Off to Ecuador!

Posted on July 12, 2010 by
Teens and chaperones from the Detroit area are leaving bright and early tomorrow morning to travel back to Riobamba, Ecuador, where they are helping to finish build and furnish a chapel in a remote village of the diocese.

As they leave, we pray for their safe travel and many opportunities for meaningful encounters with Christ for all involved.

  
 
 
 Lord our God, loving Father,
we humbly pray to you
for those who travel forth
to share your love and presence in Ecuador.
May our prayers reach their hearts
that they may feel our love,
our strength, our faith. 
May our prayers reach their hearts
that they continue with your zeal
the mission you entrust them with.
May their presence in the community
be a reminder of your presence among us.
Amen.
Posted in Events, Prayer | 1 Comment

Celebrating True Freedom

Posted on July 6, 2010 by
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. Galatians 5:13

Photo by Dawn at Picasa

A happy belated 4th of July to one and all! Many prayers that it was a safe and enjoyable weekend for you and your families…and that you were able to escape the heat if only for a while!

My question to you is this: in the midst of the celebrations, fireworks and food, did we take time to reflect on the magnitude of this holiday? Sure, we know we are celebrating the founding of our country, but do we really appreciate what freedom means? Very few of us can claim any understanding of what it means to live under someone else’s control with no hope or ability to influence the path of our lives. For most of us, we take for granted that we are able to do what we want, when we want, within certain parameters of course.

Yet, even those parameters are ever expanding as our notion of individual freedom crosses some mighty blurry lines with the license to do as we please. As Christians, the notion of “individual freedom” really doesn’t exist in and of itself. Our freedom comes only from Christ’s sacrifice. Without the mercy of God choosing to take on flesh, without the selfless love of Christ choosing to suffer and die a shameful death, we would not share in the resurrection of Christ which gives us the pure gift of eternal life in the presence of God. That’s right folks, this life isn’t all there is!
True freedom is living in the friendship and grace of God who ultimately brings us more joy than we could possibly imagine or achieve on our own. It is not the ability to act in ways that temporarily give us a thrill or make us feel good about ourselves and then leave us and others hurt and empty at the end of the day. None of us has bought our own freedom. It is not a good or product that belongs to us that we can do with what we like. Freedom brings with it responsibility. As Christians, our freedom brings with it a duty back to Christ – a duty to live with reverence for God and in selfless service of our neighbors.
In light of that, how will you celebrate your freedom in the coming year?
But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were “no people” but now you are God’s people; you “had not received mercy” but now you have received mercy… It is the will of God that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish people. Be free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil, but as slaves of God. Give honor to all, love the community, fear God, and honor the king. 1 Peter 2:9-10, 15-17
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New “Website in Progress” Kickoff!

Posted on July 1, 2010 by

Yes, I know – we haven’t posted since Lent. Would you believe that’s what we “gave up”? Probably not since it is well past Easter, huh?

Well, finally…what we’ve all (at least I have) been waiting for is here. Nope, it’s not a completely finished work (much like us!), but we’re putting up the new face of Catholic youth, young adult and campus ministry in metro-Detroit online! Keep an eye out for new features and some changes being added over the next few weeks and let us know what you’d like to see.

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Fasting is not a Diet

Posted on February 17, 2010 by

From the CRS Operation Rice Bowl Lenten Reflections…

Fast

A fast is not the same as a reducing diet.

A diet wants a visible, personal return at the end: Will I be slimmer, more youthful, healthier, more attractive? Will people see me as a success or as a “big, fat loser,” as the popular television show would suggest?

A fast—especially the kind the prophets prefer—asks a different set of questions: Will this help me to love God with all my heart, mind and soul? Will I be better able to love my neighbor as myself? Will this enable me to recognize my neighbor in those that others ignore? Giving up food is the standard procedure for fasting, as hunger pangs are a ready reminder of our inability to sustain ourselves, of our reliance on God and the divine generosity of creation. But we can also shape our spiritual side by giving up behaviors and actions that weaken our discipleship and by taking on new practices that transform us into more loving people.

This Lent, inform your fast with a prayerful examination of conscience. How are you being called to love God and the world more deeply? What must you let go of? What must you embrace? Lent is the perfect time to be spiritually creative.

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Lenten Prayer

Posted on February 17, 2010 by

“Conversion to Christ, believing in the Gospel, ultimately means this: to exit the illusion of self-sufficiency in order to discover and accept one’s own need — the need of others and God, the need of His forgiveness and His friendship.” Pope Benedict XVI’s 2010 Lenten Message
God of compassion, Father of all goodness
you formed us from the dust of the earth
and conformed us to Christ by our baptism.
To heal the wounds that our sins and selfishness bring upon us
you bid us turn to prayer, fasting and sharing with the poor.
We acknowledge our sinfulness before You signing ourselves with ashes.

May this journey through the desert of Lent lead us to the font of rebirth.

May our fasting create in us a hunger for justice.
May our alms help us to feed those in need.
May our prayers draw us closer to peace.
We ask this in the name of Our Lord Jesus, our brother,
who lives with You and the Holy Spirit now and for ever.
Amen.

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Come and See…

Posted on December 18, 2009 by

Maybe you’ve heard “them” say, “There’s nothing to do…” Or perhaps, you’ve heard there’s no young people in the Church. Take a look through these pages and see what exciting things there are to do as a young and faithful Catholic in the Detroit area. There are others out there…we promise! Interested in getting involved? We’ve got ways you can connect with the faith whether it is through leadership, prayer, service, retreats, sports, movies, books, coffee, (you get our point, right?)…

We invite you as Jesus did…”Come and see!”

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