Fr. Harry Winter
The Five Ways
Introduction to the Five Ways
There are five ways to live the Christian life. But all five have rarely flourished simultaneously. Usually, one or two dominate. During the last half of the twentieth century, in every denomination, all five competed in the average parish, congregation, and religious order. Only once or twice has this happened in the two-thousand-year history of Christianity. And then, instead of mutual support, the competition brought conflict and division. Yet all five can claim a basis in the New Testament.
Catholic Christians (and they exist in every denomination) are baptized as infants, love the sacraments, and are suspicious of emotion. Evangelical/Charismatic Christians search for a born-again experience, or baptism in the Spirit, as adults. They welcome emotion, long sermons, and witnessing and are uneasy with structures such as sacraments. Reformed (neo-orthodox) Vatican Il Christians recognize the necessity of change and renewal and frequently mediate between those Christians who practically worship change (Liberals) and those who view any change as betrayal (Fundamentalists).
You can learn more about the Five Ways here.
Five Ways Blog – Most Recent Post
- Five Ways – Aug 25
August 22, 2025
Many thanks to those who commented on the July 22 Five Ways e-letter. First, let us smile at a child’s seriousness. On Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church looking up at a large plaque.
The six-year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, “Good morning Alex.”
“Good morning Pastor,” he replied, still focused on the plaque.
“Pastor, what is this?”
The pastor said, “Well son, it’s a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service.”
Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large plaque.
Finally, little Alex’s voice, barely audible and trembling with fear asked, “Which service, the 8:30 or the 10:45?” (My thanks to my brother Mike Winter for finding this on the internet).
Secondly, Pope Leo contacted astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin on the July 20 anniversary of the first mission landing on the moon, 1969. Aldrin had taken the consecrated bread and wine from his Webster Presbyterian Church near Houston, TX and consumed it as the first food and drink on the moon. Wikipedia notes that he is now conflicted, feeling non-Christians were excluded “and we had come in the name of all mankind.”
During the flight back to earth, Aldrin read 2 verses of Psalm 8 from the King James version of the Bible in a radio communication with NASA’s mission control, saying “When I consider thy heavens, the work of they fingers, the moon and the stars, which thy has ordained; What is man that thou are mindful of him?”The Wikipedia article is very full about Aldrin’s attitude regarding Communion on the moon.
Pope Leo and Aldrin together “reflected on the mystery of creation, its greatness and its fragility,” the Vatican Press Office said July 20, 2025, releasing a photo of the pope and Aldrin with his wife, Anca Faur, taken during their video call.
Finally, August and September are full of celebrations of Mary, Mother of Unity and Evangelization. Her Assumption into heaven on Aug. 15, her Immaculate Heart on Aug. 22,her birthday on Sept. 8 and her feast of Sorrows on Sept. 15 remind us of her place in the mission of Jesus. See the website Mission-Unity-Dialogue, http://www.harrywinter.org, click on Mary and Unity on the right.May the final weeks of summer bring us all closer to our loving savior.
Fr. Harry Winter, O.M.I.
Recent Five-Ways posts from Fr. Harry
- Five Ways – Aug 25August 22, 2025 Many thanks to those who commented on the July 22 Five Ways e-letter. First, let us smile at a child’s seriousness. On Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church looking up at a large…
- Five Ways – Jul 25July 22, 2025 Many thanks to those who commented on the June 30 Five Ways E-Letter. First, let us continue our joyful note with children’s views of our world. “What does the word ‘benign’ mean? Answer: ‘Benign’ is what comes after you be eight….
- Five Ways – Jun 25June 30, 2025 As we end the month of June, with its devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and begin the month of July, with its devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus, both reminding us of the joy we have because of…
- Five Ways – May 25May 26, 2025 Many thanks to those who responded to the April 30 Five Ways. It was the most ever. First, a children’s story about Easter. The nun teaching catechism to the fourth graders wanted to impress on them the centrality of Jesus’ Resurrection….
- Five Ways – Apr 25 (2)Apr 30, 2025 Many thanks to those who commented on the April 23 Five Ways. With the papal elections so near, let us look at two Philippine Cardinals and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The leading cardinal from Asia for becoming the next pope,…
- Growth and Renewal: Oblate Renewal Group ExpandsAn Oblate-led fellowship quietly reaches 100 members, uniting Christians across traditions through prayer, reflection, and shared mission. From OMI World, 3 April 2025 The Five Ways Fellowship, a renewal group rooted in evangelization, ecumenism, and dialogue, recently welcomed its 100th member. With members spread…