Pope Benedict XVI’s Prayer Intentions – Feb. 2010
Pope Benedict’s general prayer intention for February is: “That by means of sincere search for the truth scholars and intellectuals may arrive at an understanding of the one true God”.
His mission intention is: “That the Church, aware of her own missionary identity, may strive to follow Christ faithfully and to proclaim His Gospel to all peoples”.
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Catholic Schools Week 2010
Next week, Catholic schools across America celebrate Catholic Schools Week. This year's theme is "Dividends for Life."
Holy Family School will kick off the week with an Open House on Monday night from 7-8. I look forward to taking Thomas and letting him explore the "big school" and see friends from church there.
Here's a little bit of what's going on at some of the Catholic schools around our area, including Holy Family and St. Elizabeth in Granite City, St. Boniface in Edwardsville, St. John Neumann in Maryville, and St. Mary in Edwardsville.
Last year, I wrote a tribute/reflection on my time at Holy Family. As a result, I was surprised with an email from Sister Angelene, my grade school principal, who wrote, "Just read and enjoyed your grade school history. Hello and love to Suzanne and your boys, Mom and Dad, too." I share it again this year... and can't wait to see which one of my former teachers writes to me this year!...
Holy Family School, Granite City, IL
It'd be silly to let this year's Catholic Schools Week go by without some thoughts and reflections on my own time in the "little house" (as my teachers liked to refer to Holy Family School as we were preparing to graduate 8th grade and move on to the "big house.")
I started at St. Margaret Mary school in 1st grade. I had attended public school for Kindergarten, but that year our local school district teachers went on a prolonged strike at the start of the school year. Rather than wait it out and see what happened, my parents bit the bullet and made the decision to send me to our Catholic grade school instead. Perhaps they saw the strike as a sign, and it was Providence in action.
In 1st grade, Mrs. Wilkinson (God bless her) was a wonderful teacher. I got a detention for sharpening my crayon in the pencil sharpener, but I didn't know any better. We still used pencils. All of our books were really, really thin. Toward the end of the year, we got to try out ink pens in preparation to start to learn cursive the next year. I took my little old Casio PT-80 in for show and tell. On the way out of school, I dropped it in the snow. As a result, I got a newer, bigger keyboard.
Casio PT-80
In 2nd grade, I had Mrs. Provasnik (God bless her.) I learned to write in cursive. I tutored 1st graders in reading. I got to grade papers, and she gave me my very own EZ-Grader to grade them. The girl who sat behind me in our classroom threw up on my back. Luckily it was as we were waiting for dismissal, so I was able to promptly go home and clean up. Once, we had to draw a picture of something we thought made God happy. I drew a picture of a bank and lots of money. If I remember correctly, it was sent home to my parents with a note asking them to help explain to me what really made God happy.
In 3rd grade, Mrs. McKay (God bless her) was our teacher. For Catholic Schools Week, we had to lay on the floor so she could trace us on big paper. We then cut out the paper and drew what we wanted to be when we grew up. Of course I drew myself as a priest. But I was torn. I wrote an essay about becoming a movie or theatrical producer. God had entirely other ideas in store.
In 4th grade, we had Mrs. Kurant (God bless her). She lived up to her reputation of being one of the hardest teachers on earth, but we loved her. Once, I got caught sitting on my feet in my chair. In true Mrs. Kurant fashion, I was assigned the task of writing an essay about birds, why they perch on their feet, and why humans do not.
After 4th grade, St. Margaret Mary merged with Sacred Heart and St. Joseph. We became Holy Family. At the end of the 4th grade year, the students of Sacred Heart / St. Joseph were bussed to our school for the day (we were going to be using our school property the next year as the merged school) to meet us, play games, hang out, and make friends. It was great... I met the classmates who would be my friends for the second half of grade school and with whom I would be Confirmed and graduate into high school.
In 5th grade, we had Mrs. Pennell (God bless her), one of my favorite teachers of all my educational career. We were also part of an experiment called the "split class." Since there were too many kids for a 4th grade class but not enough for 2 classes... and there were too many kids for a 5th grade class but not enough for 2 classes, some of each class (4th & 5th grades) were split off into a combined class. Mrs. Pennell helped us learn a ton as we grew to study more "adult" subjects like social studies, history, and more advanced sciences. We also started some "departmental" experiences, like going to Sr. Mary Stanley for art, Mrs. Bucatch and the gym for PE, and Mr. Vizer for music.
