Friday, March 13, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Shrove Tuesday Pancake supper
Everyone is welcome at the Knights of Columbus Pancake supper at ST. Pius Church on Waverly Street. Tuesday February 24 from 5:00 to 7:30 pm. All you can eat $5.00 per person, $15 per family , plus other donations . Everyone welcome.
Plan to attend and enjoy the good food and fellowship
Everyone is welcome at the Knights of Columbus Pancake supper at ST. Pius Church on Waverly Street. Tuesday February 24 from 5:00 to 7:30 pm. All you can eat $5.00 per person, $15 per family , plus other donations . Everyone welcome.
Plan to attend and enjoy the good food and fellowship
Monday, January 19, 2009
Doing good -not just talking about it in 2009 - What we can learn and do with John 3:16
A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner, the people were in and out of the cold.
The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many papers.
He walked up to a policeman and said, 'Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you ?
You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley and it's awful cold in there for tonight. Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay.'
The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, 'You go down the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When they come out the door you just say John 3:16, and they will let you in.'
So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said, 'John 3:16 .' The lady said, 'Come on in, Son.'
She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went off. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself: John 3:16 ......I don't understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm.
Later she came back and asked him 'Are you hungry ? ' He said, 'Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food,'
The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat any more. Then he thought to himself: John 3:16 .Boy, I sure don't understand it but it sure makes a hungry boy full.
She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16 ..... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out. The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room, tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out the window at the snow coming down on that cold night, he thought to himself: John 3:16 .....I don't understand it but it sure makes a tired boy rested.
The next morning the lady came back up and took him down again to that same big table full of food. After he ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up a big old Bible.
She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face. 'Do you understand John 3:16 ? ' she asked gently. He replied, 'No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it,' She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain to him about Jesus . Right there, in front of that big old fireplace, he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there and thought: John 3:16 -- don't understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe.
You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either, how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand the agony of the Father and every angel in heaven as they watched Jesus suffer and die. I don't understand the intense love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end. I don't understand it, but it sure does make life worth living.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life..
If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the directions .
Jesus said, 'If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father.' Pass this on only if you mean it.
I do Love God . He is my source of existence.. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Phil 4:13 If you love God and are not ashamed of all the marvelous things he has done for you, send this on.
Take 60 seconds & give this a shot ! Let's just see if Satan stops this one.
All you do is:
1) Simply say a small prayer for the person who sent you this, 'Father, God bless this person in whatever it is that You know he or she may be needing this day In Jesus Name Amen ! '
A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner, the people were in and out of the cold.
The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many papers.
He walked up to a policeman and said, 'Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you ?
You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley and it's awful cold in there for tonight. Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay.'
The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, 'You go down the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When they come out the door you just say John 3:16, and they will let you in.'
So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said, 'John 3:16 .' The lady said, 'Come on in, Son.'
She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went off. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself: John 3:16 ......I don't understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm.
Later she came back and asked him 'Are you hungry ? ' He said, 'Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food,'
The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat any more. Then he thought to himself: John 3:16 .Boy, I sure don't understand it but it sure makes a hungry boy full.
She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16 ..... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out. The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room, tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out the window at the snow coming down on that cold night, he thought to himself: John 3:16 .....I don't understand it but it sure makes a tired boy rested.
The next morning the lady came back up and took him down again to that same big table full of food. After he ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up a big old Bible.
She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face. 'Do you understand John 3:16 ? ' she asked gently. He replied, 'No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it,' She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain to him about Jesus . Right there, in front of that big old fireplace, he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there and thought: John 3:16 -- don't understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe.
You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either, how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand the agony of the Father and every angel in heaven as they watched Jesus suffer and die. I don't understand the intense love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end. I don't understand it, but it sure does make life worth living.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life..
If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the directions .
Jesus said, 'If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father.' Pass this on only if you mean it.
I do Love God . He is my source of existence.. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Phil 4:13 If you love God and are not ashamed of all the marvelous things he has done for you, send this on.
Take 60 seconds & give this a shot ! Let's just see if Satan stops this one.
