Found this interesting video on youtube that deals with CRS work in Malawi. It is very informative and reminds us how we can easily take things like water for granted.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Bella!
Right To Life—LIFESPAN is hosting a screening of the wonderful Pro-Life film “Bella”, on October 26th @ 7:30 p.m. at the Livonia AMC 20. “Bella” has won top awards at the Toronto Film Festival and is projected to win an Oscar. It stars Latin superstar Eduardo Verastegui and Emmy award winning actress Tammy Blanchard in this heart-warming movie about the power of true love. To pre-order your ticket, please call Melanie Bruss at 586-596-9477 or 734-422-6230. Tickets are $9 each. Checks to be received by Wed. October 24 to secure tickets. Checks made payable and send to:RTL-LIFESPAN Educational Fund29200 Vassar, Suite 545Livonia, Mi 48152 (Please include names of people you are reserving tickets for.) http://bellathemovie.com/
Monday, October 15, 2007
Returning Thanks
Readings:
2 Kings 5:14-17
Psalm 98:1-4
2 Timothy 2:8-13
Luke 17:11-19
A foreign leper is cleansed and in thanksgiving returns to offer homage to the God of Israel. We hear this same story in both the First Reading and Gospel today. There were many lepers in Israel in Elisha's time, but only Naaman the Syrian trusted in God's Word and was cleansed (see Luke 5:12-14).
Today's Gospel likewise implies that most of the 10 lepers healed by Jesus were Israelites - but only a foreigner, the Samaritan, returned.In a dramatic way, we're being shown today how faith has been made the way to salvation, the road by which all nations will join themselves to the Lord, becoming His servants, gathered with the Israelites into one chosen people of God, the Church (see Isaiah 56:3-8).
Today's Psalm also looks forward to the day when all peoples will see what Naaman sees - that there is no God in all the earth except the God of Israel. We see this day arriving in today's Gospel. The Samaritan leper is the only person in the New Testament who personally thanks Jesus. The Greek word used to describe his "giving thanks" is the word we translate as "Eucharist."And these lepers today reveal to us the inner dimensions of the Eucharist and sacramental life.
We, too have been healed by our faith in Jesus. As Naaman's flesh is made again like that of a little child, our souls have been cleansed of sin in the waters of Baptism. We experience this cleansing again and again in the Sacrament of Penance - as we repent our sins, beg and receive mercy from our Master, Jesus. We return to glorify God in each Mass, to offer ourselves in sacrifice - falling on our knees before our Lord, giving thanks for our salvation. In this Eucharist, we remember "Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David," Israel's covenant king. And we pray, as Paul does in today's Epistle, to persevere in this faith - that we too may live and reign with Him in eternal glory.
(posted w/ permission from © 2003 The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. All rights reserved) http://www.salvationhistory.com
2 Kings 5:14-17
Psalm 98:1-4
2 Timothy 2:8-13
Luke 17:11-19
A foreign leper is cleansed and in thanksgiving returns to offer homage to the God of Israel. We hear this same story in both the First Reading and Gospel today. There were many lepers in Israel in Elisha's time, but only Naaman the Syrian trusted in God's Word and was cleansed (see Luke 5:12-14).
Today's Gospel likewise implies that most of the 10 lepers healed by Jesus were Israelites - but only a foreigner, the Samaritan, returned.In a dramatic way, we're being shown today how faith has been made the way to salvation, the road by which all nations will join themselves to the Lord, becoming His servants, gathered with the Israelites into one chosen people of God, the Church (see Isaiah 56:3-8).
Today's Psalm also looks forward to the day when all peoples will see what Naaman sees - that there is no God in all the earth except the God of Israel. We see this day arriving in today's Gospel. The Samaritan leper is the only person in the New Testament who personally thanks Jesus. The Greek word used to describe his "giving thanks" is the word we translate as "Eucharist."And these lepers today reveal to us the inner dimensions of the Eucharist and sacramental life.
We, too have been healed by our faith in Jesus. As Naaman's flesh is made again like that of a little child, our souls have been cleansed of sin in the waters of Baptism. We experience this cleansing again and again in the Sacrament of Penance - as we repent our sins, beg and receive mercy from our Master, Jesus. We return to glorify God in each Mass, to offer ourselves in sacrifice - falling on our knees before our Lord, giving thanks for our salvation. In this Eucharist, we remember "Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David," Israel's covenant king. And we pray, as Paul does in today's Epistle, to persevere in this faith - that we too may live and reign with Him in eternal glory.
(posted w/ permission from © 2003 The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. All rights reserved) http://www.salvationhistory.com
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Catholic-owned soccer team meets Pope
Vatican, Oct. 11, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) met with members of the AC Ancona soccer team after his general audience on Wednesday, October 10. Reports on the meeting indicated accurately that the Pontiff had given the team his blessing-- and thereby added to the confusion caused by earlier reports that the Vatican had bought a controlling interest in the team.
