Parish Pilgrimage - Day 3 - Wednesday, October 9

Today we had the thrill of attending a Papal Audience with Pope Francis (and, according to my ticket number for the General Audience, 24, 420 of our closest friends). 

As we entered the Square, we made our way up toward the barricade because knowing how the motorcade goes, I wanted us to have an up close view of the Pope - so we waited at the barricade for several hours - talking and praying and meeting people from all over the world - until it was time.  And we did see him up close!  Some of our other pilgrims got some very good photos - this is the best one I could capture as I was too excited at seeing our new Holy Father, Pope Francis.  What a blessing that he is the third pope that I've been able to see in person!

The thrill of seeing the Holy Father, the successor of St. Peter and the Vicar of Christ in person...  It was certainly a great thrill for all our pilgrims!

If you'd like to read the Pope's homily at today's audience, click here...  It was all about the word "Catholic" and what it truly means to be the Catholic Church.  

Following a very long time standing in the general audience area, we headed to lunch.  Following lunch we were off to the Vatican Museum where we met our guide for the afternoon, and went into the Vatican Museums, where we saw many statues - mostly from Imperial Rome - and many Sarcophagi.  Then to the map room and the tapestry hall.  The tapestry shown here depicts the election of a pope during a conclave - look at the surprised expression on the face of the "winner" - and the guy looking into the chalice for any remaining votes.

Then, our tour finally let us to the most famous place on earth - the Sistine Chapel.  Because it is a chapel, and thus a holy place, you can take no photos there.  So you'll have to manage with this "virtual tour" of the Sistine Chapel.  

Then we went directly into St. Peter's Basilica - where we saw the famous Pieta, the Bernini Columns at the high altar (where only the Pope can say Mass), the altars/tombs of Blessed (soon to be Saint) John Paul II and John XXIII.  Then we hurried to Santa Maria Maria in Transportina church for Mass.  Then back to teh hotel for some rest before dinner.

Another full day tomorrow!  Starting with Mass in the catacombs and visits to the other 3 Papal Basilicas (St. Paul outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, and St. Mary Major).

Parish Pilgrimage - Day 2 - Tuesday, October 8

After landing in Amsterdam (aboard a KLM flight), the transferring to our flight to Rome, we arrived about noontime at our hotel and checked in.  Then after a time to freshen up after the LONG overnight flight (BUT NO NAPPING!), we walked the 2 kilometers from our hotel to St. Peter's Square, where we met Deacon Kyle Sahd. 

We immediately walked up the hill from the Square toward the North American College (the NAC) - where our men from the United States who are studying in Rome live.  Here we celebrated Mass with Deacon Sahd assisting.  

We went up to the roof of the NAC for a most spectacular view of Rome & St. Peter's.  Here's our group - not looking too worn out despite the travel and time change - excited to be in Rome, I guess.  

Then to the hotel for dinner and a GOOD night's rest.

Our day tomorrow begins with a Papal Audience! 

Parish Pilgrimage - Monday, October 7

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Today our pilgrims gathered for Mass at 12 noon at St. Andrew Parish before beginning our journey to Dulles airport for our overnight flight to Europe.  We arrive mid-morning in Rome - and will be checking in to the hotel, then immediately going down to St. Peter's Square to meet DEACON Kyle Sahd, and go to the North American College for Mass.  

Worldwide Holy Hour

Yesterday (on what was Corpus Christi here in the United States), at 11am Eastern Time, the entire Catholic world was to be united in a world-wide Eucharistic Holy Hour.  Pope Francis called for the day to pray for 2 very specific intentions

First: “For the Church spread throughout the world and united today in the adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist as a sign of unity. May the Lord make her ever more obedient to hearing his Word in order to stand before the world ‘ever more beautiful, without stain or blemish, but holy and blameless.’ That through her faithful announcement, the Word that saves may still resonate as the bearer of mercy and may increase love to give full meaning to pain and suffering, giving back joy and serenity.”

Second: “For those around the world who still suffer slavery and who are victims of war, human trafficking, drug running, and slave labour. For the children and women who are suffering from every type of violence. May their silent scream for help be heard by a vigilant Church so that, gazing upon the crucified Christ, she may not forget the many brothers and sisters who are left at the mercy of violence. Also, for all those who find themselves in economically precarious situations, above all for the unemployed, the elderly, migrants, the homeless, prisoners, and those who experience marginalization. That the Church’s prayer and its active nearness give them comfort and assistance in hope and strength and courage in defending human dignity.”

The Vatican says that this is the first time in history when people from all over the globe were called upon to pray at the same time.  The Catholic Church, fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi (1:11) and Psalm 113, prays "from the rising of the sun to its setting" - because she encompasses the entire world - and so somewhere, someone is praying at every moment.  But to pray all at the same time is something new and unique - like so many things about Pope Francis' Papacy...

It's been a while...

