tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69915666692590533972024-02-22T09:57:28.369-08:00Fr Ed's PlaceSt Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-85335652254290882232012-07-25T12:55:00.001-07:002012-07-25T12:55:54.108-07:00Words dfrom Fr Ed (From July 29th, 2012 Bulletin)<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div align="CENTER">
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many? </span></span></i></b></div>
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An attitude of scarcity pervades our outlook when we are deprived of faith. Reason naturally asks the question above; mathematically, how can five loaves be divided for 5000 men and their families? But the context of the meal is a gathering around Jesus. One would hope that the crowd was coming for something greater than a great feast provided through earthly riches. We know from Jesus’ words elsewhere that for some it was simply a matter of being temporally satisfied. He says in John, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled." Then he admonishes them, "Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." He says this in John 6 where he goes on to speak of His body as "real food" and His blood as "real drink". The truth at stake here is whether we are dealing with an uncreated reality beyond the aspect of our senses, what we can see and measure with our natural sciences. </div>
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I grew up in a time when there was a great "over-population" scare and a corresponding emphasis on birth control out of love for our planet and a sufficient supply of resources. Time and reason has taught us that in fact we are facing a "demographic winter", a complete collapse of the human population, especially in the west where the theory of over-population was spread with great zeal. The truth then, as it is today, is that the greatest problem is not too many people for too few resources; rather, our most pressing problem is a simple lack of love. Love gladly shares with others who are in need, both in material goods as well as intellectual property and spiritual riches. When we love we are no longer in competition with our neighbors, even when they are enemies. </div>
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Along with the virtue of love, the virtue of faith helps us see beyond the physical and logistical obstacles to providing for those who really don’t have enough of this world’s resources. How do we get food, shelter, clothing and other human essentials to people, even in Renton, who lack these basics? This question alone can stretch us beyond our comfort zone of dependence on temporal solutions. There is a beautiful story in the life of St. John Vianney, the Cure D'Ars, who established an orphanage in his parish for the many girls in that area of France who were without family and a safe place to live and grow. They lived on providence, day to day reliance on God providing for their needs. At one point they had run out of food for the 30+ girls. There was only a handful of corn up in the attic. The good Cure placed a relic of St. Francis Regis in the corn and then asked his children to beg God for their daily bread. One of the servants went to check the attic and could barely open the trap door. Grain poured out. The attic was full of new corn. </div>
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We should begin each day prepared to face new challenges with an attitude of abundance. God provides for His will to be done. Normally He prefers to work through natural law and the virtuous cooperation of humanity to care for one another. We start there, seeking to be vessels of grace, conduits, not cesspools. God’s grace is meant to give life to ourselves and those we are responsible to. To do that we need great faith, hope and love. May Jesus heal us of any fears or doubts that keep us from following Him. Like the boy in today’s Gospel, we bring our five loaves, our two fish, and see what God can do with them. We stand to be amazed. </div>
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Ignatian Exercises</div>
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Some of the core principles in the Spiritual Exercise of St. Ignatius that are most practical are the Rules for Discernment. While they pertain to the first two weeks of the 30-day retreat, I think they are of perennial value. I found myself referring to them late in my retreat and they provided immediate consolation. I hope to begin copying a few of them here each week to share with you. Ignatius begins: </div>
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[313] RULES TO AID US TOWARD PERCEIVING AND THEN UNDERSTANDING, AT LEAST TO SOME EXTENT, THE VARIOUS MOTIONS WHICH ARE CAUSED IN THE SOUL: THE GOOD MOTIONS THAT THEY MAY BE RECEIVED, AND THE BAD THAT THEY MAY BE REJECTED. These rules are more suitable for the First Week.</div>
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[314] The First Rule. In the case of persons who are going from one mortal sin to another, the enemy ordinarily proposes to them apparent pleasures. He makes them imagine delights and pleasures of the senses, in order to hold them fast and plunge them deeper into their sins and vises. </div>
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But with persons of this type the good spirit uses a contrary procedure. Through their good judgment on problems of morality he stings their consciences with remorse. </div>
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[315] The Second Rule. In the case of persons who are earnestly purging away their sins, and who are progressing from good to better in the service of God our Lord, the procedure used is the opposite of that described in the First Rule. For in their case it is characteristic of the evil spirit to cause gnawing anxiety, to sadden, and to set up obstacles. In this way he unsettles these persons by false reasons aimed at preventing their progress. </div>
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But with persons of this type it is characteristic of the good spirit to stir up courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations, and tranquility. He makes things easier and eliminates all obstacles, so that the persons may move forward in doing good. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">I will try to continue these rules in future columns. If you would like to see them online, see: </span></span><span style="color: #0000f5; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0000f5; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0000f5; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">http://www.nwjesuits.org/JesuitSpirituality/Exercises/SpEx313_336.html</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0000f5; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0000f5; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0000f5; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"></span></span></span>St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-63937071404346840692012-07-11T12:51:00.001-07:002012-07-11T12:51:18.526-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From July 15th, 2012 Bulletin)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick…<br /><br /> Do we trust the Lord? That is something Jesus is asking of His disciples as He sends them out two by two. Do we realize who is doing the asking? If we knew we would trust. <br /> Jesus is God. This fact of our faith gives us a radical freedom to trust absolutely. God is infinitely trustworthy. Often we see Jesus in the Gospels rebuking His disciples for a lack of faith or a lack of trust. Remember Peter walking on water, then losing sight of Jesus and beginning to sink. We too, like Peter, fail to trust at times when the waves of our lives begin to intimidate us. <br /> One of the meditations in the second week of the Ignatian Exercises is the passage about Jesus sleeping in the boat. A storm has come up and they are taking on water, about to sink by all reasonable standards of experience, especially for fishermen. How come Jesus is able to sleep? <br /> In Ignatian meditations, one imagines the scene, as vividly as possible, even placing one’s self into the scene and dialoging with the participants. What was Peter doing? And John? And James? Who got the assignment to wake Jesus up? What would I have done? What ought I to do given Jesus’ rebuke upon being woken up? Jesus rebuked them for their fear and lack of faith. They didn’t realize yet who they had in their boat. If the Son of God’s not worried, who are we to be afraid? <br />Applying this to our poverty of faith in daily life is a work of prayer. We must ask for what we do not have or have to a small degree. Jesus called the disciples men “of little faith”. He didn’t say “no faith”, but rather “little faith”. The Scriptures say, “All have been given a measure of faith”. We have to act on what little we have to obtain more. “I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief.” <br /><br />To wish for nothing more than need demands, Is rest supreme, with simple food and dress<br />To feed and clothe our bodies and to seek, no more than is prescribed by nature’s wants.<br />When going on a journey, take no purse, nor of a second tunic think, and be<br />Not anxious for the morrow, lest for food. The belly lack. Our daily bread returns<br />With every sun. Does any bird take thought. Of tomorrow, certain to be fed by God?<br /><br /> Prudentius, The Spiritual Combat Ignatius, Pt. IV<br /><br /> As I write this I’m entering Week Three, the Passion of Christ. I’ve just read the Entry into Jerusalem and will begin the Temple narratives tomorrow. The Second Week closed with the Three Levels of Humility and the Making of an Election (A Decision). The Election is especially relevant as it either deals with discerning and choosing a vocation or improving on one already committed to. While I’m in the second category, I still read through the material on the first and wanted to share it with you. St. Ignatius begins by reminding the reader of the purpose of life, ‘to praise, reverence and serve the Lord and to save my soul.’ All choices ought to support that end. He warns, <br /><br /> “I ought not to order or drag the end into subjection to the means, but to order the means to the end. In this way it happens, for example, that many choose firstly to marry, which is the means, and secondly to serve God our Lord in marriage, although the service of God is the end. Similarly, there are others who first seek to possess benefices (Church offices/benefits like lands that make money), and afterwards to serve God in them. Thus these persons do not go directly to God, but desire God to come directly to their disordered attachments. As a result they transform the end in to a means and the means in to the end; and consequently what they should fasten on in the first place they take up in the last.” <br /><br /> This can happen in big decisions like whether to marry as well as smaller decisions, like what job to take, where to live, or simply how to spend a free hour. Too often we can place our will in the driver’s seat and then ask God to bless our direction. Are we really going to change our direction once we’ve made that decision? Not so easily. Putting God first can be as simply as saying an Our Father before we make a decision. We say in that prayer, “Thy will be done”. If we mean it, it will affect our choices. As I finish my retreat by the 20th of July, I hope to see you next weekend. Thank you for your prayers and know that you are in mine daily.St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-2283276367527466622012-07-04T10:22:00.002-07:002012-07-04T10:22:25.402-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From July 8th, 2012 Bulletin)<b><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;"><div align="CENTER">
"He was amazed at their lack of faith."</div>
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Our Gospel this weekend reveals both Jesus’ humanity and ours. His is recognized in that "He was amazed". To be amazed shows some kind of surprise, an unexpected happening. God the Son would not be amazed, knowing all things. It is Jesus in His full humanity that has a hard time believing people’s lack of belief. It would seem from His response that faith ought to come more naturally. That’s where our broken humanity comes in. </div>
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I have to say ‘broken’, because I believe that Jesus knows that a human being, given natural law and the gifted light of reason, should recognize the Divine at work. His own Nazarenes did not recognize Jesus’ work as Divine. They tried to explain it away by referring to his relatives that they knew. The ordinary, hidden life of Jesus, not hidden from his neighbors in Nazareth, was a reason given to not believe in Him. The thought that God would be united with a man in such a way was beyond the willingness to believe. They were not able to hold on to the faith that says,"All things are possible with God." </div>
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We of varying degrees of faith may face times where we’re not sure how much we believe, if at all. No need to panic. Jesus says, "Ask, and you will receive." One of the prayers that I say five times a day during my Ignatian Retreat is, "Lord, give me an interior knowledge of you, who became human for me, that I may love you more intensely and follow you more closely." This is bound to increase one’s faith. Jesus is faithful to His promise to respond to every sincere prayer. </div>
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Ignatius is big on asking for the grace that one desires and needs. Each meditation time begins with another prayer called the ‘Preparatory Prayer’, which "…is to ask God our Lord for the grace that all my intentions, actions, and operations may be ordered purely to the service and praise of the Divine Majesty." This really could be a daily prayer intention, or shall I say, a life intention.</div>
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As I shared last week, I’m now well into the ‘Second Week’ of the exercises, which actually have twelve days attached, depending on the director’s sense of what you are ready for. I’m on seventh day, which is a contemplation on the call of the first disciples. I’ve also been asked to review the origins and graces of my own call. It is well worth it to look back on what motivated and moved one to choose a vocation. Hopefully there were clear signs and indications of the Holy Spirit guiding your choice. If not, then God is present to renew or tweak your accordingly. </div>
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One of the most helpful meditations was on the ‘Three Classes of Persons’. Each person has come into 10 thousand ducats (Spanish currency), "…but not purely or properly for the love of God."They all want to be at peace with God, but deal with the situation differently. The first person wants to be rid of the attachment to the money, but "does not take the means, even to the hour of death." This is someone who knows what is right to do, but procrastinates, even until death!</div>
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The second person is someone who wants to get rid of the attachment but keep the money. This person is someone who is blessed, but uses their blessings on their own terms, not God’s. How often we might say, "Well, I’ll do such and such and then ask God’s blessing on my endeavor." God is not invited to influence the actual decision about how to act in a given situation; He only mops up the results, so to speak. </div>
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The third person, but wants a disposition that is free from the money, whether it is kept or not. Their desire is only to do God’s will and is busy seeking that will with an open heart and mind. The goal is whatever will "be better for the service and praise of the Divine Majesty." This is freedom and happiness. It is also a grace. We need supernatural help to maintain a freedom from creatures. Our weakness would tend toward security and pleasure, but God can strengthen us to where we are indifferent as to possessions except for how they may serve God or distract us from Him. </div>
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St. Ignatius closes with a‘colloquy’, a short prayer, beginning with Our Lady, that she might "obtain former grace from her Son and Lord that I may be received under his standard; and first, in the most perfect spiritual poverty; and also, if his Divine Majesty should be served and if he should wish to choose me for it, to not less a degree of actual poverty; and second, in bearing reproaches and injuries, that through them I may imitate him more, if only I can do this without sin on anyone’s part and without displeasure to the Divine Majesty." May God grant us this grace. I continue to pray for all of you. </div>
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</span></span>St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-37360270674899478502012-06-27T10:02:00.000-07:002012-06-27T10:02:04.000-07:00Words from Fr Ed )From July 1st, 2012 Bulletin)<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div align="CENTER">
"My daughter is at the point of death."</div>
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Ignatian Exercises, Part III</div>
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Hopefully I’ll be into my Second Week of the exercises when you read this. As I write I’m just at the end of the First Week, which is a meditation on hell. Not what we would think leads to a consolation, but the truth has its way of setting one free, including the reality of hell. Some say it doesn’t exist. An atheistic young man once shared this with St. Padre Pio, that he didn’t believe in hell. The padre replied simply, "You will when you get there." </div>
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If you don’t believe in an afterlife of misery, pain and alienation from God, just consider what hell exists on this side of the line. Consider Auschwitz, Juarez, or Baghdad; a life there could be filled with hatred and cruelty . Does God desire brutal slums, violence and injustice? Of course not, they are the fruit of human freedom to sin. It is the same with hell. While as Catholics we believe in God’s universal salvific will, He "… desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim 2:4), we don’t believe that God forces people to go to heaven. Hell is simply God respecting people’s freedom to reject His love and mercy. Lord have mercy!</div>
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To meditate on hell, its existence and any attachment that might lead there, helps one desire all the graces necessary to avoid it. Some saints had visions and mystical experiences where God revealed the reality of hell to them. They considered it a horrifying, yet singular grace. St. Ignatius of Loyola encourages the retreatant to "…ask for an interior sense of the pain suffered by the damned, so that if through my faults I should forget the love of the Eternal Lord, at least the fear of those pains will serve to keep me from falling into sin." He closes the meditation with gratitude that one who is on retreat is still alive and capable of receiving God’s mercy. </div>
