Wow! It's so wonderful to see how our little H2O Project has grown!
We recently received an update from Fr. Ryan with pics and stories of how the people of our sister parish in Togo, Africa are doing. Follow this link to read his letter and found out what we can do to help.
Togo update
Showing posts with label service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label service. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
H2O Project Week II
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Give it up 2 Give it Away
4 children die every minute because they lack clean water.
As little at $10.00 can provide one person with a lifetime supply of clean water. The Challenge...for 2 weeks:
1. Make water your only beverage.
2. Save the money you would have spent on other beverages.
3. At the end of 2 weeks, contribute 100% of the funds you collected to Catholic Relief Services and help them drill a well.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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.
Monday, October 6, 2008
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.
Monday, September 29, 2008
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!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
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!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Listen with the ears of your heart.
Is God calling you to a radical life of love
as a religious sister?
Pray. Reflect. Discern.
Check out www.VocationGuide.org
Monday, August 4, 2008
Freedom from Our Fear
OUR DEEPEST FEAR
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who I am to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
- Marianne Williamson
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
go out and tell the whole world....
Today, we celebrate St. Bernardine of Siena, a preacher and pastor who devoted his holy life to the service of the poor. Growing up in Italy in the 1300s, he accepted the habit of the Friars Minor. He is known for having risked his life caring for the sick ravaged with plague and for having walked the breadth of Italy preaching and teaching peace. He loved the Holy Name of Jesus. He encouraged people everywhere to practice devotion to the Holy Name and would carry a plaque or later a staff with Jesus' name surrounded by beautiful rays of light for the faithful to venerate.
As young people, we are given the opportunity to follow in St. Bernadine's footsteps. We live in a culture where Jesus' name is not honored, but on the contrary, often slandered and spoken in vain. Yet, by the way we speak, act, dress, play, and live, we can make a difference. Let us ask St. Bernadine to intercede for us, as we learn how to proclaim our love for Jesus' name in a fallen world. Have courage! Do not be afraid!
from-The Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus
V. Jesus, Son of the living God,
R. Have mercy on us.
Jesus, splendor of the Father, [etc.]
Jesus, brightness of eternal light.
Jesus, King of glory.
Jesus, sun of justice.
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary.
Jesus, most amiable.
Jesus, most admirable.
Jesus, the mighty God.
Jesus, Father of the world to come.
Jesus, angel of great counsel.
Jesus, most powerful.
Jesus, most patient.
Jesus, most obedient.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart.
Jesus, lover of chastity.
Jesus, lover of us.
Jesus, God of peace.
Jesus, author of life.
Jesus, example of virtues.
Jesus, zealous lover of souls.
Jesus, our God.
Jesus, our refuge.
Jesus, father of the poor.
Jesus, treasure of the faithful.
Jesus, good Shepherd.
Jesus, true light.
Jesus, eternal wisdom.
V. Be merciful,
R. spare us, O Jesus.
V. Be merciful,
R. graciously hear us, O Jesus.
St. Bernardine, Pray for us!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Mother Teresa on suffering
Suffering will never be completely absent from our lives. If we accept it with faith, we are given the opportunity to share the passion of Jesus and show him our love. One day I went to visit a lady who had terminal cancer. Her pain was tremendous. I told her, "This is nothing but Jesus' kiss, a sign that you are so close to him on the cross that he can kiss you."
She joined her hands and said, "Mother, ask Jesus not to stop kissing me."
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Days in the Diocese- Bathurst NSW
Ok. So when we're in Australia, for WYD we will be spending our first week in Bathurst, about 200 km outside of Sydney. They have created a pretty fantastic youth website which tells all about it. Click here http://www.wydbathurst.org.au/ for more information.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
reaching back.....words of encouragement from Pope John Paul II
“Dear young people, do not be content with anything less than the highest ideals! Do not let yourselves be dispirited by those who are disillusioned with life and have grown deaf to the deepest and most authentic desires of the heart. The time has come to re-propose wholeheartedly to everyone this high standard of ordinary Christian living. Refuse to sell your dreams cheaply. Watch out for the dangerous ways that lead to passing joys and satisfaction. Deepen your relationship with God through prayer. Prayer spreads Divine energy. It makes us live in a new way and gives rise to a revolutionary evangelical style.”
Monday, April 28, 2008
will you follow Christ if He calls you?
Mark 1:17 - "Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
If you would like more information about the priesthood or religious life, visit: www.vocation.com
Monday, March 31, 2008
from the Diary of St. Faustina
Jesus' Call to Mercy
"I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it.
I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor:the first — by deed, the second — by word, the third — by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy.
Many souls ... are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul.
If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy" (1317).
Corporal Works of Mercy
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Comfort the prisoners
Visit the sick
Bury the dead
Spiritual Works of Mercy
Teach the ignorant
Pray for the living & dead
Correct sinners
Counsel those in doubt
Console the sorrowful
Bear wrongs patiently
Forgive wrongs willingly
Thank you Jesus for this unfathomable gift of your Divine Mercy! Oh, blood and water which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us, I trust in you.
Friday, March 28, 2008
so what about holy week?
Sorry this information is a little late.....
The week that changed the world:
Holy Thursday- This day begins the sacred Triduum. These are three beautiful days during which the Church journeys with Christ as He fulfils His Heavenly Father's will by suffering; dying; and rising from the dead, for the salvation of our souls! On Holy Thursday, we remember the Last Supper. Above you will see a pic of Papa B16 washing some feet. At the Last Supper, Jesus washed his Apostle's feet. Why do you think He who is God would do the work of a slave? It's all about love. He said to His Apostles and to us, "You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because it is true. And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet." Jesus, you have shown us the path to life!
