Catholic Spirit Honors Saint John the Baptist of Hugo
Thank you to everyone who made this possible!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
February 21- Bulletin
Saint John the Baptist prayer for Vocations in the year of the Priest
You will find in this bulletin a copy of a specially written Prayer for Vocations for out parish. We will be using this prayer at each prayer gathering in the Lenten Season and beyond.
The copy provided in the bulletin is written to be used in your homes and individually. Please keep it with you and use it frequently as we pray for our church and for ourselves that God may work in us and develop leaders for His Church.
The movement of the prayer first calls us to give thanks to God “now and forever” (the God of all ages). We ask God to send the Holy Spirit among us – to give us strength to live in the example of Christ.
Next, we ask God to bless our homes, our family and our children- (it is from our families that vocations will come). We ask God , not simply to give us leaders from some outside source- but to call leaders from our own community and families.
In the final movement of the prayer we ask for courage to respond to God’s call and that God may open our hearts to respond to him ( where ever that may lead us).
We close out our prayer Imploring Mary to pray for us.
The form we will use in church is developed as a call and respond. This prayer style allows us to reflect on the words being prayed.
It is hoped that this prayer for vocations will inspire us to grow as a community of faith in the image and likeness of Christ and to help us all strive to more fully discern God’s will for our individual lives.
Sacrament of Reconciliation-
This Wednesday evening we will gather with second graders and their parents to prepare them to receive the sacrament of reconciliation for the first time. The main focus of our time will be discussion of God’s loving nature and His capacity to forgive.
In the Gospel this weekend we here of the temptations of Christ. These temptations- food-power- and putting God to the test - are representative of a whole array of temptations that can lead us away from God’s will in our lives.
In this Holy Season of Lent, each of us is called to a greater understanding of our need for God’s mercy. We are called to reflect on the areas of our life that need change so that we can live more fully in God’s love. We are called to evaluate the temptations that distract us from lives of faith. We are called to take actions in our lives that will move us away from habits that separate us from God.
The sacrament of reconciliation is available each Saturday afternoon at 4 PM. The sacrament is also available by appointment.
Wednesday March 17 has been set aside for individual reconciliation at 6:30 PM. Several priests will be available for individual celebration of the sacrament. Saturday March 20, at 10 AM we will have Mass with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. This sacrament for healing and for the forgiveness of sin is available to any who seek it.
You will find in this bulletin a copy of a specially written Prayer for Vocations for out parish. We will be using this prayer at each prayer gathering in the Lenten Season and beyond.
The copy provided in the bulletin is written to be used in your homes and individually. Please keep it with you and use it frequently as we pray for our church and for ourselves that God may work in us and develop leaders for His Church.
The movement of the prayer first calls us to give thanks to God “now and forever” (the God of all ages). We ask God to send the Holy Spirit among us – to give us strength to live in the example of Christ.
Next, we ask God to bless our homes, our family and our children- (it is from our families that vocations will come). We ask God , not simply to give us leaders from some outside source- but to call leaders from our own community and families.
In the final movement of the prayer we ask for courage to respond to God’s call and that God may open our hearts to respond to him ( where ever that may lead us).
We close out our prayer Imploring Mary to pray for us.
The form we will use in church is developed as a call and respond. This prayer style allows us to reflect on the words being prayed.
It is hoped that this prayer for vocations will inspire us to grow as a community of faith in the image and likeness of Christ and to help us all strive to more fully discern God’s will for our individual lives.
Sacrament of Reconciliation-
This Wednesday evening we will gather with second graders and their parents to prepare them to receive the sacrament of reconciliation for the first time. The main focus of our time will be discussion of God’s loving nature and His capacity to forgive.
In the Gospel this weekend we here of the temptations of Christ. These temptations- food-power- and putting God to the test - are representative of a whole array of temptations that can lead us away from God’s will in our lives.
In this Holy Season of Lent, each of us is called to a greater understanding of our need for God’s mercy. We are called to reflect on the areas of our life that need change so that we can live more fully in God’s love. We are called to evaluate the temptations that distract us from lives of faith. We are called to take actions in our lives that will move us away from habits that separate us from God.
The sacrament of reconciliation is available each Saturday afternoon at 4 PM. The sacrament is also available by appointment.
Wednesday March 17 has been set aside for individual reconciliation at 6:30 PM. Several priests will be available for individual celebration of the sacrament. Saturday March 20, at 10 AM we will have Mass with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. This sacrament for healing and for the forgiveness of sin is available to any who seek it.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Bulletin articles for February 14, 2010
Bulletin article for February 14, 2010
Today we Luke’s version of the lessons frequently referred to as “The Sermon on the Mount” or the Beatitudes. But both of those descriptions come from the way these lessons are given to us in the Gospel of Matthew. The ‘beatitudes’ are a recipe for spiritual happiness in Matthew and stand alone as an uplifting message for the poor and suffering.
While in Matthew Jesus is pronouncing from on high (the mount) a message of hope for the poor, Luke places Jesus in the valley- with the poor and suffering. His words, while offering comfort, offer a challenge to those who might otherwise be considered powerful. The teaching of Jesus includes not just the ‘blessings; but also the ‘woes’ or curses. Each lesson of encouragement for the poor and suffering has a corresponding warning for those who find their comfort in material things or earthly power.
Blessed are you who are poor, But woe to you who are rich,
Blessed are you who are now hungry, Woe to you who are filled now,
Blessed are you who are now weeping, Woe to you who laugh
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man. Woe to you when all speak well of you.
Saint Francis of Assisi taught us by his example how to seek a kind of spiritual poverty that allows us to seek a spirituality that starves for Christ- as if we were poor, or hungry, or weeping. The theology of Luke however reminds us that we must actively avoid the contentment and comfort that comes from being rich, filled or laughing. It is not that we cannot experience any of these things in our lives. The challenge is to resist the numbness that can so often accompany these realities in the human condition.
This is a great reading on which to end our experience of ordered time and begin together our Lenten Journey. Lent can be a time of profound experience of the cross of Christ.
Jesus himself taught us what it means to share the suffering of the human experience- including his passion and death. Compassion- ‘to suffer with’ is the experience of the life Christ lived with us. Lent challenges us to profoundly experience human suffering in all its forms just as Jesus did.
Lent does not need to be a terribly somber experience. But lent should focus our attention on how we can shape our lives and our spirituality is a way that reflects the love that can be known through Jesus Christ. Celebration of the Stations of the Cross invite us to reflection of Christ’s suffering. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament reminds us Of Christ’s presence with us now. And continued reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation restores us in God’s grace and renews us in the healing and forgiving love of God
The Holy Season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and offers the opportunity to experience each of these prayer forms. Together, let us seek that healing and growth that Jesus so freely gives.
Faith Enrichment-
In the month of February we continue to examine the healing sacraments of our church. The sacrament of anointing and the Sacrament of reconciliation share similar origins in that they both restore the grace filled nature of the individual to ready him or her for reception into heaven. They are both a way of restoring the relationship of God and believer and the relationship between the believer and the Community of Faith, the Church.
Lent also finds its origins in the same desire of individuals to restore themselves in relationship with God. By uniting ourselves to the experience of Christ in the His suffering and in His Cross we hope to unite ourselves also to Christ in His Glorious resurrection.
Our Lenten focus this coming season will be two-fold. We will continue to focus on the Cross at the center of our prayer and penance. The Cross was a cause of scandal. It was an instrument of embarrassing death. But in the resurrection it becomes a symbol of the Victory of Christ and the Glory of God himself. Our penitential rite at the beginning of our Lenten celebrations will focus us intently on the cross as an instrument of our salvation.
The other focal point will be a more personal reminder of our need for God’s mercy.
As a tangible and visible sign to remind us daily of Christ’s suffering each member of our community will be given a nail, symbolic of the nails that pierced Christ’s hands and feet.
Each member of our community will be asked to carry this nail with them throughout the Lenten season, preferably in their pocket or in another obvious location that will help them to continually focus on the suffering and the love of Christ.
This constant reminder of God’s love will be a common call to prayer for every member of our community. When you touch it, hold it, see it- pray for yourself and for others in our community- by name (including me, please)- that we may all experience a profound conversion in this up-coming holy season.
Ash Wednesday Masses, with distribution of Ashes will be held at 8 AM and 6:30 PM.
New Daily Mass schedule will be 8 AM Mass on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Stations of the Cross and Benediction will be held each Friday at 6:30 PM
Sacrament of Reconciliation is scheduled at 4 PM each Saturday afternoon and by appointment. Simply call Father Jon to arrange this.
Please utilize these many prayer opportunities to grow in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Today we Luke’s version of the lessons frequently referred to as “The Sermon on the Mount” or the Beatitudes. But both of those descriptions come from the way these lessons are given to us in the Gospel of Matthew. The ‘beatitudes’ are a recipe for spiritual happiness in Matthew and stand alone as an uplifting message for the poor and suffering.
While in Matthew Jesus is pronouncing from on high (the mount) a message of hope for the poor, Luke places Jesus in the valley- with the poor and suffering. His words, while offering comfort, offer a challenge to those who might otherwise be considered powerful. The teaching of Jesus includes not just the ‘blessings; but also the ‘woes’ or curses. Each lesson of encouragement for the poor and suffering has a corresponding warning for those who find their comfort in material things or earthly power.
Blessed are you who are poor, But woe to you who are rich,
Blessed are you who are now hungry, Woe to you who are filled now,
Blessed are you who are now weeping, Woe to you who laugh
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man. Woe to you when all speak well of you.
Saint Francis of Assisi taught us by his example how to seek a kind of spiritual poverty that allows us to seek a spirituality that starves for Christ- as if we were poor, or hungry, or weeping. The theology of Luke however reminds us that we must actively avoid the contentment and comfort that comes from being rich, filled or laughing. It is not that we cannot experience any of these things in our lives. The challenge is to resist the numbness that can so often accompany these realities in the human condition.
This is a great reading on which to end our experience of ordered time and begin together our Lenten Journey. Lent can be a time of profound experience of the cross of Christ.
Jesus himself taught us what it means to share the suffering of the human experience- including his passion and death. Compassion- ‘to suffer with’ is the experience of the life Christ lived with us. Lent challenges us to profoundly experience human suffering in all its forms just as Jesus did.
Lent does not need to be a terribly somber experience. But lent should focus our attention on how we can shape our lives and our spirituality is a way that reflects the love that can be known through Jesus Christ. Celebration of the Stations of the Cross invite us to reflection of Christ’s suffering. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament reminds us Of Christ’s presence with us now. And continued reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation restores us in God’s grace and renews us in the healing and forgiving love of God
The Holy Season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and offers the opportunity to experience each of these prayer forms. Together, let us seek that healing and growth that Jesus so freely gives.
Faith Enrichment-
In the month of February we continue to examine the healing sacraments of our church. The sacrament of anointing and the Sacrament of reconciliation share similar origins in that they both restore the grace filled nature of the individual to ready him or her for reception into heaven. They are both a way of restoring the relationship of God and believer and the relationship between the believer and the Community of Faith, the Church.
Lent also finds its origins in the same desire of individuals to restore themselves in relationship with God. By uniting ourselves to the experience of Christ in the His suffering and in His Cross we hope to unite ourselves also to Christ in His Glorious resurrection.
Our Lenten focus this coming season will be two-fold. We will continue to focus on the Cross at the center of our prayer and penance. The Cross was a cause of scandal. It was an instrument of embarrassing death. But in the resurrection it becomes a symbol of the Victory of Christ and the Glory of God himself. Our penitential rite at the beginning of our Lenten celebrations will focus us intently on the cross as an instrument of our salvation.
The other focal point will be a more personal reminder of our need for God’s mercy.
As a tangible and visible sign to remind us daily of Christ’s suffering each member of our community will be given a nail, symbolic of the nails that pierced Christ’s hands and feet.
Each member of our community will be asked to carry this nail with them throughout the Lenten season, preferably in their pocket or in another obvious location that will help them to continually focus on the suffering and the love of Christ.
This constant reminder of God’s love will be a common call to prayer for every member of our community. When you touch it, hold it, see it- pray for yourself and for others in our community- by name (including me, please)- that we may all experience a profound conversion in this up-coming holy season.
Ash Wednesday Masses, with distribution of Ashes will be held at 8 AM and 6:30 PM.
New Daily Mass schedule will be 8 AM Mass on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Stations of the Cross and Benediction will be held each Friday at 6:30 PM
Sacrament of Reconciliation is scheduled at 4 PM each Saturday afternoon and by appointment. Simply call Father Jon to arrange this.
Please utilize these many prayer opportunities to grow in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
Historically, the Sacrament of Reconciliation evolves from the sacrament of “Last Rites” or anointing of the sick. Each or these sacraments offer the prayers of the church, forgiveness of sins and restoration of grace and the relationship between God and the faithful.
The Sacrament which is now known as “Anointing of the Sick” was established as a renewal of the grace received in baptism, and the forgiveness of sins. It was almost exclusively offered at the time of death. This ‘second chance’ helped to move the faithful from the practice of waiting until they were near death to receive baptism. They wanted to have the fullness of grace so that they could go to heaven.
Reconciliation looks very different from its original practice. Following in the pattern established for receiving adults into the church at Easter- and the penance and sacrifice of lent- faithful seeking renewal in grace could enter into a Lenten season of sacrifice and penance, including public declaration of the sin they hoped to overcome. Then at Easter they could return to the sacrament of the Eucharist.
Most are probably grateful that the sacrament has evolved from this earliest stage. The sacrament is no longer seen as a lengthy public recanting of sinful behavior. Our understanding has grown to see the sacrament as an opportunity for grace and healing. It has also developed so that the faithful are encouraged to make frequent use of the sacrament to remain in a constant relationship of Grace with God.
Just as with the Sacrament of Anointing, it is helpful for us to think of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as an opportunity for healing. At the center is the power of Christ to provide healing and forgiveness of sins.
The penitent prayerfully reflects on their need for God’s mercy, humbles themselves before God and the church, makes an examination of conscience and an accounting of their sins. The confessor offers spiritual council and offers a penance.
Penance is a chance to enter into prayer and to seek God’s assistance in avoiding sin in the future. I sometimes prefer the word reparation- the chance to set things right with God and the Church (the living community of the faithful- the Body of Christ).
In the recent history of the Church, many have moved away from frequent individual celebration of the sacrament. This is an unfortunate reality. I believe it has contributed to a lack of understanding of the nature of sin and its presence in our lives.
While in Seminary, I was given a great image for the Sacrament – from the perspective of the priest/confessor- that I continue to think about to this day. The priest thinks about their role in the Sacrament of Reconciliation as ‘having a front row seat as the Holy Spirit works in the penitent’s life and draws them closer to God’s grace.’
The image is by no means perfect but it reflects the humbling experience of bringing others to the grace and forgiveness God so freely gives in Jesus Christ.
The Sacrament which is now known as “Anointing of the Sick” was established as a renewal of the grace received in baptism, and the forgiveness of sins. It was almost exclusively offered at the time of death. This ‘second chance’ helped to move the faithful from the practice of waiting until they were near death to receive baptism. They wanted to have the fullness of grace so that they could go to heaven.
Reconciliation looks very different from its original practice. Following in the pattern established for receiving adults into the church at Easter- and the penance and sacrifice of lent- faithful seeking renewal in grace could enter into a Lenten season of sacrifice and penance, including public declaration of the sin they hoped to overcome. Then at Easter they could return to the sacrament of the Eucharist.
Most are probably grateful that the sacrament has evolved from this earliest stage. The sacrament is no longer seen as a lengthy public recanting of sinful behavior. Our understanding has grown to see the sacrament as an opportunity for grace and healing. It has also developed so that the faithful are encouraged to make frequent use of the sacrament to remain in a constant relationship of Grace with God.
Just as with the Sacrament of Anointing, it is helpful for us to think of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as an opportunity for healing. At the center is the power of Christ to provide healing and forgiveness of sins.
The penitent prayerfully reflects on their need for God’s mercy, humbles themselves before God and the church, makes an examination of conscience and an accounting of their sins. The confessor offers spiritual council and offers a penance.
Penance is a chance to enter into prayer and to seek God’s assistance in avoiding sin in the future. I sometimes prefer the word reparation- the chance to set things right with God and the Church (the living community of the faithful- the Body of Christ).
In the recent history of the Church, many have moved away from frequent individual celebration of the sacrament. This is an unfortunate reality. I believe it has contributed to a lack of understanding of the nature of sin and its presence in our lives.
While in Seminary, I was given a great image for the Sacrament – from the perspective of the priest/confessor- that I continue to think about to this day. The priest thinks about their role in the Sacrament of Reconciliation as ‘having a front row seat as the Holy Spirit works in the penitent’s life and draws them closer to God’s grace.’
The image is by no means perfect but it reflects the humbling experience of bringing others to the grace and forgiveness God so freely gives in Jesus Christ.
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