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After a week of these spiritual exercises I’m grateful as well for such an opportunity. His mercy endures forever. Not only do I get to do the 30 Day retreat, I get to do it in a Trappist monastery, where praising God is their daily bread. Our day begins at 4:15am with Vigils (Office of Readings), which consists of 7 or 8 psalms, two major readings, and some sweet silence, though I have to admit, at that hour, silence is dangerously close to the nap threshold. The day continues with 6:30am Lauds followed by Mass. I usually work for two hours from 9 – 11am, gardening around the guest house. </div>
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At 12:30 we have Day Prayer followed by the one required meal of the day. There’s a great reading happening as we make our way through "The Monks of Mount Athos". One monk reads while the rest of us eat. The one exception to this was yesterday, the Feast of John the Baptist, when they played classical music instead. A solemnity in a monastery is quite a treat as special food, wine, beer, and ice cream all come out. I’m probably hitting the wildest two weeks of the monastic year with St. John, Sts. Peter and Paul, and then the Fourth of July when the monks take a picnic on the back 2000 (acres) and play a little baseball besides. I think some even light up a cigar ! How can one pray with so much partying going on? </div>
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What am I doing for Christ? </div>
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What ought I to do for Christ? </div>
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I love this series because it brings the person asking into the present moment, the only moment we actually need to respond to. If one is asking these questions they are under the influence of grace and there is great hope that something good is about to happen. I encourage you to consider these for a few moments and tell me if they are not helpful. </div>
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The monastic day continues with 5:30pm Vespers and 7:30pm Compline. The great silence follows where quiet is more strictly observed until Lauds the following morning. My retreat director warned me to be careful of books for they can easily distract one from the retreat. There are fantastic libraries within the monastery so it is a reader’s paradise, but a temptation none the less. Pray for me as I try to stay moderate in my reading. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"> The reason I started this article with the Gospel quote above is that it reminds of how we may feel at times when we are in need of God’s grace. Have you ever felt on the ‘point of death’ because of illness, stress, or trials of various kinds? Like the ‘Talitha’ in our Gospel, may Jesus come to you and raise you up. He desires your good. Be open to His voice. I continue to pray for all of you. </span></span>St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-3805959925971731852012-06-20T11:31:00.004-07:002012-06-20T11:31:48.266-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From June 24th, 2012 Bulletin)<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div align="CENTER">
<b> Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, Part II</b></div>
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As you may know from my column in last week’s bulletin, the Exercises of St. Ignatius are divided into four weeks, but I decided to title this column ‘Part II’ because I have no idea today whether I will be in ‘Week II’ or not next week. As I’m writing this on Sunday (June 17th), a week before you receive your bulletin, and before I’ve even begun the Exercises, I can’t predict how far along I’ll be in a week. The Exercises lend themselves to a flexibility that adapts to the retreatant and how they are making progress. One could take two weeks for the ‘First Week’ and another person might take just a few days. </div>
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Father Abbot gave me my religious name this morning for the duration of my time here, "Fr. Dismas". I was surprised by this, given that a good friend used to call me St. Dismas (the good thief). We used to volunteer at the Dismas Center in downtown Seattle together. I asked the Abbot what prompted this and he said, as if prophetically, "I just thought of it." Then he turned and pointed to the alb hook and shelf in the sacristy that I’ll use during my retreat, which was labeled, "Fr. Dismas" the last priest to have died here. Abbot Peter went further, "You have big shoes to fill." Maybe it will take me four weeks to do "Week I", but I’ll finish with a great confession like St. Dismas on the cross. </div>
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The first week is about sin and confession with an emphasis on examination of conscience. It is comparable to the ‘purgative’ stage of the spiritual life. Some authors have divided the spiritual life into three stages; purgative (repentance and purification), illuminative (learning the virtues and gifts of Christ), and unitive (experiencing oneness and joy with God). A prayer commonly said daily during the Exercises helps one enter this journey:</div>
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Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. </div>
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Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. </div>
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Passion of Christ, strengthen me.</div>
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O good Jesus, hear me. Within your wounds hide me.</div>
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Do not allow me to be separated from you. From the malevolent enemy defend me.</div>
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In the hour of my death call me, and bid me come to you,</div>
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That with your saints I may praise you forever and ever. Amen. </div>
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Fortnight of Freedom</div>
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Our US Bishops have asked for two weeks of prayer, beginning June 20 and continuing until July 4th, for the intention of protecting Religious Freedom in America. While that has already begun, every prayer is helpful. The HHS mandate is going through a constitutional challenge that may be decided by the Supreme Court. There are two major problems that concern the Bishops on the behalf of every believer in the United States. One, the Federal Government is proposing that they, not the Church, or any denominational body, determine which institutions are religious or not. For example, the narrow ‘accommodation’ that President Obama offered applied only to parishes, not schools, hospitals, or Catholic charities. This would apply as well to private businesses as well. A Catholic who owns a fruit stand would have to supply contraceptive coverage, inclusive of abortafacients, in any medical coverage offered. Which is the second major problem with the mandate, it forces a grave violation of conscience on all Americans, regardless of their beliefs. This goes against what the standard throughout our country’s history of protecting individual consciences where grave matter exists. (i.e. Quakers being exempt from military draft, etc.) I believe our Bishops are prophetic in calling for a health care plan that protects religious freedom while providing a safety net for those unable to afford basic medical care. Please join me in praying for justice for all. For more information, see:</div>
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Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty</div>
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O God our Creator, Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society. We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.</div>
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Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters?gathered in your Church?in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every danger overcome— for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us— this great land will always be "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."</div>
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We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.</div>
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Pastoral Team Developments</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"> As you may have heard from the pulpit two weeks ago, Cynde Bosshart has resigned from her position as Director of Faith Formation as she begins a new study and practice of Pastoral Counseling. Cynde has worked on staff for 24 years in addition to 13 years as a volunteer. Thank you Cynde for your dedication and loving sacrifice over the years. This leaves a gaping hole in our Pastoral coverage that we will only realize as we begin to pick up all the areas that Cynde is vacating, some she did silently which weren’t on her job description. May God provide. As I write this several persons on staff are considering pieces of Cynde’s former job description and our discernment will be announced shortly. Meanwhile, we will need a leader for RCIA, which will be an 8 hour per week position. An ad for that position appears in this week’s bulletin. Please pray for our reconfiguration of our pastoral team.</span></span>St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-39886911925646903702012-06-13T13:09:00.001-07:002012-06-13T13:09:27.435-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From June 17th Bulletin)<b><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div align="CENTER">
Ignatian Retreat</div>
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As I shared in last week’s bulletin, I will be spending the next month on a 30 Day Ignatian Retreat doing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises (written by St. Ignatius Loyola, ~1523 A.D). It is a requirement of my STL (Sacred License in Theology) graduate program that I am happy to comply with. For me, it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to more profoundly ‘Come aside awhile and pray’, as Our Lord asked His disciples to do. </div>
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I’ll try to keep you posted on some elements of the retreat, beginning with the basics of the First Week in this article. The 30 Days are broken up into 4 Weeks, each representing a unique stage of the spiritual life and the process of conversion. The four stages include meditations on 'sin, the life of Jesus, the Passion of Jesus, and the Resurrection of Jesus’. The Exercises (meditation, examination of conscience, lectio, etc.) are intended as "… means of preparing and disposing our soul to rid itself of all its disordered affections and then, after their removal, of seeking and finding God’s will in the ordering of our life for the salvation of our soul." </div>
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After a few explanations to begin the retreat, Ignatuis gives us a basic principle: </div>
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The First Principle and Foundation</div>
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The human person is created to praise, reverence, and serve God Our Lord, and by doing so, to save his or her soul.</div>
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All other things on the face of the earth are created for human beings in order to help them pursue the end for which they were created.</div>
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It follows from this that one must use other created things, in so far as they help towards one's end, and free oneself from them, in so far as they are obstacles to one's end.</div>
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To do this, we need to make ourselves indifferent to all created things, provided the matter is subject to our free choice and there is no other prohibition.</div>
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Thus, as far as we are concerned, we should not want health more than illness, wealth more than poverty, fame more than disgrace, a long life more than a short one, and similarly for all the rest, but we should desire and choose only what helps us more towards the end for which we are created.</div>
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The First Week addresses sin and the reality of hell. This can be rather sobering. Fr. Spitzer, S.J., always begins the Exercise with a good conference on the Love of God. Without that, he would say, how can we explore, without excessive fear, the nature of sin in our lives? It is God’s merciful love that allows us to open up that door that we have kept tightly shut for fear of condemnation, rejection, and any hidden attachment to sin. God’s mercy gives us courage to let in the light of love and truth. </div>
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The Exercises of the First Week encourage a radical examination of conscience in regard to how we have used our faculties of memory, understanding, and will. You may recall the beautiful song of surrender, "Take, Lord, Receive", that puts Ignatius’ Prayer of ‘Suscipe’ to verse: </div>
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Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will,</div>
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All I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it.</div>
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Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace.</div>
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That is enough for me.</div>
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This is a generous disposition that we can all strive for, beginning by asking for the grace of it. We cannot do it on our own. We need God’s good help. Beginning with surrender, God can do great things with our lives. Mother Teresa’s sisters sing this at their profession Mass. </div>
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The 30 Day Retreat can be done at home in the midst of lay obligations in what is called the 19th Annotation Retreat. Tim Malone, Director of our Spiritual Companion ministry is very involved in this undertaking through St. Joseph Parish in Seattle and other locations. You can reach him via his website if you have any questions at </div>
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Another good online program is offered via Creighton University: </div>
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Know that you will be in my prayers. I bring you with me on retreat and pray that all the graces I receive will be shared in abundance with your own souls and in your lives with God and neighbor. Please keep me in your prayers as well. </div>
</span></span>St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-38362606861084841692012-06-06T09:52:00.000-07:002012-06-06T09:55:56.378-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From June 10th, 2012 Bulletin)<b><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;"> Corpus Christi</span></div>
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While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, </div>
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These words from the Gospel of Mark bring us close to the new translation of the words of institution in the Mass, The day before he suffered he took bread in his sacred hands and looking up to heaven, to you, his almighty Father, he gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and eat of it:?for this is my body which will be given up for you.</div>
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Notice a few slight differences, but the essence of what is said is the same. For the Church, the most important thing is that it is Christ’s essential word, said with the intention of the Church, that is transformative over the bread and the wine. A priest, as an unconsecrated man, cannot consecrate the host and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. It is Christ’s word over the priest at ordination that prepares him to say Christ’s words over the bread and the wine. </div>
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Notice too how the priest shifts into the first person at the words of institution, ‘as if’ Jesus Himself were pronouncing the consecration. Our belief about the priesthood and the ministration of Christ during a Sacrament says that it is not ‘as if’, but it is truly Christ who consecrates and offers Himself to the Father through the body of the priest. </div>
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While the priest is called to be a transparent instrument of this miraculous act, he is an organic conduit who is, like Christ, called to be both priest and victim, offering himself and his body to the Father with the Body and Blood of Christ as an oblation of love. Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist has always been attested to down through the ages. It is not a medieval invention of the Church to keep the ‘masses’ (no pun intended) under control. Listen to a few early Church fathers, writing in the first two centuries: </div>
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"Consider how contrary to the mind of God are the heterodox ( = opinions that dissent from the official or orthodox belief of the Church) in regard to the grace of God which has come to us. They have no regard for charity, none for the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, none for the man in prison, the hungry or the thirsty. They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not admit that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, the flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in His graciousness, raised from the dead."</div>
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- "Letter to the Smyrnaeans", paragraph 6. circa 80-110 A.D.</div>
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"This food we call the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes that the things we teach are true, and has received the washing for forgiveness of sins and for rebirth, and who lives as Christ handed down to us. For we do not receive these things as common bread or common drink; but as Jesus Christ our Savior being incarnate by God's Word took flesh and blood for our salvation, so also we have been taught that the food consecrated by the Word of prayer which comes from him, from which our flesh and blood are nourished by transformation, is the flesh and blood of that incarnate Jesus." </div>
