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Nancy Piccione

Meet a Reader: Deacon Wendell Lowry {@TheCatholicPost}

May 17, 2018 by Nancy Piccione

Following is the “Meet a Reader” feature that appears in the current print edition of The Catholic Post.

How you know me:

In May 2017 I was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Peoria and serve as both Deacon and Business Manager for the four churches in Logan County.  I am the oldest of 6 (5 boys and 1 girl).  I was born in Mt. Lebanon, PA (a suburb of Pittsburgh) and grew up in Ohio and I am a lifelong Cleveland Indians fan.  This year my wife Brenda and I will celebrate our 37th anniversary.  We have two sons, one married and living in East Providence, Rhode Island, and one living in Lincoln.  We were blessed to add our first grandchild to our family just two months ago; his name is Lincoln.

Why I love reading:

My parents were a huge influence on me and I think for that reason I have always loved reading.  I love to learn, and I am wired in such a way that it is important for me to know the background (who, what, where and how) of something to better understand the why.

What I’m reading now:

I am currently reading The Case for Jesus by Dr. Brant Pitre, Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacques Philippe, and The Battle for Leyte Gulf: The Incredible Story of World War II’s Largest Naval Battle, by C. Vann Woodward. I also just completed two books on World War I (A World Undone and The World Remade) written by G. J. Meyer.  In The Case for Jesus and Interior Freedom, I am able to learn and to grow in my faith and in my relationship with Jesus Christ which is by far the most important thing that I can do.  Sadly, the history of the world and war are intertwined, and it is through these books that I gain a greater understanding of the why (why war? why this battle? why this general or admiral? etc.…etc…).  I also enjoy reading about the key men and women involved and the decision-making processes that they used and finally the valor of those who fought the battles.

My favorite book:

The Miracle of Father Kapaun: Priest, Soldier and Korean War Hero by Travis Heying and The Grunt Padre, The Service and Sacrifice of Fr. Vincent Robert Capodanno, Vietnam 1966-1967 by Fr. Daniel Mode.

These two books address the heroic virtues of two men – both of whom have been declared “Servants of God” – who volunteered to serve as Catholic Chaplains in combat, one in Korea and the other in Vietnam.  They are my favorites because they address both the relationships these men had with Jesus Christ and with the men whom they served on the field of battle.  Both books address the historical aspects of battles that each man participated in and further addressed how these men made the Sacraments and themselves available to the men they served and how each Priest gave their life for others.  Everything I love about reading is wrapped up in these two books. And reading The Grunt Padre was meaningful for me because Fr. Capodanno and my Uncle were friends and served as Chaplains together in Vietnam.

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What Moms Need {My May column @TheCatholicPost }

May 15, 2018 by Nancy Piccione

Following is my column that appears in the current print edition of The Catholic Post.

More than a decade ago, as a younger homeschooling mom, I became enchanted with the concept of the “Rule of Six,” coined by homeschooling mom and author Melissa Wiley.

Wiley suggested six things that every child should have access to every day: good books; imaginative play; encounters with beauty (art, music, the natural world); ideas to ponder and discuss; meaningful work; and prayer.

I remember thinking at the time that moms need all those things too, and how great it would be to try to incorporate them. But that can be so difficult in our fast-paced world, even more so for moms than for children.

In our incarnational Catholic life, we have an advantage in achieving nearly all of those areas. And two new books for moms offer ideas to ponder and discuss, in the context of prayer and the beauty of our faith.

Good Enough is Good Enough: Confessions of an Imperfect Catholic Mom by Colleen Duggan is a well-written, supportive, and realistic look at Catholic motherhood.

Duggan, a longtime writer for several Catholic websites and publications, writes about the value of self-care, the danger of judging, and the importance of an active prayer life, among other values, to mothers of all kinds, especially younger mothers.

The center of the book, is, of course, the five “confessions” in which Duggan explains each: “I don’t know how to master motherhood;” “I don’t always take care of myself as I should”; “I don’t know how to keep my kids Catholic”; I don’t like watching my children suffer,” and “I sometimes compare myself with other parents.”

