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Father Barry's Pastor Pages
Each time we pray we are changed. This was an observation made by Fr. Raymond Brown who was a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission
and one of America's preeminent biblical scholars. Fr. Brown was twice appointed a member of the Pope's biblical commission, by Pope
Paul VI in 1972 and by Pope John Paul II in 1996. He wrote extensively on the Bible and produced many commentaries on various books
of the Bible. Brown observed that each time we pray we are to come away from that experience of God as a changed person. This change might
be so minor as to be almost imperceptible or it may be so major that it is noticed by all. Brown asserted that each time we pray, there must
be a change, otherwise our prayer has not been truly authentic or absolutely sincere. However, that change that prayer brings about may not
be easily sustained. Because of this, frequent prayer is needed, "frequent prayer encounters should punctuate our days and nights for all
our lives so that, in our changing and changing, we become more and more like the One whom we meet in prayer."
This observation about the power of prayer to change us is an appropriate theme for Lent. There are a plethora of problems taht we must
confront in our personal lives as well as in our life together as a Church, nation and world. There are many things in our world in need
of change. There are wars, famines, poverty and disease. There is unchecked greed, and there is abuse on so many levels. Frequently these problems
seems insurmountable and change seems impossible. Nevertheless, if we change what we can, that change can have an exponential affect and radiate
out to our relationships with one another.
The change we want to see in the world must first begin with us. If we want a world that is more loving, just, compassionate and peaceful, those
attributes must begin within us. Lent is a season that urges us to change to bring about these attributes. Viktor Frankl once called the ability
to change or to choose one's attitude in any given circumstance "the last of human freedoms." Frankl's own circumstances were horrible.
A prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp, he had no power to change anything except the manner in which he would make his way through those
circumstances. Throughout the season of Lent, Jesus invites us to share in the intimacy he had with God. Jesus encourages us to choose
his attitude as his own as he faced temptation, persecution, and evil. For this to come about, we are to pray and, in our praying, to change
little by little, day by day so as to grow into more authentic images of God.
Being a disciple of Jesus Christ means being a good steward. In the Bible a steward is a person to whom the owner of the household turns over
responsibility for caring for the property, managing affairs, making resources yield as much as possible, and sharing the resources with others.
The position involves trust and accountability. In both the Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible, the image of a steward is used to describe
a faithful servant of God and a true disciple of Jesus Christ. In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) Jesus used the metaphor or image of
a steward to describe what it means to be his disciple.
As its core, stewardship involves a recognition that all we are and all we have comes from God's goodness toward us. God has entrusted to us certain
people, places and things in our lives and expects us to care for them responsibly. We do not own them since they come from God and ultimately
return to God. St. John of the Cross put it most succinctly when he wrote "All is gift."
Knowing all that we have and are come from God, what response are we to make to God? We respond to God in gratefulness and offer ourselves back in
thanksgiving. We show our gratitude to God by being good stewards or caretakers of what has been given to us. We show our thanksgiving to God by helping
make fruitful for God those people and things temporarily placed in our care as disciples. However, being a good and responsible steward takes
discernment and work. Various negative influences in society around us and temptations can de-rail our efforts to be good stewards. We can misuse,
waste, neglect or abuse those people, places and things entrusted to us. When we do this, we enter into sin.
Over the next few years the Diocese of Salina is placing greater emphasis on stewardship as a way of better understanding what it means to be
a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. We will be asked to reflect on our stewardship of time, our talents/abilities, and material resources.
There is a bulletin insert this week to assist you to evaluate how you are being a steward of TIME. That is, how are you using your time to
serve God through your family, community and Church. You do not need to return this form since it is intended to be a personal help to you and
your family. Every parish in the diocese is using a similar form since we are focusing on stewardship together as a Church.
