Happy Marchuary! I hope to go skiing this coming week but I may have to go water skiing. The strange weather is in keeping with the Liturgical Calendar. Lent is almost upon us and I have to say I need a good Lenten Renew. Lent is like spring training camp for Catholic to hone the basic skills necessary for a solid Catholic faith practice. Prayer, Fasting and Giving Alms are the three central disciplines for Lent. Each discipline is meant to fortify a principle relationship for us. Prayer awakens our relationship with God, Fasting restores a right relationship with the things we consume and Giving Alms puts us in right relationship with others. Discuss with your family what your discipline this year should be. What relationship do you need to work on? www.bustedhalo.com has had a great daily pray, fast, gave suggestion for lent. I encourage you to follow along.
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Your Pastor
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Friday, 25 January 2013
Your Pastor
At the heart, this is what makes us Catholic, not being a member of a club but acting and living as a member of Christ's Body.
Fr. Peter Keller
St. Michael's & Sacred Heart Faith Community
Friday, 18 January 2013
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
On Shaking Hands - Yes (for now)
Monday January 14, 2013
General Practice during Flu Season
Encourage those who are sick with a cold or the flu to care for the Body of Christ by first taking care of their own body. Reassure them that the obligation to participate in Mass is not required for those who are sick (if they are worried about the obligation, they can ask their pastor for a dispensation). In fact, the Church honors sickness and those who are sick with special rites and prayers and cares especially for those who are unable to come to Mass because of sickness.
Soap, water, and a good scrubbing are the best defense against the cold and flu viruses. Scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds—the time it takes to say two quick "Hail Marys." If you are not near soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand cleanser or disposable hand wipe. Keep a small bottle or packet in your purse or pocket.
Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, then throw it away. If you don't have a tissue handy, do what food-service workers are taught to do: cough or sneeze into your shirt sleeve and avoid touching the area of fabric you coughed into.
This is just common sense, and you wouldn't be considered anti-social if you are sick. But try not to go overboard either on the giving or receiving end. If you are sick, greet each other warmly before Mass, but avoid hand to hand contact. Use a tissue if you need to sneeze or cough, and throw it away. At the Sign of Peace, you can offer a simple bow of the head to those around you. If you have come in direct contact with someone who has been sneezing or coughing, avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with your hands until you can wash them. This is a good practice at any time since germs can spread when we touch our eyes, nose, or mouth.
Although receiving both the Body and Blood of Christ are encouraged, you only need to receive one form if you are unable to receive both. If you are accustomed to receiving Communion on the tongue, prevent spreading your saliva to the hand of the Communion minister by receiving Communion in the hand while you are sick.
This cold and flu season is also a good time for parishes to evaluate its ministry to the sick and its full use of the rites and options in the Pastoral Care of the Sick. Remember also to include at Mass and other parish liturgies intercessions for those who are sick, for their caregivers, for those who have died because of sickness, and especially for those who suffer with no one to care for them.
The best way for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to clean their hands during the Mass is in their pew, using a sanitizing liquid or antibacterial wipe, just before they come to the sanctuary. The reason for this is that it becomes distracting and inappropriate to see a line of Communion ministers standing near the altar, first, getting a squirt of sanitizing liquid in their hands (the action looks too much like Communion), then, vigorously rubbing their hands just before Communion begins. I've also heard reports of Communion ministers trying the shake off the excess liquid from their hands as they are about to receive Communion. This is just bad form and often looks ridiculous.
If he has practiced good hygiene and common sense during the Mass and he is not sick, there is no need for him to wash his hands before distributing Communion. (The ritual washing of hands during the preparation of gifts is a ritual act of purification; it is not intended to be a hygienic action.) If he is sick, it's best that he not preside at the Mass. If this is not possible and he must preside while he is sick, the duty of distributing Communion to the assembly can be done by other ordinary ministers: assisting deacons and concelebrants at the Mass. If these are not available, he may permit extraordinary ministers to distribute Communion to the assembly.
If concerns arise, assure parishioners and your ministers that the usual liturgical practices of the Catholic Church are not dangerous to one’s health when exercised with ordinary common sense. Yet in order to help lessen the spread of naturally existing germs that are more prevalent during the cold and flu season, everyone should be more attentive to their own daily health practices, especially if they themselves are sick.
Sunday, 13 January 2013
Friday, 11 January 2013
You should see it because it is so beautiful
or just see it because:
Russell Crowe Praised For Stunning Portrayal Of Man Who Cannot Sing Or Act In 'Les Misérables'
Baptism of the Lord
At the beginning of the funeral rite the priest welcomes our body at the entrance of the church and sprinkles baptismal water. It is a profound reminder that a funeral celebrates what baptism begins; namely a life given to God. On the day of baptism the entirety of our humanity is embraced by Christ.
All too often our culture relegates faith to become a personal sentiment or opinion. As Catholics, we ascribe to more than ethereal spirituality but to a life lived in relationship to the incarnate love of God. Christ in the Sacrament of the Church and the Sacrament of Life is the fullness of God’s redemptive love.
During this year of faith the Pope suggests that we make a pilgrimage to the Church where we were baptized. I suggest you make a visit to that church or any church on the anniversary of your baptism. If you don’t know the date… find out… the parish will gladly tell you. We need these physical times and places to reconnect with our faith.
Happy Baptism Day!
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Monday, 7 January 2013
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Thursday, 3 January 2013
Looking for the Light
We begin this New Year with mixed emotions. The tragic death of Noelle Paquette is a counter point to the wonderful celebrations of Christmas we just celebrated. It the same way Noelle’s bright life was a contrast to her death.
We struggle to realize that the incarnation of Christ has implications for both us and God. We are challenged to embrace the divine light of Christ in our midst while Christ embraces our darkness.
Even on the happy event of Christ’s birth the shadow of death falls. The gifts of the wise men; gold, frankincense and myrrh are odd gifts for a child, but very appropriate gifts for a funeral. They represent the best of wealth, art and science given to help prepare a loved one’s body for burial. These gifts remind us that Christ is born to give himself to us and that we are most alive when we give ourselves to others.
Our faith does not ignore the darkness nor idly hope that the darkness will not affect us. We have painfully learnt that bad things happen to wonderful people. We instead we are challenged to embrace our brokenness in this world and raise it up to seek true justice and peace. I pray that in Christ; the light of Noelle’s life not be overshadowed by the darkness of her death for she lived and lives in light.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)
Fr. Peter Keller
St. Michaels & Sacred Heart