Because I’m still catching up with matters after my three weeks in Africa, I’m grateful that Jordan Trotman has provided a guest post for this week. He offers some solid facts for Christians.

Believing in Jesus is where faith begins, but it isn’t where it ends.  

Many people know who Jesus Christ is, and they believe he died for their sins. They go to Mass and genuinely want to grow spiritually. Those are all important parts of the Christian life. But Jesus calls us to more than belief alone. He invites us to follow Him, and that’s the heart of discipleship. 

Following Jesus isn’t about having all the answers or waiting until we feel spiritually mature. It’s choosing to trust and obey him each day, letting his words shape how we live and love others. 

Discipleship Is More Than Learning 

It’s easy to think discipleship is only about gaining more biblical knowledge. While learning God’s Word matters, Jesus wasn’t looking for people who knew more. He wanted followers whose lives reflected what they learned. 

Discipleship takes what we learn and puts it into practice. It shows up in everyday decisions, like extending forgiveness when it’s hard, choosing humility instead of pride, serving someone without expecting recognition, or trusting God when life feels uncertain. 

These ordinary moments are where faith becomes real. They remind us that following Jesus isn’t limited to Sunday mornings. It’s something we carry into every conversation, every relationship, and every part of daily life. 

Walking With Jesus Changes How We Live 

Jesus never asked His disciples to change themselves before following Him. He invited them to come with him. 

As we spend time with Him through Scripture, prayer, and obedience, he begins changing our hearts. Our priorities shift. Our responses change. We begin to see people differently because we’re learning to see them the way Jesus does. 

Growth doesn’t happen because we try harder. It comes from staying close to Jesus and relying on his work in our lives. Some days that growth feels obvious. Other days it happens in quiet ways that only God can see. Every step of obedience, no matter how small, helps us become more like Christ. 

We Weren’t Meant to Follow Jesus Alone 

Jesus built relationships wherever He went, and his disciples learned together. The same is true today. 

God often uses other people to encourage us, challenge us, and remind us of his truth. Honest conversations, shared prayer, and walking through life’s highs and lows together help us keep moving forward in our faith. 

Discipleship isn’t about pretending we’ve arrived. It’s growing together as we all learn to follow Jesus. 

Every Disciple Is Called to Make Disciples 

Jesus’s invitation doesn’t stop with our own spiritual growth. As we follow him, he invites us to help others do the same. 

That doesn’t mean becoming a Bible expert or leading a formal study. Often, disciple-making looks much simpler. It might be grabbing coffee with a friend, reading Scripture together, praying together, asking honest questions, or talking about what God has been teaching you lately. 

You don’t have to know everything to help someone else follow Jesus. You only have to be willing to invest in them. As God continues shaping your own life, he can use your experiences, your encouragement, and even your questions to help someone else take their next step. 

If you’ve been wondering where to start, exploring the answers to how do you make disciples is a great place to begin. 

Jesus is still inviting ordinary people to follow Him, and that invitation is just as real today as it was for his first disciples. You don’t have to wait until you feel more prepared or more qualified to take your next step. Start where you are, stay close to Jesus, and invite someone else to follow him with you. That’s how the gospel continues to spread from one life to another and how disciples become disciple-makers. 

AUTHOR BIO: Jordan Trotman is the Operations Assistant at Ordinary Movement, an organization focused on equipping leaders and churches to develop disciple-making communities. With a background in operations, communications, and ministry support, Trotman helps ensure effective execution across the organization’s initiatives. He is passionate about building systems that support the mission and empower leaders to create lasting impact. 

Here is a familiar song with striking images to enhance this post:

For Reflection

Who has helped you to follow Jesus?

For whom have you been a disciple?

Who could you help be a disciple?

The post From Belief to Discipleship appeared first on Catholic Faith Corner.

What is a good joke you know?

Here is the song “I Love to Laugh” from the movie Mary Poppins.

The post Cartoons for a Fall Day appeared first on Catholic Faith Corner.

Today is October 7, Feast of the Holy Rosary, a fitting day to think about this devotion. Where did the Rosary come from? It’s not in the Bible. St. Paul tells us to sing hymns and offer prayers for leaders, but says nothing about praying these prayer beads. According to a legend, the Rosary began when the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Dominic in the fifteenth century and gave him a rosary to pray. This legend arose because the Dominicans promoted praying the Rosary. So how did the Rosary originate?