The word "lent" comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word for springtime, "lencten." This term was used to describe the gradual lengthening of
daylight in the Spring. In the 2nd century the early Church began to develop a tradition of having special days of preparation for the celebration
of Easter. Easter was considered the greatest celebration and holy day in the Church because it was the celebration of Christ's victory over sin
and death, and His promise to us that we too can share in his resurrection. From the 2nd to the 4th century the days of spiritual preparation for Easter
slowly developed into the season we call Lent. By the 4th century Lent was a forty day season of preparation.
The Church settled on 40 days for the season of Lent because of the meanings associated with this number: Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert
before he began to publicly minister, Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai before receiving the ten commandments, Elijah fasted for 40 days on his
journey to Mount Horeb, and the Israelites traveled for 40 years in the desert before arriving in the Promised Land.
Lent has no meaning by itself. It is intended to prepare us for Easter and the celebration of the resurrection. From the earliest centuries of Christianity
and the Church, three themes hold together the 40 days of Lent. The three themes hold together the 40 days of Lent. The three themes of Lent are (1)
the mystery of Jesus' death and resurrection; (2) the implications of this mystery for those preparing for baptism and membership into the Church;
(3) a spiritual renewal of faith and deeper conversion on the part of those already baptized. These themes have not always received equal emphasis
over the centuries. Preparation for baptism, the original heart of Lent, had almost disappeared until it was re-emphasized by the Second Vatican
Council in 1965.
The atmosphere of Lent takes on a somber mood. At Mass, the joyous Alleluia and Glory to God are dropped or omitted, as well as colorful decorations
such as flowers. The color purple is intended to be a penitential color, inspiring us to reflect on sin and our need for greater conversion of heart.
Until recent times, it was customary to cover prominent statues and crucifixes in church with a purple cloth as a sign of sadness and mourning. Fasting
and abstinence during Lent promotes self-discipline, supports one's prayer, is an expression of sorrow for sin, and helps a person be mindful of the poor,
who have no choice but to go hungry. In the end, Lent is a season that is intended to lead us to a deeper intimacy with God and inspire us to greater
service to neighbor.
More often than not, the beginning of Lent catches people unprepared - unprepared to make the season of Lent a spiritually meaningful time.
Lent begins this Wednesday so now is the time to begin thinking and reflecting on how to make the season of Lent special for yourself, your
marriage, your family, your relationships. Deepening one's trust in God and intimacy with Christ takes time and sacrifice. It doesn't happen
naturally or by accident. The Evil One is more than happy to distract and deter a person from observing the season of Lent. But if we take the
opportunity, Lent can help us to consciously focus on our communion with God which in turn fortifies our hope, strengthens our capacity for love
and deepens our faith or trust in God's power and goodness. There are various opportunities to make Lent a meaningful season. Some of these
activities can be done individually or as a family.
Daily Mass at 7:15 a.m.: There is no better way to begin the day than with prayer & consciously placing ourselves into the loving
heart of God.
Stations of the Cross: The Stations of the Cross are prayed every Friday of Lent at 7:00 p.m. in the Church. This simple and brief
time of prayer helps us to appreciate Jesus' great sacrifice and love for us.
Private Prayer: Lent prayer booklets are available in the connecting link to assist you in practicing daily prayer throughout
the season of Lent. These prayer booklets are both informative as well as inspirational.
Adult Spiritual Formation: On each Sunday evening of Lent from 7-8 p.m. in hte parish hall there will be a session addressing
some aspect of our Catholic faith and life. See bulletin announcement (or the Lent 2010 page of the parish website)
for more details.
Sacrament of Reconciliation:Specific times are arranged durign Lent for all students in our religious education program
to experience this sacrament of forgiveness and hope. For adults there are other opportunties provided for this sacrament, including every
Saturday from 4-4:30 p.m. in the church.
Eucharistic Adoration: Eucharistic Adoration occurs every Monday beginning immediately after the morning Mass and concludes at
7:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Many parishioners devote one hour each week to private prayer and reflection during Eucharistic Adoration. This could
be a Lenten exercise for those who don't regularly take advantage of this time to pray in the presence of Christ.
