Christmas isn't over...it's only just begun!

'Tis the Season!?!

from-http://www.lifeteen.com/default.aspx PageID=BGSTWDETAIL&__DocumentID=255597

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…”

- Ecclesiastes 3:1

Ready for Christmas?

Ready for Christmas to be over?

How do you keep Christmas going?

It’s a familiar sight: boxes torn open, bellies full of food, trash cans overflowing and wrapping paper flung aimlessly about while children unleash a sugar fit and parents enter into a sleep-deprived food coma.
Christmas is not a day, it’s a seasonIt’s Christmas night. Families have squeezed into overstuffed pews, encountered the Lord of the universe in the Sacrament(s) and returned home with “Silent Night” engrained in their heads. Santa has come. Relatives have joined together and departed (or fallen asleep) and all that work of shopping and wrapping, cooking and cleaning came to fruition.

Christmas is over – says the world.Christmas is just beginning, however, says the Catholic Church.Christmas is not a day, it’s a season. We don’t just celebrate Christ’s coming over a 24-hour period, but for days – weeks, even.So, how do we avoid falling into that trap of cleaning up and counting down the 364 days until the next organized melee of celebration?

Here’s a few suggestions:First, be present to the holy days (holidays). Pay attention to the people around you. Ask them questions. Find out how they are and what they need prayers for this year. Listen to stories, even if you’ve heard them a thousand times before. Be thankful for the mere opportunity you have with your family and loved ones, you never know how many more Christmases you (or they) will have, just as Christ reminds us in scripture: “no one knows the hour.” (Matt. 24:36)

Next, make the Christmas Mass primary for yourself (and hopefully for your family). Encourage your family to start getting ready even earlier and leave plenty of time to get the Church ahead. Stress, tardiness, parking and overcrowding lead to frustration during what should be a joyous liturgy. Enter into the Mass, fully, and offer a joyful example for all to see.

Third, don’t even dish up the food or sit down to eat until everyone has taken a few minutes in meaningful prayer before the meal(s). Now, this looks different from household to household. If your family doesn’t pray, be bold and initiate it. If your family always prays, go deeper – make it even more meaningful. Doesn’t God deserve better than a “quick prayer” before we start shoveling food? After all, He’s the reason we’re having a party. Keep up this practice each night before dinner.

Next, practice being patient each and every day, one situation at a time. Possibly carry your rosary in your pocket, wear your cross more prominently or do something else visual and visible that will act as a reminder to you to be like Christ to people who annoy you. You, my brothers and sisters, make Christ’s name more holy or less holy to the world, through your actions.

Fifth, with every tear of the wrapping paper and while cleaning up every box and gift bag, remind yourself of those who are without this year. Many will not open any presents, or eat any food. Many are alone this holiday season. Be thankful for each and every gift you receive (even the tube socks, calendar, ugly sweater or bad tie).

Sixth, at the end of Christmas day, go to bed extra early, and spend some time in prayer thanking God for not only the physical gifts you received, but for the gifts we often don’t thank Him for, like your sight, your hearing, your mobility, your health, your clothing, food, etc. Keep up that early-to-bed practice for at least a week – it only takes a couple weeks for something to become a habit.

Lastly, begin a list on Christmas, and spend the following week until the holy day on January 1st (The Solemnity of Mary) adding to it. On the list, write down concrete, practical ways that you are going to use your gifts to proclaim Christ’s love and His mercy this next year. Make these your primary “New Year’s” fesolutions.These are just a few ideas, but they can easily become simple things that bear great fruit in your life. You probably have much better ideas, so write some down and commit to them. The gifts in boxes and bags won’t last a lifetime. The gift of eternal life is the only one that does…

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” - Ecclesiastes 3:1

There is no time like the present and there is no present like this Christmas season.

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Seminarians watch over the youth at Mount 200X

Is God calling you to be a priest?

Prayer- The first step in discovering your vocation....

(article taken from www.vocation.com)

You ask. God responds. Then what do you say?
The first step in praying well is to realize to whom you are speaking - God who is your Father - and ask for what you need. In discernment, what you need is God's light to discover his plans for your life. Ask him with the confidence a child has in his mother or father when he asks for something that is truly good for him. How many times did Our Lord tell the Apostles the basic step of asking in prayer for what they needed? Faith and asking in prayer for what we need are two threads woven throughout the Gospel.
It sometimes happens that you pray and ask for an answer from God but seem to receive no response. This makes you wonder why: is it because it is too late to be asking the question? Is it because the path you already are on is the correct one? Is it a question of your motivation?