All you do is:
1) Simply say a small prayer for the person who sent you this, 'Father, God bless this person in whatever it is that You know he or she may be needing this day In Jesus Name Amen ! '
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Subject: An Obituary Printed in the London Times
Food for thought for 2009 -can we reinstate common sense?
An Obituary Printed in the London Times
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.No on knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.
Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled al little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; by his wife, Discretion; by his daughter, Responsibility and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame and I'm A Victim.Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
Food for thought for 2009 -can we reinstate common sense?
An Obituary Printed in the London Times
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.No on knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.
Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled al little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; by his wife, Discretion; by his daughter, Responsibility and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame and I'm A Victim.Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
from our grand knight- "innocent believing is good life practise"
GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED
I envy Kevin. My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.
He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed....'
I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.
He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.
I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?
Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child. He does not seem dissatisfied.
He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.
He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.
And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go! ' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.
And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.
He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.
His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.
He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.
He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.
Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.
Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child.. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.
In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.
It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.
It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.
Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.
And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.
Kevin won't be surprised at all!
When you receive this, say a prayer for the one who sent it to you and those you are sending to. That's all you have to do.
GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED
I envy Kevin. My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.
He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed....'
I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.
He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.
I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?
Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child. He does not seem dissatisfied.
He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.
He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.
And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go! ' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.
And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.
He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.
His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.
He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.
He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.
Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.
Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child.. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.
In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.
It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.
It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.
Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.
And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.
Kevin won't be surprised at all!
When you receive this, say a prayer for the one who sent it to you and those you are sending to. That's all you have to do.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
October Elimination DrawCouncils 9262 and 13442
Handy information and check list on our October 18 charity elimination draw
Sponsers ? Council 9262---October 18, 2008 Draw---Council 13442
Where will the money go? "Worthy causes” local charity need
Who can participate? Anyone
What are the prizes? $ 4000, plus great fun, great lunch
Where can I get my tickets? Knights, Church, Groups
Does Performance count? Dinner for two for the most sold
When? 3 Early bird draws : July 6 - Aug 2 - Sept 6
Lunch and main draw at St. Basils Oct 18
If you need tickets, additional information, or want to help- please contact us- committee chair respondfeedbacknow@yahoo.ca
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Religious News - Catholic bishops reject gay marriage law - ArcaMax Publishing
Religious News - Catholic bishops reject gay marriage law - ArcaMax Publishing: "Catholic bishops reject gay marriage law
As California officials prepared for gay nuptials Monday, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony and other bishops said marriage should be between and man and woman.
In a statement, the Roman Catholic officials said marriage 'has a unique place in God's creation, joining a man and a woman in a committed relationship in order to nurture and support the new life for which marriage is intended,' the Los Angeles Times reported.
'The meaning of marriage is deeply rooted in history and culture, and has been shaped considerably by Christian tradition. Its meaning is given, not constructed,' their statement said.
The earliest time gay and lesbian couples in California were to be allowed to marry was 5:01 p.m. PDT Monday.
A handful of counties were to begin issuing marriage licenses at that time, but most will begin Tuesday, the newspaper said.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International.
This news arrived on: 06/17/2008"
As California officials prepared for gay nuptials Monday, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony and other bishops said marriage should be between and man and woman.
In a statement, the Roman Catholic officials said marriage 'has a unique place in God's creation, joining a man and a woman in a committed relationship in order to nurture and support the new life for which marriage is intended,' the Los Angeles Times reported.
'The meaning of marriage is deeply rooted in history and culture, and has been shaped considerably by Christian tradition. Its meaning is given, not constructed,' their statement said.
The earliest time gay and lesbian couples in California were to be allowed to marry was 5:01 p.m. PDT Monday.
A handful of counties were to begin issuing marriage licenses at that time, but most will begin Tuesday, the newspaper said.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International.
This news arrived on: 06/17/2008"
Friday, February 22, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Pope stresses faith, reason harmony
ROME, Vatican City, Jan. 30 Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday stressed St. Augustine's insistence that reason and faith must be harmonized. "These themes are not to be opposed to one another, but must always go together" to arrive at the truth, he said. Speaking to 6,000 at the general audience, the pope said St. Augustine's intellectual and spiritual journey represents "a model of the relationship between faith and reason, a central theme for the equilibrium and destiny of every human being." These two dimensions "must not be separated or opposed, but rather must be harmonized": they are, in fact, "the two forces that lead us to knowledge," AsiaNews reported Wednesday.
The pairing of faith and reason is therefore central in Augustine's life and thought: he had learned that faith as a child and had rejected it as an adolescent, "because he did not see its reasonableness, and it was not an expression of his reason", meaning truth. "His search for the truth was so radical that he could not be satisfied with philosophies that did not arrive at God", who "is not only a cosmological hypothesis" but "a God who gives life". Augustine said, "'believe in order to understand', but also and inseparably, 'understand in order to believe'", which indicate that "God is not far from our reason and from our lives ... on the contrary, he is close to every human being, and he is as close to his heart as to his reason," the pope said.
ROME, Vatican City, Jan. 30 Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday stressed St. Augustine's insistence that reason and faith must be harmonized. "These themes are not to be opposed to one another, but must always go together" to arrive at the truth, he said. Speaking to 6,000 at the general audience, the pope said St. Augustine's intellectual and spiritual journey represents "a model of the relationship between faith and reason, a central theme for the equilibrium and destiny of every human being." These two dimensions "must not be separated or opposed, but rather must be harmonized": they are, in fact, "the two forces that lead us to knowledge," AsiaNews reported Wednesday.
The pairing of faith and reason is therefore central in Augustine's life and thought: he had learned that faith as a child and had rejected it as an adolescent, "because he did not see its reasonableness, and it was not an expression of his reason", meaning truth. "His search for the truth was so radical that he could not be satisfied with philosophies that did not arrive at God", who "is not only a cosmological hypothesis" but "a God who gives life". Augustine said, "'believe in order to understand', but also and inseparably, 'understand in order to believe'", which indicate that "God is not far from our reason and from our lives ... on the contrary, he is close to every human being, and he is as close to his heart as to his reason," the pope said.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Religious News - Pope stresses duty to evangelize - ArcaMax Publishing
Religious News - Pope stresses duty to evangelize - ArcaMax Publishing: "Pope stresses duty to evangelize
ROME, Vatican City, Dec. 24 'Nothing can release or free us' from the task of announcing the Gospel and 'nothing is more beautiful, urgent and important,' said Benedict XVI to a crowd of 30,000 gathered in Saint Peter's Square Sunday. He spoke of the true meaning of Christmas and again about the 'duty' of Christians, especially the Church, to evangelize, AsiaNews reported Sunday.
'Tomorrow night we shall celebrate the great mystery of Love that never ceases to amaze us, namely love that became man,' he said. The 'mission of the Church is to provide an answer to the words 'Come Lord Jesus'' so that through his coming 'our hearts may change and justice and peace infuse the world.'
'In a situation in which many faithful have no clear idea as to the reasons for evangelisation,' the recent document released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 'reminds us all that welcoming the Good News is by itself a way to signal that we were given salvation as a gift,' he said.
'There is nothing more beautiful, urgent and important than to freely return what we have freely received from God. Nothing can release or free us from this weighty task,' he said.
'Each Christian and each community should feel the joy of sharing with others the Good News, that God loves the world so much that he gave his only Son so that the world may be saved through him ... This is the true meaning of Christmas that we must always rediscover and live intensely,' he concluded"
ROME, Vatican City, Dec. 24 'Nothing can release or free us' from the task of announcing the Gospel and 'nothing is more beautiful, urgent and important,' said Benedict XVI to a crowd of 30,000 gathered in Saint Peter's Square Sunday. He spoke of the true meaning of Christmas and again about the 'duty' of Christians, especially the Church, to evangelize, AsiaNews reported Sunday.
'Tomorrow night we shall celebrate the great mystery of Love that never ceases to amaze us, namely love that became man,' he said. The 'mission of the Church is to provide an answer to the words 'Come Lord Jesus'' so that through his coming 'our hearts may change and justice and peace infuse the world.'
'In a situation in which many faithful have no clear idea as to the reasons for evangelisation,' the recent document released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 'reminds us all that welcoming the Good News is by itself a way to signal that we were given salvation as a gift,' he said.
'There is nothing more beautiful, urgent and important than to freely return what we have freely received from God. Nothing can release or free us from this weighty task,' he said.
'Each Christian and each community should feel the joy of sharing with others the Good News, that God loves the world so much that he gave his only Son so that the world may be saved through him ... This is the true meaning of Christmas that we must always rediscover and live intensely,' he concluded"
Religious News - Vatican welcomes Blair to Catholic fold - ArcaMax Publishing
Religious News - Vatican welcomes Blair to Catholic fold - ArcaMax Publishing: "Vatican welcomes Blair to Catholic fold
ROME, Vatican City, Dec. 22 The Vatican welcomed former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to become a Roman Catholic. A spokesman said such an 'authoritative personality' choosing to join the Catholic Church 'could only give rise to joy and respect.'
The ex-PM was received into the Church by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor. It comes as research shows Catholic churchgoers now outnumber Anglicans in the UK for the first time since the Reformation, BBC News online reported Saturday."
ROME, Vatican City, Dec. 22 The Vatican welcomed former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to become a Roman Catholic. A spokesman said such an 'authoritative personality' choosing to join the Catholic Church 'could only give rise to joy and respect.'
The ex-PM was received into the Church by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor. It comes as research shows Catholic churchgoers now outnumber Anglicans in the UK for the first time since the Reformation, BBC News online reported Saturday."
Friday, November 09, 2007
Windows Live Hotmail
Prayer a Powerful Healer
My aunt Eliza is our family's "pray-er" -- the one who routinely offers up prayers whenever any of us are ill or about to undergo a medical procedure. So far, everyone has recovered. We've often wondered how much Eliza's prayers had to do with that -- and now a new study reveals perhaps more than the skeptics in my family think. A review of 17 studies on the effects of intercessory prayer -- prayer that is offered for the benefit of another person -- showed net positive effects for people who received prayers for their medical or psychological problems. While some of the studies showed statistically significant positive effects for prayer and others did not, when the effects are averaged across all 17 studies, researchers found that intercessory prayer may indeed help people heal. In all but one of those studies, participants were divided into two groups with one group receiving prayer in addition to conventional treatment for their condition, and the other group receiving only conventional treatment. These studies were double-blind. In other words, neither patients nor health-care providers knew who was receiving prayer.
The range of health problems in the studies varied widely, including heart disease, AIDS, infertility, leukemia, arthritis and psychiatric disorders, to name a few. The prayers offered varied by type, the number of "intercessors" and by religious faith. Sometimes prayers were part of a regular church service or group prayer session, and in other instances individuals prayed on their own, in their own homes. Interestingly, the results showed no correlation between the religion of the intercessor, the type of prayer invoked, the number of intercessors or the specific medical condition of the participants. The criteria for inclusion in this study review were simple -- intercessory prayer had to have been used with a population of clients or patients and efficacy had to be measured, preferably using standardized measures and a double-blind randomized control methodology. I called study author David R. Hodge, PhD, assistant professor at Arizona State University and a senior nonresident fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society, to ask him to elaborate on this fascinating work. According to Dr. Hodge, in seven of the 17 studies, those who received intercessory prayer demonstrated significant improvement compared with those who received standard treatment, devoid of prayer. In another five studies, he said that the trend favored the prayed-for group -- there were improvements, but the positive effects noted did not reach what are considered statistically significant levels. Then, when the results of all 17 studies were combined, there was indeed a small but significant overall positive finding for prayer. But Dr. Hodge added a cautionary note: Prayer appears to make a difference, but he does not advocate substituting prayer for medical treatment. Instead, prayer should be viewed as a supplement that may enhance positive effects.
So, should one pray for those who are ill?