St. Augustine once wrote that "God is more anxious to bestow divine blessings on us that we are to receive them." Lent can be a season of
blessing if we but take the time and opportunity to be open to what God wants to do in us and for us during this special time.
Occasionally Catholics and visitors to our church will ask why the priest after communion places consecrated hosts, the Body of Christ,
in various pill-box like containers that are found on the corner of the altar. The consecrated hosts are placed in what is called a pyx
(pronounced "piks") for parishioners who are commissioned to serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the homebound. They
bring the Eucharist, the Body of Christ, to those unable to join us at Mass due to age, sickness or other infirmities.
Lay ministers who bring Eucharist to the sick and those confined to their homes are participating in a practice that flourished from the 2nd
to the early 5th centuries. Around the year 150 a.d., St. Justin Martyr ntoed in his writings that in Rome, specially commissioned individuals
took the Eucharist to those Christians who were absent from the assembly because of illness or imprisonment for their Christian faith. In these
early centuries of Christianity lay persons also carried the Eucharistic bread hoem with them from the Sunday Eucharist and kept it in their homes.
There, the Body of Christ became the family's "daily bread" as they reverently consumed the Eucharist together before their regular meal.
Today the Church continues this practice of providing communion to those who are unable to join us at Sunday Mass. The Church does this by
commissioning men and women to be extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to the homebound. These special Eucharistic ministers also share prayer
and Sacred Scripture with the homebound or hospitalized person. In a very real and powerful way these special ministers who serve our homebound
parishioners are a bridge between these individuals and the broader parish community.
It is important to appreciate how these special lay communion ministers do not simply bring communion (a consecrated host) to a parishioner
who is homebound but they also share communion with them through shared prayer, reflection, and fellowship. Through their visit these special
Eucharistic ministers are allowing a sick brother or sister in Christ to experience communion with the larger Church through a representative of the
parish community. To put it in another way, those who serve as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are bringing Christ to others in the
sacrament of the Eucharist as well as being a sacrament of God's love by visiting them in their home. On many different levels, God's invisible
love is being made visible. It is a sacramental moment.
[Last week the Bishop of Wichita, Most Rev. Michael Jackels, testified before the Kansas legislative sub-committee regarding the
abolishment of the death penalty in the State of Kansas. This is an excerpt from his statement.]
The Catholic Church teaches that public authorities have the right and the duty to punish criminals in a way that matches the seriousness
of their crime. They are morally justified in the msot serious cases to impose even the death penalty. This is a self-defense based on
the commandment to love oneself (Mark 12:31). The guilt of the unjust aggressor and the need to protect society makes capital punishment
morally different from the killing of an innocent child in elective abortion, which is never justified.
It is worth recall, however, that Pope John Paul II of happy memory often made public appeals for public authorities to show clemency
and to refrain from using the death penalty. In the same vein, Pope Benedict XVI recently commended the Philippine government for
outlawing the use of the death penalty. These interventions were made because the Catholic Church also teaches that the death penalty
should not be imposed if there are other ways to guarantee public order and the safety of citizens.
In the light of the above, for a number of reasons preference should be given whenever possible to punishments other than the
death penalty:
- When a person is falsely condemned and executed there is no possibility to correct the error, resulting in a supreme injustice;
- It does not offer the offender the possibility of reform or to pay his debt to society, both of which are principal aims of punishment;
- It can make people forget their own dignity as human persons or that of others, seen for example in the carnival atmosphere that sometimes
occurs on the occasion of an execution;
- It is too often associated with attitudes and behavior that are opposed to Christian life, such as hatred of or vengeance against the criminal
(Matthew 5:38-48)
- It is not possible, at least in our country, to guarantee the public order and the safety of citizens without recourse to capital punishment.
Support for the abolishment of the death penalty in no way diminishes the condemnation of the evil deeds that brutally victimize innocent
people, or the profound sympathy towards people who have been made a victim or who grieve the murder of a family member or friend. This
righteous anger and compassion notwithstanding, recourse can and should be made to bloodless means to protect public order and the
safety of people, instead of making use of the death penalty.
