Tomorrow, October 1st is my SPECIAL DAY....my BIRTHDAY! I LOVE birthdays! I know it does mean that we get OLDER, but I prefer that to the other option!!!
We started celebrating already. At work, St. James parish, Menomonee Falls, we had cake, actually two cakes as there were three of us celebrating. And now, just a bit ago, one of my sisters came over with some bakery she baked and a card.
And, of course, I have been receiving cards and phone calls....which means people are having wonderful thoughts...thinking of me...and wishing me "peace and all good"...for which I am GREATLY GRATEFUL.
And at prayer this morning I was going through my past year, thanking the Lord for the numerous events where I saw and felt the Lord's presence and intervention in my days. As I reflect, I notice that I have more trust than I used to have. Perhaps that comes with age...since I am getting up there, whatever "up there" means....not heaven, yet, Lord!
Or it may mean that I am more aware of God's presence and working in my dailyness. Whatever it is, I am glad. I pray that I continue to be open to God's action in my comings and goings, and do see God's loving and compassionate hands holding me.
I also spent some time with my mother....
So if you read this on OCTOBER 1, be sure to send me a prayer!
AUTUMN BLESSINGS TO YOU!
Monday, September 30, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Matthew the tax collector
Today we celebrate this great evangelist...follower of Jesus. I still never cease to be amazed how this hated man....because of what he did...collect taxes...and the deceit that was involved with that job...how when Jesus comes by and calls him to "FOLLOW ME"---the Scripture says that Matthew actually LEFT his post (and the money he had collected that day???) and FOLLOWED JESUS!!!! How truly marvelous!
What kind of a person was Jesus? Talk about charisma! That a simple invitation to join him was sufficient for Matthew to leave his post and "follow" Jesus. You recall that the same thing happened to the brothers who were out fishing with their father....cleaning the nets....getting ready to fish. Jesus comes by, non-chalantly (I imagine) invites the two brothers to "FOLLOW ME"...they not only left their nets, but their father....and went off after Jesus!!!
I am looking forward to eternity to check them out. What a call! What a caller!
Compare Matthew and the two brothers to us!!! I, for one, do not compare. My response to the Lord's invitation to "whatever" takes me time. I have to "discern". I have to turn it over and over. Answer all the ?'s.
How about you? How are you at responding to the Lord's daily calls? Or suppose, more seriously, the Lord is calling you to the consecrated life....oh gracious! NOT ME!!! may be your first response...and my question to you is: Why not you? Look at who and what Matthew was...and Jesus chose HIM!!! Do not belittle yourself....you are worth it!
What kind of a person was Jesus? Talk about charisma! That a simple invitation to join him was sufficient for Matthew to leave his post and "follow" Jesus. You recall that the same thing happened to the brothers who were out fishing with their father....cleaning the nets....getting ready to fish. Jesus comes by, non-chalantly (I imagine) invites the two brothers to "FOLLOW ME"...they not only left their nets, but their father....and went off after Jesus!!!
I am looking forward to eternity to check them out. What a call! What a caller!
Compare Matthew and the two brothers to us!!! I, for one, do not compare. My response to the Lord's invitation to "whatever" takes me time. I have to "discern". I have to turn it over and over. Answer all the ?'s.
How about you? How are you at responding to the Lord's daily calls? Or suppose, more seriously, the Lord is calling you to the consecrated life....oh gracious! NOT ME!!! may be your first response...and my question to you is: Why not you? Look at who and what Matthew was...and Jesus chose HIM!!! Do not belittle yourself....you are worth it!
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Feast of the Sorrowful Mother
Yes, today is a special day for us: the SISTERS OF THE SORROWFUL MOTHER. Any of you (SSM's) who visit my blog today; HAPPY...HAPPY FEASTDAY. I HOPE YOUR DAY IS MARVELOUSLY BLESSED!
SSM's. Who are we? I would like you to meet us, but rather than my telling you, I encourage you to google us or visit www.sistersofthesorrowfulmotherorg. You can also find us on www.faceook.com/sistersofthesorrowfulmother and on www.youtube.com/ssmsisters and www.flickr.com/photos/ssmsisters/sets. Wow! I'm impressed. And if you google us, you will find MORE! Happy googling!
One of our prayers is the Stabat Mater, the "At the cross her station keeping" prayer. You may want to google that too. It is a bit lengthy, but it is a prayer to Mary standing under the cross.
You know, I think we often look at Mary as a statue, lifeless, HOLY, sinless. We forget that she was truly human, with feelings, ups and downs like us....and a mother, like some of our mothers today, whose son was brutally killed....and she accompanied him to the bitter end. And she accompanies us as well in our struggles and deaths. What a mom!
SSM's. Who are we? I would like you to meet us, but rather than my telling you, I encourage you to google us or visit www.sistersofthesorrowfulmotherorg. You can also find us on www.faceook.com/sistersofthesorrowfulmother and on www.youtube.com/ssmsisters and www.flickr.com/photos/ssmsisters/sets. Wow! I'm impressed. And if you google us, you will find MORE! Happy googling!
One of our prayers is the Stabat Mater, the "At the cross her station keeping" prayer. You may want to google that too. It is a bit lengthy, but it is a prayer to Mary standing under the cross.
You know, I think we often look at Mary as a statue, lifeless, HOLY, sinless. We forget that she was truly human, with feelings, ups and downs like us....and a mother, like some of our mothers today, whose son was brutally killed....and she accompanied him to the bitter end. And she accompanies us as well in our struggles and deaths. What a mom!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Five days old....
Yes, I am five days old....in my new ministry. I am Coordinator of Adult Ministry at St. James Parish in Menomonee Fall, WI. From my few days' experience and from what others say, St. James is a wonderful parish.
Staff has been most welcoming, encouraging and helpful to me as I settle in and find my way around.
I am very fussy about liturgy, Mass, so before I signed on the dotted line, I went to Mass one Sunday to check it out. It was wonderful: Fr. Mike was a prayerful presider, really able to have the congregation join in the prayer and song His homily met my expectations. I loved the music, piano, guitar, and a wind instrument. I was drawn and inspired to pray....as it should be.
I told Fr Mike he got an A+++++.
So, I am grateful to the Lord for connecting me with this parish. I am grateful to the people who interviewed me and decided on me. In my search I had placed it totally in the hands of the Lord. I knew, I trusted, GOd had a plan....and it would happen....and it happily did.
Now comes the WORK!!!! And I trust the Holy Spirit and all my buddies UP THERE!
Staff has been most welcoming, encouraging and helpful to me as I settle in and find my way around.
I am very fussy about liturgy, Mass, so before I signed on the dotted line, I went to Mass one Sunday to check it out. It was wonderful: Fr. Mike was a prayerful presider, really able to have the congregation join in the prayer and song His homily met my expectations. I loved the music, piano, guitar, and a wind instrument. I was drawn and inspired to pray....as it should be.
I told Fr Mike he got an A+++++.
So, I am grateful to the Lord for connecting me with this parish. I am grateful to the people who interviewed me and decided on me. In my search I had placed it totally in the hands of the Lord. I knew, I trusted, GOd had a plan....and it would happen....and it happily did.
Now comes the WORK!!!! And I trust the Holy Spirit and all my buddies UP THERE!
Monday, September 2, 2013
Mini-vacation
I did not take time to visit family in Colorado this year, which I considered "vacation". Therefore, I decided I DID need some fun time, some away time, some time to do something different.
SOOOOO, one of my sister friends and I decided to go to Door County, which is a peninsula north of Milwaukee....tourist attraction. There are lots of little towns all along the beach on both the east side and the west side.
We decided to go up the west side where there seemed to be more towns. Since it is the end of summer, we were fortunate not to have wall-to-wall tourists. Less fortunate is that there is little to do other than walk along the streets and SHOP....lots of shops with unique stuff.
Since I am not a shopper or a collector, I was quickly finished with the shops! Next was to sit along the street and people watch or the best: go to the lake and sit and admire and take in the beauty of the water and watch the sail boats and other boats. This I enjoyed.
The other fun thing we did was take a boat ride and a trolley ride....learned lots about the history of the area.
Enjoying God's wonders of nature...and the wonders of people was truly a good experience.
Now tomorrow I begin my new ministry at St. James parish in Menomonee Falls, Wi. Am looking forward to it....yet a little nervous...I need to trust!
SOOOOO, one of my sister friends and I decided to go to Door County, which is a peninsula north of Milwaukee....tourist attraction. There are lots of little towns all along the beach on both the east side and the west side.
We decided to go up the west side where there seemed to be more towns. Since it is the end of summer, we were fortunate not to have wall-to-wall tourists. Less fortunate is that there is little to do other than walk along the streets and SHOP....lots of shops with unique stuff.
Since I am not a shopper or a collector, I was quickly finished with the shops! Next was to sit along the street and people watch or the best: go to the lake and sit and admire and take in the beauty of the water and watch the sail boats and other boats. This I enjoyed.
The other fun thing we did was take a boat ride and a trolley ride....learned lots about the history of the area.
Enjoying God's wonders of nature...and the wonders of people was truly a good experience.
Now tomorrow I begin my new ministry at St. James parish in Menomonee Falls, Wi. Am looking forward to it....yet a little nervous...I need to trust!
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