Dear Villagers,

Hope you are all doing well! We had a very successful Art Fair Parking Fundraiser this past week, bringing in just over $3000 to support Village events this year. Praise God for his goodness! We had lots of fun playing board games, mafia, and just catching up. Thank you to all who helped support our Village!

Coming up Saturday, August 7th is the Village Retreat for Incoming Freshmen! Invitations have already gone out to well over a hundred St Thomas teens who will be the Class of 2014. As in past years, we need your help to welcome the new class and share survival tips for freshman year! Last year nearly 40 teens helped plan and attended this event. Our incoming freshmen are a diverse bunch, and we need teens from every nearby school to help welcome them in. To join our team, RSVP to me as soon as you can.

We will have three planning meetings- please attend each of these:

Thursday, 7/29 from 4-6pm

Monday, 8/2 from 4-6pm

Thursday, 8/5 from 4-6pm

Hope to see you all this Thursday, July 29th!!

Dear Villagers,

We had a great Barbecue Bash this past weekend! There were just over 30 of us, and some great rounds of Hide and Seek Tag and Dodgeball. We grilled up some juicy hamburgers and hotdogs, and had flavor-changing gum for dessert!

The only sad thing is that the Barbecue means our Sunday night Village meetings are finished until the Fall. :( However, there will be loads of other exciting events going on throughout the summer.

Here are some things to get geeked for this summer:

* Dead Theologians Society is Continuing through summer on Thursdays from 7-8pm!
o We'll be back on starting Thursday, June 10th!
o Join us before and afterward for social time, including ice cream at Stucci's and other fun adventures...


* The Parish Hall is an African Safari for Vacation Bible School this June 21-June 25th!
o Join us to hangout with friends and teach the little ones about God's love
o Sign-up to Volunteer by returning the attached form!
o Can't help the week of VBS? Email back to help with decorations and snacks the week before.


* Steubenville Youth Conference is taking 14 of us on a roadtrip to Ohio July 9th- July 11th!
o Get excited for Mafia on the road, incredible speakers, and powerful Eucharistic Adoration


* Our Art Fair Parking Fundraiser is on July 21st- July 24th!
o Who knew you could keep the Village going financially by playing games, directing cars, and eating junk food?!


* Our Retreat for Incoming Freshmen is on for Saturday, August 7th!
o Join the planning team in July to help tailor school-specific survival tips for next year's freshmen class!

Village News: Barbecue Time!

Dear Villagers,

We had an awesome round of Pop, Pop, Vinegar at Village last night. Four people drink, and one of them gets vinegar instead of Pop- everyone tries to figure out which one is actually drinking vinegar! Many honorable mentions, but I think consensus was with Nora of Huron High- who had a crazy awesome poker face!!

There was sweet dialogue as we answered the remaining questions from Villagers together- Why do some prayers go unanswered- How do you explain mortal & venial sins to a non-Catholic- How can I know who's talking, Satan or God? Awesome dialogue!

The highlight of the meeting was Eucharistic Adoration, and our Surprise Birthday Party for Father Bill! He was *so* surprised. Thank you to Annemarie for all of your help planning this!

Come out this Sunday from 4-7pm for our end of year Barbecue Bash here at St Thomas! We'll celebrate the coming of summer with dodgeball in the gym, hide and seek tag through the whole building, and great food. St Thomas is providing hamburgers, hotdogs, and tableware. Girls, please bring a side to share- and Guys, please bring a dessert to share. The barbecue will be loads of fun!

--------------------------------------
"In Him a new age has dawned, the long reign of sin is ended, a broken world has been renewed, and man is once again made whole." -Eucharistic Prayer, Preface of Easter IV
--------------------------------------

St Thomas Bulletin, Sunday 5/16
Click here to read the full St Thomas Church Bulletin from this past weekend.

No DTS this Thursday

Due to a time conflict, there will be no Dead Theologians Society meeting this Thursday or next Thursday. The Dead Theologians Society is a national movement to incorporate the lives of the Saints into the prayer life of the Church– that we would answer the call to live as they did.

* 7-8pm: gather in the Church choir loft for prayer with the Saints! (Elizabeth St door is always open)
* 8-8:30pm: snacks in the Parish Offices


Barbecue Bash This Sunday, 5/23 from 4-7pm

Join us here at St Thomas as we celebrate the end of our regular Sunday night meetings, and the coming of summer! We’ll bust out some dodgeball in the gym, hide and seek tag through the whole building, and grill out on the patio. Hot dogs & hamburgers will be provided.


Guys: please bring a dessert to share

Girls: please bring a side to share


Your Question of the Week: Are angels made in the image and likeness of God?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.” Man occupies a unique place in creation: (I) he is “in the image of God”; (II) in his own nature he unites the spiritual and material worlds; (III) he is created “male and female”; (IV) God established him in his friendship (CCC 355). So humanity does have a special place in the order of creation!

Disfigured by sin and death, man remains “in the image of God,” in the image of the Son, but is deprived “of the glory of God,” of his “likeness.” The promise made to Abraham inaugurates the economy of salvation, at the culmination of which the Son himself will assume that “image” and restore it in the Father’s “likeness” by giving it again its Glory, the Spirit who is “the giver of life” (CCC 705).



So man was definitely made in the image and likeness of God. Since the fall of Adam and Eve we are still born in the image of God but we have lost the likeness (See Catechism #705, 1700-1707).



Let’s talk about angels! The Old Testament theology included the belief in angels: the name applied to certain spiritual beings or intelligences of heavenly residence, employed by God as the ministers of His will. The Catechism does not speak specifically of angels and God’s image and likeness. However, the Catechism does note that among visible creatures only man is "able to know and love his creator," and "the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake" (Catechism, no. 356).



Angels are pure immortal spirits, of an incommunicable and immaterial substance, created by God, having the vital operations of intellection and volition. They have an intellect and a will; which is to say, they know and they love. Being intellectual creatures of incommunicable substance, angels are, therefore, persons. St Boetius defined person as a complete, individual, and incommunicable substance of a rational or intellectual nature, totally subsisting in itself.



The term image is reserved for the resemblance between God and man as being-intellect-will. Likeness refers to the possibility of friendship in Christ. The angels are included in both of these categories, so yes- angels are made in the image and likeness of God!

Sunday, Adoration Night!

Dear Villagers,

We had a great time serving at the Detroit Rescue Mission Soup Kitchen this past Saturday. Although we got lost along the way, we had quite an adventure following 3 different GPS units, which often disagreed. Thank God, we made it at all!

The men who came for lunch were so friendly, and it was a powerful experience to be able to minister to Christ in the poor. We stopped at Wendy's for lunch on the way home to wrap up our adventure in Detroit! Thank you to the Rose family for helping drive us all out there. Don't miss the attached pics.

Come to Village this Sunday for our last regular Village meeting of the year, an Adoration night! Some beloved past games will make their appearance! Also, we've got 3-4 remaining questions from Villagers that need answers, so we'll gather into small groups to find answers together. Father Bill is joining us for our last Adoration night of the year, and afterward we'll have social time with pizza and a surprise party! ;)
--------------------------------------


Barbara Conlon Shares on St Basil @ DTS this Thursday, 7-8pm

Come out this week to hear Parishioner Barb Conlon share on this holy man! The Dead Theologians Society is a national movement to incorporate the lives of the Saints into the prayer life of the Church– that we would answer the call to live as they did.

* 7-8pm: gather in the Church choir loft for prayer with the Saints! (Elizabeth St door is always open)
* 8-8:30pm: snacks in the Parish Offices



Eucharistic Adoration Night This Sunday, 5/16 from 5-6:30pm
God sends you daily bread to deal with every problem and trial! This week we’ll come together to ask God for the strength to finish out the school year strong! We’ll have pizza and social hangout afterward, with a surprise birthday party for someone we all love. :)


Your Question of the Week: How do I turn someone down?
Over the years we will all have to deal with the uncomfortable moment where we are asked out by someone we know we aren't interested in. When we become aware that someone we don't like is in to us, here are some things we tend to do in response.

1. Avoid the person altogether, surely their affection will dwindle...
2. Deny they like you, surely this will make them stop...
3. Be rude to them, surely they will get the hint...
4. Tell a friend to tell them that you don't like them...
5. Lie through your teeth about your availability or interest in dating...

Go ahead, identify the few approaches you tend to gravitate towards. Now I'll tell you why none of these are very helpful.

First, avoiding someone can be difficult, and you may miss out on some awesome social events. Also, it's sad that unwanted affection has to lead to the end of even a friendship, right? Second, denial. This one is fools gold, it never works. Ignoring problems just gives them time to fester and get bigger.

Third, being rude. So sad that this is often our go-to solution for these situations. There is no need to be unkind to others- as Catholics we are called to honor the opposite sex! Once again, how sad that unwanted affection has to lead to the end of a friendship, right?

Fourth, telling a friend to tell them. This has first grade written all over it! If you aren't ready to communicate face-to-face, maybe you aren't ready to date! No need to let this become an awkward situation with tons of people involved.