What mother, or what parent, has not felt one of these “confessions,” sometimes all at once? Duggan’s relatable stories, failings (she writes, “I was never the poster woman for serenity before I had children …”), and how she works to accept herself is refreshing and encouraging for all moms. And viewing those through the lens of faith is both poignant and edifying.

For instance, the conclusion, in which Duggan describes “the theology of the donkey,” and how the humble donkey was called to do great things:

“(This) is the lesson of the donkey for me, for all of us: Jesus wants us, the loud, braying, imperfect asses we are, to go where he calls us. He wants us to carry this his load, to do the work of bringing others to him; and we can only compete this task, of course, if we abandon our “perfect” plans and the baggage that weighs us down. We must learn—just like that donkey did—to submit ourselves to him.”

Each chapter ends with a closing prayer, and a short list of discussion questions to allow for personal reflection or for group reading. These are great questions to ponder, or even if not in a formal group to read together, to discuss with fellow moms.

For new and expectant moms—and not just first-time moms—there is  Made for This: The Catholic Mom’s Guide to Birth  by Mary Haseltine.

 When I was pregnant with our first, and my husband and I were just a “teeny bit” nervous about .. oh, everything related to pregnancy and birth, especially not being able to see our baby … I had a conversation with a friend in which I actually said— and meant— the words, “I can’t wait until this baby is born so we can stop worrying.”

She very kindly, but loudly, laughed in my face, as birth marks the beginning of a lifetime of care and concern for your children. There’s a saying that to become a mother is to forever have your heart go walking around outside your body.”

When I was expecting many years ago, I had such concerns about pregnancy and birth that I read What to Expect When You’re Expecting and tried to follow all of its recommendations. Online advice was blessedly not very available, but if it had back then I’m sure I would have read tons of blog posts and mommy blogs so I’d know just what to expect and how to handle every possible thing that could happen to me or my baby.

But what I really needed was a more holistic resource, to help me cope with not just the physical changes that my body was undergoing, but the miracle that is pregnancy and motherhood, and how that changes everything about one’s life, marriage, and spirituality.

How I wish I had had a book that looked basically like Made for This.

This book, by a theologian and birth doula (non-medical helper who assists a mother during pregnancy and labor), offers so much of what my first-time fears needed to hear. It also provides a wider scope—for moms of all kinds, not just first-time parents— for understanding the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual challenges that pregnancy and motherhood entails.

Sensibly, the book is its even-handed approach to all kinds of approaches to pregnancy, labor, and birth, instead of a “one size fits all” plan of how one “must” bring a baby into the world. There is no one, specific, Catholic way to be pregnant and birth children.

Some especially good chapters in Made for This include “The Birth of a Father,” “Your Birth Team,” and the lovely “Born in Grace: Birth Stories from Catholic Moms.”

Haseltine writes in the introduction, “May you and your baby be blessed with a healthy, happy, and yes, holy birth.” “Made for This” is a book that goes a long way towards making that happen.

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“Achilles Won’t Take a Bath” Charming New Picture Book by Teenage Author

April 17, 2018 by Nancy Piccione

I thought my headline was both descriptive and engaging. Also, the teenager in question is my middle daughter, so you can imagine I’m very proud.

We just received her review copies in the mail today, and so she gave me permission to share it. I will take some photos of inside pages and more details of how she decided to write and illustrate it, to share on this post  later, but dinner prep awaits…

From the description of Achilles Won’t Take a Bath: 

Introduce a new generation to Homer’s Iliad in this epic inspired children’s book! Read along with Achilles and his teddy bear Patroclus as they deal with bathtime in this charming retelling. Written by a student of the classics, each illustration contains references to the Iliad – which makes this book great for adults as well! With endearing drawings, and amusing characters, this book is an excellent modern twist on an ancient tale.

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“Life Everlasting” A Great Resource for New & Veteran Catholics {My April column @TheCatholicPost}

April 14, 2018 by Nancy Piccione

Following is my column that appears in the current print edition of The Catholic Post.

Most of us have friends, acquaintances, or family members in our community or parish who join the Catholic Church at Easter. And I know I have wondered, as do many others, what would be a good gift for a new Catholic this Easter.

A brand-new book would make a great choice: it’s Life Everlasting: Catholic Devotions and Mysteries for the Everyday Seeker by Gary Jansen.

