Dear Villagers,
Thank you to Village Volunteer Laura, for an inspiring talk on Worship this past Sunday! Worshiping God is acknowledging our own littleness and recognizing God as infinite- as merciful Love itself. We are called to worship God through the Mass, through praise and worship music, and through vocal prayer. That said, St Paul challenges us to live our whole lives as worship- “I urge you therefore, brothers, remembering the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, dedicated and acceptable to God; that is the kind of worship for you, as sensible people.” In order to offer our very lives to God, we had a beautiful time of Eucharistic Adoration following Laura's talk with our Pastor, Father Bill. We can all use more time in front of the Jesus- present in the Eucharist!
This Sunday, we're focusing in on the Holy Trinity: Gift & Mystery. The mystery of the Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life (Catechism of the Catholic Church #234). In addition, God's inmost Being as Holy Trinity is a mystery that is inaccessible to reason alone (Catechism of the Catholic Church #237). In other words, the Trinity is both the most essential teaching of our faith and a mystery about which we cannot know everything. That said, we can certainly know more than we do now! Join us at Village this Sunday to hear Guest Speaker and St Thomas Director of Faith Formation, Monica Pope, on the beauty and truth of the Most Blessed Trinity.
---This Thursday Night from 7-8pm, our Dead Theologians Society is focusing on St Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr.
---Your Question of the Week is, "Is it a sin to think about sex?"
You are in my prayers,
Beth
The Village News
This Thursday: Dead Theologians Society
This week our dead theologian is Saint Cecilia! Join us this Thursday from 7-8pm for our (now) regular DTS meeting! We will gather in Beth’s office for snacks and social time starting at 6:30, move to the Church Choir Loft at 7pm, and have more snacks and social time from 8 to 8:30pm. If things are busy, feel free to skip social time. Through the Saints of yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society, or DTS, inspires the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow!
Next Sunday 10/25: The Holy Trinity: Gift & Mystery
The mystery of the Holy Trinity is the most fundamental of our faith! The Trinity is a mystery in the sense that it is a religious truth about which we can't know everything. That said, we can certainly know and understand more than we do now! Join us Sunday from 5-6:30 to discover the Most Blessed Trinity and the surprising implications for our social & personal lives.
The Village Fall Retreat, December 11-13th
Did you know that every single Village Retreat is modeled after a World Youth Day? This semester we’re focusing on World Youth Day, 1996, “Lord, to whom shall we go?”! These words come from the Gospel of John Chapter 6, after Jesus proclaims Himself to be the living bread sent down from heaven to give life to the world! Jesus promises to give His Body in the Eucharist, and many of his disciples think he has lost it. Many of his disciples stopped following him, and Jesus turns to his remaining disciples with the question- “Do you also want to leave?” The Apostle Peter replies, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
More about The Village
Our mission is to prepare each of us for our encounter with the Risen Christ, especially in the Blessed Sacrament. Some of us may have doubts like our patron St Thomas did. Others have already joined St Thomas in those words of faith, "My Lord and My God!” Like St Thomas, we are asking real questions, having real dialogue, and developing real faith. The Village meets on Sunday nights from 5-6:30pm, in addition to having socials and service days. The highlight over and above all of these activities will be our Fall Retreat! Check us out online at www.findthevillage.com for more info. Youth Minister Beth Spizarny can be reached at St Thomas at 761-8606. For anything of an immediate nature you can call or text her cell, (734) 545-0827.
Your Question of the Week: Is it a sin to think about sex?
Each week I answer one of the very real questions you have asked me about living our Catholic Faith. This week, our question is a bit stickier than usual! Just thinking about sex is not a sin. We are sexual beings, and part of that is human nature and perfectly normal. Even St Augustine, a Bishop and Doctor of the Church, (and our Dead Theologian from last week!) struggled with thoughts about sex and lust. That said- we are also intelligent and spiritual beings, and we have the ability to control our fantasies and emotions. Many of our thoughts are random, but we have to learn to quickly discard those that can potentially be sinful. If sexual thoughts arise, we need reject these thoughts, recognizing that these thoughts may lead us to sin.