I don't know the exact answer to this, but let me ask you and then do some imagining: what kind of an answer are you expecting to your prayers? How do you think the answer is going to come to you?
At times we expect our prayers to be answered in the form of some unmistakable visible sign (like someone who does a novena to discover his vocation, and tells God to send him someone to give him an answer. Then, as soon as he finishes it, a perfect stranger asks him if he is going to be a priest... ). It is not good to look for this type of sign, because by doing so we are setting out conditions for God to fulfill. That's not the way it works.


God, of course can send us a sign like this if he wants. But we shouldn't be counting on it, and much less stipulate it.
Other times we expect our prayers to be answered by an almost overwhelming interior illumination. We expect to be flooded with an absolute conviction in answer to our prayers, and no longer have any doubt whatsoever about the path to follow.

This is not good either. It is too subjective. It begs the question: couldn't this be just my imagination, some sudden euphoria; how can I be sure it really is God's answer?

So, how do we know what God is saying in answer to our prayers?
Remember what Jesus tells us, in essence: "your Father knows what you need even before you ask him for it. If he loves you, will he hold back anything that you need? You wouldn't do that to someone you love, and he loves you much more."

Jesus also tells us how to pray, "seek first the Kingdom of God, and then you will receive all else as well."

The important thing in prayer is not so much to ask, but to change. Often when we pray to find our way in life we say, "Lord, tell me if it's A or B." Then we don't seem to get a clear answer. Could be it really is C, or maybe even D. So to get our answer we have to change: not limit him to the choices we see, but to tell him we are willing to do anything he wants us to do. When we start praying we are usually looking for what is good for us (of course, for all the right motives, but we are still looking out for ourselves). The outcome of prayer is that we begin to look out for what is best for his Kingdom.

As you pray better, certain convictions will take root in your life. You will be more sensitive to the needs of the Church and to the unique gift God gave us by giving us life; you will grow in the sense of how little this life can compare to the next, and how short life really is. All of this will affect your attitude towards the way you are going to live yours, and the choices you make. You will see God's hand and providence in your life more easily. You will have more of a 'sense' of what he wants you to do.
But it will never be absolutely clear. You will still need some prudent advice and direction from a spiritual director.

How to Get Started in Prayer

There are several good prayer books, but let me suggest this. Get a copy of a Daily Missal (for example, the 'Vatican II Missal' published by the Daughters of St Paul). Check the index to make sure it has a section called 'A Treasury of Prayers' or something similar, usually in the back. It will include prayers before and after Mass, morning and night prayers, popular devotions, prayers for special intentions, etc....
The reason for my suggestion is this: if you want to cultivate your prayer life, and especially if you think God might be calling you, you will want to go to Mass more frequently, and you will want to prepare and participate in the Mass more fully. The missal will help you do both.

On the days you cannot go to Mass you will be able to read the scripture readings from Mass on your own, and the missal I mentioned has short, helpful reflections for each day's readings that I am sure you will find useful.

After you read through the Treasury of Prayers a few times you are going to have a few favorites that you like to pray every day. That is usually a good sign for your spiritual life.

visit www.vocation.com for more information.

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don't forget to turn in your Mount 2009 permission slips!

Here are

some pics

from

Mount 2008

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Deck the Halls!

We had lots of fun at our youth group Christmas party!

Are you really going to use all of the shaving cream?

Cotton balls or marshmallows?

The"GREAT" gift exchange....

David....need I say more?

The "Santa" look-a-like competition

Merry Christmas Fr. Avelino!

For some, this was our first time Christmas caroling!

Hmmm...I wonder what we'll do at next year's party?

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Wait for God's Mercy

He's almost here, God's-Mercy-Made-Into-Flesh. Can you feel Him? Pray, and ask God to show you where He is acting, especially as the days grow short and the night grows long and dark. Here is a psalm to reflect on:

Psalm 90: A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

Lord, you have been our refuge through all generations.
Before the mountains were born, the earth and the world brought forth,
from eternity to eternity you are God.
But men you return to dust, saying, "Return, you children of men!"
A thousand years in your eyes are merely a yesterday,
Before a watch passes in the night,
you have brought them to their end; They disappear like sleep at dawn;
they are like grass that dies.
It sprouts green in the morning; by evening it is dry and withered.

