Church Bulletin - updated every Saturday
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Cover of our current Bulletin
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This week's schedule
Sat 4 9 AM - 10 AM - Confessions
2:00 PM - Mass at Halfway
6:00 PM - Mass in the Cathedral
Sun 5 9 AM - Rosary in the Cathedral
9:30AM - Mass in the Cathedral
12 noon: Mass in Spanish
Mon 6 9:00 AM - Mass at St Alphonsus Hospital Chapel
Tue 7 7:30 AM - Mass at the St Francis Day-Chapel
Wed 8 9:00 AM - Mass at St Alphonsus Hospital Chapel
Thurs 9 7:30 AM - Mass at the St Francis Day-Chapel
Fri 10 6:00 AM - Mass to open Adoration in day-chapel
9:00 AM - Mass at St Alphonsus Hospital Chapel
3:00 PM - Divine Mercy chaplet and Benediction
Sat 11 9 AM - 10 AM - Confessions
6:00 PM - Mass in the Cathedral
Sun 12 9 AM - Rosary in the Cathedral
9:30AM - Mass in the Cathedral
2:00 PM - Mass at Halfway
Readings for the week
Feb. 6 - St. Paul Miki and Companions 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13; Mark 6:53-56
Feb. 7 - 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30; Mark 7:1-13
Feb. 8 - St. Jerome Emiliani or St. Josephine Bakhita
1 Kings 10:1-10; Mark 7:14-23
Feb. 9 - 1 Kings 11:4-13; Mark 7:24-30
Feb. 10 - St. Scholastica 1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19; Mark 7:31-37
Feb. 11 - Our Lady of Lourdes 1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34;
Mark 8:1-10
Mass Intentions
February 6, 2012- February 10, 2012
Mon 2 - 6 †Ko Patten by Louise Palumbo
Tues 2 - 7 For the Pro-Life cause
Wed 2 - 8 † John Micallef
Thurs 2 - 9 For an increase of religious vocations
Fri 2 - 10 6:00AM - For world peace and harmony
9:00AM - For the people of Malta
Collections for January 29, 2012
Cathedral:
Offertory: $ 2,568.16 SOC: $ 365.00
PAC: $ 20.00 Food Bank:$ 135.00
Mission: St. Therese :
Offertory $ 165.00 SOC $ 50.00
____________________________________________________
Collections for January 22, 2012
Cathedral:
Offertory: $ 2,111.00 SOC: $ 295.00
PAC: $ 15.00 Food Bank:$ 604.00
Mission: St. Therese :
Offertory $ 205.00
__________________________________________
Collections for January 15, 2012
Cathedral:
Offertory: $ 2,201.65 SOC: $ 455.00
PAC: $ 30.00 Food Bank: $ 515.00 515.00
Mission: St. Therese :
Offertory $ 199.00
______________________________________________
Collections for January 8, 2012
Cathedral:
Offertory: $ 2,615.00 SOC: $ 250.00
PAC: $ 5.00 Food Bank: $ 180.00
Mission: St. Therese :
Offertory $ 423.00
_______________________________________________
Collections for December 25, 2011
Cathedral:
Offertory: $ 6,785.93 SOC: $ 870.00
PAC: $ 350.00 Food Bank:$ 405.00
Mission: St. Therese :
Offertory $ 890.00 SOC $ 100.00
February 5, 2012
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Music: Youth Choir
Acolyte: Bryan Collard
Announcer: Francis Mohr
Head Usher: Don Olsen
Reader: Lisa Fuzi
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:
1. Fr. Julian - H
2. Deacon /Acolyte - H
3. Patty Bachman
4. Steve Bachman
5. Connie Colvin
Altar Servers:
1. John Gonzalez
2. Sophia Gonzalez
3. Collin Jones
February 12, 2012
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Music: Folk Group
Acolyte: Art Kreger
Announcer: Tay Mohr
Head Usher: Francis Mohr
Reader: Dave Lindley
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:
1. Fr. Julian - H
2. Deacon /Acolyte - H
3. Cathy Berka
4. Jim Berka
5. Lorene Colton
Altar Servers:
1. Darryn McCauley
2. Danielle McCauley
3. Sam McCauley
ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THIS WEEK'S BULLETIN
Upcoming Events
Wednesday February 22, 2012 - Ash Wednesday
Masses at 9 AM and 7 PM, with imposition of ashes at both Masses.
Friday February 24, 2012 - Stations of the Cross at 12:05 PM and continuing every Friday of Lent.
RE Notes
February 8, 2012
6:00PM - Youth Choir Practice in the Rectory
7:00PM - RE Classes
Children’s Mass Topic:
Jesus was always kind and helpful to the people he met. The next time you want to preach the good news, let someone know how much you care for them by doing a kind act, just like Jesus did.
Valentine Basket Raffle
The Junior Youth Group will be selling raffle tickets for a Valentine’s Basket filled with lots and lots of goodies for your Valentine. The proceeds will help buy an
animal from the Heifer program.
The tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. The youth will sell tickets after Mass today in the back of the church and at coffee hour. They will sell tickets again on Sunday, February 12th after Mass and at the Knights’ breakfast.
Baker City Community Blood Drive
Monday, Feb. 6, 2012 - 1PM - 6PM
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012 - 9AM - 2PM
Calvary Baptist Church - 2107 3rd St. - Baker City
To schedule an appointment: Colleen Brooks (541) 523-4650
Knights News
Annual Smokin’ Joes Memorial Chili Feed & Silent Auction
This event will take place on February 18, 2012 from 4:30PM to 8:00PM. Can you help? There are several ways: attending, providing an auction item, bringing a pot of chili for the contest, items for the house chili (Hamburger, beans) or a cash donation.
Tickets are available from any Knight or at the Parish Office.
Ticket prices for adults will be $5, Children (3-12) $2, and Families (3+) $15. Questions? Contact Francis Mohr 541-523-6245 or Hal Huntington 541-523-2114.
Gross proceeds will benefit the Rachel Center expansion and Pathway Hospice.
Sponsored by St. Francis de Sales Knights of Columbus
Food Bank 2011
Total visits Adult Child
1st Quarter 125 2.03 1.19
2nd Quarter 159 1.97 1.10
3rd Quarter 96 1.97 1.08
4th Quarter 106 1.84 1.01
Total 2011 Food Bank 486
Thank you for your generosity!
Morning Prayer
Dear Lord, so far I have not hurt anybody, I have not cursed anyone, I have not experienced any confrontation with anyone, I haven’t stole anything, and thankfully I haven’t killed anybody either.
But in a few moments, I have to get out of bed,
and then I will need all the help I can get. AMEN.
