Saturday, March 2, 2013

Holy Men and Women of the Past who Inspire us Today


Here is my Bulletin Article for this week:
I recently was asked by a group of youth what I was doing personally for the Year of Faith that the Church has declared this year to be. I answered that one of the things that I have been doing is attending a class on Saturday mornings which the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis has been putting on for priests called “Renewal of Faith”, which explores what the Church actually teaches about faith and how we can grow deeper in our faith. I also mentioned to the youth that I don’t necessarily enjoy sitting in a classroom, but every time that I go to one of these sessions, I learn so much more about God, and I am always grateful that I have gone.
 This comes back to that first question though, what are you doing for the Year of Faith? I hope that many of you have or are in the midst of reading Matthew Kelly’s Rediscover Catholicism book, which will help you grow in your faith. I know that many of you have even joined book discussion clubs to talk about the book, which is great. I also hope that many of you were able to attend our parish mission with Bishop Remi De Roo.
I also want to draw your attention to another event and invite you to come to a series that I will be offering in March that offers reflections on Holy Men and Women of the past who inspire us today. This series is meant to help you increase your faith in God by showing that God has taken ordinary men and women like us in the past and did wonderful things with them once they encountered Him.
These sessions are being offered for the women of the parish on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 – 10:30 AM March 6, 20, 27 and we will take a closer look at the women at the well the first session, the women of Jerusalem at the second session, and some modern day saints at the third session. There will not be childcare available for these sessions, but you are welcome to bring your children with to the sessions.
These sessions are being offered for the men of the parish on Tuesday mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 AM March 5, 19, 26 and we will take a closer look at Nicodemus at the first session, the Apostles at the second session, and some modern day saints at the third session. Just like in December, there will be plenty of coffee for everyone.
I hope that some of you will be able to attend these sessions, even if you can only make it to one, which is fine. I would ask that if you do come please bring a Bible with you, because we will be looking at some Scripture passages.
What are you doing for the Year of Faith? Maybe you are like me, and don’t necessarily enjoy going back for education. However, in these reflections, we are learning something greater than just basic education of math or science. We are learning more about God, and is there anything greater than God?
God Bless,
Fr. Carlson           

1 comment:

  1. Our local parish Pastor has chosen a study of our roots, Catholic Apostolic History, the road from here back to Emmaus.
    In light of this unusual development of a Pope "retiring" and slander abounding within and without the Church has brought a skeptical view, of the Catholic Church, among many non-Catholics.
    I do not shrink from the challenge of deflecting unjust criticisms, but it gets more difficult when Bishops and Cardinals continue to give scandal in the public square. Long gone are the days when shame is personal and not public.
    PT

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