A Word From Our Associate . . .

     Regarding some of my recent columns on the liturgy, I was told that I should reconsider all the translating I was doing:  i.e. English to Latin.  I was beginning to sound to pedantic, and too must like a Roman document.  "Maybe I should give some thought to reintroducing some of myself in my writing,"  said one.  We had a few good laughs with the comments.  It also dawned on me that many parishioners were not even reading the bulletin, and even if they were, they might not be reading my column (just picking and choosing what looked good).  Admittedly in my naïvette I was assuming that everyone was reading weekly the bulletin, and my column, which only goes to show that I'm still a rookie.
     So, to reintroduce a little of myself, I thought I would conclude this five-week perusal of the liturgy (in terms of full, conscious and active participation), by sharing one of my favorite gestures, as a priest.  It comes during the words of institution ("Take this all of you and eat it:  this is my body which will be given up for you; Take this all of you and drink from it:  this is the cup of my blood...do this in memory of me), and it is a very subtle action.  The rubric, or directive, in the Sacramentary tells the priest that he should "bow slightly," while raising the bread a little above the altar.  What happens for me, when I bow slightly and pray Christ's words over the bread and wine, is that I am immediately reminded of God "breathing" into man, "the breathe of life" (Gen 2:7), and of Christ breathing on the disciples after His resurrection, saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22).  And this, I believe, is what the gesture symbolizes: now, here is this Eucharist, Jesus, through the symbolic action of the priest, is breathing the Holy Spirit upon the elements of bread and wine, and transforming them into His body and blood.  That's a beautiful and powerful image.  As a priest, it's an awesome and humbling reality to consider that one's very breath is part of the symbolic action. (That's why I brush my teeth real good in the morning--ha!) And I cannot help but simultaneously think that Jesus is breathing the Holy Spirit upon all gathered, even as the Holy Spirit is already hovering over the assembly.  We then, receive this beautiful presence of the Holy Spirit in the Eucharist, just as we receive Jesus Himself!

Faith Formation . . .
CONFIRMATION SPONSOR TRAINING
Confirmation Sponsor training will be Saturday, October 30 from 10:00--11:30am in the school cafeteria.  If sponsors cannot attend, please have them contact Mary Ann Zervas @ (651) 633-1540 to set up an appointment.   The Confirmation Sponsor is a very important part of the Confirmation Process -- it begins now.

WE NEED COMPUTER MONITORS!
Computer Monitors only to be used by the Middle School Religious Education Program to teach religious education using computer games.  We have developed the software to play the games; we need monitors so that multiple students can participate at the same time.  If you have any old monitors or monitors that aren't being used please call Tim Carter @ (651) 633-1540. Thanks!

SEEKERS:  Adult Theological Book Club
We are seeking GOD deep in our hearts.  We begin by reading and discussing books, hoping the head-knowledge will deepen our understanding and love of God, and make the Scriptures come alive to us.  We meet the 2nd Thursday of each month, 7:00--8:30pm.  Parish Center/Francis Room.  You are invited to join us -- even if you don't find time to read.  We learn from each other and we support one another.  BOOK TO READ FOR NOV. 11:  Jerusalem at the Time of Jesus.  By Joachim Jeremias, Fortress Press, Philadelphia.  Buy it or get it from the library.  Read whatever interests you in the book.

THREE WOMEN RCIA SPONSORS NEEDED
You may be a parishioner who has said:  "I wish they would do something like RCIA for people who are already Catholic.  I learned my faith as a child, and I'd like to learn more about what the church teaches since Vatican II about ________."
Serving as an RCIA Sponsor can accomplish that -- along with supporting another person who is searching what it is to be Catholic for the first time.  Sponsors do NOT need to be "answer people" who are experts in knowledge about the faith.  Qualifications include: 

• A willingness to participate in a group gathering as a companion with a searcher once a week on Sundays 11:00am Mass--12:00 - 1:15pm Class.
  
• Respect for wherever another has been led on the faith journey
  
• An openness to personal growth in sound, Vatican II understanding  of church life.