As Catholics we need to especially remember that we are created to know, love, and serve God. In addition to this call, we know from Theology of the Body that we are also called to love as He loves. Loving as God loves means that in the context of our vocation (marriage, religious life, single life, and priesthood) we are called to love faithfully, totally, and fruitfully. In the context of marriage, loving as God loves is possible through the faithful (loving your spouse for life!), total (not holding anything back!) and fruitful (open to life) gift of self in sexual love.
When we nurture thoughts about sex we objectify the opposite sex, wrongly see sexual love as self-gratification instead of a gift of self to your spouse, and we can even be tempted to self-centered forms of sexual love. Continually thinking about these things can create an unhealthy attachment to some pretty fleshly and lust-centered sins!
We need to learn to control our thoughts. Unlike animals, we as humans can not act on each and every urge that come along. St Alphonsus Liguori advised, “When an evil thought is presented to the mind, we must immediately endeavor to turn our thoughts to God, or to something which is indifferent. But the best rule is, instantly to invoke the names of Jesus and Mary, and to continue to invoke them until the temptation ceases."
Here’s another good prayer for times of temptation: "Father God, please wash my thoughts with the blood of Jesus and help me die to any sinful pleasure I have in them. Please forgive me for any sin I have committed in my thoughts. Thank you, Father. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."
21 October 2009
12 October 2009
Time to Refuel
It seems as though with the advent of October, the semester is in full force! The cold weather has come, and with it- exams and heavy homework. Villagers are busier than ever this month, with loads of schoolwork, fall sports, and the excitement of school plays and homecoming dances. Sometimes we can become so consumed with anxiety and busyness, that we think we'll get ahead if we skip regular prayer time, Village meetings, or even Sunday Mass! The frustrating thing is, when we stop nourishing our bodies with spiritual food, we start running low on energy and joy.
When we make time for Jesus, or better yet- when we surrender all of our time to Jesus, He will take care of everything else. Jesus calls to each of us in our busyness:
"If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil." (Gospel of Matthew 6:30-34)
This Sunday, you're all invited to come and take a load off. Jesus said, "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Gospel of Matthew 11:28). God knows that we need rest from all of our activities, and He comes to each of us in the Eucharist to nourish us and give us strength to go on! As the Catechism says, “the church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love.” [Catechism of the Catholic Church #1380]
Come this Sunday for our monthly time of Eucharistic Adoration, and some real discussion on Whole Life Worship!
You are in my prayers,
Beth
The Village News
Next Sunday 10/18: Whole Life Worship
Join us this Sunday from 5-6:30pm for our monthly night of Eucharistic Adoration! “The church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love.” [Catechism of the Catholic Church #1380] This Sunday we’ll be discussing Whole Life Worship! When we experience times of worship as being boring, it’s because we just don’t understand what we’re doing. We were made to worship, and when we do we are fulfilling God’s highest vocation for man! Transform your experience of worship from just singing to just living for Him.
This Thursday: Dead Theologians Society
Join us this Thursday from 7-8pm for our (now) regular DTS meeting! We will gather in Beth’s Office for snacks and social time starting at 6:30, move to the Church Choir Loft at 7pm, and have more snacks and social time from 8 to 8:30pm. If things are busy, feel free to skip social time. DTS is an opportunity for you to encounter the Saints and receive the graces you need to become a Saint yourself!
Saturday's Service Day Recap
On the morn of October the 10th, 2009 Anno Domini, eight lonely sojourners set out on the ultimate journey. Vitalized by the 9 o’clock morning Mass, we set out to spread the word of a great ministry, The Pregnancy Help Center. Giving out more than 299 pamphlets to area residents, we entreated them to assist with physical or monetary donations to be collected next month! We then traversed to the aforesaid Pregnancy Help Center to witness firsthand the destination of next month’s collections. After the enlightening journey, we famished travelers returned to St Thomas the Apostle Parish for vittles; pizza, cheesy doodles, and an eclectic collection of beverages to celebrate our hard work! Join us next month, Saturday, 11/14, as we amass the munificent donations and transport them to the Pregnancy Help Center.
