Valuable Daily Reflection Site

The following is a product of the Spirituality Center at Creighton University.
http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/020107.html

Another Valuable Daily Reflection Site

The Jesuits and faculty at Creighton University's Spirituality Center provide a daily reflection. This site links to the daily readings as well as many other valuable websites. I hope that the reflections provided by the university faculty and the spirituality center staff may helpful to you.

Robert Hopkins: Memorial Mass

Just a reminder that on Saturday morning we will celebrate a memorial Mass for Robert Hopkins, a long-time parishioner who recently died. The Mass will begin at 10:00 AM.

Deanery Meeting with Archbishop Wuerl

Today, as you know, there was a meeting of priests with Abp. Wuerl prior to the Penance Service. It was the first time that most of the Northwest West deanery had the opportunity to (1) gather with the Archbishop to learn from him some of his goals and issues he is confronting and (2) be togther with priests from the Northwest East deanery.

In the next few weeks, I hope to share some information concerning the Forward in Faith campaign and its continuing success. What the Archbishop shared with us, the information about the funds collected, the funds restricted, and the funds available for use. It was most helpful to me.

Likewise the time for personal exchange with the Archbishop was appreciated by all. Dinner was provided for us prior to the Penance Service.

The Penance Service was well attended. The Archbishop's liturgy for this was simple and quite brief. Thanks to our parishioners who were able to attend.

The Archbishop gave us his reasoning for The Light is ON for You ... the special confession availability each Wednesday evening in Lent. A brochure will be distributed next weekend.

Daily Reflection: February 1

Happy February! Today's readings bring us to another reality in our faith: the challenge one confronts in bring forth the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sending out the Twelve, Jesus knew well what was ahead for them. He would not send them without help. He promises that God will be with them and that they will share in the power of the Holy Spirit.

You and I are sent out each day ... on mission. Whether in our office, the parish, our homes, each day offers us the opportunity to continue the work of Jesus Christ ... especially in caring for the poor, in learning more fully the expectations of our faith.

Today we have the Eucharistic presence of Jesus as our power. Even if one is unable to be present for a liturgy, there is time for prayer, time for being alone with the Lord and time for being able to be God's voice to those seeking help, those seeking to know God.

Cardinal Martini and Euthanasia

The retired Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Carolo Martini, SJ, has brought forward thoughts that surely have Vatican officials in a stir. In a major Italian newpaper, the Cardinal discusses his view on the topic of euthanasia. http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/dettaglio.jsp?id=115421&eng=y

The newspaper article and the Cardinal's comments are worth the read especially at the time of the year when their is attention given to the sanctity of life.

DAILY REFLECTION: Wednesday, January 31st

Well, the first month of the year is now in history's journals. However, on this last day of the month ... when many annual resolutions are probably forgotten ... we celebrate the feast of a saint who knew resolve: St. John Bosco. In the first reading today, http://www.usccb.org/nab/, Paul brings to our minds a word that many eschew in our culture: discipline. For Paul, and John Bosco, the word had a positive significance. Discipline is the formation instrument of any formation. Strange isn't it for those of us who somewhat older: so often we find personal discipline difficult but willingly and easily try to teach younger folks its importance. Have we forgotten its personal value or does growing older interfere with formation??? Bosco was know for his formation of youth. He saw needs for spiritual as well as physical formation. For students in his schools workshops that fostered skills were important.

In his work he rejected corporal punishment ... unlike many of his contemporaries ... because he believed that the crises of life were God's positive discipline that would help develop a stronger faith. In doing this, Bosco tried to teach all that God was present in all our actions making them holy.

To Fr. Ivan Sibalic, the Croatian Salesian priest living with us and caring for the Croatian community in DC, we can join in his celebration of the founder of the religious community to which he and Fr. Damir have given their lives. Happy Feast Day, Fr. Ivan!

DEANERY PENANCE SERVICE THIS EVENING

Following a meeting with the priests of the Northwest West Deanery (12 parishes if western Northwest DC) Archbishop Wuerl will lead a Deanery Reconciliation Service TONIGHT at 7:00 PM. This special confession service will take place at Annunciation Parish, located on Massachusetts Avenue, about two blocks west of Wisconsin Avenue. Plenty of parking. Priests from all the parishes will be present to hear confessions. As Pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish, I do hope that some parishioners will take advantage of this opportunity to share in the graces of the Sacrament. Likewise I offer you some reading: Archbishop Wuerl's first Pastoral Letter to the Archdiocese (God's Mercy and the Sacrament of Penance) which can be found on the Archdiocesan website, http://www.adw.org, where you should click on to the blue text box on the left side with Archbishop Wuerl's name.

Bishop George Murry, SJ to Youngstown, Ohio

Congratulations to a frequent OLV guest. Bishop Murry, it was announced in Rome today, has been appointed Bishop of Youngstown, Ohio. Formerly a teacher at Gonzaga High School and then President at John Carroll High School, Bishop Murry has "working, working, working" (as "all bishops do" he often reminds me) for the Church as the Ordinary of the Diocese of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands ... once the diocese led by now Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston.

Of course I will have to admit that when our guest room is taken over by this Bishop, the residence becomes quite the jovial spot ... not that it is not when he is not here. And, as promised, I told him when we spoke today, I would publish his "first communion" picture as a bishop!!!!

Congratulations Bishop Murry! You can sell your bathing suits and start buying your woolies for the Youngstown winters!!!

All the best, brother!

Parish Lecture Series

On Sunday evening between 25 and 30 people attended the first in a series of lectures scheduled for the winter and spring. Fr. Tom Weinandy, a Capuchin priest walked through the Church's position concerning parish ministries to people with a homosexual tendency.

While there was no bending of the Church's stand on homsexual activity, Fr. Weinandy made very clear the Church opposition to any violation of the human dignity of any homosexual person. As a Pastor, I left with a feeling that Fr. Weinandy could have offered more concerning the second part of the Bishops' document under consideration.

Some parishioners and guests expressed their strong gratitude for the parish being open to the possibility of some discussion of the document.

SECOND LECTURE: February 25, 2007

Fr. Leo Lefebure will be the presenter on Sunday evening, February 25, 2007. The topics: ISLAM AND MODERNITY. The presentation will be in the church. Obviously a topic of major interest, Fr. Leo, as you know, is a recognized scholar inter-religious dialog. Mark your claendars for the event that begins immediately after the parish's Sunday evening liturgy.