Spring Part 2!!!

Our new year began with some finishing, that is within a week our son & daughters headed back to their respective worlds with grandchildren. Before they left however we began work on one of two new recording projects for 2009. We laid down the vocal tracks for the Christmas CD Cricket has requested for years. Nika literally laid down her songs while Cricket occupied her babies and she packed to fly back across the ocean to Spain. There will be both advent and Christmas themes on this record with many instruments and most of the family (and pets) involved.

Our unstuffing began in earnest this year. We vowed to get rid of half of our stuff, and as I tried to discern how to do that, I was led to “15 things per day”. So that has been ongoing; we give away, throw away, or sell 15 things per day. Like most inspirations, this sounded a lot more fun and romantic than it has turned out to be. It is truly releasing in the first weeks, but it starts to become hard choices very quickly. Extra and neglected clothing, books, CDs and dvds, computers and printers, and whatchmacallits are easy to unload. And moving from our large home of 20 years into a motorhome the size of C S Lewis' wardrobe makes the visualizing tangible. But even beyond the emotion, there is the practical question that arises when you realize that it will cost a lot more to replace this if you wind up needing it. It is at this point I believe the spirituality demands more attention: what do we really need? It is natural to consider this with perhaps a memento or nice sweater in mind; but the “rub” comes when it’s actually a book you love that no one else would want. And this same description could apply to a pillow or book of music or video or picture. I’ve heard some Franciscans say that they believe this is why the gospel is a essentially one of itinerancy; of motion, of not being held back or held down by “stuff”. (especially in Luke.)

We lead two retreats in February, traveling to Greensboro where Cricket led a woman’s day of reflection. It was a wonderful day and we are invited back to do a parish mission there later this year. We also gave a retreat with Father Bob Cushing of the Savannah diocese out at the monastery at Conyers Georgia. This same father bob is the man who introduced Cricket to Jerry in 1971.

We were blessed to be very involved in Holy Trinity’s “100 hours of devotions” in the second week of march.

We then traveled to Baton Rouge to see our daughter Talia in the lead of “singin’ in the ring”. Many of you have heard Talia and her sisters voices on HRS CDs: knew she who sang the Panis Angelicus on our Presence cd and the Salve on the Crown Rosary cd.

Later in march we were blessed to do a mission for Saint Philip Neri church in fort mill South Carolina this was the week prior to holy week and we were so blessed by the opportunity to serve this wonderful parish. Though Father John offered to have us park our motorhome next to the Church, there were 2 cell towers nearby so we enjoyed the 'night shift" at a local Wal-Mart! We never lack for invitations to stay with people, but our little 'home on wheels' is a fine place.

Cricket and I got to visit with the family of Natalie and Paul Burt and their four little ones extensively. Natalie's parents are close friends of ours from our Brown County Indiana days; but Natalie and Paul have a childrens' ministry we strongly support. They will be presenting at the Eucharistic Congress in Atlanta in June, and we have advertised their children's cd's because they are so well and prayerfully done.

Although this was the week just before Holy Week, we had great participation every evening! We were blessed to conclude this mission with an Evening of Reconciliation with Fr. John, and Fr. Ed, and Fr. Joseph from India. (I believe he could hear confession in a dozen languages!) On this night, Jerry spontaneously began singing songs of healing and forgiveness quietly on classical guitar as people returned from their time with the confessor. This solemn time of prayer lasted for over 3 hours as many stayed in a quiet time and prayed. I believe the Lord provided a spiritual oasis during this mission, but especially on the closing night! Here is a quote from a letter we received from the founding Pastor (I love his comment about our being 'low maintenance'):

"Recently Cricket and Jerry Aull conducted a Lenten retreat in my
parish. I recommend them whole heartedly because they spoke to issues of prayer, Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation in word and song. They were low maintenance, as far as no trouble, and very grateful of what the people gave. It was the first time that we had a lay-led retreat and it was very well received by our people.

Jerry and his beloved wife Cricket have a very deep spirituality upon
which they draw upon the lives of the saints and their contemporary
experiences. Sincerly, Fr. John Giuliani, C.O. Pastor of St. Philip Neri"

Spring update!