Truly we are consumed by your anger, filled with terror by your wrath.
You have kept our faults before you, our hidden sins exposed to your sight.
Our life ebbs away under your wrath; our years end like a sigh.
Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong; Most of them are sorrow and toil; they pass quickly, we are all but gone.
Who comprehends your terrible anger? Your wrath matches the fear it inspires.
Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Relent, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!
Fill us at daybreak with your love, that all our days we may sing for joy.
Make us glad as many days as you humbled us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.
Show your deeds to your servants, your glory to their children.
May the favor of the Lord our God be ours. Prosper the work of our hands! Prosper the work of our hands!

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I told Erin that I'd put something on the blog

But I forgot when I was supposed to do it. So now seems like a good time.

Who knows what day today is? Ten monopoly dollars to whoever gets it right - and I know you won't have to guess.

That's RIGHT! It's the Solemn Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. That's the day we celebrate when St. Anne conceived Mama Mary in her womb, in the ordinary way that babies are made, but with an extraordinary grace involved. We are all born into the brokenness of Adam and Eve. It's the most provable fact in the world. Just open a newspaper if you don't believe me. Burglaries, rapes, murders, hatred, racism, pollution - the world is broken. In our own lives: missing parents, drugs, gossip that cuts, broken and hardened hearts, loneliness covered up with iPods and video games. The world is broke. That's what Original Sin kinda means. Our default direction is downward.

But not Mary. God spared her the brokenness so that she could be a good mom for His own Son, Jesus. The two of them then can become a tag-team superhero duo, giving sin the ol' one-two. Nothing evil can stand up to the sacred names of Jesus and Mary. Use them often, but never in jokes or as cuss words. Keep them in your heart. She was perfectly open to Jesus, and if we ask her, she will open us to Him as well. Jesus is God's great gift to us, but he's too much for us to handle on our own. So God gave us Mary to get the world, to get each of us, ready. Mary is the gift before the gift.

Which reminds me that Christmas is seventeen days away. Sweet.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes. It is that time of year again. Hopefully, we are thankful everyday for all of the blessings that God has given us. We believe that God only has our best interest in mind as we experience the joy and the suffering that life can bring. So be sure that whatever table you stick your toes under tomorrow, you take some time to thank God for loving you so much. May your Thanksgiving "holy day" be one of laughter, fun, family, and prayer.

"Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (Thess. 5:18)

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The Parrot

John received a parrot as an early Christmas gift.The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude,obnoxious and laced with profanity.John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to 'clean up' the bird's vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder. John, in desperation, threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and shoved him in the freezer.

For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed.Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute. Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer.

The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said 'I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior.' John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued....

........"May I inquire as to what the turkey did?'

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

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Who said FREE PIZZA?

Youth Group...

Gotta Love it!

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Save the Date

January 22nd, 2009

Plan ahead to attend the March For Life in Washington, DC on this day. Take the time off from work or school. Set aside any other plans you may have had. Grab a coat and gloves and join us as we march on Washington to proclaim the truth about abortion to our country and our new law makers.

We need everyone to pray and to participate.

All for Christ.

All to save lives.

If you'd like to ride the bus to the march from St. Martins, please sign up on the sheets at the entrances of the church. If you are in high school please contact Erin about coming with the youth group.

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Dear God....

Whether we realize it or not,

prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with ours.

God thirsts that we may thirst for him.- #2560 CCC

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Another Cool Chris Padgett Video

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Online Text

Giving everything to Jesus through Mary is a little bit like spiritual skydiving.

Are you game?

If so, follow this link to hear the prayers and readings in audio or to read them in text. We will be making our consecrations on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: December 12th at a special Mass during youth group.

Click Here for Total Consecration Prayers and Readings

Contact Fr. Avelino or Erin if you have any questions.

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Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Trip to Butler's Orchard Rescheduled Due to Rain

Bummer! We will not be having youth group tonight...November 14th. However, we will be going to the Orchard for our hayride and bonfire next Friday (November, 21st) at 7:00pm.

You were asked to bring canned food items for our pantry. Please drop them off at the church hall before Monday because our pantry is in great need.

In the event of rain next Friday, we will still have youth group in the school cafeteria.

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Do You Have a Marian Heart?

Girls' Day Out!