The Origin

For ages, people kept track of prayers using notches on wood or beads. Long ago it was the custom to pray the 150 psalms. But illiterate people prayed 150 Our Fathers instead on beads called the paternoster (Latin for “our Father”). Lady Godiva bequeathed her paternoster made of gems to a monastery.

Development

When the Hail Mary prayer was finalized in the twelfth century, it was prayed 150 times on beads with each set of ten introduced by an Our Father. The Hail Mary prayer combines the words of the Angel Gabriel with the words of Elizabeth to her and adds a short plea for her prayers.

Gradually people began to reflect on events in the life of Christ, making the rosary “the Gospel on beads.” These events are called mysteries and grouped as Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious. Therefore the Rosary is a christological prayer.

A Victory Due to the Rosary

The devotion of the Rosary received a boost in 1571 when a large fleet of Turks were on the way to invade Europe. Pope Pius V asked people to pray the Rosary in public to protect Rome. The Christian navy was sure to be defeated. Yet in the decisive Battle of Lepanto, against all odds the Muslims were trounced. The pope declared the feast of the Holy Rosary, which today is observed on October 7.

A Rosary for Peace

After September 11, 2001, Pope John Paul II likewise urged us to pray the Rosary for world peace, as did Mary herself in 1917 when she appeared to the three children in Fatima, Portugal. Coincidentally, this pope was shot on May 13, the day Mary first appeared in Fatima. The doctors were amazed how the bullet zigzagged to avoid major organs. The pope credited Mary with saving his life and had the bullet placed in the crown of her statue in Fatima.

The Rosary’s Purposes

Joseph Haydn always had a rosary with him and prayed it; so did Louis Pasteur. Geoffrey Chaucer had his picture drawn with a rosary dangling from his hand. Martin Luther prayed the Rosary all his life. To this day the Rosary remains a popular prayer. It’s more than a car ornament, a necklace, or a nice Communion gift. It’s a way of honoring Mary— like offering her a garland of roses. In addition, it’s a powerful way to praise God, who created Mary and through her sent his Son to save us. Praying the Rosary also deepens our faith and links us more closely to God. The rosary is not just a prayer for grandmas.

Did you know there is a e-rosary to pray along with at www.comepraytherosary.org?

This year my book The Rosary: All You Need to Know and More was published. It has a wealth of information about this devotion and tips for improving our praying of it.

 How has the rosary played a role in your life?

Do you have a special rosary?

The post Why Catholics Pray the Rosary appeared first on Catholic Faith Corner.

Originally I was invited to give an eight-day preached retreat to our Sisters in Africa. However, my visit lengthened so I could also speak to different groups: our Associates, novices, and temporary professed Sisters. For the retreat I chose the theme Pillars of Religious Life. Each day I presented two talks on a topic fundamental to our life as consecrated women. Afterward the retreatants participated in an activity related to the topic.

On the evening before the retreat, I spoke about the procedure and how the Sisters could get the most out of the retreat. I explained that every day they would have questions that they might use to go deeper into the topic and personalize it.

Day 1:  Intimacy with Jesus

During the day the Sisters were to ponder quotations about love for Jesus on a handout and look up Scripture verses about it. The activity was to write a letter to Jesus and sign it “Love” and their name. But this wasn’t all. They were also to write a letter from Jesus to them, just letting the words flow, not imagining what he would say to them. They would be surprised.

Day 2:  Love of God for Us and Our Love for God

During the talk the Sisters received Sacred Heart badges and cards with Fr. Pedro Arrupe’s reflection “Falling in Love.” In the evening the Sisters met in small groups to share their favorite name for God or Jesus. Some of them sang hymns to express their thoughts. Following this, volunteers shared their favorite names with all 35 Sisters.

Day 3:  Scripture as God’s Word

The retreatants viewed a PowerPoint presentation on Scripture. They received a small card with a Scripture verse they were to consider as God’s love note to them. On the reverse side was another verse that would be revealed after scratching off the coating. The Sisters also had a Bible IQ test to take during the day.

For the activity, each Sister received a square of aluminum foil for a prayer activity. First, she was to think of her favorite Bible story. Second, come up with an object that would represent that story. And third, somehow make that object using the foil: tearing it, folding it, or writing on it. All was to be done in silence while speaking to Jesus about why they chose that story. After a while, the Sisters shared what they had made and why. One striking symbol was flames of fire.

