Happy New Year - Make a Resolution for Faith

A Blessed New Year and Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God to everyone! As we reflect upon the past year and look forward to the start of 2013, many of us will make resolutions to start the New Year off right. Topping most people's lists includes losing weight, eating healthier, exercising more, quitting bad habits, etc. These are all good things, these resolutions to take care of our physical selves. Some of us will resolve to read more, watch less TV, spend less time in front of "screens", maybe take a class, learn a language. Again, these are all admirable goals we have to improve our minds.

But how many of us resolve to take care of our spiritual selves a little better in 2013? What would a resolution for faith look like? Maybe it's resolving as a family to pray together everyday - something as simple as a meal prayer.  Or using some of the suggestions from earlier posts to enhance our prayer practices. Or how about spending a few minutes everyday doing some spiritual reading, or reading a chapter a day of the Bible? We could even take care of both our intellectual and spiritual sides by participating in a faith formation class, Bible study, or workshop offered by the Adult & Family Ministry office. What about resolving to volunteer at one of our parishes - there are numerous ways to do so: as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Usher, sing in one of the choirs; as a catechist, small group leader, retreat chaperone, Minister of Care; or join one of the numerous committees: Human Concerns, Christian Formation, Prayer & Worship, Building & Grounds, Christian Women etc.

Have you ever gone on a spiritual retreat (that wasn't required by a faith formation program!)? Did you know there are places right in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee that cater to adult retreat needs? (The Siena Retreat Center in Racine and the Redemptorist Retreat Center in Oconomowoc offers a variety of different retreats of varying lengths and styles). Or check out the Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh or St. Anthony Spirituality Center in Marathon, WI. Retreats are great ways to kick start our faith lives.

And what about resolving to participating in the Sacraments on a more regular basis? We immediately think of Eucharist - and we all should be attending Mass every Sunday. But what about making an effort to attend daily Mass when you can? Or resolving to take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation more often? Or even again for the first time in (fill in the blank) years!

These are just  a few of the ways we can all resolve to deepen our faith in 2013 (and hopefully beyond.) What will you resolve to do in this Year of Faith? Feel free to post what you will you do in the comments section - maybe your idea will help someone else!

Blessings on all of our resolutions for healthier bodies, minds and spirits!

Maureen

Maureen Rotramel
Youth & Young Adult Minister

O Come O Come: Praying with the O Antiphons

As we continue in this third week of Advent, we would like to continue our discussion on prayer and ways to pray. One of the riches of our Catholic tradition is Morning and Evening Prayer (part of the Liturgy of the Hours) in which certain Psalms and Scripture passages are prayed each day. Included in Evening Prayer (or Vespers) is the Magnificat, the song of Mary found in the first chapter of Luke's Gospel. During the final week leading up to Christmas, starting today December 17th, a different "O Antiphon" is sung before the Magnificat.  These O Antiphons are most familiar to us from the song "O Come O Come Emmanuel", and they are a good way for us to reflect on the titles of Jesus as well as connecting images from the Old Testament as fulfilled in the Jesus of the New Testament. Below is a video to help us reflect on these images and the O Antiphons:

The Tragedy in Connecticut

The news from Friday's tragic events in Sandy Hook, Connecticut strain comprehension. How can something like this happen? For a good faith perspective, I urge you to check out the following blog post from the Word on Fire web site: http://www.wordonfire.org/WoF-Blog/WoF-Blog/December-2012/Spirituality-The-Tough-Work-is-Ahead.aspx

Maureen Rotramel
Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry

Prayer

How many ways are there to pray?  The list is really endless, but just as with exercise, it needs to be something we enjoy or we will not keep doing it. Whether your prayer style is traditional or done on your daily commute, I think there needs to be some time in which we sit quietly, reflect, and listen for answers from God.
Personally, I love the Rosary, partly because it reminds me of my Grandma O'Brien.  She was a wonderful woman, truly Christian in all of her actions.  Her Rosary was always with her, the blue glass beads with the silver crucifix, was either in her apron pocket, her purse, or under her pillow.  Everytime I pick up a Rosary it reminds me of my goal to be a person like her. 
Through the Mysteries of the Rosary I am able to reflect on all the wonderful gifts I have received from God and to be thankful for them.
Each of us has our own style of doing things, and that includes prayer, that's okay, it is the way God made us.  Find your voice, talk to God everyday, you will be glad you did.

Denise Murre
Director of Child Ministry

Are you pretty tech savvy? Then there are lots of different apps and pod casts out there to help you pray! Some that I have found helpful (and I believe most can be found on the app store and on Android phones/tablets):

Pray as you go podcast  -   www.pray-as-you-go.org Daily prayer downloads that combines Scripture, music and questions for reflection from Jesuit Media Initiatives

Laudate - includes daily readings, Liturgy of the hours, Rosary and chaplet, Stations of the Cross, Prayers (lots of!), the Catechism, New American Bible, and Vatican documents

My Year of Faith www.myyearoffaith.com  Daily reflections and prayers to help you learn more about your Catholic faith along with the ability to set reminders about daily challenges such as reading, prayer etc.

Best Daily Prayers  - Short prayers, holy aspirations, and daily devotions

Rosary Guide - A simple guide to help you pray the Rosary

iMissal - Granted an official imprimatur from the Catholic Church, iMissal gives you access to daily Mass readings and does not require WiFi/Cellular. It also includes Our Daily Bread which is a unique Bible verse for everyday of the year as well as Prayers and a Catholic News Feed ($4.99)

And if you are looking to make it to the Communal Penance Service this Wednesday, December 12th (at St. Mary's at 6:00 - not 6:30 as it stated in the email!), you might want to check out Confession: A Roman Catholic App which includes a personalized examination of conscience and a step-by-step guide to the sacrament. ($1.99)

These are just a few tools you can use but there are LOTS more out there!

And while we are at it...its a little after its started, but check out this great, short (2 minutes!) video to help remind us what ADVENT is all about:

I Can Hear the Bells!

When I was little, I always wanted to be late for Mass. Why? Because the only seats left were in the choir loft. I would try quietly to traipse up the narrow stairs, squeeze into one of the few seats left, and listen in awe to the choir sing. In the choir loft I could watch Sister Cornelia play the "big organ" and direct the choir. I didn't understand the words (they were in Latin) but the harmony was beautiful. I was hooked.

Sister Cornelia was my piano teacher and later taught my sister and I to play the organ for Masses. We played the Masses on either side of the High Mass at 10:00am. In high school and in college I still played for Mass, but now on my guitar (which I still have).

Today, I cantor at Mass, play guitar at Mass and sing in two choirs. I share my time, talent and tresaure with our cluster parishes by participating in our worship at Mass with Music Ministry. I feel "called" to praise God at Mass with my singing. I could not not do these things. How can you share your time, talent and treasure in our cluster parishes? If music is your thing, please consider joining one of our choirs, or come and play guitar with me at Mass. The more the merrier, and then we can all "hear the bells!"

Linda Guokas
Assistant, Youth Ministry and Adult & Family Ministry

While I don't have the musical ability of people like Linda, music for me is a powerful way to help me pray. I had the honor last week of attending the National Conference of Catholic Youth Ministry (NCCYM) which is a gathering of over 2500 Catholic Youth Ministers from across the country. As part of the conference, we are blessed with the musical talents of some major Catholic musicians, including one of my favorites, Steve Angrisano. Below is a video of Steve singing in an up close and personal way one of the songs that really helps me pray in Advent. I thought I would share it all with you as well. What songs help you pray?

Maureen