More about The Village:
Our mission is to prepare each of us for our encounter with the Risen Christ, especially in the Blessed Sacrament. Some of us may have doubts like our patron St Thomas did. Others have already joined St Thomas in those words of faith, "My Lord and My God!” Like St Thomas, we are asking real questions, having real dialogue, and developing real faith. The Village meets on Sunday nights from 5-6:30pm, in addition to having socials and service days. The highlight over and above all of these activities will be our Fall Retreat! Check us out online at www.findthevillage.com for more info.
05 October 2009
Respect Life & Service Day
Dear Villagers,
Wow! What a big weekend we had, with 83 Grown-Up Soda & Village teens at the Corn Maze on Friday night, and bunch of us at Life Chain- not to mention our regular Village meeting on Sunday. Last night we had Respect Life Night at Village, and we had special guests Beth Ann Smith and Paul Schulz join us from the St Thomas Respect Life Committee to field some of your questions! Mother Teresa once said of abortion, 'It is a poverty that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
You asked some tough questions about the right to choose abortion in cases of rape- such a horrible situation. Rape is *never* okay, and a woman in this situation is certainly a victim of a morally reprehensible crime. All the same, women in this situation are encouraged to consider the many alternatives to aborting the life of the child. The innocent child should not be killed to make up for the sins of the father- especially when Adoption and Free Parenting Resources are so readily available.
Instead of just debating these issues- or simply sweeping the problem under the rug with indifference- we are going to do something to help! At our first Village Service Day this Saturday, we are going to do a clothing & supplies drive for the Pregnancy Help Center here in Ann Arbor. We will be putting fliers in people's doors letting them know about these local resources- and inviting them to make donations to the Pregnancy Help Center which we will be picking up next month.
---ArborVitae is a free medical clinic (below Starbucks on Liberty St, 734-994-8863) providing pregnancy testing, counseling, and ultrasounds all free of charge!
---The Pregnancy Help Center (at Packard and Platt, 734-975-4357) provides cribs, diapers, formula, and clothing free of charge!
---The Pregnancy Counseling Center provides free anonymous counseling support via their free hotline (734-434-3088)
Come this Saturday from 9am-1pm to reach out and make a difference in our community! We will meet for 9am Mass, pray together, perform some real service, visit the Pregnancy Help Center, and debrief over a pizza lunch here at St Thomas. Join us as we raise awareness about the *many* resources available to help those at risk of choosing abortion while supporting these local centers by collecting baby clothes. Please pray for this outreach, especially if you are unable to join us!
God Bless, Beth
The Village News 10/4
This Thursday Oct 8: First Dead Theologians Society
Join us this Thursday October 8th from 7-8pm for our (now) regular DTS meeting! We will gather in the Youth Room for snacks and social time starting at 6:30, move to the Church Choir Loft at 7:10pm, and have more snacks and social time from 8 to 8:30pm. If things are busy, feel free to skip social time. DTS is an opportunity for you to encounter the Saints and receive the graces you need to become a Saint yourself!
This Saturday Oct 10 from 9am-1pm: First Village Service Day
Join us this Saturday from 9-1pm for morning Mass, quick prayer, real service, and a short debriefing at the Parish over pizza. Please bring a note from your parents giving permission for you to come! We’ll be running a clothing drive for the Ann Arbor Pregnancy Help Center, and putting together care packages for our graduated Villagers off at college! Drivers & Volunteers are needed.
Taking inspiration from last year’s Spring Retreat, we now have monthly Service Days as an outreach of The Village! Pope John Paul promises us that “life flourishes in the gift of self to others…so that all can share the gifts they have received, in a spirit of solidarity, especially with the poor and the needy.”
Next Sunday: The Good News & Bad News about Free Will
Join us Sunday from 5-6:30pm for the real scoop on free will– why it is the best gift God gave to humanity and at the same time the hardest thing about being human! We’ll also delve into some of your questions...Why did God give us free will? Why does God allow evil in the world? How was free will weakened by Adam and Eve? Why did Protestant Reformers Calvin & Luther deny the existence of free will? Is it really free will if God already knows what we will choose?
Your Questions of the Week:
How do you explain modesty to an agnostic?
