Our Role as Prophets
Mother Teresa was a great prophet, especially when she publicly criticized politicians at the UN
Did you know that you are called to be a prophet?
No, that doesn’t mean that you can predict the future, though some prophets have done that in the past. A prophet is someone who speaks the truth of God publicly, whether to one other person, or to a nation or the world. You can be a prophet to your children (and your children to you), to your spouse, or to your community.
While Archbishop Chaput covered a number of topics in his homily for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, he really focused on our role as prophets as lay people, and what this has to do with our life, our holiness and ultimately, our destiny.
So next time you read about that young man asking Moses to impede a someone prophesying in their community, or John asking the same of Our Lord, remember that not only are you called to be a prophet, but think twice before you criticize someone for speaking a hard truth.
God has called you to great things, and he will help you!
Happy Feast of the Archangels
Today is the feast of the archangels, St. Michael, St. Raphael and St. Gabriel! Here’s a quote from Pope St. Leo the Great:
You should be aware that the word “angel” denotes a function rather than a nature. Those holy spirits of heaven have indeed always been spirits. They can only be called angels when they deliver some message. Moreover, those who deliver messages of lesser importance are called angels; and those who proclaim messages of supreme importance are called archangels. Raphael means God’s remedy, Michael is sent whenever some act of wondrous power must be performed, and Gabriel is called God’s strength because he was sent to Mary.
Here are some suggestions for today’s feast day from Catholic Culture:
- Learn about the angels: Children especially are fascinated by these celestial beings. The best place to start is the Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 328-336 to see the teachings of the Church on angels. John Paul II also did a Catechesis on the Angels during his General Audiences from July 9 to August 20, 1986.
- Home activity: make an angelfood cake — so named because of its pristine whiteness and ethereal lightness — would be a most appropriate dessert on this feast. It could be frosted with white icing. If you cover the center of the cake with a piece of cardboard before frosting the cake, it will support a small figurine of an angel. Silver dragees could be added for an even more festive look.
- Find the passages in the Bible about angels, in particular the passages about Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
- Domestic-Church.com has some great ideas for games!
- Memorize the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. Although no longer formally recited after Mass, our Holy Father John Paul II has encouraged us to recite this prayer daily. Here is the Regina Caeli message from April 24, 1994 during which the pope encouraged this prayer.
- In honor of St. Gabriel, Learn the Angelus and recite it daily. Traditionally, the prayer is prayed at the 6:00 and 12:00 hours (am and pm). There is a partial indulgence attached to those who pray this prayer.
- Read the Book of Tobit for the story of St. Raphael helping Tobit and Tobias.
- Make some recipes related to Michaelmas. Of special mention is the St. Michael Bannock from Scotland, roast goose and stuffing from Britain, waffles from France, and roast duck from Germany or France, gnocchi from Italy. Blackberries, apples and carrots also play a large role on this feast in various countries. Other ideas: make an angel food cake, devil’s food cake or angel hair pasta. Decorate with white, symbolizing the angels, or use other symbolic colors (see above). Non-dessert items: deviled eggs, deviled meats, etc.
- Try to find the Michaelmas daisy, a purple aster, to use for decoration. It also comes in other colors, including white, but purple is the most popular. It usually blooms in late summer until October. The official name is Aster novi-belgii, but is also known as New York aster. If you find plants or seeds to plan for next year’s garden. This site has photos and gardening information for the Michaelmas daisy.
- Read Fr. John Hardon’s overview of Devotion to the Angels.
Quote: On Suffering
Before all else, the first thing you have to do is pray for courage every day to carry the cross the Lord has assigned you. Then let each of you do your own work really well, the work proper to your state, as God wants it, and according to your condition, which means according to the Spirit of the Lord.
– Blessed Philip Rinaldi (1856-1931), Salesian Priest
Quote of the Day
I get a quote of the day from the Saints on my Google Page, and thought this one very poignant:
Perfection of moral virtue does not wholly take away the passions[emotions], but regulates them.
—Saint Thomas Aquinas
Classes Without Catechists
The following classes are without catechists.
[Update: catechist positions filled. We, however, still need aides.]
We will consider delaying the start of the following classes, pending a volunteer stepping forward.
- Kindergarten, Sunday 8:45-10:15 (filled)
- 2nd Grade, Wednesday 4-5:30pm (filled)
The following classes need an assistant or aide:
- Kindergarten, Sunday 8:45-10:15
- 1st Grade, Tuesday 4-5:30pm
- 4th Grade, Tuesday 4-5:30pm
- 2nd Grade, Wednesday 4-5:30pm
Please contact Jessica Smith at 303-674-5282 or ctk.jsmith@gmail.com for more information as soon as possible.
Thank you!
Need help in your Health Care decisions?
Catholic Health Care Seminar
Friday, October 2 & Saturday, October 3
Bonfils Hall, John Paul II Center, 1300 S. Steele, Denver
At some point, all of us – whether priest, deacon, or layperson – will make important health care decisions, either for ourselves or for our loved ones. Don’t miss this extensive two-day discussion of all the issues, led by several of the nation’s top bioethics scholars.
Presenters include:
- Dr. Father Tad Pacholczyk, NCBC Director of Education
- Dr. Marilyn Coors, Assoc. Professor of bioethics & genetics at CU-Denver
- Dr. (and Deacon) Alan Rastrelli, anesthesiologist at Kaiser Permanente
- Dr. Marie Hilliard, registered nurse & canon lawyer
Schedule
Friday, October 2
7:30 Mass followed by a continental breakfast. Mass will be celebrated byArchbishop Charles Chaput.
