Dates to Remember for Our Club.
December 5, 2008. First Friday Adoration at Sts. Peter and Paul. Mass at 7:00 p.m. followed by Adoration until 10:00.
December 15, 2008. Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Louis Benton Steak House.
January 12, 2009. Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Louis Benton Steak House.
Watch for other dates in the January, 2009 Newsletter.
February 9, 2009. Member-Guest Reception, 5:30 p.m. at Louis Benton Steak House.
Please give names of potential guests to Tim Hile.
February 21, 2009. Sisters' Appreciation Dinner. Details to follow.
Celebrating Advent. Dates to Remember.
December 6. St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas was the great fourth-century bishop of Myra, in what is now Turkey. His love for the poor, especially, children, has linked him in tradition with gift-giving. Children tradtionally receive gifts--chocolate coins, in particular--in their shoes from St. Nicholas.
December 8. The Immaculate Conception. On December 8, we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception: God prepared Mary to be the mother of Jesus by preserving her from original sin. Many prepare for this feast by praying a novena beginning on November 30.
December 9. St. Juan Diego.
December 12. Our Lady of Guadalupe. Juan Diego remained firm in his account of the Blessed Virgin Mary's appearance to him, even in the fact of doubt from his bishop. We celebrate Mary's appearance as Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and of the unborn, on this day. December 13. St. Lucy. St. Lucy was a young woman martyred by the Romans in the early fourth century. A Scandinavian custom celebrates the light of her Christian witness in the tradition of a young woman of the house wearing a wreath with lit candles upon her head.
Prayers for Advent.
Prayer starter for Week 1: In hope, I wait for the fullness of your presence, Lord. Come, Lord Jesus!
Prayer Starter for Week 2: Lord Jesus, I hear the call of John the Baptist. I come to You in sorrow for my sins, open to Your grace.
Prayer Starter for Week 3: Lord, I rejoice at the Good News of Your coming. Make my heart ready.
Prayer Starter for Week 4: Lord, I wait for You in trust and hope.
The O Antiphons. From December 17 to 23, the O Antiphons are chanted during Vespers in the Liturgy of the Hours. The titles of Jesus in the antiphons are all titles of the Messiah, rooted in the prophecies of Isaiah.
December 17: O Sapienta (Wisdom)
December 18: O Adonai (O Adonai)
December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
December 21: O Oriens (O Morning Star)
December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
December 23: (O Emmanuel (O Emmanuel)
Source: Our Sunday Visitor pamphlet, 2007. Inventory No. P426.
Serra USA and International Dates to Remember.
December 15, 2008. District Governor Visit Reports due.
January 8-11, 2009. Superweekend, Chicago, Ill.
January 11-16, 2009. National Week of Prayer for Vocations.
February 8, 2009. World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.
February 20-22, 2009. Serra USA Planning Conference, Kansas City, MO.
May 3, 2009. World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
August 27-30. Serra International Convention, Omaha, NE.
More on Venturing. Serra Club of Grand Rapids Forms First Venturing Crew Using the Matching Serra International Foundation Grant.
Congratulations are in order for Dennis Leiber, of the Serra Club of Grand Rapids, Michigan ,and the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, on forming the first Serra Club chartered Catholic Venturing Crew for students at West Catholic High School.
Source: Serra USA Homepage.
Dennis recently announced the formation of a second Venturing Crew at Aquinas College.
Details to follow.
Eatra Prayers for Vocations. On December 8, the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will supply His Excellency Bishop Hurley with a list of names of those who have committed to praying an extra Rosary for vocations once each week. These prayers will continue until Pentecost.
Ora et Labora. Pray and Work. Monastery Gifts for Christmas, handmade by monks and nuns.
Something Sweet. Abbey Brittle. Benedictine monks in Subiaco, Ark sell this product. Search "Abbey Brittle" on YouTube.com to watch Father Richard Walz make it. Order from subi.org or call 479-934-1001.
Something Spicy. Also available at subi.org. Father Walz came up with his fiery concoction while stationed in Belize, Central America. (Editor's Note: Nate McKenzie and John Osterhart might be interested in this product).
The following may be ordered from monasterygreetings.com or 800-472-0425:
Nun Better. Order Nun Better Cookies: Sisters of the Holy Spirit, Cleveland, OH.
"Praylines": St. Benedict Monastery, south of Amaarillo, TX.
Trappist Preserves: St. Joseph's Abbey, Spencer, MA.
Genesee Cakes: Abbey of the Genesee, Piffard, NY.
Holy Java. The cloistered Carmelite monks in Clark, Wyoming have been selling Mystic Monk Coffee since 2007 at mysticmonkcoffee.com or 877--751-6377.
Candy from the Abbey. Sisters at Mount St. Mary's Abbey in Wrentham, MA, offer a number of selections at abbey.msmabbey.org or 866-549-8929.
Creamy Caramels. Cistercian nuns at Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey in Dubuque Iowa sell an assortment of caramels at trappistine.com or 866-556-3400.
Gourmet Confections: Priory of Our Lady of Consolation, Amity, OR. Order from brigittine.org or 503-835-8080.