But Life Everlasting is not just for new members of the Church— longtime Catholics and seekers interested in the Catholic faith would also find much value and interest here.

Gary Jansen, the editor of Image Books, the Catholic book imprint of The Crown Publishing Group, has written a deeply personal, as well as far-reaching book. It’s not just a book about his own life and evolution as a Catholic, but also a relatively comprehensive field guide to Catholic practice, belief, and devotions.

Jansen has a polished narrative style that is entertaining without being contrived. His book is part memoir, part instructional work in living a rich life as a Catholic believer. The book is replete with Scripture and quotes from the saints.

The book is divided into three parts. The first “The Awakening,” covers the journey ones go through to come to faith; “The Path” outlines a deceptively simple and rich seven-step path to living a Christian life; and “The Devotions” offers a range of prayers, observances, and other ways to connect with God.

“The Awakening” is a short introduction to the book, that explains both why a faith life is significant, and explaining the organizing of the remaining book.

“The Path” lists seven steps to grow in faith life: 1)be childlike; 2) focus your mind & heart; 3) make the sign (about the Sign of the Cross); 4) say the Lord’s Prayer; 5) ask, seek, knock (about trusting prayers of petition); 6) cultivate silence; and 7) give your life away (service to God and others). Each chapter/step in this section gives good examples, based on the lives of the saints as well as Jensen’s own experience. “Cultivate Silence” is an especially good chapter, with a short introduction and explanation of St. Ignatius’ Examen spiritual practice.

In “The Devotions” part, both common and new ways of praying are offered related to the saints, angels, Mary, and Jesus. For instance, in the angels chapter, Jansen shares the familiar “guardian angel” prayer, but also offers an exercise to include one’s guardian angel in prayer time.

Not everything would be for every reader, but every reader would find something of interest and some new way to pray or express faith and grow closer to God. There’s so much I loved here, and Larsen calls them all “tools” to add to “our spiritual toolbox,” a great way to look at the many ways to pray, express our devotion, and live out a vibrant Catholic faith.

Also part of the spiritual toolbox is the ingenious “Spiritual 911,” an appendix that lists many common, basic prayers, like the Lord’s Prayer and the Memorare, and also a series of prayers “for difficult times,” to feature just a few: St. Francis de Sales Prayer for Inner Peace, a prayer to St. Dymphna for Mental Healing, and a prayer to St. Joseph for Fathers and Families. The second appendix also provides a calendar of Saints.

I’m a cradle Catholic, and yet I found a lot of content that I found fresh and interesting. “Life Everlasting” is a great read for a lot of different Catholics, or even those just interested in what Catholic belief looks like.

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Meet a Reader: Fr. Jim Pankiewicz {@TheCatholicPost}

March 12, 2018 by Nancy Piccione

Following is the “Meet a Reader” that appears in the current print edition of The Catholic Post.

How we know you:

I’m a native of St. Joseph, MO and was ordained for the Diocese of Peoria in 2010.  My assignments have included St. Joseph-Pekin and St. John’s Catholic Newman Center in Champaign. Currently, I’m an assistant at the Heart of Peoria Catholic Community.

Why I love reading:

Both of my parents are teachers. Growing up, my dad constantly had his nose stuck in a book.  His influence didn’t stick right away. But by early high school I had developed a passion for the written word.  As an undergraduate, my interest in reading history led me to major in that very subject. Over the years, I’ve discovered that by being a voracious reader it’s difficult to ever be bored.  There is always so much more out there to read.

What I’m reading now:

I just finished Power and Empire, the latest novel in the Tom Clancy/Jack Ryan series.  Every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas a new novel in the series is released.  It’s my perennial birthday (November 24) gift from my parents.  At the moment, I’m reading Ron Chernow’s new biography on General Grant, The Marian Option by Carrie Gress, and re-reading several Scott Hahn works. 

My favorite book:

I have many favorite books.  Here are a few based on subjects: The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy (novel); Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin (history); Searching for and Maintaining Peace and Time for God both by Jacques Philippe (spirituality).

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“The Fourth Cup” a Great Read for Lent, Easter Seasons {My March column @TheCatholicPost }

March 9, 2018 by Nancy Piccione

Following is my column that appears in the current print edition of The Catholic Post.

