Catholic Teens 4-24-07

Hey All—

As the late John Paul II’s life is examined for his potential elevation to sainthood, more evidence of his holiness emerges. In fact, there’s already a book out on “John Paul’s Miracles”—it’s available at Cornerstone Catholic Bookstore here in town.

JPII’s growth in holiness started at a young age—hence he’s a great example to young people. He certainly didn’t have an easy childhood, losing his mother at an early age, and then experiencing the horrors of WWII. Yet, he sought God in all of this—and there he found his hope and his purpose in life. And for that we can be eternally grateful. May you and I imitate his example!

Sanctity Began Early for John Paul II, Says CardinalVATICAN CITY, APRIL 2, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Pope John Paul II's intense relationship with God was already profound in his youth, said Cardinal Camillo Ruini at the close of the diocesan phase of the Pontiff's beatification process. In his homily during the closing ceremony, Cardinal Ruini, the vicar of Benedict XVI for Rome, commented on John Paul II's intense spiritual life.
\n\u003cbr\>Boyhood\n\u003cbr\> \n\u003cbr\>The cardinal said\nthat Karol Wojtyla's spiritual life was "already strong, intimate and\nprofound in his boyhood, and that [it] never ceased to\ndevelop and grow stronger, producing fruits in all dimensions of\nhis life."\n\u003cbr\> \n\u003cbr\>Cardinal Ruini added that God never sheltered Wojtyla\nfrom the trials of life, but rather was constantly "associating\nhim ever and anew to the cross of his Son\n... giving him the courage to love the cross, and\nthe spiritual intelligence to see, through the cross, the face\nof the Father."\n\u003cbr\> \n\u003cbr\>The cardinal continued: "In the certainty of\nbeing loved by God and in the joy of returning\nthis love, Karol Wojtyla found the meaning, unity and aim\nof his own life.\n\u003cbr\> \n\u003cbr\>"All those who knew him, from\nnear or only from afar, were struck by the richness\nof his humanity, by his complete fulfillment as a man.\n\u003cbr\>\n\n\u003cbr\>"But even more illuminating and important is the fact that\nsuch fullness of humanity coincided, in the end, with his\nrelationship with God, in other words with his sanctity."\n\u003cbr\> \n\u003cbr\>Faith\n\u003cbr\>\n\n\u003cbr\>Cardinal Ruini said that the faith of John Paul II\nwas that "of a man who, in a certain sense,\nhad already seen the Lord, and who had made the\ndirect experience of the mysterious and salvific presence of God\nin his spirit and in his life."\n\u003cbr\> \n\u003cbr\>It is because\nof this faith, continued the cardinal, that Wojtyla had felt\n"the necessity and the duty to offer and transmit to\nall the truth that saves."\n\u003cbr\> \n\u003cbr\>Cardinal Ruini also recalled the\nlast moments of John Paul II.\n\u003cbr\> \n\u003cbr\>With the help of\nthose present in his apartment, John Paul II prayed "all\nthe daily prayers: adoration, meditation and he even anticipated the\noffice of the readings for Sunday," said the cardinal.\n\u003cbr\> \n\u003cbr\>The\ncardinal continued: "Then, he said with an exceedingly weak voice\nto Sister Tobiana Sobotka, his authentic guardian angel: 'Let the\nLord come.'\n\u003cbr\> \n\u003cbr\>"Afterward, he entered into a coma, and in\nhis room the vigil Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday was\ncelebrated."\n",1]
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Boyhood The cardinal said that Karol Wojtyla's spiritual life was "already strong, intimate and profound in his boyhood, and that [it] never ceased to develop and grow stronger, producing fruits in all dimensions of his life." Cardinal Ruini added that God never sheltered Wojtyla from the trials of life, but rather was constantly "associating him ever and anew to the cross of his Son ... giving him the courage to love the cross, and the spiritual intelligence to see, through the cross, the face of the Father." The cardinal continued: "In the certainty of being loved by God and in the joy of returning this love, Karol Wojtyla found the meaning, unity and aim of his own life. "All those who knew him, from near or only from afar, were struck by the richness of his humanity, by his complete fulfillment as a man. "But even more illuminating and important is the fact that such fullness of humanity coincided, in the end, with his relationship with God, in other words with his sanctity."

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Intentions:
-For all those looking for work.
-For all victims of violence.
-For peace in the world and an end to terrorism.
-For all the other intentions you hold in your hearts, we pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.




Announcements:
The Youth Group, Generation JPII:
-The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, May 6th —6PM in the St. Faustina Room.
The topic is Vocations!

Vacation Bible School: July 23-27th:
- We’re looking for volunteers to help! Shoot me an email if you’re interested in being a part of this. The school is for grades 1-5 and runs from about 8am to Noon each day. We’ll even be including JPII on one of the days!

God bless you!
Phil Lawson

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

Catholic Teens is a weekly email from Phil Lawson to Catholic Teenagers. To receive these weekly reflections, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com. On the other hand, if you’d like to be removed from this list, please send an email indicating that.

Catholic Teens 4-17-07

Hey All—

I recently came across this beautiful story about Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta as told by someone who worked with her.
Archbishop Comastri, who was a collaborator of Mother Teresa, concluded with an anecdote about her. To a photographer who asked her why she seemed so happy, Mother Teresa replied: "My eyes are happy because my hands dry tears. You, do the same: I assure you, it works." Source Zenit.org ZE07030601
How awesome is that? It’s a very fitting quote for this week as we just celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday. We are called to be instruments of God’s Mercy in a world that so badly needs it.
Realize as well that God has a plan for each and every one of us. No single person can dry all the tears in the world. No single person can help all the suffering. But each one of us can help someone. And to that one person, it makes all the difference in the world.
Pray to God, asking what He would like you to do. And then, when He answers your prayer, as He most assuredly will, act on it. Then you too will experience the happiness and fulfillment that animated Bl. Mother Teresa’s life.

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Intentions:
-For all those looking for work.
-For the health and recovery of Fr. Dennis Worzalla—now at Harmony Nursing Home in Stevens Point.
-For all the other intentions you hold in your hearts, we pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.




Announcements:
The Youth Group, Generation JPII:
-The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, May 6th —6PM in the St. Faustina Room.
The topic is Vocations!

Vacation Bible School: July 23-27th:
- We’re looking for volunteers to help! Shoot me an email if you’re interested in being a part of this. The school is for grades 1-5 and runs from about 8am to Noon each day.

God bless you!
Phil Lawson

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

Catholic Teens is a weekly email from Phil Lawson to Catholic Teenagers. To receive these weekly reflections, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com. On the other hand, if you’d like to be removed from this list, please send an email indicating that.

Catholic Teens 4-11-07

Hey All—

A vocation is our means of living out holiness. This is true whether the vocation is marriage, the priesthood, religious life or single life. Every vocation has in common the total giving of self for others. In marriage, you die to self for the sake of your spouse. As a priest, for the Church, as a religious for whatever the charism of your community is. Sometimes people think that marriage is easier then being a priest or nun. Not necessarily. For each is called to give up their own lives, desires, wants, etc for the good of another.