AC Ancona, which plays in the 3rd division of Italy's professional league, was bought earlier this month by the Centro Sportivo Italiano, an organization of lay Catholics. The new owners immediately announced plans to make the team a model for ethical competition in soccer.
Numerous reports circulating in Italy had conveyed the inaccurate impression that the Vatican, or the Italian hierarchy had purchased the team-- prompting the Vatican press office to issue a clarification that while the Pope and the Italian bishops applaud such lay initiatives, they "have nothing to do with this project." The players' presence at a papal audience was arranged separately from the purchase of the team.
At the October 10 papal audience, members of AC Ancona presented Pope Benedict with a team jersey, carrying the number 16. They also gave the Pope a soccer ball signed by each team member.
Giovanni Langella, the captain of the squad, said that the meeting was "a great thrill." Questioned about the suggestion that players who are penalized with a red card should be asked to do social work, Langella replied, "I'll do it even if I'm not red-carded."
AC Ancona, which plays in the 3rd division of Italy's professional league, was bought earlier this month by the Centro Sportivo Italiano, an organization of lay Catholics. The new owners immediately announced plans to make the team a model for ethical competition in soccer.
Numerous reports circulating in Italy had conveyed the inaccurate impression that the Vatican, or the Italian hierarchy had purchased the team-- prompting the Vatican press office to issue a clarification that while the Pope and the Italian bishops applaud such lay initiatives, they "have nothing to do with this project." The players' presence at a papal audience was arranged separately from the purchase of the team.
At the October 10 papal audience, members of AC Ancona presented Pope Benedict with a team jersey, carrying the number 16. They also gave the Pope a soccer ball signed by each team member.
Giovanni Langella, the captain of the squad, said that the meeting was "a great thrill." Questioned about the suggestion that players who are penalized with a red card should be asked to do social work, Langella replied, "I'll do it even if I'm not red-carded."
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Farewell to Luciana Frassati
Luciana Frassati GawronskaAfter a long and accomplished life of 105 years, Luciana Frassati, the sister of Blessed Pier Giorgio, died at her home in Pollone, Italy on Sunday, October 7, 2007, at about 7 a.m. The funeral was held in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin on Tuesday morning. Luciana was the main driving force behind her brother's cause for sainthood. Through her many books, the world has come to know and admire the wonderful example set by Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Let us all remember her in our prayers. (Her obituary can be found, in Italian, at: http://www.repubblica.it/2007/10/sezioni/cronaca/luciana-frassati/luciana-frassati/luciana-frassati.html)
O Gentlest heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatoryhave mercy on the soul of Thy departed servant, Luciana Frassati. Be not severe in Thy judgment but let some drops of Thy Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames, and do Thou O merciful Saviour send the angels to conduct her to a place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen.
Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, And let perpetual Light shine upon her.May her soulAnd the souls of all the faithful departed Through the mercy of God Rest in peace. Amen.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Survey: More Americans know Big Mac ingredients than Ten Commandments
(From Mark Pattison of Catholic News Service)
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Quick. Name each of the Ten Commandments. OK. Now name the ingredients in a Big Mac hamburger sold at McDonald's.
According to a new survey, the Big Mac wins the memory contest.
In truth, the Big Mac has advantages. There are only seven ingredients to remember, and they have a catchy jingle behind them. McDonald's Corp. has poured enough money into commercials that the decades-old jingle remains familiar today.
The survey of 1,000 Americans, by Kelton Research, was undertaken to help promote the new animated movie "The Ten Commandments," which will open on 700 screens nationwide Oct. 19. Voice talents featured in the movie include Ben Kingsley as the narrator, Christian Slater as Moses, Alfred Molina as Ramses and Elliott Gould as the voice of God.
The vast majority of those surveyed could easily name the primary ingredients in a Big Mac: two all-beef patties (80 percent), lettuce (76 percent), sesame-seed bun (75 percent), special sauce (66 percent), pickles (62 percent) and cheese (60 percent).
By comparison, "You shall not kill" was known to fewer than six in 10 respondents. Less than half (45 percent) could recall the commandment to "Honor your father and mother."
Even those who said they go to church at least once a week had trouble naming all of the commandments. Seventy percent recalled "You shall not kill" and 69 percent remembered "You shall not steal" but the Big Mac's all-beef patties and lettuce got more recognition from the survey group (79 and 76 percent, respectively).
Survey participants also had an easier time remembering the names of the kids from the old TV series "The Brady Bunch." The least remembered of that sextet, Bobby and Peter, had a 43 percent recognition rate, better than the two least-remembered commandments to keep holy the Sabbath (34 percent) and to not have any gods besides God (29 percent).
