Epiphany Sunday!

This past Sunday we celebrated Epiphany, the arrival of the three wise men to the stable in Bethlehem.  

We recognize this day and this NEW YEAR with our own Epiphany Blessing. 

This is a traditional Catholic blessing for your home and all you need is the prayer and some chalk.

We ask God’s blessing on this home and on those who come here. It is an invitation for Jesus to be a daily guest, part of our comings and goings, our conversations, our work and play, our joys and sorrows.

A traditional way of doing this is to use chalk to write above the entrance  

20 + C + M + B + 18.

The letters C, M, B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus Mansionem Benedicat, “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross and 2018 is the year.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.  In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Blessing the Chalk

Let us pray.
Loving God, bless this chalk which you have created, that it may be helpful to your people; and grant that through the invocation of your most Holy Name that we who use it in faith to write upon the door of our home the names of your holy ones Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, may receive health of body and protection of soul for all who dwell in or visit our home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Instructions for Blessing the Home

Using the blessed chalk mark the lintel of your front door (or front porch step) as follows  20 + C + M + B + 18 while saying:

Prayer:

The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and sisteen years ago. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year.

Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen

Good St. Anne, Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Chalking the door” is a way to celebrate and literally mark the occasion of the Epiphany and God’s blessing of our lives and home. With time the chalk will fade. As it does we let the meaning of the symbols written sink into the depths of our heart and be manifest in our words and actions the Latin words, Christus Mansionem Benedictat, “May Christ bless the house.”

 

Have a safe, healthy, prosperous and faith-filled new year.

New in Campus Ministry!!!

New in Campus Ministry!!!

I always love highlighting students and their AMAZING TALENTS!!  
Today I was blessed  to receive this truly beautiful painting for my office from 
Gr11 student, Daniel Golovenko.  

Daniel is a terrific and talented young man with a passion for the arts and for faith!

Thanks Daniel, I love it!

Earth Day

We continue to recognize Earth Day this week with our actions and our prayers.

A gift from God and the common home of humanity, the earth is threatened by man's abuse of his freedom. In his encyclical Praise Be to You (Laudato Si'), Pope Francis challenges all people to praise and thank God for his glorious creation and to work together to safeguard her.

Other popes have addressed key themes regarding stewardship of God's creation, but Pope Francis is the first to devote an entire encyclical to the subject. The encyclical takes its name from Saint Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Creatures, which depicts cre­ation as "a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us". Pope Francis declares, "This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her."

And so we pray…

O GOD,
we thank you for this earth, our home; for the wide sky and the blessed sun, for the ocean and streams, for the towering hills and the whispering wind, for the trees and green grass.

We thank you for our senses by which we hear the songs of birds, and see the splendor of fields of golden wheat, and taste autumn's fruit, and rejoice in the feel of snow, and smell the breath of spring flowers.

GRANT US a heart opened wide to all this beauty; and save us from being so blind that we pass unseeing when even the common thornbush is aflame with your glory.

For each new dawn is filled with infinite possibilities for new beginnings and new discoveries. Life is constantly changing and renewing itself. In this new day of new beginnings with God, all things are possible. We are restored and renewed in a joyous awakening to the wonder that our lives are and, yet, can be.  Amen.


Good St. Anne Pray For Us.

ASH WEDNESDAY - Welcome to Lent

On Ash Wednesday we hear a call to reorder our priorities. Isaiah tells us, "Rend your hearts...and return to the Lord." St. Paul speaks as an ambassador for Christ, "Be reconciled to God...Now is the day of salvation." And Jesus gives us some practical means to get our priorities straight.

We are living in a world that overwhelms us with all of the nastiness of life.  We only need to turn on the TV to see hate and greed, injustice and abuse. We see people being treated with absolute disrespect and we see people that think it’s their right to do so.  We are persuaded into thinking that if you don’t want to be the victim, you better be the aggressor or if you don’t agree with me the best way to solve that problem is to lash out with violence.  

If our only priority is “I, me and my” then that is all that we will be left with.  If we can’t see beyond just me and mine, to those around us in the school or country or the world and recognize the needs of others then we are missing an essential aspect of who and what we are as human beings.  We are at our core supposed to be in good, positive, loving relationships with people.  but “How do we do that?”

Looking to the words of W.A.Ward, American author, teacher and pastor and our own Pope Francis  -- 

We can FAST which means give up something that is negative…  

…but we can also FEAST on what is positive and real!

We can …

Fast from judging others And feast on Christ that dwells in them.

Fast from the large double double And feast on giving to charity

Fast from discontent And feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger And feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism And feast on optimism.