Fifth, lying! It's sad that people fall into these "white lies" because they are so terrified of dealing with conflict head-on. Just because you're getting some unwanted affection doesn't mean you have to sin, right?

So please avoid the above mentioned solutions, they all stink!! If someone likes you and you aren't interested, save everyone the awkwardness and ruptured friendships by addressing it head-on. Take the person aside, and as charitably as possible express that you aren't interested in them in that way, although you think they're a great guy/girl. Doing this charitably and one-on-one will show the other person that you respect them enough to address the situation privately and with dignity.

One last sentiment. I love facebook, texting, email, and telephones. However- addressing something like this really should be done in person. Challenge yourself to deal with this situation in person! Trust me, learning to resolve conflict is an invaluable tool!

Serving @ the Soup Kitchen!

Dear Villagers,

We had a glorious Condiment Fight Club last night at our regular Village meeting! Villagers went head-to-head with ketchup, thousand island, and steak sauce to compete for the crown of victory. In the end, after valiant efforts from all, Annemarie Johnson emerged victorious! Her barrel of "Condiment X" (a mixture of teriyaki sauce, grape jelly, ketchup, and salad dressing) was equally frightening to all. She was awarded the crown of victory and $15 to Coldstone Creamery!

Our Bishops have told us that "a basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our faith recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first." It is our responsibility as Catholics to consider the needs of the poor and reach out with Christ's compassion!

This Saturday, 5/8 The Village has been invited to serve lunch at the Detroit Rescue Mission Soup Kitchen- where for over 100 years they have been providing hope to disadvantaged and homeless men, women and children.

Won't you come out this Saturday from 10:30am-2pm to provide lunch to nearly 150 people? Of all the great things to do on a Saturday- doesn't this top them all? Let's come together this Saturday to answer Jesus' call to feed His sheep! (John 21:17)


RSVP to Serve @ the DRM Soup Kitchen, Saturday 5/8
To ensure we have enough parent drivers, you must RSVP by this Wednesday 5/5 to bspizarny@sta2.org. Volunteer drivers are needed to transport our group to Detroit. We’re leaving St Thomas this Saturday at 10:30am, serving until 1pm, and arriving back at St Thomas by 2pm. The Detroit Rescue Mission has been sharing the Gospel by providing hope to the hopeless, abused, disadvantaged and homeless men, women and children for over 100 years.

St Bridget of Sweden @ Dead Theologians Society this Thursday, 7-8pm
Come out this week to hear Parishioner Terry Fremuth share on Saint Bridgette of Sweden, who he describes as a powerhouse of prayer! The Dead Theologians Society is a national movement to incorporate the lives of the Saints into the prayer life of the Church– that we would answer the call to live as they did.
* 7-8pm: gather in the Church choir loft for prayer with the Saints! (Elizabeth St door is always open)
* 8-8:30pm: snacks in the Parish Offices


No Regular Village Meeting this Sunday, 5/9- Happy Mother's Day!
Be sure to thank your Mothers for all the sacrifices they make for you! Join us in two weeks on Sunday 5/16 for a solid Eucharistic Adoration night, and a surprise birthday party for someone we all love. :)

Your Question of the Week: What do you do when you’re dating out of your faith?
First of all, it certainly is not wrong to date non-Catholics! That said, there are a few things to keep in mind. Ever notice how you pick up mannerisms of your friends? They say, ‘bad company corrupts good morals’. We become like the people we hang out with! If you date someone who doesn’t know or love God, you may find yourself praying less, and talking about your faith less. How might these small trends be exacerbated over a lifetime of marriage?

The goal of dating is to discern the vocation of marriage and who you are called to marry. The goal of marriage is to become holy and help your spouse get to heaven! It’s important to check whether or not you and your significant other have these same goals, even if you’re both “Catholic.”

Many Catholics are happily married to spouses who don’t share their beliefs. However, if your Catholic faith is an important part of your life, dating/marrying someone who doesn’t share your faith can be difficult. The Catechism warns us that mixed marriages can be difficult when it comes to raising children, Sunday morning, and even sexual morality (Catechism 1635). These things may seem really far away, but if you date and fall in love with someone without consideration for their religious beliefs, you may be opening up a whole bucket of heartbreak for yourself down the road!

If you do date someone of a different faith, keep in mind that you must accept that person as they are today- whether or not they may one day become Catholic. You cannot date a potential future version of someone- you can only date the reality of who they are today. While interfaith dating might lend itself to some great interfaith dialogues, it’s unfair to both of you if your future relationship hinges on someone converting.

Years ago I dated a man who wasn’t Catholic. After countless dialogues and books, we realized neither of us would compromise our beliefs, and there was no future for us in marriage. I sure wish we’d thought of some of these things beforehand, it might have saved us both a bit of heartache! :(

The Condiment Fight Club

Dear Villagers,

Hope this finds you well. We had a great time last night at Village- we had a great time discussing Batman, Metropolitan Orlando, and Mountain Dew! Father Bill joined us for a time of Eucharistic Adoration, and we ate tons of pizza afterward. :)

Join everyone at Village this Sunday from 5-6:30pm for the Top Ten Prayer Tips- ten practical ways to improve your prayer life.

Following the Top Ten Prayer Tips will be a much beloved staple of Village life: The Condiment Fight Club!!! This Sunday come on out for the third annual Condiment Fight Club at Village. To compete in this epic one-on-one tournament, bring your own condiment and wear grubby clothes. No mustard allowed- it stains! Even if you aren’t a gladiator, come as you are to watch one of the messiest, most exciting tournaments ever!


St Gertrude @ Dead Theologians Society this Thursday, 7-8pm
This Thursday we'll discover the virtuous life of Saint Gertrude the Great, religious sister and mystic! The Dead Theologians Society is a national movement to incorporate the lives of the Saints into the prayer life of the Church– that we would answer the call to live as they did.

* 7-8pm: gather in the Church choir loft for prayer with the Saints! (Elizabeth St door is always open)
* 8-8:30pm: snacks in the Parish Offices


Fundraiser Night @ Big Boy this Wednesday from 5-9pm for St Vincent de Paul
Eat dinner at Big Boy this Wednesday night and 10% of all proceeds along with 100% of the tips will go to support the St Vincent de Paul Thrift Store! Come and hangout with other parishioners and families and interact with loads of "Celebrity Waiters" like Father Selvam, Father Bill, Deacon Warren, Deacon Jim, Beth Spizarny, and more!

Prayer & the Condiment Fight Club This Sunday, 5-6:30pm
Come on out this Sunday for the Top Ten Prayer Tips, followed by the third annual Condiment Fight Club! If you wish to be a Competitor in this epic one-on-one tournament, bring your own condiment and wear grubby clothes. No mustard is allowed, it stains! Even if you aren’t interested in becoming a Gladiator, come as you are to watch one of the most exciting tournaments of our time! The winner of each round is the person who gets the other person on the front and on the back with their condiment, first! Chat with older Villagers and Volunteers to get the low-down on strategies before the big night! :)

Serving @ the Detroit Rescue Mission Soup Kitchen, Saturday 5/8
In two weeks we’ll be joining our Christian brothers and sisters to serve lunch to 100-150 people in need! We’re leaving St Thomas at 10:30am, serving until 1pm, and back at St Thomas by 2pm. Volunteer drivers are needed to transport our group to Detroit. To ensure we have enough parent drivers, you must RSVP by Wednesday 5/5 to bspizarny@sta2.org. The Detroit Rescue Mission has been sharing the Gospel by providing hope to the hopeless, abused, disadvantaged and homeless men, women and children for over 100 years.


Your Question of the Week: Is using illegal drugs a mortal sin for a Catholic?

First, let’s discuss what might be behind a question like this...perhaps someone has offered you drugs...perhaps you’re simply wondering what the Church’s position is...perhaps you’re wondering how much you can get away with as far as your relationship with God is concerned. It’s kind of sad that so often we reduce our relationship with God to a game of how much we can get away with without getting burned.



Mortal sin destroys the grace of God in our heart– destroying our relationship with God and (if unrepented) depriving us of eternal life with God in heaven. If you really knew deep in your heart the reality of Hell and Heaven, would you continue to commit mortal sins? Would you do anything even remotely close to being a mortal sin?



There are three conditions for a sin to be a mortal sin- it must be grave matter, committed with full knowledge, and committed with full consent. (Catechism #1857) Without knowing whether or not the person had full knowledge or committed the act with full consent, the only condition we can address properly here is whether or not using illegal drugs is grave matter.



According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense.” (#2291) So yes, using illegal drugs is grave matter! If committed with full knowledge and full consent, it would constitute a mortal sin.



When comparing actions of non-Catholics and Catholics- the gravity of sins remains the same for both groups. The only condition that might vary is that non-Catholics may not be equipped with full knowledge that what they are doing is sinful.


Part 2: What would the Church teach about marijuana if it was legal?

