Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Catholic Teens 5-6-08

Hey All—

A frequent question asked by young people is, “what does a priest do all day?” Most young people only see Father on Sunday at Mass—what do priests do the rest of the week? Our pastor, Fr. Louis recently gave a snapshot into a week of his life in the parish bulletin. I think you’ll enjoy it. Likewise it should inspire you to pray for all of our priests!

“Every so often my spiritual director has me keep detailed track of my priestly activities over a seven day period. Ever since being ordained I have been amused at people who ask with deep wonder in their voice: “What do you DO all day?!” Of course, there is also the occasional jerk who asks with a sharp tone confident that the priest has the easiest “job” in the world – show up for work for an hour on Sunday and have the remainder of the week off! This time my spiritual director put me under “holy obedience” to share with you the details of my priestly ministry in your midst during a recent seven day period: nine hours celebrating Masses at Saint Peter, one hour celebrating Mass at an area nursing home, one hour presiding at the Liturgy of the Hours at Saint Peter, seven hours praying in private the Liturgy of the Hours (Breviary), seven hours of personal private prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, one hour of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with a parish group, seven hours hearing Confessions at Saint Peter, one hour hearing Confessions at Pacelli High School, three hours meeting with family members to prepare the Funeral Mass for their deceased loved ones, four hours celebrating Funeral Masses, two hours celebrating the Rite of Committal at the cemetery, four hours dining with the survivors at the funeral lunch, two hours giving public presentations at Saint Peter, two hours meeting with the Parish Finance Council, two hours speaking in Spanish with several immigrants from Mexico who came to the rectory seeking assistance, two hours visiting several homebound parishioners, two hours visiting several parish families in their homes, ten hours of appointments with people with various needs (for example, preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony, preparing for the Sacrament of Baptism, seeking answers to questions about the faith), five hours meeting with people who “drop in” at the rectory without an appointment, five hours doing paperwork and other office tasks, six hours on the phone returning calls, six hours on the computer answering emails, six hours preparing homilies and other presentations as well as written materials, and finally four hours doing research and homework as part of the National Catholic Bioethics Center program of certification in Catholic bioethics. Now if my math is correct, that was a 99 hour work week (of the 168 total hours in a week). And this does not include the five additional hours of other meetings (at the level of the parish, deanery, and Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools) and two hours of other liturgical functions at Saint Peter that were originally in my schedule but which I had to forgo on account of funerals. After showing these results to my spiritual director, I kidded him that the parish got their money’s worth out of me that week as net pay per hour worked out to be a little over $3.00. My uncle, who is also a priest, is fond of saying: “It’s a great life – if you don’t weaken!” Indeed, the priesthood is a great life and I am grateful to the Lord for such a wondrous gift! It is a humbling privilege to serve the Lord, His Church, and you!”

Saint Peter, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
Father Kevin C. Louis


==================================================Intentions:

-In thanksgiving for the coming home of a beautiful baby born about 3-4 months premature.
-For a friend’s father—who has scarring on the lungs and whose cardiologist has just given him a month or two to live.
-For the intentions each of you have…..we pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.

Announcements:
High School DTS—Next Session is Sunday, June 1st at 7PM. Join Catholic Teens grades 9-12 from throughout the area at St. Peter’s. “Through the Saints of Yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society inspires the Youth of Today to become the Saints of Tomorrow.”

*************************************************************************************

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.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Catholic Teens 4-14-08

Hey All—

Well it’s finally here---Pope Benedict’s trip to the US begins tomorrow. It’s pretty amazing---only the 3rd pope to have visited the US. President Bush is even going all out—he’s personally picking the Pope up at the airport—during his 7 years as president, he’s never done that. In fact, a reporter at EWTN asked President Bush what he sees when he looks into the Pope’s eyes…the president’s response? “God.” Think the president respects the Pope?! Wow.

This trip will be Pope Benedict’s 7th international trip in the 3 years he’s been head of the Church. For some perspective, imagine your grandparents, at age 80 traveling around the world—and then giving speeches to thousands of people. That’s what he’ll be doing. I don’t know many, if any, 80 yr olds who could do that. Keep him in your prayers! Indeed, we are blessed to have him as our shepherd.

If you want to follow along every step of the way here’s some internet resources:

http://www.uspapalvisit.org/ –the official site of the US Bishops.
http://www.ewtn.com/ will have live continuing coverage.
-You can also watch EWTN on local channel 19 for live coverage.
Relevant Radio—93.9 and 92.9 will have regular updates on his visit as well.