6th grade brough Mrs. Pennell again - I was again in the older 1/2 of the split class. Notably, Mrs. Pennell is now the principal at Holy Family.
Mrs. Pennell was also our speech coach. And it's quite possible that at many points in my career I could point back and say that "all I ever really needed to know, I learned from Mrs. Pennell." The life skills and lessons from the 2 years in her classroom have carried me far. Including the life lesson when Matt Kelahan and John Haug and I were caught blowing spitwads onto the classroom ceiling. It was an experiment! And one for which we had to serve after-school time cleaning the Learning Center & Preschool.
In 7th grade, we had Mrs. Prazma (God bless her) and moved to a full departmental schedule, going to various teachers for various subjects. We dissected a worm and a frog. I won the contest for guessing when the first significant snowfall of the year would be.
In 8th grade, we had Mrs. Bucatch (God bless her.) She and our departmental teachers prepared us for life and for our future studies in high school. Mrs. Prazma let us dissect the pig that had been waiting in her science closet for years just for our class.
Through it all, there were others too... Mrs. Lueddeke with social studies... Mrs. Webb with English and a good dose of Catholic morality (that we could've probably used even more of)... Mrs. Friedel with algebra... and on... and on... (God bless all of them.)
Looking back, I wouldn't trade my experiences in Catholic school for the world. We were sheltered from a culture that was increasingly changing around us, infiltrated by the evil one and his work. We had a tremendous group of loving and active parents who pulled together to really enrich our academic experience with extracurriculars like a strong athletic program, a fantastic computer lab, and more. And we had a phenomenal parish and pastor who stood behind our school and worked hard to keep it strong.
Guiding it all with a very firm but loving hand was Sister Mary Angelene. As I've grown older, I've come to appreciate more and more the strong sheparding hand in which she held our school.
As I've grown older, I've also come to really grasp the sacrifice that Catholic school teachers make in many cases in order to teach in our Catholic schools. It truly is a ministry, and one of sacrifice at that. We owe them - and the religious who served our schools for so many years - a huge debt of gratitude.
I remember the night of our 8th grade graduation. The nervousness of moving on to the "big house". The sadness of our class of friends disbanding and going various ways for high school. The excitement of finally graduating from school and church (yeah, unfortunately, that's how we saw it.) But as I've grown, I've learned that the latter was never true, and never should've been. Sure, maybe we were burnt out on learning about our faith. But the journey that God wanted us to have with him was only continuing in new ways. It took a few years of walking a path away from Him for me to realize that.
So a salute to my Alma Mater - truly a "Nourishing Mother" - Holy Family School - and to all who stood by it, supported it, made it good and strong, and continue to do so today. You had a world of impact on my wife and on me... more than you'll ever really know, I'm sure... and we pray that our kids have the same opportunity through their whole education.
And to all Catholic schools. This week, as you celebrate your heritage and future, I thank you and pray for you.
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Pope Invites Christians To Join “New, Intense Evangelization”
Via Catholic News Agency:
In his homily during the celebration of Vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls on Monday evening, Benedict XVI outlined the essential elements of convergence between all Christian faiths. He also called for a "new, intense evangelization" to respond to important issues in the world today.
"In a world marked by religious indifference, and even by a growing aversion towards the Christian faith, a new, intense evangelization is necessary, not only among people that have never known the Gospel, but also among those in which Christianity has been spread and is a part of their history," Pope Benedict said emphatically.
Referring to the history of Christianity and the issues affecting the unity of all its branches, Pope Benedict explained, "Unfortunately, there is no lack of questions that separate some from others and we hope that they can be overcome through prayer and dialogue."
But, he added, "there is a central content of Christ's message that we can announce together: the paternity of God, the victory of Christ over sin and his death with his cross and resurrection (and) a trust in the transformative action of the Spirit."
