It’s funny to look back on where we’ve been sometimes. When I first started making videos, I struggled to produce one short video every two weeks. This week, I have two full-length, well-edited videos, a podcast, and seven daily reflections.
And that’s the plan for every week this semester.
Our should I say the plan. As things get a little busier, I make no guarantees. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Wicked Funny, Wicked Popular
Few cartoons are as recognizable as Family Guy. Debuting in 1999 and beginning its 22 season as I type this, it’s been around for a while. More importantly, it’s been offending people for a while on every subject from mental illness to racism, politics to gender, and yes, a whole lot of religious jokes. I had to have Fr. Patrick react to it… but I did pick some of the more mild clips.
Vincent de Paul: A Saint You Should Know
As you can imagine, I think St. Francis of Assisi is the greatest saint of all time. Obvious. What you probably didn’t know is that there’s another guy a lot like him whose legacy rivals the work of the Franciscans. Meet St. Vincent de Paul.
Just a Wholesome Classic
I grew up watching Penny Marshall’s Big. For me, it reminds me so much of my childhood, dreaming of what it’s like to be an adult and wishing I too could have an apartment with a trampoline in it. Now watching it for the first time as an adult, I have a different take but no less love.
Listen or it’s going away
Many people use the cliche, “If you reach only one person it’s worth it.” Meaningful to that one person, I guess, but I see it as sentimental nonsense. If I’m doing a lot of work and reaching only one person, it might be time to evaluate what I’m doing and put my time to better use.
That’s how I’m feeling right now with The Word Became Flesh. It’s not all about the numbers, but the numbers aren’t great. Very few people are listening on a regular basis. More importantly, I don’t really like making them, and they take a lot of time to make.
So here’s my plan. I’m going to finish working through Acts. If the numbers stay where they are, abysmally low, I’m going to pull the plug. It’s been over a year, long enough to let something grow, and some projects just don’t work out.
But hey. Maybe you’ll listen this time and share with a friend. Maybe you’ll go back to the beginning and start meditating with Mark, Matthew, and Luke. I’m sure you’ll love it.
Happy Francis Week!
On October 3, Franciscans all around the world remember the death of St. Francis, and celebrate his entry into sainthood October 4. I hope this wonderful saint can inspire you as he has me.
Peace and good,
Fr. Casey
Breaking In The Habit 
Like Fr. Patrick, I don’t like Family Guy either, yet I won’t make an issue about it with those who do like it. Watching you bear with each other is teaching me how to do so with my sisters and brethren…and others as well.
Thank you for making an episode about St. Vincent dePaul. I’m pretty messy myself, but in different ways, and I’m glad to know I’m in good company. It’s all by Grace and Mercy, eh?
Rock on!
Hello Fr. Casey,
I’ve been watching your YouTube content regularly for years and I really appreciate it. Now I don’t read the newsletter every week, mea culpa, but I only learned about The Word Became Flesh a week ago. Perhaps you could plug at the end of your YouTube videos.
All the best this semester!
Dear Fr. Casey,
Thanks for working hard and recording The World Became flesh! I am a new listener, and I think it will help me a lot. I am not writing this to encourage you to continue, I think you can judge best what is the best use of time (and as I said, I am new, so for me there is still a lot of material to catch up). But I am writing this to let you know – if you do read this – that your efforts *do* have effect even if too small to be prioritised. I am relatively new in actually trying to live my faith and find praying – especially repetitive things like rosemary – often hard and this tool you provide is helping a lot. A lot.
Also, as I am already commenting, thanks for the YouTube content. I originally found you via the upon friar review and seeing to priests that seemed happy and were friendly and respectful when commenting on other things, made me wonder if my past (relatively little) experience with church members was not the norm and there exist also joyful ones. And that played a huge role in my decision of whether I should give religion a try and whether I should change denomination (was non-practicing Catholic) to go and try join mass at the Franciscan church of my town – where I am still (no changing denomination, just changing to practicing and choosing parish with more thought).
Sorry for any mistakes. English is not my mother language and I am typing on my phone quite late, but when I decided to see what is under “posts” and the top one was about the prayer podcast, I felt like I really need to let you know that what you did helped – in case you read this. Because I understand that it is not the best choice to continue something reaching only a few people, when the time can be used reaching more – and I didn’t think this was what the saying is about, – but I do think that singular reaches are also worth something – and in this case it is me, so, well, I am based. Anyways, if knowing that the effort you already put helped someone – and is going to help someone (still lot’s to catch up), gives you any satisfaction, then I hope you know now. Thanks for everything (from an European you will probably never meet but still have influenced)!