==================================================Intentions:

-For Pope Benedict’s trip to the United States.
-For the young people from our area and diocese (38 of them) traveling to see the Pope.
-For a friend’s father—who has scarring on the lungs and whose cardiologist has just given him a month or two to live.
-For the intentions each of you have…..we pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.

Announcements:
High School DTS—Next Session is Sunday, April 27th at 7PM. Join Catholic Teens grades 9-12 from throughout the area at St. Peter’s. “Through the Saints of Yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society inspires the Youth of Today to become the Saints of Tomorrow.”

*************************************************************************************

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.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Catholic Teens 4-9-08

Hey All—

This is cool. Cardinal Dziwisz was JPII’s secretary for many, many years. Now he’s the archbishop of Krakow in Poland. The article below kind of gives you goosebumps. Indeed JPII is still with us J

Cardinal Dziwisz: Polish Pope Hasn't Left Us
Tells Youth They Are John Paul II Generation

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 3, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Pope John Paul II "has never left us alone," affirmed his longtime personal secretary on the third anniversary of the Pontiff's death.

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, archbishop of Krakow, affirmed this Wednesday when he directed a meditation for youth at the end of a prayer vigil in the Vatican grottoes.

The young people, before the tomb of the Polish Pope, had a moment of silence at 9:37, the hour that John Paul II died on April 2, 2005. Thanks to a satellite connection, thousands of youth in Poland shared the same moment.

Cardinal Dziwisz told the youth: "You are the watchmen of the dawn, youth who announce the day, a season full of sun. You are the John Paul II generation, who have the task of the new evangelization."

Later, showing emotion, the prelate began to address his spiritual father: "Your service to the Church continues, even if in a different way. We think of your teaching, of your example in life, which keeps speaking to our consciences.

"We want to proclaim the sacred character of life and the sanctity of the family and marriage. In the name of Jesus, we are on the side of the poor, of the humble, of those who have nothing, of the persecuted in the name of justice or religion."

"From the window of the house of the Father, one sees better," Cardinal Dziwisz said, alluding to words that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger pronounced in the funeral. "Therefore, we ask you to watch over the youth of today, their aspirations, hopes, worries. John Paul II, Holy Father, thank you for everything."

==================================================Intentions:
-For a friend’s father—who has scarring on the lungs and whose cardiologist has just given him a month or two to live.
-For another friend’s father who had a very bad accident cutting up wood on Tuesday—he’s currently in the hospital in Madison.
-For the intentions each of you have…..we pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.

Announcements:

Fr. Stan Fortuna (the “rapping priest” from Fr. Benedict Groeschel’s order) is coming!
Area Youth Rally: TONIGHT! Wednesday, April 9th with Fr. Stan Fortuna @ St. Bronislava. 6:30-9:00PM Open to all area teens and FREE!

The Newsboys are coming!
For those of you familiar with Christian music—the Newsboys should ring a bell. They are one of the top Christian music groups around—having sold more then 6 million albums. They’ll be at our own UWSP—appearing in the Quandt Fieldhouse on Friday, April 11th at 7PM. Tickets can be purchased at the University Box Office or by calling 800-838-3378.

*************************************************************************************

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.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Catholic Teens 4-2-08

Hey All—

2 Things for you this week:

1. In preparation for Pope Benedict’s visit to the United States and for his birthday on April 16th,
Bishop Listecki encourages children, young people and adults to offer a Spiritual Bouquet for
Our Holy Father. Bishop Listecki will give
Pope Benedict XVI a card listing our prayers and sacrifices.


____ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be ____ Apostles’ Creed ____ Sacrifices

____ Attend Mass and receive Communion ____ The Rosary ____ Litany

____ Divine Mercy Chaplet ____ Holy Hour ____ Other

If you’d like to include any offerings, email me back prior to April 8th as that is the deadline.


2. I just watched this video, it’s excellent!
Last semester one of our seminarians at Saint John Vianney Seminary, Sam
Sorich, filmed and produced a short film on SJV. It is a vocational film,
meant to inspire men to join seminary; specifically to join SJV but not
restricted to that. He did a superb job; probably one of the best short
films on seminary life that I have seen. The finished product has finally
made its YouTube debut. It is split up into two parts online, each about 7
minutes long.
I highly recommend that you watch it and distribute this video to as many
people as you can. Both to those who are considering seminary and those who
have no idea what seminary is. I believe DVDs are being made of the film,
so let me know if you would like to have one.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOrrV9vBAsI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOrrV9vBAsI
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAhTQrJPjLY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAhTQrJPjLY


==================================================Intentions:
-For a friend’s father—who has scarring on the lungs and whose cardiologist has just given him a month or two to live.
-For a couple of difficult pregnancies that people have asked for prayers—that everything goes smoothly and the babies are born healthy.
-For those newly received into the Catholic Church at Easter.
-For the intentions each of you have…..we pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.