I know, I know - I haven't blogged lately.  But while I was away - it was difficult.  Then when I realize that there only a dozen or so followers, compared to the amount of time it takes me to do this blog, I decided to give it a rest. 

But last night, some members of Parish Council asked why I hadn't updated the blog in a while.  Perhaps there are more people viewing it than the 12+ followers...

So, give me a little time today, and I'll see if I can get back to it...


Fr. Bateman

101 Lenten Ideas (and more!)

 

101 Practical Fasting Ideas for Lent Redux

 

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Nick

 

[Note: This is an update of an article he wrote last year for Catholic School Chronicle]

 

Fasting, praying and almsgiving are the three penitential practices that we are asked to engage in during Lent. In addition to fasting and abstaining with the rest of the Church on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent, we are also challenged to make individual sacrifices appropriate to our own spiritual condition. However, before we choose something to give up for Lent, it’s important to assess our current spiritual state:

• What habits do I engage in that are destructive to my spiritual health?
• To what material things am I too attached?
• What areas in my life are unbalanced?
• To what do I devote too much or not enough time?

Only after asking questions like these are we are ready to decide what to give up or what to add to our lives during Lent. The following list is meant to be an aid in this process. Use it as you need based on your current circumstances.

 

“Through fasting and praying, we allow Him to come and satisfy the deepest hunger that we experience in the depths of our being: the hunger and thirst for God.”

–Pope Benedict, Lenten message, 2009

 

1-10: The Usuals:

1. Give up candy/sweets.
2. Give up television time.
3. Give up eating snacks between meals.
4. Give up or limit soda or coffee.
5. Give up or limit video games.
6. Spend more time with family.
7. Give to the poor.
8. Do an extra chore each day.
9. Perform a random act of kindness.
10. Spend more time in prayer.

11-20: Prayer

 

11.   Pray a book of scripture using lectio divina.
12.   Attend Mass on a weekday (every day if possible).
13.   Pray the rosary each day, alone or with your family.
14.   Prayerfully read Abandonment to Divine Providence.
15.   Make a special prayer notebook and list all the people in your life who need prayers; pray for them
        each day. Add someone new every day.
16.   Learn to pray the Liturgy of the Hours.
17.   Make a commitment to attend Eucharistic Adoration regularly.
18.   Commit to examining your conscience each evening.
19.   Pray the Jesus Prayer throughout the day.
20.   Pray the Angelus each day at noon.

 

21-30: For Those Addicted to Popular Culture

 

21.   Switch from regular radio to Christian music radio or Catholic talk radio.

22.   Avoid shows with gratuitous sex or violence.

23.   Give up or limit watching sports on television.

24.   Listen to only classical music for the next 40 days.

25.   Drive to work in silence each day.

26.   Read a work of classic literature.

27.   Read a Catholic classic.

28.   Read a story to a child.

29.   Sit in fifteen minutes of silence each day.

30.   Write a letter to God each day.

 

31-40: For Internet Users/Bloggers

 

31.   Set time limits on overall online time.

32.   Limit Facebook time.

33.   Limit Myspace time.

34.   Resist making or adding to lists that rank people.

35.   Share one spiritual video with your online network once a week.

36.   Blog about the poor once a week.

37.   Add a spiritual blog to your blog reader.

38.   Subscribe to a prayer podcast like Pray As You Go or Pray Station Portable.

39.   Leave an encouraging or positive comment on a different blog each day.

40.   Help a new blogger by sending traffic their way.

 

41-50: For Those Who Need to Be More Grateful

 

41.   Each week, write a letter of thanks to a different member of the clergy, beginning with your bishop and

        parish priest.

42.   Each week write a thank-you note to your parents.

43.   Write a poem of praise for each person in your family.

44.   Get a stack of sticky-notes and write one sentence of thanks each day and stick it to the bedroom

        door of each person in your family so that by Easter they each have 40 sticky-notes.

45.   Find the psalms of thanksgiving or praise in the Bible and pray them.

46.   Write a list of the ways God has blessed you and add to it each day. This could be done in a notebook

        or on a big poster hanging on your wall.

47.   At dinner each evening ask your family to share one thing for which they are grateful.

48.   Make a CD or iPod playlist of praise and worship music and listen to it each day.

49.   Make a point of saying “Thank You” a certain number of times per day.

50.   Help your children write thank you letters to their teachers.

 

51-60: For Those With Lives Out of Balance

 

51.   Go for a walk each day with a loved one and talk about life and faith.

52.   Take the kids to the park each week for some carefree time.

53.   Give up fast food and give the money to charity.

54.   Exercise each day.

55.   Spend at least half an hour each day in meaningful conversation with your spouse.

56.   Go on a Lenten retreat.

57.   Pray with Sacred Space each day.

58.   Commit to a daily 3 Minute Retreat.

59.   Begin the online 34-week Retreat for Everyday Life.

60.   Give up your most unhealthy habit.

 

61-70: For Those Who Need Spiritual Nourishment

 

