Meditations
Making Peace with Uncertainty
February 23, 2023
By Fr. Garry Richmeier, CPPS.
Uncertainty is one of the most unpleasant feelings human beings experience. We hate it. It triggers our fears of what might happen if things go badly. We usually end up envisioning the worst-case scenario. And we can imagine some pretty scary things. An Assembling God’s Puzzle video.
Arguments, an Assembling God’s Puzzle video
February 8, 2023
By Fr. Garry Richmeier, CPPS.
Some people love to argue, and others avoid it like the plague. Arguing can be destructive or constructive. Which it turns out to be depends on what one’s definition of arguing is.
Failure: When you can’t avoid it, what to do about it?
January 11, 2023
An Assembling God’s Puzzle video
By Fr. Garry Richmeier, CPPS.
No one likes failure, but we just can’t get away from it. We experience many failures in life, like gaining weight when we try to lose it, our business fails, we get fired, we don’t get the grade we wanted. Can we situate this puzzle piece in our lives so it doesn’t cause so much pain?
The ‘Why’ Conundrum, an Assembling God’s Puzzle video
November 29, 2022
“Why did I get ill?” “Why did my loved one have to die?” “Why haven’t I met the right person to marry?” God throws many more puzzle pieces into our lives every day, like new events or new relationships. A very human reaction is to ask “Why?”
Stumbling Blocks to Clear Communication
November 1, 2022
By Fr. Garry Richmeier, CPPS.
You would think that as often as we humans communicate with each other, we’d be very good at it by now. Truth is, we often are not very good at communicating clearly. Why is that?
How You Got Here, an Assembling God’s Puzzle video
October 17, 2022
By Fr. Garry Richmeier, CPPS.
Think about all that has happened to you today, all the different events and details that have led up to now. Look at the year in the same way. Imagine all the billions of things that had to happen the way they did in our history to get us to this exact point in time. Is it all due to chance?
Sandpaper People, an Assembling God’s Puzzle video
October 4, 2022
By Fr. Garry Richmeier, CPPS.
One common life puzzle piece that we all deal with is difficult people. We avoid them when we can, but if they are our boss, in-law or family member, we can’t avoid them. So how do we fit them into our lives in a better way? I like to call them “Sandpaper people.”
New Video Series: Assembling God’s Puzzle
September 20, 2022
By Fr. Garry Richmeier
The people I've worked with over my 39 years as a priest and 28 years as a licensed marriage and family counselor have taught me a lot about living life, especially what works and doesn’t. In this new video series, I pass on some of these life lessons.
Ecumenical Prayer Service for Healing
February 13, 2022
The Renewal Center welcomed about 35 people in-person and another 20 online for this annual service marking the World Day of the Sick. Watch the video for the full service.
Respect Life Video Series: Elder Abuse Awareness
October 6, 2021
In the first of our five-week study session on deepening our awareness of the meaning of “respect for life,” we meet Julie Kuzera and Nanna Cross of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus in Chicago, who are activists in the cause of exposing and preventing elder abuse.