Prayer before bedtime
As my head rests on my pillow,
let my soul rest in your mercy.
As my limbs relax on my mattress,
let my soul relax in your peace.
As my body finds warmth beneath the blankets,
let my soul find warmth in your love.
As my mind is filled with dreams,
let my soul be filled with visions of heaven.
Thank you Lord for another day!
Some interesting websites
Here are some interesting websites that are my favorites:
Fr Julian's Blog http://www.fatherjulian.blogspot.com
Our diocese: http://www.dioceseofbaker.org
Our parish: http://www.saintfranciscathedral.com
Catholic news: http://www.news.va/en
Catholic Lists, etc: http://www.Catholic-hierarchy.org
Vatican: http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm
Front pages: http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/default.asp
Baker Museum: http://www.bakerheritagemuseum.com/index.htm
The Bible: http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/
Daily reflection: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Fr. Julian’s site: http://fatherjulian.homestead.com/fatherjulian.html
And just for fun: http://inoyan.narod.ru/kaleidoskop.swf
Notes from Father Julian
Marriage blessing – Sunday February 12 is designated as World Marriage Day, and a special blessing will be given at all the Masses on couples who renew their commitment towards each other.
From palms to ashes – those who have old palms, are invited to bring them to the church and place them in a box which is situated in the back, next to the confessional. They will be burned in mid-February and the ashes will be used for the Ash Wednesday services, after being blessed. Ash Wednesday this year is February 22. The Chrism Mass will be on Thursday March 29, Palm Sunday is April 1 and Easter Sunday April 8.
Grateful for the visits – close to 600 hits have been recorded to my blog since it started a month ago. You can access this blog at http://www.fatherjulian.blogspot.com I am grateful for all those who check my new posts every day, and I know people always get something profitable out of them. Since I have not been putting my Bulletin Reflections page anymore, ever since the Diocesan Chronicle started to be published, this new service has taken its place, and instead of having an insert once a week, now you can check my contributions every day. It can be a short biography of a saint, a meditation, reflection, an inspiring picture or photograph or anything that seems interesting and appealing. There will be nothing controversial, but always something uplifting, inspirational and didactic. I will follow the liturgical calendar and place any information or tit-bit related to the saint of that particular day, besides other occasional surprises. In a way you can look at it as a personal journal which I am happy to share with parishioners and friends all around the world.
Health and Human Services – On January 20, some disturbing news came out of the US Dept of Health and Human Services confirming a ruling that all private health plans will be required to include coverage for sterilization and contraceptives, including abortion inducing drugs. HHS falsely characterized these as “preventive services” as if pregnancy were a disease. HHS further stipulates that these “services” must be included in private health insurance plans without co-pays or other cost sharing. As a result, all employers, including Catholic
employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and contraceptives. As Archbishop Timothy Dolan of NY commented, “this is an egregious affront to religious liberty. Even those who disagree with the Church’s teaching on the sanctity of life recognize that the government has no business forcing religious institutions to sponsor and pay for procedures and drugs which violate those teachings.” Even the NY Times and the Washington Post write editorials against this ruling. Unless this ruling is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled and must be prepared to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees. This is an outright violation of the First Amendment of the US Constitution, denying Catholics our first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. To read plenty more information about this issue, please go to www.usccb.org/conscience
Rental house at Auburn Street – the house the church owns on Auburn Avenue is presently vacant. If anyone is interested in renting, please call the parish office. It has one bedroom, a spare bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, one bath, a nice-sized backyard, and fairly new appliances, including a washer and dryer. Rent is $500 a month plus utilities.
Blessing your throats - for those who missed the blessing of throats on the feast of Saint Blase, you can say this prayer…”May God protect me always from all ailments of the throat and from every other illness, in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.”
Prayer for those who live alone: “Teach me o Lord the difference between being alone and loneliness. May my loneliness open my heart to include others in my living. May my aloneness lead me to Your Divine Presence. Bring peace and stillness to my heart, where I may know that you are God and discover the joy of life. Yes, there are times when there is no one around. No one to share a word, a laugh, a sad remembrance, a gentle touch,, a fond embrace, a sweet memory, a kiss of love. Bless all those who suffer from loneliness. Enrich their life with a friend or a stranger who can spend a moment noticing and loving. May we see Your love Lord, in those moments, shining through, where the world is reborn and Christ is known. AMEN.”
Day-chapel re-painted – I would like to thank Art Corona who recently painted the day-chapel where we have daily Mass on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and Adoration on Fridays. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Art methodically painted the walls, trims and ceiling of the chapel, which was opened in the spring of 2005, just before I arrived here, crafted by John Fuzi. It has been kept in perfect condition ever since, but it was about time to give it a fresh coat of paint. As Art can tell you, the walls were very dry and mercifully absorbed the paint, also because it gets very hot in there especially in the summer months. But the end result is nothing short of a work of art. Thank you Art and the Knights.
Mass is celebrated in the day-chapel on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 AM, as well as on Fridays at 6 AM, when we start the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, until 3 PM, at which time we recite the Divine Mercy chaplet and receive Solemn Benediction. Four stained-glass windows in the chapel represent the Divine Mercy image of Jesus, St Jude Thaddeus, St. Therese of Lisieux and Our Lady of Lourdes. Anyone is welcome to visit the day-chapel for private prayer during office hours, and entrance is through the door next to the parish office.
Retrouvaille – On the weekend of March 16, 17, 18, a special weekend for troubled marriages will be held at Powell Butte Diocesan Center. It will be led by Greg and Jacque Janson, assisted by Fr Leo Weckerle. For more information, please call the Diocesan Office at 541-388-4004.
From palms to ashes – those who have old palms, are invited to bring them to the church and place them in a box which is situated in the back, next to the confessional. They will be burned in mid-February and the ashes will be used for the Ash Wednesday services, after being blessed. Ash Wednesday this year is February 22. The Chrism Mass will be on Thursday March 29, Palm Sunday is April 1 and Easter Sunday April 8.
Silence and Words – Pope Benedict XVI shared some insightful thoughts in his message for the World Day of Social Communications, to be celebrated in May. He writes: “The relationship between silence and word: two aspects of communication which need to be kept in balance, to alternate and to be integrated with one another if authentic dialogue and deep closeness between people are to be achieved. When word and silence become mutually exclusive, communication breaks down, either because it gives rise to confusion or because, on the contrary, it creates an atmosphere of coldness; when they complement one another, however, communication acquires value and meaning.