Great question. Let’s unpack some of the reasons it is wrong to use marijuana right now: it’s illegal, it can be highly addictive, it can be a gate-way drug leading to more serious drug use, it often leads to loss of interest in everything (studies, relationships, sports, etc), and generally speaking parents forbid using marijuana. In addition, the Catholic Church is very clear in paragraph #2291 that drug use outside of medicinal purposes is morally wrong and Pope John Paul II campaigned for the illegalization of marijuana.



So even if marijuana was legal, wouldn’t we still be left with all the other bad stuff? Marijuana might not be the worst drug out there but there are some seriously bad things that come with drug use of any kind. Pray to St Joseph for strength!!

Eucharistic Adoration!

Dear Villagers,

Hope all is well with you! We had a great time last night with Mark and Sarah and Matt and Louise. They played the Newlywed Game and we all got to laugh together about the ridiculous questions! After racing each other down a cluttered hallway in a relay of sorts, we got to hear the 2 couples advice for Dating Well. Since we typically focus on what *not* to do in dating relationships, we were excited to finally showcase how to have healthy-fun-holy relationships!

Join us this Sunday for games, our monthly night of Eucharistic Adoration and pizza! Now that we're (mostly) all squared away on dating relationships- the topic you've requested for this Sunday is "Improving Relationships with Family & Friends." So come on out for some great dialogue and discussion!

See below for more on:

Your Question of the Week: How can I share my faith with my Muslim friends?
This Thursday: Our Guest Speaker shares on St Maximilian Kolbe at Dead Theologians!
This Sunday: Eucharistic Adoration Night!

--------------------------------------

The Village News 4/18

This Wed, 4/21 is Parish Life Night come on out for a great meal!

This Thurs, 4/22 Beth Ann Smith shares on St Maximilian Kolbe @ Dead Theologians
Come out this week to hear Parishioner Beth Ann Smith share on the virtuous life of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, hero of the Nazi Concentration Camps. The Dead Theologians Society is a national movement to incorporate the lives of the Saints into the prayer life of the Church– that we would answer the call to live as they did!
6:30pm: socializing in the Parish Offices
7-8pm: gather in the Church choir loft for prayer with the Saints! (Elizabeth St door is always open)
8-8:30pm: snacks in the Parish Offices


This Friday, 4/23 is a regular Grown-Up Soda Meeting. Volunteers, are we thinking Bubble?


This Sunday’s Village: Eucharistic Adoration Night
J R R Tolkien once said, "Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament...There you will find romance, glory, honor, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth.” The Village has a special devotion to the Eucharist– and we have a time of Eucharistic Adoration once each month! Don’t miss the social time with pizza afterward!


Contact Youth Minister Beth Spizarny at bspizarny@sta2.org or 734-545-0827.


Your Question of the Week: How can I share my faith with my Muslim friends?
The basic method is the same as sharing the gospel with any of your friends. The content of the gospel is the same for everyone: "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:16–17).

Tell your Muslim friends that God loves them and that, as a result, he sent his Son, Jesus, to make atonement for their sins so that they could spend eternity with God in heaven. Love is a keynote of Christianity that Islam lacks. In the words of one Muslim convert to Christianity, "Christianity is a religion of love; Islam is a religion of fear." Muslims do not have the kind of loving, intimate relationship with God that Christians do. Show that to them, talk about it—about how much you love God and want them to share in the feeling of God’s love, and that will help show them the light of the gospel.

Muslims are people of the Qur’an, much as Evangelical Christians are people of the Bible. Because the Qur’an is the basis of Islam, including its philosophy, we could discuss with them how the Qur’an came to be the basis. They believe that an angel gave the book to Mohammed while he was alone in the desert, who then dictated it to a secretary. They claim that they know the Qur’an is the word of God because people remembered it perfectly, it has been unchanged for so many years, and it uplifts their spirits when they read it. The Qur’an itself says that miracles are not necessary to prove a divine connection. We might discuss with Muslims that the Dead Sea Scrolls show that the Old Testament has been unchanged for more years than has the Qur’an

Discussing differences of faith must be done in the spirit of love, even if the questions are sharp or probing. In evangelization, we must always be "speaking the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15). Be sensitive to Muslim’s needs. Muslims are not allowed to eat pork or drink alcoholic beverages; and during the holy month of Ramadan (which often falls in August/September) they abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset.

Many Catholics believe and pray that the conversion of Muslims will come through the Blessed Mother. The Qur’an has an entire chapter praising her. The Muslims hold her in great esteem as the mother of Jesus, but they have no devotion to her and no commemorations of her. In fact, Muslims have no devotion to anyone other than Allah. Intercessory prayers to the Blessed Mother are our best avenue. Our discussions may provide a seed.

Visit www.catholic.com, talk with Beth, or borrow Peaceable Witness Among Muslims from Beth’s library to learn more.

How to Date Well

Dear Village Family,

Hope you are all doing well, so sad to return to school after such a wonderful Spring Vacation! Some of us celebrated the freedom by wandering at the Mall and getting frozen yogurt. :) Also great to see a number of Villagers at the Divine Mercy Sunday events yesterday in the Church! There was Eucharistic Adoration, and Confession, in addition to the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

This Sunday our regular Village Meetings are back on from 5-6:30pm! Our topic for this Sunday's meeting is How to Date Well. Over the past couple of years we've focused mainly on what not to do in dating relationships- now we'll focus on what to do! Anyone can date, but it takes character and discernment to date well! Two newlywed couples will be joining us this Sunday- Matt and Louise Vasievich along with Mark and Sarah Meinhart to share their stories and tips for how to date well. Both couples are longtime parishioners and active leaders at Generation Christ!

------------------------------



How to Date Well, Sunday 4/18, 5-6:30pm

Join us this week in the Parish Offices for a night on Dating! Anyone can date– but it takes character and discernment to date well. Don’t miss this week’s Village meeting- we’re bringing in Matt and Louise Vasievich and Mark and Sarah Meinhart to share with us their tips for dating well! Get the tips from those who have already braved the dating world and emerged happily married.


Saint Irenaeus @ the Dead Theologians Society

Come out this Thursday to discover this holy man, who declared “The glory of God is man, fully alive!”

· 6:30pm: socializing in the Parish Offices

· 7-8pm: gather in the Church choir loft for prayer with the Saints! (Elizabeth St door is always open)

· 8-8:30pm: snacks in the Parish Offices


Retreat @ Franciscan University of Steubenville!
Spaces and partial scholarships are still available! Cost for participation is $235, all-inclusive. Registration is due ASAP. Final payments for those already signed up is due this Sunday, April 18th.

This July 9th-11th, join The Village @ St Thomas for our annual roadtrip to the Franciscan University of Steubenville High School Youth Conference!

The Village has been attending these Youth Conferences since 2008, and our teens have unanimously found them to be challenging, inspiring, and lots of fun. This Youth Conference will feature at least one powerful hour of Eucharistic Adoration, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day, nationally-renowned Catholic speakers, men’s and women’s time discussing the call to chastity, and two workshop sessions addressing a broad spectrum of topics.

Divine Mercy Events!

Dear Village Family,

I hope this finds you well and refreshed after a beautiful Holy Week! Our Lord has risen from the grave, and conquered death. This is so exciting! I imagine your excitement is amplified by a week off of school- woot! Vacation is always wonderful. :)

Thank you, thank you to the 10+ teens who came out to help with Stations of the Cross at Glacier Hills last week, it was really special. Everything went smoothly, and many of those who attended said it had been years since they had been able to participate in the Stations! Some people arrived a half an hour early just to make sure they got a good seat. We also got to meet and encourage St Thomas' oldest Parishioner, Katherine Cole who is 103 years old! She said she didn't want to wrestle Chris Silva, she thought she might get hurt. :)

This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday, which means there is cool stuff happening here at St Thomas with our entire Parish Family! The Divine Mercy Events are such a big deal that this year we're not having our regular meeting, so that we can all go to this together instead! In the year 2000 Pope John Paul II gave this feast day to the Church- a day to remember God's incredible mercy and pray for all sinners. Read this for more on Divine Mercy Sunday.

This Sunday instead of our regular Village Meeting we'll join our Parish Family from 2-4pm in the Church for:

* Eucharistic Adoration
* Personal Reflections
* Quiet Prayer
* Recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet
* Opportunities for Confession


Saint Aloysius Gonzaga @ the Dead Theologians Society

Come out this week to discover this holy man, the patron saint of youth and purity!

· 6:30pm: socializing in the Parish Offices

· 7-8pm: gather in the Church choir loft for prayer with the Saints! (Elizabeth St door is always open)

· 8-8:30pm: snacks in the Parish Offices

Retreat @ Franciscan University of Steubenville!

Spaces and partial scholarships are still available! Cost for participation is $235, all-inclusive. Registration is due ASAP with a $70 deposit. The remaining $135 is not due until April 18th.