Last Friday, January 22nd was the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade (1973) which made abortion on demand legal in
the United States. The following editorial on the painful consequences of abortion was published by the editor of the Salina Journal
in 2005.
We hear lots about Generation X and Generation Y. These twentysomethings and teens are some of the most studied people in history.
Marketers are hungry for their dollars. They research the generations' music and reading habits, analyze what they watch on television
and where they go on the Interent. Video games, movies and menus are tailored to their tastes. These generations are coveted for their
buying power. Billions of dollars will go to those who attract even a small piece of that business.
But we don't hear much about Generation S. This is the Silent Generation, some 42 million who never saw the light of day after the
U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortions on demand in 1973. The affect of this generation on American society and our economy may be
greater than any other. No one ever bought them clothes or toys or built them classrooms. They never held summer jobs, bought cars,
went to college, built homes, nor entered the work force. They will never pay Social Security or income taxes. They will never open
savings accounts or buy stocks and bonds for retirement. They will never have children of their own to feed, house and educate. By one
estimate the first wave of this generation would have contributed $1.7 billion to Medicare and $7.4 billion to Social Security in their
first year of employment.
However, abortion supporters say this generation would have entered the world unwanted. They would have put economic burdens on
families, prevented women from entering the work force and tested the limits of state and federal social services. That is true.
In some cases families are better off financially; parents have good jobs and fewer expenses. But when we weight the final costs
of abortion, let's remember the generation that will never be. Gone are teachers, scientists, artists and chefs; mothers, fathers,
brothers and sisters. No good can come from that loss. It is good to see that more of us are waking up to that fact. Anti-abortion
sentiment is growing. Recent surveys show that Americans are evenly split on whether abortion is morally wrong or right. Eventually
this sad era will be behind us. But not before millions more join Generation S. Editorial by Tom bell (August 16, 2005)
It has been five years since our last parish photo directory; our last photo directory was in 2005. Needless to say
a lot has changed in our parish since then: new families have moved into the parish, babies have been born, marriages
have been celebrated, people have been initiated into our faith community and some of our loved ones have gone before
us in death. Over the course of five years babies have become young children, children have become teenagers and teenagers
have become young adults. (Of course, those of us who are adults haven't aged a bit since the last photo directory!)
Our local parish photo directory assists us in numerous ways to become closer as a parish family. It enables us to begin to
learn the names of people we may often see in Church but do not yet know; we have approximately 590 family units in our
parish which means even in a town the size of Concordia not everyone is acquainted with one another in the parish. The picture
directory helps us to become familiar with our brothers and sisters in Christ, learning to recognize how individuals and families
are related to one another. It assists in promoting unity and a sense of community in our parish. The directory can assist us to
feel more at home in our local parish.
During the month of February we will be signing parishioners up to have their picture taken. This will take place before and
after every Mass beginning the first Sunday in February. We will arrange to have pictures taken of parishioners who are homebound or
in nursing homes. Life Touch, a professional company which specializes in parish pictorial directories, will be producing our
directory. Each family or individual who has their photograph taken will receive a FREE 8 x 10 color picture and a new parish
directory at no cost. There will be an opportunity for you to purchase additional photographs but you are under no obligation to
do so. Photographs will be taken during the weeks of March 16-20 (Tuesday-Saturday) and March 23-27 (Tuesday-Saturday). More information
will be forthcoming in the bulletin. Even if you don't want a photograph of yourself, our parish needs you to be included. Our
directory will not be complete without YOU!
The week (January 10-17) has been designated by the United States bishops as National Vocations Awareness Week.
This occasion helps to remind us that religious vocations to the priesthood or religious life do not happen by accident.