9:00 Catholic Health Care at the Service of the Human Person (Dr. Haas)
9:55 Complex Questions of Cooperation (Dr. Hilliard)
11:10 Responsible Stewardship of the Goods of Marriage: Contraception, Sterilization and NFP (Dr. Haas)
12:05 Working Lunch (A box lunch will be provided for an additional fee)
Breakout session with Father Tad for clergy of the Archdiocese of Denver
1:30 The Tragedy of Sexual Assault and the Compassion of the Church (Dr. Hilliard)
2:45 Ethical Approaches to Complications before and after Birth (Dr. Hilliard)
3:40 Stem Cell Research, the Whole Story (Father Pacholczyk)
Saturday, October 3
8:30 Continental breakfast provided by the NCBC
9:00 Advance Planning for the End of Life (Father Pacholczyk)
9:55 The Ethical and Unethical side of Organ Transplants (Dr. Haas)
11:10 When Dead REALLY Means Dead (Father Pacholczyk)
12:05 [Lunch on your own]
1:30 Care and Respect for the Dying: Ethical Issues in Palliative Care (Dr. Rastrelli)
2:45 Babies are Begotten, Not Made (Dr. Coors)
3:40 Interdisciplinary and Ethical Considerations in Health Care, a panel discussion of issues and questions with the guest faculty and NCBC staff.
4:40 Anticipated Mass for Sunday celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop James Conley. Seminary Chapel.
Contact Julie Kelley at jkelley@ncbcenter.org or (215) 877-2660 x213 to register or for a copy of the brochure.
Fall Classes Around the Archdiocese
| 09/14/09 | A Quick Journey Through the Bible 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. @ the John Paul II Center A Quick Journey through the Bible is the “tip of the iceberg” in the Great Adventure Bible series published by Ascension Press. This thoroughly Catholic Bible study gives a complete overview of salvation history from Genesis through the establishment of the Church in only eight weeks. Registration: $40. 303-715-3260 |
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09/16/09 |
The Gospel Message in the Catholic Tradition Instructor: Aimee Milburn Cooper All “gospels” are not the same. This fact is confirmed by the thousands of Protestant sects and churches that have emerged since the Reformation. Each one claims to preach the Gospel. But there’s only one Gospel, which the Catholic Church has preserved in its entirety for two thousand years. What is the gospel? If someone asked you, could you explain it to them? Based on Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Magisterial documents, Registration: $40 303-715-3260 or tess.stone@archden.org |
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09/24/09 |
“Symphony of Faith:” Introduction to the Catechism James Cavanagh, M.Div., instructor A basic overview of the Catechism. Participants will discover the beautiful “symphony” of the Catholic faith while learning how to use the Catechism with confidence. Registration: $40. 303-715-3260 or tess.stone@archden.org to register. |
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10/03/09 |
Conference on Evangelization Keynote: “The Homily & Evangelization” – Fr. Andreas Hock Also: “Youth & Evangelization” – Chris Stefanick; “The Catholic Gospel” – Aimee Milburn Cooper; “Becoming a Mission-minded parish” – Judd Baretta/Sylvia Gutierrez $30 (incl lunch) To register: 303-715-3260 |
Resources for Children with Disabilities
My husband has worked a lot with people with developmental disabilities, and called me out the other night when I was talking about our strategic plans for the RE Department.
“What are you doing for the youth with disabilities?” He asked.
“Um, hmmm. That’s a great question. I don’t know,” I replied. We haven’t been overloaded with requests for accomodations for youth with disabilities, but I quickly realized that we’re not as equipped as we could be.
So I did an internet search. Here’s a few things I found:
- Friendship Ministries: Nurture the faith of children and adults with cognitive impairments and enable them to become active members of your parish. Friendship Ministries will support you with training, consulting, and curriculum.
Friendship Ministries
2215 29th Street SE #B6
Grand Rapids MI 49508
(888) 866-8966
(616) 301-7761 (Fax)
www.friendship.org
friendship@friendship.org
- NCPD-National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities: Rooted in Gospel values that affirm the dignity of every person, the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) works collaboratively to ensure meaningful participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of the life of the Church and society.
NCPD
415 Michigan Avenue NE, Suite 95
Washington, DC 20017-4501
(202) 529-2933
TTY: 202-529-2934
www.ncpd.org
ncpd@ncpd.org
That’s a start! Let me know if you come accross any other good faith-based resources!
LITTLE FLOWERS AND BLUE KNIGHTS
Little Flowers Girls’ Club and Blue Knights Boys’ Club are returning to Christ the King and we want you! Both clubs are open to all Catholic boys and girls beginning at age three and will meet simultaneously on the 2nd and 4th Fridays during the school year. Kids and parents learn about Catholic saints, virtues, points of faith and church concepts in a fun-filled format. We also do great field trips and service projects, like touring the Cathedral, visiting the Elk Run Assisted Living and helping with CTK’s Homeless Feeding. For the girls, we’ll continue introducing concepts of gracious hospitality and courtesy during our meetings. For more info., contact Jean Holden 303-697-1607 or Dianne Palaschak 303-763-5377.
Here’s a related article from another Diocese on the Little Flowers.
New Books in our RE Library
Marian Devotions in the Domestic Church: Activities for the Liturgical Year
Lent & Easter in the Domestic Church
Advent, Christmas & Epiphany in the Domestic Church
Friendly Defenders Catholic Flash Cards
Ex Corde 