We live in an over sexualized world, and are constantly bombarded with the message that our body matters more than who we are inside. This can lead many of us, especially women, to a need for external validation about our appearance. We are called to dress modestly to guard our dignity as men and women. If we were explaining modesty to a Catholic, I would spend more time explaining where our dignity comes from- being made in the image of God and designed for relationship with Him. I would encourage your friend to know that whether she/he knows it or not, she/he is deeply loved by the God of the universe, and has incredible worth!
We are called to dress modestly to guard the sacredness of our own sexuality. Whether or not your friend believes as we do that sex is intended to be a promise made to one’s spouse to love them faithfully for life, freely, totally, and with an openness to having children- most people believe that sex is special. When we dress immodestly, we can encourage others to objectify us- to think of us as merely an object for their own sexual pleasure.
Remember that the opposite of love is not hate, but rather use. When others use us for what we can give, it is worse than if they were to hate us! We are each worthy of being loved for our own sake and not for what we can give. When we dress primarily to attract the opposite sex, we send the message that we are unsure of our own dignity, and might accept those who wish to use us instead of love us. When we dress primarily to be attractive, we send the message that we have dignity, and are worthy of being loved for our own sake and not just for what we can give to others.When we dress modestly we guard our dignity as men and women, we guard the sacredness of our own sexuality, and we encourage others to love us rather than simply use us!!
Is plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons a sin?
The Church does not have a specific teaching on elective (unnecessary) plastic surgery, but here’s what the Catechism does say, “If morality requires respect for the life of the body, it does not make it an absolute value. It rejects a neo-pagan notion that tends to promote the cult of the body, to sacrifice everything for it's sake, to idolize physical perfection and success at sports.” [#2289] The idea here is that getting plastic surgery probably entails idolizing physical perfection, and seeing the body as a full representation of who you are as an individual. You are so much more than your appearance! You are created with incredible dignity- made in God’s image and designed for relationship with him! Let us work towards accepting our bodies as they are, realizing that our dignity comes from God and not in comparing ourselves with overly photoshopped magazine covers! Beyond these reasons not to have plastic surgery, there are some pretty high costs and serious health risks that come along with it. Talk to your parents for more!
More about The Village
Our mission is to prepare each of us for our encounter with the Risen Christ, especially in the Blessed Sacrament. Some of us may have doubts like our patron St Thomas did. Others have already joined St Thomas in those words of faith, "My Lord and My God!” Like St Thomas, we are asking real questions, having real dialogue, and developing real faith. The Village meets on Sunday nights from 5-6:30pm, in addition to having socials and service days. The highlight over and above all of these activities will be our Fall Retreat! Check us out online at www.findthevillage.com for more info.
Wow! What a big weekend we had, with 83 Grown-Up Soda & Village teens at the Corn Maze on Friday night, and bunch of us at Life Chain- not to mention our regular Village meeting on Sunday. Last night we had Respect Life Night at Village, and we had special guests Beth Ann Smith and Paul Schulz join us from the St Thomas Respect Life Committee to field some of your questions! Mother Teresa once said of abortion, 'It is a poverty that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
You asked some tough questions about the right to choose abortion in cases of rape- such a horrible situation. Rape is *never* okay, and a woman in this situation is certainly a victim of a morally reprehensible crime. All the same, women in this situation are encouraged to consider the many alternatives to aborting the life of the child. The innocent child should not be killed to make up for the sins of the father- especially when Adoption and Free Parenting Resources are so readily available.
Instead of just debating these issues- or simply sweeping the problem under the rug with indifference- we are going to do something to help! At our first Village Service Day this Saturday, we are going to do a clothing & supplies drive for the Pregnancy Help Center here in Ann Arbor. We will be putting fliers in people's doors letting them know about these local resources- and inviting them to make donations to the Pregnancy Help Center which we will be picking up next month.
---ArborVitae is a free medical clinic (below Starbucks on Liberty St, 734-994-8863) providing pregnancy testing, counseling, and ultrasounds all free of charge!
---The Pregnancy Help Center (at Packard and Platt, 734-975-4357) provides cribs, diapers, formula, and clothing free of charge!
