Holy Week Reflection

I received an email forward from my mom that included an invitation to pray the rosary on Good Friday between 12-3pm to unite with others around the world to pray for peace in the world and the return of moral values into our communities. This is certainly a well-intentioned thought that has probably made its way around the internet and was additionally mentioned at Mass on Sunday.

The rosary is a beautiful prayer and one that draws us closer to God for those that practice it. If you are not familiar with praying the rosary, go to the internet and search "praying the rosary" and you will come up with a host of helpful sites in doing so.

The invitation struck me and caused me to think more deeply about Lent.

During our experience of Lent, from the moment we receive the ashes that begin our period of more intentional prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we recall Jesus' 40 days in the desert. These observances lead us to renew ourselves, draw us closer to God and prepare us for the new life of the Easter season. While saying a rosary on Friday might be a very specific way to be unified with Christians all over the world, hopefully through our Lenten observances, we have already done so.

I don't know that I "did" Lent as well as I have in past years. My practices and intentionality were inconsistent as I got caught up in the obligations of work and family and moving our home from Seattle. Yet, in the end, what I am buoyed by, is the intentionality of the moment and moving forward.

I remember something I took from a past Lenten homily by Archbishop Brunett where he communicated the reminder that the fruitfulness of our Lent would not come in how we give up chocolate for 4o days but how we have made a lasting change in our lives that brings us closer to God.

Fr. Thomas Vandenberg, at the Chancery Employee Retreat on Monday shared among his reflections the thought that people will know we are disciples of Christ by the love we have for one another and the need for us to surrender to that relationship and all the challenges that it entails.

Pondering these together has challenged me to think beyond a moment of common prayer time and to think about the entire Easter Triduum and surrendering to allow the experience transform me to new life in the Easter Season and beyond; a reengaging of the relationships I have in the community and with God, so that I can be the Light that God has called me to be and have source of faith I need to be so.

Whether it is through prayer, fasting or almsgiving, I pray for you all a fruitful Holy Week and new life in the Easter Season to come, with a sense of unity of purpose and action with others around the world!

Update on Haitian Earthquake Response from CRS

Special Report: January 20, 2010

"I believe that our charity and the way in which we live this crisis will help increase our humanity. It will help us be more generous, open and available to each other, because the symbolic ways of living together has been destroyed."

-Bishop Pierre Dumas, President of Caritas Haiti

Latest News from Haiti
 CRS has committed $25 million to the emergency response and
rebuilding of Haiti.
 CRS has worked in Haiti, whose population is 80 percent
Catholic, for more than 50 years. The 313 staff of CRS in Haiti
started helping people within hours of the earthquake.
 Food is moving to people in need. CRS is arranging the
distribution of 2,100 metric tons of vegetable oil and grains from
the USAID for Food for Peace program.
 The CRS/Caritas team helped the St. Francois de Sales Hospital
open three operating rooms which are now up and running.
 For the most up to date information visit http://www.crs.org or the
CRS blog. http:/crs-blog.org/
US Catholics Respond
Over the past week, the US Catholic community has poured out compassion for the people of Haiti. Here are just a few examples:
 Catholics and other people of goodwill have donated $16.5 million to CRS for Haiti relief to date. Dozens of dioceses have held or will hold a special collection for Haiti.
 Social media has helped many CRS supporters express their compassion. CRS Facebook Fans have shared the link to www.crs.org on their profile page.
 Thirty priests and deacons who are CRS Global Fellows are preaching in parishes nationwide. Hundreds of local pastors have focused their homilies on our gospel response to those in need in Haiti.
 Schools and youth groups are finding creative ways to raise funds for Haiti. For example, youth groups are dedicating funds from their CRS Food Fast events to Haiti relief. Seaton Keough High School in Baltimore and Holy Cross School in Rumson, NJ organized school-wide dress down days, the latter raising nearly $19,000 in one day.

For youth/educator resources visit: http://education.crs.org/

Pray and Give

Visit: www.crs.org for prayers, resources and information about the Haiti Earthquake.
Call: 877-Help-CRS (877-435-7277) to give.
Mail: Catholic Relief Services, Attn: Haiti Earthquake, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090

Please share this with other Catholics interested in responding to the Haiti earthquake relief effort.

Christmas Prayer

Greetings to you as we enter into the final moments of Advent and gather with heightened anticipation of the coming of the King of Kings! We pray for you and your family and friends many blessings during this time and into the new year.

Please find below a prayer for your use as you gather with loved ones to celebrate the coming of the Light of the World and hope for all humankind. It is from About.com: Catholicism.

This beautiful prayer reminds us what Christmas is all about. A Child is born, but He is no ordinary child; He is the Lord of all, Jesus Christ, Whose kingdom will have no end. And we, if we follow Him and grow in holiness, will live in that kingdom eternally.

This is a perfect prayer to pray after arriving home from Midnight Mass, or on Christmas morning, before opening presents. You can also pray it as part of your table grace before Christmas dinner. And, of course, any prayer for Christmas can be prayed every day up through the Feast of Epiphany (January 6). There is no need even to change the words "this day": The celebration of the feast continues through the Twelve Days of Christmas, as if it were a single day.

Prayer for the Feast of Christmas

Ant. A light shall shine upon us this day: for our Lord is born to us; and He shall be called Wonderful, God, the Prince of peace, the Father of the world to come, of Whose kingdom there shall be no end.

V. A child is born to us.

R. And to us a Son is given.

Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that we who rejoice in celebrating the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ may deserve by holiness of life to attain unto fellowship with Him. Who liveth and reigneth forever and ever. Amen.