It is difficult to say when and where this all began, but certainly an igniting moment was when our oldest daughter and grandsons returned to their home in Spain and our baby, (of six), headed off to the university of Georgia. This was our first “empty nest” in over 35 years.

We immediately left for Minnesota, where cricket led a weeklong retreat or a convent. I traveled into Pennsylvania for one of my last corporate gigs, and returned in the motorhome to carry us to Arkansas. We then spoke to the catholic association of musicians conference at the little portion hermitage with john Michael Talbot.

We have attended this conference several times, but this trip was special and many ways. It was our first relying solely on the motorhome, staying in campgrounds and truck stop parking lots, and receiving tremendous encouragement all along the way. It was that this conference that we made a special connection with Pierce Pettis, an award winning professional songwriter based in Nashville and Alabama. (check out Pierce’s Bio at stable music dot com) we were blessed to be invited to Pierce’s church for a mass saying goodbye to the Sister who had administrated the parish for over a decade

July found us in preparation for what the rest of the year would bring , partly beginning the process of “unstuffing” our lives and making ready to spend longer periods on the road. Jerry also began the process of recording our newest CD,” my favorite picture”, which is a collection of original and other songs we use in our ministry.

In August, we were blessed to serve the Franciscan regional gathering in Ridgecrest, North Carolina. Jerry provided music at mass and in the context of Cricket’s workshop, which we have recorded and made available to those who desire it. We also provided a Franciscan retreat at the Trappist monastery in Conyers Georgia.

September began with our leading the night of prayer and song at Most Holy Trinity parish in Augusta Georgia. We celebrated their with our own “archangel” Father Michael Lubinsky, whose prayerful encouragement has become a constant miracle for us.

Words about Jerry and Cricket Aull are my gratitude to them for coming to Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Augusta, GA September 9,2008 , and offering our community an unforgettable evening of prayer and song and reflections that pierce he mind and heart and soul and spirit with mystical holiness, joy ,and love of God.

Jerry's singing lifts the soul to God in exquisite beauty. He is complemented by the message of Gospel truths and values by Cricket Aull as she focuses us on the mysteries of Christian faith in Jesus to keep us single-minded in His purpose for the honor and glory of God and the sanctification of our lives. What a powerful duo of talent and Christian faithfulness to God's plan for them to sing His praises
always. I am totally recommending your parish to call upon Jerry and Cricket to give you the opportunity to hear and see for yourself the beauty of their calling to our Church."

FR Michael Lubinsky parochial vicar at Most Holy Trinity Church


In the middle of September, we reconnected with many friends in our previous parish of Saint Agnes, in Nashville Indiana.

We were blessed to lead a retreat for the Franciscan fraternity in Hendersonville North Carolina, and stayed in our camper “on the street where Greg lives”.

Autumn brought some beautiful scenery on our trip up to St Louis for Cricket’s high school reunion and reconnection with good friends there. From St. Louis we traveled to the national secular Franciscan convention where Cricket spoke on while Jerry again provided liturgical and workshop music.

Later in October, we were honored to serve the Franciscan fraternities in Chattanooga Tennessee for the day of reflection on [photos etc.] And were the guests of John and Faye Martin. We found at this retreat that we were out of sync with the heating system in a meeting room and were freezing inside while it was gorgeous outside! We celebrated youth and balance of nature by warming up outside in the wonderful Tennessee sun.

Early November took us to Sioux City Iowa, where we were so blessed to serve the Church of the Nativity with the parish mission on harvest.


Father Jerry Fierfeldt and his community held us in their souls from Saturday through the following Thursday. We had camped in this area on our way there, at Graham cracker state park (my name). It went below freezing that night and our heater wouldn’t function, and the win sounded like something out of the wizard of oz. Needless to say, we were the only campers at night, but it was actually quite cozy as we rolled the rest of the way into Sioux City. We did a brief description of the mission at the masses, and Jerry provided music with the parish as liturgical musicians. Monday night was focused on the seeds of harvest, the parable of the sower, and a hearty group of folks braved the first big snow and ice of the season to join us.
It was after this “polar” experience, (at least for us Georgians), that Father Jerry and his dog
Invited us to stay in the guest part of the rectory. It was like being in a mansion compared to the motorhome, but this dog’s enthusiasm and gregariousness is almost as nonstop has his master, Father Jerry. We are dog lovers from way way back, and Father Jerry reminded me of Father Griffin constantly walking across the campus of the University of Notre Dame with his dog when we went to school there.