This July 9th-11th, join The Village @ St Thomas for our annual roadtrip to the Franciscan University of Steubenville High School Youth Conference!

The Village has been attending these Youth Conferences since 2008, and our teens have unanimously found them to be challenging, inspiring, and lots of fun. This Youth Conference will feature at least one powerful hour of Eucharistic Adoration, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day, nationally-renowned Catholic speakers, men’s and women’s time discussing the call to chastity, and two workshop sessions addressing a broad spectrum of topics.

Spring Retreat FAQ's

Dear Villagers,

Great having so many of us together last night for some epic debating, and building towers with just newspaper and tape! Who knew earning Klondike bars could be so much fun?! Don't miss the pic of one of our winning teams...We did a few skits too, to show what *not* to do when having interfaith dialogues with your friends- because failure is a *great* teacher.

This coming Sunday is our monthly night of Eucharistic Adoration! Instead of our usual time and format, Father Bill has invited us to join the entire parish for a time of Eucharistic Adoration in the Church starting at 7pm. Coming to lead us in worship is Jim Cowan, a nationally known singer and songwriter. He's written so many of the songs we sing at Village (This is Jesus, for one!).

And now, a few FAQ's About Spring Retreat, 3/19-3/21:

--I have too much homework, how could I possibly go?

Our Spring Retreat begins Friday March 19th at 6:45pm, and ends Sunday March 21st at 12noon. Even if you've got loads of homework, you will have all day on Sunday to get it done! Besides, we'll have a couple hours of free time on Saturday. Bring some busy work along with you and you can get it done then.

--I don't know if we can afford it- are there scholarships?

Absolutely! The total cost is $60/person, but if you register today you pay just $50. Also, if your parents can help out over the weekend, you save more money! We can definitely do partial scholarships. No one will be turned away due to lack of money- we want you with us!

--I have something else going on that weekend, so I can't go, right?

Not necessarily! Our Spring Retreat is at St Thomas this year. We know that there are a few conflicts- a karate belt promotion, a water polo tournament, etc. If you want to come, email Beth Spizarny and we can chat to see if it can work! We're trying to get everyone in, no matter what their conflict. We're a family, and we want everyone to be there!

--Who else is going?

We often have teens come on Retreat who haven't ever come to any other Village stuff, so don't worry if you haven't been before. We're a super friendly group! If you're on Facebook, look for 'The Village @ St Thomas', we have a page, and an event for "Salt and Light, The Village Spring Retreat." You can see others who are coming! So far there's 13 people on board- from Richard, Huron, Skyline, and Pioneer.

--What is the point of a Retreat?

In a teen's own words, "This Village Retreat was a great way for me to return to God in the midst of a hectic world." It's all about reconnecting ourselves to Christ- really experiencing His love, and reconnecting ourselves to His Church. Our theme for this Retreat comes from Matthew chapter 5, when Jesus calls us to be the “salt of the earth...the light of the world!” Over the course of the weekend we'll experience real community like the early Church- we'll laugh together, pray together, share together, and run around playing ridiculous games. Together we will encounter Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and be blessed by God’s Real Presence in Eucharistic Adoration and the Holy Mass.
------------------------------



Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati @ The Dead Theologians Society this Thursday
Come out this week to meet the mountain-climbing adventure-seeker from our own times who saw being Jesus’ disciple as the greatest adventure! At the Dead Theologians Society, we gather in the Church choir loft to listen to the life of a saint, and accept the challenge to be saints ourselves!

--6:30pm: Socializing in Parish Offices!
--7-8pm: Prayer in the Church choir loft
--8-8:30pm: Socializing & Snacks!

This Sunday 3/14: Eucharistic Adoration @ 7pm with Entire Parish!
This month we’re having our regular night of Eucharistic Adoration with the entire Saint Thomas Parish! The Village will be gathering in the Church at 7pm along with Generation Christ, and the entire Parish, for a powerful time of adoring Our Lord. Jim Cowan, a worship leader from Steubenville will be joining us for praise and worship!

Salt and Light ~ The Village Spring Retreat ~ March 19th-21st
Checkout registration forms at www.findthevillage.com for more info, or shoot me an email with any questions.

Your Question of the Week: Is there temptation in heaven? Why did the angels only get one chance?

The good news is, no! We will not have to endure temptation any longer when we are in heaven. Scripture tells us, “blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12) Scipture tells us that when depart from this world in a state of grace after enduring many temptations, we will be rewarded with God’s presence in heaven!



However, Satan was in heaven when he chose sin and was cast out to hell. Angels (like Satan) are very different from us. Angels are spiritual beings without bodies, who have a free will and an intellect that is far superior to ours. God created them in a state of holiness. He enabled them to make a free choice for or against him.



Angels exercise this free choice only once, because their intellect is so much higher than ours. As Jesus said, “those to whom much has been given, much will be expected.” (Luke 12:48) This is why they only get one choice! Those that made the choice for him were confirmed in their holiness. Those that chose against him lost their holiness.



Because we’re so weak, it’s easy to feel compassion or even a sense of injustice in this. Afterall, we all make mistakes now and then. Remember- angels were created with a stronger intellect and will than men are given. Also, keep in mind that the angels who were cast out of heaven used their free will to radically and irrevocably reject God and His sovereignty. This is no small matter!



Many theologians believe that in their pre-fallen state the angels were given a foreknowledge of humans (who would be inferior to them), as well as a foreknowledge that God himself (the second Person of the Trinity) would be incarnated as a man and redeem the universe through his death on the cross. This revelation angered Lucifer because it meant he and the other angels would have to worship God incarnate. Lucifer and the other angels who fell were so proud of being superior to men that their arrogance wouldn't allow them to worship Jesus Christ the God-Man. This refusal stemmed from pride. That is the theologian's theory.

Spring Retreat!

Dear Villagers,

We had an intense game of Catch Phrase at Village this past Sunday, so much running and laughing. A big thank you to the Volunteers for doing such an awesome job in my absence! From what I hear there was some great dialogue about how to answer questions from non-Catholic Christians, fallen-away Catholics, and agnostics. We'll continue this focus on Interfaith Dialogues at Village this Sunday, 5-6:30pm.

So you may know already- Spring Retreat is coming up March 19th-March 21st! If you've been on a Village Retreat before, this one is going to be even better. Never been on one? Now is your chance! Our Spring Retreat is hosted in town at St Thomas, and if you sign up by Monday it's only $50! When your parents help out for just an hour and a half over the course of the weekend, you pay even less. Even if you have a schedule conflict over the weekend, you may still be able to come!

Our Spring Retreat Theme comes from Matthew chapter 5, when Jesus calls us to be the “salt of the earth...the light of the world!” Over the course of the weekend we'll experience real community like the early Church- we'll laugh together, pray together, share together, and run around playing ridiculous games. Retreats take friendships to the next level through explosive games, skits, small group bonding, and copious amounts of food. Together we will encounter Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and be blessed by God’s Real Presence in Eucharistic Adoration and the Holy Mass.

All high school students are welcome, bring your friends. Most importantly, we want *you* to join us!


------------------------------

Blessed Kateri @ The Dead Theologians Society this Thursday
Come out this week to meet the courageous woman who declared that the cross was the source of all her happiness during her life, and who calls us to make it our source of happiness as well.

-6:30pm: Socializing in Parish Offices!
-7-8pm: Prayer in the Church choir loft
-8-8:30pm: Socializing & Snacks!

This Sunday's Village, 3/7: Interfaith Dialogues, Knowing Your Stuff
Join us this Sunday to learn ways to nurture relationships to make Interfaith Dialogues possible. Interfaith Dialogues are about building relationships! Sharing our faith with others isn’t just about having all the answers; it’s also about listening to others with compassion, asking questions, and building rapport. Strong relationships were a key element in the ministry of Jesus, and should therefore be integral to any form of evangelism today.

Salt and light ~ The Village Spring Retreat ~ March 19th-21st
Checkout www.findthevillage.com for more info!

Got loads of homework??
-Our Spring Retreat begins Friday March 19th at 6:45pm, and ends Sunday March 21st at 12noon. So even if you've got loads of homework, you will have all day on Sunday to get it done!

Don't know anyone who's coming??
-We often have teens come on Retreat who haven't ever come to any other Village stuff. We're a super friendly group!
-If you're on Facebook, look for 'The Village @ St Thomas', we have a page, and an event for Spring Retreat. You can see others who are coming!
-Stop on by our regular meeting this Sunday and meet a few friends!
-Checkout our group pic from Fall Retreat- know these ppl??

Been there, done that?
-If you've been on a Village retreat before, keep in mind that this one is going to be a little different!
-Our emphasis for this Retreat is on relationships, community, and finding the strength to answer Jesus' call to be "salt and light" in the world around us.
-Girls, some of you had to share showers on Fall Retreat- but you'll each get your own every morning!