Silence is an integral element of communication; in its absence, words rich in content cannot exist. In silence, we are better able to listen to and understand ourselves; ideas come to birth and acquire depth; we understand with greater clarity what it is we want to say and what we expect from others; and we choose how to express ourselves. By remaining silent we allow the other person to speak, to express him or herself. In this way, space is created for mutual listening, and deeper human relationships become possible. It is often in silence, for example, that we observe the most authentic communication taking place between people who are in love: gestures, facial expressions and body language are signs by which they reveal themselves to each other. Joy, anxiety, and suffering can all be communicated in silence.
Search engines and social networks have become the starting point of communication for many people who are seeking advice, ideas, information and answers. In our time, the internet is becoming ever more a forum for questions and answers – indeed, people today are frequently bombarded with answers to questions they have never asked and to needs of which they were unaware. If we are to recognize and focus upon the truly important questions, then silence is a precious commodity that enables us to exercise proper discernment in the face of the surcharge of stimuli and data that we receive.
It is important for us to open up the possibility of a profound dialogue, by means of words and interchange, but also through the call to silent reflection, something that is often more eloquent than a hasty answer.
Attention should be paid to the various types of websites, applications and social networks which can help people today to find time for reflection and authentic questioning, as well as making space for silence and occasions for prayer, meditation or sharing of the word of God. In concise phrases, often no longer than a verse from the Bible, profound thoughts can be communicated, as long as those taking part in the conversation do not neglect to cultivate their own inner lives.
If God speaks to us even in silence, we in turn discover in silence the possibility of speaking with God and about God. To conclude: Word and silence - learning to communicate is learning to listen and contemplate as well as speak. This is especially important for those engaged in the task of evangelization: both silence and word are essential elements, integral to the Church’s work of communication its message of Christ in today’s world.”
Oregon Right to Life Contest – The annual RTL poster and essay contest is underway, and all young people are encouraged to submit their contribution to this contest. The theme this year is “Every child deserves a Birthday” and the deadline is March 9.
The drawings should incorporate the theme and must be on paper no larger than 8.5” and 11” and collages are accepted. Drawings contest is open to Kindergarten to 5th Grade children. The essays will be judged on general organization, grammar, clarity of message, originality and incorporation of theme. The length should be as follows, according to each Grade: 5-6 Graders: 200-300 words;
7-9 Graders: 300-400 words; 10-12 Graders: 400-500 words. There is also a contest for production of a DVD film of 3 minutes with no particular theme for anyone ages 10 and up, including adults. Finally the Oratory contest is open to any Junior or Senior in High School, and the aim is to present a 5-7 minute speech which can focus on abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, embryonic or stem-cell research. All participants will receive a certificate and the winners will go on to participate in the state-wide contest, with cash prizes at stake. Please hand in your artwork or essays at the parish office by Friday, March 9. For more information, go to: www.ortl.org
New words from the Roman Missal – you may have heard some new words circulate around from the recently-introduced Roman
Missal. More will be presented to you in future Bulletins, but here are descriptions of some of them:
Assembly - The liturgical assembly is all of the faithful – priest, assisting ministers, and congregation – gathered for the celebration of the Mass or one of the other liturgical–sacramental rites of the Church.
Celebrant - The one, normally a bishop or priest, or in certain circumstances, a deacon, who presides over the celebration of the liturgy.
Eucharistic Prayer - The Eucharistic prayer is the words used before, during and after the consecration, the changing of bread and wine to the body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation). It starts just after the Preface and ends before the Our Father. In the third edition of the Roman Missal, there are 10 different Eucharistic prayers, including 2 used for Masses of reconciliation. There are also Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with children, printed separately and not included in the Roman Missal.
ICEL - International Commission on English in the Liturgy - Committee chartered to prepare English translations of liturgical texts on behalf of the conferences of bishops of English-speaking countries. Currently, 12 conferences of Bishops are full members of the Commission: the United States, Australia, Canada, England, Wales, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Scotland, and South Africa.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) - The introductory material in the Roman Missal, containing the general outline and ordering of the celebration of the Mass, including detailed instructions about what the priest, the deacon, the other ministers, and the congregation do during the various parts of the Mass.
Northwest Catholic Men’s Conference – This year’s conference starts Friday February 24 at 4 PM with registration, and ends Saturday February 25 at 5 PM with a final blessing. Cost is $35 for registration and 3 meals. Fathers and sons ages 15 and up are welcome. Registration forms are available at: www.gowestcatholicmen.com The conference will be held at the Pendelton Convention Center, Pendelton, OR. For more information, call: 541-276-3615.
GUIDANCE FROM GOD – a prayer during Election year
Lord Jesus Christ, You told us to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. Enlighten the minds of our people in America. May we choose a President of the United States and other government officials according to your Divine Will. Give our citizens the courage to choose leaders of our nation who respect the sanctity of unborn human life, the sanctity of marriage, the sanctity of marital relations, the sanctity of family and the sanctity of the aging. Grant us the wisdom to give You what belong to You, our God. If we do this as a nation, we are confident You will give us an abundance of Your blessings through our elected leaders. Amen.
Social media and our parish – As many of you know, the social media have overtaken our lives, in the way we communicate with one another, the way we share information and the way we interact with one another. The world has really become a global village, and of course we have to take advantage of the means of communication that are available to us. We no longer just read newspapers and magazines on paper, or watch a few hours of TV, or run home to call a friend, or wait for the mail to arrive at home. We can call anyone from anywhere, send messages within a few seconds, read just about everything on the Internet and news does not travel fast anymore – news is just in your ears as it happens, within milliseconds! People keep in touch through Facebook and talk to each other around the world through Skype, both of which I have stayed away from, at least for now.
Unfortunately there are people who use these media to disseminate a lot of evil, even against our Catholic church, including against our Diocese and our parish. Bloggers feel they have the right to judge, criticize and pass sarcastic remarks against Bishops, priests and everyone else they don’t like. This is what recent Popes have called the ‘culture of death’ and is to be condemned. There is a lot of beautiful reflections, teachings and images one can share, but to spread evil comments and criticize everything one doesn’t like is nothing but the work of Satan. Shame on these people who are causing so much harm to the church. Young people too have to be careful what they share, because once a message, an image is posted on Facebook or other social media, it’s out there in cyberspace and you cannot retrieve it. It’s always wise to be cautious and careful.
So the Church has to keep up with the advances of the modern media and use it to spread a message of love and hope. As you know we have our parish website which I manage regularly, having the entire Bulletin posted every week, plus plenty of news I share with you and photos I take as I drive around. The website address is in the front of the Bulletin.