During an Oct. 2 conference call to promote the movie, Paul Lauer of Motive Marketing said survey respondents were asked to write down the commandments they remembered, so even though Catholic and Protestant formulations of the Ten Commandments differ slightly, responses from either faith group would have been declared correct.
Here's a quick review of the Ten Commandments, as found in Chapter 20 of Exodus in the 1970 edition of the New American Bible:
-- "I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides me."
-- "You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain."
-- "Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day."
-- "Honor your father and your mother."
-- "You shall not kill."
-- "You shall not commit adultery."
-- "You shall not steal."
-- "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."
-- "You shall not covet your neighbor's house."
-- "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, or anything else that belongs to him."
The screenwriter of the "Ten Commandments" film, Ed Naha, a Catholic whose previous credits include "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," said he hopes the movie "will appeal to people who don't know the Bible."
Cindy Bond, president and chief operating officer of Promenade Pictures, said, "'The Ten Commandments' was the movie he (Naha) was being called to write." Bond added that it is the first in a series of 12 planned animated "Epic Stories of the Bible."
"Noah's Ark: The New Beginning" is halfway through production, she said. "David and Goliath" has just started production. "We're looking at 'The Battle of Jericho' as the fourth" in the series, Bond added.
Other Bible stories still in the discussion stages may include Daniel in the lions' den, Samson and Delilah, the Book of Genesis, and stories from the New Testament.
END
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Quick. Name each of the Ten Commandments. OK. Now name the ingredients in a Big Mac hamburger sold at McDonald's.
According to a new survey, the Big Mac wins the memory contest.
In truth, the Big Mac has advantages. There are only seven ingredients to remember, and they have a catchy jingle behind them. McDonald's Corp. has poured enough money into commercials that the decades-old jingle remains familiar today.
The survey of 1,000 Americans, by Kelton Research, was undertaken to help promote the new animated movie "The Ten Commandments," which will open on 700 screens nationwide Oct. 19. Voice talents featured in the movie include Ben Kingsley as the narrator, Christian Slater as Moses, Alfred Molina as Ramses and Elliott Gould as the voice of God.
The vast majority of those surveyed could easily name the primary ingredients in a Big Mac: two all-beef patties (80 percent), lettuce (76 percent), sesame-seed bun (75 percent), special sauce (66 percent), pickles (62 percent) and cheese (60 percent).
By comparison, "You shall not kill" was known to fewer than six in 10 respondents. Less than half (45 percent) could recall the commandment to "Honor your father and mother."
Even those who said they go to church at least once a week had trouble naming all of the commandments. Seventy percent recalled "You shall not kill" and 69 percent remembered "You shall not steal" but the Big Mac's all-beef patties and lettuce got more recognition from the survey group (79 and 76 percent, respectively).
Survey participants also had an easier time remembering the names of the kids from the old TV series "The Brady Bunch." The least remembered of that sextet, Bobby and Peter, had a 43 percent recognition rate, better than the two least-remembered commandments to keep holy the Sabbath (34 percent) and to not have any gods besides God (29 percent).
During an Oct. 2 conference call to promote the movie, Paul Lauer of Motive Marketing said survey respondents were asked to write down the commandments they remembered, so even though Catholic and Protestant formulations of the Ten Commandments differ slightly, responses from either faith group would have been declared correct.
Here's a quick review of the Ten Commandments, as found in Chapter 20 of Exodus in the 1970 edition of the New American Bible:
-- "I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides me."
-- "You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain."
-- "Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day."
-- "Honor your father and your mother."
-- "You shall not kill."
-- "You shall not commit adultery."
-- "You shall not steal."
-- "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."
-- "You shall not covet your neighbor's house."
-- "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, or anything else that belongs to him."
The screenwriter of the "Ten Commandments" film, Ed Naha, a Catholic whose previous credits include "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," said he hopes the movie "will appeal to people who don't know the Bible."
Cindy Bond, president and chief operating officer of Promenade Pictures, said, "'The Ten Commandments' was the movie he (Naha) was being called to write." Bond added that it is the first in a series of 12 planned animated "Epic Stories of the Bible."
"Noah's Ark: The New Beginning" is halfway through production, she said. "David and Goliath" has just started production. "We're looking at 'The Battle of Jericho' as the fourth" in the series, Bond added.
Other Bible stories still in the discussion stages may include Daniel in the lions' den, Samson and Delilah, the Book of Genesis, and stories from the New Testament.
END
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Inside of the Pollone Cemetery
This is an amateur video of Pollone Cemetary where the Frassati tomb is located.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Higher Grounds Coffee
For those who have asked, the fair trade coffee we use at our monthly Holy Hour and Coffee House can be purchased at: http://www.javaforjustice.com/
I really enjoy the different blends that they offer. They also make great Christmas gifts!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)