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Our High School Youth Group had it's kickoff in August. It was a (color) blast!! The next Youth Group night is Sunday, September 26th at 6:00pm - all high school youth are welcome!! Happening This Week in Corpus Christi Parish Community
Daily Mass - 12:00pm @ Holy Child. Now that kids are back to school - take a mid-day break and refresh yourself with time spent with Jesus!!
Tuesday, September 14th - Fr. Dennis will present "The Creed - Father", 6:00pm in St. Mary's Hall.
Wednesday, September 15th - Eucharistic Adoration @ Holy Child 12:30pm - 8:00pm, the Sacrament of Reconciliation 7:00pm
Wednesday, September 15th - RCIA Meet & Greet, 7:00pm in St. Barbara's Hall. Come and see what becoming Catholic entails.
Saturday, September 18th - Sacrament of Reconciliation 11:30-12:30 @ St. Mary's, 12:30-1:30pm @ St. Barbara's.
Saturday, September 18th - Holy Smoke! Event for Men, 21 and older. Mass at 4:00pm with Fr. Joe Freedy - Our Lady of Perpetual Help - 2510 Middle Road, Glenshaw
Sunday, September 19th - Faith Formation Classes!! 9:00 -10:30am & 6:00-7:30pm at Holy Child.
Tuesday, September 21st - SoulCore 7:00pm in Holy Child Gym. Come and meditate upon the mysteries of the Rosary in this unique physical prayer. Bring a yoga mat.My Time, My Place... 
In the morning my alarm goes off at 5:30am. If my youngest son isn't awake yet, it's a lucky day; most mornings though he's already whimpering in his crib "mama, mama". I sleepily go in and pick him up, he points and we go downstairs. I grab a cup of coffee and sit in my oversized rocking chair, open the "Pray By Day" app on my phone and begin my prayer time. If he's awake and with me, he quietly sits in my lap for a few moments, but then quickly gets down and begins playing for the day.
After the app walks me through the prayer format of A.C.T.S (Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving & Supplication) to get me going, I typically read the readings for the day, or maybe some other part of Scripture, I may journal or sit quietly listening for the Lord, and then I always read about the Saint of the Day from the "Laudate" app. I love reading about the Saints. I learn about their lives, the families they grew up in, the jobs they performed, the way they lived and shared their faith, the challenges they faced and the way that they died. I have found great comfort in their example through the years and I never ceased to be amazed at how the Lord has called such a variety of men and women, married and single, lay and religious, professional and laborers, educated and not, rich and poor to be His witnesses through the centuries.
While I find encouragement and Hope in their example, there has always been a bit of a detachment from the Saints. Yes I can relate to them in countless ways, but still there is a bit of separation because that is another time and another place.
Our nation just marked 20 years since the 9/11 attacks. This year, I read for the first time an account of the call Todd Beamer made to 911 from Flight 93. The last request he made of the 911 operator, Lisa Jefferson, was he asked her to pray with him...together they recited the Our Father and Psalm 23 "The Lord is my shepherd", then she heard him say "Oh God help me...Jesus help me...Are you guys ready? Let's Roll!" And we all know that he, together with the rest of the passengers were able to crash the plane, ending their lives, but saving countless others.
Reading the account I knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Todd Beamer is in heaven. He is a Saint. He died a marytr. When faced with absolute evil, he called upon the Name of the Lord and did the right thing. The strength and courage the passengers showed that day can come only from God. I recalled the words of Jesus in the Scriptures "When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matthew 10:19)
Todd Beamer, the other passengers and heros of 9/11 are further examples to me of Saints that God has called forth to be His witnesses. But instead of it being another time and another place, this is my time and my place. How many times have I been on a plane? There is no separation here. One never knows what we will be called upon to do at any moment. I only pray that when faced with evil, I can follow the example of Todd and all of the other saints. I pray to have the strength to call upon the name of the Lord and do the right thing, no matter what the cost.
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures he makes me lie down;
to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul.
He guides me along right paths
for the sake of his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me.
You set a table before me in front of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me
all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the LORD
for endless days.
We Celebrate! Living Liturgically!
Tues, September 14th - Feast of the Triumph of the Cross- There is a lot I love about being Catholic, but one of my favorites is the Liturgical Year. I love having a rhythm of tradition throughout the year a means of feasting, fasting, remembering and celebrating.
- "This feast traces its beginning to Jerusalem and the dedication of the church built on the site of Mount Calvary in 335...The cross is a sign of suffering, a sign of human cruelty at its worst. But by Christ’s love shown in the Paschal Mystery, it has become the sign of triumph and victory, the sign of God, who is love itself." (from Saints and Feast Days, by Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio) I love how as summer is wanning and the days are getting shorter, we have this reminder that Light triumphs over darkness!
- There are so many ideas for cross crafts online, do a search with your kids and make one together.
- Make sure that all of your children know how to correctly make the Sign of the Cross
- Go around your home and make sure there is a cross or crucifix in every room (or at least in one!!) if you need to put some new ones us go shopping! JMJ Catholic Book Store in Bethel Park is a great little place!
- Pray the Stations of the Cross either in one of our churches or in your home (they're not just for Lent!)
- While this may seem like an odd thing to celebrate, each year on September 15th we honor the sorrows of our mother. If you have ever had a friend or family member who has experienced the loss of someone that they've loved, you know what it means to that person to come alongside of them and support them in their grief. That's a little bit fo what this feast day is all about.
- Read more about this Feast here.
- In this Year of St. Joseph, you can also mark this Feast by praying the Sorrows of St. Joseph - you can find them here.
- When in doubt of how to mark a Marian feast day...pray the Rosary!
Mark Your Calendars!!!
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