At the Last Supper Jesus instituted the Eucharist for us. He knew that He ws about to die and so He left us the precious gift of His body and blood in this holy Sacrament. He promised never to leave us alone. Thank you Jesus for such a great and wonderous gift!!
This night, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is placed on a special altar of repose until midnight. The faithful are invited to come and spend quiet time adoring our Lord. This is also to remind us of the time that Jesus spent in agony after the Last Supper in the garden. There He knew the suffering that He would endure for the sake of our sins and he willingly accepted it because of His great love for us. During the night of Holy Thursday, we are gifted the grace to spend an hour with our Lord in prayer and contemplation. Check out more about Jesus' agony in the garden in Luke 22:39-46
Good Friday- Where you there, when they crucified my Lord? On Good Friday, we remember the suffering and death of our Lord. At St. Martin's, our youth group reenacts the steps that Jesus took to His death and leads the parish community in prayer and meditation. In the evening, we gather to venerate the holy cross...the cross on which hung our salvation.
Holy Saturday- "This is the night." Perhaps this day begins busily with preparations for Easter celebrations and family get- togethers. It is also a day of preparation and excitement for all who will be entering the Church and receiving sacraments. The celebration begins at night, in a darkened, tomb-like, empty church. The priests have gathered to bless and ignite the Easter flame. This is the beginning of the light. Christ is risen!!! He is the Source of our light. He has conquered the darkness of sin. Alleluia!! 
Easter- Beginning with our celebration on the night of Holy Saturday and continuing for fifty dayswe now focus on God's call to each one of us to pass from death in to new life. The Easter season is broken in to two parts. The first forty days of the season, we will be hearing about the new life Christ brings to those who believe in Him. The last ten days, between the feast of the Ascension of our Lord into Heaven and Pentecost we will move our attention to the coming of the Holy Spirit.
So what does all of this mean for me now?
Our Lord Jesus has conquered sin and death and has brought us new life. Take some time during this Easter season to look at your life. What areas of your life are good and holy? What is keeping you from God? What sins do you need to die to in order to allow God to renew your life?
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Cardinal Tells Youth: You are Worth Your Weight in Love
ZE08030406 - 2008-03-04
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-21970?l=english
Youth Worth Their Weight in Love
Cardinal Comments on the Importance of Charity
By Robert Cheaib
ROME, MARCH 4, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The value of each of us will be determined by love, said the archpriest of St. Peters' Basilica told a gathering of young people in Rome.Cardinal Angelo Comastri said this Friday during a Mass at the San Lorenzo International Center. The center, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary March 13, was inaugurated by Pope John Paul II in 1983 and houses the first cross of the World Youth Days.The cardinal commented on the passage of the Gospel of Mark in which a scribe asks Jesus which is the greatest commandment. “Like the scribe did," he said, "so this afternoon we also ask Jesus, ‘Which is the first commandment? What matters most to God?’ “In God’s eyes we are worth as much as we love. This is a revolution. The world uses other valuation criteria. In God’s eyes there is only one value: love.”
Cardinal Comastri added: “At the end of our lives, we will all be put in the scale of charity, and each one will be worth as much as they loved. “But why does only charity matter?” “The answer,” said the 64-year-old cardinal, “is once again the Christian revolution: Because God is love. If you are in love, you have God with you, and if you have God with you, you are already in heaven. If, however, you are missing God, you don’t have anything.” Referring to the passage about the sinful woman who washes Jesus’ feet and dries them with her hair in the house of a well-known Pharisee, the archpriest of St. Peter's said: “In that moment, this woman declares through her acts: I believe that you are love. I have love, I had not found it until today, but now that I’ve found you, I’ve understood that God is love.
“And Jesus told the man who had invited him: Simon, you appear to be good, but your heart is made of ice, you are worthless in God’s eyes. Instead, this woman has understood it, she has found love. And so this woman is greater than you.” The cardinal asked the young people the following question: “We go to church, we listen to God’s word, we receive the Eucharist, but how often does charity enter into us?“In this time of Lent, we are invited to conversion; we all need to convert in order to accept the surprising news of the Gospel: Each of us is worth as much as we love.”
Friday, February 29, 2008
for a hot meal
You come home from school and you're hungry. You open the fridge or pop something in the microwave. Simple and easy...right?
For many people in our area, food is not a few beeps away in the microwave or always on their family table at 6pm. Many people rely on places such as the Lord's Table soup kitchen for their one hot meal of the day. Not all of these people are homeless; though some may be, many have families and are living in a state of financial crisis and may have to choose between paying rent; buying their medication; and food.
We are privledge to have a soup kitchen running out of our church hall. As a youth group, we serve on the first Monday of each month at 3pm.
At this point in time, the shelves of our soup kitchen are at an all time low.
There is a great need for food. Will you help?
Please bring canned food items to youth group on Friday nights.
We will keep a running tally- Guyz vs. Girlz to see who brings in the most cans. If we reach 300 cans, the winners will celebrate with an open gym night. You have until March 28th!
Here are some items that we need:
tomato soup
chicken noodle soup
cream of mushroom soup
canned corn
canned carrots
canned green beans
turkey gravy
beef gravy
dry drink mixes
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