MSI Press Blog

Sula, the parish cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista, is quite a famous cat. Google her, and you will find lots of pictures and references. She has appeared as the lead article in Guideposts Magazine and in A ll Creatures Magazine -- and she has written six books of her own, including one in Spanish. The excerpt below is from one of her earlier books, a beloved one that was illustrated by the late Zhenya Yanovich, a Russian artist of growing esteem. The 12 Days of Christmas The twelve days of Christmas refer to the period extending from Christmas to Epiphany. The song you just read and maybe even sang in your head is well known both to Catholics and to those not in the Church. It is a secular tribute to something sacred, but many people do not know the sacred part. Do you know that there are three feasts during the 12 days of Christmas? They date from the fifth century and all focus on the incarnation of the Word of God (Christ) as the baby Jesus, human like us—well, like

   Continuing in the series of Sula (parish cat) Easter posts and especially on Caturday, here is another excerpt from Sula's Easter book; it comes from the section on the Easter vigil: Waiting before the Vigil The church is always dark on Easter Vigil. I am among the first there, waiting not just for the Resurrection that is to come but also for the people who will be coming to wait together—they with me and I with them. I like greeting the people as they come in. Often, I will know with whom I should be waiting. That, after all, is my mission.     The Mass The Easter Vigil Mass is unique. It is not like any other Mass during the year. The Vigil Mass is also complex—and rich. It goes from dark to light, from people who cannot see each other to people welcoming new members into the body of Christ. The Mass has four elements. These are (1) the Service of Light, (2) the Liturgy of the Word, (3) Baptism, and (4) the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Service of Light starts outside, around

  Sula c 2005- August 24, 2022 Sula, parish cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista, "wrote" six books for parishioners on religions topics. They were well received, and Sula made the news cycle now and again and was featured in national magazines and in online publications. Examples: All Creatures and Guideposts. Today, parishioners and visitors walked past her grave at the Mission and asked to know more about her. Today, the decision was made by the parish to create a 2024 calendar with her charming photos. It should be available for sale soon. The picture above was posted on her Face Book page today in memory of what she brought to the Mission. (photo by Stacey Gentry) For more info, pictures, and book excerpts related to Sula, click HERE .

  Tomorrow at least 70 community members -- may be a lot more since these are the only ones who voluntarily sent an RSVP. Television coverage is expected, and the service will be videotaped. With any luck, we will have it available for the next Caturday. It will als o be available on Sula's Face Book page . The Memorial Service includes all the usual components: prayer, song, and eulogies. In addition, a gratitude basket is being given to the Animal Cancer Center in Monterey, where the staff prolonged Sula's life by two years, and, this being close to Francistide , Br. James from the St. Francis Retreat Center will be be blessing the animals.  Sula's prayer card, which will be distributed at the memorial service, can be ordered through the MSI Press webstore , essentially at cost, by anyone anywhere who would find the card comforting.  For more posts about Sula, click HERE . Arthur Yavelberg, author of  A Theology for the Rest of Us , was recently featured in an  Authorit

  Dia de Muertos is a holiday celebrated now throughout the world though is began a long time ago in Mexico. It is too good a holiday not to be adopted by others. Honoring ancestors is part of nearly every culture, but none does it quite as richly and publicly as the Mexican culture with Dia de Muertos.  The eating of specially prepared (yunny) foods at the graves of those who have passed, a sacred sharing, is a culmination of sorts of all the other activities that include: altars remembering the dead (Sula shown visiting one above) yummy, yummy, yummy food served at restaurants, eaten at home, shared with friends posadas (parades) around town - sacred and fun at the same time paper-cutting (really ornate) Sula's book, Dia de Muertos , contains a history, authentic recipes (!!!!), explanation of symbols, directions of how to make the paper cuttings, and lots and lots of pictures. Proofed by a Mexican priest -- Sula wanted to get it 100% right because, as with many other things, mis

  (At Christmas, Sula was in her element -- and in every creche and nativity scene.)  Watch  two endearing videos  of the late Sula , author of seven books and parish cat at O ld Mission San Juan Bautista for a warm 2022 memory. (Sula crossed the rainbow bridge in August.) For more posts about Sula and her books, including trailers and exceprts, click HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book  in exchange for  reviewing  a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com. Want an  author-signed copy  of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.

  Excerpt from Sula and the Franciscan Sisters (Sula) --   quite appropriate for Caturday and for Francistide! About Me I was like the sisters, in a way. You see, I was living in the San Juan Bautista (California) cemetery, then hanging out at City Hall. While I was still a kitten, though, I heard the Mission bells ringing, and my little paws headed me across the way to the Mission. Here I found my forever home and my special mission to help the parishioners. So, I too, became a mendicant, like all the other Franciscans. That is the summary. My whole story is quite a bit longer, but you can read about it in my other books. They are listed at the end of this book. For other posts Sula and her books, click HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book  i

  Thanks to photographer, Stacey Jewel, Sula, Parish Cat at Old Mission, has a fresh new picture (above)  You can friend Sula on Facebook HERE   You will be joining hundreds of others who love Sula. She has had people from all over the USA come to California to meet her! For more posts about Sula and her books, click HERE .