A pilgrimage to the Holy Land is an aspiration of many Christians. It won’t surprise you to know that I am among those who have that desire.

Years ago, my husband and I were watching an interview on EWTN with Steve Ray, the Catholic convert and apologist, I mentioned that I would love to go on one of his “Footprints of God” pilgrimages that he and his wife Janet lead to the Holy Land. In the interview, Ray mentioned especially that bringing the entire family to the Holy Land, especially teens and young adults, is unparalleled for growing in faith for a range of generations. We haven’t quite come to an agreement about when and how the pilgrimage will take place, but I’m still hoping it will happen someday.

Your Holy Land pilgrimage, like mine, may be far off in the future, but that doesn’t mean we can’t benefit, especially during Lent and Easter, from meditating on early Jewish & Christian customs, culture, and place.

I hesitate to say it, but it is true that while we wait, books (and videos, too) can be the next best thing to an actual Holy Land pilgrimage.

In the past, I’ve reviewed several books that inform or inspire, like Fr. Mitch Pacwa’s The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage, or Jesus: A Pilgrimage, Fr. James Martin’s musings on visiting the Holy Land over the years. Even local son Venerable Fulton Sheen wrote a book (with fascinating vintage photographs) called, This is the Holy Land.

One of my favorite aspects of these books is their ability to put readers in the time and place Jesus lived, and help explain some of the aspects about our faith that we take for granted.

The most recent book by Scott Hahn, The Fourth Cup: Unveiling the Mystery of the Last Supper and the Cross while not a Holy Land pilgrimage book, has a similar effect and scope.

Scott Hahn is well-known to many as a Protestant pastor who converted to Catholicism in the 1980s, and has been tirelessly writing books, giving talks, and otherwise spreading the Catholic faith, ever since. He’s best known probably for his most popular book, The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth.

Most people in the early 1990s, like me, learned of Hahn through an audio version of his conversion story, which was widely distributed during those years. I recall a friend giving me a cassette tape of Hahn’s first conversion story. (Yes, young ones reading this column, there are still people alive who listened to things on audio cassette. Don’t even get me starting on how people back in “my” college days painstakingly made song mixtapes on audio cassette).

But back to Scott Hahn. He was such a convincing and powerful speaker, and helped me to understand the riches of the Catholic faith that I, as a cradle Catholic, had never understood or appreciated.

Hahn is best at that—helping Catholics and non-Catholics alike, discover or re-discover the richness of the Catholic faith; how our practices—especially the Mass—are rooted solidly in Scripture; and how early Church Fathers point towards what we now practice and believe as Catholics.

As he writes in the preface to the book, when he began giving talks on his conversion to Catholicism, it was often titled, The Fourth Cup, after the fourth cup of the Passover, that Jesus omitted during the Last Supper. The “why” of that, and how Hahn discovered it over the course of his conversion through study and prayer, together make for an engaging, informative read.

The book is organized into 14 chapters, almost all directly relating to the Passover in the Old Testament, and how that directly prefigures Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. The first chapter is “What is Finished,” when the young Protestant seminary student Hahn was challenged by a pastor to find out why Jesus said, “It is finished” just before he died; and the remaining chapters help explain how he discovered it, and how it led him directly to the Catholic Church. the rest of the chapters a range of chapters that help explain how the Passover is a type, or prefiguring, of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross; to the final chapter “The Paschal Shape of Life,” how we can apply that in our own lives.

One clever aspect of The Fourth Cup are the dozens of sly puns in nearly every sub-headings of sections sprinkled throughout each chapter: such as “Pasch, Presence, and Future” or “A Lamb is Bread for This,” or “Greeks Baring Gifts.”

I found myself writing down multiple quotes from the book, such as:

“God taught Israel to sacrifice not so that his Chosen People would be humiliated but so that they would learn to lay down their lives, to turn away from sin, and to live in the covenant. ‘The sacrifice acceptable to God is broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart.’ (Ps 51)”

As I’ve written before, I’m a lay person when it comes to theology, and so I appreciate a straightforward, manageable read to help me grow in my knowledge and contemplate some of the riches of our faith. The Fourth Cup is just such a book.

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