World Day of Prayer for Vocations

05-28-2023Weekly Reflection

World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be observed this Sun, May 28. It is also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” The purpose of this day is to publicly fulfill the Lord’s instruction to, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). Please pray that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord’s call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, societies of apostolic life or secular institutes.

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Be My Witnesses

05-21-2023Weekly Reflection© LPi Allison Gingras

For my 40th birthday, I wished only for a fancy pedicure — a real indulgent one complete with a massage where I could relax and escape the stress of life. On my way to the appointment, I stopped for a coffee and, while in line, this nudge to be open to sharing my faith if the opportunity arose stirred in my heart. Only moments into my birthday treat pedicure — reclined, eyes closed and prepared for an hour of quiet, I hear, "Oh, you wear a crucifix, you must be Catholic. I left for a church that follows the Bible." Opening one eye and peering toward heaven, I smirked with a wry acknowledgment of recognizing the day's earlier prompting to be open to being a witness of faith. While I wouldn't say I liked the timing, I obediently sat up and offered my attention to engaging in a friendly dialog about my faith.

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Prayer for all Mothers

05-14-2023Weekly Reflection

May the example of Mary,
mother of Jesus,
inspire them to live their vocation
as Christian mothers
and call their children to faith.
Guide and protect them in challenging times
and help them to continue to trust in you
all the days of their life.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

'Tis the Month of Our Mother

05-02-2023Weekly Reflection

'Tis the month of our Mother,
The blessed and beautiful days,
When our lips and our spirits
Are glowing with love
and with praise.

CHORUS: All hail to dear Mary,
The Guardian of our way.
To the fairest of all Queens
Be the fairest of seasons, sweet May.

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St George - Feast Day April 23

04-23-2023Weekly Reflection© LPi

According to ancient traditions, George was a soldier under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. He was sent on expeditions to Persia and possibly Britain. In 298, when the emperor required all soldiers to worship Roman gods, George left the army. Later, Diocletian outlawed Christianity, and George confronted the emperor to plead for his fellow Christians.

It is likely that George is indeed the unidentified hero who publicly tore up the emperor’s edict against Christians. His intercession was implored especially in battles, as he is said to have been a soldier. For his defiance, George was brutally tortured and finally beheaded around the year 303.

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St. Anselm

04-16-2023Weekly Reflection© LPi

St. Anselm was born of noble parentage in Piedmont about the year 1033. At the age of twenty-seven, St. Anselm adopted the monastic state in the monastery of Bec, studied under Lanfranc, and was made Prior in 1063 and Abbot in 1078. Various voyages to England in the interest of his Abbey made him known in that country, and in 1093 he succeeded his old master, Lanfranc, as Archbishop of Canterbury. His resistance to the unjust measures of King William Rufus drew up- on him the anger of that monarch. In 1097-98, he made a voyage to Rome, and spent some time in a monastery of Calabria, where he composed a work on the Incarnation. In the same year he assisted at the Council of Bari, and by his prayers prevented the Pope from excommunicating the King of Eng- land.

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What is Easter About?

04-09-2023Weekly Reflection© LPi

On Christmas, we celebrate the Incarnation—God becoming human-with Jesus’s birth. During Lent, we recall the cross—Jesus’s crucifixion and his death.

At Easter, we rejoice in the empty tomb—Jesus’s resurrection. Easter is the day Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified.

The empty tomb means that Jesus’s words rang true. He fulfilled the promises of Scripture and conquered sin and death.

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The People of God's Kingdom

01-29-2023Weekly Reflection© J. S. Paluch Company

In our Gospel reading from Matthew, we hear the Beatitudes, the stirring opening to the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God, and begins by considering what kind of people will enter and participate in this kingdom. They are the poor in spirit, the meek, the clean of heart, the peacemakers. We hear both Zephaniah and Paul echo this, as God specifically chooses the weak and the lowly to be God’s agents in ushering in the reign of God. By living with hu-mility and integrity, their hearts are open to being transformed by the grace of God. We too are called to live in this way. Jesus invites us to be people with open hearts, to receive God’s blessing. And working through us, God may bless all of creation.

Our Fascinating Faith, Ordinary Time

01-22-2023Weekly Reflection© J. S. Paluch Company

Between the end of the Christmas season and the start of Lent, the liturgical year begins a period known as Ordinary Time. That season is interrupted by the seasons of Lent and Easter, and then resumes again after Pentecost. The English translation of the Latin name for this season has received much criticism because of our association of the word “ordinary” with something of lesser value, the opposite of something special. Critics point out that Sunday is the original feast day of the Church, that there is nothing at all “ordinary” about our weekly celebration of the Lord’s dying and rising. Translators explain that in this context the English word “ordinary” retains the root meaning of “ordinal,” something counted “in order,” and that the Sundays throughout the year are in fact named by their numerical order.

It is helpful to understand how all five of the “special” seasons of the liturgical year (Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter) fit together to unfold the single mystery of Christ. As we continue the year now with Ordinary Time, we are mindful that what we celebrate is indeed as “extraordinary” an experience of God’s grace as one could ever imagine.

All Share in the Promise

01-08-2023Weekly Reflection© J. S. Paluch Company

Picture a nativity scene in your mind’s eye. The scene likely includes figures arriving on camels, some elaborately dressed, with jeweled boxes containing precious gifts. These magi arrived from distant lands to pay homage to the Christ Child. We know little about the magi, but we do know that these visitors were not Jews. They represent people of all nations who will be drawn to the Lord. “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.” The Good News of Jesus cannot be limited to one people; all share in the promise of God’s mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings

01-01-2023Weekly Reflection© J. S. Paluch Company

Today’s readings include another account of the story of Jesus’ birth. The reading from the book of Numbers reminds us that we are blessed. We are looked upon with kindness and grace. The psalm and Galatians remind us of the blessings given through God’s Son. Luke tells of our ultimate blessing, that Mary, a human being like us, gave birth to a child who is God’s Son. Mary, a young mother, watches all that is happening around the birth of her son. She listens as the shepherds bring messages from angels, a message she also received from an angel, about her son. Yet Mary remains silent. She keeps all this news about her son to herself. She reflects on all these experiences. The only thing she shares is the name of her son, Jesus, a name given him before he was even conceived. Her silence leaves us wondering if this is how one responds to such a great blessing.