Rather, religious vocations come about by individuals freely discerning, based on their talents, skills and interests,
whether God is extending an invitation to use those skills in serving the Church by becoming a priest, religious sister
or brother. This discernment doesn't happen in a vacuum but requires the support and encouragement of parents, friends,
and the parish community.
Many people will recall a time in the life of the church when seminaries were more common as well as other institutions
(schools, hospitals, orphanages) operated by a variety of religious orders. It was from these schools and institutions
that young men and women were given an opportunity to think about, talk about, and consider a possible vocation in the Church as
priest, brother or sister. It was also an opportunity for young people to become acquainted with the particular work and ministry
done by religious sisters and priests. This was a time period when religious vocations were more plentiful and it was considered
a badge of honor to have a son or daughter in the family who was a priest or religious sister. This is not always the case today.
Needless to say times have changed dramatically and we live in a world in which the family and the values we live by have been
radically altered. Seminaries are not as numerous. No longer are hospitals and other social institutions teeming with religious
sisters, brothers and priests. Young people are only remotely acquainted with a priest or religious sister. Opportunities for
one-to-one conversation are few and fleeting. On top of this, the cultural trend is away from lifetime commitments and permanancy.
Lifetime commitments are often seen today as undesirable and impossible. For example, the marital divorce rate is around 46% and most
people change jobs/companies at least five times now in their life. Also the public image of priests and religious is under attack today,
making a church vocation seem less credible and attractive.
In this sometimes confusing and uncertain time, one thing hasn't changed. God is still calling and inviting men and women to consider
serving the Body of Christ on earth in a special way as a priest, religious sister or brother. God's call has not changed. What has changed
is our willingness to listen and respond, as well as to lend assistanct to those who need our help to respond to God's invitation.
As Christians we believe that Jesus is the Savior sent by God. One of Jesus' titles is the "Prince of Peace." He is given
this title because he is the source of our peace. Through Him all things in heaven and on earth were reconciled to God when
Jesus made peace by his death on the cross. Jesus shares His own peace with his disciples, telling them "Peace is what I leave with
you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid" (John 14:27).
The world's version of peace is merely the absence of war and conflict. The peace Jesus speaks about is based on justice and being in right
relationship with one another. Pope John XXIII (in a document entitled Peace on Earth) wrote that true peace is always more than
the absence of war. True peace flourishes in a social order which is founded on truth, built on justice, enlivened by love and refined in freedom.
What does this mean for us today in our lives? The peace Christ offers to us does not appear automatically, accidentally or magically in our lives.
Jesus empowers his disciples and friends to be ministers of reconciliation (2 Corin. 5:19-20). As his disciples we are to be a people who make the
peace of God visible through lives characterized by forgiveness and love. This means it is by forgiving those who have hurt us and seeking the
forgiveness of those who we have injured that we begin to experience peace. It is also through the love that we share with others,
particularly those most in need, that we open our lives to Christ's peace. In other words, peace comes as a result of sacrifice...Sacrificing for love,
reconciliation, justice and to promote what is right, good and true.
In God's reign, the poor are given the kingdom, the gentle inherit the earth, mourners are comforted, those who hunger and thirst for what is right are
satisfied, the merciful know mercy, the pure see God, peacemakers are called children of God (Matthew 5:3-10). Jesus' words and actions indicate that
forgiveness and love characterize God's reign but his message cost Jesus his life. Jesus invites us to share in his life & peace by joining our sacrifice to his.
What does the birth of a God's Savior mean for the world? What does it mean to you? You will find below the thoughs of some saints, spiritual writers
and theologians. These are provided to assist you to prayerfully reflect on the meaning of Christmas for all people.
"I myself am very glad that the divine child was born in a stable, because my soul is very much like a stable, filled with strange unsatisfied longings, with
guilt and animal-like impulses, tormented by anxiety, inadequacy and pain. If the Holy One could be born in such a place, the One can be born in me
also. I am not excluded." - Morton Kelsey
"Were Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem born and not in you, you would remain forlorn." - Angelus Silesius (1624-1677 a.d.)
