Faith Alive for Lent - "Who is My Neighbor?"

FAITH ALIVE!  WOULD YOU LIKE TO DEEPEN YOUR LIFE OF FAITH, PRAYER, FELLOWSHIP AND LOVE OF NEIGHBOR?

Then consider joining a faith-sharing group that will meet each of the six weeks of Lent as part of the diocesan “Faith Alive” initiative. In this program, groups of 6-8 parishioners will meet to read and reflect on Christ in the Gospels, the Gospel themes will be mirrored in stories about various holy people. The group will be using a resource titled “Who is My Neighbor?” If you are interested in being part of a group or have any questions, please, contact Kathy Pichler by calling 832-2504, x103 to register or you can e-mail Kathy at pichlerk@saintolafparish.org. An orientation will take place Sunday February 7th at 9:45 AM in the school cafeteria, we will discuss the format of the meetings and determine groups, times etc. There will be a fee of $5.00 per person to cover the cost of the book.

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: 1st Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 12:31 - 13:13; Gospel: Luke 4:21-30.  Life Questions: How do you deal with rejection?  What is the greatest injustice you see around you?  What is the role of a prophet in the community?  Gospel Questions: What does Jesus mean when he says that a prophet is not welcome in his hometown?  Why does Jesus anger the hometown folks?  With which of Jesus’ prophetic words do you struggle and doubt?  When have you experienced God’s call to speak as a prophet?

Week of January 31 - February 6

This is Catholic Schools Week, check out the Catholic Areas Schools of the Eau Claire and Altoona at http://www.case.k12.wi.us/gr.asp?e=case;                    Wednesday, February 3 - Religious Education Classes will meet for Grades 1- 6 beginning at 6:15 PM and ending at 7:30 PM, for Grade 8 beginning at 6:00 PM and ending at 7:30 PM; High School Youth Ministry will meet beginning at 7:00 PM and ending at 8:30 PM; the Lion's Club will host their Wild Game Feed in the Parish Center beginning at 5:00 PM.  Thursday, February 4 join us for Holy Hours in the chapel from 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM, take some time out of your busy schedule to pray for our priests and any special prayer intentions that you may have. 

Prudence, January's Virtue

What is the virtue of prudence?

   Prudence is right judgment. The natural virtue of prudence is about making right decisions from a purely natural perspective and the supernatural virtue of prudence is about making good decisions in accordance with God’s will, which is the very best for me, that will benefit me now and eternally.
   The natural virtue of prudence is basically common sense in sound judgment regarding practical matters. It assists people to arrange their lives and activities in order to achieve the goal of a happy life. It is naturally prudent to look both ways before crossing the street..
 
Why do we need the virtue of prudence?
   Prudence helps the intellect to see the right thing to do and to choose the right means for achieving it. Choosing wisely involves taking good counsel while obtaining knowledge from the past and present.  Prudence entails the application of good moral principles to particular cases allowing us to know what to seek and what to avoid. 
   Prudence is necessary in order to seek the common good for all.
   Teach children how to make good judgments, thereby developing the virtue of prudence. This will include seeking good counsel, studying the Catholic Faith, and growing strong in God’s grace through daily prayer and reception of the Sacraments.

Wednesday, January 27 Happenings

Grades 1-6 will have religious education beginning at 6:15 PM and ending at 7:30 PM; Grade 7 religious education will meet beginning at 6:00 PM and ending at 7:30 PM; High School Youth Minitry will meet beginning at 7:00 PM and ending at 8:30 PM.

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Life Question: Who challenges you by word or example to the work of justice or work of mercy in our world? http://www.gospelforallages.com/10124.pdf
Discussion Question for Reading 2
When we were baptized, we each became a member of the body of Christ. What are some good ways to show that we are all one in Christ, that we all belong to him, that we are all "in"?
Discussion Questions for Gospel
In this reading, Jesus identifies himself as the Messiah, as the one Isaiah foretold would come to the people. He did this at the weekly worship at his local synagogue. The gospel tells us that he was in the habit of worshipping there weekly. Why did Jesus worship weekly? What does this habit of Jesus' tell us about the importance of our weekly worship? Where do we meet Jesus, the Messiah, on a weekly basis?
http://www.webelieveweb.com/home_proclaiming_faith.cfm?reading_id=31&language=eng&book=0

Weekend Happenings

   On Saturday January 23 the 7th grade retreat will be taking place at St. Olaf ,beginning at 1:30 PM in the gathering space and ending after the 5:00 PM Mass.  All 7th graders should be in attendance along with the adult spiritual leaders for their small faith groups. 
   On Sunday January 24 the 2nd graders and their parents will be meeting for a parent/child retreat taking place at St. Olaf in the Fr. Agnew Community Center, beginning at 1:00 PM and ending at approximately 3:30 PM.  All second graders and at least one of their parents should be in attendance.