Your Questions of the Week: Is divorce a sin?
The Catechism states that a valid marriage in the Catholic Church cannot be dissolved in any way besides death (#2382). Jesus said as much of marriage saying “'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate."-Matthew 19:5-6

Therefore, the Church does not recognize civil divorces- a couple that was once validly married in the Catholic Church is still married in the eyes of the Church. A civil divorce does not dissolve the marriage bond before God.

Obtaining a legal civil divorce, therefore, certainly does not free the spouses to marry again. If a couple is validly married in the Catholic Church, and one of them divorces their spouse legally and remarries another, that person commits the sin of adultery. As Jesus Himself said "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."-Mark 10:11-12

Receiving an anullment from the Catholic Church is something quite different from a legal divorce, although annulments are sometimes mistakenly called "Catholic divorces." In reality, annulments do not presume to end marriages at all but simply recognize and declare, after sufficient investigation, that a marriage never existed in the first place. If a marriage never really existed, then there is nothing to dissolve. Such situations can come about for one (or more) of three reasons: lack of sufficient capacity, failure to adequately consent, or violation of canonical form. Capacity involves a party’s ability to contract marriage. For example, a person who is currently married is incapable of attempting another marriage. Consent involves a party’s commitment to the marriage as the Church understands it. Form is the actual process of entering into marriage (i.e., the wedding). Those who were married in the Church and had their marriage anulled are free to marry.

Although civil divorce is not recognized by the Church, the Church recognizes the need for civil divorce in some circumstances. “If civil divorce is the only way to ensure certain legal rights, the care of the children, or the protection of inheritance, it can be tolerated and does not constitute a moral offense.” (Catechism #2383) Nonetheless, a civil divorce does not free the spouses to remarry.

That said, obtaining a civil divorce and remarrying “is a grave offense against the natural law…it claims to break the contract to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other until death.” (Catechism #2384)

Interfaith Dialogues

Dear Villagers,

Hope all is well with you! We had a massive game of Hide and Seek this past Sunday at Village, using the whole building! At your request we talked about Satan- who he is and how/why he tries to influence us for evil. We wrapped up the evening with a powerful time of Eucharistic Adoration followed by pizza and social time.

This week we're renewing our focus on being witnesses of God's love through Interfaith Dialogue. Join us this Sunday at our regular Village Meeting to get tips for discussing Catholicism with Protestant Christians, Agnostics, and fallen-away Catholics! The Catechism urges us to engage our contemporaries in meaningful dialogue about matters of faith saying, (#3) “Those who with God’s help have welcomed Christ’s call and freely responded to it are urged on by love of Christ to proclaim the good news everywhere in the world.”

In other news, Spring Retreat is just around the corner, the weekend of March 19th-21st! Registration forms are attached and will be distributed at Village this Sunday. Sign-up by Monday, March 8th, and pay just $50 per person in addition to being entered into our Early Bird Drawing!

Our Spring Retreat theme is "Salt and Light" from Jesus' words, "You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:13-14) Jesus calls us to be different from those around us! He calls us to be witnesses of His love in the world. Join us as we discern His calling on our lives, and what it means to be His witnesses from day to day!

-No Dead Theologians Society this Thursday 2/25

-This Sunday @ Village 5-6:30pm: Interfaith Dialogues- Knowing Your Stuff

-Spring Retreat is coming soon, 3/19-3/21!

-Your Questions of the Week:
---- Is being physically attractive as bad as we say it is?
---- As a Republican I support the Death Penalty, but as a Catholic I oppose it. What should I vote for?
------------------------

The Village News

No Dead Theologians Society this Thursday
Pray for Beth, she will be away on at a Youth Ministry Conference! Join us next week for a night of prayer, we’ll discover Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha.

This Sunday, 2/28: Interfaith Dialogues, Knowing Your Stuff
Join us this Sunday to learn basic apologetics to equip you for dialogues with Protestant Christians, Agnostics, and other Catholics who have left the Church. The Catechism urges “those who with God’s help have welcomed Christ’s call and freely responded to it are urged on by love of Christ to proclaim the good news everywhere in the world.” (#3) We are called to proclaim the good news by engaging our contemporaries in meaningful discussions about faith- so they can know Jesus!

Steubenville High School Youth Conference, July 9-11th
Spaces are still available, but going fast. Cost for participation is $235, all-inclusive. Registration is due ASAP with a $70 deposit. The remaining $135 is not due until April 18th.

Spring Retreat is Coming- March 19th-21st!!
Spring Retreat is just around the corner, the weekend of March 19th-21st! Registration forms are attached and will be distributed at Village this Sunday. Sign-up by Monday, March 8th, and pay just $50 per person in addition to being entered into our Early Bird Drawing!

Join the Village @ St Thomas for a Lenten Retreat discerning God’s calling on our lives! As Catholics, Jesus calls us to be different. He calls us to be the “salt of the earth...the light of the world!” Together, we’ll discover what it means to walk closely with Jesus; how the Saints lived such holy sacramental lives; and how we can be witnesses of God’s love in the world!

Your Questions of the Week: Is being physically attractive as bad as we say it is?
Who said being physically attractive is bad? Good heavens NO! Beauty, inside and out, in people and in nature, are little pieces of heaven on earth; glimpses of Christ among us. We are God's masterpieces, the culmination of his creations. The world glorifies particular qualities, and that can impact our opinion of ourselves and how we view others. God appreciates each of our qualities just as he intended them. The difficulty with outside beauty is that it's the first thing you notice, so it's commonly objectified. Meaning, it's the ONLY thing you notice and appreciate about a person. However, as Christians, we are called to see each other as God sees us; appreciating every quality in a person, not just their physical characteristics. We were all made in the image and likeness of God.

Here’s more scripture on the goodness of beauty: "And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good."(Genesis 1:26) "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."(Psalm 139:13) “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well"(Psalm 139:14) "Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made." (Romans 1:20)

Your Questions of the Week: As a Republican I support the Death Penalty, but as a Catholic I oppose it. What should I vote for?
What the Church teaches on the Death Penalty: The Church upholds its traditional teaching that the state has the right and duty to protect general society from violent offenders, including by means of the death penalty if non-lethal means are insufficient to protect lives in an individual case. Today it is quite rare to find cases in which it would be impossible to suppress the offender in a non-lethal way; therefore the Church generally opposes the Death Penalty. Non-lethal means of suppressing criminals are in better conformity to the human dignity of the offender and prevent the state from growing callous and imprudent in its application of the death penalty. (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2267)

Voting: Catholics have a moral obligation to promote the common good through the exercise of voting (Catechism #2240). But the Church goes further, saying that "a well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law that contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals" (Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith 4).

The Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics lists 5 non-negotiables: abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning, and homosexual marriage. Absent from the Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics is anything about capital punishment. That’s because the Church does not give a blanket condemnation of capital punishment. Whether capital punishment should be employed is a prudential determination. As Karl Keating says, “One can be a good Catholic and oppose all applications of capital punishment, and one can be a good Catholic and endorse the use of the penalty.”

Your Choice: So it seems that the Church leaves your decision up to you on this one. As with every decision, you are encouraged to practice prayerful discernment before you decide. Ask yourself, what is more important to you, being a Republican through-and-through, or being a Catholic faithful to the Lord’s revelations in Scripture and the Magisterium of the Church? As long as you can answer that one right, it doesn’t matter what you decide.

Lent is (almost) here!

Dear Villagers,

Twenty of us had a sweet time bowling this past Friday night, with Rob Peters putting the rest of us to shame with a 182! Checkout the attached pictures. More random Village hangouts to come in the near future!

Last night at Village we dug around in 20 pounds of dirt to discover rocks with crosses engraved on the side. It was dirty, wet, and squishy! Sometimes we need something sensational to bring us back to the basics of our faith. The Church needs Lent- each of us needs Lent to rediscover the Cross of Jesus!

As Pope John Paul once said, “Lent is a time of profound truth which brings conversion, restores hope and by putting everything in proper order brings peace and optimism.” We each need the reminder, that the self-denial that so often accompanies Lent brings peace and optimism. Our Lenten observances "put everything in proper order." When we thoughtfully increase our devotions to prayer, fasting and almsgiving- we are more closely united with Jesus and His Cross. Let us carry the Cross with Jesus this Lent!

In Deuteronomy we hear the promise, "It is the LORD who marches before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed." (31:8) Remember that Our Lord is with you! Let us to set out courageously on the journey towards Good Friday and Easter Sunday!

---St Paul Miki and Companions @ DTS this Thursday

---Next Sunday @ Village: Eucharistic Adoration, Short Talk on Satan

---A Few Spaces Remain for Steubenville; Spring Retreat is coming soon (3/19-3/21)

---Your Question of the Week: Is it a sin to listen to music pertaining to sex?

