ST. PAT'S YOUNG ADULT FELLOWSHIP

NCSC Chicago 2009

2009-01-22T11:12:00.000-06:00

NCSC Chicago 2009

Join us for the 7th National Catholic Singles Conference in Chicago!

Don't have anything going on Valentine's Day? Come and hear top Catholic speakers discuss the issues affecting singles in today's world. How do I improve my relationships with friends, family and my future spouse? How do I discern what else God wants for my life in the future and what can I do to live a happier, more fulfilled single life now?

The conference falls on President's Day weekend as well, so stay a day after and visit the Shedd Aquarium, The Art Institute of Chicago, Sears Tower, Navy Pier, Millenium Park or just relax with friends. As usual we will also have optional social events scheduled after the conference on Sunday afternoon. (Great news: We've been able to reduce the registration cost this year by holding it at a parish with a hotel nearby.) It's coming up quickly and space is limited so register now!

When and Where:
Friday, February 13 - Sunday, February 15, 2009
Holy Family Parish
2515 Palatine Road
Inverness, IL 60067

Post-Conference activities include:
Sunday afternoon, February 15th: Trip to downtown Chicago for a bus tour to see some of the country's most beautiful architecture or a tour of some of Chicago's most beautiful churches, including a visit to the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, home to the largest monstrance in the world! Or attend a performance of C.S. Lewis' classic The Screwtape Letters. Sold out in NYC and DC, it's now playing in Chicago! Afterward join fellow attendees for food and socializing on Sunday night!
Please note that reservations for the Screwtape Letters must be made by January 20th to guarantee the group rate and seats with other NCSC attendees. If registering after the 20th, please inquire through the contact page to be sure tickets are still available.

Winter Activities

2008-12-04T18:35:00.000-06:00

Featured Event
Winter Getaway Excursion - Ski Trip
January 23-25, 2009 - Wisconsin Dells
Get out of the Chicagoland area and join other Young Adults for the 2009 Winter Getaway Excursion. Enjoy the winter weekend with activities that include skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and swimming at Kalahari Indoor Water Park. Prices start at $210 for the Base Package, but you'll receive $20 off your registration if you register by December 11, 2008. Click here for a registration form. For more information, contact Jospehine Puglia at jopuglia@hotmail.com.

Social Events & Sports Leagues
For even more details, log onto www.yamnwsports.com

YAM-NW Fall Volleyball League
Monday nights in September through December, 2008
St. Thomas of Villanova Church, Palatine
8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each week

Coming Soon
Young Adult Christmas Party
December 11, 2008
Join us for our annual Young Adult Christmas party!!
There will be food, music, fun and even a visit from Santa!! Tickets purchased in advance are $15 per person. No charge for children but if you would like Santa to give your child a gift, please bring one. For more information contact Joe or Laura Ferlita at 847-809-5636 or lferlita@holyfamilyparish.org.

Young Adult Eucharistic Adoration Communities

2008-11-03T10:03:00.000-06:00

TO WORSHIP TOGETHER IN…

Spirit & Truth is for young adults in their 20s and 30s —single or married—who would like to grow in their Catholic faith in fellowship with their peers. There are 5 Spirit & Truth communities throughout the Diocese of Rockford and Joliet, with 2 beginning to form in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Fox Valley Spirit & Truth will meet every Monday night in Holy Cross Catholic Church, Batavia at 7:00 PM for spiritual formation, Eucharistic Adoration and fellowship. There is no commitment to join anything. You may just come when you are available! We also have an open gym monthly at the parish for volleyball/basketball.

For more information go to www.spiritandtruthillinois.org or call:

Fr. Fasano, 630/879-4750, Alex Browning, 630/272-0937, or Cori Miles, 630/232-2210

Bible Study

2008-10-19T20:14:00.003-05:00

I thought I'd post up here in case anyone wasn't aware but interested. We run a Sunday night bible study from about 7-9p. We are currently studying the gospel of John. The location changes from week to week so email me at aschlere@sbcglobal.net for this week's location. I hope to see you there!

EWTN's Family Celebration in Illinois!

2008-09-13T17:18:00.001-05:00

You are invited to attend EWTN Global Catholic Network's Family Celebration on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois on October 4 & 5, 2008. This is a free, no tickets required event, will feature talks by Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Marcus Grodi, Rosalind Moss and others. Check EWTN's website at www.ewtn.com for details or call 1-205-795-5820, Monday thru Friday, 8am-5pm CST.

Interested? Email Jackie and maybe we could get a group together and carpool down there. jaclk82@hotmail.com

YAM-NW Events and Activities

2008-09-12T10:01:00.002-05:00

Ministry Spotlight

The NW Suburban Young Adult Ministry ("YAM-NW") is a network of Catholic men and women in their 20s and 30s living and working in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Their goal is to connect young adults with others their age and to bring them closer to God, and in so doing, help them discover their gifts, learn more about their faith, and give them opportunities to do good works and give back to others and the world.

Here are some of their upcoming events or visit their web site at

http://yamnworg.homestead.com/

Coming Soon

Corn Maze and Hay Ride

Saturday, September 27th - Richardson Farm & Corn Maze in Spring Grove

Join us for dinner and s’mores over the bonfire, a sunset wagon hayride, and the experience of getting lost in the “world’s largest corn maze.”

More info to come!

The YACHT Club NW is a monthly dinner and speaker series on the third Thursday each and every month (except July). YACHT Club gives young adults the chance to hear great speakers, discuss issues of faith, and network with other men and women in their 20s and 30s in a fun, comfortable setting.

THIS MONTH
Thursday, September 11, 2008

Location: TBA

Our speaker this month is Mary Deeley.

Her topic is “Catholicism: Boring? Irrelevant? Untrue?”

6:00 p.m. Gathering & Drinks

6:30 p.m. Dinner

7:30 p.m. Presentation

COST: $5.00 payable (by cash) at the door, plus the cost of dinner and drinks. Entrees (of which vegetarian options are available) range in price from $10 to $20, which is payable at the time of admission. No checks or credit cards please.

Reservations are highly recommended

RSVP: Mandy Dillon at mandy@yamnw.org.

What better way to stay in shape and hang out with Young Adults single or married than with YAM-NW Sports?!

The 2008 Spring/Summer Softball League has concluded. The championship was earned by the Angels!

Registration is now being accepted for the Fall Volleyball League. We will be playing games starting Sept. 8 through Dec. 15 from 8-10 p.m. at St. Thomas of Villanova Church in Palatine. Registration is only $20 for the entire season! For more information, click on the 2008 Volleyball link on the left side of the page.

For general information on Young Adult Athletics, please e-mail us at yamnwsports@yahoo.com. Hope to see you at our events!

Extreme Makeover: Faith Edition - Update

2008-07-14T19:01:00.002-05:00

Illusionist Ryne Strom will be presenting an evening of mesmerizing entertainment.
Norris Cultural Arts Centers Presents
Imagination
Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 7:30p
Tickets will be on sale after masses during the coming weekends. Tickets are $10 Adults, $5 Children, and $20 Family Pass. ALL PROCEEDS will go to benefit the project.

This sounds like a very neat place!!!

2008-07-10T07:04:00.001-05:00

Relevant Radio is excitedly preparing to air live coverage of a lifetime-opportunity event coming up this month in the Diocese of La Crosse, WI: the dedication of the newly constructed Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We will be keeping you connected and informed throughout Dedication Week, July 28-August 3, through correspondent updates as well as remote broadcasts of The Drew Mariani Show. Our coverage reaches its peak as we bring you a live broadcast of the Dedication Mass beginning at 1:00pm Central Time on July 31st. Be sure to tune in! For any of your family and friends who can’t be at the Shrine and who don’t have their own local Relevant Radio station, be sure to tell them how they can access our website at www.relevantradio.com and listen to the live streaming audio.

In order to truly appreciate the beauty and profound spirituality of this awesome place, consider making your own pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas. According to Paragraph 2691 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer.” A pilgrimage is sure to touch your soul in unimaginable ways, and this is a wonderful way to really bridge the gap between faith and everyday life!

For more information on the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, visit www.guadalupeshrine.org.

Extreme Makeover : Faith Edition

2008-07-03T07:16:00.002-05:00

A family has been chosen for the Extreme Makeover : Faith Edition project! The Gautille Family was chosen. There are currently three fundraising events planned to raise funds for the projects:

Colonial Cafe fundraiser at the East side Colonial in St. Charles: Mention that you're there for the Extreme Makeover project at the register and a portion of the total purchases that night will go towards the project! The event is being held at the East Side Colonial Cafe on 64 on July 17th from 4:30pm - close. Hope to see you there!

Car Wash: Saturday, July 26th from 3-5:30 & Sunday, July 27th from 8-1. Location to be announced.

Pancake Breakfast: August 3rd from 8am-noon at the Crane Road Church
More fundraisers to come! If you'd like to help out with any of them, please contact Ryne Strom and Megan Sager at extrememakeoverfaith@gmail.com.

Go to http://www.extrememakeoverfaith.com/home for more information about the project.

Change of Date

2008-05-19T17:56:00.001-05:00

We will now be heading over to Fox Valley Crisis Pregnancy Center on Saturday, June 28, 2008. There was a scheduling conflict with another church's church-wide service day. Same time, same place. See you then!

RSVP

2008-05-19T17:55:00.001-05:00

Hey Folks,
Don't forget to RSVP to the May events, we'd love to have you, but would prefer to know you're coming.

Spring Events

2008-04-30T11:35:00.000-05:00

Event: Social
Saturday, May 24, 2008 7:00p
Nick's Pizza
We're going back to an old standard. We will meet at Nick's Pizza on Randall at 7, we may or may not do something afterwards, wherever the spirit moves us. The address is 990 S. Randall Road, Elgin, IL 60123 it's just off of Bowes Road. Please RSVP so I know about how many to request a table for.

