High School Youth Ministry

Have you ever heard of P.O.P (Prayers of Patience)? Okay, I really just made it up, but, if there is one thing the world needs, it is this! When we become impatient for any reason, we have some choices to make. Unfortunately, when most people get impatient, we just…get impatient or angry and rarely think about choices! Recently, I was waiting in line the grocery store. I was in a hurry but the cashier was not. She spent some time conversing with another cashier about a party they both had attended. I found myself getting agitated and almost did the big sigh (you know which one!), and then, I realized, Lent is coming! (Ash Wednesday is this coming Wednesday!) I started praying for patience, but then I felt God revealing something else. I could also pray for the cashier! I prayed for a healthy social life, for all of her relationships, and for her work ethic! We can either get caught up in our own impatience like many people do, or we can make it something of a prayer. If we are waiting for the restaurant to serve us and it is taking a long time, we can pray for all of those in the service industry and all of those who look for food from day to day. If we are distracted or impatient by kids in church, we can pray for their parents, for all single parents and for the faith of little children. If we are uptight about our own failures and weaknesses, we can pray that God gives us strength. We can use the distractions and frustrations in our life to pray and to maybe gain a different perspective into the incredible love and peace of Jesus. I’LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU!

The month of February has been primarily associated with the Holy Family, probably due to the feast of Our Lord's presentation at the temple, celebrated on February 2. So I offer this prayer for you and your family: Grant to us, Lord Jesus, to always follow the example of the holy Family, that in the hour of our death your Virgin Mother together with blessed Joseph may come to meet us and we may be received by You into everlasting dwellings: who lives and reigns world without end. Amen. Share in God’s love for our neighbors in need and give generously this weekendSouper Bowl Sunday February 11-12. There will be speakers at all masses plus two large pots (with names of Super Bowl teams) so you can vote for your favorite team by donating to either pot! All of the donations collected will go directly to our Tackle Hunger Charity: St VINCENT DE PAUL, SARAH’S HOUSE, and HOPE HOUSE

Have you ever been asked to maybe go out of your comfort zone and try something new? I remember a certain prayer service where the leader had us participants ‘look intently’ at our hands! As we studied them, we were supposed to reflect on those times we brought help and healing to others using our hands. We were also supposed to think about times when we had caused pain or destruction using the same hands. While these are very good questions, I remember that I just couldn’t concentrate, so I started looking carefully at the lifelines and scars and veins and calluses. I thought about two particular fights that knives and I had (not people, but knives…the knives won!). I thought about calluses from work camps in WV PA, and MD and building homes for people who are poor over the past 35 summers. I saw lifelines that some say point to fame and fortune and time of death (?) And I saw the ring on my left hand that reminds me of a most important commitment I made over 34 years ago. You see, the prayer activity really did allow me to focus and pray about my own particular hands and the stories behind their uniqueness. Sometimes going out of our comfort zone can make us aware of things we would not have normally thought about. In this New Year, take a few steps out there and see what Jesus might be telling you. And while you’re at it, take a look at your hands and see what good they can do for others. I”LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU!

I got lost recently while hiking. No one was there when I decided to ‘take a shortcut’ and instead of going totally around the large hill, I chose to ‘cut my time’ by going straight up.  Needless to say, I was not where I felt I needed to be!  But, then I found the reflection below by Sudha Khristmukti called “Along The Way” (Alive Now) and realized that it is appropriate not only for my hiking experience but for this New Year!   Sometimes it is becoming lost that I am truly found. In the hour of darkness that I see God’s light; in being helpless that I seek God’s strength, a strength far greater than mine.   In reaching a dangerous precipice that I discover important truths.  In losing that I really win. In searching that I really find.  In the face of rejection, humiliation, pain, and unspeakable grief, thatI find the true measure of God’s unconditional love and the blessing of God’s peace….When I finally dare to take that step of trust, and let God into my heart; into all the wounded places the world cannot see.  When I dare to take refuge in the shelter of God’s care when I dare to prepare God's room.  To live the journey of the faith that I profess. HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I’LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU!