VOL. 2 NO. 8 PARISH NEWSLETTER AUGUST, 2014

THE AND THE GREATEST PRAYER OF ALL

he Mass is the re-presentation of the sacrifice at Calvary. It is the greatest prayer of all. As at the T Last Supper, when the bread and wine are consecrated at Mass, through the Holy Spirit they be- came the Body and Blood of .

When we receive the , we are receiving the Body and . When we receive this Gift worthily, our soul is then flooded with a profusion of graces. , our Divine Guest, strengthens our faith. Our increased love for Jesus helps our resolve not to commit sin, because of not wanting to offend Him.

The Mass also helps us live a more peaceful life. hears our petitions and helps us direct our lives. All good things come from God. We are totally dependent upon Him for everything. (John 15:5)

PLACES FAVORABLE FOR PRAYER

2691 - The , the house of God, is the place for the liturgical prayer of the parish commu- nity. It is also the privileged place for adoration of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed . The choice of a favorable place is not a matter of indifference for true prayer.

For personal prayer, this can be a “prayer corner” with the Sacred Scriptures and icons, in order to be there, in , before our Father. In a Christian family, this kind of little oratory fosters prayer in common.

In regions where monasteries exist, the vocation of these communities is to further the participation of the faithful I the and to provide necessary solitude for more intense personal prayer.

Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer. For pilgrims seeking living water, shrines are special places for living the forms of “in Church.”

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PRAYER

2720 - The Church invites the faithful to regular prayer: daily , the Liturgy of the Hours, Sunday Eucharist, the feasts of the liturgical year.

2721 - The comprises three major expressions of the life of prayer: vocal prayer, , and contemplative prayer. They have in common the recollection of the heart.

VOCAL PRAYER

2722 - Vocal prayer, founded on the union of body and soul in human nature, associates the body with the interior prayer of the heart, following Christ’s example of praying to his Father and teach- ing the Our Father to his disciples.

MEDITATION

2723 - is a prayerful quest engaging thought, imagination, emotion and desire. Its goal is to make our own faith the subject considered, by confronting it with the reality of our own life.

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER

2724 - Contemplative prayer is the simple expression of the mystery of prayer. It is a gaze of faith fixed on Jesus, an attentiveness to the Word of God, a silent love. It achieves real union with the prayer of Christ to the extent that it makes us share in his mystery.

PRAYING FROM THE HEART - Where does prayer come from? Whether prayer is expressed in words or gestures, it is the whole man who prays. But in naming the source of prayer, Scripture speaks sometimes of the soul or the spirit, but most often of the heart (more than a thousand times). According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays. If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain.

~ of the Church

Publisher Contributors This Newsletter will be published Rev. Arlindo Paul Da Silva, Pastor MONTHLY. Editor Pat Lorenc Staff Editor email [email protected] Sue Ellen Bibby Roberta Maurer

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ST. JOHN VIANNEY August 4

ohn Mary Vianney was born in Lyons, France, in 1786. As a child he took care of his father’s sheep. J He loved to pray but he also loved to play horseshoes. When John was eighteen, he asked his fa- ther’s permission to become a priest. His father was worried because John had become a big help on the family farm. After two years, Mr. Vianney agreed. At twenty, John studied under Father Balley. The priest was very patient but Latin soon became a major problem for John. He became discouraged. It was then that he decided to walk sixty miles to the shrine of St. John Francis Regis, a popular in France. We celebrate his feast on June 16. John prayed for help. After that pilgrimage, he had as much trouble as ever with his studies. The difference was that he never again grew discouraged.

John was finally able to enter the seminary. Studies were hard. No matter how much he tried, he never did very well. When the final examinations came, they were spoken, not written. John had to face a board of teachers and answer their questions. He was so upset that he broke down in the middle of the test. Yet, because John was a holy man, he was full of common sense and he understood what the Church taught about the subjects. He knew the right answers when asked what should be done in this case of that. He just couldn’t say those answers in the complicated style of Latin text books. John was ordained anyway. He understood what the priestly vocation was and his goodness was beyond ques- tion.

He was sent to a little parish called Ars. Father Vianney fasted and did hard for his people. He tried to stop them from sinning. They drank too much, worked all day Sunday and never went to church. Many used terrible language. Eventually, one tavern after another closed down because business be- came so slow. People began to worship regularly on Sundays and attended weekday Mass. The swearing was not so frequent. What had happened in Ars? “Our priest is a saint,” the people would say, “and we obey him.”

God gave John the power to see into people’s minds and to know the future. Because of this gift, he converted many sinners and helped people make the right decisions. Pilgrims began to come to Ars. In time, it was hundreds a day. St. John Vianney spent twelve to sixteen hours daily hearing confessions. He wanted so much to spend the rest of his life in a monastery. Instead, he stayed forty-two years at Ars and died there in 1859 at the age of seventy-three. St. John Vianney was proclaimed a saint in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.

St. John Vianney teaches us by his example to pray when things are hard. The Lord will help us over- come our difficulties. He will use us as his instruments to bring his love and joy.

~ for Young Readers for every day Volume 2

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STEWARDING OUR FAMILIES

When “Back to School” means “Back to the Family Dinner Table”

ugust brings us face to face with one of life’s realities: summer vacation has to end. Children may groan A and parents may breathe a sigh of relief, but one thing is certain. The beginning of school brings a re- turn to routine, and this translates into less eating on the run and more scheduled meals around the family dinner table. It’s not always possible for the whole family to eat together, but making it a priority at least some nights of the week can pay big dividends for the Christian steward trying to raise a family of faith. Here are a few dinner table tips:

• Everyone should know certain nights are family dinner nights. Look closely at everyone’s schedule, make a plan, and then hold family nights sacred. • Whether frozen pizza or rib, set the table nicely and sit down. Maybe light a dinner candle or pull out the cloth napkins now and then. Pick up a special dessert once in a while. • Parents and kids often hit the dinner hour fatigued. Make an effort to relax. Start off with a smile and laughter, even when you’d rather hit the couch. • If you haven’t already, begin the family custom of praying before meals in a spontaneous way. What was I most thankful for today? Where did I see a situation that calls for prayer? Let everyone take a brief turn. It may lead to a great conversation after the “amen.” • Resist scolding or criticizing a child at dinner. Never demand to know why the math paper wasn’t turned in, or why the kid will not get out of bed on time. Save it for a private discussion later. Allow the dinner table to be a place of welcome and support. • Share the ups and downs of your own day. Listen respectfully to their exploits and complaints. • As you review the day’s events, don’t forget God. Just as you are interested in what your children are reading in literature class or library hour, express an interest in what’s being taught in religion class or in weekly faith formation. • Set the rule that everyone remains seated until all are finished. Then the meal is complete. • But the work’s not done. Divide the duties of setting the table, clearing, washing, even cooking so that every one has a role to play and the work goes quickly. • Bring back the custom of an “after dinner” prayer, brief and blessed. International Catholic Stewardship Council CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP August 2014 • e-Bulletin Stewardship prayer

ord Jesus Christ, as we begin to shift from summer schedules to autumn demands, teach us to L recognize you, and help us follow you amidst our busy life. Open the Scriptures to us, so that we may know you, see you, and hear you in the voices of friends and family, in the ministries of our parish, in the proclamation of the Word, and in the Breaking of the Bread. Teach us to be good stewards that we may use your gifts wisely and care for all those you place in our path. Encourage us, when we are overwhelmed. Strengthen us, when we are frightened. Chal- lenge our complacency. Help us make this new season a time of spiritual renewal, hope, and action to proclaim the in our words and in our deeds. For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.