Yes, if you or a loved one are inclined to do so. For that matter, you can pray for yourself and ask others to pitch in as well... because doing something supportive for someone such as saying a prayer for their well-being or health not only feels good, but may be healing, too.
Source(s): David R. Hodge, PhD, is assistant professor at Arizona State University and a senior nonresident fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society.
My aunt Eliza is our family's "pray-er" -- the one who routinely offers up prayers whenever any of us are ill or about to undergo a medical procedure. So far, everyone has recovered. We've often wondered how much Eliza's prayers had to do with that -- and now a new study reveals perhaps more than the skeptics in my family think. A review of 17 studies on the effects of intercessory prayer -- prayer that is offered for the benefit of another person -- showed net positive effects for people who received prayers for their medical or psychological problems. While some of the studies showed statistically significant positive effects for prayer and others did not, when the effects are averaged across all 17 studies, researchers found that intercessory prayer may indeed help people heal. In all but one of those studies, participants were divided into two groups with one group receiving prayer in addition to conventional treatment for their condition, and the other group receiving only conventional treatment. These studies were double-blind. In other words, neither patients nor health-care providers knew who was receiving prayer.
The range of health problems in the studies varied widely, including heart disease, AIDS, infertility, leukemia, arthritis and psychiatric disorders, to name a few. The prayers offered varied by type, the number of "intercessors" and by religious faith. Sometimes prayers were part of a regular church service or group prayer session, and in other instances individuals prayed on their own, in their own homes. Interestingly, the results showed no correlation between the religion of the intercessor, the type of prayer invoked, the number of intercessors or the specific medical condition of the participants. The criteria for inclusion in this study review were simple -- intercessory prayer had to have been used with a population of clients or patients and efficacy had to be measured, preferably using standardized measures and a double-blind randomized control methodology. I called study author David R. Hodge, PhD, assistant professor at Arizona State University and a senior nonresident fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society, to ask him to elaborate on this fascinating work. According to Dr. Hodge, in seven of the 17 studies, those who received intercessory prayer demonstrated significant improvement compared with those who received standard treatment, devoid of prayer. In another five studies, he said that the trend favored the prayed-for group -- there were improvements, but the positive effects noted did not reach what are considered statistically significant levels. Then, when the results of all 17 studies were combined, there was indeed a small but significant overall positive finding for prayer. But Dr. Hodge added a cautionary note: Prayer appears to make a difference, but he does not advocate substituting prayer for medical treatment. Instead, prayer should be viewed as a supplement that may enhance positive effects.
So, should one pray for those who are ill?
Yes, if you or a loved one are inclined to do so. For that matter, you can pray for yourself and ask others to pitch in as well... because doing something supportive for someone such as saying a prayer for their well-being or health not only feels good, but may be healing, too.
Source(s): David R. Hodge, PhD, is assistant professor at Arizona State University and a senior nonresident fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Ind. court restores prayers to capitol 11:05 AM, November 1
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 31 An appeals court panel Tuesday allowed prayers mentioning Jesus' name to be returned to the Indiana state legislature, tossing out a lawsuit two years ago that led to the prayers bing ruled unconstitutional. Social conservatives hailed the 2-1 decision by the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, although the justices avoided dealing directly with whether the prayers violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution as the lower court had ruled. The Indiana affiliate of the ACLU won the initial round in November 2005 when U.S. District Judge David F. Hamilton ruled prayers must be "non-sectarian" and must not mention "Christ's name or title or any other denominational appeal." The majority ruled Tuesday that the four Indiana residents who brought the suit lacked standing because they had "not shown that the legislature has extracted from them tax dollars for the establishment and implantation" of a program that violates the Establishment Clause, Baptist Press reported Wednesday. Read More... Comment on this Story Printer Friendly Send Story to a Friend Top
Pope urges prayers for pro-life policies 11:05 AM, November 1
ROME, Vatican City, Nov. 1 Pope Benedict XVI announced his "general prayer intention" for November Wednesday: "That those dedicated to medical research and all those engaged in legislative activity may always have deep respect for human life, from its beginning to its natural conclusion." In his two-and-a-half years as Pontiff, Benedict consistently stressed the need for prayer to protect the sanctity of life and the family. His June prayer intent last year requested the Church to pray for Christian families, asking "That Christian families may lovingly welcome every child who comes into existence and surround the sick and the aged, who need care and assistance, with affection," LifeSiteNews.com reported Wednesday Read More...
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 31 An appeals court panel Tuesday allowed prayers mentioning Jesus' name to be returned to the Indiana state legislature, tossing out a lawsuit two years ago that led to the prayers bing ruled unconstitutional. Social conservatives hailed the 2-1 decision by the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, although the justices avoided dealing directly with whether the prayers violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution as the lower court had ruled. The Indiana affiliate of the ACLU won the initial round in November 2005 when U.S. District Judge David F. Hamilton ruled prayers must be "non-sectarian" and must not mention "Christ's name or title or any other denominational appeal." The majority ruled Tuesday that the four Indiana residents who brought the suit lacked standing because they had "not shown that the legislature has extracted from them tax dollars for the establishment and implantation" of a program that violates the Establishment Clause, Baptist Press reported Wednesday. Read More... Comment on this Story Printer Friendly Send Story to a Friend Top
Pope urges prayers for pro-life policies 11:05 AM, November 1
ROME, Vatican City, Nov. 1 Pope Benedict XVI announced his "general prayer intention" for November Wednesday: "That those dedicated to medical research and all those engaged in legislative activity may always have deep respect for human life, from its beginning to its natural conclusion." In his two-and-a-half years as Pontiff, Benedict consistently stressed the need for prayer to protect the sanctity of life and the family. His June prayer intent last year requested the Church to pray for Christian families, asking "That Christian families may lovingly welcome every child who comes into existence and surround the sick and the aged, who need care and assistance, with affection," LifeSiteNews.com reported Wednesday Read More...
Monday, May 07, 2007
Ecumenical action is a worthwhile activity. Get to know your religious neighbor.
Some fear homogenization, conversion
They also find that some religious groups worry that allowing their young people to get involved in council projects could open them up to conversion or to a "homogenizing" of religion. A Jewish group and a Muslim group have vetoed youth involvement. "There is a fear that mixing will diminish their kids in their faith tradition," Judy says. Yet "experience shows that when kids talk about their tradition with others, it strengthens their own faith because they've had to think about it more."
The new emphasis on youth is the outgrowth of a "visioning" project the council conducted in 2006, during which it interviewed 120 community leaders of greater Toledo on the area's most significant needs. The youth priority involves two projects: a Youth Film Festival and a Youth Service Learning Project. On Saturday nights, the film series brings teenagers together for food and a thought-provoking movie that allows for a discussion of values. This month's film is the Oscar-nominated "Whale Rider."
Inspired by the Interfaith Youth Core based in Chicago, the council has formed a multifaith youth core to engage in interfaith dialogue and community service projects, including the Habitat build. At the council's annual banquet on April 22, a panel of Catholic, Sikh, Unitarian, and Muslim youths described their faith-inspired motivations for serving others.
Funded solely by members and donations, the council is run by a 10-person board and has no paid staff. Yet it has grown from 20 founding members to a regular mailing list of 350. Woody and Judy (a retired electrical engineer and a high school technology instructor, respectively) are now focused on "growing leadership."
"My hope is for each faith group to realize the future of our country depends on ... sharing enough time in our own agendas to meet and mingle and understand the other person," Woody says. "Every faith group should say '10 percent of our scheduled time is going to be spent with people of other faiths.' Otherwise, they'll stay to themselves, and, all of a sudden, like global warming, we'll find we have a problem."
When people do mingle frequently, fresh ideas often germinate. This month, for example, a local rabbi, imam, and priest plan to offer classes that explore how the three monotheistic faiths understand "scripture, worship, and acts of kindness."