Nearly all returned under the same conditions for Tuesday night, where our theme focused on the cultivation and the growing of our catholic faith and harvest. This worked well with the examination of conscience, and then our celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation. Several priests came from neighboring parishes, and it was so wonderful to visit into the night with so many people for prayer and fellowship.

Father Jerry and several others had recommended that we visit the shrine in Sioux City before we finished our mission. The pictures we’ve included were taken with a lousy camera on a an overcast day but here is a link for better visuals. http://www.trinityheights.com/ We spent several hours roaming the grounds and appreciating the wonderful testament and teaching of our catholic era teach present on this holy ground.






We finished the nativity mission on the theme of harvest, with a wonderful Mass celebrated by Father Andrew-Bao Vo from Vietnam. We always knew that one of the blessings of our itinerant ministry would be the stories that we got to share with people we met. Father Andrew and his family lived for seven years in the jungles of Vietnam after their father was arrested. During that time the family still grew in their catholic faith so much so that this young man this now a wonderful priest in Iowa. By last night of the mission, we felt truly as though we were at the dinner table with wonderful friends and believers, and we look forward to our next visit to the nativity family.

Our trip home allowed me to visit with my sister Mary Pat, who is on staff at boys town research hospital. Many of us I’m sure recall the story of father Flanagan and boys town, symbolized by the beautiful song, “he ain’t heavy father, he’s my brother”; and even though my sister and I are among nine children of a deaf widow, it was transforming to see my sisters' passion and results and dealing with deaf infants, children, and their families.

We were honored later that week to serve of Franciscan retreat outside of Kansas City, and one page of the newsletter below tells that story well.

Morning of Reflection, Saturday, November 15
It was cold and snowy that Saturday morning, but inside the Sanctuary of Hope there was warmth emanating from the words and music of Cricket and Jerry Aull. The Secular Franciscans gathered were treated to a presentation on “Understanding Penance.”
We were told that the official commentary on the Rule of the SFO describes a person who does penance as one turned toward God. We need to be the presence of God to the world. Penance also means that my life can be offered to God in such a way that I help to call forth more of creation, in addition to myself, to loving God wholeheartedly. Everything we do has potential to bring others closer to God.
Penance should be a way of life for the Secular Franciscan. We do this best by following our promises of simplicity (planting the seeds of patience and love), purity (everything done purely for God), and obedience (serving others) as best as possible according to our state in life.
God uses all of our situations in life to bring about a transformation to holiness. God, in loving wisdom, has made the painfully difficult circumstances which work to fashion us into holiness and that also serve to present our beloved Lord to a world that needs to see Him.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.” A form of penance is detachment from preferring our own opinions; also detachment from material goods; denial of one’s self. The love and imitation of Christ is present in all penance.
In faith we embrace everything as a gift from God because we trust our gracious and loving Father to take everything we go through and use it for His will and our good.
It is JOY (a) to be freed from a self-focus; (b) to know Christ intimately; (c) to know the great depth of the love of Christ; (d) to realize that all of our sufferings of life and the cross are valuable, redemptive, and used by God’s design to make us holy; (e) to allow the Holy Spirit to take us through all life’s experiences and relationships with love’s pure desire to give of itself.
We must try to remember that God uses our sufferings to transform ourselves AND the world. Think of lifting up someone else rather than myself—love lowliness!!
Cricket and Jerry gave us much to think and pray about. Visit their website at jerryandcricketaull.com to check out their book store and music store.
Let us pray for the Spirit of Penance:

“O seraphic father, St. Francis, I venerate in you the living image of Christ crucified. Your Love transformed your whole life into one long martyrdom. It made you strive by means of severe penances to satisfy the ardor of your desires, until at last it impressed on your body the wounds it had long before engraved deeply in your heart. It thus made you a living crucifix, preaching sweetly to all people the sufferings and love of Jesus. Obtain for me, O holy father, that I too may banish from my heart the spirit of the world; that I may esteem poverty and humiliation above wealth and honor; that I may mortify my passions and advance daily in the knowledge and love of God, until at last, detached from myself, from the world and from all creatures, I may live for God alone, and like you say with my while heart, “My God and my all,” my God, my inheritance and my joy in time and eternity. Amen.” (from Secular Franciscan Companion, Franciscan Herald Press, p. 54)


December began with our celebrating an advent evening of reflection with holy Trinity parish in Peachtree City Georgia. Despite the hurry and flurry of the season, the room was brimming with people fully desiring that graces of advent prayer. (sorry the photo is dark, but you know how candlelight mixes with a cell phone photo!)

