Catholic Teens 11-21-06

Hey All—

One of the beautiful truths of the Catholic Faith is how all of us are spiritually tied in together in Christ’s body. Hence, the prayers we offer for each other, whether they be local or global, do indeed make a difference. Pope Benedict will be going to Turkey next week on a pilgrimage for peace and dialog. Turkey is a majority Muslim country. As you can imagine there have been threats and rumors of violence. While we cannot be there physically with our Holy Father, we can be with him spiritually—praying for the success and safety of his trip.

One group, the Knights of Columbus are spearheading this effort. They have composed a prayer that anyone who wishes to support the Pope can say. My family and I will start saying it this Thanksgiving and continue through December 1st. I’d encourage you to do the same.

Here’s the prayer:
Spiritual Pilgrimage With Pope Benedict XVI
Prayer composed by Bishop William E. Lori, supreme chaplain, for the Spiritual Pilgrimage with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on his Nov. 28-Dec. 1 pastoral visit to Turkey.


Heavenly Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name, we humbly ask that you sustain, inspire, and protect your servant, Pope Benedict XVI, as he goes on pilgrimage to Turkey – a land to which St. Paul brought the Gospel of your Son; a land where once the Mother of your Son, the Seat of Wisdom, dwelt; a land where faith in your Son’s true divinity was definitively professed. Bless our Holy Father, who comes as a messenger of truth and love to all people of faith and good will dwelling in this land so rich in history. In the power of the Holy Spirit, may this visit of the Holy Father bring about deeper ties of understanding, cooperation, and peace among Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, and those who profess Islam. May the prayers and events of these historic days greatly contribute both to greater accord among those who worship you, the living and true God, and also to peace in our world so often torn apart by war and sectarian violence.
\n We also ask, O Heavenly Father, that you watch over and protect Pope \n Benedict and entrust him to the loving care of Mary, under the title of \n Our Lady of Fatima, a title cherished both by Catholics and Muslims. \n Through her prayers and maternal love, may Pope Benedict be kept safe from \n all harm as he prays, bears witness to the Gospel, and invites all peoples \n to a dialogue of faith, reason, and love. We make our prayer through \n Christ, our Lord. Amen.\n\n",0]
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We also ask, O Heavenly Father, that you watch over and protect Pope Benedict and entrust him to the loving care of Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Fatima, a title cherished both by Catholics and Muslims. Through her prayers and maternal love, may Pope Benedict be kept safe from all harm as he prays, bears witness to the Gospel, and invites all peoples to a dialogue of faith, reason, and love. We make our prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Question O' The Week:
In honor of Thanksgiving, I thought I’d share some things to be “thankful for” in place of the regular “Question O’ The Week”. You’ll notice these very hopeful things in the Diocese all concern young people….your peers. Good things are happening! And perhaps you’ll partake in some of these activities next summer? J
Things to be thankful for:
-200 Middle and High Schoolers from the Diocese of La Crosse attended Adventure Camp this July.
-13 young men and women have entered the Seminary and Religious Life from Aquinas High School is four years!
-17 young women who have visited Mater Redemptoris Convent and House of Formation have entered Apostolic or Contemplative Religious Life since its beginning in August 2000.
-32,000 high school teens attended Steubenville Youth Conferences this summer throughout the country and our Diocese of La Crosse sponsored four different trips (St. Paul, St. Louis, San Diego, and Louisiana).
-4 Mission Trips were sponsored by the Diocese of La Crosse for youth to Peru, Mexico, Columbia, and Lourdes.
-Over 350 young girls have visited Mater Redemptoris Convent and House of Formation is six years.
-In the last four years, 4 seminarians from Holy Cross Seminary and House of Formation have gone on for studies to the priesthood.
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Intentions:
-For our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, especially on his trip to Turkey.
-That all may realize the source of all their blessings, and be truly thankful to God.
-For all the other intentions you hold in your hearts, we pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
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Announcements:

The Youth Group, Generation JPII:
The next meeting is Sunday night, December 3rd, 6-8PM. We’ll be making Christmas cards for our parishioners in the nursing homes. Mark your calendars!
Look for meetings to be held the 1st & 3rd Sunday of each month

God bless you!
Phil Lawson

For more information on St. Peters check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com

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