Hello Friends,

I first want to apologize for being absent from this site for the past week and a half. I must admit I had a big week with a Middle School Day Camp for my youth and though I had planned to still post I got behind and didn’t find time to post, for that I apologize. I will say that it was a blessed week and though I am always tired – I am so grateful to work with God’s children. It not only keeps me grounded they continue to inspire me with their acts of faith. There is hope in the young Church!

I wanted to give a little update on what has been going on in development of this site and some future happenings, plus a little update on my own life.

1. I turned 30 this week. Not that big of a deal – as my friend Josh says its another trip around the sun. I hope to have many more of those trips. I have to be honest I kind of forgot about my birthday – a far cry from a few years ago when I would ensure that a big deal was made about my bday! Guess you grow up when you get married and have kids and life is no longer about “me”. It was a blessed day and my wife and daughter gave me lots of birthday kisses – some teens and core at St. Leo’s also made it special with some cake and gifts. It was also a blessing to receive an outpouring of well-wishes on Facebook from many many friends new and old. What a blessing to be connected to so many old friends. To me it is great to hear from those people even if it is a simple Happy Birthday.

2. We are expecting #2 in September. My wife is pregnant and due September with our second child. We are very excited. I probably will not talk about it much here as I like to keep some things a little private but I will be sure to announce when the baby is born. Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare to welcome a new life into the world. It is a blessing to be collaborators in creation.

3. In addition to this site I’m now also a columnist for the Integrated Life Channel on Catholic Exchange. It is a great site dedicated to helping people integrate their faith into every aspect of their life. Currently they are re-running my trust series which I published on Living Gracefully a few months back. I would love your support – take a trip over to the Integrated Life Channel and read my column – leave comments, and share with your friends.

4. I’m speaking again. No, no I did not take a vow of silence – nor have I been on a perpetual silent retreat for the last decade. But I did stop traveling and speaking over the last couple of years. Recently we decided I was ready to open up the doors to speaking engagements again. Currentlty I’m speaking in Germany (and possibly the Netherlands) in August, followed by speaking at LIFT in Boston, MA on August 11, and then a few dates in the fall.

I would love to come to your parish or event and speak to your whole parish, your men’s or women’s group, or your youth ministry. Because of my busy schedule here in Winston-Salem I am limiting myself to only a few dates per month. Please get in touch soon to book for the fall and early spring. It would be an honor to minister in any way I can in your community. Check out the about page for more on what I do and take a look at some of my articles to get an idea on what kinds of topics I may cover.

5. I’m excited to now offer a one day retreat with the same name as this site, “Living Gracefully” which can be given to the whole parish or specific groups in your parish. I will be giving the first retreat in November to a women’s gorup. I will tailor each retreat to the specific needs of the group. Contact me soon if you are interested.

6. Coming Next Week: “TRUST GOD NOW - 27 DAYS TO RELYING ON GOD”- This will be a 27 day series on trust w/short reflections, prayers, a few podcasts, and 3 Novena’s offered to help us learn to rely on God more. I hope you will join me. The email sign up for this specific series is not up yet but will be soon. In the meantime you can email me at chris.faddis@gmail.com or leave a comment if you’re interested in joining. Let’s walk together into a closer relationship with Christ.

That’s all friends! – Once again thank you for all of your support and for being a part of this small community. Thanks to those of you who have emailed or commented and thanks to Todd Lemieux and Dan Kenney for contributing to the content of this site. Expect more guest posts this summer including a series on “Eastern Spiritualities” from a great priest.

As always please know of my prayers. I ask that you pray for me. I need your prayers so desperately – it is truly only by God’s grace and mercy that I can do this or any ministry. Please consider adding my family’s intentions to your daily prayers.

In Christ’s Love,

Chris Faddis

Author/Publisher – livinggracefully.net

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