womenofspringfield's Blog

Let us all pray for our fellow Catholics who are now part of the next round of closing of parishes. It is certainly not easy. In reading the news story today I could feel for those faitfhul who struggle with the necessary changes. Include in your prayers our Bishop Timothy and our pastoral planning team who no doubt lead this with a heavy heart as well. Bishop McDonnell is in a difficult position and I do not envy his tasks.

There is something about the presentation of the news stories by the Union News I don't like. I can't put my finger on it but to me it just seems like they are running the stories in such a way as to give the impression that the diocese is falling apart when nothing could be further from the truth; the diocese is strengthening its presence by better utilization of its resources and its people.  Perhaps it is my imagination, or perhaps not.

A must see video on graceful parenting! I choose life! 

Check out our suggestions for reading, watching and listening;

http://astore.amazon.com/strosedelimapari/

I loved this book.  Without giving away too much detail, it is the fictionalstory of a man who loses a daughter to violence and gets a note from God to meet him at the "shack" where the last evidence was found.  What follows is a heartfelt dialogue between God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit about the biggest questions in life, "Where is God during tragedy", why does God allow it to happen...etc...

Through the use of metaphors, allegories and imagery, Young takes you into a heartfelt discussion from the point of view of a father dealing with grief. This is not a theology book and should not be taken as such. It is a fictional story with a message. There will be those who will "poo poo" its simple nature, or call it foolishness, but I say to them, see it with a heart to opening up dialogue with God for wherever the reader might be coming from. Not all readers will be sound Catholics, or theologians and they need to know God loves them too.

There is only one God, but an endless variety of human misunderstandings of God. Our ideas of God will always be inadequate, but can at least be healthy, that is, enable us to grow. To achieve this health we must move: -

-from a god we can understand, possess and dispense to others to a god of infinite surprise.

- from an elderly male god to a god who is above all our limitations

- from a religion in which beliefs, duties and worship hold first place to a religion in which a love relationship with God holds first place

- from a religion in which we must constantly abase ourselves before God to a religion in which self denial and self love work together to help us become ‘fully alive’

- from a commercial relationship with a god whose rewards can be earned by doing right things to a love relationship with a god who is pure gift

- from a relationship in which we determine exactly what part God shall be allowed in our lives to a love relationship of total giving

- from a god who demands that we bridge the gap between us to a god who always takes the first step and comes to us - from a world in which meaning comes from fulfilling the duties to a world in which meaning comes from the sum total of all the loves of our lives

- from a god greatly concerned with glory and majesty to a god not threatened by anything human beings can do, but caring passionately what they do to each other, to themselves and to their community

- from a god whose glory is to be found in our obedience to a god whose glory is found in our growth

- from an angry god, not a god of soft love, but to a god who, ,out of love, is never afraid to challenge us to grow

- from prayer which consists solely in words to a prayer in which our whole lives seek to express our desire for God

- from a god about whom we use many words to a god whose greatness and mystery reduce us to silent wonder

From “Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church – Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus –Bishop Geoffrey Robinson

Awesome! Good for you I hope you do well on the test. I can understand. I just finished four years at Sacred Heart University and graduated last week. It is an accomplishment that makes you feel good.

I have to agree on the Elms costs.  It is just prohibitive for the average person to be able to afford it, in particularly one with a family. The value for the cost is just not there, at least in the Business Program. They need to revisit how they teach adults.

 Congrats on the going back to school. Let us know the test results!

Enders Island....Mystic CT  www.endersisland.com

 I love the ocean, and the floral gardens so all of that coupled with a great spiritual setting, beautiful chapel and friendly faith filled staff really makes it a wonderful place to retreat.

These are photos of the Diocesan Pilgrimage to the 49th International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec.

http://picasaweb.google.com/agnellusdei
 Enjoy!

 If you would like to hear the speakers and I encourage you to listen to them they are awesome...in particular the woman from Burundi you can get all the highlights and videos at http://www.ecdq.tv/en/videos/

One of the difficulties in meeting the needs of such a large group with such diverse interests is finding common ground and speakers who can meet the needs of many.

The best way to do that is to book more than one speaker who can touch on a topic that each group will find interesting and useful. Hence the need for more than one style of address. I truly believe this is where the Holy Spirit comes in, in the selection of speakers which is done with prayer and research.  Each one had their specific accomplishments which, while not touching everyone, touched someone when they needed to hear it. As people of faith we have to trust in that fact.

Your honest comments are appreciated and noted! Keep 'em coming and do share the website with others in hopes to open respectful dialogue with each other.

God bless!

Thanks for the input.

My understanding is the property on Meadow St. has officially changed hands and is now owned by the Soup Kitchen. So that is a start.  Local builders (Leclerc Bros and others) as well as electricians stand by prepared to do the work gratis. Only the supplies need to be paid for. Thank God for good men like Paul Leclerc and the many others whose names I am unaware of who put faith in action.

Recent news also spoke of Open Pantry in Springfield also having difficulty. Keep the prayers coming that these much needed services continue.

“Prayer of a Dying Man” Teilhard de Chardin, SJ"

Now that I have found the joy of utilizing all the forms of growth to make you, or to let you, grow in me, grant that I may willingly consent to this last phase of communion in the course of which I shall possess you by diminishing in you. When the signs of age begin to mark my body (and still more when they touch my mind); when the ill that is to diminish me or carry me off strikes from without or is born within me; when the painful moment comes in which I suddenly awaken to the fact that I am ill or growing old; and above all at that last moment when I feel I am losing hold of myself and am absolutely passive within the hands of the great unknown forces that have formed me; in all those dark moments, O God grant that I may understand that it is you (provided only my faith is strong enough) who are painfully parting the fibers of my being in order to penetrate to the very marrow of my substance and bear me away within yourself."

From the Book "God I Have Issues-50 Ways to Pray No Matter How You Feel" by Mark Thibodeaux, SJ

Pastoral Planning Prayer

O God of Life,
we your people
seek your guidance
as we face the awesome prospect
of transition and change.

Transition is exciting and invigorating
when we move with foresight into the future.
Change is a challenge to let go.
It takes courage and confidence to move on.

Loving God,
give us open minds, kind hearts
and clear vision
as together we look to a bright
and a promising future.
Help us to plan with a big picture mentality-
to seek diligently and generously
what is in the best interest of all.

May Jesus, our shepherd and guide,
lead us in ways that are right and good.
May Mary, Mother of our Church,
encourage our earnest efforts
to listen and to learn.

In the words of the prophet Micah
may we “act justly, love tenderly
and walk humbly with our god.”
Amen.

Bishop Emeritus Joseph F. Maguire 2006

Nice! thanks for sharing..... I have one that I wrote similarly many years ago

The Potter

I am clay in the Potter's hands,
Formed in His image for all to see
Molded and stretched by the trials of the day
Still shaping what is yet to be me.
A fine piece of art I'll become
Smoothed by the stroke of His loving hand
Embraced by faith, perfected in Grace
All a part of His master plan.

Lynda

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and offering a great suggestion. Would love to hear more people weighing in on this.  Lynda has a wonderful ministry read more about it at

http://members.aol.com/blestiam/engagedcouples/cana.htm

Along similar lines I have often thought that the pre cana courses that are offered should include guest speakers who are divorced/annulled who can eloquently speak of what goes wrong in marriages and how to avoid them, get past them etc. I think this is valuable info for starry eyed young adults in particular.