Sr. Anne Thole, a mere 35 years old, who loved music, organized the choir and even played guitar….gave completely of herself to save those who could not save themselves. As our Lord said, “there is no greater love then for one man to lay down his life for another…” May we be inspired by Sr. Anne’s heroic example!
Nun Dies Saving AIDS Patients From FireJOHANNESBURG, South Africa, APRIL 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The local press is calling the death of 35-year-old Sister Anne Thole a martyrdom. She died in a fire, trying to rescue AIDS patients from a burning hospice. Sister Thole was a novice director for her order. According to The Mercury, a local newspaper, the Maria Ratschitz Mission, outside of Dundee, caught fire on Saturday night, apparently from a patient's cigarette. The founder of the hospice, Sister Irmingard Thalmeier, said that five of the eight patients were evacuated from the fire, which started Saturday night. Three died with Sister Thole. Retired Dundee Bishop Michael Rowland was awakened and called to the scene. "By the time I got there, the building was blazing and we tried to put it out with garden hoses, but the wooden staircase and thatch were a column of fire," he said. "Sister Anne was so brave," the 78-year-old prelate said. "She gave her life for the patients. She exuded tremendous joy and had a great love of her vocation. She played the guitar well, and ran the choir and sang. All the novices loved her." ZE07040502
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Intentions:
-For all those looking for work.
-For all those who entered the Catholic Church this Easter.
-For the health and recovery of Fr. Dennis Worzalla—now at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.
-For all the other intentions you hold in your hearts, we pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.




Announcements:
The Youth Group, Generation JPII:
-The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, April 15th —6PM in the St. Faustina Room.
The topic is Vocations!

Vacation Bible School: July 23-27th:
- We’re looking for volunteers to help! Shoot me an email if you’re interested in being a part of this. The school is for grades 1-5 and runs from about 8am to Noon each day.

God bless you!
Phil Lawson

For more information on St. Peters check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com
Catholic Teens is a weekly email from Phil Lawson to Catholic Teenagers. To receive these weekly reflections, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com. On the other hand, if you’d like to be removed from this list, please send an email indicating

Catholic Teens 4-3-07

Hey All—
This is Holy Week—a time to intensely recall and re-live the experiences of Jesus' Passion. May you be blessed as you enter more fully into these Sacred Mysteries---hopefully able to participate in the Liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Saturday.


Jesus' Obituary
Jesus Christ, 33, of Nazareth, died Friday on Mount Calvary, also known as Golgotha , the place of the skull. Betrayed by the apostle, Judas, Jesus was crucified by the Romans, by order of the Ruler Pontius Pilate. The causes of death were crucifixion, extreme exhaustion, severe torture and loss of blood. Jesus Christ, a descendent of Abraham, was a member of the house of David. He was the Son of the late Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth, and Mary, His devoted Mother. Jesus was born in a stable in the city of Bethlehem , Judea. He is survived by His mother, Mary, His faithful Apostles, numerous disciples and many other followers. Jesus was self-educated and spent most of his adult life working as a Teacher. Jesus also occasionally worked as a Medical Doctor and it is reported that he healed many patients. Up until the time of His death, Jesus was teaching and sharing the Good News, healing the sick, touching the lonely, feeding the hungry and helping the poor. Jesus was most noted for telling parables about His Father's Kingdom and performing miracles, such as feeding over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, and healing a man who was born blind. On the day before His death, He held a Last Supper celebrating the Passover Feast, at which He foretold His death. The body was quickly buried in a stone grave, which was donated by Joseph of Arimathea, a loyal friend of the family. By order of Pontius Pilate, a boulder was rolled in front of the tomb. Roman soldiers were put on guard. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that everyone try to live as Jesus did. Donations may be sent to anyone in need.
Source: http://home.att.net/~scorh3/JesusObit.html (Go to this page and you'll see the version of this with graphics.)

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Intentions:
-For all those looking for work.
-For all those preparing to enter the Catholic Church this Easter.
-For the health and recovery of Fr. Dennis Worzalla—now at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.
-For the soul of Darlene Niemczyk, longtime staff member of St. Peter's who died last Thursday night.
-For all the other intentions you hold in your hearts, we pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.



Announcements:
The Youth Group, Generation JPII:
-The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, April 15th —6PM in the St. Faustina Room.
The topic is Vocations!

God bless you!
Phil Lawson

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

Catholic Teens is a weekly email from Phil Lawson to Catholic Teenagers. To receive these weekly reflections, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com. On the other hand, if you'd like to be removed from this list, please send an email indicating that.