Diocese of Ogdensburg

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‘From the rising of the sun to its setting let the name of the Lord be praised” Psalm 113:3
Issue #16 May 2008
Diocese of Ogdensburg Office of Evangelization
Sister Mary Eamon Lyng, SSJ, Director

Phone: 315-393-2920 Fax: 315-394-7401 E-mail: elyng@dioogdensburg.org

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

We are a people alive with the Spirit. We celebrate the rich traditions of our Catholic faith during this month of May: the feast of the Ascension (May 1), the Solemnity of Pentecost (May 11), the feast of the Holy Trinity, (May18), the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (May 25). As St. Paul tells us from 1 Corinthians 12: 13, we are one body, but many parts. We are one body because the Holy Spirit is with us, within us, at our side, on our side to be the one Body of Christ. The presence of the Holy Spirit is the real presence of the living God living deep within us, calling us to continue the mission of Christ. Pope Benedict XVI recently reminded us that Catholic identity can only be strengthened through personal prayer, evangelization and catechesis. How can this one Body of Christ live without the gift of the Holy Spirit, without the nourishment of the Eucharist, without the Triune God who signs us with eternal life? We need each other to continue the mission of Christ Jesus who sends us forth to be His witnesses of truth, justice, and peace. In your small community gatherings e.g. parish council, finance council, educational council, RCIA meetings, you might want to consider taking five minuets of your meeting time for some faith sharing from the Scriptures. This will build your parish community into becoming a vibrant parish community of love. Alive with the Spirit, we are strengthened for the journey.

Why Catholic?

The Faith Formation II Workshops are completed. There were over 300 from the seven deaneries who attended the workshop. Again, I would like to thank the many pastors who attended this session. Your presence and support is edifying and a great witness to the importance of Adult Faith Formation in your parish. I would like to thank Sister Kathleen (Kass) Collins and Greg Kremer for their fine presentations on Christ’s Presence in the Eucharist. Enough cannot be said about building small communities within your parish. Sharing the experience of faith builds community and strengthens the bond of being community. I am aware that this is a very busy time for everyone in the parish with Confirmation and First Communion. However, if you would like me to give the Faith Formation Workshop to a particular group in your parish, please do not hesitate to call on me.
During the Lenten season, there were over 2500 participants involved in small communities. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if through invitation and encouragement our small community groups continue to grow in the Fall? Sessions 7-12 Faith Bits for Families are found on the Pastoral Documentation. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide us to pass on the faith by our witness and spirit of joy.

There was so much energy around Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States. The young people were inspired and not so young people were encouraged by this man who was authentic and sincere in his message to all Americans. There is a new energy in being Catholic and he has challenged us to bring the presence of Christ into the marketplace. The Holy Father looks to American Catholics to practice the faith, to witness the Gospel values, especially the social and moral issues that weaken the fiber of our nation. He spoke of the great freedom we possess in this democracy. But the true freedom comes in placing our faith in Christ our Hope. Pope Benedict’s speeches to American can be found in Origins and on the Vatican website www.vatican.va.

The St. Paul Event

The bulletin vignettes to begin the Year of St. Paul are now on the Pastoral Documentation. The focus of these vignettes is on the life of St. Paul. They begin the week of May 2—June 22. The themes of St. Paul will be the focus for the months of July-August leading up to The St. Paul Event. Please mark your calendar for the celebration on Sunday, September 14 at 4 pm with Solemn Vespers at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Fr. Frank Coryer, St. Patrick’s Church, Chateagay is leading a pilgrimage to Greece: Walking in the Footsteps of St. Paul from May 1 – 11, 2009. For information people can contact me either my mail or by email peter1150@twcny.rr.com.

2008 World Synod of Bishops

In preparation for the 2008 World Synod of Bishops on “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church”, Pope Benedict XVI stressed that “the Synod wishes to promote an inspired rediscovery of the Word of God as a living, piercing and active force in the heart of the Church…cf. Hebrews 4:12 (Vatican City, March 25, 2007). Pope Benedict also stressed that rediscovery of the ancient practice of “lectio divina” (prayerful meditation or “divine reading” of Scripture) is key to continuing the evangelizing mission of the Church. “Assiduous reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer makes that intimate dialogue possible in which, through reading, one hears God speaking, and through prayer, one responds with a confident opening of the heart…. If this practice is promoted with efficacy, I am convinced that it will produce new spiritual springtime in the Church…One must never forget that the Word of God is a lamp for our steps and a light on our path.” How can we help others realize that “God would like a word with them?” How can we rediscover the living, piercing, active power of the Word of God in our everyday lives? Here are five simple steps of one possible method to begin or to go beyond the beginning in ‘divine reading” of the Scripture: Pause (Relax, slow down, focus on Jesus’ presence), Pour Over (read and listen to the passage, and then underline or highlight words, phrases, or images of meaning), Ponder, (write a verse in your notebook, paraphrase it, give response), Pray (listen), and Proclaim (prayer of gratitude). See the new “Evangelization Workout” exercise at
www.dioceseoftrenton.org/spiritual/evangelizationworkout.asp

Resources

Conversing with God in Scripture: A Contemporary Approach to Lectio Divina by Stephen Binz reveals the process that helps both individuals and communities to experience God’s word and to live God’s word as a personal word with life, healing and power to live as Catholic Christians (Word Among Us Press), $10.95.

The Purpose Driven Life . Rick Warren conveys to young people no one is an accident. Even before the universe was created, God had each person in mind, and he planned each one for his purposes. Zondervan Publishing Co, 2002 ($17.95)

“In the Voting Booth: A Catholic’s Guide” is a question and answer pamphlet that guides Catholics why it is important to vote www.osv.com ($14.95) per package of 50.

My Lord and God: Engaging Catholics in Social Ministry by Jeffry Odell Korgen presents a Christ-centered framework of invitation, conversion, and empowerment, offers examples of successful social ministry, and explains why some Catholics get involved in social action and others do not www.nplc.org ($18.95).

Apostleship of Prayer: The True Value of Suffering #270 and Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for Families #825 are two new leaflets for the sick and suffering and for families to enthrone the Sacred Heart of Jesus in their homes www.apostleshipofprayer.org.

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