Formed In Faith

Who remembers being a kid and thinking, “Man, I can’t wait to grow up! Then no one will tell me what to do!”? I remember; and I also remember that awful day when I realized that I was grown up, and that I now had to tell myself what to do. Not only did I have to pick up my dirty clothes, I had to be the heavy that insisted that dirty clothes get picked up. Wah!

As I was reviewing the obligations of adult Catholics during Lent (here’s a nice clear infographic), I felt a sense of gratitude to Mother Church. During Lent, and really any time the Church gives us clear guidelines for how we are to behave, it’s an act of mercy: She gives us a chance to put the responsibility on someone else, and just relax and be obedient children again. I don’t have to figure out if I’m personally being called to pray, fast, and give alms. Just do it, because your mother told you to!

Click here to read the rest of this article by Simcha Fisher.

Click here to visit Simcha Fisher’s blog.

Greetings. May this Lent bring us all a true conversion, renewal, and hope!

The idea- and resource-filled, online newsletter called eCatechist has posted a timely, free webinar. (http://www.ecatechist.com)

The webinar is ‘Lent in the Year of Mercy’ — presented by Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP, of the Paulist Evangelization Ministries. It runs for 51 minutes. 

Rev. DeSiano

Thanks to Daniel Pierson, the founder of eCatechist, the presentation is easy to access. Simply click:

http://www.ecatechist.com/2016/02/lent-in-the-year-of-mercy-with-fr-frank-desiano-csp.html

While you are on the eCatechist page, be sure to subscribe. Very practical indeed!

Butch Ekstrom                                                                                                                       10 February 2016

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2016-01-04 Vatican Radio,  Seàn-Patrick Lovett’

This month the Apostleship of Prayer, set up in 1844 by a group of Jesuit seminarians in France, is also launching a new international website and app aimed at facilitating collaboration and sharing of resources between teams from the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.

The production of a video with Pope Francis sharing his monthly prayer intentions has been been managed in collaboration with the Vatican Television Centre.

The video, in 10 languages, will be available on YouTube as well as on social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, encouraging people all over the world to pray with the Pope each month.

The first video will feature the Pope’s prayer intention for January: “That sincere dialogue among men and women of different faiths may produce the fruits of peace and justice”.

To view the Apostleship of Prayer website click here.

After almost three decades of tense Catholic-Russian Orthodox relations, Pope Francis will meet Patriarch Kirill of Moscow Feb. 12 in Cuba on the pope’s way to Mexico.

It will be the first-ever meeting of a pope and Moscow patriarch, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told reporters Feb. 5.

To read the entire article click here.

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

Pope Francis announced an Extraordinary Jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy, to highlight the importance of being merciful to one another as God is to us. What does this mean for parish and school leaders, catechists, and parents? Download an informative Faith Fact with information about the Holy Year of Mercy and helpful suggestions for teaching about mercy and celebrating the Holy Year of Mercy in the parish, school, home, and community.
Fill out the form to download A Holy Year of Mercy Faith Fact now.

Please note that an earlier flyer has been circulated that has the incorrect location.
This retreat will be at Mary Queen of Peace (formally St. Helen.)

6 credit hours for Catechist Certification in the area of Spiritual Formation will be applied

Due to the weather our office is closed today.

Please note the Justice Workshop

scheduled for Sat. Jan. 23, 2016 has been cancelled.

CANCELLATION!!!
The Justice Workshop- Solidarity with the Poor on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 has been cancelled.
At this time we do not plan to reschedule the event.

Bring the Jubilee Year of Mercy to your parish and school communities in a new way.

From Our Sunday Visitor Publishing comes the free 365 Days to Mercy app

Download this clever cellphone tool from the iTunes or Google Play app stores. Designed to accompany adults and youth on their spiritual journeys through the Jubilee Year of Mercy, once installed the app provides tweets by Pope Francis, daily devotionals and meditation points on mercy, prayers, bible stories, and news (up to November 20, 2016 — giving one a full year, 365 Days of Mercy).

Web info from OSV:  https://osv.com/yom

Butch Ekstrom                                                                                                                                         January 20, 2016

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Registration for the Catholic Men’s Conference 2016 is now open!
Follow the link below to register online:

Catholic Men’s Conference 2016, Louisville

“Made for More”

March 5, 2016
8:00 am – 1:00 pm

Saint Michael Catholic Church
3705 Stone Lakes Dr.
Louisville, KY 40299

Fee: Adults: $30 • Students: $15
Space limited to the first 800 to register.
Scholarships available by request.

Keynote presentation with Curtis Martin
We have been “made for more” than just the intoxication of this world. We have been made for greatness – and we will only reach such heights when we first come into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Curtis Martin is the Founder and CEO of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), one of the fastest growing programs in the Catholic Church. Curtis holds a Master’s degree in Theology and is the author of the best-selling book Made for More.  In 2004, Curtis and his wife Michaelann were awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Saint John Paul II for their outstanding service to the Church. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Curtis as a Consulter to the Pontifical Council of the New Evangelization.  Curtis and his wife, Michaelann, live in Westminster, CO.  They have been blessed with nine children.

For more information on Curtis Martin please visit: http://www.focus.org/about/curtis-martin.html

The Day’s Agenda
8:15 am Welcome

8:30 am “Made for More” Part 1
Curtis Martin, Founder & CEO – FOCUS

9:15 am “Wright’s Law: A Unique Teacher
Imparts Real Life Lessons”
Jeff Wright, Science Teacher – Male HS

9:45 am Workshops / Reconciliation /
Refreshments

10:45 am “Made for More” Part 2
Curtis Martin, Founder & CEO – FOCUS

11:15 am Final Comments
Most Rev. Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D.

12:00 pm Closing Liturgy
Most Rev. Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D.

1:00 pm Conclusion
Optional pizza lunch, fellowship, & follow-up