Event: Service
Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:45a -12:00
Northern Illinois Food Bank
Again, an old favorite. I know it's Memorial Day weekend, but I already had something planned for June which if you keep reading you'll learn about. Anyway, they only had Memorial Day weekend open. It's also youth weekend, just as an FYI. You'll need to wear close toed shoes, and clothes appropriate to work in. Again, I need an RSVP on this one so we can let them know just how many people they will be providing work for. The food bank is located off of industrial drive on the east side of St. Charles. Take 64 to Dunham and turn right. Follow that until it dead ends in a parking lot. The warehouse on your left is the food bank.

Event: Social
Saturdays May 17-July 19, 2008 10:30a-12:30
YAM-NW Softball
Some of the Kindelins and I did this last summer. It was great fun. It only costs $20 for the whole season. All ability levels are welcome. It's a co-ed league 14" balls. Games are played at Chino Field in Hoffman Estates, I know it's kind of far, but it was worth the drive. Fill out the paperwork and take it with you the first day. We can meet at the Mission church and car-pool over there if you'd like. So, again RSVP so we can coordinate efforts. Go to www.yamnwsports.com for registration forms and more information. Don't worry if you can only make a some of the games, I think I can make only 5 of them, but I'm still joining.

Event: Service
Saturday, June 14, 2008 9:00a-12:00
Fox Valley Crisis Pregnancy Center
I have finally made contact with the volunteer coordinator at FVCPC!! We will be helping them sort baby clothing. She also said that if we get bored of that they'll probably have some other organizing and cleaning for us to do. I don't need an RSVP for this, but if you'd like to let me know that would be handy as well.

Extreme Makeover Faith Edition

2008-04-24T10:14:00.002-05:00

Would you like to be part of this summer’s chance to give back to someone in our parish community?

When: August 9th and 10th

If so, please contact either Ryne Strom or Megan Sager at the e-mail listed below.

extrememakeoverfaith@gmail.com

You can also call the Youth Ministry Office at (630) 513-3315

Discernment with the Daughters of Saint Paul

2008-04-24T08:47:00.003-05:00

The Daughters of Saint Paul are a great community of Religious Sisters!

Check out this weekend:

WHAT: Discernment Weekend--prayer, presentations, silence, sharing

WHO: Women 18-30 discerning a religious vocation (from USA / Canada)

WHEN: FRIDAY, August 1, noon—MONDAY, August 4, noon

WHERE: Daughters of St. Paul 172 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601

CONTACT: Sr. Helena Raphael, fsp 617-850-5584 helraphaelfsp@aol.com OR

Sr. Margaret Michael, fsp 617-435-1879 srmichaelfsp@aol.com

Opportunites with the Community of St. John

2008-04-22T09:19:00.005-05:00

Young Adult Retreat from May 12-15 (last year 35 young adults came and loved it!) in Princeville, IL. It is a great blend of formation, prayer, fun, free time, and new friends, in a monastic setting. As in all Eagle Eye activities, you live the life of prayer of the Brothers, including daily Mass, Holy Hour, and the Offices, with classes in Philosophy and Theology (which everyone loves, because they are designed to stimulate reflection and discussion), free time, fun activities, and nightly campfires. Please register before May 7th!

From June 21st to June 29th, we will be offering a full-fledged Eagle Eye Summer Institute for Young Adults. This is an 8-day Institute similar to what are offered across the country for young people (see the website for information on the Institutes in North Dakota and Virginia). Two days of wilderness (canoeing probably this year), followed by a five day Quest for the Truth in Philosophy and Theology, including an Outdoor Stations of the Cross (by torchlight!), All-Night Adoration, and fun outings. It is the perfect way to go as deep and as far as you want to go in your Faith, and make great friends along the way! Please express your interest to Christy Gomez at eaglecentral@yahoo.com before May 15th

Back by popular request is the Young Adult Silent Retreat on the Gospel of St. John. Come into the silence of God from Wednesday through Sunday with preached retreat conferences, afternoons of Adoration, offices with the Brothers and Sisters, and plenty of time for quiet and rest in the Lord. This year will be truly silent -- with a farewell gathering only on the last day. Please contact Father Nathan to register at brudernathan@yahoo.com. before July 1st.

We are also offering a (New!) Summer Service Session: The Ora et Labora Session. This session is a great way to "go deeper" and really allow the Lord to work in us. Join in the Community's daily prayer, receive 2 hours of intellectual formation per day, and help the Brothers in a monastic work project -- we need to stain the wood on the outer walls of our entire Priory! After morning prayer, we will work staining in the cool of the morning, before having a quiet afternoon with time for Adoration, and formation in the evenings, followed by cookouts, and fun with the other volunteers coming in to help us. Please sign up with Brother Nathan before May 25th, and let me know if you are interested as soon as possible! Thank you!

Finally, starting on September 6th, we will begin our second year of the Eagle Eye School of Evangelization, for young adults who desire to give a year of their lives to the Lord with the Community of St. John, without any pretense to religious life (although it certainly would help anyone to discern!). The young adults will live in a little community (4 men and 4 women), share in the prayer life of the Brothers and Sisters, be able to attend our Philosophy and Theology classes (15 hours a week), and serve the Church by joingin the Brothers in a variety of apostolates and ministries, including confirmation retreats, high school retreats, book publishing, volunteer service opportunities, organizing a Youth Festival, and much more! See www.soaringforwisdom.com for more details.

If you have more questions about these opportunities please email me jaclk82@hotmail.com

Road to Cana

2008-04-16T11:34:00.003-05:00

This is a great resource. I would highly recommend it.

Road To Cana provides resources that will help any Catholic single man or woman (whether never married, divorced and annulled, widowed, with or without children) become "marriage material" and better prepare for meeting that one person they are praying for when God puts that person in their path.

Check it out

http://www.roadtocana.com/

I think it is available on Amazon too.

Stay Tuned

2008-04-10T20:22:00.003-05:00

There's an exciting thing going on at St. Pat's this summer. Extreme Makeover Faith Edition. It's being run though the youth/young adult ministry program. I will post an update soon-ish with further details. Be excited!

April 19th

2008-04-03T14:33:00.001-05:00

Event: Social
Funway Ultimate Entertainment Center
Saturday, April 19, 2008
8p-11p (skate starts at 7 if you want to go early)
$6 admission $2.50 roller rental $3.00 inline rental
We're thinking skating, but don't worry, if you're not a fan of roller/inline skating there are plenty of other things to do at Funway. It's located off of rt25 in Batavia. Meet in the back parking lot.
http://www.funway.com/

How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk (or Jerkette)

2008-03-25T13:24:00.003-05:00

How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk (or Jerkette)
Learn how to choose the right marriage partner the first time!

Attend How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk (or Jerkette), a 5-part educational and entertaining series that will explore the 5 areas of interpersonal relationships that can predict how a person will act in a marriage.

The series will begin on Thursday, May 22 and continue for the next 4 consecutive Thursdays. All sessions will be held from 6:30-8:30 PM at St. John Newmann Church, 2900 E. Main Street (route 64) in St. Charles. The public is welcome to attend.

The cost to attend is $25, but if you complete all 5 sessions you will receive a refund of $10.
Event Details

Event Title How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk (or Jerkette)
Date & Time May 22 - June 19, 2008
(6:30 PM - 6:30 PM )
Location St. John Newmann Church
2900 E. Main Street (route 64)
St. Charles, IL 60174 (Kane County)

To register online go to the University of Illinois Extension web site: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=1637

An opportunity at Bishop Lane

2008-03-07T07:01:00.002-06:00

It is called ANCHOR-Young adults anchoring faith and friendship.
An invitation to Single Young Catholic Adults
Join us for Anchor, an opportunity for
-Studying and growing in Faith together
-Common prayer
-Socializing with other young adults who share your catholic faith

Our first gathering will be Palm Sunday, March 16, 2008
3:00 pm Join us at Bishop Lane Retreat Center to discuss Anchor and get acquainted
4:00 pm-Attend the "Passion of Our Lord", a one man drama, in our Family Youth Center. Followed by a simple Lenten Buffet of Soup and Bread

Cost 12.00 per Anchor youth adult for play and dinner
Please RSVP to Jessica at 815-965-5011 or newdawn@catholic.org

If you don't have anyone to go with let me know and we can get a group together. Email me at jaclk82@hotmail.com

Volunteering

2008-02-13T07:49:00.001-06:00

HIAL- In order of appearance (read the whole thing or you may miss out!)

Event: Service
Putting together welcome bags for all our visiting religious/Making them name-tags
Monday, February 18, 2008 7pm at the Crane Rd. Church.
I think we have 150 bags (give or take) to put together.

Event: Service
Thursday Night Dinner
Thursday, February 21, 2008
We are in charge of coordinating the Thursday night dinner for all the religious and other guests of the conference. Come when you can! We could use help probably starting at 4:30, but we'll need help continually after that with cooking prep., serving, and clean-up. We don't have a large window of clean-up because a speaker needs to have Fr. Dempsey Hall by 6:30. I know clean-up isn't everyone's favorite, but that's probably where we need the most help.