Fast from complaining And feast on appreciation.

Fast from the Cafeteria’s awesome supreme 

And feast on meatless Fridays

Fast from bitterness And feast on forgiveness.

Fast from thinking only about ourselve

And feast on compassion for others.

Fast from discouragement And feast on hope.

Fast from laziness And feast on enthusiasm

Fast from idle gossip And feast on purposeful silence.

And we ask God to help us with all of this during our Lenten Season.

You may have already decided that you are going to give up or do something for Lent but we will, as part of Morning prayer, focus on a different fast and feast each day during Lent.  We can give up something different each day. And by the end of this Lenten season we will all be reconciled to God. ...Or at least a little closer.   

May God Bless us and give us moments of grace over the next 40 days.

Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Season
It's seems like just a couple of months ago we were participating in the Lenten season of last year. But in looking back, it really has been a whole year with lots of activity!
Ash Wednesday on March 1, 2017 marks the beginning of Lent this year.

Here is a great video produced by "Busted Halo" that might help with any questions!!

 And since today seems to be a technology day, you might enjoy one or both of these reflection videos found online!

Celebrating ADVENT

This past Sunday, we began the season of Advent by celebrating the 1^st Sunday of Advent. Advent is our time of preparation and time of waiting for the coming of Jesus.It is a rich and powerful season of the Church year.

We often miss Advent's power because these December weeks are full of secular Christmas parties and preparations for Christmas. Each year, the busyness of this season serves to distract us from having an Advent season that truly prepares us for the celebration of Christmas, with all its meaning.

We must see through the “Windows of Faith” when we look at our Advent preparations for Christmas rather than the “Screens of Society”. The computer screen, the phone screen, the tv screen or the movie screen.

Through “Windows of Faith”, we see the birth of the Christ-child, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace. We see that it is being with family that is the gift, the shared moments of grace that are important.  It is practicing goodness, generosity, hospitality and humility that give us the deepest sense of peace, joy and love.  We see those in need, the homeless and the hungry not just the overwhelming consumerism in the world.

The First Week of Advent

Jesus, Son of Mary, you are the hope in our messy world. This Advent, help us slow down, listen to your voice, see through "windows of faith" and focus on what’s really important. We place our HOPE in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas. We ask this through Christ of Lord. Amen.

The Second Week of Advent

Jesus, our Brother, you entered our world on Christmas as the Prince of Peace. This Advent, as we strive to look through the "windows of faith" and become the-best-version-of-ourselves, fill us with a deep and abiding peace. Help us share that PEACE with everyone we encounter, especially those who need it most. We ask this through Christ of Lord. Amen.

The Third Week of Advent

Jesus, the Christ-child, help us focus on you during this busy season. May we stay aware of the JOY you bring into our lives. When we look through the "windows of faith" we find you in the everyday moments and we can come with hearts of gratitude to your manger on Christmas. We ask this through Christ of Lord. Amen.

The Fourth Week of Advent

Jesus, Guiding Light, may the light of your love always shine in our hearts. As Christmas draws closer, we marvel at your great LOVE for us. Let your love transform every aspect of our lives, help us to see through "windows of faith" and touch everyone we encounter. Our hearts are open to you, Jesus. We ask this through Christ of Lord. Amen.

Advent Prayer for Families

Heavenly Father, your son Jesus is your greatest gift to us, 

a great sign of your love. 

Guide us as we strive to walk in that love 

together as a family this Advent. 

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, 

bring us closer to each other and to your son. 

Give us the grace and strength we need every day, 

help us to always trust in you 

and help us to look through "windows of faith" 

to see the world around us. 

Come, Lord Jesus, lead all people closer to you. 

Come and dispel the darkness of our world 

with the light of your love. 

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray For Us.

Faith in Motion

Someone else's need creates an opportunity for us to respond in faith!  


Some of our music students went out to St. John the Evangelist parish last week to share their gifts and talents. We led the music at the Thanksgiving Mass for St. John the Evangelist school in Woodslee.

When the need for music arose, our staff and students were quick to respond, not for glory but because that is what our faith calls us to do.   

In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Luke 3:11

It may not have been coats but the students shared what they had...                   Talent and Music

The St. Anne's Crew with students from St. John the Evangelist school.

Thanks goes out to...            St. Anne's students (L-R) Massimo Chiodo, Lucas Radlin, Amanda Gray, Olivia Toulouse, Morgan Pake and Emma Chenier.

Along with St. Anne's Campus Minister Mrs. Renee Fuerth and Fr. Moe Charbonneau.