Sunday, April 6, 2014, 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. St. Francis Convent, 1515 W. Dragoon Trail, Mishawaka Theme: Roll Away the Stone Presenter: Fr. Aaron Pidel, SJ Donation: $10 for the retreat (flexible); Dinner: $5 (or bring your own) No childcare - babies with parents welcome! Registration: required Questions: Aaron Seng – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 574-968-2423 Lent is a time when Christians are called to "strip away" the interior and exterior excesses of our lives and simplify. But what are those obstacles that stand in our way? How are we called to detach ourselves from those things that keep us from answering Jesus' call to new life in relationship with him?
with Jim Murphy Wednesday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Jude
In 1992, Jim embarked on a 4,200 mile journey, carrying a cross from the Atlantic to Pacific. It took nearly two years and fourteen pairs of shoes. In that time the cross became an even more significant part of his life. The cross absolutely transformed the lives of those who encountered it. He was able to mediate upon the cross for hours and days at a time. Each Lent, we are blessed to have him share with us the fruits of that and many more years of contemplation, and it is an important part of our yearly Lenten Journey at St. Jude and Sacred Heart. For him, the cross is the evidence and the experience of Christ's deep love. It is His invitation to love in kind.
Saturday, March 29, Notre Dame Conference Center (McKenna Hall) - 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Bishop Rhoades will open the conference with morning prayer and a reflection. Dr. Ray Guarendi will speak on Marriage: Small Steps, Big Rewards and Standing Strong as a Parent. Cost: $35 per person includes continental breakfast, boxed lunch and afternoon snacks.
On Sunday, March 9th, Msgr. John will be giving a talk on Prayer. Plan to "come on down" to the church basement after Mass that day and enjoy a cup of coffee and tasty donut and listen to his insights on how to pray. This is an opportunity to fine-tune our prayer life especially during the Lenten Season.
Books You Have Been Meaning To Read: The Naked Now by Richard Rohr
How can you engage every grace that you could imagine? How can you hold yourself in a place of peace and assurance to be open to the graces that will be there no matter what? All of us have the hunger to have such heightened mystical experiences. Come join the Spiritual Literacy Circle as we explore how to enhance our spiritual awareness, awakening a deeper union with God. We will explore how our patterns of thinking can actually bring us to live in the "naked now." The "sacrament of the present moment" can teach us how to actually experience our lives more fully in God, whether good, bad, or ugly, freeing ourselves from the fears that cripple us and connecting us to the joy already within us. Using the work of Richard Rohr, The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See, we will explore these questions and many others in the hope to transform ourselves and inspire others.
Everyone is welcomed to join the reading group. There will be short reading assignments in preparation for each session. Reading is encouraged, but your participation is welcomed regardless! The cost of the book is $14.00. If you wish to have a book purchased for you, provide the money in an envelope with "Your Name/Naked Now" to the Parish Office or to John Zellers, Phone 231-9743, by Monday, December 16, 2013.
Four sessions in 2014 are scheduled in the St. Jude School Library, on Mondays, January 6, 20 and February 3, 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Participants are encouraged to read Part I, Chapters 1-9 (pages 1-65) for the first session. For any questions, contact John Zellers.
Pope FrancisThe Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend is conducting a 20 question online survey of Catholics. This survey is part of a questionnaire sent to all the National Bishops' Conferences of the world in preparation for an extraordinary synod of bishops that will take place in Rome in October of 2014. The main focus of this special synod will be on pastoral issues dealing with the Church's teachings on marriage and family life. Due to the short timespan for preparing for this extraordinary synod, there is not much time to conduct these diocesan surveys.
Catholics interested in participating may access the survey at the diocesan website www.diocesefwsb.org through this Monday, December 16.