--------------------------------------
“Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.” -Joel 2: 12-13


The Village News 2/14

This Thursday, 7-8pm: St Paul Miki @ the Dead Theologians Society
Come out this week to meet the courageous man who as he was being martyred for the faith, looked to heaven and said “Lord into your hands I commend my spirit. Come to meet me, ye saints of God.”
--6:30pm: socializing in the Parish Offices
--7-8pm: gather in the Church choir loft for prayer (the Elizabeth St door is always open)
--8-8:30pm: return to Parish Offices for hot cocoa & snacks

Next Sunday, 2/21: Eucharistic Adoration Night
J R R Tolkien once said, "Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament...There you will find romance, glory, honor, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth.” The Village has a special devotion to the Eucharist– and we have a time of Eucharistic Adoration once each month! The topic you’ve selected for next week: What’s the story on Satan?

Steubenville High School Youth Conference, July 9-11th
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”(John 1:14) Join us this summer for a transformative weekend! Cost for participation is $235, all-inclusive. Registration is due ASAP with a $70 deposit. Spaces are still available, but going fast. The remaining $135 is not due until April 18th. Register soon!

Spring Retreat is Coming Soon- March 19th-21st, Save the Date!

Your Question of the Week: Is listening to music pertaining to sex a sin?
Great question! A sin is “an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience- it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor. (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1849) Listening to music with sexually explicit lyrics and themes may be a sin, but it is certainly an occasion to sin.

Fr. John A. Hardon writes in his Modern Catholic Dictionary, that an occasion to sin is "Any person, place, or thing that of its nature or because of human frailty can lead one to do wrong, thereby committing sin." Certain things, such as pornographic images, are always, by their nature, occasions of sin, while other things may only be an occasion of sin for some. Perhaps the best way to think of near occasions of sin is to treat them as the moral equivalent of physical dangers. Just as we know we should stay alert when we're walking through a bad part of town at night, we need to be aware of the moral threats around us. Repeatedly refusing to avoid the near occasion of sin can be a sin itself. We aren't allowed deliberately to put our soul in peril. If a parent forbids a child from walking on top of a high stone wall, for fear that he might hurt himself, yet the child does so anyway, the child has sinned, even if he doesn't hurt himself. We should treat near occasions of sin in the same way.

Listening to sexually explicit music is an occasion to sin because it works against the normal formation of a healthy conscience. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “The education of the conscience is a lifelong task.” (#1784) While there are some circumstances in which one’s poorly formed conscience is not one’s own fault (Catechism #1792-1793), we also know that we are responsible for our own poorly formed conscience when we “take little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when our conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.” (#1791)

Sexually explicit music destroys a healthy conscience by glorifying pre-marital sex as well as the objectification of both men and women. We know that sexual love is the ultimate gift of self- the promise to love another person faithfully for life, fruitfully, freely, and totally. Sexual love is reserved for the consummation of the Sacrament of Marriage! Any other message presented through the media is the counterfeit of true love, based on use. The opposite of love is not hatred- but rather use (Theology of the Body, Pope John Paul II). As far as objectification goes, it is a way of looking at men or women as objects for one’s own sexual gratification (using others), instead of sons and daughters of God with innate dignity.

Personally, there are some songs that I definitely won’t listen to. There are others that I simply turn the volume down for most of the song and listen only to one part. There are so many legit songs and artists out there, you can be choosy! Choose to stand up for your faith and the dignity of men & women with what you listen to! As Saint Paul says, “do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” –Romans 12:2

The Village News

Dear Villagers,

Hope you are all doing well! This past Saturday a group of us went to St Andrew's Episcopal Church to help with their Breakfast Program. We served breakfast to nearly 200 disadvantaged men and women! Brian and Paul served the hot cereal, Clare served juice and milk, Erica and Ellen served rolls with ham and cheese- and Allison gave out the coffee. Renee and I helped where we were needed, and as a group we had an awesome time answering Jesus' call to "feed His sheep" (John 21:17) in a very literal way. Checkout the attached picture of Villagers Serving!

In other news, a bunch of us have decided it's high time we had a random Village hangout! The votes have been counted, and the result is a Bowling Social this Friday from 8-10pm. Come on out and join us at Colonial Lanes on South Industrial! We'll be bowling for a couple hours, and drinking unlimited pop. It only costs $6 to join the party, which includes shoes, pop and bowling. You absolutely must RSVP to me by this Wednesday 2/10 to ensure they reserve enough lanes for us. If at all possible, please submit your permission slip and money by then as well.
--------------------

The Village News 2/8


No Dead Theologians Society This Week
Read all about St Bernadette in her bio, and join us next Thursday from 7-8pm. Through the Saints of yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society, or DTS, inspires the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow!



Bowling Social This Friday, 8-10pm
A bunch of us have decided it’s high time for a Village hangout! Therefore, we’re headed to Colonial Lanes this Friday 2/12 for some bowling and pop. We’ll be meeting at Colonial Lanes (1950 S Industrial Ann Arbor, MI 48104) at 8pm. Pickup will be there as well, at 10pm. Cost for participation is $6, and covers 2 hours of bowling, shoe rental, and pop. You absolutely must RSVP to me by this Wednesday 2/10 to ensure they reserve enough lanes for us. If at all possible, please submit your permission slip and money by then as well.



Sunday’s Village, 2/14: Observing the Three Pillars of Lent
As Pope John Paul II once said, “Lent is a time of profound truth, which brings conversion, restores hope and, by putting everything back in its proper place, brings peace and optimism.” The Church needs the season of Lent to help us prepare for Good Friday and Easter Sunday! The Church has given us three pillars which we should use to guide our personal Lenten practices– Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. Join us this Sunday to discover the Lenten call to holiness and how these three pillars can guide you on your path!



Steubenville High School Youth Conference, July 9-11th, Registration Due
Cost for participation is $235, all-inclusive. Registration is due this Sunday 2/14, with a $70 deposit. The remaining $135 is not due until April 18th. Spaces are still available, but going fast. Register soon!

The theme for the Youth Conference is, “and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) We'll be focusing on the gift of the Incarnation of Jesus! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to grow in your faith and experience Our Lord in a powerful way! Harass Villagers who have gone before to find out what it's like.

Serving @ a Soup Kitchen!

The Village
Real Questions. Real Dialogue. Real Faith.

Dear Villagers,

Hope all is well with you! Last night at Village we had an impressive game of dodge-ball that involved quite a bit of running, obstacles, and blindfolds. We talked about Marian Apparitions- moments in history where Mary appeared to people and gave them a special message for their time. Throughout the history of the Church, Mary continues to lead us to her son, Jesus!

As Pope John Paul II once said, “Mary was given to you to help you enter into a more authentic and more personal relationship with Jesus. Through her example, Mary teaches you to gaze on him with love, for He has loved us first. Through her intercession, she forms in you a disciple's heart able to listen to her Son.”

One aspect of being a disciple of Christ is service! As Christians we are Christ's body in the world- we are called to show His love for mankind through loving service. It is only when we give of ourselves that we discover the fullness of life that Jesus promised us (John 10:10). This Saturday The Village has been invited to serve at St Andrew's Episcopal Church's Breakfast Program- where for 25 years they have been providing a free meal to the poor and homeless of our society.

Jesus told us that what we do for the least of the brothers, we do for Him (Matthew 25:40). Won't you come out this Saturday from 7-10am to provide a warm breakfast to nearly 150 people? Of all the reasons to get up early- doesn't this top them all? Join me, Renee Sink, and a number of other Villagers as we answer Jesus' call to feed His sheep (John 21:17).

-RSVP to Serve this Saturday @ St Andrew's

-Meet St Blaise @ the Dead Theologians Society on Thursday

-No Regular Village Next Sunday- Enjoy the Superbowl!

-Your Question of the Week: One of my acquaintances needs help, but she won't talk to me. What can I do?

------------------------------ --------
This Thursday, 7-8pm: St Blaise @ the Dead Theologians Society
Join us as we discover St Blaise, a martyr for the faith who remained faithful until the end. Through the Saints of yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society, or DTS, inspires the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow!
---6:30pm: socializing in the Parish Offices
----8pm: gather in the Church choir loft for prayer (the Elizabeth St door is always open)
---8-8:30pm: return to Parish Offices for hot cocoa & snacks

RSVP to Serve at the St. Andrew’s Breakfast Program this Saturday 2/6 from 7-10am
Saturday, Feb 6th The Village be joining our Christian brothers and sisters to serve breakfast to 100-150 people in need! We’ll be meeting at St Thomas at 7am, serving until 9am, and catching the 9am Mass to finish! For over 25 years, men and women in need have made their way to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for a cup of coffee and a hot breakfast any day of the week. RSVP to Youth Minister Beth Spizarny as soon as you can!

Next Sunday, 2/7: No Regular Meeting, Enjoy the SuperBowl

Sign-up for the Steubenville High School Youth Conference
This July 9th-11th, join The Village @ St Thomas for our annual roadtrip to the Franciscan University of Steubenville High School Youth Conference! Submit registration forms and $70 deposit by February 14th to guarantee your spot, as space is limited. Total cost is $235, all-inclusive.The Village has been attending these Youth Conferences since 2008. This Conference will feature at least one powerful hour of Eucharistic Adoration, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day, nationally-renowned Catholic speakers, men’s and women’s time discussing the call to chastity, and two workshop s essions addressing a broad spectrum of topics.