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-"First Apology", Ch. 66, inter A.D. 150. St. Justin the Martyr</div>
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"So then, if the mixed cup and the manufactured bread receive the Word of God and become the Eucharist, that is to say, the Blood and Body of Christ, which fortify and build up the substance of our flesh, how can these people claim that the flesh is incapable of receiving God's gift of eternal life, when it is nourished by Christ's Blood and Body and is His member? </div>
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- St. Irenaeus, 180 A.D. "Five Books" </div>
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May the word of Christ, which consecrates the bread and the wine, also consecrate us, His people, as His Mystical Body, and render us as pure love poured out upon the earth. </div>
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30 Day Retreat</div>
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I will be away on a 30 Day Ignatian Retreat beginning June 16th and returning July 20th. This is part of my graduate study program in spirituality. Know that you will be in my daily prayers. Fr. Brian, Fr. Yu, Deacon Marshall, and our whole pastoral team will be available for any urgencies that arise. Please pray for me as well. </div>
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Vocation Director Here June 16th and 17th</div>
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Fr. Bryan Dolesji, who grew up in St. Stephens, is now Vocation Director for the Archdiocese and will be here next weekend. Please welcome him and pray for an increase of vocation to the priesthood and the religious life. </div>
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Congratulations to Stephens Ministers</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">7 new Stephen Ministers, Sylvia Dela Cruz, Helen Chaze, Dori Fajardo, Marijean Heutmaker, Clare Ettensohn, Mary Moran, and Dolly Geonanga, were commissioned this past weekend for ministry to those who are suffering grief, illness, or other hardships in their lives. Thanks to all who generously give of their time to this valuable ministry. </span></span>St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-4609356418224409402012-05-30T14:12:00.001-07:002012-05-30T14:12:32.707-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From June 3rd, 2012 Bulletin)<b><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div align="CENTER">
Trinity Sunday</div>
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<i>When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.</i></div>
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The first Sunday after Pentecost is Trinity Sunday. Our Gospel returns to the Ascension scene, where Jesus is giving his last instructions to the disciples. Here in Matthew 28:16, the eleven (the apostles without Judas, before choosing Matthias), are depicted as going to Galilee to a mountain that Jesus indicated. It’s not clear if this is Mt. Tabor or perhaps a mountain on the road to Galilee, even on the outskirts of Jerusalem. What’s more important is their reaction to the presence of Jesus. </div>
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It says, as I quote above, "…they worshiped, but they doubted." Can we see ourselves in this? "They worshiped" means they had a belief in Jesus, yet it wasn’t complete, it lacked certitude. Their virtue of faith was somehow compromised and diluted. Typically Jesus is quick in other scenes to rebuke any lack of faith. But here He moves straight to His authority. "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Has He learned in His humanity that His rebukes aren’t as effective as a positive word? Or is He simply shoring up the exact area of doubt? Has the Resurrection not cured these men of the scandal of the cross? The Resurrection alone has not been enough to make these disciples fully confident in their faith. </div>
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Jesus goes on to give them the Great Commission, to "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." He says all this knowing that they will need the Holy Spirit, about to be given at Pentecost, to carry out this heroic mission. They need a Divine Person to fulfill a Divine act. </div>
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This Holy Spirit, which we celebrated last week at Pentecost, will, as Jesus said, lead us into all truth. He will remind us of all that Jesus taught us, including His relationship with the Father. This would be crucial for Christians to be Christians. Belief that Jesus is the Divine Son of God is unique to Christians. All other faiths may honor Him as a prophet or a holy man, or a Buddha, an enlightened one. Only Christians say that Jesus is God. </div>
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Going further, we believe that there are three Persons in our One God. I know that is hard to understand. We can’t grasp it with our reason alone. It takes a real gift and virtue of faith to accept this reality. It takes the revelation of Jesus Christ. Do we believe Jesus when He says, "I am in the Father and the Father is in me"? (Jn 14:10) Jesus often refers to the Father as a unique person. It is not a semantic mind game that Jesus is playing here. When Jesus prays to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane He is really praying to the Father, the God He is simultaneously united with, all the while united with His own humanity. </div>
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Jesus’ Divinity is key to belief in the Trinity. If there are two persons in the Godhead, then what is to stop us from believing that there are three? Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I AM." (Jn 8:58) The radicality of this statement can be seen in the Jew's reaction, "So they took up stones to throw at him." To know Jesus fully is to know Him as Divine. This takes intimacy. </div>
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Strangely, the route to Jesus’ Divinity is His humanity. It is through His humanity that we best get a glimpse of the one who was and is and ever will be one with the Father. He is also the one who with the Father sends the Holy Spirit. Because of Jesus, we can know the Father and the Holy Spirit. It is primarily in Jesus, the Son that we can know more fully the reality and indwelling of the Holy Trinity. It is considered a sign of great holiness for a saint to receive a profound insight into the presence and inner life of the Trinity. Let us pray for that great grace. </div>
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We are receiving 8 new Stephen Ministers this weekend who will be serving our community after a rigorous training course that includes grief counseling, listening skills, and formation in pastoral care. We welcome ________. They join ________________Thanks to all who so generously give their time and talent for others. If you would like to know more about Stephens Ministry, please contact Deacon Marshall Denby at 253-631-1940, ext. 103. </div>
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Viva Cristo Rey! - "For Greater Glory" Coming Soon</div>
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"For Greater Glory" is opening June 1st in theaters, hopefully near us. It depicts the Cristeros war for the freedom of the Church in Mexico. Few are aware of how the Church was persecuted in the late 1920s in Mexico. It became illegal for the Church to function freely. Priests were hunted down and executed. Catholic schools were forbidden, monasteries were closed, foreign clerics and religious were expelled. Before 1926 there were 4500 priests in Mexico. In 1934, there were only 334 for 15 million people. In the state of Chihuahua there was only one priest for the whole state. In other states there were none and all churches were closed by the government. This caused a popular uprising amongst the peasants and landowners alike who cherished their faith. The Cristeros, as they were called, shouted, "Viva, Cristo Rey" as their battle cry. Eventually the U.S. government with the advocacy of the Knights of Columbus recognized their cause. See </div>
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<b>The Descent of the Holy Spirit Upon the Apostles</b></div>
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<b> …when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.</b></div>
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Today we celebrate the birthday of the Church with all the apostles and disciples who received the Holy Spirit on the Jewish feast of Pentecost, or Shavu’ot. Remember how our Easter Season began with the lighting of the Paschal flame and we sang the praises of the Easter Candle, a symbol of Christ’s light and power over death. On that Easter Vigil night it was us who lighted candles and held them as a sign that we bear the light of Christ in our hearts. Today we celebrate God lighting us with a fire that burns without consuming. Let us surrender to the power and goodness of the Holy Spirit who desires to fill us with Divine gifts.<br />
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<b>Pope Benedict on the Holy Spirit</b></div>
Saint Augustine’s experience of the love of God present in the Church led him to three particular insights about the Holy Spirit as the bond of unity within the Blessed Trinity: unity as communion, unity as abiding love, and unity as giving and gift. These three insights help explain how the Spirit works. In a world where both individuals and communities often suffer from an absence of unity or cohesion, these insights help us remain attuned to the Spirit and to extend and clarify the scope of our witness.<br />
Augustine noted that the two words “Holy “ and “Spirit” refer to what is divine about God; in other words, what is shared by the Father and the Son – their communion. So, if the distinguishing characteristic of the Hoy Spirit is to be what is shared by the Father and the Son, Augustine concluded that the Spirit’s particular quality is unity. It is a unity of lived communion: a unity of persons in a relationship of constant fibbing, the Father and the Son giving themselves to each other….True unity could never be founded upon relationships which deny the equal dignity of other persons. Nor is unity simply the sum total of the groups through which we sometimes attempt to “define” ourselves. In fact, only in the life of communion is unity sustained and human identity fulfilled: we recognize the common need for God, we respond to the unifying presence of the Holy Spirit, and we give ourselves to one another in service.<br />
Augustine’s second insight [is that of] the Holy Spirit as abiding love. Reflecting on the lasting nature of love – “whoever abides in love remains in God and God in him” – he wondered: is it love or the Holy Spirit which grants the abiding? This is the conclusion he reaches: “The Holy Spirit makes us remain in God and God in us; yet it is love that effects this. The Spirit therefore is God as love!”…God share himself as love in the Holy Spirit…Love is the sing of the presence of the Holy Spirit! Ideas or voices which lack love – even if they seem sophisticated or knowledgeable – cannot be “of the Spirit.” Furthermore, love has a particular trait: far from being indulgent or fickle, it has a task or purpose to fulfill: to abide. By its nature love is enduring. Again we catch a further glimpse of how much the Holy Spirit offers our world: love which dispels uncertainty; love which overcome the fear of betrayal; love which carries eternity within; the true love which draws us into a unity that abides!<br />
The third insight: the Holy Spirit as gift. The Spirit is “God’s gift” (Jn 4:10) the internal spring (cf. Jn 4:14), who truly satisfies our deepest thirst and leads us to the Father. From this observation Augustine concludes that God sharing himself with us as gift is the Holy Spirit…Again we catch a glimpse of the Trinity at work: the Holy Spirit is God eternally giving himself; like a never-ending spring he pours forth nothing less than himself…We begin to understand why the quest for novelty leaves us unsatisfied and wanting. Are we not looking for an eternal gift? The Spring that will never run dry?...<br />
Inspired by the insights of Saint Augustine: let unifying love be your measure; abiding love your challenge; self-giving love your mission! <br />
- Pope Benedict XVI<br />
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<b>Manninos’ Going Away Concert!</b></div>
Our Dear Manninos, Jim, Denise, and Aaron have decided to move to Florida for various good reasons. We will miss them after 15 years of providing beautiful prayerful music at our 11am Mass and other liturgies. This Sunday, May 27th, the Manninos' music group “The Priest and the Publicans” (including Fr. Armando Guzman), will be playing at our first multicultural lunch in honor of Pentecost. It will follow the 11 am Mass, all are welcome. Please come and say goodbye to these great friends who were so generous with their time and talent. A free-will offering will be taken to help in their moving if you would like to express your gratitude to them in that way. May God bless them abundantly in their new home and parish. <br />St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-53719225307669304682012-05-16T13:28:00.003-07:002012-05-16T13:28:39.522-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From May 20th, 2012 Bulletin)<br />
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<b><i> Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature</i></b></div>
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We have a mission. Have you accepted it? When I was young my family used to watch the old Mission Impossible series. We enjoyed the predicaments that Jim’s team used to get into along with the suspense of it all. Each show began with an assignment received in via a self-destructing tape. James Phelps was the leader of this espionage team who heard a voice on the tape giving them a potential assignment. After giving the problem, situation and risks, the voice would always close with, “Your mission, Jim, if you choose to accept it, is…” and then give the summary.<br />
I don’t think they ever turned down a mission, and yet the voice gave them freedom. We have a mission and a voice that speaks to us each time we hear the gospel. This week’s gospel speaks of signs that accompany believers, signs that we often see in our canonized saints. I mentioned St. Gianna Molla in my homily last week. As part of the canonization process several miracles have to be identified and confirmed by experts as having no natural cause. In her case, both miracles occurred in Brazil were her brother had been a missionary doctor and priest. Here is an excerpt from the second miracle:<br />
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<b>Miracle for Canonization</b></div>
In mid November 1999 a 35 year old Brazilian woman, Elizabeth Comparini Arcolino, was pregnant for the fourth time. …when she developed a hemorrhage that caused a deterioration of the placenta. ..<br />
On February 11 …An ultrasound showed that …although the fetus was alive, there was no amniotic fluid. The radiologist testified that there was no amniotic fluid present to protect the child from exposure to the bacteria of the birth canal and from the external pressure of the uterus itself. This meant that both the child and mother were in serious danger of infection. ...In a desperate attempt to save the baby Elizabeth was put on a regimen of hydration of 4 liters of intravenous fluids per day with the intent of promoting the formation of amniotic fluid, without success… on February 15 the prognosis was that the baby would die. At the time, doctors …had studied the viability of pregnancies between 22-26 weeks with ruptured membranes…In every case examined in these studies, the pregnancy ended in spontaneous abortion within 60 days of when the membranes ruptured. …<br />
Dr. Bicega and other doctors …recommended an abortion to save her life and gave her some time to make the decision. Elizabeth was a practicing Catholic and later testified that she knew in her heart that she could not choose abortion as an option and that she must try to bring the child to term. She was distraught and crying when the doctor came back for the decision. Elizabeth's husband Carlos Cesar, who was faithfully at her side, said that his wife was requesting a priest. He called the local parish priest …, Fr. Ovidio Jose Alves di Andrade. Dr. Bicega said she would return in 15 minutes with the documents for their signatures authorizing the abortive procedure.<br />
One of Elizabeth's friends, Isabel, …overheard the recommendation about having an abortion. Isabel, inspired by her faith, hurried to the hospital chapel to pray to Mary to help bring some clarity to the situation befalling her friend. After spending some time in prayer she got up to leave and was surprised to see the bishop of the diocese, Bishop Diogenes Silva Matthes, pass by the door. … The Bishop immediately went to Elizabeth's room. After hearing the whole story he said "Betinha, (Betsy) we will pray and God will help us." … Shortly after the Bishop left, Fr. Ovidio arrived and began anointing Elizabeth with the sacrament for the sick. While he was anointing her Bishop Silva returned and brought with him a biography of Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla. The Bishop told Elizabeth "Do what Blessed Gianna did, and, if necessary, give your life for the child. … I said to the Blessed in prayer, ‘Now has arrived the opportunity for you to be canonized. Intercede before the Lord for the grace of a miracle and save the life of this little child." Elizabeth knew about Blessed Gianna and how she had died. …<br />
… Elizabeth told Dr. Bicega she would try to carry her child to term as long at the child's heart continued to beat. Several doctors at the hospital indicated that this was madness as the child was already dying. …Elizabeth later testified that, for her, "Jesus' greatest miracle was to change the doctor's heart. She had been unmoved in her determination to perform the abortion, but one day she said to me, ‘Your faith has made me think a great deal. Even I have faith now so let's wait for the death of the fetus."<br />
Elizabeth left the hospital and went to the home of Carlos Cesar's aunt, Janete Arcolino, who was a nurse. Dr. Bicego lent them an ultrasound instrument so they could monitor the heart beat of the child. … Fr. Ovidio later testified that the whole community continued to invoke Blessed Gianna asking for a miracle. …Dr. Bicega followed the pregnancy very closely and noted that during the whole time there was no accumulation of amniotic fluid. ...<br />
