First Communion

This week I am in New York to celebrate my goddaughter/niece's First Communion. I had an important task to help her with before the big day. I had to make a banner! Now, I've been a mom for 22 years, I've been a catechist for over 25, and was a DRE. So I am no stranger to banners. I figured, two hours, tops. Yet, I had trouble. First, my sister's scissors were a bit lacking, then there was the issue of cutting out everything. I thought, that since it was a child's banner, she would cut out and glue and I would simply supervise and offer suggestions. Yea, right, and what planet did I come from? I cut out everything from the felt and then the plan was to glue after school. Well, then she changed her mind as to what she wanted on the banner so we had to go to Michael's to but more felt and glue that would actually hold felt together. Then we came home and cut out the new design and proceed to glue and highlight with glitter glue. It's subtle, not "bling" as the original desire was. Well, I thought I was home free after spending two days on this, but alas, the glue only worked on some items so I had to come up with plan B. Mom has a glue gun, score! So, I hot glued and it went to school today. Three days for a banner that is 10"x14". I am a good godmother. And if I were still a DRE I would not ask anyone to make a banner.

Women's Ordination

When I read about women who are "ordained" in the Catholic church, I always wonder what they are thinking. Church doctrine cannot be changed because of personal WILL or DESIRE. It is doctrine, not an opinion. It seems to me that this is what the thinking is with these men and women participating in these pseudo-ordinations. There is a desire to have it 'my way' and not follow the Church. There is always the option of leaving if you find our teachings so difficult. Why get ordained in a ceremony you know will only cause trouble and have you standing there with egg on your face? And yes, I am sure causing trouble is very much on the mind of the people who are doing this, but if you truly believe you are called to serve, do so in a manner which actually helps. No true Catholic is going to come and celebrate Mass with you or have you listen to her confession. What is the point are you trying to make? You cannot be a woman and ordained in the Catholic church. A women priest is an oxymoron. It will not happen, should not happen, and what you think or want cannot change those facts.

Christian Living

How do we live as Christians? How does our life look different than those who do not profess to be Christian? Here are some ideas in this list said in a very straightforward manner and I think it is helpful.

The Shack

I had the pleasure to read "The Shack" by William P. Young on my plane trip to NY. It was a wonderful book. No, not Catholic, but what a theological read. He talks about grace, the fall, trust, the Trinity, reconciliation, salvation, mercy, scripture, prayer, truth, being judgemental, faith, and love; all of it in a novel. It truly gave me much to think and ponder about in my life. Who is God to me? Do I allow myself to be moved by the Holy Spirit? Will I ever truly love as Jesus did? How do I create a welcoming environment at my parish? How do I stop judging others, ever in any way? I would love to hear thoughts from those who have read this book. (But please, don't give away the story.)

Novena to St. Joseph

Tomorrow a novena begins to St. Joseph for the unemployed. It will end on his feast day, May 1. Each week I hear of more and more parishioners who have lost jobs or had hours cut down. Please pray this novena with and for all those in need of gainful employment.


Novena Prayer to St. Joseph the Worker

Happy are all who fear the Lord, who walk in the ways of God. What your hands provide you will enjoy; you will be happy and prosper. Psalm 127:1-2
God our Father,Creator and Ruler of the universe. in every age You call men and women to develop and use their gifts for the good of others.Through the intercession of St. Joseph the Worker,we pray for our families and friends, especially for those who are unemployed or those who face the threat of losing their jobs (mention names here).Send forth Your grace and wisdom upon our nation and our leaders to order our economy properly for the good of all.Gracious Lord, fountain of all mercy,may all be blessed with gainful employment in providing for themselves and their families, as You blessed St. Joseph in providing for Jesus and Mary.With St. Joseph as our example and guide, help us to do the work You have asked and come to the rewards You have promised.We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Divine Mercy

What a beautiful feast day to celebrate. It our chance to recall and thank God for his mercy, which comes to us through his Son, Jesus. I think about mercy often. God's mercy, Jesus' mercy, the mercy I have been given and am compelled to share. I often recall the verse in Hosea 6:6, "It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice." The image of Divine Mercy, as it flows out of Jesus' is so appropriate to recall today as we hear in the Gospel of Thomas desiring to put in his hand into Jesus' side so that he believe. We have no need of putting our hand in Jesus' side, we only have to ask for mercy and it flows forth over us. Mercy is what compelled Jesus to forgive the Samaritan woman, the woman caught in adultery, and Peter when he denies Jesus. It is mercy that laid hands on the blind, the lame, the possessed, and the dying. All of us can have a share in this mercy, it is our for the asking. Like St. Faustina, we say Jesus, I trust in you and mercy flows. For more information on the Feast of Divine Mercy, go to The Marians of the Immaculate Conception.

In Another's Words

"for I knew well that whilst I contemplated the cross I was secure and safe. Therefore I would not agree to put my soul in danger, for apart from the cross there was no safety from the fear of the devil."