Day 4:  Praying with Scripture

During the day I explained praying mantras as well as using all five senses to bring a Bible story to life St. Ignatius style. The story of Bartimaeus served as an example. The retreatants received cards with the Jesus prayer. Then they listened to a presentation on lectio divina, (sacred reading). The evening activity was praying lectio divina in small groups using a psalm on a prayer card.

Day 5: The Eucharist

The presentation included a PowerPoint on the Eucharist. The Sisters sang the song “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me.” The activity was silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

Day 6: Creation

After a reading from Genesis, was a talk about God speaking through creation. The retreatants were to spend time outside enjoying nature and finding something that spoke to them. Or they were to dwell on an experience they had with creation that became a cherished memory.

For the activity, the Sisters brought something from creation to the whole group and explained what God said to them through it. Sisters brought soil, branches of a bush, and flowers. One Sister presented herself. Another Sister told of seeing a donkey with its child walking behind. The little donkey followed its mother closely, never looking from side to side. We concluded with a litany in which each Sister named her created thing and everyone responded, “We praise and thank you, God.”

Day 7:  The Holy Spirit and Ministry

After a talk on the Holy Spirit as our invisible partner, the Sisters listened to ten tips for staying on fire for the ministry. They were to choose a motto for themselves similar to St. Francis’s “My God and my all” and St. Julie’s “How good is the good God.”

For the activity, the retreatants created a bookmark with their motto and then placed them on a table.

Day 8   Our Blessed Mother

This was the Feast of the Assumption. The talks were on Mary and how we can follow her, the first and best Christian. A PowerPoint presentation on the Blessed Virgin was included and a review of the Rosary. The retreatants received prayer cards with a Marian prayer and my tatted flowers:

The reverse side read:

The activity was a celebration of the end of retreat. It included a ritual: I, with my three “guardian angels” to help, sliced heart-shaped cakes, lifting the knife three times as Sisters repeated “Happy New Life.” The cakes were cut into cubes and toothpicks inserted. These were set on the dining room tables for supper dessert.

I was impressed by the Sisters’ spirituality and their joyful simplicity. Meeting them made getting the nine shots and Visas and flying over the ocean twice worthwhile.

What was the most memorable retreat you ever made?  Why?

The post Retreat in Africa appeared first on Catholic Faith Corner.

One day Sisters Mary Christine and Teopista took me on a safari in Nairobi National Park. This park is the only national park within a city. As we drove along the dusty roads though flat grasslands, the city skyline was visible in the background. Vincent, our driver, helped us spot animals and informed us about them. He also provided me with binoculars.

The roof of our jeep was raised so we could stand for better views, even balancing on our seats. We saw these animals among others: zebras, giraffes, lions, monkeys, buffalo, crocodiles, baboons, ostriches, hippos, rhinos, hyenas, impalas, buzzards, and a waterbuck. The city park had no elephants.

I’m ready to leave. The hat and shawl weren’t needed and soon removed.

Our tour began where three circles mark where elephant tusks and rhino horns are buried as a testament to eliminating poaching.

The hippos were hiding.

Giraffes were plentiful. I learned that they walk with side legs together. Can you spot the giraffe looking at you?

A parade of about fifteen zebras crossed the road in front of us.

We saw female impalas and one male on the side of the road. Now you understand the logo for Impala cars.

Many ostriches live in the park.

A Kenyan soldier guided us on a walking safari around Hippo Pools. He helped me walk over rocky parts of the narrow path and kept me from falling off cliffs. He pointed out an alligator, whose legs can be seen in the photo, and took us to a black rhino’s cave.

Here is a rhino with a white bird on its back. The bird keeps the big animal free of insects. We also saw a mother rhino walking with her child walking a distance behind her.

We waited on the road to see if five female lions would stand. Sister Christine could see them, but to me they were invisible until one stood, something Sister said was a blessing. I have it in a video. At the entrance to the park, Sister Teopista took a picture of a statue of a lion in case we wouldn’t see one.

I also have a video of a group of baboons coming toward us on the road. We had to cover our snacks so they wouldn’t jump in the jeep and steal them. Two hyenas were walking toward us too, but I only captured one of them with my camera.

