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St. Francis , Sherwood, OR Volume 17 2014

What is the big deal about ?

Easter is the greatest feast in the Christian calendar. On this That new life began on Easter . In the Our Father, we pray Sunday, celebrate the of that "Thy Kingdom come ... on earth as it is in ." And Christ from the dead. For Catholics, Easter Sunday comes at the told His disciples that some of them would not die until they saw the end of 40 days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving known Kingdom of God "come in power" (:1). With the resurrection as . Through spiritual struggle and self-denial, we have prepared of Christ, God's Kingdom is established on earth in the form ourselves to die spiritually with Christ on , the day of His of the Church. , so that we can rise again with Him in new life on Easter. That is why people who are converting to Catholicism traditionally Easter is a day of celebration because it represents the fulfillment of our are baptized at the service, which takes place on Holy faith as Christians. St. Paul wrote that, if Christ has not been raised, your Saturday (the day before Easter), starting sometime after sunset. faith is vain (:17). Through his death, Christ saved They have usually undergone a long process of study and preparation mankind from bondage to sin, and He destroyed the hold that death known as the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). has on all of us; but it is His Resurrection that gives us the promise of Their parallels Christ's own Death and Resurrection, as they new life, both in this world and the next. die to sin and rise to new life in the Kingdom of God.

Now that Lent has concluded way Jesus saw people. We need to open our We need to ask to help cultivate our and our Christ has risen, we can eyes spiritually speaking. We cannot let our capacity for compassion. Ask God to touch take time to reflect on how our assumptions, perceptions, and our personal our eyes so that we can see people the way personal journeys progressed. judgments influence our view on the world Jesus did. Ask the to help Jesus Did we successfully prepare for His and people in it. to guide our . resurrection? He gave His life to save our How does He see people? A verse from If we can see the world as Jesus does, we . How have we sought ways to return Samuel says, “The Lord doesn’t see things the can see them with Christ’s compassion and this greatest gift of giving? Have we taken way you see them. People judge by outward His love. He helps us to focus less on the the time to see the world as Christ sees it? appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” personal grudges we hold, and redirect our During the Lenten season, we reflected on If you have given Jesus your heart, you should love to see into their hearts. We have to offer a passage from John that told us how Jesus also give Him your eyes. We should not only our eyes to Christ to help us to see those returned sight to a blind man. As followers strive to offer our lives to Christ, but also try around us in the true light. Jesus loves us of Jesus, we want our lives to be less of just to see others how He would. Do we see those unconditionally…can we return the favor going to Church and more about being the in need around us? Do we see the world and to those around us? Church. We attain this by seeing people the those living in it from Jesus’ point of view?

Symbol Key

Formation Prayer and Worship Family (The Domestic Church) Charity and Service Fills in the holes of faith knowledge that Understanding what happens at Mass Incorporating Catholic customs and Highlights charity and service opportunities may have been missed growing up and and incorporating prayer into family life. traditions into family life. for the family within St. Francis highlights what makes Catholics distinct and the greater community. 12

Charity and -citement The noted Christian author with one betraying him and one denying that Service C.S. Lewis writes: he even knew him, but three days later they were ready to lay down their lives for him. “There is a stage in a child’s life at On Easter, as we celebrate the which it cannot separate the religious But Easter isn’t just history. It is today that risen Christ, many Catholics from the merely festal character of or our Lord is with us. It is today that the Holy desire to form a deeper Easter. I have been told of a very small and very Spirit gives us his grace. Easter morning can connection to Christ by taking devout boy who was heard murmuring to himself be chaotic in a household, getting children His message of peace and justice out into the on Easter morning a poem of his own composition dressed and ready for church. The very fact world. is a central which began ‘Chocolate eggs and Jesus risen.’ This that your family does this makes it not only and essential element of our faith. It is a seems to me, for his age, both admirable poetry meaningful but part of your worship. During teaching founded on the life and words of and admirable piety. “ the St. Francis’ Lenten Mission, Rev. Francis Jesus Christ. As Christians, we appreciate the Lewis states that as children grow they Chun made the comment that every service and charity components of our faith, basketball game is the same. It starts the same; cannot” effortlessly and spontaneously enjoy but as Catholics many of us are fuzzy on our it has the same rules, and the same end. What that unity”, so as parents, it is up to us to help church’s social teachings. makes it special is what is different in each them make that transition. Tying the Christian game. He said that is the answer to those who Thankfully, we have a wonderful resource at symbols of Easter to the commercial fun of say every Mass is the same. Let us look for the Archdiocese of Portland to educate us on Easter is one way. But we live in a world in what is different. Let us try to make every the principles of Catholic social teachings, and which many depict Jesus as just a good man, a on how we can incorporate charity and social teacher of sound morality, who lived an Sunday an extension of Easter: a day of justice activities into our parish and family life. exemplary life and died a terrible and , a feast of hope and promise and a day The Office of Life, Justice and filled with the joy of Christ with us. This resource, undeserved death. This concept, promoted by Peace, can be found on the Archdiocese of a popular children’s author, is much the same Portland’s website: www.archdpdx.org/jprespect/. as believe. As our children grow we The mission of the Office of Life, Justice and need to teach them the resurrection is not Peace is “To inspire and form Catholic only center to our Catholic Faith, but an disciples to build God's kingdom of historical event. It changed history. justice and faithfully witness His love.” Some historical facts: The Office of Life, Justice and Peace offers Jesus died on the cross. A soldier put a spear a monthly online newsletter on timely social Mission Statement in his side and “blood and water” came out. matters, offers workshops, speakers and The Strong Catholic Families initiative at trainings on Catholic social teachings, and has Jesus suffocated. Jesus was put in a . St. Francis will provide support to help families pass on the traditions of the faith and share the . a comprehensive list of online resources on Soldiers guarded it. Even the enemies of For more information visit: http://www.stfrancissherwood.org/ social issues for parishioners. This webpage Christ agreed the tomb was empty after his organizes most of it’s information around the death. Jesus' followers fled in fear of their lives (Go to: Faith Formation then Strong Catholic Families) Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching: Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Rights and Responsibilities, Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, Solidarity, Care for God’s Creation, Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers, Call to Family, Community and Participation. Pieces of Silver Each theme is broken down, clearly explained Apostles Pierced and tied to our Catholic faith. Social causes Betrayal Pilate and challenges associated with each theme Blood Resurrection Pieces of Silver are listed along with additional information Cross Pierced on how people can learn more about specific Pilate issues and get involved at the local, national Crucifixion Resurrection and even global level. Darkness Robe Death Romans With this wealth of information a keystroke Earthquake away, families can really delve into a chosen Easter cause and provide a rich learning experience Golgotha Soldiers for their children. Families will learn not only High Priest Son of God about the general themes of Catholic social Joseph Spear teaching and corresponding issues, but also Stone learn why we as Catholics should care about King Temple these causes. The Office of Life, Justice Lamb Thieves and Peace is a valuable resource in our Mary Three Days Nails Tomb Archdiocese. Be sure to take advantage of it!