We were so richly blessed to give an Advent retreat in the last week before Christmas at St. Peter Chanel Parish, who had just dedicated their new sanctuary!

Fr. Frank McNamee, now at the Cathedral in Atlanta, worked with us on a wonderful 3 nights of Advent waiting and living in hope and grace. We concluded on Wednesday evening with an Evening of Reconciliation with over 20 priests there, and the choirs helped with the songs of quiet reflection! (more to come!)

Climbing Down the Corporate Ladder

In the summer of 08, we experienced the first time in 35 yrs that we weren’t ‘parenting’ on a full time basis. Our ‘baby’ of 6 graduated high school and was heading to UGA, and we were led to begin something we had heard a call to for several years.















Both of us had degrees in Theology, and had been in part time ministry for decades; teaching, doing music, speaking, volunteering, etc. Jerry had traveled extensively being a keynote speaker and management consultant, and Cricket had been a speaker and leader for the 3rd order Franciscans and many days of reflection, retreats, etc. We decided to leave the security of our job and home and purge our possessions. We began to hit the road in a motorhome not much bigger than a closet and be ‘on call’ for where the Lord would lead us to serve with our gifts.

In 2000, jerry had visited a caravan of 25 motorhomes who were ‘full timers’, ie, they lived in them. This bunch were plumbers and pastors and physicians who followed the red cross to areas of need. In their semi-retirement, they gave of their career expertise to help people. Cricket thought we could do that for people in parishes, through service, prayer, and music. Jerry’s extensive career in education and consulting had led him to believe that corporate cultures are places full of wounded people; folks who had let the time + mental demands of their careers relegate the very time the soul needs to pray and rest and lead become an ‘afterthought’.

We thought the best way to challenge this trend was to live an alternative; with little preparation Jerry left his Directors’ position and salary and benefits and did not accept several offers to continue in the career that had blessed him. With gas prices doubling weekly, financial markets drowning in crisis, and most people thinking that ‘holding their own’ in the present would be a good thing, we embraced a ‘spirituality of subtraction’ in the tradition of St. Francis.

Jerry’s music is recorded with our daughters doing wonderful vocals, and these cd’s are to help people pray. Cricket’s books and talks are focused in how to follow a call to Franciscan spirituality in family and society. Our retreats, missions, and days or nights of reflection are offered wherever our wheels will take us!

Reflections on the Face of Christ

“And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples and there I will enter into judgement with you face to face.” Ezekiel 20:35
I usually hesitate to mention my more personal prayer times because, though they are very meaningful to me, I do not mean to imply that everyone should regard them with the same importance that I do. This is one of those reflections, however, that I have been told left a great impact on others. I share it only as a perspective that might help us view other people with greater love and sincere attention.
Several years ago, every time I began to pray, I would see the face of Jesus in front of me. His face would then change into the face of someone else – usually people I did not recognize. This happened repeatedly so that I began to seek the Lord for the meaning to this. A week later, again in prayer, the Lord placed it clearly on my heart to look up every scripture which mentioned being ‘face to face’ with God. I got out my concordance and, beginning in Genesis, read every scripture listed under that phrase. When I came to this scripture in Ezekiel, I immediately had a profound vision that has forever changed my interaction with other people.
I saw people reaching the end of their life, and when they died, they experienced a ‘flashback’ of every encounter they had with other people during their lifetime. This flashback included everyone, whether it was a close relative, an occasional friend, or a passerby they saw only once very briefly. Any person with whom they had come ‘face to face’ was now coming before them, one after the other, in succession. But with each person they encountered, I saw that Christ was using only the eyes of that other person to recall a remembrance. I would see Him looking, through their eyes, into the face of the one who had died and He would say something like: “I remember you, you were the one who helped me when I was having such a difficult time,” or “you were the one who brought me groceries when I was out of a job,” or “you were that one who helped me across the street… (or) …said that kind word to me.” He spoke from some recognition of good that could be recalled in the heart. But if the Lord could not find some recognition like this, something that reflected His own goodness, He would search and search for one. He sought through the mind and heart for anything that could recall a reflection of His love, because it was only His love and goodness that could live eternally. After searching the depths of the heart, if He could still find nothing of good, He would slowly shake His head and say, “I never knew you.”
“Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?” Matt. 25:37-39
I don’t really know if our judgement upon leaving this world happens in this way. I don’t know if this is the way that “everyone of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Rom. 14:12) I do think, though, that we tend to assume our ‘judgement’ will include our personal excuses and reasoning. Perhaps God will only recognize each of us in eternity by the way we have recognized and responded to Him in the people He has created. It is something to think about.
“And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” Matt. 25:40.
May we abide by the words of Christ: “that you love one another as I have loved you.” Jn 15:12