"Jesus comes back into the world when we offer him a dwelling place in our hearts, when we accept his law of love, when we do what Mary did and conceive
Jesus and carry him in us, so that he is able to become the heart of our life...Then he will smile through our eyes and help with our hands and once
again live his redeeming life of the Gospel. Then we shall be the doors, the tens and hundreds of thousands of doors, through which he, the Lord, the Prince
of Peace, God-with-us, will enter his world, his kingdom." - Werenried van Straaten
"Christmas time shows us how small God made himself. Go to the crib and see how small He became, how He lived that total surrender to the full.
We must learn to be that child in complete surrender and trust and joy...Christmas shows us how much heaven appreciates humility, surrender, poverty, because
God himself, who made you and me, became so small, so poor, so humble." - Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
"It is a custom with many Christians to anticipate the arrival of Christmas...by putting up in their homes a crib to represent the birth of Jesus Christ; but
there are few who think of preparing their hearts, so that the infant Jesus may be born in them...Let us consider how the eternal Word had no other end in
becoming man than to inflame us iwth His divine love." - St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
In his book entitled "Troubled Catholics," Bishop Norbert Gaughan states "the second largest denomination in the United States is composed of fallen away
Catholics." Many of us can probably relate to such a declaration since many of us are acquainted with at least one person (probably more) who no longer
actively practice their Catholic faith. Some of these people are our family members.
Studies reveal there are many reasons why individuals become inactive in the first place. One study conducted by Dean Hoge of teh Catholic University
of America cataloged responses from hundreds of Catholics who were recent converts, dropouts, and returnees. Hoge suggests in his study that 42% of all
Catholics dropout of the Church sometime during their lives; he defines "dropout" as a baptized Catholic who attends Church not more than two times a year
and has been away from regular church attendance withink thet past three years. Hoge's study revealed that there is not just one reason but a variety of reasons
why Catholics become inactive in the Church. This same study also provided reasons why people return to the Church and become active again. I believe
it is very revealing to note that the main reason given for returning to the Church was the influence of other persons (spouse, relatives,
friends, neighbors); 44% of returnees cited this as the main influence for their return to the active practice of the Faith. Another 41% returned because
they feel a void or emptiness in their life.
Sometimes as a parish we can be a bit schizophrenic regarding thsoe who have grown lapse in the Faith. On one hand we talk about how we are desirous of
welcoming back those who have 'fallen away.' On the other hand there is a negative and judgmental attitude towards those who have grown lax in the Faith.
On Thursday we will be celebrating Christmas even Masses which means there will be a whole gaggle of 'lapse' Catholics returning to church. The welcome
or lack of welcome we give them through our kind words and simple actions of hospitality will either be an invitation to return or just another reason
to stay away. Small impression can make all the difference. Christmas is an opportunity for evangelization that we often overlook. A simple look
of recognition, gesture and word of welcome can breakdown years of alienation.
Long ago Jesus taught us that when we give of ourselves in service to others, that it is actually a form of receiving (Acts 20:35). In other words,
it is by giving our life away that we receive life. From a worldly point of view this doesn't seem to make much sense. However, psychology and the
social sciences are now finding Jesus' words ring true. Studies reveal that helping others actually improves a person's health and deepens their quality of life.
Prior to this new research the field of psychology would not admit to the value of altruism. "Altruism" means giving of oneself to another for no other
reason than to help the other person. However, today there is an abundance of evidence in the mental health field that reveals those who regularly
volunteer their time, share themselves with others in need, have more zest for life and an increased life expectancy. Studies on aging indicate that
those who assist others in need, who can share themselves openly, are healthier, happier, and live longer, more productive lives.