Just for Girls! This Sunday, November 16th our high school girls will be traveling to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for exploration and Sunday Mass. We will also be cooking dinner together and watching a movie.

Don't forget $15.00 and a permission slip.

Call Erin if you have any questions.

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Hayride, Bonfire, Music, and S'More's.... Woo Hoo!!

Yep! That's right.

We will not be having our regularly scheduled high school youth group meeting this Friday (November 14th). Instead, we will be meeting at Butler's Orchard in Germantown, MD for some Fall fun.

Time: 7:00pm- 10:00pm at the Orchard

Cost: Please bring at least 5 canned food items for St. Martin's Pantry

Parents should drive you to and from the Orchard.

Dress warm and come hungry!

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Pray Today for an End to Abortion

Today is election day. Please pray and fast that voters might be well informed and vote prayerfully for candidates who uphold the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death.

However, should a pro-abortion candidate be chosen for President or as a judge or member of congress, let us remember that our Lord and God Jesus Christ is our leader and He alone can and will save us from the powers of darkness.

Check out this psalm from today's Mass readings....what a perfect reminder to us that we are called to love Jesus in the quiet but also in the assembly of the people. Go out therefore and praise God with your pro-life vote and your public witness.

Responsorial PsalmPs 22:26b-27, 28-30ab, 30e, 31-32

R. (26a) I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.The lowly shall eat their fill; they who seek the LORD shall praise him:“May your hearts be ever merry!”

R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD;All the families of the nations shall bow down before him.

R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

For dominion is the LORD’s,and he rules the nations.To him alone shall bow down all who sleep in the earth.

R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

To him my soul shall live;my descendants shall serve him.Let the coming generation be told of the LORD that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born the justice he has shown.

R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

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Scripture- the Living Word of God

Sunday's Mass on our CA Retreat

Brothers and sisters:Hope does not disappoint,because the love of God has been poured out into our heartsthrough the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.For Christ, while we were still helpless,died at the appointed time for the ungodly.Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,though perhaps for a good personone might even find courage to die.But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood,will we be saved through him from the wrath.Indeed, if, while we were enemies,we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,how much more, once reconciled,will we be saved by his life.Not only that,but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ,through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:5-11

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CA 29- Courage!

This past weekend we had a beautiful retreat at Village of Mount Zion Retreat Center in Fort Valley Virginia. We experienced all night Eucharistic adoration, a Eucharistic procession, excellent talks from our teens leaders and we even went on a hike with Fr, Avelino! This was an amazing experience for all. The theme of our retreat was COURAGE. It took courage for our teen leaders to give their testimonies, it took courage to hike to the top of the mountain, and it takes courage to proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ boldly from the rooftops. We learned that this virtue and all virtues are gifts from the Holy Spirit. Thanks to all of the adult volunteers who supported us. You Rock! See future posts for more stories and pics.

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watch this

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Bob Rice and Chris Padgett -Handmotions in Heaven

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Chris Padgett- Jesus for President

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Check this guy out!

Chris Padgett is coming to St. Martins on Janurary 21st!

You may remember him from Steubenville conferences.

For all the Chris details visit http://www.chris-padgett.com

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Almost time for the CA retreat ....woo hoo!

Have you sent in your registration form for our CA retreat yet?

Christian Awakening #29

Dates: October 31st- November 2nd
Cost: #120.00

Registration due: October 24th

If you have, here is what you need to know:

We will leave the Fr. Meyer House on Friday, October 31st at 3:00pm.

We will return to St. Martin’s Church Hall on Sunday, November 2nd at 7:00pm There will be a dinner and presentation for all teens and family members in the Church Hall from 7:00- 9:00pm. Parent cooks welcome.

Please bring:

sleeping bag
pillow
comfortable and modest clothing

(you will need hiking shoes and weather appropriate clothing for being outdoors)
shoes for hiking
coat
toiletries
medication (if you need prescription or over the counter medication,

please give this to Erin with a note from your parent)
Bible

rosary
an open heart!

Please do not bring:
any electronic items (you will not have cell phone reception at the retreat center

and ipods will absolutely not be allowed)



watches or other time pieces
alcohol, tobacco, or other illegal substances

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Blog Celebration!

Praise be to God!

Thank you to everyone who supports youth ministry at St. Martin's!

