2006 St. Mark Christmas Program

Here's a short video of the kids in last night's school Christmas Program.

Nicholas the Alter Boy

This morning at the Children's Mass, Nicholas had the ooportunity to be an Alter Boy for the first time. He's been wanting to do this for some time and finally had the opportunity. He did a great job!

Happy Birthday Kathy!

Happy Birthday to my wife, Kathy. Today she celebrates four decades of being alive!

Holy Father, please bless Kathy. Help her to have a great year and grow in Your grace. Thank you for letting us know Kathy. Help us all grow in love and faith. Help us all to praise You and give You glory through Jesus Christ our Lord.

December 13th: Lucia's Day

Today is the feast of St. Lucia, or St. Lucy of Syracuse. It is a national holiday in Sweden, where my wife's paternal family is from, so every year my wife makes these delicious little Lucia buns (click here for a recipe, not my wife's, though...) for family and friends.

I went to the children's Mass this morning and Fr. Jim spoke of St. Lucy in his homily. He also explained that while he normally would wear red on a feast day of a martyr, he was wearing purple because Advent takes precedence over a feast day of a martyr. He went on to explain that when Bishop Gainer celebrated the children's Mass last Friday, he was wearing white because it was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception which takes precedence over Advent. Once he explained his vestment colors he tied in very nicely St. Lucia's life and martyrdom with the Gospel for the day.

Here's a prayer to St. Lucia I copied from this site:

Saint Lucy, your beautiful name signifies light. By the light of faith which God bestowed upon you, increase and preserve this light in my soul so that I may avoid evil, be zealous in the performance of good works, and abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin.

By your intercession with God, obtain for me perfect vision for my bodily eyes and the grace to use them for God's greater honor and glory and the salvation of all men.

Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. Amen.

Have a great day!

Minute Meditations - November 12

Scripture
"Do not cast me aside in my old age; as my strength fails, do not forsake me."
(Ps 71:9)

Reflection
"Do not wait for old age to offer yourself to God.
Offer Him the flower of your youth, which will be pleasing to Him and which He will accept with the greatest of love."
- St. Catherine of Siena

Prayer
God of all ages, grant that I may give myself to You at every age of my life - youth, adulthood, and old age. Then in my old age continue to take care of me.
- Every Day is a Gift

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Minute Meditations - November 11

Scripture
"In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."
(1 Thes 5:18)

Reflection
"Ingratitude is the enemy of our immortal souls.
Ingratitude empties our souls of merit, scatters their virtues, and deprives them of graces."
- St. Bernard

Prayer
Almighty Father, help me to show gratitude to You for all the good things You have done for me. Let me also be grateful to all those who help me on my earthly pilgrimage to Your heavenly Kingdom.
- Every Day is a Gift

Tags: Minute Meditations

From My Inbox: You Are So Blessed

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won't survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the lonliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of the 20 million people around the world.

If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, especially in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.

If you can read this post, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read anything at all.

You are so blessed in ways you may never know.

Kinda puts things into perspective, don't it?


Tags: From My Inbox

From My Inbox: What Jesus Was Called

He had no servants, yet they called Him Master.
Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.
Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.
He had no army, yet kings feared him.
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us.


Tags: From My Inbox

Family Rosary Time

My 8 year-old daughter, Rebecca, came to me last week and asked, "Daddy, why don't we pray the rosary at home?"

I replied, "Would you like to pray the rosary at home as a family?"

She answered, "Yes. We pray the Hail Mary at school every morning and since we all have rosaries I thought we could do it together as a family."

Since we always try to make time to have dinner together as a family every evening, I told her I would work out a way we could all say the rosary after dinner each night. I talked with her about the decades and the mysteries and what the rosary really means. She and I worked out the following plan:

We would say a decade a night, focusing on a mystery per week. For example, the first week of each month we would say the Joyful Mysteries, one mystery per evening, Monday through Friday. The second week we would focus on the Luminous Mysteries, the third would be Sorrowful, the fourth, Glorious.

We decided that each member of the family would lead the prayers each evening: I on Monday, Kathy on Tuesday, Nicholas on Wednesday, Rebecca on Thursday and Emily on Friday.

We started last Thursday and the kids love it. They get a blanket and sit or lay on the floor and get quiet. They say the prayers with such reverence and awe and with the innocence of children. It's inspiring to both my wife and I.

These few minutes of quiet prayer as a family really sets the tone for the rest of the evening.

Why didn't we say the rosary at home before this? It's hard to find time in between homework and practices and games and meetings and all the running around we do. It was exactly what we needed at a time when we think we are in control of things and shut God out - intentionally or not.

So take time each day to pray. Quiet yourself and talk with the Lord. It's amazing how much better everything will be.