Your Question of the Week: One of my acquaintances needs help, but she won't talk to me. What can I do?
This question has varying answers depending on your friend's circumstance. However, in relationships, the most important thing to always remember is that you can't control another persons actions or make choices for them. You are NOT responsible for their actions. You are only responsible for your own actions. So, your first step to help anyone in need is always to pray for them. Pray that your friend will find the help they need, even if it's not through you. Even when they refuse your help Christ is still always with them.

Your next step, if your friend doesn't want your help, is to suggest other resources that could help them. Sometimes, even the best friends, can't help with certain problems. While it can be frustrating not being the one your friend turns to in their time of need, recommending other places for them to turn is a bigger help than you can imagine. There are so many free resources around Ann Arbor. For help finding the right resources to recommend ask a trusted adult, like your Youth Minister, Beth Spizarny.

Always remember that if your friend is ever a danger to themselves or someone else, it is extremely important not to try and handle the situation yourself. Always immediately seek help from a trained professional. Speaking from experience, a teenager is not always equipped to handle their friends' issues. Know you are not the first to go through this, and unfortunately not the last. Sometimes asking for help from trained professionals is the hardest, most brave and wise thing you can do. Remember that Christ never leaves your friends' side, and He will never leave yours either.

Village News: Steubenville!

Dear Villagers,

Hope all is well with each of you! With the gray skies above and the Ann Arbor Schools in the midst of Finals this week, Pope John Paul II's words about Our Mother Mary seem especially relevant "Know, that in difficult times…you are not alone: like [the disciple] John at the foot of the Cross, Jesus also gives his Mother to you so that she will comfort you with her tenderness.”

Last night at our regular Sunday night Village meeting we discovered three particular devotions to Our Lady- the Miraculous Medal, the Brown Scapular, and the Rosary. The Rosary is can lead us closer to Jesus! In the words of Pope John Paul II, "Simple yet profound, [the rosary] still remains, at the dawn of this third millennium, a prayer of great significance, destined to bring forth a harvest of holiness.” Together we heard the challenge to avoid the empty recitation of the Rosary, choosing instead to pray the Rosary devoutly by contemplating on the mystery given for each decade. Friends, keep in mind that while devotion to Mary is certainly not necessary, it can be a powerful way to draw closer to Christ by asking Mary's intercession and imitating her way of life!

In other Village News, registration is now open for the Franciscan University of Steubenville Youth Conference this summer! The Village has been attending these Conferences for the past two years, and our teens have unanimously found them to be challenging, inspiring, and *so* fun. This Youth Conference will feature at least one powerful hour of Eucharistic Adoration, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day, nationally-renowned Catholic speakers, men’s and women’s time discussing the call to chastity, and two workshop sessions addressing a broad spectrum of topics.

--Checkout the Steubenville promo video at http://www.franciscanyouth.com/

--Join us at Dead Theologians this Thursday from 7-8 to discover St Thomas Aquinas!

--Your Question of the Week, Answered Below: What is going to happen to all the people who never hear the Gospel?


The Village News 1/24

This Thursday, 7-8pm: St Thomas Aquinas @ the Dead Theologians Society
Through the Saints of yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society, or DTS, inspires the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow! Come on out and join us this Thursday to discover the man who once said, "Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do.”
--6:30-7pm: gather in the Parish Offices for social time
--7-8pm: gather in the Church choir loft for prayer (the Elizabeth St door is always open)
--8-8:30pm: return to Parish Offices for hot cocoa & snacks

Next Sunday’s Village: Decoding the Marian Apparitions
Marian Apparitions are moments in history where Mary appeared to someone and gave them a message for the world. There are nine major Marian Apparitions that have been approved by the Catholic Church, moments in time where Our Mother came to give us a very special message! While these apparitions do not improve or complete Christ’s definitive Revelation (Catechism of the Catholic Church #67), they bring us the advice of our loving Mother to return to God with all our hearts! Next Sunday we’ll focus in on her apparitions at Guadalupe (in 1531), Lourdes (in 1858), and Fatima (in 1917). What were her messages to the world– and how do they apply to us in 2010??

RSVP to Serve at the St. Andrew’s Breakfast Program, Saturday 2/6 from 7-10am
For over 25 years, men and women in need have made their way to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for a cup of coffee and a hot breakfast any day of the week. Saturday, Feb 6th we’ll be joining our Christian brothers and sisters to serve breakfast to 100-150 people in need! We’ll be meeting at St Thomas at 7am, serving until 9am, and catching the 9am Mass to finish! St Andrew’s has asked us to bring just 7 volunteers to help cook and serve breakfast, due to the size of their kitchen. RSVP to Youth Minister Beth Spizarny as soon as you can!

Sign-up for the Franciscan University of Steubenville High School Youth Conference
This July 9th-11th, join The Village @ St Thomas for our annual road-trip to the Franciscan University of Steubenville High School Youth Conference! The Village has been attending these Youth Conferences since 2008, and our teens have unanimously found them to be challenging, inspiring, and lots of fun. This Youth Conference will feature at least one powerful hour of Eucharistic Adoration, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day, nationally-renowned Catholic speakers, men’s and women’s time discussing the call to chastity, and two workshop s essions addressing a broad spectrum of topics.


Your Question of the Week:
What is going to happen to all the people who never hear the Gospel?
Regardless of whether people know it or not, humankind was created in order to know, love, and serve God. In Romans 1:19-20, St. Paul writes: “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature, namely, His eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made.” In salvation history, God chose to reveal Himself after the Fall of Adam in many ways, culminating in the coming of His Son, Jesus, the New Adam. Jesus paid the debt for all sin through His Sacrifice so that all men may have the opportunity to be reconciled with God. The Gospel is the testimony of God’s desire to redeem humankind through Jesus, and the call to believe in Him as Lord. We know through Sacred Scripture that we can be saved from death only through the grace available through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8). Calling on Tradition, the Catechism states that “believing in Jesus Christ and in the One Who sent Him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation” (CCC 161) and "outside the Church there is no salvation" (CCC 846).

So what happens to someone who—through no fault of his or her own—never has the chance to hear the Gospel, knows nothing of Jesus, but who may still live a good and exemplary life? Our Particular Judgment when we die is a reflection of our acceptance or rejection of God, and it is evidenced by how we have lived. We know that God has predestined no one to Hell (CCC 1037), so how do we reconcile this with the need to have faith in Jesus? What if a person never has the chance to specifically reject God because they are ignorant of the Gospel, or they do not even know about sin and redemption?

To answer this question, the Catechism quotes two documents from the Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium and Ad Gentes: “Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do His will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience—those too may achieve eternal salvation” (CCC 847). "Although in ways known to Himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men." (CCC 848).

Through the mercy of God, people who do not know of Him directly can be saved, but that does not mean that they all will be saved. The Church reinforces the idea that relying on the mercy of God does not mean that we can abandon our direct call from Jesus to “go forth and make disciples of all nations.” Rather, it makes the need to accept that call even stronger.

Many today think that all people will go to Heaven. Some do not think that Hell can exist because a truly loving God would not condemn anyone. As Catholics, we know that this worldview is in error, that Heaven and Hell exist, and that God’s justice reflects our own choices and free will. We should pray for those who have never heard the Gospel and entrust them to His mercy, and we should also pray that we can be strengthened in our mission to bring God’s fullness of revelation in Jesus to everyone in the world. We are grateful to know Christ, and we entrust to our Blessed Mother those who do not yet know Him. We pray that she may help us and all others obtain the grace necessary for salvation.

Marian Devotion

Dear Villagers,

This past Sunday's Pro-Life Youth Rally went really well! It was so encouraging to see hundreds of teens gathered together to pray for an end to abortion. The presenters answered some tough questions on cases of rape and incest- provided us with some great statistics and helpful arguments for conversing with others. For those of you who weren't able to attend, I'm posting the handout on www.findthevillage.com, it summarizes quite a bit of what was presented!

One small change to our Spring Calendar- our regular meeting for Feb 7th has been canceled due to the Super Bowl. Something tells me people won't want to miss that- and that includes me!

This past semester we've gotten numerous questions from Villagers about our Mother Mary. Was she really ever-virgin? What does it mean that she was immaculately conceived? Does Scripture say she was crowned the Queen of Heaven? How do we know she was assumed into heaven? The Catechism declares that devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship itself. This Sunday at our regular Village Meeting we'll rediscover the Blessed Virgin Mary who responded to the Angel Gabriel with those words of faith, "Be it done unto me according to thy word!"

* This Thursday: Come hear about St Elizabeth Ann Seton at the Dead Theologians Society!

