Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord, Year C

Reading 1: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Reading 2: Colossians 3:1-4; Gospel: John 20: 1-9
Adults:  What change could the hope of the Resurrection of Christ inspire you to make? Children: What bad habit would you like to “clear out” during the hopeful time of this Easter season?

(from:http://rclblectionary.com/?p=223)

Walking Through the Triduum - Busted Halo

This article from Busted Halo explains, for those unfamiliar with the rituals or who may not be a Catholic Christian, some of the rituals associated with Triduum: Walking Through the Triduum - Busted Halo

Week of March 25 - April 1

Monday, March 25 - Baptism Prep, 6:30 PM in the Gathering Space; Tuesday, March 26 - Women's Prayer Group, 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM in the Gathering Space; Holy Week Server Training, 6:30 PM in hte church; Wednesday, March 27 - Stations of the Cross for Children, 6:00 PM starting in the Gathering Space; NO Religious Education Classes this week; NO High School Youth Ministry this week; Thursday, March 28 - Men's Prayer Group, 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM in the Gathering Space; Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, 7:00 PM; Friday, March 29 - Friday of the Passion of the Lord, 3:00 PM; parish offices closed; Saturday, March 30 - The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night, 8:30 PM; Sunday, March 31 - Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord, Mass at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM; Happy Easter!  Monday, April 1 - Parish offices closed.

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Year C

Reading 1: Isaiah 50: 4-7; Reading 2: Philippians 2:6-11; Gospel: Luke 22: 14 – 23: 56
Adults: When have you felt that you betrayed the confidence of another, as Peter did when he denied Jesus?
Children: When have you let someone down who trusted you? How did you feel?

(from: http://rclblectionary.com/?p=223)

Habemus Papam: Pope Francis' Official Biography

Here is the official biography of Pope Francis, released by the Vatican.
     Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite, was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires. He studied as and holds a degree as a chemical technician, but then chose the priesthood and entered the seminary of Villa Devoto. On 11 March 1958 he moved to the novitiate of the Company of Jesus where he finished studies in the humanities in Chile. In 1963, on returning to Buenos Aires, he obtained a degree in philosophy at the St. Joseph major seminary of San Miguel.
     Between 1964 and 1965 he taught literature and psychology at the Immacolata College in Santa Fe and then in 1966 he taught the same subjects at the University of El Salvador, in Buenos Aires.
     From 1967 to 1970 he studied theology at the St. Joseph major seminary of San Miguel where he obtained a degree. On 13 December 1969 he was ordained a priest. From 1970 to 1971 he completed the third probation at Alcala de Henares, Spain, and on 22 April 1973, pronounced his perpetual vows.
     He was novice master at Villa Varilari in San Miguel from 1972 to 1973, where he also taught theology. On 31 July 1973 he was elected as Provincial for Argentina, a role he served as for six years.
     From 1980 to 1986 he was rector of the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel as well as pastor of the Patriarca San Jose parish in the Diocese of San Miguel. In March of 1986 he went to Germany to finish his doctoral thesis. The superiors then sent him to the University of El Salvador and then to Cordoba where he served as a confessor and spiritual director.
     On 20 May 1992, John Paul II appointed him titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires. He received episcopal consecration in the Cathedral of Buenos Aires from Cardinal Antonio Quarracino, Apostolic Nuncio Ubaldo Calabresi, and Bishop Emilio Ognenovich of Mercedes-Lujan on 27 June of that year.
     On 3 June 1997 he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires and succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino on 28 February 1998.
     He was Adjunct Relator General of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, October 2001.
     He served as President of the Bishops' Conference of Argentina from 8 November 2005 until 8 November 2011.
     He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Blessed John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001, of the Title of S. Roberto Bellarmino (St. Robert Bellarmine).
     He was a member of the:
           • Congregations for Divine Worship and Discipline of the   
              Sacraments; for the Clergy; and for Institutes of Consecrated   
              Life and Societies of Apostolic Life;
            • Pontifical Council for the Family; and
            • Pontifical Commission for Latin Ameria

(used from cl Weekly, NCCL)

Holy Week in Two Minutes - Busted Halo

Check this out: Holy Week in Two Minutes - Busted Halo

Week of March 18 - 24

Tuesday, March 19: Women's Faith Sharing Group, 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM; City-Wide Penance Service at St. Olaf, 7:00 PM; Wednesday, March 20: Religious Education Classes, Grades 1-7, 6:15 PM to 7:30 PM, Grade 8, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM; High School Youth MInistry, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the Loft; Thursday, March 21: Men's Faith Sharing Group, 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM in the Gathering Space; Friday, March 22: Stations of the Cross, 4:00 PM in the church; Sunday, March 24, Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion: NO Sunday School

5th Sunday of Lent, Year A

Since we have a catechumen in the RCIA process this year who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil we will be using the Cycle A readings for the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent this year.
Reading 1: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Reading 2: Romans 8:8-11; the questions this week are for the Gospel: John 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45
    Have you ever experienced the death of a person who was close to you?  How did you handle this experience?
    In what ways have you been able to receive consolation from faith in resurrection?
    Can you recall moments of dying and rising in your daily life?
    Tell a time you made a decision out of friendship for another person.

