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Thirteenth SUNDAY in ordinary time                                                                                june 28, 2009

ADULT AND YOUTH MINISTRY AND CATECHESIS

Youth Ministry

Catechesis Column

God created man to be immortal...
...by envy of the devil, death entered the world.

(Wisdom 2:23-24)

 

The Meaning of Christian Death

 

¨ Death is a consequence of sin:  death entered the world on account of man’s sin….God had destined him not to die.  Death was therefore contrary to the plans of God the Creator.

¨ Death is the end of earthly life:  Our lives are measured by time….That aspect lends urgency to our lives.  Remembering our mortality helps us realize that we have only a limited time in which to bring our lives to fulfillment - “to work out our own salvation” (Phil 2:12).

¨ Death is transformed by Christ:  Jesus, the Son of God...suffered the death that is part of the human condition.  Despite his anguish as he faced death, he accepted it in an act of complete and free submission to his Father’s will.  The obedience of Jesus has transformed the curse of death into a blessing.

Because of Christ, Christian death has a positive meaning….Through Baptism, the Christina has already “died with Christ” sacramentally, in order to live a new life; and if we die in Christ’s grace, physical death completes this “dying with Christ” and so completes our incorporation into him in his redeeming act.  In death, God calls man to himself.  (Cf. CCC 1005—1011)

Harvest is plentiful - Laborers are few

There are many great opportunities to invest your time and talents in a variety of ministries. 

 

Þ RCIA core team

Þ Small group leaders for Youth Ministry

Þ Boy’s or Girl’s ministry core teams

Þ Men or Women’s ministry core teams

Þ Family ministry core team

Þ Evangelization committee team

Þ Outreach and service committee team

If interested in more details, please call or email Barry at (303-233-1283) or
bmetzentine@fatimalakewood.com.

Evangelization - Who Do You Know

My brothers and sisters Grace abounds in our parish family.  However, there remains a great many individuals and families, in our parish and in the world, who are lost in the universal story and in their identity as eternally destined creatures of a loving and almighty God.

I extend an invitation to all parishioners – practicing and non-practicing – to prayerfully consider attending and inviting a non-Catholic, non-Christian or lapsed Catholic friend to one of our  Christian Initiation summer informational sessions:

¨ Wed., July 22, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

¨ Sun., July 26, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

¨ Tue., August 18, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

There is no better place to come and see an organic, systematic, and beautiful presentation of our Catholic faith.  Call Barry for details (303-233-1283).

Mark your calendars!

Þ Men’s Day Retreat
at OLF, August 29, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm. 
Details forthcoming

 

Þ ENDOW Women’s Conference
at St. Thomas More Parish, September 25-26. 
www.endowonline.com for details.

Who Said  It?

Last week:  You imagine you are saying something clever when you derive the name Catholic… (St. Augustine)

 

“It is better for me to die in Christ Jesus than to reign over the ends of the earth.  Him it is I seek - who died for us.  Him it is I desire - who rose for us.  I am on the point of giving birth….Let me receive pure light; when I shall have arrived there, then shall I be a man.”  (look for answer next week)