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Sooner Catholic Sooner Catholic www.soonercatholic.org April 30, 2017 www.archokc.org Go Make Disciples Family chalice ministry encourages prayer for priests By Steve Gust area when he was on a quiet retreat The Sooner Catholic last year. He was so impressed, he visited with the pastor and decided A prayer effort to increase vo- to institute it at Saint John. cations, called the Family Chalice “I brought it before the Worship Ministry, involves hundreds of Pillar (ministries) and Maggie Beck- families at Saint John the Baptist in ham just ran with it after that,” he Edmond. said. Next month, the program will Beckham started recruiting mark one year of existence at Saint hundreds of families to receive the John. For the thousands who attend chalice. Mass weekly at the parish, it serves “Father Ackerman explained what as a reminder that an increase in we were trying to do for a few week- vocations continues to be needed. ends and then we signed up fami- Near the end of each Mass, a lies,” she said. pastor asks a volunteer fam- She said finding volunteers ily to step forward to receive hasn’t been a problem as hundreds of parishioners have the chalice. The stepped forward priest marks since the program the ceremony began in May with a prayer 2016. and asks “All of the the fam- feedback ily to I’ve heard fill up about it the con- has been secrat- positive,” Father ed chalice with Ackerman said. prayers during Beckham agrees. the week. The “I’ve had some of the families family is given a ask if they can keep the booklet prayer guide book and asked and continue the prayers, even to pray that young men hear though their week with the chalice the voice of God in discerning a is over,” she said. path to the priesthood. Some of the young family mem- The family returns the chalice the bers get the idea that they too can next week, where it is provided to a serve God in life. new family. The Family Chalice Ministry was This unique approach was carried over to Mass for students at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton kindergarten student Lorelai Lipscomb accepts the brought to Saint John by its pastor Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic chalice from Fr. Ackerman for Mrs. Moore’s kindergarten class at St. John Father Ray Ackerman. School at Saint John. Nan McCabe the Baptist in Edmond. Each week a new family fills the consecrated chalice Father Ackerman witnessed the coordinates the effort with students. with prayers for young men to hear the voice of God in discerning a path to ministry at a Mass in the Dallas continued on page 5 the priesthood. Photo provided. Fr. Fuller, CRS bring faith, hope to Zambia By Sally Linhart chosen by CRS to give firsthand testimony about The Sooner Catholic the work being done around the world, and provide real examples of how other people can help CRS end Catholic Relief Services Global Fellows is a group poverty. comprised of deacons and priests from dioceses Father Timothy Fuller is part of a nine-member throughout the United States. The fellows have been delegation of Global Fellows who traveled to Africa in January to meet other members of CRS already working on several projects in Zambia. Fuller, from Saint Philip Neri in Midwest City, visited several areas during his stay. In Ndola, Fuller visited Saint Anthony’s Orphanage and School, a facility operated by Dominican sisters who Fuller described as “very dedicated to what they do.” Saint Anthony’s provides clothing, food, shelter and education to children with mental and physi- cal disabilities whose parents are unable to care for them. After being welcomed to the school with a song, Fuller celebrated Mass with the children, who ranged in age from infants to teenagers. For some, it was the first time they had been to Mass. “Their participation was phenomenal,” Father Fuller said. “It was great to see their enthusiasm and the joy Fr. Timothy Fuller celebrates Mass in Africa as part of a on their faces!” nine-member delegation of Global Fellows. Photo provided. continued on page 7 2 April 30, 2017 Sooner Catholic Sooner Catholic April 30, 2017 3 Put Out Into the Deep Luke 5:4 Find more Kids and social media: Why parents need to look news on the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, tion is the most common risky May is Mary’s month Snapchat. These are the 21st cen- behavior that kids today partake tury forms of communication. All in online. Children don’t realize website we see are kids with their phones that the world is watching what “May is Mary’s month, and I muse at that assist the