Event: Spiritual
Thursday, February 21 - Saturday, February 23, 2008
Here I am Lord Vocations and Discipleship Conference
I'm really hoping many of you come for at least part of the weekend. It's a wonderful experience to just hang out with so many religious. A very energizing way to jump into Lent. Mike is giving us an amazing deal on registration. If you help out with at least one of the two YAF service opportunities your fee will only be $20 (That's a 60% discount my friends). When you fill out the registration form just note on there which YAF service you helped with/plan on helping with. Registration forms can be found online at http://www.hereiamlord.net/vocation_downloads/UPDATED_AND_FINAL_08_HIAL_FLIER+PRICING.pdf
or after all masses.
-Basic Outline-
Keynote Speakers and Artist Schedule
Thursday Evening - Jason Evert Chastity Talk
Friday Evening – Chris Padgett, Sarah Bauer and POPPLE
Gianna Jessen Pro-Life Talk and Concert
Saturday Daytime – Gianna Jessen, Ralph Poyo, Sarah Bauer and POPPLE
Various Priests, Brothers, and Sisters
Breakfast and Lunch provided
4 pm Closing Mass
Saturday Evening - Ralph Poyo and POPPLE
Tony Melendez Talk and Concert

YAF Winter Events

2008-01-24T12:05:00.000-06:00

Event: Social
Friday, January 25, 2008 9-11p
Cosmic Ice Skating at Fox Valley Ice Arena
$8 ice fee $4 rental
Let me know if you want to grab dinner before hand, perhaps at the Bennigans or Giordanos over on 64 across from the mall. That would be close-ish to the rink. FVIA is on Kirk between 38 and Faybian. Questions? Let me know, otherwise I'll see you there!

Now, for a look ahead.

Event: Service
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Here I am Lord- Thursday Night Dinner
Free
We are scheduled to put on the Thursday night dinner for the Here I am Lord conference. I chaired it last year, and it wasn't hard to do. I think I had to be there by 4:00 pm last year. I'm hoping some of your schedules will fit it.

Event: Service
Date TBD
Here I am Lord- Welcome Bags
Free
We are signed up to help assemble the welcome bags for the religious visitors of HIAL. It will be somewhere between the 14th and the 21st.

Event: Spiritual
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Scott Hahn Conference
Holy Family Church in Rockford
$20
Renowned theologian Scott Hahn will be visiting Holy Family Church in Rockford, giving I believe three talks throughout the day. I'm sure it will be wonderful!

Event: Spiritual
Thursday, February 21- Sunday, February 24, 2008
Here I am Lord Conference
Crane Road Church
I don't know the cost yet, possibility of a discount for helping with the dinner etc. Cost is $50-$15 depending on what you want to go to.
Many renowned speakers and musicians for a weekend full of spiritual growth not only in vocations but christian living. Check out the site to see who all is coming http://www.hereiamlord.net/vocation_national.php

Coming Soon

2008-01-10T14:51:00.000-06:00

We will be helping out at the HIAL Conference to be held at Saint Patrick's Crane Road Church on The weekend of February 21st – 24th. The conference will change the way you look at vocations. You will learn that marriage, single life, the priesthood, religious life as a brother, sister, and nun are all vocations in the eyes of God and the Church. More information coming soon about days we will volunteer.

Christmas Party

2007-12-02T18:52:00.001-06:00

Ben is so generously wanting to host a Christmas (Dinner?) Party. We're looking at Friday, December 21, 2007. Let us know feedback so we can plan to your needs.

The Fifths

2007-12-02T18:47:00.000-06:00

Justin's band is playing a show at the Dog and Duck on South First Street in St. Charles. It will be Saturday, December 8, 2007 starting around 9p. No charge. Let's show some great support from our young adult community!!!

Advent Retreat

2007-11-29T07:16:00.000-06:00

Mark your calendars! The Brothers and Sisters of St. John will be hosting their annual young adult/professional Advent Eagle Eye Retreat. For young people ages 19-30, this retreat will be the perfect way to get ready for Christmas spiritually, unwind after a busy semester, and rest our souls in God.

The retreat will be December 16 at 8 p.m. through December 19th at 2:30 p.m. There will be prayers with the Brothers and Sisters, great classes on the place or work in our personal fulfillement, and plenty of free time and fun or silence for those who wish. Last year, 35 young adults came and loved it. Let me know if you are interested and we can carpool. jaclk82@hotmail.com

Any other questions contact: Father Nathan
brudernathan@yahoo.com
(309) 385-1193 ext 207

RSVP by Dec. 8th

Cost is $25

A Christmas Dinner Theater

2007-11-28T13:18:00.000-06:00

Bishop Lane Retreat Center presents a Christmas Dinner Theater

with the talented Morning Star Players from Ave Maria University, Florida

staring Mary Lahood and Elizabeth Bauer in three one-act plays

The Sheperd's Story

I'll Be Home-Cidal-For Christmas

Sarah's Christmas Secret

Saturday, Dec. 8th, 2007

w/prime rib buffet

Sunday, Dec. 9th, 2007

w/Baked Chicken Buffet

Time and Cost

Saturday, Dec. 8, 6-8:30 pm

$20 a person, 8 or more $18 person

Sunday, Dec. 9, 4-6:30 pm

$15 adult, $12 sixty+ $8 4-16 Under 4 free

To make reservations call the retreat center at 815/965-5011 or email names and date to blrcprograms@dpsrfd.org

Ringing the Season in Right

2007-11-27T20:47:00.000-06:00

We will have the opportunity to be Salvation Army bell ringers this Sat. December 1, 2007. Our location is the Charlestowne Mall food court (INSIDE LOCATION!!!). We are signed up for the 8-9p shift. In my mind we'll be singing and merry-making bringing lots of joy to the food court. Although at 8pm who will be there? Anyway, just show up at 8 if you'd like to join the fun. We'll probably go to a movie at the theater downstairs after ringing is over. Join us for either part or both. See you Saturday!

Focus Conference

2007-11-17T16:03:00.000-06:00

It's easily the biggest thing FOCUS has ever done and everything is pointing to a truly unforgettable event.

Cost: Only $279! (Does not include transportation and food)

Who's coming? Thousands of college students and young adults from all over the country

Venue:
The Gaylord Texan is a "WOW!" property. An amazing destination hotel that will be very memorable.
5 days and 4 nights in arguably the top resort hotel in the great state of Texas for only $249 is an absolute steal even without a loaded conference.

Confirmed Performers:
-- Third Day...one of the biggest Christian rock bands in the last decade, in what might be these Grammy winners first Catholic performance.
-- Bob Rice...The music behind Stuebenville Conferences.

Confirmed Speakers:
-- Curtis Martin ...FOCUS Founder and President.
-- Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R....Founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and quite possibly a future canonized saint.
-- Jeff Cavins...Television personality, apologist, author.
-- Alex Jones...Former Pentecostal Minister. Converted to Catholicism and brought 54 members of his congregation with him!
-- Mike Sweeney...Five time All-Star First basemen for the Kansas City Royals.
-- Tarek Saab...Popular former contestant on Donald Trump's "The Apprentice."
-- Eduardo Verastegui...Nicknamed the "Brad Pitt of Mexico." Star of the new critically acclaimed motion picture, "Bella."
Many other phenomenal speakers!

Obviously included:
Many beautiful Masses, Adoration, Praise, and Confessions.

Registration:
Online and easy at http://www.focusconference.org/registration2.html

More info:
www.focusconference.org

Your New Year starts here...

Check it out

2007-11-13T07:25:00.000-06:00

I was told these were some great sites to check out.

The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity offer a free song downloadand meditation every month at their "Franciscanized World" page. http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org/living.asp It's usually a pretty goodsong.

The Franciscan Friars of the Assumption BVM Province feature a cool (and challenging) discernment tool called the "Spiritual Toolbox" at http://www.franciscan-friars.org/vocations/religious_vocations.asp.

Bella--Here's another chance... FREE

2007-11-08T20:50:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone,In case you have not heard, there is a new movie in select theaters called "Bella". I saw it two weeks ago, and it is a fantastic flick. It is very pro-life and pro-family and is produced by a Catholic film company, Metanoia Films. Their website for more information is www.bellathemovie.com I highly recommend seeing it, or at least checking out the trailer.Anyway, I have a friend who works for a Catholic pregnant women's center, and she just informed me that this weekend there will be a free showing of the movie Bella in Park Ridge at the Pickwick Theater. Relevant Radio bought all of tickets for all of the shows this weekend at Pickwick and are giving them away for free outside the theater, all you have to do is show up to see the movie. Show times are Saturday and Sunday at 1:30pm, 4:15pm, 6:30pm, and 8:45pm. All eight of these shows have free tickets, courtesy of Relevant Radio. Other show times and theaters (that are closer) that won't be free are available at Bella's website (the link in the first paragraph). Feel free to pass this information along to all of your teens and families in your parish. Megan

A note from Rev. Michael G Laven

2007-11-08T09:38:00.000-06:00

The Vocations Office is sponsoring a Nun Run during Christmas break for young ladies who are high school seniors and college age. We will depart from Bishop Lane Retreat House the morning of 2 January 2008, returning on 6 January.
We are conversing with the Sisters of St John (Princeville, IL), the Franciscan Sisters of the Martyr St George (Alton, IL), IHM Sisters (Wichita, KS) and the Carmelite Sisters (Valparaiso, NE) about visiting them. The trip will be chaperoned by Dorothea Barger of the Vocations Office and another lady from the Diocese. I will be along to administer the Sacraments.
The cost will be $50 to offset expenses, but if finances are an issue we may be able to accommodate you irregardless. We expect to have room only for a dozen young ladies, therefore if you are interested please let us know as soon as possible. If this proves to be successful we will attempt others in the future.
We hope that this is a good opportunity for young ladies who may be considering religious life to visit different orders with varying charisms in their own environment and to get a feel for the life of the communities.

Contact Rev. Michael G Laven or Dorothea in the Rockford Vocations Office if you have any questions.

Pilgrimage to Quebec City

2007-11-06T07:05:00.000-06:00

Okay I just found out about this today. The Community of Saint John is taking a group of pilgrims to Quebec City June 18-25 for the International Eucharist Conference. Here is the web site for the conference http://www.cei2008.ca/en/accueil

I am working on getting some more details. I will keep you posted. I am super excited! Send me an email if you are interested jaclk82@hotmail.com

Pizza and a Move/Game

2007-10-30T21:19:00.001-05:00

Looks like it's going to be the original plan. We'll meet at Nick's on Randall in S. Elgin at 7:30 for dinner. Then, we'll head to my house for movie and/or games. Email me at aschlere@sbcglobal.net if you need directions to my house. See you at Nick's!

ps Feel free to come to whatever part of this fits your schedule.

Food Bank

2007-10-08T10:36:00.000-05:00

I've set it up with the Northern Illinois Food Bank to volunteer for them on October 20 from 8:30-12:00. They are located off of Industrial Drive on the east side of St. Charles. Last time we went we worked with Bartlett high school to sort frozen meat. Karen, Jackie, and I had a great time. I have no idea what our task will be, but something having to do with sorting food in the warehouse.

I need to let their volunteer coordinator know our numbers ASAP so if I don't get any responses by Tuesday night then I'll let her know we aren't able to come. I realize this is late posting, sorry, I forgot the blog (oops)

Thanks everyone, have a great Columbus Day weekend! Well, what's left of it.
Ali

YACHT Club Update

2007-10-04T21:41:00.000-05:00

Here is the info I was talking about. If you want even more updates go to www.currentministry.com Apparently they have all sorts of young adult events, although they all require a commute.

NEW! Tuesday, October 16th
CURRENT Y.A.C.H.T. CLUB
7:00 pm.; Mullens Bar and Grill, 3080 Warrenville Rd, Lisle. Join us for an evening of conversation and socializing! Cost is $5 plus meal and drinks. Please RSVP to Dave Miserendino at 630.851.3444 x225 or DaveM@olmercy.com.

If anyone goes send some feeback!!

Pilgrimage

2007-10-04T08:48:00.000-05:00

Are you interested in a pilgrimage this Saturday. Please contact me ASAP at jaclk82@hotmail.com

With who:COMMUNITY OF ST. JOHN
What: PILGRIMAGE ~ OCTOBER 6, 2007
Where: MUNDELEIN SEMINARY AND NATIONAL SHRINE OF ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE (MARYTOWN)

YACHT Club

2007-10-01T21:31:00.001-05:00

There is a young adult group in Naperville that goes by the title of YACHT Club. I don't currently have the right info at my finger tips but I will post it soon. If you are curious you can probably find it pretty easily through the Joliet Diocease website.

Biking A Success

2007-10-01T21:27:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone,
Biking was great. The skys were clear and blue (although the wind a bit much.. took my hat). We had a good handful of attendees, three of them new. I'm looking at going to the food pantry and a game/movie night for October. Any feedback let me know. Hopefully we'll see you in a few weeks!

Spirit and Truth

2007-08-31T12:09:00.000-05:00

Spirit & Truth is a community of young adults (ages 18 and up, single & married) who share the common goal of seeking God. In our world today, it is difficult to find others who are striving for goodness and faith. Keeping it real, we support each other in the walk of following Christ.

Location: Elgin, IL.
Where: St. Thomas More Parish (Chelsea Room)
215 Thomas More Dr.
Elgin, IL 60123
When: Every Wednesday - 7pm to 9pm
Contact: Deacon Kevin Butler 847-815-5963 or kbmi1995@yahoo.com

Location: West Chicago, IL.
Where: St. Mary's Parish
140 N. Oakwood Ave.
West Chicago, IL 60185
When: Tuesday evening - 7pm to 9pm
Contact: Cori Pieper via email at sandt@divineimage.net

Location: Batavia, IL.
Where: Holy Cross Parish
2300 Main Street
Batavia, IL 60510
When: Monday evening - 7pm to 9pm
Contact: Ryan Browning at (630) 251-6131 or ryan.b.browning@gmail.com

Nix the Cougars

2007-08-26T21:06:00.000-05:00

Apparently the Cougars aren't cool enough for you guys.

There wasn't enough interest from the youth for Mike to get discounted tickets so the event is nixed. Also, I haven't heard from anyone about Habitat or Bike Riding. If these aren't the activities you are looking for let me know. I'm completely open to suggestions... So, speak up everyone!!

Bike Ride

2007-08-18T18:15:00.001-05:00

Event: Social
Sunday, September 23, 2007 2:30p
Bike Riding
Free-ish
We'll meet at the Great Western Trail trailhead. This is located on Dean St. just west of Randall. BYOB !!!! If we want we can stop in Wasco for ice cream or a meal. We'll just feel out the group. Please let me know if you'd like to attend. Also, this date and time are completely flexible so if this doesn't work for you but you like the event please let me know and we'll figure out a better day/time.

Habitat for Humanity

2007-08-18T18:14:00.000-05:00

Event: Service
Saturday, September 8, 2007 10:00a-3:00p
Habitat for Humanity- Restore Shop
Free
We're joining an event help by the YAM-NW (orgainization through whom we played softball this summer) and Charis ( I don't really know what this is, but I think it's a Jesuit young adult organization). It is free, and not too far away. We'd be working with other young adults from the Chicagoland area to help Habitat for Humanity clean and organize the shop, process donations, some light construction work and general in-store help. Best part? It's free! You need to register at the following website http://www.jesuits.net/charis/ This link will bring you to the main page. Clink on the Service Day link. Then click register. Once you have registered please let me know so I have an idea if/who is going. Also, we might all want to car-pool. They ask you to register by Sept. 5.

Cougars

2007-08-18T18:10:00.000-05:00

Event: Social
Monday, August 27, 2007 5:30p ( Game starts at 6:00 if you need to be late you can pick up tickets at will call)
Kane County Cougar's
Free
We can get tickets to the Faith Night for $5 a piece (YM covers this). They need to be reserved EARLY this next week though, so if you are interested tell me quickly so I can get the ball rolling. It is at Elfstrom Stadium- Kane County Events Center. Directions can be found here http://www.kccougars.com/stadiumdirections.html

COURAGEOUS VIRTUE

2007-08-17T22:33:00.000-05:00

Young adult women 18-30 years old are invited to participate in a Bible study on moral excellence for women. For information on meeting dates, location and times, contact Jackie Hill at the Youth Ministry Office (630)513-3315 or by e-mail - jaclk82@hotmail.com

TWELVE WEEK CHALLENGE

2006-09-09T18:34:00.000-05:00

The following posts were developed by Laurie Brown - Youth Minister at St. Peter Chuch in Geneva, Illinois to assist teens and adults on a twelve week faith journey during the summer of 2006. If you find them helpful, send her an e-mail and let her know that they were helpful. Laurie Brown - stpeterhsym@sbcglobal.net

WEEK 1 – Prayer Journal

2006-09-09T18:32:00.000-05:00

Prayer Journal: What is it? Why do it? How do you get started?

Those are great questions! Let’s start with “What is a prayer journal?” To begin with, first answer the question “What is prayer?” Take a moment before you read on & answer the question for yourself. What is prayer? How would you define it?

“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven;
It is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”
~St. Therese of Lisieux

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (abbreviated CCC for short), writes pages upon pages about the topic. But in brief, the Catechism defines prayer as “the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God (CCC, 2559 ß that’s the paragraph # in case you want to look it up and read more about it!).” So, that is prayer.

Next, consider ‘journal” and its meaning. According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, a journal is “a daily record of happenings, as a diary.”

So, put those two ideas together, and a prayer journal is like a diary or recording of daily happenings that you write to God. But it’s not just jotting down the things that happen in life, it is an opportunity to share with God your thoughts and feelings ABOUT those things, and what your needs are in regard to them as well.

Why do it?
Research shows goals that are written down are accomplished more often than goals you simply try to remember. This is true because writing things down involves both mental and physical actions. When you have to coordinate the two, there is less room for distraction. You are more focused on the task at hand. That is why writing your prayers to God in a prayer journal is so powerful! First, the action of writing things down helps lessen distraction, and we all know that one of the difficulties when it comes to praying is distraction (CCC, 2729). Also, by words, mental or vocal, our prayers take on flesh (CCC, 2700). So when we write them down, they become more tangible to us.

How Do I Get Started?
Some things are obvious. Pen. Paper. But you may be wondering ‘what do I write about?’ It’s up to you. Future emails will have other suggestions, but for this week, consider starting with prayer requests.

Over the next week, begin a prayer request journal.
Get a notebook or blank journal to write in. You can even start a word document file on your computer.
Spend some time thinking about your life. What are your hopes & dreams for the short and long term? What stresses or concerns you right now? What activities are you doing this summer? Do you need God’s help? Are there people in your life who need prayer? Who? What are their needs? The list goes on and on and on…
Start writing your prayer requests down. They can be as elaborate or brief as you want because the amount of words isn’t important; it’s the attitude and spirit behind the prayer that counts (CCC, 2700).
As you write your requests, consider writing the date of each intention, because what’s neat about a journal of prayer requests. Over time you can look back and actually see God at work in your life ANSWERING PRAYER! Sometimes He will say yes, other times no. Still other times, it will be ‘maybe.’ But given time, a prayer request journal will show you God’s presence in your life and His faithfulness to answering your prayers.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7

NEXT WEEK: To Whom It May Concern: Composing a letter to God

WEEK 2 – To Whom It May Concern

2006-09-09T18:31:00.000-05:00

Composing a Letter to God

Chances are we’ve all written a letter or two. Whether it was an exercise in English class or a thank you note to grandparent, most of us have letter-writing experience. Even some of those notes you pass in school can be considered ‘mini’ letters to your friends. You start with a ‘hi’ and then rush into details of the day. How does this relate to growing in your faith? Well, if we communicate to others with through letters and notes, why not God? Can’t you write a letter to God? And if you did, what would it say?

In continuing with the summer challenge, a prayerful exercise to try this week would be to write a letter to God. However, before you start, keep some things in mind:

“To Whom It May Concern” is NOT appropriate way to start your letter off! Why? Because our letter isn’t going to some ‘unknown’ entity. We know who is concerned. It’s God! How do we know of His love and concern for us?