Finally, when Elizabeth had reached her 32nd week of pregnancy …it was decided to deliver the baby by caesarian section. On May 31, 2000 Elizabeth gave birth to a daughter whom she named Gianna Maria after her celestial intercessor. The baby was healthy except for a twisted left foot which was later successfully corrected with an operation and physical therapy. …Elizabeth however, had serious complications. …she developed a severe hemorrhage and shock, losing more than 75% of her blood…her kidneys had shut down, her lungs collapsed, and she was lapsing into a coma. Finally, after multiple blood transfusions and three days in the intensive care unit, she recovered.<br />
The newborn was sent home on June 17, 2000…In July 2001, Dr. Maria Engracia Ribeiro, a pediatrician, examined the child and found her to be perfectly normal and healthy, intelligent and lively with a strong personality. A subsequent examination on January 17, 2002 found no problems of any sort with the child's development. She … was in perfect health.<br />
The case of the miracle was studied thoroughly by the "Consulta Medica" …and on April 10, 2003 it was determined that, despite the grave prognosis for the fetus and the mother as the result of the total loss of amniotic fluid at the 16th week of gestation, and despite medical treatment that failed to alleviate and was inadequate for such a grave situation, the positive outcome of the pregnancy, both healthy mother and healthy child, was unexplainable in medical terms. …<br />
Elizabeth's obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Nadia Vieitez de Almeida, stated "Contradicting all logic and science, this pregnancy continued without infection, without premature labor and without any fetal anomalies. The destiny is that God sent us Gianna, who today is the pride of us all."<br />
St. Gianna died as a result of sacrificing her life so that her unborn child in the womb could have the maximum chance at life. Divine Providence accepted her sacrifice and suffering and she was rewarded with Eternal Salvation. Thus it is very beautiful that her heroic virtue was acknowledged and confirmed by the Universal Church through two intercessory miracles involving two mothers and an innocent baby in the womb.<br />
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<br /></div>St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-34429501655795294092012-05-16T10:36:00.003-07:002012-05-16T10:38:08.680-07:00May 20th, 2012<br />
See Fr Ed on Video at www.ststephenslife.com - In this latest installment, Fr. Ed walks the grounds of Tahoma National Cemetery and discusses the power of Easter in our lives.<br />
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On Memorial Day, Monday May 28, Mass will be celebrated at the four Archdiocesan Catholic Cemeteries. All are invited to attend.<br />
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Holyrood Cemetery – 206-363-8404<br />
10:30 a.m.- Celebrant: Most Rev. Eusebio Elzondo,Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle<br />
2:00 p.m. – Mass in Vietnamese with the Vietnamese Community<br />
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Calvary Cemetery – 206-522-0996<br />
10:30 a.m. Celebrant: Rev. Ron Funke, SJ<br />
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Gethsemane Cemetery – 253-838-2240<br />
10:30 a.m.- Celebrant: Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain Archbishop of Seattle<br />
12:15 p.m. – Mass in Vietnamese with the Vietnamese Community<br />
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St. Patrick Cemetery – 253-838-2240<br />
10:30 a.m. Mass<br />
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Job Opening<br />
Gethsemane Cemetery has an immediate opening for the position of Administrative Assistant. This position is classified as Regular Part-Time. General qualifications include 2-3 years administrative or general office work experience; high school or GED; bookkeeping experience; proficiency in Microsoft office suite specifically in Word and Excel; active member of the Catholic Church. Resume’s may be emailed to Faye McClain at fmcclain@MyCatholicCemetery.org or faxed to 253-874-5910.<br />
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Widow & Widowers Function: Wednesday, June 20th, 6:00-8:30 PM. Renton Senior Center Comedy Murder Mystery Dinner and Show ($8.00) Klondike Kapers is set in the Gold Rush Days. Carpooling will be available. Reserve tickets - Jeannie - 206-371-1876.<br />
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Kitchen Helpers Needed! - Volunteers are needed to help clean and organize our parish kitchen each week. This important ministry is a great way to gain new skills, meet people, and build community! Volunteer days and times are flexible, however Kitchen Helpers are especially needed on Monday mornings. To learn more please contact Clare Ettensohn at sstm.talents@gmail.com or at 253.631.1940 x131<br />
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Pentecost Celebration Help Needed! - May 27th is Pentecost Sunday and Saint Stephen's will be celebrating with a multicultural Mass at 11:00 am followed by a "Pentecost Potluck." We are in need of people to share their native culture through traditional dress, language, and food. If you would be willing to read an intercessory prayer in your native language (other than English) at the 11:00 am Mass on the 27th, or prepare a large quantity of your favorite native food for the Pentecost potluck to follow please contact Kim Anderson at yahya2020@comcast.net or Dori Fajardo at dbfajardo@aol.com.<br />
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News from St Anthony’s - Mrs. Seeley is Retiring! Mrs. Jan Seeley, one of our first grade teachers will be retiring this spring after 35 years of teaching at St. Anthony School. Please join us in honoring her for her many years of service to the school community. All are invited to attend and wish her well in her retirement. Saturday, June 2nd 2012, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. in the St. Anthony Parish Hall. RSVP is requested by May 18th either by phone to the school at 425.255.0059 or by email to mccoy@sasr.org.<br />
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Position Opening in Before and After School Supervision Program Do you know a teenager 16 or older interested in a great after school job? St. Anthony School’s BASS (Before and After School Supervision) will have openings for assistants this upcoming school year. Great pay, great hours, school holidays off! Interested? Contact Barbara Feeley, c/o St. Anthony School, 336 Shattuck Ave S, Renton, WA 98057 or e-mail to feeley@sasr.org . St. Anthony School is an equal opportunity employer.<br />
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2013 Honduras Mission - If you are considering joining us on our February 2013 Mission trip to Honduras, or would like more information about our upcoming trip, please contact Patrick Flanigan at flanigap@comcast.net or Debbie Dullenty at ddullenty@comcast.net. We will let you know about our upcoming meeting to discuss our 2013 trip.<br />
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It’s time to work on renewing your annual Safe Environment certification! Please go to: www.ststephenslife.com and click on the link for Safe Environment Training to see what part of the program you should complete this year!<br />
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Elva Deacy Memorial - Elva Deacy, a founding member of St. Stephen the Martyr Parish, died recently. Over the years, she was most generous in volunteering in many capacities in the Parish and for the last eight years with St. Stephen Housing Association (SSHA). A memorial has been established in Elva's name to continue the work she valued, assisting homeless families. Donations of any amount will be greatly appreciated. They can be mailed to St. Stephen Housing Association, 13055 SE 192nd Street, Renton, WA 98058 or brought to the SSHA office in the Outreach Annex (old rectory).<br />
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Bible Study: Adults: Have You<br />
Registered Yet?<br />
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Bible Study Classes: Tuesday Morning or Evening starting September 25th. DVD class materials by Jeff Cavins - Witness the seeds of the Church in the foundation Christ built on the twelve apostles, with Peter as His vicar. Discover the roots of the sacraments, and see how Jesus’ words and actions are reflected in the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Watch Jesus re-live the life and history of Israel as the obedient Son who trusts the Father to the very end, defeats death, hell, and the grave, and rises to new life. No prior Bible Study required. For more information contact Mary Ann Cullivan at 425 413 4994 or email mjcullivan@comcast.net<br />
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May 21 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Monday<br />
8:30a – 9:00a <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Morning Prayer & Rosary<br />
10:00–12:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Facilities & Grounds<br />
5:30p – 6:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Evening Prayer<br />
6:30p – 7:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>MASS<br />
7:00p – 8:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eucharistic Adoration<br />
7:00p – 8:30p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Boy Scout Troop 714<br />
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May 22 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tuesday<br />
8:30a – 9:00a <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Morning Prayer & Rosary<br />
9:00a – 3:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eucharistic Adoration<br />
6:30p – 8:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cub Scouts<br />
6:30p – 8:30p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fil-Am Choir<br />
7:00p – 9:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Stephen Ministry<br />
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May 23 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wednesday<br />
8:30a – 9:00a <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Morning Prayer & Rosary<br />
9:00a – 3:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eucharistic Adoration<br />
10:00 -11:30a <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>beC.O.M.E.<br />
5:30p – 6:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Evening Prayer<br />
6:30p -- 7:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>MASS<br />
7:15p – 9:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Choir Practice<br />
7:30p – 8:30p<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Job Assistance<br />
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May 24 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Thursday<br />
8:30a – 9:00a <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>MASS<br />
9:00a – 3:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eucharistic Adoration<br />
9:30a- 10:30a<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Job Assistance<br />
3:00p – 8:00p<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Boy Scouts Pinewood Derby<br />
7:00p – 7:45p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our Mother of Perpetual Help Novena<br />
7:00p – 9:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Finance Council<br />
7:00p – 9:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>RCIA<br />
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May 25 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Friday<br />
8:30a – 9:00a <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>MASS<br />
9:00a–10:00a <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Reconciliation<br />
9:00a – 3:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eucharistic Adoration<br />
7:00p – 9:00p<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Breath of Aire Concert<br />
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May 26 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Saturday<br />
8:00a--10:00a<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>SSTM Men's Group<br />
8:30a -- 9:00a <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Morning Prayer & Rosary<br />
9:00a.– 3:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eucharistic Adoration<br />
3:00p – 4:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Reconciliation<br />
5:00p – 6:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Vigil MASS<br />
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May 27 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sunday<br />
8:30a –9:30a <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>MASS<br />
11:00-12:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>MASS<br />
12:00p-2:00p<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pentecost Potluck<br />
5:30p –6:30p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Life Teen MASS<br />
6:30p –9:00p <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Charismatic Prayer Group<br />St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-59530662211886393632012-05-09T15:36:00.001-07:002012-05-09T15:36:11.010-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From May 13th 2012 Bulletin)<br />
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<b>Love one another as I love you</b></div>
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The heart of Christian living lies here in this commandment to love one another, yet not in some nebulous way, but in a very specific way, ‘as’ Jesus loves us. So in order to know how to love one another we have to know first how Jesus loves us.<br />
We can see by Jesus’ actions how He loves us. First, He is not afraid to tell us the truth and call us to repentance. When Jesus began His public life, after His baptism in the Jordan and the temptation in the desert, Matthew records His first words as being, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt 4:17) We are all called to repentance in the face of a holy kingdom, one that does not operate according to our own agenda. God says through the prophet Isaiah, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” (Is 55:8) This means we have to be open to change and willing to call others to repentance.<br />
Jesus’ love includes a radical, actually an infinite mercy for our sins. As you may know, I work with Project Rachel, a ministry to women and men who have suffered one or more abortions. It is amazing to see the power of God’s mercy at work in a soul. I am privileged to witness people, burdened with guilt and shame, realize that God forgives serious sin. The peace, joy, and freedom that one can experience with the grace of God’s mercy is incredible and can’t be manufactured through positive thinking. No, it is supernatural and a free gift of God. Nor could it occur without a radical honesty about one’s tragic mistake. “The truth will set you free”.<br />
Let us pray for the grace to love as Jesus loved, with mercy and truth.<br />
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<b>Annual Catholic Appeal</b></div>
This weekend is our primary appeal for financial and spiritual support for our Archdiocesan ministries. I try to contain this as best I can to just one weekend so as not to take away from our Easter liturgies. Our success depends in part on your help. I would like everyone to participate regardless of your financial capability at this time. That’s one reason why I say ‘spiritual’ support. Those who cannot give at this time should send in your forms with a promise of prayer for our Archbishop and the 80+ ministries of the Archdiocese. Our Archbishop Sartain needs these prayers now more than ever.<br />
Some hostile voices in the press have encouraged a boycott of the Annual Appeal, given the appointment of Archbishop Sartain as Archbishop Delegate for the review and renewal of the LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious). His task is “…to work collaboratively with the officers of the LCWR to achieve the goals outlined in this document (“Doctrinal Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious”; see http://www.usccb.org/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=55544) Regardless of whether one agrees with the assessment, I can only imagine Archbishop Sartain being the most charitable and understanding bishop to be assigned this task, one that he did not ask for.<br />
One effect of a boycott would be to deprive Sisters, members of the LCWR, of the benefits given by the Appeal. The Appeal provides $50,000 a year to the National Religious Retirement Office to support our religious sisters in retirement. The total archdiocesan contribution to that fund - supported by Annual Catholic Appeal donations - is more than $1.2 million since its inception. In 2009, the most recent year for which figures are available, congregations represented by LCWR with mother houses in the archdiocese received $105,198.19 from this Annual Catholic Appeal-supported fund. A successful boycott could affect these benefits in addition to the many services that we use on a daily basis in the parish, including CYO, Marriage Tribunal, and Seminarian support just to name a few.<br />
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In addition, if our parish were to fail to achieve our Archdiocesan goal, then the shortfall becomes an unbudgeted assessment, which would then have to come out of our operating expenses and salaries. In turn, that could impact our youth and outreach programs, liturgy support, and faith formation. While everyone must follow their conscience, I can only encourage people to consider the appropriateness of our Archbishop’s simple cooperation with the Holy See as well as the impact of a boycott. I encourage you too to read the actual Assessment rather than the media’s ‘assessment’. It helps to know the whole truth.<br />
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Sister Sharon Parks and R-74 Concerns Monday Night<br />
We’ve invited Sr. Sharon Parks, Executive Director of the Washington State Catholic Conference, to be here along with Greg Magnoni, Director of the Office of Communications for our Archdiocese, to speak about formation of conscience, especially in light of the recent pending state law to change the definition of marriage. Please come and here an excellent presentation on various questions surrounding this challenging issue. They will begin at 7:30 PM in the main church, this Monday evening, May 14th.<br />
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<br /></div>St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-21577428289260248342012-05-02T12:09:00.002-07:002012-05-02T12:09:18.327-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From May 6th, 2012 Bulletin)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOTHC6IpzmFqEemu0p5g0pX5k_HyZqMwMoJzDjC29waxSX5QvWCi-dY0ienWB6roCy1tL3XfNmZnNvwvczrnGhqHv8WMQ36WgKQI8sRhD0xU2L1e10ibVfEe8D_4AhFEiTrFtcoyx8Y8/s1600/Vine+and+the+Branches.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOTHC6IpzmFqEemu0p5g0pX5k_HyZqMwMoJzDjC29waxSX5QvWCi-dY0ienWB6roCy1tL3XfNmZnNvwvczrnGhqHv8WMQ36WgKQI8sRhD0xU2L1e10ibVfEe8D_4AhFEiTrFtcoyx8Y8/s320/Vine+and+the+Branches.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i> “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.”</i></b></div>
