MSI Press Blog

Hello, My name is Sula, and I am the parish cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista. My first book, Surviving Cancer, Healing People: One Cat's Story , came out a couple of years ago. I am very grateful for  everyone who read and reviewed my book. All five stars! That made me so happy. More recently I have written three more books, one after the other, on slightly different topics. Many people had written to me, especially om my Face Book page , and told me that they like my books, but no one has written reviews. Reviews really help to get the word out. So, if you would like to write a review in exchange for a free copy of one of my books, just contact my publisher: info@msipress.com . Here are the books that need to be reviewed: Christmas at the Mission: A Cat's View of Catholic Customs and Beliefs Sula the Cat does it again! Sula, parish cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista, is a cat with a special mission: to comfort people in need. Every morning, she spends time ...

  Walk into a parish hall on a Lenten Friday and you’ll often find the same scene: steaming pots of soup, simple bread, people chatting softly, kids running underfoot, and a sense of gentle community. But why soup? And why Fridays? The answer is beautifully simple—and deeply rooted in the spirit of Lent. 1. Fridays are days of communal sacrifice During Lent, Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays as a small act of solidarity with Christ’s sacrifice. It’s not about dieting; it’s about choosing simplicity so the heart can pay attention to what matters most. Soup—humble, nourishing, and meatless—fits the day perfectly. It’s a meal that reflects the Church’s call to detachment and simplicity during this season . 2. Soup suppers turn fasting into fellowship Lent can be a solitary journey, but it was never meant to be lonely. Parish soup dinners transform a day of penance into a moment of community: sharing a simple meal supporting one another in the Lenten journey creating s...

  Sula, parish cat, venerates the cross on Good Friday Good Friday is the most solemn day of the Christian year — the day the Church stands at the foot of the Cross. Catholics do not “celebrate” Good Friday; they  commemorate  it with silence, fasting, and a liturgy unlike any other. It is the only day of the year when the Church does not celebrate Mass, underscoring the starkness of Christ’s death. Good Friday is part of the Triduum, the three‑day passage from the Last Supper to the Resurrection. If Holy Thursday is intimacy and command, Good Friday is exposure and surrender — the moment when love refuses to turn back. The Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion The central act of Good Friday is the  Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion , which has three movements: the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion. 1. The Entrance in Silence The liturgy begins without music or greeting. The priest enters in silence and  prostrates himself  — the only...

  Sula, parish cat, venerates the cross on Good Friday Good Friday is the most solemn day of the Christian year — the day the Church stands at the foot of the Cross. Catholics do not “celebrate” Good Friday; they commemorate it with silence, fasting, and a liturgy unlike any other. It is the only day of the year when the Church does not celebrate Mass, underscoring the starkness of Christ’s death. Good Friday is part of the Triduum, the three‑day passage from the Last Supper to the Resurrection. If Holy Thursday is intimacy and command, Good Friday is exposure and surrender — the moment when love refuses to turn back. The Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion The central act of Good Friday is the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion , which has three movements: the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion. 1. The Entrance in Silence The liturgy begins without music or greeting. The priest enters in silence and prostrates himself — the only time this posture ap...