Advent
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, the start of Advent isn't too far away. As we speed into the holiday season, Advent can often be nudged to the periphery, despite the fact that Advent can have a profound effect on our attitude about Christmas. Advent is a time to concentrate on Mary, the mother of God. Sometimes we forget that Mary put her hopes, dreams, and aspirations on hold in order to answer God's call to be the mother of Jesus. Mary said "yes," and that changed her whole life. A question for us to ponder this Advent season: How many times have we put our plans aside and said "yes" to God's plan for us?
In this FatherSide Chat, Father Gene reflects on growing up, finding your identity, and learning how to share your unique “song” with the world—balancing individuality and belonging while navigating rejection, growth, and the challenge of staying true to yourself.
What does a truly successful life look like? Father Gene challenges the usual definitions of status and achievement, offering a deeper, more human measure rooted in relationships, presence, and impact—being someone others genuinely want to invite back into their lives.