Announcements:

Fr. Stan Fortuna (the “rapping priest” from Fr. Benedict Groeschel’s order) is coming!
Area Youth Rally: Wednesday, April 9th with Fr. Stan Fortuna @ St. Bronislava. 6:30-9:00PM Open to all area teens and FREE!

The Newsboys are coming!
For those of you familiar with Christian music—the Newsboys should ring a bell. They are one of the top Christian music groups around—having sold more then 6 million albums. They’ll be at our own UWSP—appearing in the Quandt Fieldhouse on Friday, April 11th at 7PM. Tickets can be purchased at the University Box Office or by calling 800-838-3378.

*************************************************************************************

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.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Catholic Teens 3-18-08

Hey All—
Looking for something to do over Spring Break—I know you’re all “bored” already J some of the topics for World Youth Day in Australia have recently been released.

World Youth “Day” actually lasts a full week—go figure. A part of the program is “catechesis” or teaching of the faith. However, the teachers aren’t like your normal CCD classes—here the teachers are Bishops and Cardinals. How cool is that?! In Toronto for WYD in 2002, our group attended a session with Francis Cardinal Arinze from Africa. He was Amazing!

Anyway, below are the themes that the bishops and cardinals will be speaking on—it’s something you can also look into on your own even now. Note that it is focused on the Holy Spirit—take that which you have received (or will receive) in Confirmation to an even deeper level!

Themes Announced for Youth Day Catechesis
Bishops to Guide Youth in Studying Holy Spirit and Mission
SYDNEY, Australia, MARCH 16, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Pontifical Council for the Laity determined the themes for World Youth Day's catechesis sessions, which will focus on the Holy Spirit and missions.
Organizers of the July 15-20 youth event announced the Vatican's choices for the three days of catechesis, to be led by bishops from around the world in over 300 locations in Sydney.
On Wednesday, July 16, bishops will guide youth in learning about the call to live in the Holy Spirit, drawing from Galatians 5:25. The following day, youth will consider the Holy Spirit as the soul of the Church, as explained in 1 Corinthians 12:13. Friday, July 18, will be focused on the theme of World Youth Day, taken from Acts 1:8. That day's catechesis will highlight the Holy Spirit as the principal agent of mission.
"Catechesis represents the spiritual heart of World Youth Day, when young people from various backgrounds and circumstances unite to listen, reflect, discuss and pray in harmony," said Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher, coordinator of World Youth Day '08.
"I encourage all pilgrims who are attending WYD08 to begin reflecting on the catechesis themes now," he said, "so that come July, they are spiritually prepared to witness the Spirit and gain as much as they can from their WYD08 experience."

==================================================Intentions:
This is one of the more heart-rending accounts I’ve heard in some time, please keep this precious family in your prayers:

PLEASE join us in praying for my very dear friend's little boy. He is 2 years old. His name is Marshall Wyatt Thompson. He is dying in the hospital and Doctors have not found what is wrong with him. His body is discarding all of his red blood cells through his urine. He was given a blood transfusion but he still continues to decline. The doctors are now saying whatever this is has damaged his liver. He is one of 6 children all under the age of eight. The mother, Kim, just gave birth to twins less then two weeks ago. Robby (his father) is staying with Wyatt at the hospital while Kim is at home with the new babies and other children. Please pray for this little boys life - I myself could not imagine loosing my own two year old son and Wyatt's mother is in torment just being away from him already. Thank you so much for any prayers you can offer for this precious child and his family.

Sincerely,
Lisa Yamin


Update received this morning:

GREAT NEWS!! Thank you all so much for your prayers!! They are working! A nurse came and woke up Marshall's daddy in the night and said that his red blood cell count has sky rocketed - so much so that it is almost miraculous!!! I have recieved so many responses from those of you who are praying for him - it has been truly amazing! Thank you and please keep it up.

Lisa Yamin



Announcements:

Fr. Stan Fortuna (the “rapping priest” from Fr. Benedict Groeschel’s order) is coming!
Area Youth Rally: Wednesday, April 9th with Fr. Stan Fortuna @ St. Bronislava. 6:30-9:00PM Open to all area teens and FREE!

The Newsboys are coming!
For those of you familiar with Christian music—the Newsboys should ring a bell. They are one of the top Christian music groups around—having sold more then 6 million albums. They’ll be at our own UWSP—appearing in the Quandt Fieldhouse on Friday, April 11th at 7PM. Tickets can be purchased at the University Box Office or by calling 800-838-3378.