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<b>The Perfect Storm</b></div>
R-74, HHS, and LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious) all colliding within a few short weeks of one another, is a perfect storm by any standard. It’s the kind of storm we probably have not ever faced as Catholics here in America. It’s been played out in the media with lots of hateful things said of our ‘beloved’ Archbishop. Yes, I say ‘beloved’. One, because he is our Archbishop. Simply because of his office we should love him in a special way. St. Ignatius of Antioch said 1900 years ago, “Take care to do all things in harmony with God, with the bishop presiding in the place of God, and with the presbyters in the place of the council of the apostles, and with the deacons, who are most dear to me, entrusted with the business of Jesus Christ, who was with the Father from the beginning and is at last made manifest.” (Letter to the Magnesians 2, 6:1)<br />
Secondly, he is one of the most virtuous Catholics I have ever met, priest, laity or otherwise, and I have met Bl. Teresa of Calcutta and Bl. John Paul II and many other non-beatified saints. I think we need to search our hearts and minds on this one and seek the truth of these matters. Remember what St. Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein) said, “Do not accept anything as the truth if it lacks love. And do not accept anything as love which lacks truth! One without the other becomes a destructive lie”. This storm will test who is willing to live with both of these pillars of Catholic life. Remaining on the vine of Jesus Christ necessarily includes a communion with His Mystical Body on earth. Let us cling to it.<br />
Someone recently remarked that they felt that Pope Benedict was closing the windows thrown open by Vatican II. I immediately imagined the scene in the movie “Perfect Storm” with George Clooney, the fated skipper, rushing around the boat with his crew trying to nail down boards to protect the windows from the storm approaching. Everyone who has lived through a tornado or hurricane knows that there is a time to close the windows. Interestingly, in a tornado we were taught to open the windows opposite the storm winds in order to release the pressure. Even while this perfect storm challenges our Church and our parish, the windows of prayer, dialogue, and a genuine search for truth and love remain open.<br />
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<b>R-74 Update</b></div>
As I write this we are discerning and strategizing as to the best way to educate on this issue. I’m trying to gather as much input as possible as I know this is very disturbing to some of you. At the same time I do believe and agree with our Archbishop that it is an urgent and important issue for our Church and society. The fact that marriage and family life continue to erode in the face of cultural decay should alarm us. To add to this, the confusion of ‘redefining’ marriage, as if the state has the authority to do so, will only cause untold harm, both to individuals, (especially the young) and to institutions.<br />
One of the concerns that I’ve heard is that same-sex attracted persons will feel excluded if we preserve the definition of heterosexual marriage. To add to that dialogue, I include as an insert to this bulletin a letter from a ‘gay’ Catholic man. He does not pretend to speak for all, this is simply his opinion, but it is worth hearing. Perhaps people don’t realize that there are same-sex attracted persons living in our midst, striving to live chastity according to the Church’s teaching, and thriving in grace. They might be far ahead of heterosexual Catholics who don’t realize the need for God’s assistance, nor the beauty of her teaching.<br />
I also include here a link to ‘Courage’, the ministry for same-sex attracted Catholics who are striving to live the Church’s teaching. You can read some testimonies on their website at: http://couragerc.net/. A second major concern of some parishioners is around the political nature of the petition drive. I’m sure many of you, like me, would gladly forget about politics for at least one hour a week. I certainly don’t mean to intrude on your prayer and worship time. The reality is that we don’t stop being citizens when we step inside a house of worship. In fact, I would say that our faith gives us a special responsibility to shape society according to Godly values. I do not say that we can simply impose these values and beliefs, especially in a democratic republic. But that is part of the issue, we are in a democracy, where people may gather signatures for matters of significance and have an influence on our government. Without these signatures, we abdicate our right to vote on an issue that will affect our culture and our future. In the past century we’ve seen the effect of the Church’s participation in social issues (i.e. Poland’s Solidarity movement) or the lack thereof (i.e. parts of Germany 1930s). To this question we are including as an insert to the bulletin an Update on Faithful Citizenship as soon as it arrives to us.<br />
The petition to place R-74 on the November ballot will be outside the office doors this week and in the office during the week. You obviously don’t need to sign it. That is your choice. All of us need to obey our consciences as best we can with what we know and believe to be true. I respect each one of you and pray for all of us to grow in the knowledge, wisdom and love of Christ. May we all arrive in the same good place some day after politics have long since faded. <br />St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-85730017195852024962012-04-25T13:20:00.001-07:002012-04-25T13:20:20.473-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From April 29th Bulletin)<br />
<b>A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJSCsN6CEoicq1JPtjGQ9ot3sCmxgXQiavkXVsrLoiFcWvOz0mpRLLsfOtNNIGI417aQb90BV52Ivjo1RiSJbkE-qkwhXlr8N1SQhjFVptDGLmQ_2armZfGwuhBWJJIGw2gdYds49_pg/s1600/Good+Shepherd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJSCsN6CEoicq1JPtjGQ9ot3sCmxgXQiavkXVsrLoiFcWvOz0mpRLLsfOtNNIGI417aQb90BV52Ivjo1RiSJbkE-qkwhXlr8N1SQhjFVptDGLmQ_2armZfGwuhBWJJIGw2gdYds49_pg/s320/Good+Shepherd.jpg" width="320" /></a> Jesus gives us the example of what it is to truly love. Love cares for another regardless of the consequences to themselves. The good shepherd cares more for the sheep’s safety than their own. Of course this calls us beyond our natural sense of self-preservation. That’s not easy. We need Jesus’ love to live within us. We can’t do it on our own.<br />
Fidelity to God is crucial here. We can have an idea about what is good and right, but only fidelity to the Father’s will can carry us through difficult times. Knowing what that will is makes it much more possible to carry it out. That’s why it is so important to frequently during the day ask, “What is your will, Lord?” He will show us if we ask.<br />
Priests, parents, and other leaders need to consider this example of Our Lord and ask if we have lived up to His call. Love is sacrificial. May God give us ample supply of grace to respond to His leadership.<br />
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<b>Congratulations to Our First Communicants!</b><br />
This weekend we welcome many youngsters to their First Communion with Jesus’ Body and Blood. There is no greater gift for a Christian. Jesus promises us Eternal Life now when we receive Him a right disposition. These children have been well prepared by Shannon Battles, Pat Madison, Brenda Wallace and their team of teachers who have passed on the apostolic faith in Jesus’ true presence in the Eucharist. A little excerpt from St. Justin the Martyr, writing around 150 A.D., tells us how the first Christians considered the Holy Eucharist:<br />
We do not consume the Eucharistic bread and wine as if it were ordinary food and drink, for we have been taught that as Jesus Christ our Savior became a man of flesh and blood by the power of the Word of God, as also the food that our flesh and blood assimilates for its nourishment becomes the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus by the power of his own words contained in the prayer of thanksgiving.<br />
Let us rejoice with these children and their parents as they become living tabernacles of the Most High God. May the Holy Spirit guide them to continue in a way of life that reflects Christ’s presence within.<br />
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<b>R-74 Referendum on Same-Sex ‘Marriage’</b><br />
As you may know, Governor Gregoire has signed a bill that redefines marriage in the State of Washington. It will go into effect on June 7th unless enough signatures are gathered to place R-74 on the ballot for a public vote on the matter. That’s why our Bishops have encouraged us to gather signatures for this Referendum to occur in November.<br />
Up until this moment, natural law, Divine Law as revealed in Scripture and Ecclesial Law have always recognized marriage as being between a man and a woman. I support this teaching and am happy to gather signatures that would protect this gift of God for humanity. As ‘life’ deserving our protection has been ‘redefined’ by government in 1973, so ‘marriage’ is now being redefined. As in the case of abortion, civil law can influence conscience formation and lead to disastrous results. I encourage you to support this Referendum, which will give you the right to vote on the matter.<br />
I understand many of you have concerns both about compassion for those with same-sex attraction as well as the proximity of political issues and the Church. I’ll do my best to address some of these questions over the coming weeks. The first concern is addressed in part by the Archbishop in the letter we are including as an insert to this bulletin. The second concern has been addressed by the U.S. Bishops in various documents regarding ‘faithful citizenship’, including this latest one on the formation of conscience:<br />
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(Find at: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship-document.cfm.) Within this document on conscience it also addresses four questions:<br />
<br />
(1) Why does the Church teach about issues affecting public policy?<br />
(2) Who in the Church should participate in political life?<br />
(3) How does the Church help the Catholic faithful to speak about political and social questions?<br />
(4) What does the Church say about Catholic social teaching in the public square?<br />
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I hope that you will prayerfully consider what God is calling you to do in response to these troubling issues and concerns. He is Our Lord, Our Master, Our Savior, and true Governor. May Jesus guide us through the light of the Holy Spirit to follow Him in truth and love<br />
<br />St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-40978256739927116362012-04-18T10:22:00.000-07:002012-04-18T10:22:57.658-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From April 22nd, 2012 Bulletin)<b>“Touch me and see,because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.”</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-JIO6zmSI1ZoLXCpk4vNzfb-DyhRPKTKZHk_NNZ9uxdD1AqtSURtHxnUUMxvdgpK8kLQTvaeET4hhoh63w9O-pqQ5l90TMvYtJCrC0M1Zr6C8zdV3sdu2rtlF2sM3utA_ul3Ob0zN7E/s1600/Jesus+Hands+-+Holes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-JIO6zmSI1ZoLXCpk4vNzfb-DyhRPKTKZHk_NNZ9uxdD1AqtSURtHxnUUMxvdgpK8kLQTvaeET4hhoh63w9O-pqQ5l90TMvYtJCrC0M1Zr6C8zdV3sdu2rtlF2sM3utA_ul3Ob0zN7E/s320/Jesus+Hands+-+Holes.jpg" width="320" /></a>Jesus invites us to ‘touch’ Him ‘and see’. Jesus lives, crucified and now risen. We can touch Him, even now, two thousand years after His life, death, and resurrection. How? Just as the disciples of Emmaus related, “…how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread.” The Sacraments are tangible places where we know by faith that Christ ministers to us. St. Augustine said, “When John baptizes, it is Christ who baptizes. When Peter baptizes, it is Christ who baptizes. When Judas baptizes, it is Christ who baptizes.” He said this to emphasize that when we administer the Sacraments as priests and deacons, it is truly Christ who acts through us. He is present during our Mass, our Baptisms, our Confirmations.<br />
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We were so fortunate to welcome nine new members to our community and the fullness of initiation into the Catholic Church. There were three baptisms, five Professions of Faith (baptized non-Catholic Christians becoming Catholic) and one baptized Catholic, who along with the other eight received Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist. It is glorious to see such faith and the grace of God at work in the lives of these ‘neophytes’. If you have the chance, please ask these new members of our community about the graces that led them here and what they experienced at the Easter Vigil.<br />
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<b>+++Thanks for Holy Week +++</b><br />
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A special thanks to all who labored so generously to prepare our liturgy and environment during Holy Week. The Church was so beautiful and it still is. Our environment team led by Cynde Bosshart and Mary Jo Kemper do an incredible job. The atmosphere of so many of your hands that volunteered to prepare the Church was electrified. I think I even heard “The Electric” playing on the sound system! All who ministered and served during the liturgies also deserve our gratitude, including Marijean Heutmaker and all who contributed music for our worship. Beth Carter leads a magnificent group of altar servers that provide such beauty and reverence to these holy rites.<br />
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Wendell Pang and the ushers do more than make sure we have seating. They take care of the Vigil fire, parking, and much more. On Easter that includes overflow seating in the Parish Hall. Bill Swedberg provided the technical expertise to get video in the hall as well as on the big screens above, audio from the plaza and other creative contributions. OK, now I’m in the dangerous territory of thanking people and then forgetting people who helped out. All of our Pastoral Team (staff) assisted in a variety of ways, Paul Schwarz, Betty Mencke, Sara Hoffman, Candace Ochoa, Shannon Battles, Clare Ettensohn, and Eric Miller all provided support in crucial areas. Darlene Simpson has helped develop a welcoming team that is outstanding. Jim Spencer helped get the facility ready with the help of Sheila Tulloch, Soo and Michael Kim, as well as incredible Saturday for Lent crew.<br />
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Thanks to Jane Gootherts from the Evangelization Committee for organizing special greeters for these liturgies. Others helped write and assemble the extensive scripts that are needed to keep us on track. A special thanks too to Fr. Brian and Deacon Marshall for their roles in presiding and assisting in so many ways. Thanks to Kirk Joseph and Dave Vacanti for organizing our Mercy of God Novena which runs from Good Friday to Mercy Sunday. Thanks to Rick Ryan, Eric Besel and our youth leaders for the beautiful Living Stations presentations, along with Steve Olsen and Patty Swedberg for the music. At the risk of leaving someone out, I thank all of you for all you have done to make our Holy Week, Easter and Easter Octave a beautiful time to be a Catholic. May God bless you and guide you as we worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Again, for the persons I may have forgotten, please know I am saying a special prayer for you right now as I write this. God knows your name and will reward you.<br />
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NaPro Technology: a Major Breakthrough in Natural Procreative Technology<br />
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We are fortunate to welcome Anna Skillman, a Creighton Model presenter, on April 23rd at 7:30pm. She will be giving an introduction to this latest breakthrough in ‘Monitoring and Maintaining a Woman's Reproductive and Gynecological Health’. Anna is a trained coach and will be offering couples the opportunity to learn more about this new approach to a Catholic method of both attaining to and avoiding pregnancy.<br />
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As you may realize from the national news, the US Bishops, in communion with the bishops around the world, have not given up the Church’s teaching on the transmission of life. Sexuality remains a sacred gift designed in the image of God. Meanwhile, our world continues to corrupt this sacred gift and turns more and more to using people as things of pleasure. The way out really is the truth that the Church has taught since Humanae Vitae was written by Paul VI in 1968.<br />
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Often, Catholics don’t realize the harm that comes from contraception, both physically and relationally. Did you know that the hormonal birth control pill is a Group One carcinogen? More and more studies show a definite link between the pill and breast cancer:<br />
<br />
“… including a 2006 Mayo Clinic meta-analysis that concluded that breast cancer risk rises 50 percent for women taking oral contraceptives four or more years before a full-term pregnancy. In 2009, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found that women starting the pill before 18 nearly quadruple their risk of breast cancer. Even more shocking, Swedish oncologist Hakan Olsson concluded that pill use before the age of 20 increases a young woman’s breast cancer risk by more than 1000 percent.”<br />
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Could the Church’s teaching actually be an act of love for women, their bodies, and their relationships? Come and find out Monday night. (For more information, see http://www.naprotechnology.com/ or http://www.creightonmodel.com/index.html)<br />
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</div>St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-22333166399667789272012-04-18T08:51:00.001-07:002012-04-18T10:19:08.256-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From April 15th, 2012 Bulletin)<b>He is Risen Indeed!</b><br />
<b>Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you.”</b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b> - John 20:19</b></div><b><br />
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Is not this what we long for? Peace; “our souls are restless, Lord, until they rest in thee”, St. Augustine said. Peace really is resting in the Lord. He brings peace because He is at peace. God is sufficient unto Himself. He has no need but to be Himself, which is Love. Love brings peace.<br />