Monday, December 25, 2006
World: Pope urges solution to conflicts everywhere: "
Pope urges solution to conflicts everywhere
By MARIA SANMINIATELLI
Pope Benedict XVI raises a candle after lighting it at his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, during the inauguration of the Nativity scene, Sunday Dec. 24. (AP/Andrew Medichini)
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict on Monday urged a solution to conflicts across the world, especially in the Middle East and Africa, in a Christmas Day address that included an appeal for the poor, the exploited, and all those who suffer.
'With deep apprehension I think, on this festive day, of the Middle East, marked by so many grave crises and conflicts, and I express my hope that the way will be opened to a just and lasting peace,' Benedict said in his traditional 'Urbi et Orbi' speech - Latin for 'to the city and to the world.'
'I place in the hands of the divine Child of Bethlehem the indications of a resumption of dialogue between the Israelis and the Palestinians, which we have witnessed in recent days, and the hope of further encouraging developments,' the pontiff added, speaking from a balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square.
The Pope also mentioned violence in Lebanon, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Darfur and the whole of Africa, as Ethiopian fighter jets bombed airports in Somalia and more people died in suicide bombings in Iraq.
Under his predecessor, Pope John Paul, the Christmas Day message became an occasion to review progress and setbacks for humanity.
Benedict also noted that despite its modern-day successes, the world remains in desperate need of a saviour.
"
Monday, December 18, 2006
Other New Activities & Events this year
More interactive fun for everyone at the Parish
SECOND SATURDAY SOCIALS
Parishioners are invited to a causal supper in the parish hall,following the 5:00 pm. Mass on the ‘Second Saturdays’ listed below,
It’s a chance to socialize and, for those attending the movie, it’s an opportunity to get something to eat before we roll the film.
A free-will offering will help defray the expenses of the meal
SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES
Our St. Pius ‘Saturday Night at the Movies’ will begin at 6:45 pm.
A short introduction to the evening’s feature will highlight key points to watch for in the film. The movie begins at 7:00 pm. Complete with popcorn and a brief intermission. A brief discussion will conclude the evening.
- February 10, 2007 Chocolat
- April 14, 2007 I Confess
- May 12, 2007 Brother Sun, Sister Moon
Bill Foote and Fr. Murray will be facilitating these evenings.
Special Events at St.Pius
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
In addition to their regularly scheduled meetings, the following events are being sponsored by the Knights of Columbus in our parish:
• September 12, 2006 Open house gathering
• November 5, 2006 Father - Son Breakfast
• December 5, 2006 Christmas gathering
• February 20, 2007 Pancake Supper
Watch the weekly bulletin and this site for times and details.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUSIn addition to their regularly scheduled meetings, the following events are being sponsored by the Knights of Columbus in our parish:
• September 12, 2006 Open house gathering
• November 5, 2006 Father - Son Breakfast
• December 5, 2006 Christmas gathering
• February 20, 2007 Pancake Supper
Watch the weekly bulletin and this site for times and details.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Canada’s official faith -" For your thoughtful action"
A government resolution to re-enact the homosexual marriage debate was defeated in Parliament last week, by a vote of 175 to 123.
No one was surprised. The resolution was expected to fail. Prime Minister Harper was simply keeping a pledge to social conservatives that he’d reopen the question.
However, I think almost everyone accepted that the debate ended a year ago when Martin’s cabinet forced Bill C-38 through Parliament.
People of all formal religious faiths face a conundrum in political life. Laws and policies are based (unavoidably) on moral beliefs about right and wrong. Religious people believe that morals come from God through scripture. To them, certain moral aspects of politics and God can’t be separated.
But the vast majority of citizens (about 80%), though they probably vaguely believe in something called “God,” contentedly sleep in on Sunday, are biblically unread, pray only when desperate, and trust in their own innate moral intuitions.
As a result, Christians (and others) constantly find themselves in unwinnable policy battles.
Christians, like Jews, hold that all humans are made in the “image and likeness” of God. To understand the rights and responsibilities of Man, they say, we must know what God has told us about himself through scripture.
Unchurched people do not know the Bible or what Christians are talking about.
Nonbelievers agree that life is about “choices,” but reject the idea that any choice is universally right or wrong. To accept religious doctrine as authoritative would be to deny the authority of their own inborn moral sense.