I also have my own personal website : http://fatherjulian.homestead.com/fatherjulian.html with links to a tribute to my parents. In January of this year I also started a blog, sharing reflections, some references to my homilies, insights and food for thought, besides of course photos and an occasional watercolor which I paint in my free time. You can check this blog at this address, and there is an entry just about every day, not too long, but something to think about and pray about - http://www.fatherjulian.blogspot.com It is my duty to communicate with you in all the possible means. I know many people check the Bulletin through our website and that’s why I have to keep it updated regularly with correct information. With the invasion and ease of IPhones and IPads nowadays, people keep in touch with incredible ease, and I believe that the church has to keep up with the times. And so does our own parish here at the Cathedral, so does our Baker Diocese, and so do I.
This is a reflection I shared in my Epiphany homily which some people requested. You can also find it in my blog, copy it, and save it.
May Christ Grant You This New Year -
Enough tears to keep you human, warm and sensitive.
Enough humor to laugh at yourself rather than others.
Enough setbacks to keep you humble.
Enough goodness to be called a person of integrity.
Enough accomplishments to keep you confident and eager.
Enough patience to teach you the virtue of waiting.
Enough discipline to be moderate in eating and drinking.
Enough silence in your life that you become more prayerful.
Enough insight in how you see God, but also in how God sees you.
Enough friends to give you life, strength and support.
Enough grief and sorrow to make you both sensitive and loving.
Enough care to comfort the disturbed, but also to disturb the comfortable.
Enough strength from your faith, family and friends to support you.
Enough warm and wonderful memories to give you comfort.
Enough divine and human qualities to forgive oneself and forgive others.
Enough common sense for you to make healthy decisions.
Enough determination to make each day better than yesterday.
And, enough faith and prayerfulness to arrive in heaven, with Christ smiling and welcoming you with outstretched arms and saying "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter the kingdom of heaven."
A new Ordinariate for those joining the Catholic church – January 1st was a historic date for those Protestants who want to join the Catholic church. The Vatican has officially established the equivalent of a nationwide diocese in the United States to help former Episcopal priests and congregations to become full-fledged Catholics, expected to show allegiance to the pope and oppose contraception and abortion. And, in what one Catholic leader called “an act of generosity,” priests who are married will be exempted from the Catholic requirement of celibacy, though they may not become bishops. The new grouping, called the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, will have its headquarters in Houston and be led by Jeffrey N. Steenson, a former Episcopal bishop and father of three who left the church in 2007 and became a Catholic priest in 2009, under an existing exemption for converting Anglicans. With the title of ordinary, Father Steenson will be a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and will report directly to the Vatican.
The Episcopal Church is the main American branch of the Anglican Communion, a loose global body whose symbolic head is the archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England. It has been shaken by discord from conservatives who object to the ordination of female priests, the acceptance of bishops with homosexual partners and changes in the liturgy. Catholic leaders and some former Episcopalians are celebrating the announcement as a small but notable event in an often tortuous history of relations between the Vatican and the Anglican Church, which includes the Episcopalians, after their break in the 16th century. The Episcopal Church in the United States has more than 7,000 priests and two million members. So far, more than 100 priests and groups of members totaling more than 1,320, including six congregations of 70 or more, have asked to join the Ordinariate.
Homily Reflection
This is a reflection I shared with the people in my homily on New Year’s Day:
I want to thank You for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards.
I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better.
I'm not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop hurting and talking about me.
I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves.
I am not going to wait until the children are back and asleep in their beds.
I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get a new job.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed.
I am thanking you right now, because I made it through another year.
I am thanking you because I am alive and healthy.
I am thanking you because I made it through the days of difficulties.
I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles and through tough odds.
I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.
I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me.
Major landmarks for the year 1912, a hundred years ago.
January 1 - The Republic of China is established.
January 6 - New Mexico is admitted as the 47th US State.
January 8 - The African National Congress is founded.
January 12 - 30,000 workers walk out of textile mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts , beginning the so-called Bread and Roses strike, the most dramatic and successful strike in American labor history.
January 17 - British polar explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott and a team of four become the second expeditionary group to reach the South Pole.
January 28 - Jackson Pollock, American painter, born.
February 6 - Eva Braun, Adolf Hitler’s mistress, born.
February 14 - Arizona is admitted as the 48th US State.
March 1 - Albert Berry makes the first parachute jump from a moving airplane.
March 7 - Ronald Amundsen announces his success in reaching the South Pole last December. March 7 - French aviator Henri Seimet makes the first non-stop flight from Paris to London, in three hours.
March 12 -The Girl Scouts of the USA are founded.
March 16 - Pat Nixon, First Lady of the United States, born.
March 22 - Karl Malden, American actor, born.
March 27 - Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo gives 3,000 cherry blossom trees to be planted in Washington, D.C., to symbolize the friendship between the two countries.
April 8 - Sonja Henie, Norwegian figure skater, born.
April 10 - The British ocean liner RMS Titanic leaves Southampton in England on her maiden voyage for New York City.
April 11 - RMS Titanic arrives at Queenstown in Ireland , picking up her final complement of passengers before steaming westwards for New York.
April 14 - (11:40 p.m.) – RMS Titanic strikes an iceberg in the northern Atlantic Ocean.
April 15 - (2:20 a.m.) – RMS Titanic sinks, taking with her the lives of more than 1,500 people. April 16 - Harriet Quimby becomes the first woman to fly across the English Channel..
April 18 - The Cunard liner RMS Carpathia arrives in New York with 705 survivors of the Titanic disaster. April 20 - Tiger Stadium in Detroit opens. Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, opens.
May 3 – Virgil Fox, American organist, born.
May 5 - The Olympic Games open in Stockholm, Sweden.
May 12 – Grand opening of the Beverly Hills Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California.
May 13 – In the United Kingdom, the Royal Flying Corps (forerunner of the Royal Air Force) is established.
May 14 – Ben Hogan, American golfer, born.
May 18 - Perry Como, American singer, born.
May 23 – The Hamburg America Line's SS Imperator is launched in Hamburg and is the world's largest ship.
May 25 – After more than a month and thousands of hours of testimony, the American inquiry into the Titanic disaster concludes, placing the bulk of the blame upon the White Star Line, J. Bruce Ismay, and Captain Edward Smith.
May 27 - Sam Snead, American golfer, born.
May 30 – Joe Dawson wins the second Indianapolis 500-Mile Race after Ralph DePalma's Mercedes breaks down within sight of the finish.
June 4 – A fire in Istanbul destroys 1,120 buildings.
June 5 – U.S. Marines land in Cuba.
June 6 – June 8 – Mount Novartis erupts in Alaska.
June 18 – The Republican National Convention nominates incumbent President William Howard Taft in Chicago, defeating a challenge by former President Theodore Roosevelt, whose delegates bolt the convention.