"While we are on the path towards full communion, we are called to offer a shared witness against the ever more complex challenges of our time, including secularization and indifference, relativism and hedonism, the delicate ethical themes regarding the beginning and end of life, the limits of science and technology, dialogue with other religious traditions," Benedict XVI urged.
The Holy Father expressed the necessity of a untied [I believe they meant "united"] effort amongst all Christians to extend unity into other areas and that "from now on, we must give a shared witness (to) the protection of Creation, the promotion of the common good and peace, defense of the centrality of the human person, commitment to defeating the misery of our time, including hunger, poverty, illiteracy, unequal distribution of goods."
Considering the energetic response that Pope John Paul's call to the "New Evangelization" brought about - and still brings about - in the Church, I'm excited by this renewed call to a "new, intense evangelization." I like the wording, the expression of the need for intensity. This isn't the first that he's spoken on this topic, though.
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TK7 (Trinity Koinonia 7)
You're joining us at TK7, right?
Trinity Koinonia 7. March 19-21
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21 New Deacons for Salt Lake City
New Deacons in Salt Lake City
The Diocese of Salt Lake City and its Cathedral of the Madeleine hold a special place in my heart (and at least one reader who I know was baptized there.) They are in the midst of the headquarters of the division of the company that I work within. I spent my birthday and the next day - Ash Wednesday - there last year, and worshiped in the Cathedral on Ash Wednesday.
As a result, it's especially touching to read that they were blessed with the ordination of 21 more permanent deacons on Saturday.
As the Salt Lake Tribune reports, deacons are:
"...men who straddle two streams in the church: They are both laypeople and clergy."
"All of us live in the secular world," says Perry resident Karl Meyersick, one of those being ordained. "This ordination ties us to the mystical world, the clerical side of God's kingdom."
That's the role of the deacon, to be in the middle," says Meyersick, who works as a logistics manager for a Hill Air Force Base contractor.
Deacons have three main roles: to pray, to assist at worship and to serve the people, particularly the poor, sick and isolated.
"The whole point is service," says Moab resident Rick Klein, a potash mine manager and one of the 21 men."This probably sounds corny ... but that's really what I'd like to do," Klein says. "This corner of the state is awfully big, and there's not a lot of clergy down here."
Congratulations to these fine men and their families as this new chapter in their life of faith and vocation begins.
Read: Utahns answer the call to serve as Catholic deacons at the Salt Lake Tribune.
Pray: For the new deacons and their families, and for those who are discerning a call to the diaconate.
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Closed Sundays
[to the extent possible]
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
A day of grace and rest from work
2184 Just as God "rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done,"121 human life has a rhythm of work and rest. The institution of the Lord's Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives.122
2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.123 Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.
The charity of truth seeks holy leisure- the necessity of charity accepts just work.124
2186Those Christians who have leisure should be mindful of their brethren who have the same needs and the same rights, yet cannot rest from work because of poverty and misery. Sunday is traditionally consecrated by Christian piety to good works and humble service of the sick, the infirm, and the elderly. Christians will also sanctify Sunday by devoting time and care to their families and relatives, often difficult to do on other days of the week. Sunday is a time for reflection, silence, cultivation of the mind, and meditation which furthers the growth of the Christian interior life.
2187 Sanctifying Sundays and holy days requires a common effort. Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord's Day. Traditional activities (sport, restaurants, etc.), and social necessities (public services, etc.), require some people to work on Sundays, but everyone should still take care to set aside sufficient time for leisure. With temperance and charity the faithful will see to it that they avoid the excesses and violence sometimes associated with popular leisure activities. In spite of economic constraints, public authorities should ensure citizens a time intended for rest and divine worship. Employers have a similar obligation toward their employees.
121. Gen 2:2.
122. Cf. GS 67 § 3.
123. CIC, can. 1247.
124. St. Augustine, De civ. Dei 19, 19: PL 41, 647.
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Minor Leaguer Grant Desme to the Seminary
Wow. From one team of Angels to another. Not just a "minor leaguer," but a leading prospect for the A's.
Where else but ESPN:
As a top prospect for the Oakland Athletics, outfielder Grant Desme might've gotten the call every minor leaguer wants this spring.
Instead, he believed he had another, higher calling.
Desme announced Friday that he was leaving baseball to enter the priesthood, walking away after a breakout season in which he became MVP of the Arizona Fall League.