Reflections on Discernment

August Newsletter – 2005
“Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes
all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7

I often hear from people who are trying to discern something. It might be a decision to be made,
the way to view a certain circumstance, or how to follow God’s will. When those situations arise, I have found a few things to be helpful in our process of discernment.

Prayer, of course, is first because it is God we need to seek above all for wisdom and guidance. God knows what we need before we ask, and all our ways are before Him. (Matt. 6:8, Ps. 119:168) So, we seek His perfect guidance, but especially, we remember to seek and desire God first. The best and most profitable thing we can start with is simply to love and seek being closer to God. This puts everything in the right perspective and gives us the proper detachment we need to begin discernment. Our mind and heart are in a correct attitude for receiving God’s pure and eternal knowledge. One way we honor Him first is by giving to God the ‘first fruits’ of our day, the first fruits of our attention, and our time. In all matters, our attention and devotion to God should come before other interests or needs. When we do that, we are naturally ‘in prayer,’ and sincere prayer naturally prepares us for receiving God’s direction.

Practicing faith is another necessary step. By this I mean that we continually believe in God and trust Him. Practicing implies that we are working at it. Sometimes we need to make an effort to have faith because it is not a natural part of our response. We need to remind ourselves that “the Lord is faithful in all His words and gracious in all His deeds.” (Ps 145:13) Or, as David sang to his soul, we “bless the Lord….and forget not all His benefits.” (Ps. 103:2) Actively using our faith is important because it is the avenue God works through in our life. Once, when I felt God asking me to do something that required a great amount of faith, I prayed, “Lord, you can do all things, but do you know how hard it is for us to just step out in faith and believe that something is going to work?” When I prayed this, I ‘heard’ in my mind a clear ‘Yes!’ in answer to my question. And in that ‘yes’ was also this explanation: whatever level of difficulty we have in trusting God, becomes the same difficulty God deals with in helping us. He works through our faith in Him. We can think a certain problem is not difficult for God because of His sovereignty, but we forget that He does not force His will on us, that He freely gives us choice and faith, and He still works through our cooperation with His grace. Our ability to discern is always benefited by actively using our faith to turn to God and trust in Him.

A third, and sometimes more difficult, step is patience. We do not see all that is taking place while we pray for discernment. The patience we need to exercise brings our faith to a deeper level where God’s grace can work in a deeper way. We have to wait. We have to let go. We have to trust. There is time to consider and avoid the traps of doubting, complaining, and becoming anxious. God is able to move more effectively without our self-focused obstacles. We gain much from the need to be patient. A deeper work is occurring in our souls - our sanctification, which is the will of God. (1 Thess. 4:3)

A fourth step is mentioned in the scripture from Philippians - thanksgiving. We give thanks because this gives honor and glory to God at the same time it shows our faith and reinforces it. Thanksgiving expresses love to our Creator. And in all of this – prayer with God first, faith that is active, patient waiting, and thanksgiving – the outcome is the peace of God which keeps us centered in Christ Jesus. It is in that peace that we are in the best place for discerning.
Blessings, Cricket Aull