Join us this Thursday, December 4, for a Holy Hour of Adoration led by Fr. Jeff Paveglio. This is a wonderful way to begin the Advent season, to be one with the Lord, and to reflect--with fellow women--on the gifts our Lord has bestowed upon us. Adoration will begin at 7pm in Sacred Heart Church. Light refreshments will follow in the OLG Conference Center. |
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Ministry Tip of the Weekby Seth Evangelho What if a book came to life, and the excitement and passion of the author could be experienced? What if his facial expressions were manifested and the spirit of his inflection was clear as he spoke? I may be a product of this generation but I know that, for me, it's a far more engaging experience, and it opens me up to go deeper, when I see someone's face and hear their voice as I learn. The internet is available to everyone. It can be used for any number of purposes. And it is being used, by everyone and for every purpose. The Church must use it as well. And she does! We have at our finger tips a resource like the world of evangelization has never known. Through digital resources like Youtube, the message and power of the Gospel can be transmitted with near-unlimited expressions and (literally) to the ends of the earth. Even more impressively, this is done at a moment's notice - instantly - and then is stored for anyone and everyone to encounter for years to come at any time. To top it off, we can be anywhere when we access it. For better or worse, through iphones and the like, the Church can now communicate at any moment; yep, a small pocket device keeps the world in constant communication. A world antagonistic to the Gospel is taking full advantage of this, right now in fact. But so too are many, many faithful men and women of the Church. And we must as well. It's simple. Start connecting people to the abundance of powerful resources available to us. Spread them to friends and families. Get them up on Facebook pages, websites, via email, and by any other means you might have at your disposal. Below is a digital list of ten different Youtube "ideas" to wet your appetite.
Ministry Tip of the Weekby Seth Evangelho Secularism refers to a culture that has placed a roof on the universe. If there is a God, he remains distant and uninterested in the affairs of men. And the secularist would like to keep it that way. "We're perfectly capable of getting on without divine assistance," he reassures us.
Instead, the secular mind moves on. It continues to search for the definitive fulfillment of a self-made reality that has no footing in reality. Again and again, it comes up empty. And eventually the jaded self settles for base pleasure and second-rate comforts. The "roof" on his universe keeps him searching for the heavens in the disenchanted material of earth, until he gives up.
How beautiful is the enchanted world! Around every corner is a reminder of the Lord. In the midst of every joy is a glimpse of heaven. Through every trial is the light of resurrection. Death becomes the most enchanted moment of all and, paradoxically, the reason to live.
Life is full of meaning. The universe, as it turns out, has no roof. And living this way, we never settle for complacency. It all becomes a journey of unending transformation. Everything is new because we're never the same. We are becoming like him. The material world is alive with the playful sparkle of heaven, and behind it all is the God of love. He is speaking to you right now. Ministry Tip of the Weekby Seth Evangelho I love truth. I love everything about it. But I still have a hard time embracing it - or really understanding it - unless I see it's relevance for my life. I don't mean to do it, but I'm constantly asking the question, "What's in it for me?" It's due in part to my sinful inclinations (pride and selfishness, ugh!), but I think some of it's just natural to the human quest as well.
This doesn't mean truth should be reduced to utility (i.e. only good if it's useful). But look at the implications of what Jesus said: "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." HOW will it set me free? That's what I need to know! "What's in it for me?" And that's what people want to know when we share with them the Gospel. Our audience may not be asking this question consciously, but they are asking it. We long for freedom and happiness. And that makes us long for truth, often not even realizing that it's the truth we're after. So if we are to speak the truth in love...
Ministry Tip of the Weekby Seth Evangelho If you ever come across a book or curriculum that covers "Jesus" in chapter two, and then moves on to other topics, set it down gently and slowly step away. The topic is always Jesus. Evangelization is about encountering Jesus Christ. And so is catechesis. Church teaching is truth. And Jesus Christ is the Truth. When we share the faith, therefore, we share Christ. So whatever the topic might be, the goal is for students to connect it to their living, personal relationship with Jesus. If we can't understand how purgatory, for example, fits into our relationship with Christ, we'll be hard-pressed to truly understand it's importance. The same goes for any topic: the sacraments, prayer, vocation, sin, death, virtue, grace, social justice, heaven, hell, or any other tenant of faith. If it isn't understood and taught in relation to the Person of Jesus Christ, it's being "suffocated" and, most likely, we'll never encounter him through the teaching.
When we do begin to see the organic harmony of the faith, a new world opens up before us. It's the Holy Spirit, I'm sure, but something begins to happen. We become hungry for more, because we realize we're not just learning facts or bits of intriguing statements about God. We become "sponges" for the knowledge that faith offers us because we realize every new ray of light is a refraction of his infinite beauty. This knowledge is a Person. And he is risen and present in every morsel of truth we receive.
As we learn to see these connections and to encounter Christ in the doctrines of the Church, not only does our own faith grow but so too does the faith of those around us as we share it. Friday, Nov 7th, 5pm-8:30pm - Saturday, Nov 8th, 9am-2:30pmFather Marc's famous pork pies, Spectacular Themed Raffle, Cookie Walk, St. Nicholas, Kid's Room, great Christmas Gifts and more!CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO! |
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