Here is the origin of the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”:

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During the three weeks I was in Africa, I became acquainted with our Sisters in Kenya and Tanzania. They are grateful to the Sisters from other countries who established their delegation. A poster of those missionaries seen above is displayed in their convents and schools. Among them is Sister Annete Adams from Chardon, who served there for 23 years. The African Sisters also produced this song in celebration of our 175th anniversary:

Associates

Associates are mainly laypeople who make a covenant to share in our charism and ministry. Like us, they proclaim God’s goodness and provident care. Sister Mary Annete Adams began this program in Africa, and it is still flourishing under the leadership of Sister Mary Teopista. I spoke to the group about St. Julie Billiart, who founded the original Sisters of Notre Dame. They presented me with a cashmere shawl with images of the Sacred Heart. When I wear it, I’m reminded that Jesus has my back!

Candidates

Women who are interested in becoming Sisters first live together and experience community life. We have two groups of candidates, one in Kenya and another in Uganda. I met the candidates and Sister Mary Emma, their director in Kenya. Presently there are 31 candidates.

Postulants

Candidates who persevere become postulants and live in Uganda. There are thirty-one of them. Since I chose not to fly to that country (which I later learned was a site for Ebola), I wasn’t able to meet the postulants.

Novices

I met our 30 novices in Kenya and spoke to them for about an hour. Sister Mary Pascalia is their director and has a lovely rapport with them. The novices do not wear a veil, whereas when I was novice, we wore starched white veils.

A Sister from Indonesia is staying in Africa to be formed as a novice director under Sister Pascalia’s direction.

Our novices are a joyful, energetic group. In the evening they had a celebration for me and for three novices who are going to spend time in local houses. They all sang and danced with enthusiasm, accompanied by drums. Entertainment included some stand-up comedians.

The novitiate house is on the delegation house property. The novices keep busy running the farm there, providing food for the Sisters and the students. They even work in the slaughterhouse!

Junior Professed

There are 60 junior professed Sisters of Notre Dame, that is, women under temporary vows. This includes eight “tertians,” who will profess final vows in December. The young Sisters are studying or already involved in ministry. Some are teachers and nurses. Many of them made the eight-day retreat I gave.

Afterward, thirty of them were gathered at the Karen House for three weeks of formation. Sister Margaret Mbuba is the capable junior directress as well as the superior of Karen House. I spoke to the juniors about the life of St. Julie Billiart and then the joy of being a consecrated woman. I mentioned that laughing massages the liver. That night at supper the young Sisters at the table next to me were loud and boisterous. When I asked what was going on, they said, “We’re massaging our liver!”

Papua New Guinea

Several of our Sisters from Papua New Guinea now live in Africa. One evening two of them prepared a meal for us, as I explained in a previous post.

While I was in Karen House, Sister Rose from Papua New Guinea renewed her vows. A special holy hour was in her honor. The day before, I was asked to meet with her to prepare her for the day. After she renewed her vows, the community celebrated by encircling her and singing. She was given a basket of lollipops, which she passed around. Then she cut the traditional heart cakes with the junior director and me assisting.

Guardian Angels

In each convent where I stayed, a “guardian angel” saw to it that I was on time for events, helped me with meals, and explained things: Sisters Mary Mercy, Wompi, and Lucia (kneeling). On days when Sister Mercy was assisting with a surgery as part of her training as a surgical nurse, Sister Rose substituted. Sister Rose was so small that the Sisters told me I could fold her up and take her home in my carry-on!

More information about our African Sisters can be found at https://sndusa.org/east-africa-ministries/Here is another video of a 175th celebration:

The post SNDs in Africa appeared first on Catholic Faith Corner.

Breakfast was eggs, cheese, pancakes, yogurt, sausage, peanut butter on bread. Chapati (chewy, flat bread) was at every meal, but regular bread was also available. Usually for lunch and supper, we had rice and shredded cabbage, sometimes with slivers of carrots mixed in. We had all kinds of beans and potatoes, even French fries. What I assumed was mashed potatoes turned out to be white maize (corn). We had soups, like peanut soup. I was introduced to cassava. Meat was often chicken. I found the chicken gizzards tough. Here is a picture of the salads:

Fruit was plentiful: avocados, papayas, passion fruit, apples, pineapple, many bananas, and a lot of watermelon.

The Sisters drank plain hot water or water mixed with a little milk. I had bottled water, instant coffee, or tea.

One morning a Sister asked if I ate fish. I said yes. That night at supper large fish with the heads and tails were served. The fish of the Sister sitting perpendicular to me was smiling at me all during the meal. Considerately, the Sisters had prepared a bowl of the meat for me.

