Formed In Faith

On Saturday, March 5, Faith Club members and leaders gathered for their annual retreat day at Flaget Center. Under the creative and energetic leadership of Ann Pifer, the theme was “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” through six famous Gospel passages. The Nativity, the Good Shepherd, the Prodigal Son, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Road to Emmaus were told, discussed, and then acted out – in full costume! – to help show the love of God for all people. Fr. John Burke joined us to celebrate Mass and shared the message of Jesus through a wonderful homily. The day included lunch, music, laughter, prayer, and time to visit with friends from all five of the Faith Club groups. Thanks to Ann, Fr. John, and all of the leaders and helpers who made it a memorable day for everyone!

For more information about the Faith Clubs click here, or contact Maureen Larison at mlarison@archlou.org, or 502-448-8581, Ext. 1308.

Once we finish Lent and celebrate Easter, there will still be about 8 months remaining in the Year of Mercy. What to get, what to use, to mark this spiritual opportunity?

The Evangelization Office of the Archdiocese of Melbourne (Australia) has produced a fine, little resource booklet for individual and/or group-reflection.

It is titled simply as A Spirit of Mercy. This resource can be downloaded free by clicking right here: Booklet

The material centers on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Why? As the booklet says,  these demonstrate “the real presence of the Spirit of the risen Jesus in a disciple’s life.”

Butch Ekstrom                                                                                                                                           March 3, 2016

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Dear Sister Sunday,

I have four kids, twelve and younger. We received guidelines for the Lenten fast in our church bulletin at the beginning of Lent and my older kids have informed me (several times) that they are exempt from fasting. My husband and I have been pretty lax about this in the past, but we want to try and really keep Lent this year as a family. Given the Church’s law, what should I tell my kids?

Signed,

Hoping for Holiness

Click here to read Sister Sunday’s response.

Vincent Van Gogh’s “Old Man in Sorrow (On the Threshold of Eternity)”

When my father-in-law died, I observed that no one among his six sons, their wives and his many grandchildren wanted to sit in his chair at the table. It wasn’t fear or dread, it was something much simpler: the chair, that chair, belonged to Leonard. It always had, and, in some sense, it always would. We had eaten so many meals with him at the head of the table in his chair. We had played so many games of cards with him at the head of the table in his chair. I understood as I watched us take our places at meals after his death that the chair stood for Leonard and his place among us.

The chair is a sign of our unity and of our tradition and history.

Today is the Feast of the Chair of Peter. Each bishop has a chair, the bishop’s chair, from which he presides. The Latin word for a bishop’s chair is  “cathedra.” That is the source for our word “cathedral,” which is the bishop’s home church in his diocese.

To continue reading this article by Melissa Musick click here.

EXCITING NEWS!! The Potter’s Field is now available to stream online for FREE!

Contact Linda McLemore at 502-585-3291 or by email lmclemore@archlou.org to register.

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.