A collection of short stories about faith, hope and inspiration. Jesus spoke with parables (stories) to help people to better understand his message . these stories can be used for the same purpose. Further they prompt your understanding so you might use these for private reflection and meditation. Written in common language about everyday experiences. Space is provided for your reflections and plans for your personal faith journey.
About the Author: Russ Lowe was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 1976. His faith journey began in 1949 when he and Jane Brandherm spent several weeks in counsel with a priest in marriage preparation. Eight years later, his father died and he began his transformation. He resumed counsel and became a member of the Catholic Church. Church had a new meaning now and he became deeply involved in liturgy and church activities. Parish discussion groups were new and he and Jane joined. Lay lectors were new and he became one of the first in the diocese. He taught religion education classes, attended retreats, Cursillos and became involved with other parishes as a member of the Serra club and as board chairman of a citywide Catholic high school. As a professional graphic designer, Russ became involved with vocation directors and created posters, brochures, recruitment devices directed to youth and adults. One of the priests he was working with asked if he had ever considered the diaconate. That was the seed. For five years he asked himself the same question until after a meeting of a parish charismatic group, the question was answered. As with all deacons, he was doing service to the faith community, responding to needs as they arose. On February 28, 1976, Russ and six others were ordained. Now he could expand his ministry to include the sacraments. As a permanent deacon, he has served as Director of Parish Council Service and Development, for the Diocese of Green Bay, USCCB Advisory Board, Parish Assignments, Assistant Chaplain at Wisconsin Veterans Home, Assistant Chaplain at University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. As a deacon he has facilitated numerous retreats and reflections. The church lives in the lives of God's children. Deacon Russ believes his faith and his theology is grounded in the everyday life and experience of the common person and his personal mission and ministry is to help them see and feel the Lord's presence in their daily life. After retiring from direct parish involvements he initiated an internet ministry called "the LOWE down". The stories he had collected for use in his homilies became messages of faith, hope and inspiration. They were emailed on a regularly unscheduled basis to a long list. Now many of these stories are published in his MODERN PARABLES. There is space after each story for the reader to add their own personal reflections and meditations.