* Your Question of the Week: So if I missed Sunday Mass and died in a car accident before I went to Confession would I go to hell?
-----------------------------

The Village News

Thursday 1/14, 7-8pm: St Elizabeth Ann Seton @ the Dead Theologians Society
Through the Saints of yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society, or DTS, inspires the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow! Come on out and join us this Thursday.
----7-8pm: gather in the Church choir loft for prayer (the Elizabeth St door is always open)
----8-8:30pm: return to Parish Offices for hot cocoa & snacks

Sunday’s Village: Mary & Marian Devotion
When the Angel Gabriel came to Mary– her response to God was simple: “Be it done unto me according to your will.” In these few words, she offered her life entirely to God. The Catechism declares that devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship itself (#971). Join us Sunday from 5-6:30pm as we discover Mary ever-virgin and ever-pure, Mother of God and our Mother!

The Village Serves at St. Andrew’s Breakfast Program, Saturday 2/6 from 7-10am
For over 25 years, men and women in need have made their way to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for a cup of coffee and a hot breakfast any day of the week. Saturday, Feb 6th we’ll be joining our Christian brothers and sisters to serve breakfast to 100-150 people in need! We’ll be meeting at St Thomas at 7am, serving until 9am, and catching the 9am Mass to finish! St Andrew’s has asked us to bring just 7 volunteers to help cook and serve breakfast, due to the size of their kitchen. RSVP to Youth Minister Beth Spizarny as soon as you can!

Sign-up for Steubenville High School Youth Conference 2010
This July 9th-11th, join The Village @ St Thomas for our annual roadtrip to the Franciscan University of Steubenville High School Youth Conference! Registration packets will be available online this week. Even Dominica and Tim Rhein are joining us again this year! The Village has been attending these Youth Conferences since 2008, and our teens have unanimously found them to be challenging, inspiring, and lots of fun. This Youth Conference will feature at least one powerful hour of Eucharistic Adoration, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day, nationally-renowned Catholic speakers, men’s and women’s time discussing the call to chastity, and two workshop s essions addressing a broad spectrum of topics.



Your Question of the Week: So if I missed Sunday Mass and died in a car accident before I went to Confession would I go to hell?
Okay love the question, very moral theology meets real life. First off, the Church is very clear that missing Sunday Mass is grave matter- one of three required criteria that add up to make a sin a mortal sin. “For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1857)

Although the Church is quite clear that missing Mass is grave matter, it is conceivable that a person might miss Sunday Mass (grave matter) without having full knowledge that it is wrong to do so. It is even conceivable that a person might miss Sunday Mass without giving full consent. For example, a 7 year old is typically entirely dependent on their parents to drive them to Sunday Mass- so it is possible they might not be at fault for missing Sunday mass. In summary, the Catechism (#1861) clearly states that “although we can judge that an act is in itself grave matter, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God.” So while we definitely know missing Sunday Mass is grave matter, there is no way we can judge whether it was a mortal sin when you missed Sunday Mass. Perhaps you know your own heart?

Mortal sin is *very* serious. “If a mortal sin is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness it causes exclusion from God’s heavenly kingdom and eternal death in hell,” according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1861.

Okay, back to your question! In a sense, the Church does recognize a "reconciliation of desire.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines contrition as "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again" (# 1451). Were you sorry for missing Sunday Mass? "When contrition arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called ‘perfect’ (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible" (# 1452). So if you had committed a mortal sin- had not been to the Sacrament of Confession- were sorry for what you had done and intended to make it to Confession very soon: your conscience would probably be free from that mortal sin.

Friends, keep in mind that this isn’t just a game. The more you sin (even venial sins) the more your inclination to sin grows. Sin can have eternal consequences! One of the realities of the Christian life is that we never know when our hour of death will come. There is no need to be consumed with fear and anxiety- our Lord wants you to be with Him in heaven! However, you do need to stay sober and consider carefully your choices- avoid mortal sin at all costs. If you do stumble, get to Confession and repent. You wouldn’t wait months to make up with your friends after an awful fight- why wait to reconcile with God?

Pro-Life Youth Rally 1/17

Thanks to all who came out last night for our Spring Kickoff! We sure had some memorable moments: a powerful time of Eucharistic Adoration, Rob putting his foot- right hand- and left elbow in eggnog, and social time with pizza!

We also spent some time discussing our theme for Spring semester- "You are the salt of the earth, You are the light of the world," which comes to us from Matthew Chapter 5 as well as 2000's World Youth Day in Toronto. This semester we will prepare to be strong witnesses for Christ! Choosing to be a witness for Jesus, choosing to avoid sin and strive for holiness- this is the path to true happiness in life! See attachment for full Spring Calendar.

This Sunday in place of our regular Village Meeting we're heading out to Victorious Life Church of God for our Pro-Life Youth Rally with Christians from around the area! As we gather near the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we'll pray for an end to abortion. Veritas Detroit will be presenting reasons to be pro-life and ways you can be an advocate for life. There will also be a good amount of time dedicated to answering any questions you may have. St Andrew's in Saline, Christ the King, and St John's in Ypsilanti are all coming out for this annual event!

* Sunday's Pro-Life Youth Rally: transportation not provided but parent carpools are available, see below

* This Thursday: The Dead Theologians Society returns with St George!

* Your Question of the Week: Why is it a mortal sin to miss mass once or twice?


God Bless,Beth

The Village News

Sunday, 1/17, 7-9pm: Life Boat Pro-Life Youth Rally
This Sunday we will be gathering with Christians from around the area at Victorious Life Church of God in Ypsi, to pray for an end to abortion. At this annual Youth Rally local experts will help answer your questions about the pro-life movement while helping you identify ways you can be more pro-life in your everyday life! Come a little early if you’d like some free pizza– it will be served from 6:30-7pm! Village Volunteers will be there by 6:45pm. Meet us @ Victorious Life Church of God 860 East Clark Road Ypsilanti, MI 48197!

Transportation will not be provided, thank you for carpooling to cut back on costs! Do you need a ride? Contact one of the parents listed below who are driving carpools to this Youth Rally. Please note that these are not coordinated by St Thomas, and may be leaving from various locations at different times.

* Marie Williams mariewms@comcast.net - Huron School District
* Suzan Zick suzanzick@att.net - Skyline School District
* Cathy Dowling cathydowling@sbcglobal.net - Huron School District

Driving Directions:Take US-23 to Washtenaw Road, exit towards Ypsilanti.Turn left at Hogback/Carpenter Road. Turn right onto Clark Road, which becomes North Huron River Drive after 2 miles. Just after McDonald's, turn left at LeForge and continue for 1/2 mile. Turn right onto Clark Road.

This Thursday 1/14, 7-8pm: St George @ The Dead Theologians Society
Through the Saints of yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society, or DTS, inspires the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow! Come on out and join us this Thursday.
6:30pm: social time in the Parish Offices
7-8pm: gather in the Church choir loft for prayer (the Elizabeth St door is always open)
8-8:30pm: return to Parish Offices for hot cocoa & snacks

Your Question of the Week: why is missing Mass once or twice a mortal sin?
First let’s call to mind the importance of the Mass. Each Sunday, we gather together as a Church with hearts filled with joy to worship Almighty God. We remember and profess our faith once again in the mystery of our salvation- that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, suffered, died, and rose for our salvation. At Mass, each faithful Catholic is fed with abundant graces:

We are nourished by the Word of God-- God's eternal truth that has been revealed to us and recorded through the Holy Spirit. If we are in a state of grace, we have the opportunity to receive our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. We firmly believe that our Lord is truly present in the Holy Eucharist, and that we receive His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in Holy Communion.

With these things in mind, no one should simply think of attending Mass as fulfilling an obligation. To attend Mass is a privilege, and any faithful Catholic should want to attend Mass. However, because the Mass offers such precious gifts, provides the nourishment of great graces, and unites us as a Church, we do indeed have a sacred obligation to attend Mass. Remember that the Third Commandment stated, "Keep Holy the Sabbath."

Given how precious the Mass is the Code of Canon Law (#1246) proscribes… "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass" (#1247).Therefore, the Catechism teaches, "Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit grave sin" (#2181), and grave sin is one condition of a mortal sin. Note that missing mass when you are sick, or weather conditions are extremely unsafe is certainly not a sin- although you are strongly encouraged to spend time in prayer in some other way.

When a person negligently "bags Mass," to go shopping, catch-up on work, sleep a few extra hours, attend a social event, or not interrupt vacation, the person is allowing something to take the place of God. Something becomes more valuable than the Holy Eucharist. This is grave matter indeed! God must come first in our lives. On Sunday, our primary duty is to worship God at Mass as a Church and to be nourished with His grace.

Missing Mass on Sunday or another Holy Day of Obligation is certainly a sin. There are three conditions for a sin to be a mortal sin- it must be grave matter, committed with full knowledge that it is wrong, and committed with full consent. (Catechism #1857) Missing Mass is always grave matter. The other two conditions are not necessarily present in all Catholics when they miss Mass, although the act itself is always sinful. The moral of the story is, get to Mass on Sunday!! Ask around, others are always willing to give you a ride if you need.