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We learn too through this Mercy of God Sunday that love is also forgiving. St. Paul says that love ‘bears all things’. To me this means that it suffers injury and imperfection in another but perseveres in achieving its purpose, which, as defined by St. Thomas Aquinas, is “to will the good of the other as other.” This willing the good can be challenged when the other person offends us in some way. Our will can waiver or even shift into a negative position of rejection or malice. Love holds its course in the face of sin. Just as we learn of the<br />
suffering servant in Isaiah, “My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting…I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.” (Isaiah 50:6,7)<br />
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Forgiving others requires a substantial grounding in our own forgiveness by God. As the Latin phrase goes, “Nemo dat, quod non habet.” (‘You can’t give what you ain’t got’, Kentucky version) We must know that we are forgiven if we hope to forgive others. If we know that we are forgiven, forgiving others makes sense and we have the grace to do it. When we can receive forgiveness and give forgiveness we will know the peace that Jesus brings into the upper room, ‘where the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear…”<br />
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Come celebrate God’s Infinite Mercy with a special Holy Hour of Mercy on this Sunday (April 15) at 2:30pm in the main Church. We will adore our Risen Lord and proclaim His mercy with the Chaplet of Mercy, meditation and song. Blessed be God forever. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!<br />
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<b>URBI ET ORBI MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI Easter, 8 April 2012</b><br />
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Rome and throughout the world!“Surrexit Christus, spes mea” – “Christ, my hope, has risen” (Easter Sequence). May the jubilant voice of the Church reach all of you with the words which the ancient hymn puts on the lips of Mary Magdalene, the first to encounter the risen Jesus on Easter morning. She ran to the other disciples and breathlessly announced: “I have seen the Lord!” (Jn 20:18). We too, who have journeyed through the desert of Lent and the sorrowful days of the Passion, today raise the cry of victory: “He has risen! He has truly risen!”<br />
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Every Christian relives the experience of Mary Magdalene. It involves an encounter which changes our lives: the encounter with a unique Man who lets us experience all God’s goodness and truth, who frees us from evil not in a superficial and fleeting way, but sets us free radically, heals us completely and restores our dignity. This is why Mary Magdalene calls Jesus “my hope”: he was the one who allowed her to be reborn, who gave her a new future, a life of goodness and freedom from evil. “Christ my hope” means that all my yearnings for<br />
goodness find in him a real possibility of fulfillment: with him I can hope for a life that is good, full and eternal, for God himself has drawn near to us, even sharing our humanity. But Mary Magdalene, like the other disciples, was to see Jesus rejected by the leaders of the people, arrested, scourged, condemned to death and crucified. It must have been unbearable to see Goodness in person subjected to human malice,<br />
truth derided by falsehood, mercy abused by vengeance. With Jesus’ death, the hope of all those who had put their trust in him seemed doomed. But that faith never completely failed: especially in the heart of the Virgin Mary, Jesus’ Mother, its flame burned even in the dark of night. In this world, hope can not avoid confronting the harshness of evil. It is not thwarted by the wall of death alone, but even more by the barbs of envy and pride, falsehood and violence. Jesus passed through this mortal mesh in order to open a path to the kingdom of life. For a moment Jesus seemed vanquished: darkness had invaded the land, the silence of God was complete, hope a seemingly empty word.<br />
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And lo, on the dawn of the day after the Sabbath, the tomb is found empty. Jesus then shows himself to Mary Magdalene, to the other women, to his disciples. Faith is born anew, more alive and stronger than ever, now invincible since it is based on a decisive experience: “Death with life contended: combat strangely ended! Life’s own champion, slain, now lives to reign”. The signs of the resurrection testify to the victory of life over death, love over hatred, mercy over vengeance: “The tomb the living did enclose, I saw Christ’s glory as he rose! The angels there attesting, shroud with grave-clothes resting”.<br />
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Dear brothers and sisters! If Jesus is risen, then – and only then – has something truly new happened, something that changes the state of humanity and the world. Then he, Jesus, is someone in whom we can put absolute trust; we can put our trust not only in his message but in Jesus himself, for the Risen One does not belong to the past, but is present today, alive… Happy Easter to all!"<br />
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(for the full message, see: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/urbi)St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-86680540207707008462012-04-18T08:44:00.002-07:002012-04-18T08:45:47.990-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From April 8th, 2012 Bulletin)<i><b>On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still </b><b>dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.</b></i><br />
John 20:1<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wQTNNLO712DO4NWTfW7kXCk61vJrEWQneTJcorSFJaf21kBtRB-NZkuKdLMOjUwY6hTwWl8dH8SuMsEzTqlrClMVBDv64yLP82Ua_1RNbkYYyKTxPOaKqXypUAvG-Le3cbImPM64x-o/s1600/Resurrection+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wQTNNLO712DO4NWTfW7kXCk61vJrEWQneTJcorSFJaf21kBtRB-NZkuKdLMOjUwY6hTwWl8dH8SuMsEzTqlrClMVBDv64yLP82Ua_1RNbkYYyKTxPOaKqXypUAvG-Le3cbImPM64x-o/s320/Resurrection+1.jpg" width="320" /></a>Our patron, Stephen, is called the ‘proto-martyr’, or first martyr, of the Church. But if we look at the meaning of the Greek word, ‘martyr’, it means ‘witness’ in English. So the broader meaning of the word ‘martyr’ can mean to witness to Christ, regardless of whether we lose our life doing it or not. That would make Mary of Magdala the First Martyr because of what she saw there at the tomb on Easter morning.</div> This does not mean that she believed in the Resurrection yet. In fact, our reading from John says that she ran to the apostles and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So she is still looking for the dead body of Christ. She is looking with love, however, and will be rewarded for it. Mary is also relating her experience to the apostles, the Church, and contributes to the collective consciousness of what God is trying to tell them that first Easter day.<br />
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We are rewarded too, when we search with love. None of us knows everything there is to know about God. We each have a very limited experience of who He is and what He desires from us. But look at what Mary does, she takes what little she knows, the body of Christ is missing from the tomb, and carries this information back to the community. Here, together with the apostles, they can search anew for the living Christ. Together again, they find the evidence of the Resurrection, and John, the beloved disciple, sees the empty tomb, and believes.<br />
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How blessed we are when we search for Christ together. I believe we find, like the first disciples, that Jesus appears in the midst of us. He said that when two or three gather in His name, He is there in their midst. Let us gather together and share our experience of the Risen Christ. I know this may feel awkward for Catholics, but it is not that hard for people who go to Mass together. All one needs to say is, “What do think of that homily today?” or “Did you enjoy the music today?” Or, better yet, make a statement and be a little vulnerable. One can say, “Fr. Ed sure was long-winded today.” Of course, then all listening will reply, “Yes, but it was worth it. Did you hear that one point about sharing our faith together?” Now we’re off to a great discussion.<br />
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As we share our faith, Christ is present. He wants to walk through walls for us, to assist us and console us. May this Easter Season be for all of us a time of renewal and growth in our faith. May the Risen Christ Himself, bless you and fill you with His Joy! Alleluia, Christ is risen indeed.<br />
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<b>Mercy of God Devotio</b>n<br />
Please check the bulletin for the Novena to Divine Mercy which continues this week until this coming Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday. It is a great feast and celebration of Jesus’ mercy for us. Please come if you can and enjoy the consolation that comes from singing the Chaplet of Mercy along with other prayers that place all of our needs in Jesus’ hands and heart.<br />
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<b>Pope Benedict on the Resurrection</b><br />
Faith in the Resurrection of Jesus says that there is a future for every human being; the cry for unending life, which is a part of the person, is indeed answered. Through Jesus we do know the ‘room where exiled love lays down its victory’. He himself is this place, and he calls us to be with him and in dependence on him. He calls us to keep this place open within the world so that he, the exiled love, may reappear over and over in the world…God exists: that is the real message of Easter. Anyone who even begins to grasp what this means also<br />
knows what it means to be redeemed.St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-46058942892480073482012-03-30T11:31:00.003-07:002012-03-30T11:37:44.822-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From April 1st, 2012 Bulletin)Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an ass’ colt.<br />
Imagine this scene from the Gospel that opens our Palm (Passion) Sunday celebration. It portrays the depth to which<br />
God has come in order to save us. God rides on a donkey.<br />
I don’t know how close you have been to donkeys, but I’ve had a few chances to observe them. Touching one in<br />
Honduras earned me a trip to the immigration line in the Houston airport. Donkeys are serious business!<br />
I’m imagining the ‘Jerusalem’ donkey, so nicknamed because of its association with Christianity and Our Savior. It has a<br />
distinctive black cross on its back, stretching across its shoulders and down its backbone. This cross makes one wonder if the legend is true,<br />
<br />
Legend of the Donkey's Cross<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddx2U8KQdlbnyneymvucFqbZFPKvnTyRR5Q0q_5_rtgTMy-KKviStsNtoQS-6PIAuNmCNZVYLqpKbn9JW1YTF8glc-9yvWPzlZZYlCT2gkHMVSwRLgHst9EaEK32qZ8xhQ7K9eo-WTJE/s1600/Donkey+Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddx2U8KQdlbnyneymvucFqbZFPKvnTyRR5Q0q_5_rtgTMy-KKviStsNtoQS-6PIAuNmCNZVYLqpKbn9JW1YTF8glc-9yvWPzlZZYlCT2gkHMVSwRLgHst9EaEK32qZ8xhQ7K9eo-WTJE/s320/Donkey+Cross.jpg" width="320" /></a>" Bring me the colt of a donkey," was the Master's request.<br />
A young donkey was brought to Jesus to carry Him into Jerusalem.<br />
A week later Jesus was ordered to be crucified.<br />
The little donkey so loved the Lord that he wanted to help Him carry the cross.<br />
But, alas, he was pushed away.<br />
The sad little donkey waited to say goodbye until nearly all had left.<br />
As he turned to leave,<br />
the shadow of the cross fell upon the back and shoulders of the little donkey.<br />
And there it has remained, a tribute to the loyalty and love of the humblest of Gods creatures.<br />
by Mary Singer<br />
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Now I’m sure that the Charles Darwin Society would not accept this as a viable explanation of how that cross ended up on the donkey’s<br />
back, but I like to think there is some truth in it. If God made the donkey, (sorry about the ‘if’, no need for it), then He can put whatever He<br />
wants on it. Look at the variety of animals, their markings and shapes. Look at the zebra for example, a cousin of the donkey. Wow! God is<br />
an amazing artist. Look at the giraffe. God is a comedian, too. But then there is a practicality in all these colors and shapes that work perfectly<br />
for God’s abundant design; just a glimpse of the heavenly realities that He wants us to see even in this life.<br />
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We read in Jonah about God’s love, even for ‘the many cattle’. Would not God want to honor, and be totally free to do so, the creatures<br />
that gave special service to Our Savior? Somehow, the evolutionary theory, if done without reference or inclusion of the hand of God, leaves<br />
us with a sense of nature being all-powerful and the overriding force that shapes life. In fact, this makes ‘mother nature’ (they even need to<br />
personify it) God, which it is not.<br />
Deeper into the legend is the truth that for those who draw near to the cross to honor Our Savior, they, and I hope that is a ‘we’, are<br />
imprinted with His Passion as we come close to cross. We are somehow shaped by it and formed in His image through it. This is part of the<br />
reparation for sin and acceptance of the salvation offered through the death of Christ. I say ‘reparation’ in the fullest sense of healing the<br />
whole person effected by sin, both inherited and actual. To say that love can heal our sinfulness and win our forgiveness, we must also not<br />
be afraid to draw close to the bloody reality of it.<br />
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Pope Benedict writes, “Only when someone values love more highly than life, that is, only where someone is ready to put life second to<br />
love, for the sake of love, can love be stronger and more than death.” Jesus’ love on the cross should overcome our fear of drawing near. Will<br />
we run like most of the apostles, or will we join John and Mary, Jesus’ mother and Mary Magdalene at the foot of the cross loving Him. Are<br />
we afraid to be sealed, like our legendary donkey, with the sign of the cross?<br />
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Holy Week is the most beautiful week of the year to draw near to Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. During the Holy Triduum we<br />
celebrate His life-giving institution of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday, His suffering and death on the cross on Good Friday, and finally the<br />
triumph over death and the grave at the Easter Vigil. Please don’t run from the cross of spending a few extra hours in Church. Not only will it<br />
not kill you, it will give you new life. Like the donkey, the shadow of His cross will touch your shoulders as well, and declare to the whole world<br />
that you belong now to Him.St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-67039494736561305542012-03-21T10:30:00.000-07:002012-03-21T10:30:06.716-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From March 25th, 2012 Bulletin)<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><strong>Foretaste<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><strong> <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">“Your brother will rise.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">John 11:23<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Our Cycle A readings share the resuscitation of Lazurus from the dead this weekend. We use the A readings because we have RCIA candidates and catechumens preparing for baptism and profession of the Catholic faith. Four are becoming Christians for the first time, while 6 are already baptized and now desire full communion with the Catholic Church. What a great grace. I hope all of you can come to our Easter Vigil this year on April 7th. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4541iGNB9-YRDGLkaxg24QeXBqQwwiw2xboNRlxbHfDrvrn-4XZbrUhPLxeBw9ncmUfnkmXCMuK_NDYayAaAOC_ldRyzeFVspJ-FfvIcma9tSJ3sH77tG5ijNqUnF1EDCchqp6lYQ8U/s1600/Jesus+Wept+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4541iGNB9-YRDGLkaxg24QeXBqQwwiw2xboNRlxbHfDrvrn-4XZbrUhPLxeBw9ncmUfnkmXCMuK_NDYayAaAOC_ldRyzeFVspJ-FfvIcma9tSJ3sH77tG5ijNqUnF1EDCchqp6lYQ8U/s320/Jesus+Wept+8.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Jesus reveals both His human nature and His Divine nature in this scene with Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazurus, who has died. In his humanity it is said that after seeing Mary weeping along with their friends, Jesus became “perturbed and deeply troubled”. They pointed him to the tomb. “And Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) Jesus experienced loss and emotions like us. Grief is normal in the face of loss. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">This past week I concelebrated a funeral in Ellensburg for my friend Gary Dier. He was a Secular Carmelite and devout Catholic. He was also a paraplegic because of an accident while ‘breaking’ wild horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was broken in body and confined to a wheel chair for most of his life. But his spirit was not broken. He was not only faithful to Mass, but also helped start and maintain Eucharistic adoration at his parish, St. Andrew’s. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Gary was also a Marine before his accident. At the graveside they did what is called a Marine Corps roll-call. An officer calls the names of the Marines present and they responded, shouting “Here, sir, here!” “Lieutenant Wilson!” “Here, sir, here” a young honor guard shouted. “Private Strom!” “Here, sir, here!” Strom returned. “Captain Dier!” No answer but silence. “Captain Dier!” the officer shouted again. No answer but the frigid wind blowing across Holy Cross Cemetary on a bluff overlooking Ellensburg. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">My friend Gary could no longer respond with his body. His son Luke, an Army officer, standing at attention on the other end of the casket, shook with tears, unable to take his dad’s place in roll call, though he bore the same name tag on his uniform. And Jesus wept. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Fortunately, the grave is not our final resting place. Even our bodies will rise again to a new heaven and a new earth. Death is not the final word. Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, the Word made flesh, crucified and now risen, is the final Word. His power and grace cause this mortal flesh, which easily wilts in the noonday sun and fades in the evening of life, to resurrect like a new-born babe. Jesus says, “Lazurus”, “humanity”, “children of the Father united in the Holy Spirit”, “come out!” And we will be able to answer to our names, “Here, Lord, here!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><strong>Human Life at Conception<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Check out this beautiful video of life developing in the womb from conception.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz71Pwdzk14"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz71Pwdzk14</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><em>You formed my inmost being; <o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div><em> <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">You knit me in my mother’s womb.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em><br />