Wednesday January 20th

No Religious Education Classes will be held Wednesday January 20.  The catechists will be attending an in-service at St. Bede Center to enrich their faith so in turn they can pass that faith on to the youth of our parish.

High School Youth Ministry will be meeting from 7:00 until 8:30.

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

   Discussion Question for Reading 1: Recall a time when your faith in God during a crisis was rewarded. How will you celebrate God's faithfulness and your own today?
   Discussion Questions for Reading 2 : What gifts of the Spirit do you recognize in yourself? How will you try to use these gifts for the good of all?
   Discussion Questions for Gospel : At this wedding celebration, Jesus gave the wedding couple and guests the gift of choice wine! He also gave them, and us, the gift of a deeper and fuller knowledge of himself, who he really was. "He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him." What does this say about the importance of celebrations in our lives? Jesus didn't consider a wedding celebration to be "beneath him." He was there, fully present. What is our attitude toward family celebrations, birthdays, weddings, baptisms, or funerals? How can we be more present to these happy or sad times together? How can we use them as occasions to know one another better and to encourage one another?
http://www.webelieveweb.com/home_proclaiming_faith.cfm?reading_id=30&language=eng&book=0

Week of January 17-23

The week of January 17 - 22 is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.   Wednesday January 20th there is no Relgious Education classes for grades 1-8, High School Youth Ministry will meet beginning at 7:00 and end at 8:30, Area Wide Catechists have an in-service at St. Bede Center beginning at 6:30 and ending at 8:30.  Saturday January 23 is the 7th grade retreat beginning in the Gathering Space at 1:30 and ending with the 5:00 Mass that evening.

13 January 2010

Grades 1-6 have class this evening from 6:15-7:30; Grade 8 has class this evening from 6:00-7:30 and High School Youth Ministry will meet this evening from 7:00-8:30.

Baptism of the Lord

Life Questions: What makes belonging to communities and groups so important?  What strengthens Christians to do the work of social justice?
Gospel Questions: Of what communities is Jesus a part?  What kind of actions does the Spirit inspire in Jesus?  How can we live out Jesus’ claim on us in baptism faithfully?

http://www.gospelforallages.com/jan10_10.pdf

Dates to Remember

Wednesday, January 13 Grades 1-6 will have religious education classes beginning at 6:15 and ending at 7:30; Grade 8 will have religious education class beginning at 6:00 and ending at 7:30; and High School Youth Ministry will meet beginning at 7:00 until 8:30.  Grade 7 Small Faith Groups are scheduled to meet this week.

Holy Hour

Holy Hour for this evening, Thursday January 7th, has been canceled.  We will see you next month on February 4th.

St. John Neumann - Feastday: January 5

   This American saint was born in Bohemia in 1811. He was looking forward to being ordained in 1835 when the bishop decided there would be no more ordinations. It is difficult for us to imagine now, but Bohemia was overstocked with priests. John wrote to bishops all over Europe but the story was the same everywhere no one wanted any more bishops. John was sure he was called to be a priest but all the doors to follow that vocation seemed to close in his face.

   But John didn't give up. He had learned English by working in a factory with English-speaking workers so he wrote to the bishops in America. Finally, the bishop in New York agreed to ordain him. In order to follow God's call to the priesthood John would have to leave his home forever and travel across the ocean to a new and rugged land.
   In New York, John was one of 36 priests for 200,000 Catholics. John's parish in western New York stretched from Lake Ontario to Pennsylvania. His church had no steeple or floor but that didn't matter because John spent most of his time traveling from village to village, climbing mountains to visit the sick, staying in garrets and taverns to teach, and celebrating the Mass at kitchen tables.
   Because of the work and the isolation of his parish, John longed for community and so joined the Redemptorists, a congregation of priests and brothers dedicated to helping the poor and most abandoned.
   John was appointed bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. As bishop, he was the first to organize a diocesan Catholic school system. A founder of Catholic education in this country, he increased the number of Catholic schools in his diocese from two to 100...
   ...The ability to learn languages that had brought him to America led him to learn Spanish, French, Italian, and Dutch so he could hear confessions in at least six languages. When Irish immigration started, he learned Gaelic so well that one Irish woman remarked, "Isn't it grand that we have an Irish bishop!"...
   ...John died on January 5, 1860 at the age of 48.

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=70

dates to remember

Wednesday January 6 grades 1-6 will meet from 6:15 until 7:30, grade 7 will meet from 6:00 until 7:30 and High School Youth Ministry will meet from 7:00 until 8:30. Holy Hours will be this Thursday, January 7, in the chapel beginning at 6:00 and ending at 7:00, come join us in prayer for all priests during this Year for the Priests. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on Friday January 8, beginning at 9:00 AM and ending at noon with Benediction.