For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son
John 3:16

If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will He not much more provide for you?
Matthew 6:30

Cast all your worries upon Him because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

When we write a letter, sometimes it’s hard to know what to say. Complicate that by addressing your letter to GOD, and it may seem impossible! To give your letter some structure, consider using the prayer form of A.C.T.S.
A – Adoration. Start your letter by sharing why you love God. Share with God how awesome you think He is! Not that God needs to hear the praises, but rather we need to recognize how awesome God is. It humbles us and humility is the foundation to prayer (CCC, 2559).
C – Contrition. This is when you share with God how sorry you are for things you did or didn’t do. For instance, maybe you haven’t talked to God in a while. This is the perfect time to say you are sorry for not including Him in your life.
T – Thanksgiving. Take time to thank God for the blessings you have in life. Big or small, it doesn’t matter. Thank God for it all because “every perfect gift is from above” (James 1: 17)
S – Supplication. Do you have any prayer requests? It’s okay to ask God for what you need (Go back to last week’s email and look up Matthew 7:7 if you don’t believe me)

When you are done, don’t forget to sign your letter. It’s not like you are not anonymous. God knows who you are. In Psalm 139, verses 1-2 it says “Lord, You have probed me, you know me: You know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar.” Now sometimes it may be hard to appreciate how well God knows you because He can feel far away and distant. But remember, during the times God feels distant, often times He is closer than we know…

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life, there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You, You would walk with me all the way. But, I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed You most You would leave me?” The Lord replied, “My son, My precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.” (Author Unknown)

NEXT WEEK: God: You’ve Got Mail!

WEEK 3 – God: You’ve Got Mail!

2006-09-09T18:29:00.000-05:00

Entering the high-tech world to talk to God

This week’s idea may seem a little crazy, but here me out. God created everything, right? And there is no wrong way to pray, right? Well, if He created everything and any way is an OK way to talk to God, why not go high tech!

If you are reading this email, clearly you have an internet provider. Well, most providers allow you to set up multiple email addresses under one account. Well why not set one up for God? Talk to your parents. Explain the deal. Ask them to help you (or allow you if you are computer savvy) to set up an email address for God. Maybe it’s MyLord@sbcglobal.net or JesusTheNazorean@aol.com? The email address doesn’t matter. What matters is that you use it as a means of journaling your thoughts and feelings to God. It’s a great way to work prayer into your everyday life, especially if you spend a lot of time online.

Once you have an email box set up, whether it’s the wee hours of the morning, the end of long day, or sometime in between, just hop online and shoot off an email to God. Sometimes the mere action of clicking ‘send’ can give you a sense of God really being there (because He is!). And the emails serve as a journal that, later on down the road, you can go back and read.

NEXT WEEK: Prayer Resources (Oh, and speaking of prayer, this past Sunday, June 18th each of you enrolled in the challenge and/or receiving these emails was prayed for at Mass. Know you are loved by God :)

Week 4: Prayer Resources

2006-09-09T18:27:00.000-05:00

Over the past several weeks, the challenge was to develop your prayer life through writing to God. Hopefully you learned a little about prayer and can recognize that prayer through writing is a great way to draw close to God and feel connected. Whatever form of written prayer you used, take some time to look back at it this week.
Have some of your prayer requests been answered?
Did your letter to God give you a chance to organize your thoughts about your life?
Have you found God online?

As we conclude our first month of the challenge and get ready to dive into a new area to grow, below are some written prayers that have touched the hearts of many youth over the years. Print them out. Keep them visible. Perhaps they will speak you at just the right time in your life too.

Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end, nor do I really know myself.
And the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that
I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does, in fact, please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may seem lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
~Thomas Merton

Title Unknown
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve; I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey.
I asked for health, that I might do great things; I was given infirmity,
that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy; I was given poverty
that I might be made wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of others; I was given weakness,
that I might feel the need for God.
I asked to be with you, that I might enjoy you; I was denied, that I might cherish you.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life; I was given life,
that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all people most richly blessed!
~Author Unknown

The Serenity Prayer
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things that I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.

NEXT WEEK'S TOPIC: KNOWING GOD THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES

SPECIAL CHALLENGE OPPORTUNITY

2006-09-09T18:24:00.000-05:00

You may remember a couple weeks ago the summer challenge offered the idea of creating an email for God. Well, one of the participants of the Summer Challenge took things a step further. Using a book entitled "More Email From God For Teens," this teen began sending herself emails FROM God simply by typing out the different entries from the book and sending them to herself. In this way, she feels like she not only writes to God, but gets email from God.

WEEK 5 - A Catholic Understanding of Scripture: Misconceptions and the Truth

2006-09-09T18:22:00.000-05:00

A Catholic Understanding of Scripture. Some people would say this is a contradiction in terms and that Catholics don’t know the Bible. They would say Catholics value Tradition in the Church MORE than the Bible and what it has to say. Have you heard those claims before? And further, do YOU think that they are true?

For the month of July, our summer challenge is going to shift to knowing God through the scriptures. However, before we begin, it is important to get a Catholic understanding of Scripture. So let’s get on the same page in regard to what is Sacred Scripture, who wrote it, what kind of truth it contains, and how it is organized.

First, what do we mean when we say ‘Sacred Scripture?”
More than just a book called the Bible, Sacred Scripture refers to the truth that lies within those pages. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (remember, that’s CCC for short), “Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit” (CCC, 81). Further, Sacred Scripture is where God comes to meet with us and talk with us (CCC, 104).
Misconception: Catholics value Tradition more than Scripture.
Response: While Tradition is a valued part of our Catholic faith, it is not MORE important than Sacred Scripture. Instead the Church teaches that each are closely connected: What is taught in Scripture was given to the apostles, and the apostles left Bishops as their successors to carry it out. In this way, the Scriptures are preserved in a continuous line of succession through Tradition (CCC, 78). Both Scripture and Tradition come from the same divine place and give divine revelation. Each points us toward Christ, so it’s not a matter of either/or. It’s BOTH. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored (CCC, 82).

Next, who wrote the scriptures and how do we know it’s true?
Simply put, the Sacred Scriptures were inspired by God; men, in turn, were inspired by the Holy Spirit in what they put down on paper. Now, the Holy Spirit did use the different faculties of each writer – who they were – to reveal the truth of the Scriptures (CCC, 106-107). In light of this fact, it is important to take into consideration THREE points when you read from the Bible (CCC, 111):
1. The conditions of the time and culture when it was written
2. The different literary genres used by the writers (i.e. are you reading a proverb? Poetry? Prayer? Sermon?)
3. The modes of feeling, speaking, and narrating then current
Misconception: Everything is the Bible is to be taken literally.
Response: As Catholics, we do believe that the Bible is true. However, there are different types of truth and not everything is to be taken literally. Some of the different types of truth include:
· Religious Truth: Religion is concerned with our relationship with God; the Bible is a record God’s relationship with His chosen people.
· Moral Truth: Moral truth tells us what is right and wrong, what we must do, and how we must live if we want to be close to God.
· Symbolic Truth: Much of the truth in scripture is told in symbols, parables, myths and allegories. We have to read between the lines to discover the truth being presented.
· Proverbial Truth: Much of the Bible is like the ‘folk’ truth contained in proverbs, such as “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
· Historical Truth: The Bible contains the history of the Hebrew people from about 2000 BC to 100 AD with amazing accuracy and few historical errors.
· Scientific Truth: The Biblical writers reflect the scientific understandings of their day (which may be primitive by today’s standards).

Lastly, how is the Bible organized?
When reading the Bible, it is important to know how it is organized. The Bible is comprised of 46 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New. Together, these books are referred to as the Canon of Scripture (CCC, 120). In general, the Old Testament is an account of life before the birth of Jesus, and the New Testament accounts for life after. When looking something up in the Bible, you first look up the Book, then Chapter, then Verse. For example, if you want to read John 3:16, John is the BOOK, 3 refers to the CHAPTER, and 16 refers to the VERSE.
Misconception: All Bibles are the same.
Response: This is not true. Not all Bibles are the same. Therefore it is important that you use an approved Catholic translation when it comes to reading the Scriptures. An approved Catholic translation not only contains the full Canon of Scriptures, but also ensures that the translation accurately reflects the sense of the Scriptures. Additionally, it will include commentaries consistent with Church teaching. The most popular approved Catholic translations of the Bible are NAB (New American Bible) or NRSV (New Revised Standard Version).

Whew! Now that we are on the same page, your challenge for this week is to get your hands on a Catholic Bible. You may already have one. It may be something you can check out at the library. But having an approved Catholic translation of the Bible is key this month as we dig into the Sacred Scriptures.

NEXT WEEK: Who Is God? Drawing Closer to Him through the Scriptures

WEEK 6 – Who Is God? Drawing Closer To God Through The Scriptures

2006-09-09T18:19:00.000-05:00

The goal of the Summer Challenge is to grow in your relationship with God. Well, who is God? Throughout the ages, how have the Hebrews and our ancestors come to know Him? As the Word became Flesh and Jesus came to live among us, how was He revealed? Even today, who is God to you? How do you know Him?

Below are a series of different scripture verses, all in reference to God and who He is throughout the ages. Take some time out this week to look up some of these verses. When you read about the different titles of God, consider what the title means? Why do you think God is referred to in that way? Is this how you see God? Which ones touch your heart?

Advocate – 1 John 2:1
Author and Finisher (or Leader and Protector) of our Faith – Hebrews 12:2
Chief Cornerstone (or Capstone) – Ephesians 2:20
Chief Shepherd – 1 Peter 5:4
Dayspring (or Daybreak) – Luke 1:78
Governor (or Ruler) – Matthew 2:6
Holy One – Mark 1:24
Horn of (for) Salvation – Luke 1:69
I Am – John 8:58
Jesus – Matthew 1:21
King of Kings – Revelations 19:16
Lamb of God – John 1:29
Light of the World – John 8:12
Lion of the Tribe of Judah – Revelations 5:5
Lord God Almighty – Revelations 15:3
Lord Jesus (Christ) – Acts 15:11
Lord of All – Acts 10:36
Messiah – John 1:41
Morning Star – Revelations 22:16
Prince (Author) of Life – Acts 3:15
Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6
Resurrection and Life – John 11:25
Righteous (Just) Judge – 2 Timothy 4:8
Root (Offspring) of David – Revelations 22:16
Savior – 2 Peter 2:20
Shepherd and Bishop (Guardian) of Souls – 1 Peter 2:25
Son of God – John 1:34
The Alpha and Omega – Revelations 1:8
The Truth – John 14:6
The Way – John 14:6
Wonder(ful) Counselor – Isaiah 9:6
Word of Life – 1 John 1:1

Bonus Challenge: Once you have taken some time to READ about God and who He is, why not try to PRAY to God using these titles and descriptions? Take a moment during the week and speak to God as the “Wonderful Counselor” or “King of Kings.” You may find addressing God in such a way during your prayers brings about different things in your prayer life that wouldn’t have come to mind otherwise.

NEXT WEEK: Lectio Divina – A Method of Reading and Meditating on God’s Word

WEEK 7 – Lectio Divina: A Method of Reading and Meditating on God’s Word

2006-09-09T18:18:00.000-05:00

This week’s challenge contains several excerpts from Youth Update: March 1996 published by St. Anthony Press.

With the recent success of several recordings of chant, people are becoming more familiar with the Benedictine monastic life, including their prayer life. Personal prayer is a very significant part of the Benedictine tradition.

The key to prayer for St. Benedict was holy reading. St. Benedict was convinced that God would speak to the monk through reading the Scriptures. And since the purpose of the monastic life was to communicate with God, it is only natural then that St. Benedict would choose reading as an essential element of a monk’s daily life of prayer. This practice of daily spiritual reading came to be known as Lectio Divina. During this week’s challenge, we will explain what ‘lectio divina’ means and how to practice it in your own prayer life.

What does Lectio Divina mean?
Lectio comes from the Latin word for “reading” and Divina from the Latin “divine.” So together, Lectio Divina means ‘divine or holy reading” In practice, it’s a prayerful way of reading the Bible. The process of entering into this prayerful practice involves four steps:
1. Reading (lectio) – Start reading slowly. It’s not a race. Your goal is spiritual growth. If you are alone, consider reading out loud. Read until a word or a phrase strikes you.
2. Meditating (meditation) – Once you come across a word or phrase that strikes you, stop reading. Spend time with that word/phrase. What does it mean? Why do you think it caught your attention? Repeat the word or phrase over and over for a minute or two.
3. Praying (oratio) – This is the part of the process that is going to seem most like ‘prayer.’ Talk to God about your experience. Pray out of your heart. At this stage, you need to be open to God, not just in your head, but also in your heart.
4. Contemplating (contemplatio) – After these steps, the final one is just to be silent. Shut everything out of your mind except the word or phrase. Listen for God to speak. Be patient. To enter into contemplation means letting go of being in control. Distractions will happen, but when you notice them, make a mental effort to return to a quiet place.

Does it sound like something you could try? Do you know where to start? A great place to begin is the New Testament. And don’t worry about how much time or how far you get. The goal is to spend time with God and lectio divina is a method in which you do just that!

NEXT WEEK: Where To Go When – God’s Encouragement in Your Time of Need

WEEK 8 – Where To Go When – God’s Encouragement in Your Time of Need

2006-09-09T18:15:00.000-05:00

Most of us would agree that it’s nice to be able to lean on your friends when you are going through a tough time. Friends provide us with a shoulder to lean on, and often times, sage advice that will comfort or encourage us.

Well, just as you would go to a friend in a time of need, you can go to God. And while it may seem like a waste because you think “God can’t respond in person!” Or, can He? You may be amazed to realize that many of the comforting words or advice you are looking for in your times of need are right under your nose in the Scriptures. Remember, scripture is where God comes to meet and talk with us (CCC, 104). So…

When in sorrow, go to John 14.
When people fail you, understand Psalm 27.
When you have sinned, call upon Psalm 51
When you worry, refer to Matthew 6:19-34.
When in danger, pray Psalm 91.
When God seems far away, remind yourself of Psalm 139.
When you are lonely and fearful, take comfort in Psalm 23.
When you grow bitter and critical, memorize 1 Corinthians 13.
For Paul=s secret to happiness, go to Colossians 3:12-17.
When you feel down and out, pray Romans 8:31-39.
When you want peace and rest, read Matthew 11:25-30.
When the world seems bigger than God, recall Psalm 90.
When you want Christian assurance, review Romans 8:1-30.
When you travel away from home, pray Psalm 121.
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish, reconsider Psalm 67.
For a great invention/opportunity, pray Isaiah 55.
When you want courage for a task, read Joshua 1.
For how to get along with others, study Romans 12.
If you are depressed, take to heart Psalm 37.
If your pocketbook is empty, read Psalm 37 again.
If you=re losing confidence in people, commit to memory 1 Corinthians 13.
If discouraged about your work, keep in mind Psalm 126.
If you need to repent, call upon Psalm 51.
If people seem unkind, look to John 15.

NEXT WEEK: O, Come Let Us Adore Him

WEEK 9 – Eucharistic Adoration: Making Room In Your Life For Jesus

2006-09-09T18:13:00.000-05:00

Adoration is One of the Six Counsels Pope Gives Youth (Excerpts from a 2001 Newsletter of the North American Apostolate of the Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament)
Several years ago, Pope John Paul II met with 40,000 young people in April at a pre-World Youth Day gathering. At this gathering the Holy Father recommended six means to make room for Jesus in their lives. They are:
· Prayer
· The Word of God
· Meditation
· The Mass
· Eucharistic Adoration
· The Sacrament of Penance

He told the youth that it is not easy to be a Christian missionary today, but he encouraged them saying “we must not be afraid because Christ can change a man’s heart and accomplish a ‘miraculous catch’ when we least expect it.”

This summer we have touched on several of these recommendations from Pope John Paul II, from prayer and mediation (remember Lectio Divina?) to studying the Word of God. As we enter into our final month of the challenge, we will explore Eucharistic Adoration.

What is Eucharistic Adoration?
Well, that’s your challenge for this week. We’ve talked about the Catechism of the Catholic Church and how it contains the foundational teachings of our faith. Now it’s time for you to explore the Catechism on your own. We’ll use this month’s subject of Eucharistic Adoration to get you started.

Below are several Catechism references for the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (Remember the numbers listed are PARAGRAPH NUMBERS, not page numbers). Take some time this week to look them up and read about Adoration. What does our Church teach? Why do we do it?

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Paragraph Numbers: 1418; 1378-81; 1178; 1183; 2691; and 2696

Don’t have a copy of the Catechism? While there is a lot of value in having this awesome book of faith at your disposal (we highly suggest it!), you can look up references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church by following this link:

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Using this link, type “Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament” in the search engine box and read about this awesome opportunity to draw close to Jesus!

Next Week: Eucharistic Adoration - The Power of the Blood

WEEK 10 – Eucharistic Adoration

2006-09-09T18:08:00.000-05:00

Last week you were challenged to dive into the Catechism of the Catholic Church and uncover the treasure of Eucharistic Adoration (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament). What did you find?

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia online, the Eucharist is “The name given to the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar…in which Jesus Christ is truly present under the bread and wine.” According to Webster’s Dictionary, adoration is “worshipping or paying homage, as to a divinity.” Adoration is having great love, devotion, and respect for another. Put those ideas together, and Eucharistic Adoration is worshipping Jesus Christ, truly present in the Eucharist, with great love, devotion, and respect.

Now, defining Eucharistic Adoration may be enough for some, but others may still question why. Why should I pray before the Eucharist? Why adore Christ in that way? Well, according to the Apostolate for Perpetual Adoration, there are TWELVE biblical reasons to pray in adoration before the Eucharist:

1. God is truly there! (Go read John 6:35)
2. Jesus is present there because of His unending and unwavering love for YOU! (Matthew 28:20; Jeremiah 31:3)
3. Jesus asks us to respond to His love by spending time with Him (Matthew 6:21; Matthew 26:40)
4. As you look upon the Sacred Host, you are gazing upon Jesus, the Son of God (John 6:40)
5. Your relationship and friendship with Jesus grows each moment you spend time with Him (John 10:10; John 15:5)
6. Want peace? Spend time with Jesus! (Matthew 11:28; 1 Peter 5:7; John 14:17)
7. Need grace? Spend time with Jesus. (Revelations 7:17)
8. Jesus is worth any and all praise and adoration for what He has done for our salvation (Revelations 5:12)
9. Praying before the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration brings about peace for the nations (2 Chronicles 7:14)
10. Your soul is made even more beautiful and glorious for the time you spend with Jesus in adoration (Luke 18:14; 2 Corinthians 3:18)
11. You are promised blessings for the time you spend in His Eucharistic presence (John 20:29; Mark 11:23; Mark 5:36; Revelations 21:5)
12. It brings God GREAT JOY when we spend time with Him (Proverbs 8:31)

Now that you know about Eucharistic Adoration, why not give it a try? That’s the challenge for the coming week!

At St. Peter Church, we are blessed to have a chapel set up for the sole purpose of perpetual (meaning everyday, all day) Eucharistic Adoration. It is called the Panis Angelicus Chapel. Located on the WEST side of the Church (if you are facing the church from the street, that means the LEFT side of the Church), the Panis Angelicus Chapel is open 24 hours/day for prayer. Drop in for a few minutes…an hour…whatever time you have. It’s set up like a mini ‘church’ inside, if you will. There are pews, an altar, and upon the altar, Jesus is present in the Sacred Eucharist. Prayer books and rosaries are available to help you as you adore and pray, however feel free to bring your own resources too (like maybe even a PRAYER JOURNAL! Remember that from June?)

So, what do you say? Do you have a moment to spend with Jesus this week?

NEXT WEEK: Miraculous Stories Showing the Power of the Eucharist

SUMMER CHALLENGE - STORIES OF THE EUCHARIST

2006-09-09T17:57:00.000-05:00

It's exciting to hear that many of you are enjoying the summer
challenge and making time in your lives to grow in your relationship with God,
especially through adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It really can
make a difference in your life. Don't believe me? Well, read what REAL
people have to say about Adoration and the impact it has had on their
lives. Read what they had to say...

"Once I am engaged in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, a peace
comes over me that I have yet to find elsewhere."

"The time I spend in adoration each week is the most peaceful time of
my week. It is a time for me to listen for a change, a time to realize
that Our God loves us so much that He makes Himself present to each of
us at every moment of our lives. I usually pray the rosary, the divine
mercy chaplet and read devotional books. And, because I am not
distracted, I can hear the Lord speak to my heart. It's not audible but I know
it is God speaking to me from deep inside."

"I found that my prayer life had become very lax when I signed up for
Adoration. At first getting up at 4:30am to be there by 5am was hard
and I could not seem to stay awake. After a couple of months it got
easier and now I am not only wide-awake to go but stay awake for the whole
hour. It was a catalyst for my daily prayer life coming back to what it
should be. I get my rosary in everyday and am more focused on my
vocation. I am still working on reading my Bible everyday but I am sure that
will come in time."

"One time I went to adoration at St. John Neumann. I had been asking
the Lord to help me pray with all my heart-- to have a deeper prayer
from the heart as I had seen in others. I prayed for an hour and felt as
though my prayer time was not finished. For some reason, I looked on
the shelf where I was kneeling and there was a book there. The title of
the book is "Pray from the Heart." It offers many prayers for different
situations, liking praying during Adoration. For the next half hour or
so, I followed along reading and praying. As I prayed, my heart was
lifted higher and higher and I felt as though the Lord answered my request
to pray with all my heart. Praise God for the gift of His grace and
the gift of prayer!!"

"Eucharistic Adoration keeps me centered and sane. I'm certain that I
would be tossed about the waves of life like a rag doll if I didn't
have Our Lord to keep me grounded with perspective, clarity, peace, and
many blessings. I'm also sustained with strength for the crosses of life
and infused with love that overflows towards others.

And lastly, a friend shares:

"Slowly and over time because I stumbled into faith opportunities like
Adoration (half-hearted at first) God has reformed me...

* Stopped abusive drinking
* Stopped abusive smoking
* Stopped cussing
* Gave up debting
* Gave up gossiping
* Gave up big and little lies
* Gave up telling jokes God would not find amusing
* Gave up TV, magazines, books and movies with violence and casual view
of sex
* Became more generous with my time, money, things
* Want fewer things
* Stopped hating any one or any group of people
* Started loving myself even with all my flaws

...and there is more, list too long. Also, I gained...

* Enriched relationships with family and friends
* Found my life's mission and passion
* Sense of well being
* Joy
* Calmness
* Strength
* Enjoyment of the simple and the profound
* Peace
* Easier to make good decisions, know what is right
* Desire to know God on much deeper level
* Peace at turning myself and life over to Him
* Way more enjoyment of life than before
* Feel much more authentic, free to be who He made me

Sometimes I back slide and still have much to work on ... but I know He
is with me helping me all the way. Thank you God!"

Those are REAL stories from REAL people! Stories of:

PEACE
HEARING GOD'S VOICE IN YOUR HEART
SPECIFIC ANSWERS TO PRAYER
SANITY
DELIVERANCE
HEALING

Are those things you want? Well then, if you haven't done so already,
we strongly encourage you to go to Adoration. See the wonders God has in
store for YOU!

SUMMER CHALLENGE - FINAL THOUGHTS

2006-09-09T17:52:00.000-05:00

As our first Summer Challenge 2006 comes to a close, I want to thank everyone who participated in this venture. Our goal was simple: to grow closer to God. Hopefully you received some tools that won't just sit on the shelf now that summer is over. Hopefully you will use those tools, and others throughout the year, to draw closer to God during both your times of need and your times of great joy.

Know that you remain in my prayers, until next summer....

As promised, below are some of the ways in which God has been working in YOUR lives over the summer (all comments below were sumbitted by Summer Challenge participants near and far). THANK YOU for sharing your journey with us!

"i really grew soooooooo close to God this summer!!!!!!!!!! i was very VERY surprised...i thought that something little would happen but nothing little happened....IT WAS HUGE!!!!!!!!!!! my faith overgrew and i was so overjoyed!!!!!!!!!!! (in a good way!!!!) i felt like i did when i went on the retreat-for conformation. i couldn't believe how good i feel and felt......this challenge has made me a better person, and it made me realize that God's plan for me is sooooooooooo good and i'm soooooo close to finding it!!!! "

"I have been spending the summer questioning not only my faith, but also myself. There are a lot of things that seem weird about me and that I don't always understand, like my OCD and my lack of self-confidence. Most people couldn't tell if they looked at me, because I'm good at faking it. This experience has taught me a lot about God and myself.
I used to have a lot of trouble praying, because I was afraid of God. What would happen if I trusted myself to Him for the rest of my life? I even went through a period of time when I wasn't sure if I wanted to be confirmed. I knew that I wanted a stronger faith in God, but couldn't understand some of the things He did.
Even though I still have a hard time accepting things, I've realized that God can't always be explained and neither can I. God made me exactly the way he wanted me to be, insecurities and all. I worry too much about things, and trusting that God will be there has made so much of a difference so far."

"I really enjoyed this whole experience. Although it was definitely a challenge,I gained so much from it. I especially liked writing a letter to God. I found this form of prayer really personal. Overall, I really enjoyed this experience. It helped to strengthen my faith throughout the summer months and stay close to God."

"this was a very good way to bring me closer to God. i had many thoughts going through my mind and when i got the e-mails of the things to do that week i knew that everything would be okay because God was there. God was in the e-mails and He still is. He always will be. so let's all say it together: THANK YOU GOD!!!!!!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!! "

"I was brought closer to God this summer through other people. I met many new people and found out how God can help us idividually and through others. At a week long camp I met a guy whose parents were getting a divorce while he was away, and he had a lot of stress on him and had no faith in the future. Under all this stress he was going to smoke tobacco, but me and another friend convinced him not to. I also talked with him during a hike about God's plan for all of us and I really think I struck a chord."

Pope speaks of God's love

2006-04-16T18:27:00.000-05:00

Pope has some very interesting and thought provoking things to say on Holy Thursday

God's unending love elevates us to God’s heights, says Pope

Vatican City, Apr. 13, 2006 (CNA) - Among thousands of pilgrims gathered on Holy Thursday in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, Pope Benedict XVI presided over the Mass of the Last Supper, in which he made a moving call to contemplate the love of God, a love that knows no bounds.

After the reading of the Gospel of the Last Supper, and performing the washing of the feet of twelve men, the Pope said that “God loves his creature, man; He loves it also when it falls and doesn’t abandon it. He loves it until the end.”

In the gesture of “washing the feet” we see the “God’s holiness, which is not only an incandescent power before which we must pull back terrified, but is also the power of love and because of this is a purifying and healing power. God descends becoming slave; he washes our feet so that we can be at the table,” the Pope said.

Moreover, the Bishop of Rome related the washing of the feet with the redemption brought by Christ, “The bath in which we cleanse ourselves is his love readied to face death. Only love has this purifying strength that wipes away filth end elevates us to God’s heights. The bath that purifies us is He himself who gives Himself totally to us, as far as the depth of His suffering and death. He is continually this love that cleanses.”

Following that, Pope Benedict remarked that the presence of Christ “in the Sacraments of purification—baptism and the sacrament of penitence—He is continually kneeling before our feet and serving us as a slave, [performing] the service of purification that makes us capable of God.”

After raising the question of this refusal of God’s Love, the Pope continued by saying that “it is the refusal of Love, the refusal to be loved and to love. It is the pride to believe that it doesn’t need any purification, that closes itself to the saving goodness of God.”

“In Judas we see the nature of this refusal” The Pope said. “There remains the mystery of refusal that is present in the act of Judas, Judas values Jesus in terms of power and success. For him only power and success are real; love does not count. His greed for money is more important than communion with Jesus, more important than God and His love. His love is inexhaustible; it really goes on till the end

Finally, the Holy Father defined “Every deed of goodness for our fellows, especially for the suffering and those held in low regard, like the service of the washing of the feet. The Lord calls us to do this, step down [from our pedestal], learn to be humble, have the courage to be good and available to accept refusal, and yet trust goodness and persevere in it.”

“The Lord-he concluded- wipes away our filth with the purifying force of his goodness.”

Benedict XVI’s first Cœna Domini mass was celebrated once again in St John Lateran Basilica after Pope John Paul II’s ailing health had prevented him from conducting the service in the same location for several years

The faithful present were invited to participate to the project of rebuilding homes for the victims of the devastating mudslides that affected people in the Diocese of Maasin (Philippines). Offerings collected during the service will be destined to this project.

Tomorrow, on Good Friday, Benedict XVI will preside during the evening in the Basilica of Saint Peters over the celebration of the Passion of Our Lord, and during the night will be present at the Coliseum of Rome, symbol of the martyr of many Christians, to preside over the traditional Via Crucis.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright @ Catholic News Agency
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com)

HANDS OF CHRIST

2006-04-09T17:28:00.000-05:00

During World War II, a church building in Strasbourg was destroyed. After the bombing, the members surveyed the area to see what damage was done. They were pleased that a statue of Christ with outstretched hands was still standing. It had been sculpted centuries before by a great artist. Taking a closer look, the people discovered both hands of Christ had been sheared off by a falling beam. Later, a sculptor in the town offered to replace the broken hands as a gift to the church. The church leaders met to consider the offer and decided not to accept it. They felt the statue without hands would be a great illustration that God's work is done through his people.

As we enter into HOLY WEEK, how can you be the 'Hands of Christ' to those you meet?

And they were amazed

2006-01-30T08:38:00.000-06:00

Why did the Apostles drop every thing when Jesus said 'Come follow me'?

In yesterday's Gospel we are told that those who witnessed the calling out of the demon were 'amazed' and that Jesus taught with 'authority'.

How often do we recognize the 'authority' of Jesus?

Are we ever 'amazed' by what He does in Scripture?

For most of us, we simply don't give it much thought

If we are going to have a relationship with Jesus on His terms we need to recognize His authority over all of the earth. Recognizing that authority will allow us to be 'amazed' at what He has done and continues to do in our lives.

We can be culturally Catholic or we can be decisively Catholic.

The former allows us a view from the sidelines

The latter allows us to be amazed by His authority!

Calling All Angels by Train(My Private Nation)

I need a sign to let me know you're here
All of these lines are being crossed over the atmosphere
I need to know that things are gonna look up'
Cause I feel us drowning in a sea spilled from a cup

When there is no place safe and no safe place to put my head
When you feel the world shake from the words that are said
I need a sign to let me know you're here'
Cause my TV set just keeps it all from being clear
I want a reason for the way things have to be

I need a hand to help build up some kind of hope inside of me
And I'm calling all angels
I'm calling all you angels

When children have to play inside so they don't disappear
And private eyes solve marriage lies cause we don't talk for years
And football teams are kissing Queens and losing sight of having dreams
In a world where what we want is only what we want until it's ours

I'm calling all angels
I'm calling all you angels

Christmas - The Family of God

2005-12-21T17:57:00.000-06:00

This comes from Fr. Joe Lutz who is the chaplain for the Knights of Columbus here in St. Charles. The story is rather long but is worth reading.

Blessings to you, your family and friends this Christmas season.

The following story is a great example of self-giving:

A Visit from Santa

Three years ago, a little boy and his grandmother came to see Santa atMayfair Mall in Wisconsin. The child climbed up on his lap, holding apicture of a little girl. "Who is this?" asked Santa, smiling. "Yourfriend? Your sister?" "Yes, Santa," he replied. "My sister, Sarah, who is very sick," he said sadly. Santa glanced over at the grandmother who was waiting nearby, and saw her dabbing her eyes with a tissue. "She wanted to come with me to see you, oh, so very much, Santa!" the childexclaimed. "She misses you," she added softly.

Santa, who tried to be cheerfuland, encouraged a smile to the boy's face, asking him what he wanted Santato bring him for Christmas. When they finished their visit, the Grandmother came over to help the child off his lap, and started to say something to Santa, but halted. "What is it?" Santa asked warmly. "Well, I know it's really too much to ask you, Santa, but .." the old woman began, shooing her grandson over to one of Santa's elves to collect the little gift which Santa gave all his young visitors. "The girl in the photograph... my granddaughter well, you see she has leukemia and isn't expected to make it even through the holidays," she said through tear-filled eyes. "Is there any way, Santa ..any possible way that you could come see Sarah? That's all she's asked for, for Christmas, is to see Santa." Santa blinked and swallowed hard and told the woman to leave information with his elves as to where Sarah was, and he would see what he could do.

Santa thought of little else the rest of that afternoon. He knew what he had to do. "What if it were MY child lying in that hospital bed, dying,"he thought with a sinking heart, "this is the least I can do." When Santa finished visiting with all the boys and girls that evening, he retrieved from his helper the name of the hospital where Sarah was staying. He asked the assistant location manager how to get to Children'sHospital. "Why?" Rick asked, with a puzzled look on his face. Santa relayed to him the conversation with Sarah's grandmother earlier that day. "C'mon.... I'll take you there," Rick said softly.

Rick drove them to the hospital and came inside with Santa. They found out which room Sarah was in. A pale Rick said he would wait out in the hall. Santa quietly peeked into the room through the half-closed door and saw little Sarah on the bed. The room was full of what appeared to be her family; there was the Grandmother and the girl's brother he had met earlier that day. A woman whom he guessed was Sarah's mother stood by the bed, gently pushing Sarah's thin hair off her forehead. And another woman who he discovered later was Sarah's aunt, sat in a chair near the bed with a weary, sad look on her face. They were talking quietly, and Santa could sense the warmth and closeness of the family, and their love and concern for Sarah.

Taking a deep breath, and forcing a smile on his face, Santa entered the room, bellowing a hearty, "Ho, ho, ho!" "Santa!" shrieked little Sarah weakly, as she tried to escape her bed to run to him, IV tubes in tact. Santa rushed to her side and gave her a warm hug. A child the tender age of his own son -- 9 years old -- gazed up at him with wonder and excitement. Her skin was pale and her short tresses bore tell tale baldpatches from the effects of chemotherapy. But all he saw when he lookedat her was a pair of huge, blue eyes. His heart melted, and he had to force himself to choke back tears. Though his eyes were riveted upon Sarah's face, he could hear the gasps and quiet sobbing of the women in the room. As he and Sarah began talking, the family crept quietly to the bedside one by one, squeezing Santa's shoulder or his hand gratefully,whispering "thank you" as they gazed sincerely at him with shining eyes. Santa and Sarah talked and talked, and she told him excitedly all the toys she wanted for Christmas, assuring him she'd been a very good girl that year. As their time together dwindled, Santa felt led in his spirit to pray for Sarah, and asked for permission from the girl's mother. She nodded in agreement and the entire family circled around Sarah's bed, holding hands. Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed in angels. "Oh, yes, Santa... I do!" she exclaimed. "Well, I'mgoing to ask that angels watch over you, "he said. Laying one hand on the child's head, Santa closed his eyes and prayed. He asked that God touch little Sarah, and heal her body from this disease. He asked that angels minister to her, watch and keep her. And when he finished praying, still with eyes closed, he started singing softly, "Silent Night, HolyNight.... all is calm, all is bright." The family joined in, stillholding hands, smiling at Sarah, and crying tears of hope, tears of joyfor this moment, as Sarah beamed at them all. When the song ended, Santa sat on the side of the bed again and held Sarah's frail, small hands in his own. "Now, Sarah, "he said authoritatively, "you have a job to do, and that is to concentrate on getting well. I want you to have fun playing with your friends this summer, and I expect to see you at my house at Mayfair Mall this time next year!"

He knew it was risky proclaiming that, to this little girl who had terminal cancer, but he "had" to. He had to give her the greatest gift he could -- not dolls or games or toys -- but the gift of HOPE. "Yes, Santa!" Sarah exclaimed, her eyes bright. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and left the room. Out in the hall, the minute Santa's eyes met Rick's, a look passed between them and they wept unashamed. Sarah'smother and grandmother slipped out of the room quickly and rushed to Santa's side to thank him. "My only child is the same age as Sarah," he explained quietly. "This is the least I could do."

They nodded withunderstanding and hugged him. One year later, Santa Mark was again back on the set in Milwaukee for his six-week, seasonal job which he so loves to do. Several weeks went by and then one day a child came up to sit on his lap. "Hi, Santa! Rememberme?!" "Of course, I do," Santa proclaimed (as he always does), smiling down at her. After all, the secret to being a "good" Santa is to always make each child feel as if they are the "only" child in the world at tha tmoment. "You came to see me in the hospital last year!" Santa's jaw dropped. Tears immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little miracle and held her to his chest. "Sarah!" he exclaimed. He scarcely recognized her, for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were rosy-- much different from the little girl he had visited just a year before.He looked over and saw Sarah's mother and grandmother in the sidelines smiling and waving and wiping their eyes.That was the best Christmas ever for Santa Claus. He had witnessed --and been blessed to be instrumental in bringing about -- this miracle of hope. This precious little child was healed. Cancer-free. Alive and well.

He silently looked up to Heaven and humbly whispered, "Thank you, Father.

'Tis a very, Merry Christmas!

ChristmasThe Family of God

While they were awaiting the birth of God's child, Joseph and Mary were just a holy couple, but when Jesus was born, they became the Holy Family.Yes, the coming of Jesus into the world changed the world to be a holy family, since we are brothers and sisters of Christ. This is what we celebrate on Christmas, the birth of our brother Jesus. Our celebration at Mass on Christmas is truly a worship service of our God, the Father of our Christian family, and is focused on giving thanks and praise to him for sending us his beloved Son who has chosen to dwell among us. At Mass, we not only praise and thank our Father, but we also are nourished by his Word (Scripture) and the real presence of the Body of Christ, his Son,our Brother. That is why we gather together at Christmas and every Sundayto celebrate this joyful occasion of God's gift to us; it is definitely afamily affair. Of course, Christmas is also the time to share gifts to each other, especially among our family members, possibly, as a token of our love and appreciation for one another during this season of great joy. We know all too well that this aspect of our Christmas tradition has been taken over by the commercial interests of our society. Most retail stores depend ontheir Christmas season business to keep them solvent throughout the year,which has contributed to the escalation of commercialism during this holy season. Jesus subsequently taught us that the greatest gift we can give one another is the gift of self, thus, making Christmas-giving of self(our time, our love for one another, our compassion for helping others, our forgiveness toward one another) the most important gift that we can give.

The Real Reason for the Season

2005-12-18T06:31:00.000-06:00

Remember My Birthday????!!!!!!

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation.

The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face......... and I wanted to be with them and share their table. In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me.

Since I was not invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a great time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying : "Santa Claus, Santa Claus"... as if the party were in his honor !

At 12 midnight all the people began to hug each other ; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and .... do you know .... no one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me.

What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one ? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left. Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe.

I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invitation, will be left outside.

Do you know how you can answer this invitation? it is by extending it to others whom you care for...

I'll be waiting for all of you to attend my party this year...

See you soon .... I love you !

-Jesus-