Creamed Honey, so thick an creamy you'll need willpower not to eat it straight out of the jar, is available in a variety of flavors at redwoodsabbey.org.
Divinely Original Mustard, made by the Benedictine Sisters in Mount Angel, OR, can be ordered from monasterymustard.com.
Fruitcakes, etc.
Fantastic Fruitcakes. Holy Cross Abbey, Berryville, VA. Trappist monks make fruitcase, but their world famous dark chocolate-covered fruitcake slices, called FRATERS, are most renowned. The monks also harvest a clover honey in several flavors. Order from monasteryfruitcake.org or 540-955-9494.
World Class Fruitcakes. Assumption Abbey, Ava, MO. Order from assumptionabbey.org or 888-738-0117.
Gethsemani Gifts. Abbey of Gethsemani in Trappist, KY was Thomas Merton's monastery. Order fruitcake, handmade cheeses, or Butter Walnut Bourbon Fudge from gethsemanifarms.org or 800-549-0912.
Cleaning and Healing.
Premium All-Natural Handmade Soap, beeswax salves, lotions, and wax candles by the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration are available at monasterycreations.com or 877-672-7627.
Desert Refreshment. Benedictine Monks of Christ in the Desert offer alll-natural lip balms, made from almond oil, beeswax, and peppermint. $3 each from christdesert.org.
Monasticism began when St. Anthony of Egypt sought God alone in the Scriptures and the emptiness of the desert and large numbers followed his life of "ora et labora'--prayer and work. Religious across the country live this philosphy as they make handmade gifts and treats.
Source: National Catholic Register, November 9, 2008.
Editor's Note: I have tried each of the above websites and have found them to be accurate. If you have any difficulty ordering, give me a call or send me an e-mail and I will try to correct your problem. Even if you're not sure you want to place an order, you will enjoy a cyber-tour of the beautiful, peaceful places mentioned in the web addresses. Some addresses include Gregorian chant as well as information about the monasteries and the products they sell.
Here's an idea for gifts of women's clothing. Preview the online catalog at http://www.jockeyp2p.com/. Call Aggie Cloyd if you have questions.
Special Prayers for these priests: Father Tom DeYoung retired on November 30. Father Michael Danner plans to return to work next month. Fr. Mark Przybycz 's illness has not been diagnosed. May we keep them, and all priests and religious, in our prayers.
Prayer for Healing through the Intercession of Blessed Junipero Serra. The USA Council of Serra International Executive Committee encourages Serrans throughout the USA to pray for All Serrans around the world who need healing.
"All USA Council of Serra International members are urged to take part in the effort to cononize Blessed Junipero Serra. We are aware that one more miracle is needed to submit to the Church body examining Father Serra's cause for canonization. Perhaps someone you may remember to pray for will be that miracle cure. One way to do so is to pray the Father Serra Novena for the healing of ailing Serrans. One may find the Serra Novena on the home page of the USA Council of Serra International's web site, http://www.serraus.org/. Look at the right hand column toward the bottom entry. Pray the novena and any other devotions for sick Serrans as often as possible."
We appreciate your thoughtful consideration to join us in this prayer.
Sincerely,
The USA Council of Serra International.
A Message from our President.
Dear Serrans: What a wonderful way to start Advent--attending the Vocatioans Dinner. The committee can be very happy with this year's event. The accommodations were delightful and th food was delicious. The music, the conversations with friends, the messages delivered, and the prayers we prayed all contributed to the wonderful time. Our thanks go out to the Serran who tied the evening all together, Joseph Scoville.
Those who did not attend missed a great evening. Sometimes we think only about the bottom line of how much we made. Yes, that is paraat of the picture, but listening to our speakers was the bottom linle for me. Father Matt's enthusiasm and hearing about the results of our first Youth Rally were inspiring. Our youth are the future of the Church, and all of us together can help them make a difference for our Church and for our world. Congratulations to all who worked so hard and to all who attended and supported the work of vocations in our diocese.
January is coming, and Vocations Awareness Week looms at the top of the list. Len Gross and his committee are busy planning vocation presentations to our Catholic high schools and middle schools. All are welcome to call Len to find out where and when the presentations will be held. If you'd like to assist in any way, please let him know.
February will find us busy cooking and serving our many faithful Religious Sisters. The date is Saturday, February 21 at St. Jude"s Brophy Center. We will be needing gifts for the sisters. If you are a craft-type person, your handmade gifts are always a hit! If you're not, the ladies always enjoy a nice box of candy, a good book, stationery--the sky is the limit. Nate McKenzie and Mark Kubik will serve as head chefs and have just about finalized the menu. Please mark the date and plan to help out. The dinner also presents an opportunity to involve our children and grandchildren.
As noted in the Bishop's radio message, I hope all of us can slow down to listen to the Scriptures of Advent, with the theme of remaining watchful for the coming of the Lord. Enjoy your Christmas gatherings with family and friends, and may 2009 bring peace and prosperity to all.
Merry Christmas! Pam McKenzie.
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