Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, December 27

Discussion Questions for Reading 2, Colossians 3:12-21: 

    In what ways do we need to "put on love"? How will you "be thankful"?
    How might your actions affect others around you?


Discussion Questions for Gospel, Luke 2:41-52:
    What do we learn about Jesus in this story?
    How can you put God first in your life?
    Jesus understood his relationship with God. It enabled him to grow "in wisdom and age and grace." How do you think following Jesus' advice will help you in your family life?

http://www.webelieveweb.com/home_proclaiming_faith.cfm?reading_id=27&language=eng&book=0

Have a Blessed Christmas!

Discussion Questions for Reading 1, Isaiah 52:7-10:

    How can we be messengers of peace in our families? among our friends? in our neighborhood?
    Recall ways in which you have felt the comfort and peace of Jesus' presence at Christmastime. Thank him in prayer and action.
 
Discussion Questions for Gospel, John 1:1-18:

    In our hemisphere, this season is the darkest of the year. We have the least amount of hours of sunlight. Yet we rejoice, for into that darkness the Light of the World has come.
    To appreciate light, sometimes we have to experience darkness. Think about any "darkness" in your life. Ask Jesus to come into that darkness. Ask him to shine his light upon it.
    How can you bring the light of Jesus to others this season, others who may be experiencing darkness in some way?

4th Sunday of Advent

    How can you live in such a way that you expect nothing and see every thing as a gift?
    In what ways can you release the child within you during the upcoming Christmas Season? 
   In what ways can you help others to give birth to that childlikeness in themselves?

(from Awakening to God, 23rd Publications, 2004)

Calendar for December 20 - January 3

    Religious Education will not be in session Wednesday December 23rd or Wednesday December 30th.  Clases will resume Wednesday January 6th. 
    Christmas Eve, Thursday December 24, Masses will be at 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM.  Christmas Day, Friday December 25, Masses will be at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM.  Masses for the feast of Mary the Mother of God, will be on Thursday December 31 at 5:00 PM and Friday January 1 at 9:00 AM.
    Have a Blessed Christmas and a Joyous New Year!

Tonight at St. Olaf

Grades 1-6 will meet from 6:15 until 7:30; Grade 8 will meet from 6:00 until 7:30; grade 7 small faith groups are scheduled to meet this evening; High School Youth Ministry will meet from 7:00 until 8:30. 

Saint John of the Cross

St. John of the Cross is also known as Doctor of Mystical Theology
   Memorial: 14 December
   Profile: Born in poverty. Cared for the poor in the hospital in Medina. Lay Carmelite brother in 1563 at age 21, though he lived stricter than their Rule. Studied at Salamanca. Carmelite priest, ordained in 1567 at age 25. Persuaded by Saint Teresa of Avila to begin the Discalced or barefoot reform within the Carmelite Order, he took the name John of the Cross. Master of novices. Spiritual director and confessor at Saint Teresa's convent. His reforms did not set well with some of his brothers, and he was ordered to return to Medina. He refused, and was imprisoned at Toledo, Spain, escaping after nine months. Vicar-general of Andalusia. His reforms revitalized the Order. Great contemplative and spiritual writer. Proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI on 24 August 1926.
   Born: 24 June 1542 at Fontiveros, Spain
   Died: 14 December 1591 at Ubeda, Andalusia, Spain; relics at Segovia
   Name Meaning: God is gracious; gift of God
   Beatified: 25 January 1675 by Pope Clement X
   Canonized: 27 December 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII
   Patron of: the contemplative life; contemplatives; mystical theology; mystics; and Spanish poets   
                                              http://saints.sqpn.com/saintj23.htm

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe - Patron of the Americas
   Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12 (USA): When we reflect on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe we learn two important lessons, one of faith and one of understanding.
   Missionaries who first came to Mexico with the conquistadors had little success in the beginning. After nearly a generation, only a few hundred Native Mexicans had converted to the Christian faith. Whether they simply did not understand what the missionaries had to offer or whether they resented these people who made them slaves, Christianity was not popular among the native people.
   Then in 1531 miracles began to happen. Jesus' own mother appeared to humble Juan Diego. The signs -- of the roses, of the uncle miraculously cured of a deadly illness, and especially of her beautiful image on Juan's mantle -- convinced the people there was something to be considered in Christianity. Within a short time, six million Native Mexicans had themselves baptized as Christians.
   The first lesson is that God has chosen Mary to lead us to Jesus. No matter what critics may say of the devotion of Mexicans (and Mexican descendants) to Our Lady of Guadalupe, they owe their Christianity to her influence. If it were not for her, they would not know her son, and so they are eternally grateful. The second lesson we take from Mary herself. Mary appeared to Juan Diego not as a European madonna but as a beautiful Aztec princess speaking to him in his own Aztec language. If we want to help someone appreciate the gospel we bring, we must appreciate the culture and the mentality in which they live their lives. By understanding them, we can help them to understand and know Christ. Our Lady of Guadalupe is patron of the Americas.

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=456

In the Diocese of La Crosse there is a Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe just outside of La Crosse.  The shrine was built with donations from those in our diocese, around the country and the world who believe we need to have a place to take our sufferings and needs to receive renewal and peace.  The shrine is a place where you can go to take time away from the busyness of our world and spend time with God.  To find out more information on the Shrine check out the following web site: http://www.guadalupeshrine.org/Home/Home.asp

3rd Sunday of Advent

Questions for Reading 2: Joy is a gift of God. Sometimes we have to ask for it. Sometimes it takes an effort to set aside our worries or expectations of the future and to be happy in the present moment. Sometimes, to "get joy," we have to give joy first! How can you do this in a little way today?  Sometimes we need to stop and notice the peace and joy already in our lives. What can you notice today? The smile of a friend? A snow-covered tree? A favorite verse from Scripture?  What little thing can you do to rejoice and "give joy" unselfishly during these days before Christmas? Try to do something each day, one day at a time.
Discussion Questions for Gospel: Did you know that the name John means "gift of God"? How was John the Baptist a gift to the people of his time? What gifts did he bring to them?  Think of people who are gifts in your life. Do not forget those who, like John the Baptist, remind you to live as a just and peaceful person! Pray for those people.