61.   Read the documents of Vatican II, especially Gaudium et Spes.

62.   Read The Cathechism of the Catholic Church or The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults.

63.   Sign up for adult formation classes at a local parish.

64.   Join a Bible study.

65.   Attend Stations of the Cross at a local parish.

66.   Find a spiritual director.

67.   Read The Imitation of Christ.

68.   Listen to a free Catholic audio book from Maria Lectrix.

69.   Read Introduction to the Devout Life.

70.   Read a spiritual autobiography (i.e., Augustine’s Confessions, Story of a Soul, Journal of a Soul,

        Witness to Hope)

 

71-80: For Those Who Need to Increase Their Service to the Needy

 

71.   Volunteer at soup kitchen or other food program.

72.   Coordinate a food drive at your parish, school or place of employment.

73.   Find out who in your parish is sick and offer to visit them or bring them food.

74.   Call your local Catholic Charities office and volunteer.

75.   Begin making visits to a nursing home.

76.   Help an elderly or disabled person in your neighborhood with yard work or other difficult chores.

77.   Become a hospital volunteer.

78.   Become part of a prison ministry team.

79.   Coordinate a clothing drive.

80.   Make rosaries and give them away.

 

81-90: For Those Who Need to Be More Active in Their Parish

 

81.   Become a lector.

82.   Volunteer to become an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist

83.   Volunteer to help with the parish youth group.

84.   After each Mass stay awhile and introduce yourself to someone you don’t know.

85.   Join the Knights of Columbus.

86.   Offer to be a Confirmation sponsor.

87.   Volunteer to be an usher.

88.   Offer to help with funeral dinners.

89.   Help with the RCIA program.

90.   Volunteer to do lawn work, cleaning or other needed maintenance for the parish.

 

90-101: Potpourri

 

91.   Begin to receive the Sacrament of Penance weekly.

92.   Give up foul language.

93.   Give up gossiping.

94.   Read and study Healing the Culture.

95.   Study the life of a different saint each day.

96.   Cook dinner each night for your family if someone else normally does.

97.   Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

98.   Carry extra food in your car, purse or backpack to give to street corner beggars.

99.   Begin practicing socially conscious investing.

100. Spend a week meditating on each of the seven principles of Catholic social teaching.

101. Make breakfast each morning for your family.

 

Bonus! 10 More Fasting Ideas

 

101.   Pray with the daily Mass readings each morning.

102.   Give up or limit text messaging.

103.   Give up swearing, cursing and foul language.

104.   Give up buying/downloading new music and donate some of your iTunes balance to Haiti.

105.   Watch a spiritual film each week of Lent. (Update 2/18/2010: See this great article on films for Lent

          by my favorite film critic Steven Greydanus)

106.   Read Deep Conversion/Deep Prayer by Fr. Thomas Dubay.

107.   Gain a greater appreciation of the Mass through Tom Curran’s free pdf book The Mass: Four

          Encounters with Jesus.

108.   Strengthen your faith by listening to free audio lectures by Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft.

109.   Begin the habit of receiving the Sacrament of Penance on a weekly basis.

110.   Create an inspirational YouTube video.

 

Conclusion

 

Lent is a tremendous opportunity for spiritual growth. I hope these suggestions re-energize you on your spiritual journey.

 

Quoted from: http://www.nicksenger.com/onecatholiclife/101-practical-fasting-ideas-for-lent-redux

USCCB - "Five Things to Remember..."

Five Things to Remember on Nov. 21

1.      On Thanksgiving, when we think of pilgrims to America, we might recall that 30 percent of new priests ordained in the United States are foreign-born.  Many gifts to the United States come from beyond our borders.

2.      There are more than 40 lawsuits against the federal mandate forcing private health plans to cover contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs. Federal judges have issued initial rulings in four cases brought by people of faith who run a business – and in three out of four, the company has won a preliminary injunction against the mandate. This speaks well for a few judges’ understanding of freedom of conscience, which lies at the heart of Freedom of Religion.

3.      Generous Catholics help U.S. dioceses meet basic needs. The U.S. bishops announced Nov. 19 that thanks to the Catholic Home Missions appeal they awarded $8.4 million in grants to 84 mission dioceses in the U.S. The Fairbanks, Alaska diocese, where many villages see a priest only once a month, got $135,000 for training deacons and Eucharistic ministers. The Cheyenne, Wyoming diocese, that has 45 priests to serve 53,000 Catholics spread over 98,000 miles, got $75,000 to help educate 11 seminarians. The El Paso, Texas diocese, where the ratio of priests to Catholics is 1:6,800, got $105,000 for youth and evangelization programs. http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-203.cfm

4.      Nov. 22 is the feast of St. Cecilia, patroness of musicians. “Singing belongs to one who loves,” said St. Augustine of Hippo. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (para 39) speaks of the importance of singing as a part of worship and notes an ancient proverb: “One who sings well prays twice.”

5.  God loves you.