June 25 – The Democratic National Convention nominates New Jersey Gov. Thomas Woodrow Wilson in Baltimore.
June 30 – The deadliest tornado in Canadian history happens in Regina, Saskatchewan being called the Regina Cyclone.
July 17 - Art Linkletter, American television host, born.
July 19 – A meteorite with an estimated mass of 190 kg explodes over the town of Holbrook in Navajo County, Arizona causing thousands of pieces of debris to rain down on the town.
July 28 – A pier at Binz on the German island of Rügen collapses under the load of a thousand people waiting for the cruise steamer Kronprinz Wilhelm; seventeen are drowned.
August 5 – Dissident U.S. Republicans form the Progressive or Bull Moose Party, and nominate former President Theodore Roosevelt as their presidential candidate. August 15 - Julia Child, American TV chef, born.
August 23 - Gene Kelly, American actor, born.
September 5 - John Cage, American composer, born.
September 29 – Michelangelo Antonioni, Italian film director, born.
October 8 – The First Balkan War begins: Montenegro declares war against Turkey.
October 14 – While campaigning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, former President Theodore Roosevelt is shot by saloonkeeper John Schrank. With a fresh flesh wound and the bullet still in him, Roosevelt delivers his scheduled speech. After finishing his speech, he went to the hospital, where it was deduced that if he had not had his speech in his breast pocket when he was shot, he most likely would have died.
October 17 – Pope John Paul I, known before as Albino Luciani, born.
October 18 – Italy and the Ottoman Empire signed a treaty in Ouchy near Lausanne ending the Italo-Turkish War.
October 21 – Georg Solti, Hungarian conductor, born.
November 5 – U.S. presidential election, 1912: Democratic challenger Woodrow Wilson wins a landslide victory over Republican incumbent William Howard Taft. Taft's base is undercut by Progressive Party candidate (and former Republican) Theodore Roosevelt, who finishes second, ahead of Taft.
November 28 – Albania declares independence from the Ottoman Empire.
December 11 – Carlo Ponti, Italian film producer, husband of Sophia Loren, born.
December 22 – Lady Bird Johnson, First Lady of the United States, born.
Ice and Snow - as we all know, as of December 29 when I’m writing these notes, winter has not even made an appearance yet, but I’m sure we’ll have our share of snow and icy conditions soon. I just want to remind you if at all possible not to use the side entrances, because the ice forms on the steps when it melts off the roof and covers the steps with a layer of dangerous ice. I make sure the other entrances are clear of any dangerous icy spots. If we get snow on Sunday morning, I would appreciate some help shoveling the steps sometime between 7:30 AM and 9 AM. I am grateful also for Don Olsen and Greg Woydziak who help us with the snow plough around the Cathedral. Also a reminder for our senior and all those unsteady on their feet - it is not a mortal sin if you cannot get out of your driveway to get to Mass. In fact it’s not even a venial sin. We don’t want anyone slipping or getting hurt. Remember always that safety comes first.
Blessed Kateri miracle confirmed - Elsa and Donny Finkbonner of St. Joseph Parish in Ferndale, Washington had no doubt that their young son's recovery from a deadly flesh-eating bacteria almost six years ago was a miracle. On Dec. 19, 2011 Pope Benedict XVI confirmed that when he signed a decree acknowledging a miracle attributed to the intervention of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha in the recovery of Jake Finkbonner from the rare and potentially fatal disease. In February 2006, just before his sixth birthday, the boy was playing basketball when he suffered a cut on his lip that enabled the bacteria to invade his bloodstream. Days later, he was near death at Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle. Because the family is part Native American, Father Tim Sauer, then-St. Joseph pastor, suggested they pray to God through Blessed Kateri (1656-1680), a Mohawk woman who devoted her short life to her Catholic faith and to caring for the sick and elderly. Known as the Lily of the Mohawks, she was beatified in 1980, the first native North American to be so honored. Her feast day is July 14. Jake beat the odds and recovered, and with the approval of then-Archbishop Alex J. Brunett of Seattle, the case of Blessed Kateri's intercession was investigated as the possible one remaining miracle needed for her canonization. The Finkbonners were elated upon receiving the news - and of their son's part in it. "It's so overwhelmingly exciting, and just an honorable process to be a part of," Elsa Finkbonner said. Jake, now a sixth-grader at Assumption School in Bellingham, is pretty excited about it, too.
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, "the Lily of the Mohawks," is the young Indian maiden who, despite objections from some in her own clan, came to know and love Christ. She was born in 1656 in a village on the Mohawk River called Ossernenon, now Auriesville, N.Y. Her father was a Mohawk chief and her mother a Christian Algonquin. She was born into a period of
political and religious turmoil, 10 years after the French Jesuit martyrs were tortured and killed: Rene Goupil, Isaac Jogues and Jean Lalande. Indians blamed the "Blackrobes" for the sudden appearance of deadly white man's diseases, including small pox. When Kateri was only 4, a smallpox epidemic claimed her parents and baby brother. Kateri survived, but her face was disfigured and her eyesight impaired. According to legend, she was raised by relatives who began to plan her marriage. But after meeting with Catholic priests, Kateri decided to be baptized and pursue religious life. When she was baptized on Easter in 1676 at age 20, her relatives were not pleased. She fled the next year to Canada, taking refuge at St. Francis Xavier Mission in the Mohawk Nation at Caughnawaga on the St. Lawrence River, about 10 miles from Montreal. She reportedly made her first Communion on Christmas in 1677. She astounded the Jesuits with her deep spirituality and her devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. She took a private vow of virginity and devoted herself to prayer and to teaching prayers to the children and helping the sick and elderly of Caughnawaga.
Mark your calendars – these are some important dates to mark for your calendars for the coming year:
Wednesday February 22 – Ash Wednesday
Thursday March 29 - Chrism Mass
Sunday April 1 - Palm Sunday
Thursday April 5 – Holy Thursday
Friday April 6 – Good Friday
Sunday April 8 – Easter Sunday
Catholic seminary enrollment up - The Theological College in Washington has been confronting a problem that the U.S. Catholic Church has not had for a long time - it is bursting at the seams. Enrollment is maxed out for the 2011-12 academic year at 90 seminarians. Five of those seminarians are back in their dioceses this year gaining pastoral experience, but a Sulpician seminarian and five priests from other countries also live there, bringing the total number of residents to 91 plus faculty members. The trend of rising seminary enrollment is being duplicated around the country: At the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, 40 new seminarians arrived this year, bringing total enrollment to 186, the highest level since the 1970s; St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., welcomed 30 new graduate-level seminarians, making its class of 100 seminarians the largest since 1980. In the Diocese of Scranton, Pa., where the St. Pius X diocesan seminary closed in 2004 because of declining enrollment, the number of seminarians has more than doubled from eight to 17 in the past two years. Most of the Scranton seminarians are studying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., where enrollment has remained steady over the past five years, or at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where a class of 76 "new men" brought enrollment this fall to a full house of 250 seminarians.