(questions from Sharing God's Word through the Year, Cycle A)

Chosen - June 20-25, 2013

    Youth entering Grades 9-12 and young adults are invited to make this Pilgrimage of a full weekend of fun & faith for the Steubenville Youth Conference!
    The Conference combines awesome talks, incredible music, praise and worship, time for prayer and fellowship, entertainment, and anointed liturgies. Basically, it’s a weekend to get rocked by God, to get serious about life in Christ and His Church, and to learn the truth of the Gospel.
    To save your seat on the bus a $50 deposit is required April 24th.
    There will be plenty of fundraising opportunities to bring that total cost down, so look for those to be coming very soon. 
    Total Cost: $550.
*Cost includes conference fees, meals, Ticket to Cedar Point, and transportation (motor coach)
For More Information or to Register Contact:
     Michelle Bowe
     Sacred Heart/St. Patrick’s Parish
     322 Fulton St Eau Claire, WI 54703
     Phone: 715.835.2693
     email: mmbowe@sacredheartsaintpatrick.org

A New Pope

May God bless Pope Francis I!  And, may the Holy Spirit guide him in all that he does.

Week of March 11-17

Monday, March 11: Eucharistic Minister Training, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the church; Tuesday, March 13: Women's Faith Sharing Group, 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM; Grief Support Group, 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM in Meeting Room 3; PCCW Meeting, 7:00 PM in the Gathering Space with Sr. Judy Kramer giving a reflecton on the Gospel of the Woman at the Well; Wednesday, March 13: Religious Education Classes, Grades 1-7, 6:15 PM to 7:30 PM, Grade 8 Faith Sharing Groups scheduled to meet this week; High School Youth MInistry 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the Loft; Thursday, March 14: Men's Faith Sharing Group, 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM in the Gathering Space; Friday, March 15: Stations of the Cross, 4:00 PM in the church; Men's Club All You Can Eat Fish Fry, in the Fr. Robert Agnew Parish Center, serving 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM; Friday March 15 & Saturday March 16: Deanery Marriage Prep; Saturday, March 16 & Sunday March 17: PCCW Mission Bake Sale after all of the Masses; Sunday, March 10: Sunday School, 10:15 AM to 11:30 AM

4th Sunday of Lent, Year A readings

Since we have a catechumen in the RCIA process this year who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil we will be using the Cycle A readings for the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent this year. 
Reading 1: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Reading 2: Ephesians 5:8-14; The questions are for  the Gospel: John 4:5-42.
     "Seeing" is an image for coming to faith.  Name some experience in your life that has led you to a deeper faith. 
     In the dialogue in the Gospel about why the mans was born blind, there is much made about "whose sin it was."  Do you believe God causes handicaps like this to happen, or does God simply allow them to happen?
     In the midst of your own personal struggles, have you ever said, "What did I do to deserve this?'
     Of what "blindness" do you wish Christ to heal you?

(from Sharing God's Word Through the Year, Cycle A)

PCCW Meeting Canceled

The St. Olaf PCCW meeting scheduled for this evening, Tuesday, March 5th, has been canceled due to the inclement weather.

Apostleship of Prayer - March Intentions

General: Respect for Nature.  That respect for nature may grow with the awareness that all creation is God’s work entrusted to human responsibility.
Mission: Clergy.  That bishops, priests, and deacons may be tireless messengers of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Week of March 4-10

Monday, March 4: Deanery Year of Faith Event, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM;  Tuesday, March 5: Women's Faith Sharing Group, 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM; PCCW Meeting, 7:00 PM in the Gathering Space with Sr. Judy Kramer giving a reflecton on the Gospel of the Woman at the Well; Wednesday, March 6: Religious Education Classes, Grades 1-7, 6:15 PM to 7:30 PM, Grade 8 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM; High School Youth MInistry 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the Loft; Thursday, March 7: Men's Faith Sharing Group, 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM in the Gathering Space; Friday, March 8: Stations of the Cross, 4:00 PM in the church; Sunday, March 10: Sunday School, 10:15 AM to 11:30 AM 

Virtual Stations of the Cross - Busted Halo

If you want a different way to pray the Stations of the Cross try this link from Busted Halo:
Virtual Stations of the Cross - Busted Halo

Third Sunday of Lent, Year A

Since we have a catechumen in the RCIA process this year who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil we will be using the Cycle A readings for the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent this year.  The questions are for John: 4:5-42.   The other readings are: Reading 1: Exodus 17:3-7, 28; Reading 2: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
Jesus addresses the woman's thirst and she is intrigued by His knowledge of her.
How does Jesus satisfy your thirst for eternal life?
Where or to whom do you go to be refreshed?
The Samaritan Woman witnesses to the other townspeople and they come to believe in Christ due to her testimony. To whom have you been able to witness about Christ?

(from Sharing God's Word Through the Year, Cycle A)