Julian of Norwich

My Parish

We recently updated our parish website. No small task and it does still need some tweaking. However, our photo tour of our church grounds and building is finally up. Go take a peek, it is beautiful.

Easter and the Parish Staff

So, today I have the day off to recover from the Triduum. Yes, recover is the right word. You see, I work at church. So here is what goes on behind the scenes:
Holy Thursday: check and explain foot washing to 12 people
move chairs out of the sanctuary after foot washing
coordinate ushers
get a bowl of warm, soapy water for the priests to wash their hands in after foot washing (this was done during Mass, because it was forgotten, I was unobtrusive as possible climbing the steps to the credence table!)
find the Humeral veil and put it up near the altar for the procession at the end of Mass

Good Friday: slow, actually was able to pray the Stations and during the Passion Service, my husband did a great job reading the Passion.

Holy Saturday/Ester Vigil: Breakfast at 8:30 for 80 or so, all RCIA/RICA folks and sponsors and teams.
Vigil: set out candles, review readings with Lectors, coordinate ushers, help people find seats in the dark, give out candles and programs, make opening announcements,(English and Spanish) signal music to stop after Baptisms, mop floor around font after Baptisms, we go into the font, so there is lots of water, collect candles, put gate in front of the font so no one goes for a swim on Sunday morning!

Easter Sunday: attend 6:30 a.m Mass to actually worship! Then, the fun begins. Two masses at 8, 9:30 and 11; one in the main Church the other in the parish hall. So, we have lectors, ushers, and altar servers everywhere! Not enough cords for the server robes, so the kids have to wait to finish dressing. Holding people outside until Mass is over before letting people in for the next one. Begging people to go to the Chapel to sit or the parish hall. People angry that at 8:00, the main church is full. 1 person collapsed in the Hall and 911 was called and one person was bleeding profusely in the church after the kneeler fell on her leg. We helped her out with a wheelchair. I distributed communion at 3 Masses in the Chapel, helped with the collections, and basically ran around doing whatever needed to be done. I am estimating that 8,000 people came to Church this Sunday.

At 1:00 pm I was home and having a tall glass of water and my vitamins.

This doesn't even begin to tell what I did before the weekend. A short list: organized all the needed liturgical ministers for all the liturgies, I baked biscotti and Italian Easter cookies for everyone who helped all weekend. A total of 160 bags of treats, about 45 dozen cookies. Made 8 dozen muffins for the RCIA breakfast. Well, it was all worth it.

Why am I telling you all this, so that when you see the parish staff, don't say, "You look tired" you say "Thanks and God Bless You."

Sunday afternoon we spent with close friends, enjoying great food, conversation, and relaxing. God is so good.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

He is Risen!

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

One more song before we celebrate the Resurrection!

Nichole Nordeman - Why?

The Hammer

Mary Did You Know - Mark Lowery

Notre Dame and Obama

I received this link today and it's a great resource to keep up with is going on over at Notre Dame.

Easter Recipes

There are a few traditional items we always had for Palm Sunday and Easter. On Palm Sunday we all (great-aunts and uncles, cousins, aunts and uncles, grandchildren, great grandchildren) all went over to my maternal great-grandparents apartment for Asti Spumante and cream puffs (homemade). My great grandmother would make crosses with the palms and we'd all have a little sip of Spumante, a cream puff and be off. We'd also get a dollar from our great grandfather.
Then for Easter there were traditional foods from Italy, Torta di Riso (Rice Cake, not at all resembling rice cakes of today) Leg of Lamb, vegetables, bread salad, and a cake in the shape of a lamb for dessert. Sometimes we had strawberries with Zambagione which my grandfather made. My grandmother gave me the lamb cake form and now my daughter makes it for the family.
I will give two recipes here: One from my mother's family from northern Italy and the other from my father's family in southern Italy.

Torta di Riso (mom's family)
2 cups uncooked rice (not instant)
2 10oz packages frozen chopped spinach, which has been thawed and drained
almost 1 quart of milk
6 eggs
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg or to taste
1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese
salt
pepper

Slightly cook rice (about 10 minutes) and drain
beat eggs and milk, add all other ingredients.
Pour into greased 9 x 12 baking pan and bake for 1 hour at 350.
If you'd like, dot with butter and brown under broiler. Cool and cut into squares.
Eat warm or cold.

Easter Cookies (dad's family)
These are a cross between cookies and bread. My aunt made them with colored eggs in them and made beautiful shapes. I braid the dough into small circles and put an egg in the middle or I make ropes out of the dough and make into shepherd's cane or stick. I try! I serve these for breakfast at home. They are good for dunking into coffee or milk.
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon or so vanilla
1 tablespoon lemon zest
5 to 6 cups flour (plus more for counter)
6 tablespoons baking powder

Blend wet ingredients
Combine dry ingredients
Mix together until a soft but workable dough forms, more flour may be needed.
Form into shapes as desired and bake in a 350 oven until lightly browned. Length of cooking times varies with size of cookie.

Catholic Carnival #217

Take a look at the latest Carnival over at Living Catholicism, there's lots to think about!