5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B (I am here, Lord)

First Reading: Job 7:1–4, 6–7 (Night of Anguish); Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16–19,22–23 (Announce!); Gospel: Mark 1:29–39 (Send Me)
Adults: How can I prepare myself to be more purposeful about sharing the Good News? Children: How do I share my faith and trust in Jesus with my friends or classmates?

http://www.faithfirst.com/question_week.html

"…he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.” Where do you go when you need to get away and be with God?  Is there a deserted place in your house where you can pray? Have you created a holy place to pray? What is the best environment in which you can clearly hear the voice of God? What needs to be absent for a place to be called a deserted place where you can pray?

(from cl Weekly)

Week of January 30 - February 5

Tuesday, January 31 - Women's Spirituality Group, 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM; Wednesday, February 1 - Religious Education Classes: Grades 1-6, 6:15 PM to 7:30; Grade 7, 6:00 to 7:30; Grade 7 Small Faith Groups meet this week; High School Youth Ministry, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in meeting room 2; Wild Game Feed in the Parish Center 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM; Thursday, February 2 - Men's Spirituality Group, 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM; Saturday, February 4 - 7th grade retreat, 1:30 PM to 6:00 PM beginning in the Gathering Space;  Sunday, February 5- Sunday School, 10:15 AM to 11:30 AM

January 29, 2012 - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B (Taught with Authority)

First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15–20 (Moses Spoke); Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32–35 (Be Holy); Gospel: Mark 1:21–28 (He Commands)
Adults: Who has given witness to married love or the blessings of celibacy? What have I learned from these witnesses?
Children: Can I see ways that God is present in the love between two married people that I know?

(http://www.faithfirst.com/question_week.html)

“…he taught them as one having authority…”

This sense of authority seems to set Jesus apart from the scribes, what does that mean to you?

Have you ever been fooled by someone who you felt spoke with authority and whose “fame spread everywhere”?

If you knew the author of life as intimately as Jesus, might that make a difference? 

As part of God’s family with Jesus as your brother, what might you need to do in order to speak with authority?

What would you ask someone whom you felt “spoke with authority” in order to be convinced that (s)he really did?

(from cl Weekly)

Week of January 23 - 29

Tuesday, January 24 - Women's Spirituality Group, 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM; Wednesday, January 25 - Religious Education Classes: Grades 1-6, 6:15 PM to 7:30; Grade 8, 6:00 to 7:30; Grade 7 Small Faith Groups meet this week; High School Youth Ministry, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the Loft; Thursday, January 12 - Men's Spirituality Group, 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM; Sunday, January 29- Sunday School, 10:15 AM to 11:30 AM; 2nd grade 1st Communion Parent/Child Prep, 1:00 PM in the Parish Center.

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B (Fisher of Men)

First Reading: Jonah 3:1–5, 10 (They Repented); Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29–31; (The World is Passing); Gospel: Mark 1:14–20 (Repent and Believe)
Adults: What can I do this week to invite a friend or neighbor to follow Christ?
Children: How can I help a friend or classmate feel invited to follow Christ?

(http://www.faithfirst.com/question_week.html) 

 “Repent and believe in the gospel. …Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.” What has caught you in its net that you need to abandon and then repent? As you fish around for a better world, for a way to be a disciple of Jesus, what has ensnared you from which you need to be set free? From what ideas or actions do you need to “Repent and believe in the gospel?” Are you afraid of being caught by the call? What about the net of Jesus scares you?

(from cl Weekly newsletter)

Religious Education

There are NO Religious Education Classes this evening, see you next week!  HSYM will meet in meeting room 2 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

Week of January 16-22

Monday, January 16 - Date Night, 6:30 PM in the Gathering Space; Tuesday, January 17 - Women's Spirituality Group, 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM; Wednesday, January 18 - NO Religious Education Classes this evening due to an Area-Wide Catechist In-service at St. Olaf; High School Youth Ministry, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in Meeting Room 2; Thursday, January 19 - Men's Spirituality Group, 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM; Sunday, January 22 - Sunday School, 10:15 AM to 11:30 AM.

Catholicism by Fr. Robert Barron

Beginning Wednesday, January 25th St. Olaf will be offering the Catholicism Series by Fr. Robert Barron.  This is a 10 week series and will be offered on Wednesday mornings and Wednesday evenings.  The morning session will begin at 9:15 and end at 10:30 with the evening session beginning at 6:15 and ending at 7:30.  We welcome anyone interested in learning more about their Catholic faith to attend.  The faciliators for the weekly sessions are Mary Woodford on Wednesday morning and Janean Hankes on Wednesday evening.