Minute Meditations - October 14

Scripture
"For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work."
(Phil 2:13)

Reflection
"Let us ask God's help before doing anything.
If we acted in this way, we would perform wonders, for it would be God acting always in us."
- St. Peter Julian Eymard

Prayer
Heavenly Father, let me call upon Your help before undertaking to do anything in my life. Grant that I may be so united with You that Your grace may always bring forth good fruit.
- Every Day is a Gift

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From My Inbox: Happy Fall

Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin.
God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you.
He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff-- including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc.
Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

Have a Happy Fall - my favorite time of the year.

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Kids' School Pictures

The kids' new school pictures are at Parties and Pictures

Dreams - by Nicholas Norton

A poem written for 5th grade class as part of a butterfly project:


Dreams
By Nicholas Norton
September 7, 2006

As I sit there watching a butterfly
Flutter by,
I begin to wonder -
"What if I could fly?"
Oh, I know how my heart would sing
If I could take to the wing!

And I thought about all the wonderous things
I could do if I had wings.

But alas!
That dream will fade.

That's not the way I was made.

But wait!
Dreams can come true!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom! I hope you have a great day!.

Holy Father, please bless my mom. Help her to have a great year and grow in Your grace. Thank you for letting us know her. Help us all grow in love and faith. Help us all to praise You and give You glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From My Inbox: Recall Notice

The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.
This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.

This defect has been technically termed "Subsequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.
Some other symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.

The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R
Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.

No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers' Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.

For free emergency service, call on Jesus.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will
Have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.

Thank you for your attention!
GOD

Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by "kneemail".


Tags: From My Inbox

Madonna on NBC

From the news media and Catholic Fire:

Following the lead of Rosie O'Donnell and ABC, NBC has decided to join in the bashing of Christians by airing a Madonna special in November. A specific date has not been released. In the show, Madonna, wearing a fake crown of thorns, descends on a suspended mirrored, disco ball-type cross. When some Christian leaders complained about the mockery, NBC ignored their concerns.

Making mockery of the crucifixion of Christ has been a trademark of Madonna for many years. In 1989 she had a video for the hit song "Like A Prayer." The video featured burning crosses, statues crying blood and Madonna--representing Jesus--freeing a saint from his sexual repression by seducing him. This is the same Madonna who once said, "Crucifixes are sexy because there's a naked man on them."

Kevin Reilly, an executive at NBC, said Madonna considered the scene mocking the crucifixion of Christ the highlight of her show. "We (NBC) viewed it and didn't see it as being inappropriate." Madonna considers mocking the crucifixion of Jesus the highlight of her show and NBC agrees.

The American Family Association has a petition here if you want to send emails. I have sent one to NBC's Chairman John Wright and the president of our local NBC affiliate, WLEX-TV.

Minute Meditations - September 17

Scripture
"So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
(Phil 2:12)

Reflection
"You have been created for the glory of God and your own eternal salvation. ...This is your goal; this is the center of your life; this is the treasure of your heart.
If you reach the goal, you will find happiness. If you fail to reach it, you will find misery."
- St. Robert Bellarmine

Prayer
Heavenly Father, teach me to do everything for Your honor and glory. Grant me the grace to work out my salvation with anxious concern each day of my life.
- Every Day is a Gift

Tags: Minute Meditations

From My Inbox: Dogs

Here are some quotes related to dogs. There are a few practical hints of wisdom in these. Our loveable mutt, Benji (pictured on the left when he was a pup and much leaner) would appreciate these, if he could read. Enjoy!

• The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. -Anonymous


• Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. -Ann Landers


• If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. -Will Rogers


• There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. -Ben Williams


• A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. -Josh Billings


• The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. -Andy Rooney


• We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. -M. Acklam


• Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate. -Sigmund Freud


• I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. -Rita Rudner


• A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. -Robert Benchley


• Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog. -Franklin P. Jones


• If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons. -James Thurber


• If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. -Unknown


• My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. -Joe Weinstein


• Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! -Anne Tyler


• Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein


• If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man. -Mark Twain


• You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!' - Dave Barry


• Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. -Roger Caras


• If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them. -Phil Pastoret

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.


Tags: From My Inbox

Prayers, Please

Prayers, please, for the family of Larry Jones, who drowned this past weekend. He was a classmate of mine at St. Mark Elementary and his family are members of our parish.

Incline Your ear, O Lord, unto our prayers, wherein we humbly pray You to show Your mercy upon the soul of Your servant Larry Jones, whom You have commanded to pass out of this world, that you would place him in the region of peace and light, and bid him be partaker with Your Saints. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Minute Meditations - September 1

Scripture
"They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers."
(Acts 2:42)

Reflection
"When the Church prays in her Liturgy it is Christ Who prays.
For the Church prays in Christ,
and Christ prays in the Church:
the Body prays in the Head, and the Head in the Body."
- St. Augustine

Prayer
Glorious Lord, help me to pray the Liturgy in union with Christ for Your glory. At every Eucharist, let me consciously adore and thank You, make reparation to You, and present my petitions before You.
- Every Day is a Gift

Tags: Minute Meditations