"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Heb. 13:8) This Scripture passage - which ended yesterday's first reading - reminded me of a video I saw years ago about the nature of "stuff".
Here is some of the information about the "Story of Stuff Project" which you can find online:
When Annie Leonard and her friends at Free Range Studios set out in 2007 to share what she’d learned about the way we make, use and throw away Stuff, they thought 50,000 views would be a good result for her ‘20-minute cartoon about trash.’ Today, with over 15 million views and counting, The Story of Stuff is one of the most watched environmental-themed online movies of all time.
Despite the ways in which things and stuff in our world are transient and temporary - we are reminded in Sacred Scripture that Jesus Christ - whom we encounter in the Eucharist - is the same saviour who suffered, died, and was raised to new life! Peace
O how things change! Each year our Edge youth ministry goes up to Snow Valley near Barrie to go Snow - Tubing. (if you don't know what snow-tubing is check out this promotional video)
When we first haneded out the permission forms for the Edge Snow-Tube outing there were questions about what would happen if there was no snow, if the rain had washed it all away. It was 13 degrees that week! So I guess people prayed for snow - and boy were those prayers answered! Yet it seems there is too much snow... now our outing is postponed, due to this weather and the difficult driving conditions... There is no Edge tonight - so stay safe and warm in your homes! Peace
Prayer Companions This Sunday we will be launching a project for the Year of Faith in our own parish: A Ministry of Prayer! The Pastoral Team firmly believe that prayer is transformative. Intentional prayer that lifts up people and ministries of service to the Lord, without telling God what to do, can transform us and the people involved in those ministries. We are inviting parishioners to choose 1 or 2 ministries and pray in a deliberate (but non directive) way 3 times per day: Morning, Noon, & Night. We have composed prayers for each of these ministries, and a post card that you can keep close - in a car, purse, or pocket. There are more than 14 different ministries / groups to pray for. More details in the Homily this Sunday!
Also this Sunday the Pastoral Plan of the Archdiocese is being circulated. You might remember that back in the Fall, Cardinal Collins circulated a letter about the idea of, and the work that was happening, on the Pastoral Plan. You can read more about it by clicking on the image above. There is a printed copy being inserted in each bulletin this Sunday. Peace
We are starting to get excited about welcoming the National Evangelization Team (NET) to Bolton for our grade 7 retreats next week.
NET's mission, to challenge young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church, is accomplished by:
Proclaiming the Gospel of Christ through a personal witness of faith.
Inviting young people to live for Christ.
Forming young people in Christian character through the study and practice of our faith.
Equipping youth workers and young adults with the ministry skills needed for evangelization.
Really - it is a terrifically fun time that the students spend at the retreat centre - with Music, Skits, games, and times of prayer and reflrection. The personal witness of the young retreat leaders to the young people on retreat is the most powerful element! Here is a video - from NET USA - that sort of gives an Idea of what a retreat looks like (This prompted Stephanie to think about making something similar with our youth!)
As I mentioned yesterday - 9 Students from St. Michael's Catholic Secondary School in Bolton have gone down to the Dominican Republic to work with dispossessed people from Haiti. Their photos are already up! HERE Here is a powerful Video that describes the plight of these people - it is long but very interesting!
It has been a full week and I have felt like the ball in a pinball machine - popping all over the place! Between a Funeral on Monday, a meeting with the Director of St. Michael's Choir School - because I am on the Advisory Board, meetings with the Administration of our St. Michael's Secondary School, helping with First Confessions in Mississauga Tuesday and Wednesday Evening, meeting with priests from Hamilton - in Milton, Physio, and on top of all that - 3 appointments for Baptism, Marriage, and a meeting for Confirmation. Despite the arctic cold air - I spent 1.5 hours on the phone late Tuesday Night - and have finally secured my post Easter vacation to a sunny and warm climate - 2 weeks beginning April 17th.
I am excited about Edge tonight despite the winter wonderland that is going on out there! We have received our Edge T-Shirts for this year - and they use the facebook styling - saying "I like Jesus" Saturday evening there is no LifeTeen - because of Exams, so I could have gone to an OHL Game - but Geoffrey's team is in Sudbury and Sault St. Marie this weekend! Today 9 of our young people from St. Michael's have left for a Mission trip in the western portion of the Dominican Republic.
They will experience working for justice with the people from Haiti who come in to work in the sugar cane fields. It will be a very "hands on" encounter with those who experience extreem poverty and suffer injustice. Please pray for them. You can follow them on this link:
The Posada is a traditional Christmas celebration that Franciscan missionaries developed in the missionary work they did in North America with the goal of introducing the faith. It continues to be popular throughout Latin America and is a rich tradition that I was introduced to a number of years ago. When the Anglican parish of a friend of mine obtained a new set of figures for their nativity scene, that community began a "Posada" with the new figurines. The Posada marks the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, looking for some room in the INN! One sources states:
The Posada expresses perfectly the suspense and surprises of the season. It is a prayer, a play, a party and a gathering for families, parishes and whole communities. It is a celebration that children and adults can enjoy together, as well as those from all different cultural backgrounds. www.kofc.com
For us it was a gathering of a few people, and a time of prayer, and a time of fellowship. After that first year (when the statues of Mary and Joesph travelled to different parishioner's houses), we have used another set of figurines, and gathered in different parts of Ontario as these friends have moved! This past Friday - I had a chance to celebrate "Posada" - even though it was after Christmas - with these friends. We all met in Kingston, at my Dad's house, and prayed, ate and drank some fine wine. It was indeed a terrific time! Earlier Friday afternoon, my Brother and I filmed a video for submission to the Amazing Race Canada! We both have been big fans of the Amazing Race, and love to travel - and we think a Catholic Priest and a Catholic Teacher - who are brothers - will be an interesting team!!! I'll let you know if we will be selected in the audition process!!! Peace
