Sweets for the Spirit
Spirit
Networking
FOOD-  Your Secret Weapon!

Click  HERE for another sample newsletter so you
can see how I combined the news, a recipe and a
graphic.  Simple. Anyone can do it.

    Throughout 2006, the Office of Evangelization sent out an E-mail
    Evangelization Newsletter once every month or so to announce new
    events and resources.  I'm not going to post them all here since it would
    be old news.  If you would like to see a sample, Click HERE.   I always
    included one of my favorite recipes at the end of the letter. Why?

    Well, we handed out the first letter as a sample at Fr. Barron's first
    Lenten talk at St. John of the Cross Parish in Willow Springs in Feb.
    2006. After the talk, I went to the parish center to hand them out. When I
    handed someone a newsletter with the announcement that it was "an
    evangelization newsletter," eyes glazed over...  

    It didn't take me long to start adding, "And there's a great cherry bar
    recipe at the end of the letter!  Even if you don't want to be an
    evangelizer, you'll LOVE the recipe."  There was immediate excitement
    and smiling faces.   Unfortunately,  we don't associate evangelization with
    pleasure, but food? Yes!
    Oddly enough, food is one of our strongest evangelization tools. Then
    again, we learned this from Jesus!  The mystery of our faith is embodied
    in the breaking of the bread.  

    I have often used cookies in my evangelization efforts. For example, in
    the summer of 2005, I volunteered to sit at a table with information about
    the work we do in the Office of Evangelization at the priests’ conference.  
    I realized a couple of days before, that very few of the 600+ priests were
    probably going to come over and look at my materials.  So, the night
    before, I baked 35 dozen cookies and then set them out on the tables
    BEHIND all of my evangelization materials. Our priests had to reach
    over them to get the desserts.  It worked! They easily recognized the trap
    I had set, but they were delighted about it, and I got them to the table!  

    Each month, I am going to post one of my really good recipes here, so
    check back.   The power of a good cookie to make someone happy has
    always amazed me.  Sometimes I bake a batch before heading to the
    office and hand them out to people on the way.  The doormen, the cab
    drivers, the homeless people, and finally my colleagues at the office.  
    When I hand them a cookie, they also get a big smile and see the cross
    around my neck.  I don't actually have to say why I'm doing it.

    So get out there and make someone happy!  I've compiled the recipes
    from last year's newsletters into one document for you.
Background photo taken by me in Barcelona, Spain last summer.
Recipe for May 2007

Williamsburg Pie

Warning! This recipe is not for beginners.
Most of the past recipes have been fairly simple. I thought I should
give experienced cooks something too.

This pie is dreamy, luscious and unusual.
If you can do it (and it is not all that difficult- few steps- just requires
good technique) you will impress your guests. No doubt!  Good luck
and enjoy!
June 2007
The ladies from St. John asked for this recipe at Fr. Bob's Street fair
last week, so here it is. For another similar, but different Peanut
Butter cookie see the Recipes Section below.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies