So, what now?

The mission outcome was to examine how we can be part of the new evangelization and Father Roger Keeler asked us at the beginning of his concluding talk: how are we called to evangelize?

1. Recognise that we have a treasure house built on Scripture and tradition. There is a remarkable hunger in the world for faith, and although we as Catholics do not do a very good job of sharing, that will change. First, know Jesus, know the traditions of the church, understand the teachings of Holy Scripture.

2. We have to give it away. Read the Vatican II documents and the letter Pope Benedict wrote to introduce the year of faith, Porta Fidei. Learn about the Catholic faith. Celebrate the sacraments actively and with awareness. Learn the symbols. Find ways to renew your faith in personal prayer.

3. Communicate with others of our experiences; tell our stories. Have conversations with others, with the indifferent. Never stop loving them, praying for them, trying to reach them. God is always at work in us and through us.

Father Roger Keeler's challenge to us as a parish: open the door of conversation; share the joy and tenderness; pray together.

In Isaiah, God tells us, "I will never forget you."

What is faith, then?

In the third talk Father Roger Keeler gave us, he asked us the question:

What is faith itself then? - personal adherence to the man of God who is Jesus Christ.

The big ideas:

1) Faith is God's gift to us, (1 Corinthians 12).

2) Faith is different from belief, differnet from knowledge; faith allows itself to be tested by reason. (The Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking)

3) St. Augustine also said that faith preceeds belief, allows us to hope for that which has not yet been seen.

4) Faith grows under new light through learning and the sacraments; when we put our faith into action.

5) Humanity needs hope - faith in God.

Each of these big ideas could be a study of faith.

Faith

Second day of the mission by Father Roger Keeler

What does it mean to be friends of Jesus? We get to know Him and build a relationship with Jesus. In doing so, we renew our enthusiasm for our faith. We share our stories and experiences of Jesus with others. In this context, it is more about the witness than the teacher. We are to be witnesses of and for Jesus Christ.

Jesus doesn't promise us a life free of death and suffering, but He does promise He will be with us always. He is with us in the Paschal mystery, the process by which we share in the body and blood of Christ in the Holy Mass. Father Keeler talked about death, terminal death, which is death to our earthly life. Paschal death is our dying as a grain of wheat; we change in our dying to our old selves and coming to a new life in Him. The Paschal mystery is the process of transformation from our old selves to a new person in Christ, to be reborn in Him. Father Keeler also took us from Good Friday's loss of life, to Easter Sunday's new life in the Resurrection, and the 40 days of adjustment to the risen Jesus to the Pentecost where new life was given to the apostles so they could go out into the world evangelizing.

Father Keeler talked about growing old gracefully, naming our deaths and claiming our rebirths; he said we should let go of earthly things and accept Jesus into our lives in the Paschal mystery, the Eucharist. The bread being brought to the table is you and me: in our paschal dying, we are carried by the community to the table as gift to God, sacramental gifts. This is what makes us one with each other and with God.

St. Augustine once said that we are what we eat; therefore, when we consume Jesus, we become Christ. What a heavy responsibility!

A Week ago, today

Last Sunday, Father Roger Keeler opened our church mission with an examination of the story of faith, in fact many stories. He gave us a chance to share our own stories.

We were to bring an image of Jesus to use in this session. I had forgotten to do this, but I remembered that I had my rosary in my purse. This rosary was given to me at my First Holy Communion by my mother. The crucifix became the image I shared with my elbow partner. The rosary, and consequently the crucifix itself, were worn almost smooth. The beads were carved white roses which kept the appearance of roses, but were also much smoother than they were when I had first received it.

The story of this image of Jesus centred around my mother, who has been gone for 12 and a half years. She died of complications arising from Multiple Sclerosis. For 30 years she spent much of her time in bed or in a wheelchair. I never heard her complain, but I did hear her say the rosary so many times. My father looked after my mom for most of the time she was an invalid. He took great pride in caring for her and the love they shared did not diminish over time. Their faith remained strong, reinforced by daily prayer and service to one another.

As I share this story and the image of this old rosary, I remember the love my mother showed us kids, the love my parents had for each other and the example of undying faith they had in one another and in God. I miss my mother every day still, but I know she is in a better place. In fact, I feel her presence more now than ever and I still ask God's blessing for her when I say my nightly prayers.

In this year of faith, and during Lent, it is fitting that I examine my own faith, where it came from and where it is going.

We met for 4 evenings with Father Keeler and it was a wondeful experience. I will be sharing the rest of the messages he gave us during the mission in the next posts.

Church and fine art

Sacrosantum Concillium, Chapter VII

122. Very rightly the fine arts are considered to rank among the noblest activities of man's genius, and this applies especially to religious art and to its highest achievement, which is sacred art. These arts, by their very nature, are oriented toward the infinite beauty of God which they attempt in some way to portray by the work of human hands; they achieve their purpose of redounding to God's praise and glory in proportion as they are directed the more exclusively to the single aim of turning men's minds devoutly toward God.

I have had the opportunity to be in discussions where people have questioned the reasoning behind the beautiful ans expensive art in churches when there are starving children in the world. I would ask that also of government. 

We need to praise God however we are called to do so!

2012 Christmas Letter

 

Hello family and friends!

Our Christmas wish for you - peace, good health, and happiness!

This has been quite an eventful year for us, from building a lake house at Hilliard's Bay Estates to my getting a new job, to having a brand new grandbaby in the family, just last night. Let me tell you all about it.

A year ago in July, we poured the cement for the lake house and John and I, with the help of family, friends and a few paid trades people, built the lake house. John is just now painting the upstairs floor again after the dry-wall has been primed upstairs. The main floor, consisting of an attached garage, bathroom/laundry, master bedroom, living room, kitchen and large front deck, is basically finished and we've been using it quite regularly ever since we put in the flush toilet in the fall of 2011. It makes for a wonderful getaway on a Friday night. In addition, John's project as I like to call it, has kept us both busy and feeling accomplished.

This picture was taken in the spring of this year. Since then, we have added railing to both decks and finished the main floor inside. We are very happy at the way it turned out and are enjoying our time there immensely, even when it is work. We are truly grateful for the help our kids and their spouses gave us in the early stages and along the way, and we've told them already that this is their inheritance. We would also like to thank those family and friends that stopped by, picked up a hammer and stayed to help. They should know that they have a place to come vacation any time.

Here is what our main floor living room looked like right after we painted the walls and finished the floor. Since, we have put up trim. We are slowly getting furniture and making it a comfortable place to stay. We do plan eventually to move out to the lake, but right now we are busy working to pay for it all.

The upstairs is being readied to receive guests: Penny, Jamie and Jordan. We put the walls up about a month ago, and then when the hunters came, they hauled up the gyproc so we could put the walls up. The drywall is done and primed and today, John is painting the floor again.

We’ve had some fun with the grandkids this year, from going to Montreal in March for Cabane Sucre, ice fishing with Jordan,spending time at the lake watching Jordan running to the playground, beach or going boating; taking in the hot summer weather in Montreal by putting our feet in Noah and Evie's little pool and going to the beach,  watching Noah's soccer game, taking Evie and Noah to the Montreal Biodome on a field trip, taking in the Taber Pumpkin Festival with Jordan.

I've also started a new job this past September; I'm back at St. Andrew's in High Prairie, this time as vice-principal. I am loving it! I do miss the staff and students at Providence, but this is a much better move for me. I don't have to drive and I can be part of an administrative team at the school level again. I am enjoying working with high school and junior high school students again and hope I can be of service to them in their search for success at learning.

Sophie, James' partner went into labor yesterday and a grandson was born at 9:12pm, Montreal time. We did get to hear his first cries over the telephone. He sounds strong! More news as we get it!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!

 

 

Sacrosanctum Concilium

Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Vatican II) document summary of Chapter I.

Jesus, at the last supper, invited all the baptized to "Do this in memory of me." christ's real presence is in the Holy Eucharist at mass. Jesus Christ is not just for the baptized - He is for all, so that all may know the true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.

Active participation is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people, as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people (1Peter 2:9, cf. 2-4-5) is their right and duty by reason of their baptism."

This chapter goes on to talk about the rites and language used.