Vatican news on-line - Pope Benedict XVI himself gave a cyber spark of life to a new Internet portal that gathers all Vatican news into one multimedia website. With a click on a tablet device on the evening of June 28, Pope Benedict officially launched the aggregator of news content from the Vatican's newspaper, radio, television and online outlets, they said. The site, www.news.va was launched on the eve of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and the 60th anniversary of Pope Benedict's ordination into the priesthood. The site will streamline news from the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano; Vatican Radio; the Vatican television station CTV; the Vatican Information Service (VIS); the Fides missionary news agency; the Vatican press office; and the main Vatican website. It will offer print, video and audio material in Italian and English. New languages will be added gradually, beginning with Spanish, followed probably by French and Portuguese.
We can multiply our congregation
I would like to issue a challenge to all parishioners this weekend. May I ask you all to try to encourage one other parishioner or family whom you have not seen in church lately, to return. Do it gently and kindly, and ask them if they can join the rest of the parish family for prayer on Sunday. I have noticed that every time I see someone on a street, in a store, in a park or just bump into them accidentally, they usually show up the following weekend. Maybe just seeing me triggers a tiny reminder in their hearts and minds to get back to church. I usually just say hello and never question them about their absence. but apparently when they see me, they remember that they should be in church on Sunday, especially those who have disappeared lately. Give it a try and call a friend.
Archbishop Sheen – process of beatification - When Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria, Ill., presented Pope Benedict XVI with two thick volumes about the life of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the pope surprised him by saying he had worked with the late archbishop. Pope Benedict "told me something I hadn't known: he worked on the commission for mission at the Second Vatican Council with Fulton Sheen," The pope served as a theological expert at the council in the 1960s. At the end of the pope's weekly general audience May 25, Bishop Jenky presented the pope with two leather-bound volumes with golden lettering on the side: "Fultonius Ioannes Sheen." The tomes -- totaling close to 2,000 pages -- are the "positio," the official position paper, outlining why the Catholic Church should recognize Archbishop Sheen as a saint. Archbishop Sheen, who was born in Illinois in 1895 and died in New York in 1979, was an Emmy-winning televangelist. His program, "Life is Worth Living," aired in the United States from 1951 to 1957. Bishop Jenky said, "I hope it helps that the pope personally knew Archbishop Sheen,” who was national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in 1950-66 and attended every session of Vatican II. For the Peoria bishop, the most impressive thing about Archbishop Sheen was his untiring evangelizing effort, which was addressed not just to radio or television audiences, but to taxi drivers and anyone else he happened to meet. "I don't know how many people he brought to the faith; it must be thousands and thousands," the bishop said. "He never passed by an opportunity to bring someone to the faith. He was a hands-on evangelizer."
Some important statistics – According to the Vatican, the Catholic religion is the largest denomination in the world. Between the years 2000 and 2008, it increased by 11.4%; from 1,045 billion in 2000 to 1,166 billion in 2008. The largest increase occurred in Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, all this thanks to the missionary work done over the past 50 years by European missionaries. The increase of Catholics was thus noted: in Africa – 33%, in Europe – 1.2%, in Asia - 15.6%, in Oceania – 11.4% and in North and South America – 11%. This also means that the number of Catholics in Europe went down from 26.8% to 23.3%. Regarding the number of priests serving the world, the number of priests world-wide increased from 405,179 to 409,166 during the same period, but the number of priests in Europe went down by 7%.
The following numbers show us how the world’s population is changing in various parts of the world, with Asia having more people than all the other continents put together, and with Africa having half of Europe’s population in 1950, but will be double that of Europe by 2025.
1950 2005 2025 % in 2005
Asia 1,436,893,576 3, 913,642,171 4,753,366,405 60.70%
Africa 227,332,997 891,437,541 1,327,428,990 13.80% Europe 546,415,793 729,341014 711,525,502 11.30%
N. America 220,857,588 512,422,558 618,801,943 7.90%
S. America 111,384,890 371,271,037 447,180,663 5.80%
Oceania 12,476,128 32,744,469 39,685,917 0.05%
Our beautiful Icons – you have noticed that we now have a nice collection of Icons which we are displaying in front of the side podium and rotate them from time to time. Some of them were purchased by the parish, while a few were donated by parishioners, in memory of their loved ones. Anyone interested in buying an Icon for the parish, they are only $50 each, and I have a nice colorful catalogue you can browse through and chose from. I will place a label in the back of the Icon with your name and in memory of whom you are donating the particular Icon. Among the popular and beloved Icons we have one each of St. Paul, St. John Baptist Vianney, St. Francis of Assisi, the Holy Family, the American saints, Jesus with the children, the Resurrection, the Suffering Jesus.
By the numbers:
41,406 – number of diocesan and religious priests in the United States.
28,067 – number of diocesan priests in the United States.
13,339 – number of religious priests in the United States.
(Franciscans, Jesuits, Dominicans, etc)
5,029 – total number of seminarians presently enrolled in seminaries in the United States.
3,284 – total number of seminarians in diocesan seminaries.
1,781 – total number enrolled in religious orders seminaries.
Praying for all families in the New Year
Loving Father, we ask for your blessing as we start a New Year, a new decade. We pray for our families, our children in all their innocence, our young people in all their enthusiasm, our seniors in all their wisdom and experience. We pray for all spouses that they will cooperate with each other as they strengthen their families in the midst of a wave of materialism. May they find the strength and motivation to make every day ever more meaningful, especially we remember single parents or young couples with a few children, as well as those looking for adequate jobs. We pray for countries still involved in wars and conflicts, so that people, civilians and service people will not suffer any more. May God bless all the families in our parish and mission churches, that they will continue to collaborate and participate in our religious functions, especially those preparing to receive a special sacrament like Marriage, First Communion and even Confession. Be with us Lord, during the New Year, and we ask your Blessed Mother to protect us from all harm and keep all our families and children safe.
On the feast of the Immaculate Conception, I shared with the congregation this prayer I wrote to the Blessed Mother, in a title I created for her protection of all of us in Baker County….
A Prayer to Our Lady of Baker County
Most Blessed Mother, we pray through your intercession to God Almighty. Keep the people of our beloved county healthy, safe, respectful of each other and helpful towards one another.