Before meals, the Sisters stood in line to wash their hands at an urn and dry them.  

Each morning and afternoon the Sisters enjoyed “tea breaks” with popcorn and other treats.

One evening Sisters from Papua New Guinea made supper according to their culture. Banana leaves served as plates. (But these were set on plates for us.) The food was set on a large blanket on the floor, and we danced around it in colorful skirts, New Guinea style. The food included chicken, greens soaked in coconut milk, and cassava.

The novices run one of the farms. They even work in the slaughterhouse! Here are some of their animals. Their latest addition is a fish pond.

At Karen House, where I gave the retreat, there were seven sheep, including a ram and a lamb. Each Christmas and Easter, a sheep gives its life. The herd replenishes itself.

Here are some of the Sisters’ crops:

Stay tuned. Next week I’ll report on the Sisters.

The post African Meals appeared first on Catholic Faith Corner.

St. Veronica’s Church is shaped like Noah’s ark. Its facade is covered with religious images.

At the Karen House, the house for students where I gave the retreat, the Sisters often sang in three-part harmony with echoes, accompanied by different drums, a tambourine, and a shaker (a flat, rectangular instrument filled with seeds). I told them that if the Sister responsible for our liturgy in Chardon heard them, she would think she died and went to heaven!

The hymnal contained songs in English and in Swahili. To my pleasant surprise, the song I wrote for St. Julie’s canonization, “Mother Julie lived for the Lord” was among them.

During the hymns, we and the priests clapped (in different rhythms), sometimes dropping our arms at the side. Or we waved our hands from side to side.

The Sister who read usually sang the entire Responsorial Psalm.

The white altar cloth in the chapel in the Delegation House has designs made by pinning. The designs are changed occasionally.

Communion

We sometimes received Communion by intinction. Either the priest placed the sacred hosts and wine at the top of the altar and we dipped the host in the cup ourselves, or the priest dipped the host and we received on the tongue. Otherwise we received the host in our hand or on the tongue.

At St. Veronica Church, our Sister Christine was a Eucharistic minister. Laypeople were not needed to fulfill this role. Those who served in special ways wore a large sash with the title of their role on it.

On the last day of retreat, after Communion a Sister went to the ambo and gave a speech thanking me for leading the retreat.

Adoration

Each day the Sisters had Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour. They sang, prayed out loud and silently, and concluded with the Divine Office. They have the new version of this Church prayerbook.

In front of the sacred host, many Sisters knelt on the floor, bent over, and touched their forehead to the floor. If I had done this, it would have taken two Sisters to help me up!

At the Delegation House, the Sisters did not wear shoes in the chapel. Imagine if at our Province Center we removed our shoes before entering!

Celebrants

At the beginning of the Mass, the priest explained its intentions. After Communion he gave a little talk about who he was and his ministry. One day Bishop Obed was the presider. He had only been consecrated three months earlier. The Sisters called him a baby bishop.

Next week I’ll report on the food I ate in Africa.

The post African Masses appeared first on Catholic Faith Corner.

Since I arrived home from three weeks in Eastern Africa, many have asked me about my visit to our Notre Dame Sisters there.  In the next several blog posts, I will present highlights and details of my time. For now, here is some basic information:

How long did it take to get there?  2 ½ hours to New York, then 15 hours to Kenya.

What did you do there?  I spoke to our ND Associates and then our novices, gave an eight-day retreat to junior and senior professed, and then gave two talks to the junior professed (who make temporary vows). On the last day, I went on a morning safari with two of our Sisters.

How many Sisters are in Africa?  101.  There are 31 candidates, some in Tanzania and some in Uganda; 31 postulants in Uganda; 30 novices in Kenya; and 52 junior professed plus 8 tertians.

How did Notre Dames come to be in Africa?  The congregation originated in Coesfeld, Germany. German SNDs came to the United States; Sisters from the USA went as missionaries to India; and then Indian Sisters went to Africa as missionaries. So you can say that we US Sisters are the grandmothers of the African Sisters.

In what countries in Africa will you find SNDs?  Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique.

Were you very hot?  Taking a sunhat and suntan lotion was in vain.  August is winter in Africa, so most days had a thick cloud cover, making it look as if it would rain any minute, but it never does. It was usually 74°, but it got chilly in the evenings.