Week of December 13-19

Monday December 14: City Wide Reconciliaton Service at Immaculate Conception Parish, 7:00 PM; Tuesday December 15: City Wide Reconciliaton Service at St. Olaf Parish, 7:00 PM, Faith Formation Council Meeting, 6:00 PM in meeting room 2; Wednesday December 16: Religous Education Classes for Grades 1-6, 6:15-7:30 and Grade 8, 6:00-7:30, HSYM will meet at 7:00-8:30; and City Wide Reconciliaton Service at Rock Falls, 7:00 PM; Thursday December 17: City Wide Reconciliaton Service at St. James, 7:00 PM.  Grade 7 small faith groups are scheduled to meet this week as well.

Wednesday December 9th, 2009

Religious Education classes are cancelled at St Olaf Parish tonight due to weather conditions

A Christmas Crib Blessing

This blessing was in the latest La Crosse Roads and I checked to see if I could share it on this blog and I can so here it is.  I hope you find you are able to incorporate it into your Advent traditions.

Come, Lord Jesus, bless this crib and all that reminds us of Your being born for us in this holy season of Advent and Christmas.  Make our hearts like the crib, open and ready for Your presence among us.  For Your coming, on Christmas day, prepare our hearts, O Lord.  For Your coming to us in the scriptures, prepare our hearts, O Lord.  For Your coming in the Eucharist, prepare our hearts, O Lord.  For Your coming into our lives through the love of one another in our family, prepare our hearts, O Lord.  For Your coming at the end of time, prepare our hearts, O Lord.  May we be, like the angels, messengers of Your Good News to each other and to those outside our home.  Amen

This week's events

Tuesday December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Masses at St. Olaf are at 7:00 AM and 6:30 PM.  Remember this is a Holy Day of Obigation.  Wednesday  December 9 religious education classe are scheduled for grades 1-6 beginning at 6:15 until 7:30 and for grade 7 beginning at 6:00 until 7:30.  High School Youth Ministry will meet beginning at 7:00 and end at 8:30.  Friday December 11 is the 10th Anniversary of Deacon Bob's ordination, congratulations to Deacon Bob for 10 years at our parish! PCCW Annual Cookie Walk will be held December 12 & 13.  Remember to bake some cookies to bring to the cookie walk for them to sell and stop by after Mass and purchase some cookies for you family.

2nd Sunday of Advent

How are you a home where God dwells?  What is the spirit of John the Baptist’s preaching? What truth does he speak for us this Advent?  What do the prophets of Advent tell us about God?

Holy Hour

Tonight at St. Olaf beginning at 6:00 PM and ending at 7:00 PM will be Holy Hour.  Come and join us for prayer, adoration, meditation, song etc. as we continue this Year for the Priest.  Do you have a special intention you are in need of prayer time for?  You may use this time for that along with praying for vocations, the priests of our diocese and the world.

Tonight at St. Olaf

There is religious education classes this evening for Grades 1-6 beginning at 6:15 until 7:30 and Grade 8 beginning at 6:00 until 7:30.  The St. Nicholas Celebration will begin at 6:15 in the Gathering Space, those aged 3 through those in 1st grade along with their parents are welcom to attend, approximate end time is 7:30.  High School Youth Ministry will be traveling to St. Patrick Church to hear Jim Beckman, a nationally known speaker, at 8:00 PM ending at 9:00.  All high school youth are invited to attend.

Charity, December's Virtue

What is the virtue of Charity?  “Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Jesus makes charity the new commandment. By loving His own ‘to the end,’ He makes manifest the Father’s love which He receives. By loving one another, the disciples imitate the love of Jesus which they themselves receive. Whence Jesus says: ‘As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you; abide in My love.’ And again: ‘This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (CCC 1822, 1823)  The supernatural virtue of charity makes up what is lacking in our human ability to love and strengthens us to love as God loves, in reality allowing Him to love in and through us.   In receiving God’s love and our responding to His love, we reach the heights of prayer, that is, our union in relationship with Him.  Charity binds everything in the Christian life together in perfect harmony and assures the unity of the Church. (Colossians 3:15)  Why do we need the Virtue of Charity?  The supernatural gift of charity makes it possible for us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mt 22:37).   Charity allows us to love our friends as well as “enemies”; to pray for those who persecute us...hating the sin but loving the sinner.   Blessed Mother Teresa is a great example of the virture Charity.  She took care of the poorest of the poor. She said, “Show love to others as you would show your love directly to Jesus Christ.”  She knew that we all thirst for the love of others. “It is being unwanted that is the worst disease that any human being can ever experience.”  In her Home for Dying Destitutes, she provided gentle care and cleanliness in an atmosphere of dignity and love.  Her greatest impact on society was to bring an awareness that love is worth nothing unless it is given for free.  Ideas for Discussion: Identify positive role models who exemplify the virtue of charity through a life of prayer and action.  What TV program do you watch where the virtue of charity is practiced? Discuss how specific programs present obstacles to selfless love and living out charity.  Discuss what it means to be charitable. How would someone know you practice the virtue of charity?