<em> <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; <o:p></o:p></span></span></em><br />
<em> <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Wonderful are your works!<o:p></o:p></span></span></em><br />
<em> <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">My very self you knew; <o:p></o:p></span></span></em><br />
<em> <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">My bones were not hidden from you, <o:p></o:p></span></span></em><br />
<em> <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">When I was being made in secret, <o:p></o:p></span></span></em><br />
<em> <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Fashioned as in the depths of the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em><br />
<em> <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Your eyes foresaw my actions;<o:p></o:p></span></span></em><br />
<em> <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">In your book all are written down;<o:p></o:p></span></span></em><br />
<em> <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">My days were shaped, before one came to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Psalm 139: 13-16<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><strong>PRAY FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Our Bishops of the United States have asked our prayers for religious freedom. In a statement made March 14th (</span><a href="http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/march-14-statement-on-religious-freedom-and-hhs-mandate.cfm"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria;">http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/march-14-statement-on-religious-freedom-and-hhs-mandate.cfm</span></a><span style="font-family: Cambria;">), the Bishops have expressed their concern over a pending law that would force Catholics to participate in intrinsic evil, inclusive of abortion causing contraception. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">As you know, ‘contraception’ is a deceptive word. Most ‘contraceptives’ include the ability, in case conception is achieved, of preventing the already fertilized egg, 3 to 4 days old, which has all the genetic makeup intact and is dividing rapidly, from implanting in the uterus lining. This is, in fact, an abortion. That is why they are called abortifacients. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">More importantly, the Bishops point out, this is not a question about contraception, sterilization, or even abortion, it is primarily about religious freedom. Can the state, the United States Government, force employers, regardless of their religious persuasion, to go against their seriously held beliefs. The government regularly provides for protection of conscience in other circumstances, why not now? Below you will find a prayer for our government: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">O God Our Creator,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">F</span><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Cambria;">rom your provident hand we have received our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You have called us as your people and given us the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God, and your Son, Jesus Christ. Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every danger overcome— for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us— this great land will always be “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We ask this through</span><span style="color: #141413; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Christ our Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-36824671276296548882012-03-14T13:43:00.010-07:002012-03-14T13:57:32.010-07:00Words from Fr Ed (From March 18th, 2012 Bulletin)<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">"Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, </span></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." - John 3:14-16<br />
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</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">There is a scene in the Passion of the Christ where Jesus and His Cross are being lifted up and then dropped into the hole prepared for it in the rocky ground of Golgotha. The camera catches the eyes of John as he sees His Master, His Lord, and His Love lifted above the ground in horrible torture. John’s eyes, however, reveal a certain wonder, even majesty, that may come from his remembering these words of Jesus, that He must "be lifted up" like the serpent in the desert. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div align="LEFT"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DhqlQoVp72zWlOhqNz8-W9DKi2ndO1ssjDiczoexOUj-sbeQe142m079uL0rehtfiUhRBO_pTU1uWg67E0rgiaGlBlDTWIEvm_4rUuCCCP90WVaz4e_74XxSNtwPaZd37aXEhLEbV24/s1600/Grunewald+Crucifixion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DhqlQoVp72zWlOhqNz8-W9DKi2ndO1ssjDiczoexOUj-sbeQe142m079uL0rehtfiUhRBO_pTU1uWg67E0rgiaGlBlDTWIEvm_4rUuCCCP90WVaz4e_74XxSNtwPaZd37aXEhLEbV24/s320/Grunewald+Crucifixion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This image from Moses became known as ‘Nehushtan’. It was a bronze image created at the command of God in order to cure the Israelites of a plague of snakes. (Numbers 21:4-9) Later, Hezekiah would destroy it because the people had begun to worship it as a false god. Its original power to heal came directly from God and obedience to Him. Looking at the snake brought healing, not because of any inherent healing power in the bronze snake, but rather in an act of obedience to an Almighty God. </div><br />
<div align="LEFT">Ironic that God would choose a snake as an image of healing, given its history in the Bible and association with Satan. This just goes to show how free God is to choose as He wills and for us to know that the power to heal does not lie in any creature. The imagery that we use in Catholic worship and devotion does not bear an inherent power separated from God’s grace. It is only by His grace that bread can be maintained as the Body of Christ, that relics of saints can heal broken limbs, and that gazing upon an icon can bring relief and consolation to the soul. </div><br />
<div align="LEFT">He knows us well though and provides for our sensory relationship with our environment. It helps to have an image to look at that draws our soul into a consideration of what is portrayed. The crucifix stands as a central image in our iconography. It portrays the saving event of Jesus giving His life for us. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. " (John 3:16) There is a beautiful prayer that goes with the crucifix and has a special plenary indulgence attached to those who say it on Fridays during Lent: </div></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><br />
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<i><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></i><br />
<span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div align="CENTER"><strong>BEHOLD, O good and sweetest Jesus, </strong></div><div align="CENTER"><strong>I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul </strong></div><div align="CENTER"><strong>I pray and beseech Thee to impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, </strong><br />
<strong>with true repentance for my sins and a most firm desire of amendment: whilst with deep affection and grief of soul </strong><br />
<strong>I consider within myself and mentally contemplate Thy five most precious Wounds,</strong></div><div align="CENTER"><strong>having before mine eyes that which David, the prophet, long ago spoke in Thine own person concerning Thee, </strong></div><div align="CENTER"><strong>my Jesus: "They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones."</strong></div></span><div align="CENTER"></div></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #213f00; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">The normal conditions for receiving an indulgence apply</span></span></span></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div align="JUSTIFY">N20. §1. To gain a plenary indulgence, <b><i>in addition to excluding all attachment to sin, even venial sin</i></b><i></i>, it is necessary to perform the indulgenced work and fulfill<b><i> the following three conditions:</i></b></div></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div align="JUSTIFY">sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.</div></span><div align="JUSTIFY"></div></span></b><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">§2. A single sacramental confession suffices for gaining several plenary indulgences; but Holy Communion must be received and prayer for the intention of the Holy Father must be recited for the gaining of each plenary indulgence. </span></span></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div align="JUSTIFY">§ 3. The three conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the performance of the prescribed work; it is, however, fitting that Communion be received and the prayer for the intention of the Holy Father be said on the same day the work is performed. </div><div align="JUSTIFY">§4. If the full disposition is lacking, or if the work and the three prescribed conditions are not fulfilled, saving the provisions given in Norm 24 and in Norm 25 regarding those who are "impeded," the indulgence will only be partial. </div><br />
§5. The condition of praying for the intention of the Holy Father is fully satisfied by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary; nevertheless, one has the option of reciting any other prayer according to individual piety and devotion, if recited for this intention.</span></span>St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-55391637352994688102012-03-06T18:19:00.001-08:002012-03-07T04:43:43.846-08:00Words from Fr Ed (From March 11th, 2012 Bulletin)<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXI1S5V93aLlpkDW7AV4JsteRQR1zESYSSxQHv0xsLq_urmAcJdOsI98h7O0qNLDSuUBMNCtcWTl4Xfv-g_KARmgbC2UKrCiJvvTGk3oSFnPNx6Ja3l8S3S5cWlLzk7-ljJoN4bmI0xzw/s1600/Drove+Them+Out+of+the+Temple+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXI1S5V93aLlpkDW7AV4JsteRQR1zESYSSxQHv0xsLq_urmAcJdOsI98h7O0qNLDSuUBMNCtcWTl4Xfv-g_KARmgbC2UKrCiJvvTGk3oSFnPNx6Ja3l8S3S5cWlLzk7-ljJoN4bmI0xzw/s320/Drove+Them+Out+of+the+Temple+4.jpg" width="320" /></a> … stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.</b>Jesus was zealous for His Father’s house, the temple in Jerusalem. The Scriptures say, "Zeal for your house will consume me." Jesus cared about worship and guarding it from the intrusion of secular greed and interests. We have to do the same as a parish which is called first and foremost to return gratitude to God for our salvation. We come to the font of the Eucharist to unite ourselves fully with the Heavenly Bread, Jesus Christ. All other interests are secondary. As Jesus told Martha, "…only one thing is necessary". This was said in regard to her sister who was doing that thing, sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to and waiting upon His word. <br />
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It is easy for churches to wander into the business of business. We are a big institution with a big budget and staff. If we want the same or better structures of service that we had yesterday we naturally plan for those expenses. This can become a temptation that leads to too much fundraising and concern about money. This runs contrary to a spirit of faith in God’s providence. As a religious institution committed to preaching, and thus living, the Gospel, we must maintain a healthy trust that God will provide for His will to be done. In fact, He promises this Divine assistance. Jesus teaches us to "…seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things (clothing, food, drink) will be given you besides."<br />
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That may sound easy for a single celibate to promote. I can’t imagine how difficult this is for a family with anxieties for children. But God’s promise extends to families as well. It’s a matter for discernment, but how are you as a family called to ‘seek first His Kingdom’? How can we honor the temple of the Holy Spirit and not allow our secular concerns to encroach on the primacy of our spiritual needs? The money-changers in the temple also try to enter our temple, our own soul, as well as our family homes and relationships. That is why finances are a major component of marriage prep. Attitude and understanding of how to manage finances as a Christian is vital for a marriage to thrive, especially in times of scarcity. <br />
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Those of you who are out of work face a particular trial in balancing out your real financial needs with the demand of the Gospel. How will ‘the Kingdom’ feed and clothe your family? I would say, pray well, and then see God work. Our Office of Readings this morning (I’m writing this on Monday, March 5th) gave the story of the Israelites backed up against the Red Sea as the Egyptians came down upon them with all their force. Moses tried to calm their fears with this prophecy, "These Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The Lord himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still." <br />
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As I have said elsewhere, taking up a prayer practice of Scriptural reading and meditation is essential for Christian life. What better time to pick up God’s word than when we are facing difficult trials. It is humbling, yes, and that alone would be worth it. Let God’s word penetrate any doubts or worries that you have. He is more than capable of taking care of you and your family. Proverbs says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not; In all your ways be mindful of Him , and he will make straight your paths." (3:5-6) May God give you confidence in His mercy and kindness. <br />
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<strong>Liguorian Magazine Subscriptions</strong><br />
Some of you shared with me that you never received subscriptions from the Liquarian magazine that you signed up for. The Redemptorist priest was surprised when I called him and asked us to contact the main subscription office regarding this. We can do that for you if you let us know about this error. Please call Paul Schwarz at 253-631-1940, ext 129 to let us know who you are. Bless you for your patience in trying to get this straightened out. <br />
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<strong>Gallup ME 25</strong><br />
We will be participating this weekend in a survey that helps us determine our engagement level as a parish. We did this almost two years ago and discovered that we were approximately 27% engaged. This is higher than the national average for Catholic parishes (~16%), but lower than the threshold that emits an ambiance of complete engagement and welcome (37%). Hopefully we have grown in the past few years in this area of Christian life. To know this we need your participation in the survey, no matter how involved you are in the parish. If you haven’t filled one out in the pew during Mass, please take time to either go online or pick up a survey in the Narthex. It only takes a few minutes. May God bless you for your involvement in the parish, it is a mutual benefit to all of us.St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-90574203837978654522012-02-28T17:07:00.003-08:002012-02-28T17:08:52.033-08:00Words from Fr Ed (From March 4th, 2012 Bulletin)<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"></span></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77pWSgAldSztk74V6IAdefS9SG9XreTeBCvr9OH3W-xgk75U126pahHv5ynbocNL8jyKdgeVwVRxbVc38E44yBIrOulCp1aJjQzCD5O9L0wT1pwqQtB7GI6hwH8Yqy8lKnMzWmkezJXY/s1600/Transfiguration+-+Cloud+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77pWSgAldSztk74V6IAdefS9SG9XreTeBCvr9OH3W-xgk75U126pahHv5ynbocNL8jyKdgeVwVRxbVc38E44yBIrOulCp1aJjQzCD5O9L0wT1pwqQtB7GI6hwH8Yqy8lKnMzWmkezJXY/s320/Transfiguration+-+Cloud+-+1.jpg" width="320" /></a> "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."</div></span><div style="text-align: left;"></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"></div></i><div style="text-align: left;"></div></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">As we enter the second week of Lent, it is good to examine how we are doing on our Lenten resolutions. Have we written them down? It is good to choose one thing from each area of traditional penance: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Is there a prayer that I can add to my normal daily prayers? Am I cutting back on food, comforts, or entertainment? Have I considered a gift to the poor or a ministry that has been beneficial to me? </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">St. Paul tells us to "Be anxious for nothing, but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving in everything, make your needs known to God, then the peace which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Don’t we want this peace? If we don’t have it yet, this formula given by St. Paul is a perfect remedy. I celebrated the wedding of my nephew this past week in Florida. The night before, one of the bridesmaids believed she was having a miscarriage. She was in incredible pain and anxiety, so I invited her to join me in saying the Jesus Prayer, breathing in "Lord Jesus Christ", and breathing out, "have mercy on me, a sinner". This prayer alone is powerful in bringing the peace which we need to grow closer to Christ. Even reciting this slowly ten times a day will increase your desire for prayer.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">As the Father says in our Gospel, we are called to listen to His Son, Jesus Christ. Placing His name on our lips and in our hearts is a beautiful way to overcome the challenges of this world. May Jesus bless your Lenten resolutions and give you the courage and discipline to carry them out. </span></span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">Book Review: The Father’s Tale</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: left;">I recently finished a wonderful book, The Father’s Tale, by Michael D. O’Brien. I’ve read other works of his and enjoyed them, especially Father Elijah. This latest addition to O’Brien’s list of works may well surpass the others in quality of writing and realistically portraying with great insight the human condition. This Tale is about the journey of a father to find his son who has fallen in with a cult. The ventures of this father, Alexander, take him around the world, finding providencial aid in conflict with very real evil forces. I found it hard to put down. As much as I tried to mortify the amount of time I spent reading, I couldn’t keep my poor resolutions because the book is so engaging.