We ask your protection on our children, and along with their parents, remind them to honor you by their presence at church and their religion classes. We pray for our youth, and keep them away from any danger that tempts them, driving fast, smoking and drinking alcohol, and especially the drug-oriented culture. In the high-tech world they live in, encourage them to communicate with their parents and friends, not by texting messages and by phone-calls, but by the simple act of talking face-to-face, by playing games that created community spirit and appreciation of the human spirit.
We pray for those who are struggling at this time, single mothers with 2 to 4 children to feed, young people without jobs, for young girls who are premeditating an abortion, heart-broken grandparents who have to care for their grandchildren day and night, discouraged individuals who tragically end their lives to the heartbreak and inconsolable guilt of their loved ones left behind. Give them hope and light in the midst of their darkness.
We ask your protection on those who work outdoors in cold weather, ranchers and farmers, forest service people, loggers and other workers, as well as the cattle, horses and other vulnerable animals. Guide our public service officers and those who serve us so faithfully in our county.
Blessed Mother, you who raised Jesus with St Joseph with so much love and affection, inspire all parents and families to instill in their children a sense of God. May they collaborate with their pastors and religious leaders to be true example to others. Give courage to those who are suffering from cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, AIDS and other illnesses. Be a source of strength for them and their caregivers. Above everything, be our role model of love, fidelity, compassion, tolerance and forgiveness. AMEN.
Statistics and Numbers– every year, a Catholic directory published by P. J. Kenedy & Sons, known as the ‘Kenedy Directory’ gives details and figures of all the parishes in the USA. It’s a thick book which we usually purchase every 6 years, since most of the details do not change. In it one finds addresses of each parish, and statistics, some of which I share with you hereunder:
- The total number of Catholics in the USA equals 68,115,001, or 22% of the entire US population. This is an increase of 1 million Catholics over 2008. There are presently 41,489 priests in the country, both diocesan and religious. The 189 seminaries nationwide are training 4,973 students. There are 60,715 religious sisters on record, and 4,905 religious brothers. The past year witnessed the launching of 91 new parishes, putting the total number at 18,674. Some 85,293,351 patients were served by 562 Catholic hospitals, while 3009 Catholic social service centers assist 27.2 million people annually.
- Infant baptisms equaled 887,145, and adult baptisms numbered 42,629. Those people who were already baptized Christians but came into full communion with the Catholic Church numbered 81,775. Catholic organizations in the United States provide an estimated $28.2 billion in services through institutions represented by the Catholic Health
Association ($5.7 billion), Catholic Charities USA ($3.5 billion), and the National Catholic Education Association ($19.8 billion). These figures do not include assistance provided through parishes and other organizations such as the Knights of Columbus.
- Over 722,000 students are in high school religious education programs, while over three million are in elementary school Religious Ed. There are 6,133 Catholic elementary schools and 1.6 million students. The country’s 1,341 Catholic high schools educate over 674,000 students, while 234 Catholic colleges and universities serve over 795,000 students.
Life without God - How frequently we take the presence and intervention of God in our lives for granted. Our days will go on, but without GOD, our week could very well be: Sinday, Mournday, Tearsday, Wasteday, Thirstday, Fightday & Shatterday.
Pope Benedict XVI: A new children's book offers a bird's-eye view of Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate, with insider tidbits on his daily routine and his personal interests. Published with the Vatican's blessing, it's the latest effort to humanize a pope who may seem a remote figure to many people around the world - and even to some inside the Vatican. "Max and Benedict: A Solitary Sparrow Recounts the Pope's Day" was released in Italian and German to coincide with the fourth anniversary of Pope Benedict's election April 19. The book's narrator is a sparrow named Max who nests on St. Peter's dome and eavesdrops from the pope's window ledge. Illustrated with watercolors, the book's 52 pages contain no startling revelations. But its sympathetic tone and its charming array of details provide a portrait of the pontiff that is largely missing from news coverage. This is a pope who listens to each of his guests with great attention, who strolls through the Vatican Gardens daily with friends and who, in the evening, enjoys a piece of apple strudel before sitting down to play the piano. Ignatius Press plans to publish an English-language edition of this book in the fall.
Pope John Paul II: The Great Pope John Paul sang and made jokes even at the end of his life, said a Polish archbishop who was one of the pope's personal secretaries. "The pope loved to laugh and could play innocent pranks," said Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki of the Archdiocese of Lviv, Ukraine. "He wasn't exuberant and didn't collect information, and he preferred to listen rather than talk. But he also noticed it when you'd had a hard day or were in bad mood. He would wink at you and smile." The archbishop spoke recently to Poland's TVN 24 about his book, "He Liked Tuesdays Best," about life with Pope John Paul. He said that on Tuesdays during the papacy, Pope John Paul often would make discreet, unreported excursions outside Rome. Archbishop Mokrzycki said the pontiff was addicted to fresh air and insisted on keeping his Vatican apartment windows open, even in cold weather. The late pope rose regularly at 5 a.m. to watch the sunrise and "also liked sunset, during which he often cut himself off and became immersed in prayer."
The future of vocations - As all the priests of the Baker Diocese gathered in Mount Angel for their annual Retreat this past week, I realized up close and personal how diversified the presbyterate of our Diocese has become. Presently more than half, almost two-thirds of the priests, are foreigners. In an area of 66,000 square miles of our entire Diocese, we have around 40 priests serving the 37,000 Catholics.
According to the ‘Catholic Home Missions’ newsletters, Bishop Michael Warfel, of Great Falls-Billings, throughout the deep south, the Rocky Mountains, the Southwest and Alaska, the shortage of priests is a growing challenge. This shortage is keenly felt in mission dioceses as diverse as Brownsville, Texas, where parishes are bursting at the seam with people, and Anchorage, with its small and isolated mission parishes.
The Diocese of Brownsville has one of the largest Catholic populations of all diocese in the USA. The 4,230 square mile diocese, in one of the country’s poorest regions, serves nearly 995,160 Catholics with only about 115 priests. The Archdiocese of Anchorage, with a much smaller Catholic population of 11,500, feels the strain in different ways, with only 25 active priests serving 138,985 square mile territory. Twelve of its 29 parishes and outlying missions operate without a resident priest. They are run by administrators and are visited by diocesan priests twice a month for Mass – weather permitting.
Obviously the situation in our Diocese is critical also, but we’re trying to keep things running as smoothly as possible. Some priests travel as much as 100 to 200 miles every weekend to reach out to their mission chapels or stations. Many of the African priest who are serving here have never seen snow before, let alone drive with studded tires in the snow and on icy roads. But they’re learning, as I had learned about snow, ice and slippery roads in New York and driving through Dooley Mountain and other passes.