"I was doing well at ball. But I really had to get down to the bottom of things," the 23-year-old Desme said. "I wasn't at peace with where I was at."
A lifelong Catholic, Desme thought about becoming a priest for about a year and a half. He kept his path quiet within the sports world, and his plan to enter a seminary this summer startled the A's when he told them Thursday night.
General manager Billy Beane "was understanding and supportive," Desme said, but the decision "sort of knocked him off his horse." After the talk, Desme felt "a great amount of peace."
There's just something about that "being knocked off the horse," isn't there?
That's awesome. God-speed to you, Grant. Look forward to being able to call you Father Desme, God-willing. Maybe someday we'll road trip out to hear one of your homilies.
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Prayer to Saint Michael
[St. Michael, by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (a.k.a. Raphael)]
One of Thomas' favorite prayers. And it's quickly become one of my favorites as well.
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host
by the Divine Power of God
cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
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Elisabeth: The Littlest Survivor
Very touching, personally, that she shares my wife Suzanne's middle name: Elisabeth.
From Daily Mail, via Verum Serum:
No one believed that [3 week old] Elisabeth Joassaint could have lived as the family home was crushed by the weight of its upper storey.
It was a full seven days later that a French rescue team returned to the ruins to search for the baby’s body – and heard faint cries.
Incredibly, Elisabeth was alive in a tiny hollow beneath the devastation, still lying on the bed where her mother Michelene had placed her moments before the quake hit on January 12.
Yesterday Mrs Joassaint, 22, sat in the shade of a makeshift tented hospital, clutching Elisabeth and giving thanks for what she called ‘a miracle and the mercy of God.’
Absolutely. And Amen.
Elisabeth: The Smallest Survivor
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Day of Prayer and Penance for Life
At least three friends (that I'm aware of) are among the almost 250 from our diocese who have joined the hundreds of thousands who have converged upon our nation's capitol for this year's MARCH FOR LIFE.
January 22 is a dark mark in the history of our great nation. January 22, 1973 was the day that the famous Roe v. Wade decision came out of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Our household and family join with them in a vigil of prayer for an end to abortion in our country.
If you can, please join us tonight (Friday night) at Holy Family for an observation of what the U.S. bishops have requested of the faithful: A day of Prayer & Penance for Life. The Holy Rosary will be said and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available at 5:30 P.M. Mass (using the Propers for the Mass for Peace and Justice) begins at 6:30 P.M. And a light soup and bread dinner (donations suggested) will be served in the community center after Mass.
This is the second year we've observed this at Holy Family. God-willing, maybe one of these years will be the last.
Thomas Xavier Halbrook, 4 months, 2005
One of the other dads over at Catholic Dads had some suggestions from his pastor for things you might consider doing if you can't make it to Reconciliation and/or a Mass today...
- Make a visit to any Catholic church to spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament
- Spend some extra time in prayer at home, e.g. pray a family rosary
- Abstain from meat
- Fast for the day, from a meal, or from snacks between meals
- Give up television, music, video games, or some other entertainment
- Donate monies saved from above to any pro-life group or agency
Matthew James Halbrook, 5 months, 2007
"In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass 'For Peace and Justice' (no. 22 of the 'Masses for Various Needs') should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day." - General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373
Joseph Michael Halbrook, 6 months, 2009
"Openness to life is at the center of true development. When a society moves toward the denial or suppression of life, it ends up no longer finding the necessary motivation and energy to strive for man's true good. If personal and social sensitivity towards the acceptance of a new life is lost, the other forms of acceptance that are valuable for society also wither away. The acceptance of life strengthens moral fiber and makes people capable of mutual help. By cultivating openness to life, wealthy peoples can better understand the needs of poor ones, they can avoid employing huge economic and intellectual resources to satisfy the selfish desires of their own citizens, and instead, they can promote virtuous action within the perspective of production that is morally sound and marked by solidarity, respecting the fundamental right to life of every people and every individual." - Pope Benedict XVI
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This is the online home of Michael Halbrook, Suzanne Halbrook, and their growing family. We're a family of five living out our Catholic faith and vocation in the St. Louis, Missouri area.
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