Author: Jessica Gazzola

• Hospitalization

  I have never been hospitalized as a sick person until now; only well with babe in arm, grateful for food prepared and luminous face to behold.  But being poked and prodded and asked for bowel history feels different without a wriggling byproduct to render it all worthwhile I like to believe circumstances, even unpleasant ones,…

  March 23, 2015

• Color Me Pink Warning

  My writing seems to color the world deeper shades of interesting when I’m feeling life’s bitter sweetness.  Today, I’m happy.  Not just content, but pop out of your skin happy.  And everything I try to write reads pink… cotton candy, artificial sweetener pink.  Ick!  So, you’ll have to suffer through with me until some rain…

  March 12, 2015

• The Woman Beneath the Vestments: My unconventional story of salvation

  I have always been quietly confident; blessed to be born into a family and in a time and place where women were encouraged to be whatever they wanted to be in the world. So when I was ordained a Catholic priest in 2007 there wasn’t a lot of shock in it, just another step for…

  March 8, 2015

• Friday Five: Saints be Praised!

  This week’s RevGalBlogPal’s Friday Five speaks to my Catholic core, but, as you’ll read, “saints” is a broader category for me today than it once was. Do you have a “favorite” saint? Tell us about him or her! I don’t have a favorite, but St. Brigid enters my prayer more often than others.  I took…

  March 6, 2015

• Today’s Icon: Jeff Miller a Priest of the Almost-Not-Yet

  Today’s Icon is a farewell gift to my friend and teacher, Jeffrey Miller (aka Mef, Jeff, Jeffers, assorted other nicknames perhaps unsuitable for a G-rated blog).  Jeff is moving to New Orleans to follow the muse that has led him through death and back (sometimes in the span of 24 hours). Jeff wears many hats:…

  March 5, 2015

• Paint Our Church Purple on March 8!

  Paint Our Church Purple: Celebrating the spiritual strength of women of faith March 8, 2015 1-3 pm Peace United Church of Christ 204 E. Lockwood Ave. Webster Groves, MO 63119 Get information and RSVP at our event page on facebook. This post is to share my growing enthusiasm for this weekend’s event to celebrate the UN’s…

  March 3, 2015

• Two Birth Poems

  Originally posted on Talk Birth: I shared these on my Facebook page recently too and as long as I was updating my birth quotes, I thought I’d post the poems as well. They could be good for a mother blessing or blessingway ceremony or just to print up for a mother preparing to give birth,…

  March 2, 2015

• 7 Reasons Why I Dislike Lists

  I noticed most of the articles circulating around my social media circles are in list form.  Is it more appealing to read a list than a story?  Maybe numbering something makes it seem more authoritative.  I’m going to give it a try!  My first list… “Why I Dislike Lists.” Let me first say that I…

  February 27, 2015

• Today’s Icon: Amos the Undeterred

  Icons are images that invite contemplation; to the keen observer they reflect divinity.  Certain strains of Christianity have used icons of saints or biblical scenes for inspiration and education.  It’s in the spirit of this tradition that I start this series, “Today’s icon.”  We all have images hanging on our walls, saved in our phones,…

  February 26, 2015

• Anointing

  It’s the time when the tendrils of the day are reeled in, when little bodies look for warm holes in which to burrow, and the sound of quiet replaces the din of chatter.  That’s how I used to imagine bedtime with children.  And sometimes, on a rare sleepy night, we come close.  But often, especially…

  February 24, 2015