Be proud of being Catholic– recently someone passed me a brief article circulated by the Brookside Council of the Knights of Columbus #3297, a section of which I am reproducing here….”why would newspapers carry a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the USA, namely the Catholic Church? Do you know – the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost of 10 billion dollars to the church and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. Your graduates go on to graduate at the rate of 92%. The church has 230 colleges and universities in the USA with an enrollment of 700,000 students. The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals – which accounts for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people in the USA today.
The press has blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage. These figures show otherwise……12% of 300 protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the Methodist church. And while 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia, only 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty and the majority of the cases were before 1980.
A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving. The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have been probably totally weeded out by now.
So, walk with your shoulders high and your head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the USA. Then remember what Jeremiah said: “Stand by the roads, and look and ask for ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your church does for all other religions. Be proud that you’re a Catholic.
Some statistics - World USA
Catholics 1,115,000,000 64,400,000
Archdioceses 539 36
Dioceses 1,908 164
Priests 406,411 41,449
- Diocesan 269,762 27,971
- Religious 136,649 13,478
Priestly Ordinations (2007) 6,614 456
Deacons 33,391 15,409
Religious Brothers 54,708 5,015
Sisters 760,529 63,699
Parishes 217,616 18,634
Parishes without a pastor 52,509 3,238
% of parishes without pastor 24.13% 17.4%
(Catholics comprise 25% of the military. 155 members of Congress and 130 House members are Catholics. 25 of the 100 Senators are Catholics)
In the fullness of time…..God sent His only Son, born of a woman.
In the fullness of time…..the Son obediently accepted death, death on a cross.
In the fullness of time…..we will share in the joys and promise of Our Risen Lord.
May the Joy of Easter be in your hearts, in your homes and spread throughout our parish community. I thank all those who helped to make our celebrations of Holy Week so meaningful and beautiful. Bishop Vasa himself commented how organized everything was in our liturgies, and so my gratitude goes to our Deacon, all the Ministers, Acolytes, readers, altar-servers, ushers, sacristans, decorators and all those who somehow collaborated to prepare for this special week in the Cathedral.
His Hands – healed the sick, so that we can know His compassion . . .
His Hands – held a child, so that we could know His kindness . . .
His Hands – touched the oppressed, so that we could know His concern . . .
His Hands – bore two nails, so that we could know His love for us . .
Pro-Life prayer
Lord – You are the Lord of Life. We thank You for the life you gave us all. We thank You for your care and your guidance. Help us to appreciate and treasure this great gift, so that we can protect it from the very first moment of creation until natural death. Remind us always to take care of our lives in places of work, with careful driving in our streets, reasonable control in our drinking u smoking, and abstaining from all drugs. And all this with special respect towards the dignity of the human person. Encourage us Lord to be true defenders of human life, this we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Newsworthy
The Generous Farmer
There once was an old farmer who was constantly bragging about how generous he would be if he were only rich. One night God sent an angel to test him.
The angel asked, “If you had $1million dollars, would you share some with God?” “Of course I would, answered the man without hesitation.
“If you lived in a mansion, would you let God have a room?” The angel asked. Again the man quickly answered, “Absolutely.”
Finally, the angel asked, “Would you let God use your old horse out back?” The man thought for a long time and finally answered, “No.” “Why not?” asked the angel. The man
answered, “Because that horse is the only one I have and I need him.”
You see … it is more difficult for many people to be generous with things that they actually have than it is with riches they hope to have someday!
News to share –
Washington - “On Eagle’s Wings,” the musical reworking of the 91st Psalm by Father Michael Joncas, topped all other songs in an online poll asking which liturgical song most fostered and nourished the respondent’s life. Here is a list of the most popular 25 hymns or songs.
1. On Eagle’s Wings 10. Ave Maria 19. Shepherd me, o God
2. Here I am, Lord 11. We are called 20. Ave Verum Corpus
3. Be not afraid 12. Let there be peace on earth 21. Lord of the Dance
4. You are mine 13. I am the Bread of Life 22. One Bread, One Body
5. How great Thou art 14. The summons 23. Tantum Ergo
6. Holy God, we praise thy name 15. Panis Angelicus 24. Hosea
7. Amazing Grace 16. The Servant Song (Galliard) 25. Pange Ligua
8. All are welcome 17. Pescador de Hombres
9. Prayer of St Francis 18. The Servant Song (McCargill)
The online poll was sponsored by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. The poll was featured in a recent issue of its membership magazine, Pastoral Music, and respondents could vote for only one song. No songs were listed on the Web site to give them suggestions. About 3,000 people took part in the poll. 670 different songs were mentioned, which shows the wide variety of people’s likes.
Prayer for those who live alone
I live alone, dear Lord. Stay by my side in all my daily needs.
Be my guide every day of my life.
Grant me good health, for that indeed I pray.
To carry on my work, from day to day.
Keep pure my mind, my thoughts, my every deed.
Let me be kind, unselfish in my neighbor’s needs.
Spare me from fire, from flood and malicious tongues.
From thieves, from fears, and evil ones.
If sickness or accident befall, then humbly Lord, I pray,
Hear my call when I’m feeling low, or in despair,
Lift up my heart and help in my prayer,
I live alone, dear Lord, yet have no fear, because I feel your presence ever near. AMEN.
Prayers for Justice and Dignity for Migrants
Loving God, Creator and Lord of all, Your love reaches beyond borders and boundaries to form us into one family, Your very own daughters and sons. You have been present throughout history to those who have needed to leave their homelands: Abraham, Sarah, Ruth, and Moses. You willed that even the life of Jesus, Your Son, would be filled with unplanned travel and flight. We Ask You to open our hearts to see the face of Jesus in people of all nations and cultures. Watch over migrants, refugees, and all people on the move that they may find hope in our concern for justice and feel the warmth of our love for them as our sisters and brothers so that they will be strangers no longer. We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Mary, Our Lady of Refuge, pray for us.
Food Bank Helpers Needed!!
Help is needed this summer at the St. Francis de Sales Food Bank. If you are 15 years old or older and you can volunteer 2 hours once a month, we can use you. We need help filling bags and stocking shelves. Please contact:
John or Barbara Haytas at 523-2638 or the Parish Office at 523-4521.
For your Information
The yearly expense to run our parish is $240,000.00. We need approximately $4,600.00 in weekly offertory to cover these expenses.
Attention Knights Widows
If you would like assistance with spring gardening projects the Knights are volunteering to help you. Please Call Hal Huntington at 523-2114 if you have projects or questions.
Attention
Please remember to include your name on the new offertory envelopes. We cannot give credit to you if you give cash without your name.
Thank you !!
