Καθολικός διάκονος: moving ahead after a shaky year

This is the post in which I can blog a bit (more) about blogging. 2024 was touch-and-go for my little effort here on Καθολικός διάκονος. This year, I composed the fewest number of posts in the history of this effort, excepting the eleven months between when I made my first tentative start in 2005 and began blogging in earnest in July 2006.

Counting this one, I put up 66 posts this year. That still averages out to five and-a-half per month. I posted nothing in April, May, or September, and in August only once. As Advent approached, I had to reckon with the possibility of just letting my blog go after a run of a little more than eighteen years or continue. It was either walk away or commit.

I took time to give this dilemma some prayerful thought. I feel very good about continuing my efforts. This is what led to 17 posts in December, more than one every other day! I posted more in December than I did the previous 8 months combined. Due to length, this post may count for several. For my fellow Miranda fans- Bear with...

It's hard to believe that August 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of when I first discovered I was able to post stuff onto the worldwide web. It seems silly now, but back then, as someone who grew up before any of this existed, it was astounding to me. As the original title of this effort- Scott Dodge for Nobody- indicated, I didn't launch with great expectations.

What I did in August 2005 was compose 6 quite lame posts and then left it for almost a year. So, July 2025 will mark the 19th anniversary of Καθολικός διάκονος. This blog had some golden years when I achieved more popularity than I had ever dared hope for. I didn't do anything different during that time, but I was very prolific. Back then I was writing for a few online publications, such as Il Sussidiario- an ezine I still miss.

In 2010, I posted 386 times. This marked the peak. I am quite certain I will never come anywhere close to that again- something for which we can all be grateful. I don't have a goal for either a minimum or a maximum number of posts. I think somewhere around 10 posts per month on average is sustainable with some months being a bit more and others a bit less. I write this even as I realize that blogging like I do is a bit outdated.

On Good Friday this year, I hit a wall with social media. I logged out, deactivated, and felt absolutely no pull back for nearly two months. Since then, I have reduced my social media presence. I also took a hiatus in the summertime. Coming back from that I posted something about how politicians are actors and really bad ones at that. I used an appearance by Tim Walz as a case-in-point.

I could've easily chosen someone other than Walz but he was the newly selected Democratic VP candidate and was making the rounds, which means for all politicians trying look and sound "relatable." At the time, I knew little-to-nothing about him other than he was a politician, the governor of Minnesota.

My observation about the fakeness of politicians was taken by a now (I guess) former friend as not only some kind of attack on Walz but as a sign of MAGA affiliation. This despite both my original post and my subsequent comments indicating that my criticism applied across-the-board. Egads! Let me just say, it ain't only the MAGA folks, folks (using "folks" makes me relatable, right?). Getting bogged down in that interfered with an otherwise fun family get-away. Stupid me. Never again!

So, in 2025, I plan to spend less time on algorithm-driven platforms programmed to make us stupider (this is a word, I looked it up to be sure), narrower, and to divide us. Riffing off The Miami Sound Machine: "The algorithim is going to get you." This blog will once again be my main medium for online engagement.

Comments are on, though moderated. I am happy to engage in constructive, charitable discussion. If your starting point is that I am acting in bad faith, resulting in not giving me the benefit of the doubt, then we have nothing to discuss. I remain convinced that how you communicate is as important as what you communicate. I am fine with straigt forward. I look to my readers to hold me accountable for being honest, accurate, and charitable.

Writing is a means of growth for me personally. I have also received a number of communications recently about the impact my writing has had on a number of people and their urging me to continue. I like doing what I do non-commercially and with no pressure on me or those who read what I post. If someone, anyone, benefits from reading what I write, then I am quite happy. As a Catholic Deacon (it's in the title!), I write from a Catholic perspective.

I remain convinced God loves each and every one of us with a love that is incomprehensible, even to those of us who have experienced God's love in some measure. The old line "God loves you and there is nothing you can do about it" applies. As a deacon, it is my calling to express in my limited, fragile, and very incomplete way, God's love to others without exception, even as I struggle myself to receive it in the measure God deigns to communicate it to me. I do my best never to belittle, demean, or derogate anyone.

Blogging has certainly made me a better writer. I don't claim to be a great writer, or even a very good one. But I am better than I used to be. Hopefully, I am still improving.

In 2025, I plan to resume my reflections on the readings for Sundays and Solemnities I do not preach as well as posting my homilies for the Sundays, Solemnities, and weekdays I do preach. I plan to work on bringing back the Friday traditio. There will be occasional posts on matters theological, cultural, political. I like having some consistency in my cyberspace in an otherwise dizzyingly dynamic online environment. Judging from communications from readers, you appreciate it too.

I have great reading plan for 2025, which consists of digging into the pile of books I've managed to accumulate over the past 18 months. My plan, at least for now, is not to add to the pile. We'll see how that goes!

In November 2025, I turn 60. Yeah, I know! Hence, I will retire from moderately successful career, which will give me more personal time and more time to focus on my responsibilities heading up the Office of the Diaconate for my Diocese. I don't mind saying, the past 5 years have been more than a little exhausting, which has contributed to my inability to write more.

Through the intercession of our our Blessed Mother, may 2025 be filled with good health and blessings for you and your family. Catch you on the other side of midnight. Ciao until the New Year.