*************************************************************************************

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.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Catholic Teens 1-22-08

Hey All—
Words of wisdom from the Pope to young people:

“My appeal to you today, young people . . . is this: do not waste your youth. Do not seek to escape from it. Live it intensely. . . .

You, young people, are not just the future of the Church and of humanity, as if we could somehow run away from the present. . . .

The Church needs you, as young people, to manifest to the world the face of Jesus Christ, visible in the Christian community.

Without this young face, the Church would appear disfigured.”
- (Pope Benedict XVI to Youth in Brazil)


==================================================Intentions:

-For young people to be open to God’s Call in their lives.
-For all those innocent lives in the womb.
-For an end to abortion.
-For the safe return of all who traveled to DC for the March for Life and for the fruitfulness of their efforts.
-For all those who suffer for their beliefs in the world.
-For all the other intentions you hold in your hearts, we pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.



Announcements:
-Attached is a flier for the upcoming Vocations Night at St. Bronislava on Sat. March 1st—Fr. Hirsch and some of our seminarians along with Sr. Mary Daniczyk will be there.

-From Jeff Leslie—Youth Minister at St. Bronislava:
This e-mail is a reminder about the Adventure Camp & Steubenville summer retreats. Additional information about these, and other, retreats is available at our website (www.stbrons.com/youth) under the "Upcoming Events" link. We also have a number of fundraisers that are available to any area youth interested in one of our trips. These fundraisers are advertised at our website (www.stbrons.com/youth) under the "Fundraising" link (we already have several students who have surpassed $100.00 in fundraising - it isn't hard). Please pass the information along to your students.
Adventure Camp (open to grades 6 - 11) If you have been waiting for the last minute to register for Adventure Camp - the last minute has arrived. There are 6 spots still open (Diocese-wide) for Adventure Camp. If registration continues at the rate it has over the last 30 days, these spots will be filled by the end of the month. Anyone interested in attending Adventure Camp should not wait to register. Registration information is available at the web address listed above (Upcoming Events).
Steubenville (open to grades 8 - 12) We are currently taking registrations for Steubenville North in St. Paul, MN. We have a limited number of spots, so those interested should register soon. Registraion information is available at the web address listed above (Upcoming Events).

Area Youth Rally: Wednesday, April 9th with Fr. Stan Fortuna @ St. Bronislava.


*************************************************************************************

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.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Catholic Teens 1-15-08

Hey All—

The 35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade is upon us next Tuesday. 4 bus loads of teenagers from the Diocese of LaCrosse are going—please keep these pilgrims in your prayers.

With the approach of that horrific anniversary, here’s a timely set of statistics—based on the number of abortions since 1973:
Dr. Brian Clowes, HLI researcher, has examined the data from the 2007 Statistical Abstract of the United States (most recent census data) and extrapolated the numbers of the various professions and categories of Americans who have been eliminated in the wake of nearly 49 million legalized abortions, one third of all Americans conceived since 1973. The following numbers are based on the actual government estimates of the professions represented in America. So then, who have we lost to abortion?
· 2 US Presidents
· 7 Supreme Court Justices
· 102 US Senators and 589 Congressmen
· 8,123 Federal, district and local court judges
· 31 Nobel Prize laureates
· 328 Olympic medalists including 123 Gold medalists
· 6,092 professional athletes
· 134,841 physicians and surgeons
· 392,500 registered nurses
· 70,669 priests, ministers, rabbis and imams including
· 6,852 priests and 11,010 nuns (vocations "shortage"?)
· 1,102,443 teachers (K-12)
· 553,821 truck drivers
· 224,518 maids and housekeepers
· 336,939 janitors
· 134,028 farmers and ranchers
· 109,984 police officers and sheriff's deputies
· 39,477 firefighters
· 17,221 barbers, and
· 24,450,000... women (the gender of roughly half of all children aborted).
Via. Copyright 2007 - Human Life International Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer,President, Human Life International
It reminds me of a cartoon I once saw…a man is complaining to God, asking why He hasn’t sent a cure for AIDS yet. God responds, “I did, but you aborted him.” Think about it…

==================================================Intentions:

-For young people to be open to God’s Call in their lives.
-For all those innocent lives in the womb.
-For all those who suffer for their beliefs in the world.
-For all the other intentions you hold in your hearts, we pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.



Announcements:

Area Youth Rally: Wednesday, April 9th with Fr. Stan Fortuna @ St. Bronislava.


*************************************************************************************

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.