Holy Spir- in their hands and thumbs flying they post. Many youth have no By Sooner Catholic Staff and wonder why.” So begins Gerard Manley it in bringing her over key- privacy settings Hopkins’ poem, “The May Magnificat.” It is children to the full boards. on whatever social Additional coverage of There is good for us to wonder also. May crownings, maturity of Christ. media they are us- Church and archdiocesan no doubt Sr. Catherine Mother’s Day, the Feast of the Visitation and ing, and therefore, Gently, yet without news and events, only on that social Powers, CND the abundance of springtime growth all re- post for the world fail, Mary leads us www.soonercatholic.org. media has Coordinator of mind us of Mary’s special association with this to see. Youth to Jesus. As she its benefits. Safe Environment beautiful time of year. Archdiocese of must know what Archbishop Paul S. Coakley a To send photos, event It allows instructed the wine Oklahoma City is appropriate and During the month of May, all creation is information or story ideas, families stewards bursting with beauty and new life. e-mail [email protected]. to stay in what is inappro- Perhaps here is the reason that at Cana, so she directs us, “Do touch. It priate content to also allows Mary is so easily associated whatever he tells you” (Jn.2:5). a The Central Region share. people with similar interests to with this season of abun- Council of Catholic Wom- Sharing passwords From beginning to end, share information and learn from en announced the winners Children should be told to al- dance. May is a reflection the sinless Virgin Mary each other. Social media also is a of their essay contest. First ways keep their passwords private. of the continuing fruit- great form of entertainment that remained totally trans- place: Amelia Goodrich, 7th Cell phone numbers should never der why they are getting strange must realize that once that picture fulness of Mary’s vir- allows people to play games, share parent to the working grade; second place: Elsie be “tweeted.” Teens will commonly text messages and calls. is sent, they have lost all control videos and listen to music. ginal womb. Offiah, 8th grade; and third post things like this and then won- Posting inappropriate pictures over where it ends up. A common of God’s grace. Her However, social media also Since as early as place: Jacob Vu, 7th grade – Posting inappropriate pic- repercussion of those inappropri- listening heart was presents many risks. Children, the second centu- all from Saint Eugene Catho- tures is probably the largest ate pictures in an online predator. and some adults, don’t real- ready to respond lic School in Oklahoma City. To report suspected abuse, at-risk behavior that youth It is up to parents to monitor ry, Mary has been ize the risks they take every with the obedi- The winners and essays will called the New time they log on, post or send call the DHS hotline at indulge in on the Internet. what their children are doing. be presented at the Council Eve, a name which ence of faith. She anything. Parents need to un- (800) 522-3511. These pictures can be used Look at their cellphone, tablet or of Catholic Women’s general means “mother of was poised to do derstand the risks to monitor If the suspected abuse involves for blackmail, cause trou- laptop now and then. If you see meeting on May 6. the living.” Mary God’s will. It was social media appropriately. archdiocesan or parish personnel ble at school, and work, and something that concerns you, talk attract predators. Teens to them about it. Contact local law is truly more wor- never about her. Some of the common risks also call the pastoral hotline at are: must remember once you hit enforcement if at any time you feel thy of this name (405) 720-9879. “The Almighty Sharing too much “send” or “post,” it stays on your child is being threatened or than the first Eve, has done great Sharing too much informa- the Internet forever. Children harassed by anyone online. since in giving things for me, and birth to Jesus, holy is his Name” Mary gave birth to (Lk.1:49). life itself. We have received May is a time a share in this of extraordinary New Life through abundance. Abun- @archokc Mary, and through dance flows in God’s the Church of which path. Mary teaches Archdiocese of she is the image and us that in order to be Oklahoma City model. Moved by the filled with God’s abun- stirring of grace within us Arquidiócesis de dant life we have to first Oklahoma City we turn to Mary with the empty ourselves of all that spontaneity of children, who is not of God.
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