Here is an excerpt from the website on what the series entails: "The CATHOLICISM Study Program presents the strong, ecclesial dimension of the Catholic Faith – God’s revelation through Jesus Christ and His Church. It is comprehensive and faithful." 

And from a program pilot participant: This program gets at the heart of the Catholic faith. I believe it is beneficial both to long-time Catholics who have never learned or who have forgotten why we do the things we do and why we believe the things we believe and for new Catholics or non-Catholics seeking to learn more about our faith. Its approach is intellectual, but accessible."

http://catholicismseries.com/ 

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B - Temple of the Holy Spirit

First Reading: 1 Samuel 3:3b–10, 19 (Speak Lord); Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:13c–15a, 17–20 (Glorify God); Gospel: John 1:35–42 (Come and See)
Adults: In what ways do I live out Jesus’s teaching, as I share my life with others.
Children: What would I say to Jesus if I spent an afternoon with him?

http://www.faithfirst.com/question_week.html 



“He first found his own brother…then he brought him to Jesus.” 
With whom do you share good news? 
Whom do you contact after you have “stayed the day with Jesus”? 
What question or statement would even cause you to “spend the day with him”?

(from cl Weekly)

Religious Education

There is Religious Education this evening for grades 1-6 from 6:15 to 7:30 and for grade 7 from 6:00 to 7:30.  HSYM will meet from 7:00 to 8:30.

Week of January 9 - 15

Tuesday, January 10 - Women's Spirituality Group, 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM; Wednesday, January 11 - Religious Education Classes: Grades 1-6, 6:15 PM to 7:30; Grade 7, 6:00 to 7:30; Grade 7 Small Faith Groups meet this week; High School Youth Ministry, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the Loft; Thursday, January 12 - Men's Spirituality Group, 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM; Saturday, January 14 - 8th Grade Retreat, 1:30 PM to 6:00 PM in the Gathering Space; Sunday, January 15 - Sunday School, 10:15 AM to 11:30 AM.

National Vocation Awareness Week Set For January 9-14

The Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW), January 9-14. The celebration heralds a week dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education. This distinctive week gives Catholics an opportunity to renew prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations. 

“It is our responsibility to help children and young people develop a prayerful relationship with Jesus Christ so they will know their vocation,” said Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. “Through a culture of vocation in families, parishes, schools and dioceses Catholics can nurture an environment of discipleship, commitment to daily prayer, spiritual conversion, growth in virtue, participation in the sacraments, and service in community. Without this environment, promoting vocations becomes simply recruitment. We believe we have much more to offer our young people.”

People can visit the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/usccb) during the week to see examples of clergy and religious. They also can view reflections under the Vocation Retreat Tab where each day a scripture passage, reflection and prayer will be posted.Resources for promoting National Vocations Awareness Week, such as prayer cards, Holy Hour materials, prayers of the faithful and bulletin-ready quotes, are available on the USCCB vocations webpage at http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations.

National Vocation Awareness Week began in 1976 when the U.S. bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year for NVAW. In 1997, this celebration was moved to coincide with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on January 9 in 2012.

(from cl Weekly, 12/24)

Week of January 3-8

Tuesday, January 3 - PCCW Holiday Potluck with Hope Lutheran in the Parish Center 6:00 PM; Wednesday, January 4 - Religious Education Classes: Grades 1-6, 6:15 PM to 7:30; Grade 8, 6:00 to 7:30; Grade 7 Small Faith Groups meet this week; High School Youth Ministry, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the Loft; Thursday, January 5 - Men's Spirituality Group, 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM; Friday, January 6 - Eucharistic Adoration after 8:30 AM Mass closing with Benediction at Noon; Saturday, January 7 - Soup Supper after the 5:00 PM Mass int he Parish Center, bring a soup, bread or dessert to share; Sunday, January 8 - Sunday School, 10:15 AM to 11:30 AM.

Pope's Intentions for January

General Papal Intention for January - That the victims of natural disasters may receive the spiritual and material comfort they need to rebuild their lives.
Mission Papal Intention for January - That the dedication of Christians to peace may bear witness to the name of Christ before all men and women of good will.