  (Sula, reminiscing, in her own pew, donated by parishioners in her honor.) So, how is Christmas 2020 going? You might ask Sula, beloved parish cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista and MSI Press author, considering that she wrote a book a few years ago--a popular one really--called Christmas at the Mission . Different this year, she may tell you because her cancer returned in the form of a tumor but with some very skilled veterinarian care her very bad prognosis turned around and the tumor is disappearing. At the same time this is all too familiar.  Because of covid, her "home" being closed from lock-down many times, and her cancer, Sula retired in December. (Please pray for her cancer to disappear entirely.) She now lives with parishioners and gets to interact with a retired priest from the Mission who lives nearby, so it feels like home. But she does work on Sundays, and she participated in all the normal activities--if anything could be considered normal this year. She he

  On Thursday, a funeral was held at Old Mission San Juan Bautista for Sula, parish cat, who crossed the rainbow bridge August 24. The funeral consisted of: rosary sharing of memories ("eulogies") traditional burial with holy water and prayers and scripture closing song: Prayer of St. Francis Sula's grave is in the grove by the statue of St. Francis. The current grave sign is temporary; a headstone is being readied and is expected in a couple of months. The funeral was private and attended by Sula's nearly 20 caregivers over her 15 years at the Mission. A public memorial will be held September 25. It will be streamed and, apparently, tele                                    Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter                           Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram . vised. We will post it here at MSI Press Blog as well. For more posts about Sula and her seven books, click HERE .

  Sula, the parish cat who pens books for MSI Press, has had her cancer return recently. A cancer specialist in Monterey was so kind as to provide treatment for her for free. I suppose that is fair. Sula takes care of the whole parish for free every day. So, once more, for the fourth time, let's all offer prayers for Sula's continuing resiliency and God's continuing care. Read more posts about Sula and her books HERE. And stories about her from newspapers and magazines online HERE .

  (illustration by Zhenya Yanovich) New political realities aside, January 6 has always been a special day. In the orthodox tradition, it is the first day of Christmas; in the Christian tradition, it is the last day of Christmas. In celebration, we offer an excerpt from Sula's book, Christmas at the Mission: Epiphany The Bible   contains only 12 mentions of the wise men (magi) and the Star of Bethlehem, but over time they have captured nearly everyone’s attention. A Christmas pageant would not be complete without the three magi, or as they are sometimes called, kings. Many nativity scenes also include the three magi. Who were they? What did they see? What did they know? Why are we enthralled with them? Well, first, they saw a star. The star is called the Star of Bethlehem because when the magi followed it, it stopped in Bethlehem over the manger where Jesus lay. The magi came from the east, following the star. They seemed to know what the star meant because on the way, they sto

  March is Women's History Month. We celebrate by recommending the following books for women. Order from our webstore and get a 25% discount with coupon code FF25.             108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas (Julie Gentile) Are you too busy for self-care? From a one-minute meditation to building a routine you love to wake up to, this quick read and everyday self-care resource gives you the energy to live a mindful, more nourished life by taking good care of yourself. With Julie M. Gentile, award-winning author, yoga teacher and Millennial mom, as your guide, you'll give birth to your highest self through self-care.  Book Excellence Awards Finalist IPPY Living Now Bronze Medal Read more posts about this book HERE . A Woman's Guide to Self-Nurturing (Joanna Romer) A Woman's Guide to Self-Nurturing offers a new perspective on how to comfort yourself while bolstering self-esteem. Using Bible stories as well as creative techniques for self-nurturing, the b

  The following is an excerpt from the description and history of the Day of the Dead as written by Sula, Parish Cat at Old Mission in her book, Dia de Muertos. Los antiguos mesoamericanos, quienes comenzaron la costumbre de celebrar la vida de sus antepasados =cada año (el Día de Muertos) creían que la muerte es parte del viaje de la vida. La muerte no es mala, no es el final de la vida, sino el comienzo de una nueva vida. Nueva vida viene de la muerte, al igual que los nuevos cultivos en este valle agrícola en el que se encuentra la ciudad de San Juan Bautista surgen cada año para que nuestros maravillosos trabajadores agrícolas cosechen en beneficio no solo de nuestra ciudad, valle y estado, sino también para muchas personas en muchos estados de los Estados Unidos donde nuestro producto se envía todos los días. Tal vez esta interpretación de la muerte—de que sea parte de un ciclo de nacimiento y renacimiento, es la razón por la cual San Francisco se refirió a la muerte como “Herma