</div></span><div style="text-align: left;"></div></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: left;">It is one of the longest books I’ve read, on a par with Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and Tolstoy’s War and Peace. One of the encounters he has reveals an ultimate source of joy, once accepted. Alexander is being held in China on suspicion of espionage, but meets two Christians who are trying to assist him. His fate looks bleak as explained by Xia, a Chinese psychiatrist, "Officially, you would become ill and ide, or you would be convicted of an imaginary crime and executed rather thanbe returned to Canada. As for the other two options all factors will be weighted in the balance: what the final decision shall be is difficult to predict. One thing is certain: for you, all paths lead to the cross. I am sorry. I do not want to tell you this…" </div></span><div style="text-align: left;"></div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">"All paths lead to the cross", a harsh truth of Christian life, but a liberating one as well. Why do we avoid what gives joy? Have we traded joy for pleasure? Let us embrace the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ and experience true intimacy with Him who promises to be with us in every battle and challenge. </span></span></div><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">Texting in Church</span></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">I’ve heard of people using their phones in Church during Mass lately. It’s a sad reality for those who don’t want to "Listen to Him". Instead their minds are elsewhere on other relationships that will suffer for a lack of focus on the one thing necessary. When we are distracted from prayer, the very relationship that is distracting us will suffer a loss of love. If we say we care for our friends, the best thing we can do is leave our phones at home during Mass. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">Not only does God deserve our attention, He created it! Our intellects were made by Him and for Him. If we cannot give God a few moments during the day, I guarantee that what we bring to others will be selfishness and harm. Without the grace of God, we cannot love one another as Christ has loved us. Parents, please make sure your children are respecting this time as totally dedicated to God. They will appreciate it some day, maybe sooner than you expect. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"></span></span>St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-66274659163131869112012-02-22T06:26:00.000-08:002012-02-22T06:26:18.048-08:00Words from Fr Ed (From February 26th, 2012 Bulletin)<strong><em>…new wine is poured into new wineskins</em></strong><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2mcSIl_bR4IiS693aJvLEKh0MROdr6FAZ22Zn45b7nqvxJGp4ZXqHpYUlhGMsZevUxDZfd7kyBPtbtmbvADXuaBbsnGcu3hdXpQQXQXAktH6OO4K0Ka531nD5E1MXDJqfQTy3mtArSA/s1600/Jesus+in+the+Desert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2mcSIl_bR4IiS693aJvLEKh0MROdr6FAZ22Zn45b7nqvxJGp4ZXqHpYUlhGMsZevUxDZfd7kyBPtbtmbvADXuaBbsnGcu3hdXpQQXQXAktH6OO4K0Ka531nD5E1MXDJqfQTy3mtArSA/s320/Jesus+in+the+Desert.jpg" width="320" /></a>Jesus said elsewhere, “Behold, I make all things new.” He came to restore us to His likeness, to reconnect us to the Father of all. Our physical creator is also the One who redeems our spiritual nature. This happens through prayer, penance and good works. Our Lenten journey invites us to a deeper walk with Our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the savior of all and can show us the way.<br />
We may not know how we can grow in the spiritual life. Jesus does. He calls His disciples to renewal and fasting in today’s Gospel. Fasting responds to His apparent absence. Jesus says, “…the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.” When we have Jesus we have everything. When we experience this fulfillment of all desires, it doesn’t matter whether we eat or fast. As the Psalm goes, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” <br />
Lent is a time of renewal, when we assess our spiritual life and make real effort to improve our relationship with Christ, our neighbors and ourselves. The three common forms of penance are fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Have you made any resolutions in these areas? It is good to make one in each area. They are perfect ways to restore our wineskins to be ready for the new wine of Jesus Christ.<br />
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<strong>Parish Mission</strong><br />
One great way to start your Lent is to attend our Parish Mission this week with Brian Casey. He is a lay evangelist who left all to follow Jesus in this mission of sharing the Good News. He will offer us several messages a day in both a morning session and an evening one. Come be refreshed by the grace of Christ in His Word to you. <br />
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<strong>Lenten Collatio</strong><br />
“Collatio (coh lah' tsee oh) is a Latin word for a shared meal to which everyone contributes and in which we all share.” (<a href="http://www.worship.ca/docs/vis_06.html">http://www.worship.ca/docs/vis_06.html</a>) It is also the name given to a style of prayer and sharing of the Scriptures. It involves choosing a passage, especially from the life of Christ in the Gospels. The Sunday Lectionary is perfect for this exercise. One also is better prepared for Sunday Mass when the readings have been reflected on in this way. <br />
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The atmosphere should be prayerful. This is not a Bible study. We are trying to let the Word inebriate our souls. The passage is read once, slowly. All are invited to share a word or a phrase that struck them our stood out. After this, the passage is read again. Now the listener is invited to share an image or analogy that relates to the passage. Take your time with this. It might not be so easy. No one has to share. Then the passage is read for a third time. Now we consider and share what this reading means to me today. How will it affect my life? How must I respond to the truths that I heard? The Word does not return to the Lord void. After sharing, it is good to take a moment of quiet and share silently with the Lord some word of thanks. Close with an Our Father. <br />
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I repeat here these questions:<br />
(1) What word or phrase stood out for me?<br />
(2) What image or analogy comes to mind as I hear this?<br />
(3) What does this Word mean for me today?<br />
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I am encouraging all groups that meet in the parish during the Lenten Season to use this as an opening prayer. Try not to rush. The business of the parish can wait. In fact, sharing our faith with one another in the Collatio is important business. Thanks for taking time with Jesus and one another during this Lenten Season. (Drawn in part from John Veltri, SJ, Directed Retreat Goes to Parish: A Manual About the Use of the Directed Retreat in a Parish Setting, <a href="http://www.jesuits.ca/orientations/bob/retreat.htm">http://www.jesuits.ca/orientations/bob/retreat.htm</a>).St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-62289014775376763022012-02-15T07:45:00.000-08:002012-02-15T07:49:26.424-08:00Words from Fr Ed (From February 19th, 2012 Bulletin)<strong><em>“…that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth.” - Mk 2:10</em></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyMDxri2XRr35KmjVaQlD-mAAhIp4B-Z4nHUv0OiPZr5juLHJOTpfKk-JsszfZoHhceVbON-4ThKh1UYc5OLoauZqW8xEMZr0izzSz-Y0QOmJkwfpmHnz_H8OoXY-hwZS7nbk9RnZmtA/s1600/Paralytic+Healed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyMDxri2XRr35KmjVaQlD-mAAhIp4B-Z4nHUv0OiPZr5juLHJOTpfKk-JsszfZoHhceVbON-4ThKh1UYc5OLoauZqW8xEMZr0izzSz-Y0QOmJkwfpmHnz_H8OoXY-hwZS7nbk9RnZmtA/s320/Paralytic+Healed.jpg" width="320" /></a><strong>Jesus’ Authority</strong><br />
Jesus came with authority, the power to do things, especially to forgive sins. Notice that his main intention in relation to this paralytic is not to heal his body, but rather his soul. This is reminiscent of St. Jean Vianney, the great confessor who spent upwards of 12-15 hours a day in the confessional, and was known to encourage people to not come to his parish for healing of the body. Many occurred there in Ars, but Vianney would credit St. Philomena and tell people to go to other parishes for healing of the body. He considered the sacrament of reconciliation, the confession of one’s sins and reception of absolution, as the great gift that he could offer people. <br />
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As we begin our Lenten season in a few days, consider coming to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Every time you receive this sacrament you start your life anew, your will is strengthened and your mind is purified. Do not neglect this encounter with the authority of Christ, passed on to the apostles when, “…He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgive; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.' ” (John 20:22-23) At times too, there is a healing of the body, given the close relationship between the soul and the body. When the soul is healed, the body is liberated from the oppression of guilt and anxiety. <br />
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There are several opportunities throughout the week here at St. Stephen. Scheduled confessions are on Friday morning from 7:30am before Mass and then at 9am after Mass until all are heard. Usually Fr. Yu is able to join me for these so lines decrease quickly. We also have confessions on Saturday from 3pm until 4pm. Feel free to schedule confessions as well, especially if it has been awhile and you may have questions to discuss. It is a joy for priests to hear confessions. Do not feel like you are bothering them if you catch them outside of confession times. Usually we can make time so that God may be glorified and His children may know the freedom that forgiveness brings. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKf2ZCdF_i0vCwqMECrE0pWM213tFFssG-8yeUjukfOFbRhJAaSfJ3RRd7T7t1aSi4y-O6RoiYIBicoBW41E-pVnOFasjM1rveOgoOIirWVYZTcRsnqGI-8BXyKSzHp9Mi1tah4XkEiB4/s1600/Parish+Mission+-+BC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKf2ZCdF_i0vCwqMECrE0pWM213tFFssG-8yeUjukfOFbRhJAaSfJ3RRd7T7t1aSi4y-O6RoiYIBicoBW41E-pVnOFasjM1rveOgoOIirWVYZTcRsnqGI-8BXyKSzHp9Mi1tah4XkEiB4/s320/Parish+Mission+-+BC.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<strong>Lenten Mission with Brian Casey</strong><br />
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Our parish mission is coming next week when Brian Casey of Good News Ministries of Seattle will be with us for the weekend Masses, Sunday evening, and then two sessions a day Monday through Wednesday. Do not be deceived by his meek and mild photo. I’ve known Brian for many years since I worked at Holy Rosary in West Seattle where he is a parishioner. He is so calm normally that I didn’t expect the passion and inspiration that flows through him when he is teaching on the faith. I hope you can make some quality time for your family to come and hear him speak. Be prepared to improve your life and your relationship with Christ. God desires it so let it happen! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJz-6DV6s-SzcLPExWolEocgK8HvZUpkirHviHgpYx2PQBSwcv3DHHmn6jWWTMdYxWG5b7CGgaAbvgtju55TMse9EIn_ROEv647oaBDZaj4s2cOb-zsoxexrMPYFzTbmhInXzb8yWYJI/s1600/Deacon+Harold+Burke+Sivers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJz-6DV6s-SzcLPExWolEocgK8HvZUpkirHviHgpYx2PQBSwcv3DHHmn6jWWTMdYxWG5b7CGgaAbvgtju55TMse9EIn_ROEv647oaBDZaj4s2cOb-zsoxexrMPYFzTbmhInXzb8yWYJI/s320/Deacon+Harold+Burke+Sivers.jpg" width="320" /></a><strong>Deacon Harold Burkes-Sivers for 40 Days Kick-Off Tuesday</strong><br />
Get a jump start on your Lenten transformation with Deacon Harold Burkes-Sivers from Portland. You may have heard him preach nationally on EWTN. Hold on to your pew, because I know he is going to try to move you out of it! Our faith is called into action. Our profession of faith at Baptism asks, “Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth?” If God is our maker, what right do we have to extinguish life? We have the extraordinary privilege to participate in procreating new human persons, precious in God’s sight. When this is unplanned, what is needed is courage and love. Our 40 Days Vigil for Life prays for this kind of love. Please come and kick off this campaign of prayer and love for women and children in unplanned pregnancies. Come pray for a change of heart on the part of fathers, friends, abortion clinic personnel and our legislators. God can change hearts. <br />
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<strong>No Drive-Thru for Ashes</strong><br />
I fielded a phone call one Ash Wednesday where the caller was asking when ashes would be distributed. I said “During Mass”. He said he knew that, but wanted to know exactly when during the Mass they would be distributed. At the moment I told him to come to the whole Mass and he would find out, but in my sarcastic mind the retort came, “Just come to the drive-thru window anytime and we will give you your ashes.” I don’t know this person’s mind or motive, but I hope he wasn’t skimping on the time it takes to build a relationship with God. In parenting theory, I’ve heard that ,“love = time”. We must spend time with one another to convey love. Same with God. He knows our hearts, but do we?St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991566669259053397.post-52748852454661579972012-02-08T11:11:00.000-08:002012-02-08T11:11:47.588-08:00Words from Fr Ed (From February 12th, 2012 Bulletin)<div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"></span></span></i></b></div><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: left;">"…do everything for the glory of God." </div></span></span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;">-<b> </b>1 Cor 10:31</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div align="LEFT">St. Paul calls his readers to make the glory of God their focus and goal. What is God’s glory? St. Irenaeus says that "The glory of God is a man (or woman) come fully alive." God is glorified as we become fully human, which testifies to His goodness, His design, His power, and His guidance. It is God that gets the credit for any good that we might do. Even Jesus said, "Why do you call me good? God alone is good." </div></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div align="LEFT">This may sound strange from Jesus’ lips, but He is either testing his listener, or speaking from His humanity, or perhaps both. He may be testing to see why his listener called him ‘good’. Is it because he believes that Jesus is God? Or is Jesus leading him to that conclusion? Jesus often, or shall I say always, teaches through questions. (Like the Socratic method).</div></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div align="LEFT">Jesus may simply be speaking as a human being. We can see him speak from both His Divinity at times, as well as His humanity. In this case He refers to God as if God were a separate being, someone other than Himself. Our faith tells us otherwise, as do Jesus’ own words when He says things like, "The Father and I are One", or "Before Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, I AM." But we see His humanity throughout the Gospels when we read of His hunger, stress, sadness, and joy. These are human emotions and states that indicate that Jesus was no mirage, but fully human in every aspect except sin. </div></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">As we become more fully human, we also are ‘divinized’, we become more integrated with the Godhead, our souls and bodies being animated by a Divine Principle. The word for soul in Latin is ‘anima’, from which we get the word ‘animation’. Our souls animate our bodies, but what animates our souls? Is it not God Himself? God calls us to return to worship and to praise him if we, as baptized Christians, replace this Principle with another god (i.e. money, pleasure, power, control, anger, etc.). God is the One who motivates us. Let us adore the One who is within, Who loves us into being, Who desires our happiness. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><strong>Deacon Harold Burkes-Sivers</strong></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">Deacon Harold will be with us February 21, Mardi Gras, to kick off our 40 Days campaign of prayer and vigil to protect the unborn. He is a nationally recognized evangelist and preacher who comes to us from Portland, Oregon. Please join us for Mass, refreshments and a rousing exhortation to protect human life. You can learn more about Deacon Burkes-Sivers at </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
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<div align="LEFT"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">www.dynamicdeacon.com.</span></span></span></div><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: left;">Boycotting Starbucks</div></span><div style="text-align: left;"></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"></div></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">Sad to say, but Starbucks has joined Microsoft, Group Health, Nike, Google and other companies in supporting homosexual ‘marriage’ in Washington State. Whatever rights one may desire for significant friendships is one thing. All of us desire love and companionship. But marriage involves an exchange of body and soul. As Jesus said, quoting Genesis, "…a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh." (Gen 2:24) To distort this is contrary to nature and destructive to the human body. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">I’ve written to Starbucks expressing my dismay. I used to enjoy their coffee. Many of you have graciously supported my habit with generous gift cards. I will have to turn them down in the future. Now I join other Christians around the country in refusing to support a company that violates both natural and Divine Law. If you would like to write to Starbucks, you can do so at: Starbucks Customer Relations, PO Box 3717, Seattle, WA 98124-3717.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">"…policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself." </span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;">- </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;">Pope Benedict</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;"></span></span>St Stephen the Martyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746065502887754417noreply@blogger.com0