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Monthly Service to the Poor

Today at 3:15pm in the Church Hall we will begin our monthly service to the men, women, and children who come to the Lord's Table Soup Kitchen. As a youth group we have been serving on the first Monday of the month during the school year for two years but as a parish community we've been providing meals to needy families for more than 25 years. This is a powerful way to serve Christ in others. Please join us.

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My soul thirsts for you my God

Sweet Savior, open our blinded eyes and heal us of our hardness of heart. In glimpsing your beauty in all of creation, help us to long for Heaven. Amen.

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Pics from Sunday's Life Chain

Jonathan shared with us his testimony and his pro-life work. His talk has inspired us all to persevere in the battle for the protection of life in the womb. Thanks for being a courageous witness!

Our youth group members participated in a day of prayer, catechises, and service. Theresa pointed us to the writings of our bishops and told us of our moral obligation to vote prayerfully and according to our consciences being mindful of the candidate who will provide for the common good. She reminded us that as Catholics it is gravely wrong for us to vote for any candidate who supports something that is intrinsically evil. (To read the Bishops' statements in Forming Consciences For Faithful Citizenship and for more information on voting as Catholics please visit www.faithfulcitizenship.org).

Thank you to everyone who joined us! We were able to stretch from the Fr. Meyer Field to West Deer Park! We had over 100 participants. What a witness to our community! Tell your friends. Our next life chain will take place on the first Sunday in October of 2009. If we start now, maybe next year we can stretch out to Shady Grove Road!

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Prayer to the Redeemer in the Womb

Lord Jesus Christ, You took our human nature upon Yourself. You shared our life and death, our childhood and adulthood. You also shared our time in the womb. While still God, while worshiped and adored by the angels, while Almighty and filling every part of the universe, You dwelt for nine months in the womb of Mary. You were our Redeemer in the womb, our God who was a preborn child.

Lord Jesus, we ask You to bless and protect the children who today are in their mothers' womb. Save them from the danger of abortion. Give their mothers the grace to sacrifice themselves, in body and soul, for their children. Help all people to recognize in the preborn child a brother, a sister, saved by You, our Redeemer in the womb. Amen.

- this prayer and other pro-life prayers can be found at http://www.priestsforlife.org/prayers

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Feast of St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael the Archangels

War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.The dragon and its angels fought back,but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,who is called the Devil and Satan,who deceived the whole world,was thrown down to earth,and its angels were thrown down with it.Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:“Now have salvation and power come,and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed.For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,who accuses them before our God day and night.They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;love for life did not deter them from death.Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,and you who dwell in them.” Revelation 12:7-12ab

All you holy angels and saints, pray for us!

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We are a people of life....

Life Chain

This Sunday, September 28th. there will be a pro-life event for all youth group members.

Time: 10:00am- 4:30pm

Cost: Free (lunch included)

We will participate in the life chain which is a peaceful and prayerful public pro-life demonstration.We will also have guest speakers who will come to discuss with us faithful citizenship and how we can stand up for the teachings of the Church when having political discussions in this time of presidential elections.

Please come to the Fr. Meyer House by 10:00am on Sunday morning. See you there!

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Leadership Retreat in the Mountains

This past weekend our leadership team headed for the mountains and three day adventure with Jesus. We prayed together; cooked meals together; went hiking and sat around a bonfire looking up at all of the beautiful stars. On the second night of our retreat we had a beautiful Eucharistic procession in the woods to a small chapel where we exposed the Blessed Sacrament and had all night adoration. We praise God for the opportunity to spend time with Him in silence and that He chose us to serve Him in youth ministry. Please continue to pray for us and all of the teens at our parish.

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Happy Birthday Mother Mary!

Thy birth, O Virgin Mother of God,

heralded joy to all the world.

For from thou hast risen the Sun of justice,

Christ our God.
Destroying the curse, He gave blessing;

and damning death,

He bestowed on us life everlasting.
Blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

For from thou hast risen of Sun of justice,

Christ our God. Amen.

Did you know that the Church's calendar only celebrates three birthdays?

Saint John the Baptist, Mary the Mother of God, and Jesus our Savior.

Today we celebrate Mary's birth. We believe that Mary was conceived without original sin. This was a special grace given to Mary by God because she was to be the Mother of the Messiah. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, to become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role". The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as "full of grace" In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God's grace. Let us take some time today to honor Our Lady and to thank her for her "yes" to the will of God in her life.

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Pics from Labor Day Parade

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