2nd Annual Retreat
“Growing a Mary Garden”
Saturday, March 28th
St.Pius X Catholic Parish, in Chula Vista
Today, we begin the Original Novena - the Pentecost Novena. For the next nine days, join us in praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost Novena Day 1:
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created.
R. And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of Your faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture:
"I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you so that you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them. You will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God." - Ezekiel 36: 26-28
"I will put my spirit in you that you may come to life, and I will settle you in your land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. I have spoken; I will do it." -Ezekiel 37:14
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, what do you want of me today? Give me eyes that can see, ears that can hear and a heart that can love.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...
This is wonderful🙏 Thank you.
Friday, May 14, 2021
FEAST OF MATTHIAS, APOSTLE
Abstinence makes the faith grow stronger
Although self-denial is celebrated in all major religions as a virtue, the value isn’t so much in the practice as in the motivation. For Christians the virtuous motivation for abstinence of food, drink, or particular desires comes from love. We deny ourselves for God’s sake and for the sake of others. Saint Matthias, patron of alcoholics, encouraged abstinence as a way to grow closer to God. He kept his focus on his vocation to spread the gospel and let little distract him from his purpose. What can you do today to keep your focus on love?
TODAY'S READINGS: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; John 15:9-17. “This I command you: love one another.” #takefiveforfaith
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.” John 15:16 #dailyingodsword
📷beach mass & bonfire memories
God Invites Us Into Unceasing Conversation
Prayer is not introspection. It is not a scrupulous, inward-looking analysis of our own thoughts and feelings but it is a careful attentiveness to the Presence of Love personified inviting us to an encounter. Prayer is the presentation of our thoughts— reflective thoughts, as well as daydreams, and night dreams—to the One who receives them, sees them in the light of unconditional love, and responds to them with divine compassion. This context of thinking in the Presence, of conversation and dialogue with Love, is the joyful affirmation of our gentle Companion on the journey with God who knows our minds and hearts, our goodness and our beauty, our darkness and our light. -Henri Nouwen
The Psalmist prays the prayer for us (Psalms 139:1–3; 23–24):
O Lord, you search me and you know me, you know my resting and my rising,
you discern my purpose from afar.
You mark when I walk or lie down,
all my ways lie open to you. . . .
O search me, God, and know my heart. O test me and know my thoughts.
See that I follow not the wrong path and lead me in the path of life eternal.
Something Has Happened
One of the experiences of prayer is that it seems that nothing happens. But when you stay with it and look back over a long period of prayer, you suddenly realize that something has happened. What is most close, most intimate, most present often cannot be experienced directly but only with a certain distance. When I think I am only distracted, just wasting my time, something is happening too immediate for knowing, understanding, and experiencing. Only in retrospect do I realize that something very important has taken place. Isn’t this true of all really important events in life? When I am together with someone I love very much, we seldom talk about our relationship. The relationship, in fact, is too central to be a subject of talk. But later, after we have been apart, or separated, we realize how much it all meant to us.
- Henri Nouwen
Here’s a throwback from our last Volunteer Appreciation gathering, with part of our catechetical team and ministry leaders preparing to serve you! While we cannot yet gather for such, oh my how we appreciate you all, with your help in serving our parish and community through these changing and challenging times. Through your faithfulness in so many ways, you have supported both the parish and one another! You truly are the hands and feet of Christ. We see you and we bless the Lord for your goodness and generosity 🙏❤️ #volunteers #layministry #neighbortoneighbor #biblestudy #liturgicalministries #checkincallers #wearethechurch #exceptionalfamilies #catechists #knightsofcolumbus #parents #chapelprayers #adoration #ministersofhospitality #outreachministries #acrossthebridgeoutreach #yourweeklyoffering #foodandservicedonations #creativechoiroutreach #coryouth #smallchurchcommunities #gardenangels #marriagementors #parishioners #volunteerappreciation #lendingahand #tbt #gratefulandblessed
WONDERFUL.
I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord;
I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice.
Alleluia, alleluia.
See John 14:18
#dailyingodsword
Thursday, May 13, 2021
SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
Rise to the occasion
Today’s Feast of the Ascension gives wide recognition to a rather complex idea—that Christ both ascended to heaven and remains with us. In fact, we get a taste of heaven when we unify ourselves with Jesus in spirit and action. Saint Augustine taught “although he ascended alone, we also ascend, because we are in him by grace.” From attending Mass to aiding the needy, on this feast day we can all take a step toward unity with Christ.
TODAY'S READINGS: Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 4:1-13 or Ephesians 1:17-23; Mark 16:15-20. “ So then the Lord Jesus . . . was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.” #takefiveforfaith
*The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated on Sunday in our diocese.
This short video meditation awakens us to the wonders of our world, reminds us about what truly matters, and invites us to notice the everyday gifts of our lives…
If you like, reflection questions are in the comments.
Questions for Reflection or Conversation: 1. What are you grateful for in your life right now? Why? 2. What array of colors are visible to you in this moment? How might they inspire you? 3. How can you live a grateful life in the face of pain and suffering? 4. Consider a difficult situation and the impact it had on you. Can you identify an aspect of the situation (or impact) that you can feel grateful about? 5. Why does Brother David focus on each and every day being a gift? How does that help us live a more grateful life? 6. Who are people you know who live a grateful life? How are their lives different than yours? 7. Close your eyes, imagine a world where EVERYONE lives a more grateful life. Describe this world and how you fit in. 8. Imagine you are on your deathbed. What are you grateful for in that moment? Are there things that you would like to change in your life now so that you can truly be grateful for a life well-lived when death comes?
The Pope's Letter making the role of Catechist an official Ministry in the Church is not a "legalization" of the ministry for lay catechists nor is it a pat on the head for lay catechists. It is a long-overdue recognition and affirmation of the vocation shared by countless numbers of lay people and is intended to advance the Church's mission, contribute to the transformation of society, make the Church more present and fruitful in the world, renew the pastoral activity of the Church, heighten the need for quality catechist formation, and emphasize the missionary commitment of all the baptized!
- Joe Paprocki
www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/papa-francesco-motu-proprio-20210510_a...
www.vatican.va
Apostolic Letter issued “Motu Proprio” by the Supreme Pontiff Francis Antiquum ministerium, instituting the ministry of catechist, 10 May 2021
