AlbertaMackenzieProvincialCouncilSpiritualDevelopmentCommittee
JudyLookChair
Communique#5
HappyFebruary…theMonthofLove.Heartssurroundusthismonth.IwonderiftheadvertisersrealizethatforCatholicsheartsremindusoftheSacredHeartofJesuswhoseloveforusleadHimtotheCross.OnlythreeandahalfmoreweeksbeforeAshWednesdayandthebeginningofLent..AllofushaveourownmemoriesofLentandmanyofuscontinuewiththesameritualseveninourcouncils.Thisyearletustaketheopportunitytochangethingsup.LetusunderstandLentfromthepointofviewofourchurch.“ThehighestpointintheChurchyearofprayeristheSacredPaschalTriduumcelebratingthedyingandrisingoftheLordJesus.Weprepareforthisthree-dayperiodduringtheSeasonofLentandprolongitforthegreat50daysoftheEasterSeason.Lenthasadualpurpose.IthelpscatechumensprepareforcelebratingBaptism,Confirmation,andEucharistattheEasterVigilanditinvitesthosewhoarebaptizedthroughpenanceandprayertopreparetorenewtheirbaptismalvowsattheVigil”.OrdotheLiturgicalCalendarofCCCBfor2016-17WhenIreadthatIaskedmyselfIwonderhowmanyofourladiesarefamiliarwithRCIA?TheheadofRCIAinyourparishmaybeagreatguestspeakerforoneofyourmeeting.I
CouncilSpiritualActivitiesforLentPrayer
Twosuggestions
1.StationsoftheCross– IncooperationwiththeCommunityLifeChairwearesuggestingthateachcouncil
praytheDevelopmentandPeace’s“SolidarityWayoftheCross.”WomenattheHeartofChange.YoucandownloaditfromtheDevelopmentandPeaceWebsite.
Thedownloadedhandoutcouldgohomewiththeladiestousefortheirpersonalprayerlife.
Didyouknowthatthe“CanadianCatholicOrganizationforDevelopmentand
Peace(CCODP)was“foundedandmandatedin1967bytheBishopsofCanada,andnowamemberoftheCaritasInternationalnetworkofCatholicagencies,theCanadianCatholicOrganizationforDevelopmentandPeacefinanciallysupportsdevelopmentandaidprojectsinAfrica,AsiaandLatinAmerica,andinformsCanadianCatholicsoninternationalsocialjusticequestions.
2.PrayonedecadeoftheSorrowfulMysteriesoftheRosarywithashortreflectionon
eachbead.Youmightwanttousethefollowing MeditativePrayerontheFirstSorrowfulMysteryChair
• Invitetheladiestositinacircle• Inthemiddleofthecirclehaveacandle.• Sharewiththeladiesthattheywillbeprayingonlyonedecadeofthe
Rosary…thefirstsorrowfulmystery“TheAgonyintheGarden”.Beforeeachprayertherewillbeashortmeditation.
• Thepausebeforeyoubegintheprayershouldbelongenoughforthemtoseethepicture
ChairLightthecandleandpray:“AswebeginourfortydaysofLentletusjoinJesusintheGardenashepreparesforhisfinaldays.LetusgiveHimthanksforgivingHislifesowecanhaveeternallife.”
Chair:LetusgotothegardenandkneelbesideJesus-pause-OurFatherFeeltheanxietyJesushasasherealizeswhatliesinfrontofhim.pause-HailMarySeehistearsasheasksHisFathertotakeawaythiscuppause-HailMary
SeeHimpaleasHethinksofHismotherpause-HailMaryFeelthetinglingofbetrayalasJesusremembershisfriendJudaspause-HailMarySensehisresolveasHepreparestogivehimselfpause-HailMaryFeelshisfrustrationwhenheseesthethreeapostlessleepingpause-HailMaryFeelHimgainstrengthastheHolySpiritentershimpause-HailMaryListenashethankstheFatherforplacingthesalvationofmankindin hishandspause-HailMaryStandwithHimashemovesoutofthegardenpause-HailMaryWipeawayyourtearsasyouprayforcouragetowitnesstothetruthpause-HailMaryThinkofonewayyoucanmakeadifferenceinanothermemberslifepause–GloryBeInvitetheladiestostandandpraytheLeaguePrayer
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OtherSpiritualDevelopmentActivitiesfortheMeeting
Fasting:Ontheplatesthatusuallyhold“goodies”placenamesofladiesattendingthemeeting.Whentheladiescomeforacoffeeaskthemtopickupaprayerpartnerinplaceofthe“goodie”theyusuallyenjoy.HaveacontainerforpeopletodonatetheirloosechangeanddesignateitfortheCCODPcollectionontheFifthSundayofLent. ****************************************************************************
Informationre:Fasting“Christianfastingobtainsitsfullmeaningwhenwedepriveourselvesoffoodinordertobemoreopentoprayer,tosharemoreinthesufferingofthosewhoarestarvingandtosavemoneytogivetothepoor.FastingisapenitentialdisciplineintendedtoopenourheartstoGodandothers,ameansofpurificationandspiritualliberation,awitnessofthedepthofourfaith”.ORDO–LiturgicalCalendarfor2016-17
Ø AshWednesdayandGoodFridayaredaysoffastandabstinence
Ø Thelawofabstinencefrommeatbindsthosewhoare14andolder;the
lawof“fasting”bindsthosefrom18-59yearsofage.
Ø ThePaschalFastisobservedonGoodFridayandwherepossiblecontinuedthroughHolySaturday.
SuggestionsforSpiritualDevelopmentReadingNationalSpiritualDevelopmentCommittee
BookandWebsiteSuggestions1.HavingaMaryHeartinaMarthaWorld:FindingIntimacywithGodintheBusynessofLifebyJoannaWeaver.A12WeekBibleStudyGuideisincludedthatcouldbeusedtofacilitateaparishgathering.2.MessyandFoolish:HowtoMakeaMess,BeaFoolandEvangelizetheWorldbyMatthewWarner.3.33DaystoMorningGlory:ADo-It-YourselfRetreatinPreparationforMarianConsecrationbyFatherMichaelGaitley.ThisbookbringstogetherspiritualrenewalandMariandevotion.4.LivingwithChrist.:Thismissalprovidesusopportunitytoponderdailyreadings.5.LectioDivinawithCardinalThomasCollins.Prayingwithscripturecanhaveaprofoundeffect.Gotosaltandlighttv.org/lectiodivina6.Formed.ThissitehasbeenofficiallylaunchedinCanada.This‘CatholicNetflix’includesavastnumberofprograms,movies,audioseriesande-books.Accesstothiswebsiteisrestrictedtosubscribersonly(individualorparish).Individualscanuseafreesevendaytrialthatisavailableorsubscribeforamonthlyfeeof$9.99.Gotoformed.org7.ClicktoPray.ThiswebsiteandappisfromthePope’sWorldwidePrayerNetworkwhereuserscanhaveshortprayersandintentionssentthreetimesadaytotheirphonesorcomputers.Visitclicktopray.org.8.3MinuteRetreat.ThiswebsiteandappisfromLoyolaPress.ItallowsforshortbreakstospendafewminutesquietlyreflectingonaScripturepassage.Visit/www.loyolapress.com/3-minute-retreats-daily-online-prayer. SuggestionforReflectionandMeditationforLent
`FatherAndrewProvincialSpiritualAdvisor
AmorisLaetitia-TheJoyofLove-PostSynodalApostolicExhortationofPopeFrancis
TakeeveryopportunitytospendsometimewiththeLordandaskHimforHisguidanceasyouprepareyourcouncilforthisveryHolySeasonofLent.Judy
