Diocese of Ogdensburg

‘From the rising of the sun to its setting let the name of the Lord be praised” Psalm 113:3
Issue #61 February 2012

Sister Mary Eamon Lyng, SSJ, Director
Office of Evangelization
Phone: 315-393-2920 E-mail: elyng@dioogdensburg.org

Church: A Family of Faith
Building Community within Family and Parish
            The season of Lent offers a wonderful opportunity for building community within families and within parish life. What does it mean to “build community”? How do we “do it”? What are the benefits of “building community”?
One way to “build community” is to be a welcoming community whether it is in the home or in the parish. To feel that one belongs, has a place, even a special place, says that he/she feels connected and is important. Giving a warm welcome offers a way of seeing people for who they are and a sense of “feeling at home”.
How do we “do it”? Develop a welcoming ministry that reaches out to new registrants or to new families to help them to experience being a part of the parish community. Ask a regular parishioner or family to adopt or to guide the new family into the parish life of worship, service, and activities.
The benefit of “building community” is to strengthen the active presence of God within the family and parish community to go out to serve others and to bring those away from the Church “back home”. For all those people who might be attracted to Catholicism or who have been away from the Church, the witness of our welcoming and sense of joy will draw people because God’s presence has come from a community of people who welcome, celebrate, pray, invite, involve and serve.
More ways of being a Welcoming Community can be found on www.dioogdensburg/evangelization.org under the link of Parish Evangelization/Ministry of Hospitality. There is the booklet called Building a More Vibrant Parish: The Ministry of Hospitality.    Another excellent resource is, Sowing New Seed: Directions for Evangelization Today by Fr. Frank DeSiano, CSP, Chapter 5: Evangelization and Welcoming, pp. 50-62 (Paulist Press, 1994).

Church Community in Action—
Entering into Lent
            Entering into the season of Lent is an invitation to encounter “being with Jesus” and to follow Him as His disciple. This is Mark’s theme throughout his Gospel, “to be with Him”. Many of the Gospel readings will be taken from Matthew and John during the season of Lent. However, Mark’s Gospel offers each of us an opportunity to learn the person of Jesus and to learn how to be His disciple. Mark begins Jesus’ Galilean ministry with these words, “Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: ‘This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15). There is only one topic in Mark’s Gospel—the Kingdom of God. Read Mark’s Gospel slowly, prayerfully, reflectively, learning to know Jesus, “to be with Him” experiencing His invitation to “Come, follow Me” as His disciple.
There are Lenten and Easter Family Activities found on www.dioogdensburg.org/evangelization. At the top of the bar is the Link: Parish Evangelization, there are Seasonal Parish Activities—Lenten and Easter Family Activities. They can also be found on the homepage www.dioogdensburg.org.
One way you can become an active participant in building the Kingdom of God and witnessing your faith is to invite someone you know in your family or a friend to your parish activities during Lent:
~Daily Mass, especially Ash Wednesday, Chrism Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral, March 29 at 11:00 AM, Holy Week celebrations
~Faith Sharing in Small Groups                       ~Lenten Soup Suppers
~Bible Study                                        ~Parish Penance Services
~Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament ~Rite of Election—St. Mary’s Cathedral, March 4-2:30 PM
~Stations of the Cross                          ~Parish Mission

Workshop in April
Sister Louise Alff, OSF, is looking forward to guiding us in our efforts to look at our local parish families to see how we may more effectively reach out to those who are not sitting in our pews in Church praying with us. She will share with us ways and practical strategies in which we can help them participate more fully in the life of the parish and become more active members of the life of the Church.
Sister Louise is Education and Faith Based Coordinator at a refugee center called Vive La Casa (www.vivelacasa.org)in Buffalo, New York. The workshops will take place from April 14-16. The poster for publicity and for registration is attached and posted on www.pastoral.dioogdensburg.org. Registration for the workshop is due Friday, March 30, 2012.
Deaneries Location Date Time

Jefferson/Lewis/Hamilton-Herkimer Deaneries Augustinian Academy, Carthage Saturday, April 14 10:00 -12:00pm

St. Lawrence/Franklin Deaneries Trinity Catholic School, Massena Sunday, April 15 2:00- 4:00pm

Clinton/Adirondack/ St. Peter’s Emmaus Hall, Plattsburgh Monday, April 16 1-3 pm

Hamilton-Herkimer/Essex Deaneries 7-9 pm

If there are some parishes not able to attend this workshop in one of these areas, I would be most happy to come to your parish and with other parishes combined to offer the workshop.

O Mary, Star of Evangelization, enlighten us with the radiance of your Son, walk with us in faith, strengthen us in hope, and unite us in love as we strive to become disciples in mission. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Office of Family Life
The way to build good family life is to prepare for holy and fruitful marriages. The Pre-Cana Schedule has been set for 2012. The schedule can be found on www.dioogdensburg.org homepage. Contact Gary and Gail Frank – gfrank@dioogdensburg.org, Directors of Family Life or Henry and Dayna Leader, Directors of Pre-Cana-dleader@dioogdensburg.org for more information.
The Family Guggenheim dates have also been set: Session 1: August 9—12; Session 2: August 16—19; Session 3: October 5-7

Office of Respect Life
Learn about the “40 Days for Life Spring Campaign” from February 22-April 1st from the flyer found on www.dioogdensburg.org homepage. Contact John and Colleen Miner for more information cminer@dioogdensburg.org.

Office of Young Adults
Young Adults from the ages of 20-40 are invited to attend and participate in the 2nd Metanoia Retreat at Wadhams Hall on February 10-11, 2012. The retreat is about one’s conversion and service to one another in which the attendees have taken on the challenge of evangelizing their fellow young adults. You will find the Metonia brochure and registration form on www.dioogdendsburg.org homepage. For more information, contact Lorraine Turgeon 315-323-4989 or lturgeon@dioogdensburg.org.

Reflection Resources for Gospel of Mark

Praying with Saint Mark’s Gospel, edited by Fr. Peter John Cameron, OP who uses the “lectio divina” method and provides readers with daily reflections on the Gospel of Saint Mark (www.magnificat.com) $12.95.
Seven Days with the Gospel of Mark by Joseph G. Donders, is a personal and shared retreat that uncovers the mystery of Mark’s Gospel (www.twentythirdpublications.com) $6.95.
A Retreat with MARK: Embracing Discipleship by Stephen Doyle, O.F.M. acts as interpreter for Mark, helping the reader/retreatant to know Jesus better and enter more deeply into the mystery of Jesus’ love.

Catholicism with Rev. Robert E. Barron, Word on Fire—the Office of Evangelization has purchased the complete set. St. Mary’s Cathedral will be using it during Lent. The set will become available to parishes in the future if you wish to use it for your parish. The complete set cost is $249.95 from www.CatholicismSeries.com.

February 2012

Past Horizon Newsletters


Home Welcome Parish Evangelization Prayer Service Church: A Family of Faith Workshops Vignettes Lenten Longing 2012 Horizon Newsletter Year of Faith Inactive Catholics Comments FAQ Calling all Mothers and Grandmothers Prayer Resource Programs Resources Online Resources Contact Evangelization

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