This 'giving of ourselves' can take many forms, from providing understanding and comfort, to acts of service, to all forms of doing good for others. But no matter
what form our service takes, it is all the same in the sense the giving of our self to another is an offering of love. The world teaches when we give something
away, we lose it or no longer have it. However, love does not operate this way. Love is the only gift that multiplies the more we give it away. Jesus teaches
us to multiply the gifts entrusted to us in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). Jesus' point is that it is in giving that we can truly appreciate
what we ourselves have been given. It is by giving love that we know the value of love. Furthermore, if we do not give, we cannot receive (John 3:27).
The irony is unless we give our gifts away, we lose them. For example, if we have learned a second language but don't use this gift, we will soon lose it. In a
similar fashion, if we don't use or practice our gifts - such as faith, love, hope, compassion, courage, chastity, etc. - we will lose them. Perhaps one
psychologist put it most bluntly when he observed: "If people fail to develop an attitude of giving, they will instead retreat to a health-sapping mentality
of entitlement and self-absorption" (Dr. Richard Johnson/Keys to Spiritual Vitality).
We believe we are made in the image and likeness of God and are beloved children of God redeemed by Christ. We are the gift God is giving to the world. For
us to withhold this gift means we are not allowing ourselves to be channels of God's lvoe or grace in the world. To follow our Christian calling, we give
ourselves away by our acts of service to others. And by doing this, we are given life and God's gifts are multiplied in us.
Last week the Pastor's Page mentioned some activities individuals could do to make the Advent and Christmas season more meaningful and spiritually
fruitful. There are also some family activities that can be done with children to help make Advent a time of spiritual growth.
STRAW FOR THE CRIB: This custom originated in France and helps children to see their efforts as they prepare for the coming of Jesus with many
acts of kindness. First, an empty crib is given a place of honor somewhere in the home, preferably a place people must pass often each day. Each child
in the family (and parents) may place a piece of straw or yellow yarn in the crib each night for every kind act he/she did during the day. The figure of
baby Jesus is not placed in the crib until Christmas eve. By that time the crib should be filled with soft straw or yellow yarn as a bed for the
child Jesus.
ADVENT PRAYER WREATH: A custom which children love and which daily and visibly expressed the meaning of the Advent season is the Advent wreath.
The light of the candles reminds us that Christ is the Light of the world. The circular shape reminds us that God is eternal, with no beginning and no ending.
The evergreens around the wreath remind us that God never changes. Advent wreaths do not have to be fancy. An ordinary Christmas wreath may be placed
on the table with four candles in holders. Three of the candles are purple and one is rose or pink. The rose or pink colored candle is lit on the third
Sunday of Advent to express our joy that Christmas is so close. On each Sunday of Advent another candle is lit. There is no definite way to use the Advent
wreath. Some families say traditional prayers at meal time around the wreath, or say night prayers using the Advent wreath. See the free booklets in the connecting
link for more information on family Advent prayers.
ROAD TO BETHLEHEM: The journey of pregnant Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem can be re-enacted during the days of Advent. The Mary and Joseph figures from the
family crib are taken to the top room or the room farthest away from where the crib is placed. Cardboard steps or stones are placed between Mary and Joseph
and the crib, outlining the journey they must take. Every day of Advent a child is encouraged to do one good deed, write that good work on the stone and move
the statues of Mary and Joseph forward. The idea is that the more we practice our faith, the closer we become Mary and Joseph, the more we are welcoming
Jesus into our hearts adn into the world. By the end of Advent Mary, Joseph and Jesus have journeyed through the house to the crib of our hearts.
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Pastor Pages Archives by Title & Date
Prayer and Change 3/7/10
Responding to God as a Good Steward 2/28/10
The Meaning of Lent 2/21/10
The Season of Lent Begins 2/14/10
Being the Body of Christ 2/7/10
The Death Penalty 1/31/10
A High Cost for Our Lost Generation 1/24/10
New Pictorial Directory for Parish 1/17/10
Vocations in the Church 1/10/10
Christmas Peace 1/3/10
Reflections on the Birth of the Savior 12/27/09
Christmas Hospitality 12/20/09
Giving and Receiving 12/13/09
Family Activities for Advent 12/6/09
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