Did you get Ebola, malaria, traveler’s diarrhea, or mosquito bites?  No!  Many people, especially the Sisters I live with, were storming heaven for me. There were no mosquitoes, but the beds had mosquito netting just in case.

How did you prepare for the trip?  I had to get nine vaccinations and apply for visas. Sisters who had been to Africa gave me valuable advice.

What did the Sisters speak?  Everyone spoke English, but with an accent.  In Kenya, which had been a British colony, English is used in schools. The Sisters also knew Swahili, and many hymns were in that language. Some also knew their tribal language. The only words I learned were “asante,” which means “thank you,” and “habari yako” (“hello, how are you?”).

How did you know what to do? I had a “guardian angel” at each of the three convents where I stayed. She helped me with meals, made sure I was on time for events, and even did my laundry.

What surprised you?  The Sisters provide all their own food by farming. They raise animals and grow crops. The novices operate one farm and even slaughter the animals! Therefore the food is fresh, and chemicals are not used.

Stay tuned to learn about the food, animals, schools, ministries, the liturgies, other celebrations, etc.

At the end of my talk on the joy of being a consecrated woman, I taught the junior professed the song, “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy.” Later, they sang it at my farewell celebration. Unfortunately, I can’t post the video of them singing, but here is the YouTube version. (You can skip the ad.)

https://youtu.be/xoOyjO1sbXo?si=QGonEbS4HXmJkyo4https://youtu.be/xoOyjO1sbXo?si=QGonEbS4HXmJkyo4

The post Introduction to Visit to Africa appeared first on Catholic Faith Corner.

Providentially, Scott Sanders offered to provide a guest blog post to cover one of the weeks I will be in Africa. I hope you find it helpful.

Busy parents, parish volunteers, and professionals carrying family responsibilities often work hard to live their faith while running low on emotional bandwidth. The tension is real. Prayer and Sunday Mass can feel steady; yet anxiety, irritability, and fatigue still spill into decisions and relationships. Mental wellness and everyday emotional wellness deserve the same ordinary attention given to meals, sleep, and work. This is because mental strain can distort how grace is received and shared. With thoughtful, faith-based self-care and Catholic lifestyle integration, it becomes easier to seek mental health support without guilt or confusion.

Understanding Faith-Compatible Wellness

Spirituality and mental health work best as partners, not competitors. A simple rule helps. Choose practices that support your dignity, freedom, and love of God and neighbor, and skip anything that replaces prayer, the sacraments, or conscience. Christian prayer stays central because pray to know Jesus frames wellness as relationship, not self-fixation.

This matters because many popular trends promise calm but leave you more scrambled or spiritually uneasy. The wellness market is valued at $1.5 trillion. It is normal to feel pressured to keep up and wonder if you missed the “right” method.

Picture a parent who prays daily but also uses breathwork, a short walk, or cold water on the face. Those habits are like setting the table so grace can be received with less noise and reactivity. That same principle can guide low-effort support through reflective, story-based listening.

 Use Reflective Reading or Podcast Listening to Steady Your Day

When faith-compatible wellness meets real life, it helps to have support you can carry into the ordinary moments of your day. Listening to podcasts or reading reflections can be a gentle, low-effort way to support everyday mental and emotional wellness. Educational and inspirational episodes and written reflections often offer encouragement, fresh perspective, and a sense of connection. This is especially true when you hear real stories from people who have faced setbacks, pursued personal growth, or reached meaningful goals. That kind of story-based companionship can soften feelings of isolation, reminding you that struggle and progress are part of being human.

Over time, positive content can also provide motivation and practical insights that help you keep a healthier mindset. If you want a story-driven example centered on perseverance and growth, you can keep this one handy for days when you need a steadier inner voice.

Try 7 Offbeat, Faith-Friendly Ways to Feel More Grounded

When your mind feels noisy, it helps to have a “menu” of small practices you can reach for, especially ones that fit Catholic rhythms of prayer, service, and community. Mix one or two of these into your daily routine.

1.      Try “forest bathing” for 20 minutes: Walk slowly under trees and treat it like a Creation-focused examen: notice light, wind, scent, and color. Then name one gratitude and one worry to hand to God. Forest bathing benefits often come from lowering sensory overload and giving your attention one gentle place to rest. If you can’t get to a park, do a “micro-version” on a tree-lined block and stop for three deep breaths at every crosswalk.

2.      Practice birdwatching mindfulness with one simple prompt: Stand still for 5–10 minutes and listen for three distinct bird calls; then look for the bird that made each sound. Birding naturally increases mindfulness and presence because you have to pay attention to small movements and patterns. To make it faith-friendly, close with one line of praise, “Lord, how diverse Your works are!” and move on with your day.

3.      Use pet companionship as a “loneliness interrupt”: If you have a pet, schedule two short “connection breaks” daily: 5 minutes of play or brushing in the morning, and a 10-minute walk or cuddle in the evening. Pet companionship supports mental health by giving your body a calming touch, predictable routine, and a sense of being needed. If you don’t own a pet, ask a neighbor if you can occasionally walk their dog or visit a friend’s cat.

4.      Do faith-aligned art therapy with a low-pressure project: Set a timer for 15 minutes and sketch, collage, or color one spiritual theme: hands in prayer, a storm and a lighthouse, the Sacred Heart, or a saint’s symbol. The “therapy” part is the process. Label the emotion you’re carrying, then choose colors or shapes that match it, without judging the result. Finish with a simple offering: “Jesus, I give You what’s on this page.”

5.     Try tai chi for mental wellness after listening to or reading something reflective: Right after, do 6 minutes of gentle flow: slow weight shifts, shoulder circles, and “cloud hands” (hands floating side-to-side with soft knees). Tai chi for mental wellness can help by downshifting the stress response and reconnecting mind and body through steady, non-competitive movement. Keep it simple: if you can breathe and move slowly, you can start.

6.      Choose one “hidden” volunteering activity. Volunteering and emotional health often connect through purpose and belonging, but it needs to be sustainable. Pick one small role for 4–8 weeks. Write one encouraging note weekly to a homebound parishioner, help set up chairs once a month, or bring an extra bag of groceries to the parish pantry. If you tend toward burnout, choose “behind-the-scenes” service over high-emotion roles.

7.      Make a candle-and-breath ritual your transition between roles: When you move from work to family time, or from parenting to prayer, light a candle. For 2 minutes, inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 6, and name the role you’re entering. This is a concrete way to “close the mental tabs” the same way reflective listening helps you focus a wandering mind. Pair it with one sentence from Scripture or the day’s saint.

Common Questions about Wellness Habits

Q: What if these practices make me feel scrupulous or like I’m “doing it wrong”?
A: Keep the goal simple: peace, gratitude, and steadier love of God and neighbor. If a practice spikes anxiety or perfectionism, shrink it to one minute and use a gentle closing prayer like “Jesus, I trust You.” When scruples persist, bring it to confession or spiritual direction and ask for one clear boundary.

Q: How can I schedule mental wellness when my day is already packed?
A: Treat it like hygiene, not a project: attach one small habit to something you already do, such as after coffee or before bed. Many people are already doing pieces of this since self-care activities often include movement and connection, so you may only need a structure and a timer.

Q: Can I do these even if I’m not “into mindfulness”?
A: Yes. Choose a concrete focus like noticing one sound, one color, or one Scripture phrase, then stop. The point is attention with reverence, not an empty mind.

Q: Which options fit introverts, extroverts, or people who burn out easily?
A: Introverts often do best with quiet, sensory practices and low-pressure creativity. Extroverts usually benefit from brief social connection or small acts of service. If you burn out, pick predictable, low-emotion commitments and protect your rest.

Q: Should I replace therapy or medication with prayer and these habits?
A: No. Faith and treatment can work together, and many people find better mental health alongside consistent spiritual practice. If symptoms are intense or worsening, talk to a licensed clinician and keep your spiritual support in place.

Build Steady Wellness Through One Small Weekly Practice

When life feels full, it’s easy to want better mental and emotional health yet struggle to keep anything consistent without scruples or burnout. The way forward is integrating wellness into daily life through prayer-adjacent routines and a consistent mental health practice. Over time, motivating faith-based self-care like this makes room for calmer reactions, clearer thinking, and a steadier sense of God’s nearness in ordinary stress. Pick one simple practice and let it become a gentle habit.

What do you do to stay mentally healthy?

Which one or two suggestions here are you included to adopt?

For those who are unfamiliar with Tai Chi (like me), here is an instructional video. It’s excellent, but you need to endure ads by Huston and Vonn every couple minutes!

The post Everyday Ways to Boost Mental and Emotional Wellness appeared first on Catholic Faith Corner.