resurrection blessings...........

Am not sure if I have wished you the hope and joy of our EASTER season....if I did not....I do so now....and overflowing! 

I continue off and on to have problems getting into my blog....am a bit challenged when it comes to computers and such...so I get impatient at my "not knowing" and give up.  I try, but not too long!

I hope you have experienced RESURRECTION.  Like one of my reflections noted:  The Easter season calls us to celebrate the Risen Life of Jesus.  It is also an invitation to life in a springtime world,  (when it finally comes!!! to see the stirrings and marvels of death being overtaken by life.  It is a time to taste the wonders of God's goodness in the seasonal cycle of life overturning death.

So let's continue to CELEBRATE RESURRECTION.  Let's continue to CELEBRATE LIFE!

Desert/Flowers

I want to share Fr. Barron's reflection for today...which I think is encouraging and promising for times we struggle "in the deserts" of our life.

"What does the desert signify?
1.  confrontation with our own sin so as to see our dark side
2.  a deep realization of our dependence on God
3.  an ordering of our priorities in life
4. a simplification--a getting back to the basics
   any and all of these

Also a symbolic waiting in anticipation--in hope of better things and in search of hopeful deserts that flower, bloom...

As we near the end of Lent...end of our desert waiting...and move...toward the Holy Triduum, let's prepare for new flowers to bloom..."

I wish you new life....new flowers to bloom in your dailyness.

Working Saturday...

I'm at work today, Saturday.  We have our last catechetical class and I have a few minutes before they come for lunch.  Picked up and set up their lunch, and now I am smelling like onions....strong ones for their sandwiches.

This morning's reflection was based on "I will...cleanse them so that they may be my people and I may be their God."  From Ezekiel.  I've always had a fondness for this quote....The Lord will make me clean so I can be his and so he can be my All.

From:  The Word Among Us:  "Few of us are exiled literally, but all of us have at times lived as exiles from the kingdom of God.  These "lands" each have their own idols.  They all have their own particular sins and, honestly, fairly dense populations.  It might be an exile to the domain of drug and alcohol abuse or the realm of bitterness, anger, and resentment.  Perhaps it's the land of lying, cheating, or stealing or the nation of competition, acquisition, and pride...

God wants to bring you home...to  rescue you and plant you firmly in his kingdom.  No matter how deep your pain, how strong your sin, or how stubborn your heart, God is greater.  His eye is upon you.  His hand is stretched out toward you.  Reach out to him!"  

What HOPE!

Springgggg.....

Spring! Or so it seems, as we have had a couple days of good temperatures....BUT....they are predicting snow.  Believe it or not....do believe it, that is WI.  However we enjoy and are grateful for the promise and the "tempting"!

Can you believe Holy Week is already next week?  It seem like we just began Lent.  Interesting, but for me this Lent has seemed short, whereas ordinarily, it drags for me and is LOOONNNGGG.  Not this time!

I LOVE Holy Week!  It's a hangover from my childhood where Holy Week was truly holy, with personal and family prayer, and of course, participating in the liturgical celebrations.

Each year I take off for a Triduum Retreat.  This year I will go to the St. Norbert's Retreat Center in DePere...a silent reflective couple days of prayer and renewal.  Am grateful for this opportunity.

I hope you are able to take quiet time for reflection and prayer....and above all can participate in the liturgical celebrations of Jesus saving grace.

I wish you continued LENTEN BLESSINGS...

WI Youth Rally

I attended the WI Youth Rally this past Saturday.  Quite the crowd of young people from all over WI.  Well-behaved.

We had a table with our Congregation's information, plus a few give-aways.  We actually had a good number stop by....the attraction was our "Wheel..." kind of like Wheel of Fortune.  One of our sisters in the Caribbean created it.  She did a wonderful job....we re indebted to her.

My SHOCK was at Eucharist.  At the end of Mass the Archdiocesan Vocation Director asked all the Consecrated Life people: sisters and brother, to join them up on stage.  What applause!  Shock #1. 

Then he explained that our intent is NOT to talk them into priesthood and consecrated life, but to assist them in their discernment re where God is leading them.

THEN....he asked anyone who thinks that God may be calling them to these vocations, to come up for a blessing.  I thought, dear Father....these kids do not want ANYONE to know they might be thinking of being a nun/priest.  WHAT A SHOCK!!!  No wait....immediately a large number of    girls and boys flocked up to the front!  I could not believe what I was seeing! 

Thank you, God, for those brave youth who were not afraid to admit that they were thinking of being nuns or priests.  Walk with them as they continue to discern your call in their lives.  Give them the courage to  respond to that call.