch gone in the teeth. And so people say, go to Israel. Because in Israel at least people are fighting. In Israel, they're fighting for something they believe in.' Via DolorosaIn 1997, after many invitations, the 50-year-old British playwright resolved finally to visit the 50-year-old State of Israel. The resulting play, written to be performed by the author himself, offers a meditation on an extraordinary trip to both Israel and the Palestinian territory, which leaves Hare questioning his own values as searchingly as the powerful beliefs of those he met. Accompanying Via Dolorosa is the 1996 lecture When Shall We Live?, which also addresses questions of art and faith. Originally given in Westminster Abbey as the Eric Symes Memorial Lecture, it attracted record correspondence when an abridged version was published in the Daily Telegraph.
Following the success of his latest novel, Travis Glasgow and his wife Jodie buy their first house in the seemingly idyllic western Maryland town of Westlake. At first, everything is picture perfect—from the beautiful lake behind the house to the rebirth of the friendship between Travis and his brother, Adam, who lives nearby. Travis also begins to overcome the darkness of his childhood and the guilt he’s harbored since his younger brother’s death—a tragic drowning veiled in mystery that has plagued Travis since he was 13. Soon, though, the new house begins to lose its allure. Strange noises wake Travis at night, and his dreams are plagued by ghosts. Barely glimpsed shapes flit through the darkened hallways, but strangest of all is the bizarre set of wooden stairs that rises cryptically out of the lake behind the house. Travis becomes drawn to the structure, but the more he investigates, the more he uncovers the house’s violent and tragic past, and the more he learns that some secrets cannot be buried forever.
"John McDonough, through his poetry and words, has the unique gift of reconciling the redemptive gift of God with the trials associated with the human condition. His words are transforming and powerful beyond measure." -- Bob Ladouceur, Religious Studies Instructor, Football Coach, De La Salle High School. "A Pieta in Poetic Form" You will never look at the Stations of the Cross the same way. These beautiful sonnets tell the story of Jesus' passion and death from the perspective of Jesus, His loved ones, and those witnessing events unfold. Rather than focusing on the specific details of the crucifixion, though these details are included, they focus on the symbolism and meaning of each event. This evokes the emotional impact of the moment in a way that makes each event more real and contemporary. You feel as if you have been transported back 2000 years, walking the path with Jesus and his Mother. "John McDonough's sonnets employ a rare and difficult verse form, the heroic crown of sonnets, to offer a moving contemporary perspective on the traditional Catholic devotion of the Way of the Cross. The rich language and evocative drawings invite us to reflect on the Passion of Christ, and on the constant presence of sin and grace in our own lives." ---Father Michael G. Ryan, St. James Cathedral, Seattle These moving and beautiful Stations of the Cross were created in the form of a Heroic Crown of Sonnets. The Heroic Crown of Sonnets is a challenging type of poetry. The first line of each sonnet is tied to the last line of the preceding sonnet. The fifteenth sonnet consists of the first line of each of the proceeding fourteen sonnets. The accompanying art adds a moving visual dimension. The poet has personally walked the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, and has a powerful ability to make profound connections between key social justice issues of today and the suffering experienced by Jesus Christ. Drawing from life experiences to which many can relate, he presents some of the most moving meditations on the Stations that you will ever read, making the stations and Christ's journey compelling for readers today. The sonnets reflect and meditate on themes in response to Christ's life that resonate with themes we have heard voiced by our beloved new Pope Francis. They comfort those who are mourning loss: loss of life, loss of strength and ability in a family member, the loss of faith in our world when we witness blatant and overpowering injustice, by drawing parallels to Christ's suffering, and the suffering of the people and family who witnessed this. How painful it is when those we love grow weak and fall, when those we love are treated unjustly. The author portrays the deeply felt suffering of Jesus' mother Virgin Mary in ways emotionally evocative of the Pieta. Jesus' love for the women who witnessed his walk to the crucifixion shines through as well as his gentle but painful acceptance of his fate. We see Mary as a mother who must endure watching her beloved son's death, and the compassionate Christ feeling her grief more sharply than His own. A 91-year old recent widow, who lost a son years ago to a tragic accident, commented "I just completed reading the sonnets of the Cross, and I am blown away by the depth and beauty of them. I will read them every day of Lent." The illustrations evoke a rare depth of emotion, a connection to the space and time that brings us into the scene. They were created for this book by David McDonough, the author's brother, who is a Vietnam veteran, and an accomplished artist living in Longview, WA. The Sonnets add a new, evocative, and compassionate perspective to your experience of walking with Jesus on the road to Calvary. The Stations of the Cross are a devotion during the Lenten season that precedes Easter Sunday.
The Gospels record Jesus' last days leading up to his crucifixion, but how attentive are we to the details of the account? Varner focuses carefully on the details of the Gospels that we often overlook. This lively and carefully nuanced account of the Passion Week will bring you to a renewed sense of devotion for the Savior.
Jim Ricketts desperately needed to find Christmas. After all, every pastor has to tell the familiar story every December. But this year, Jim had nothing left to say. Truth was, he wasn't even sure if he liked Christmas anymore.Then a friend asked Jim if he'd ever noticed the first detail in the Bible's account of Christmas. Thousands of miles later, Jim had discovered more than he'd ever dreamed possible. And best of all, he finally found Christmas.It's a fictional story about the very real world of Herod the Great and his iron-fisted rule over Judea. It's a readable way to encounter an amazing amount of new background material on one of the Bible's most familiar stories.
Imagine a group of kids on the floor of a gym, or filling a classroom, or on a weekend retreat, praying in a whole new way--so silently that you can hear a pin drop! It happens everyday with Praying in Color.