The closest nonbelievers can get to any moral absolute is to say that nobody has a right to harm other individuals or society in general.
But just as religious people fail to live up to their own moral codes, so do nonbelievers fail to live up to theirs.
For example, any unbiased clinical assessment of the evidence easily shows that abortion, promiscuity and homosexuality are all harmful. They reduce the population, fracture families, and spread emotional despair, social distrust and physical disease.
But be careful about saying so. Expect to be widely denounced as intolerant.
What most people fail to see is that every political state has an official faith of some sort, and Canada is no exception. Our official faith is in the ideology of “progressivism.” It is the substitution of faith in government for faith in God.
Our great-grandparents, by and large, trusted in God and little in government. We’ve reversed that.
With marriage, for example, the Canadian state has now redefined the meaning of “family.” Nature and religion say it is the procreative union of male and female. Parliament and the courts have decided otherwise.
Most Canadians -- including many “fiscal” conservatives -- have accepted this progressive ideology over the past half-century.
It’s to Stephen Harper’s credit that he does not. He rejects “progressivism,” and has said all along that religious believers must remain a vital and welcome part of the conservative coalition.
This doesn’t mean he will commit political suicide fighting their battles for them. It does mean, however, that he will not assist and support their enemies. He will give social conservatives a fighting chance.
But winning these battles is up to them, not him. And it remains far from clear how they can do it.
A government resolution to re-enact the homosexual marriage debate was defeated in Parliament last week, by a vote of 175 to 123.
No one was surprised. The resolution was expected to fail. Prime Minister Harper was simply keeping a pledge to social conservatives that he’d reopen the question.
However, I think almost everyone accepted that the debate ended a year ago when Martin’s cabinet forced Bill C-38 through Parliament.
People of all formal religious faiths face a conundrum in political life. Laws and policies are based (unavoidably) on moral beliefs about right and wrong. Religious people believe that morals come from God through scripture. To them, certain moral aspects of politics and God can’t be separated.
But the vast majority of citizens (about 80%), though they probably vaguely believe in something called “God,” contentedly sleep in on Sunday, are biblically unread, pray only when desperate, and trust in their own innate moral intuitions.
As a result, Christians (and others) constantly find themselves in unwinnable policy battles.
Christians, like Jews, hold that all humans are made in the “image and likeness” of God. To understand the rights and responsibilities of Man, they say, we must know what God has told us about himself through scripture.
Unchurched people do not know the Bible or what Christians are talking about.
Nonbelievers agree that life is about “choices,” but reject the idea that any choice is universally right or wrong. To accept religious doctrine as authoritative would be to deny the authority of their own inborn moral sense.
The closest nonbelievers can get to any moral absolute is to say that nobody has a right to harm other individuals or society in general.
But just as religious people fail to live up to their own moral codes, so do nonbelievers fail to live up to theirs.
For example, any unbiased clinical assessment of the evidence easily shows that abortion, promiscuity and homosexuality are all harmful. They reduce the population, fracture families, and spread emotional despair, social distrust and physical disease.
But be careful about saying so. Expect to be widely denounced as intolerant.
What most people fail to see is that every political state has an official faith of some sort, and Canada is no exception. Our official faith is in the ideology of “progressivism.” It is the substitution of faith in government for faith in God.
Our great-grandparents, by and large, trusted in God and little in government. We’ve reversed that.
With marriage, for example, the Canadian state has now redefined the meaning of “family.” Nature and religion say it is the procreative union of male and female. Parliament and the courts have decided otherwise.
Most Canadians -- including many “fiscal” conservatives -- have accepted this progressive ideology over the past half-century.
It’s to Stephen Harper’s credit that he does not. He rejects “progressivism,” and has said all along that religious believers must remain a vital and welcome part of the conservative coalition.
This doesn’t mean he will commit political suicide fighting their battles for them. It does mean, however, that he will not assist and support their enemies. He will give social conservatives a fighting chance.
But winning these battles is up to them, not him. And it remains far from clear how they can do it.
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