---The Pregnancy Counseling Center provides free anonymous counseling support via their free hotline (734-434-3088)
Come this Saturday from 9am-1pm to reach out and make a difference in our community! We will meet for 9am Mass, pray together, perform some real service, visit the Pregnancy Help Center, and debrief over a pizza lunch here at St Thomas. Join us as we raise awareness about the *many* resources available to help those at risk of choosing abortion while supporting these local centers by collecting baby clothes. Please pray for this outreach, especially if you are unable to join us!
God Bless, Beth
The Village News 10/4
This Thursday Oct 8: First Dead Theologians Society
Join us this Thursday October 8th from 7-8pm for our (now) regular DTS meeting! We will gather in the Youth Room for snacks and social time starting at 6:30, move to the Church Choir Loft at 7:10pm, and have more snacks and social time from 8 to 8:30pm. If things are busy, feel free to skip social time. DTS is an opportunity for you to encounter the Saints and receive the graces you need to become a Saint yourself!
This Saturday Oct 10 from 9am-1pm: First Village Service Day
Join us this Saturday from 9-1pm for morning Mass, quick prayer, real service, and a short debriefing at the Parish over pizza. Please bring a note from your parents giving permission for you to come! We’ll be running a clothing drive for the Ann Arbor Pregnancy Help Center, and putting together care packages for our graduated Villagers off at college! Drivers & Volunteers are needed.
Taking inspiration from last year’s Spring Retreat, we now have monthly Service Days as an outreach of The Village! Pope John Paul promises us that “life flourishes in the gift of self to others…so that all can share the gifts they have received, in a spirit of solidarity, especially with the poor and the needy.”
Next Sunday: The Good News & Bad News about Free Will
Join us Sunday from 5-6:30pm for the real scoop on free will– why it is the best gift God gave to humanity and at the same time the hardest thing about being human! We’ll also delve into some of your questions...Why did God give us free will? Why does God allow evil in the world? How was free will weakened by Adam and Eve? Why did Protestant Reformers Calvin & Luther deny the existence of free will? Is it really free will if God already knows what we will choose?
Your Questions of the Week:
How do you explain modesty to an agnostic?
We live in an over sexualized world, and are constantly bombarded with the message that our body matters more than who we are inside. This can lead many of us, especially women, to a need for external validation about our appearance. We are called to dress modestly to guard our dignity as men and women. If we were explaining modesty to a Catholic, I would spend more time explaining where our dignity comes from- being made in the image of God and designed for relationship with Him. I would encourage your friend to know that whether she/he knows it or not, she/he is deeply loved by the God of the universe, and has incredible worth!
We are called to dress modestly to guard the sacredness of our own sexuality. Whether or not your friend believes as we do that sex is intended to be a promise made to one’s spouse to love them faithfully for life, freely, totally, and with an openness to having children- most people believe that sex is special. When we dress immodestly, we can encourage others to objectify us- to think of us as merely an object for their own sexual pleasure.
Remember that the opposite of love is not hate, but rather use. When others use us for what we can give, it is worse than if they were to hate us! We are each worthy of being loved for our own sake and not for what we can give. When we dress primarily to attract the opposite sex, we send the message that we are unsure of our own dignity, and might accept those who wish to use us instead of love us. When we dress primarily to be attractive, we send the message that we have dignity, and are worthy of being loved for our own sake and not just for what we can give to others.When we dress modestly we guard our dignity as men and women, we guard the sacredness of our own sexuality, and we encourage others to love us rather than simply use us!!
Is plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons a sin?
The Church does not have a specific teaching on elective (unnecessary) plastic surgery, but here’s what the Catechism does say, “If morality requires respect for the life of the body, it does not make it an absolute value. It rejects a neo-pagan notion that tends to promote the cult of the body, to sacrifice everything for it's sake, to idolize physical perfection and success at sports.” [#2289] The idea here is that getting plastic surgery probably entails idolizing physical perfection, and seeing the body as a full representation of who you are as an individual. You are so much more than your appearance! You are created with incredible dignity- made in God’s image and designed for relationship with him! Let us work towards accepting our bodies as they are, realizing that our dignity comes from God and not in comparing ourselves with overly photoshopped magazine covers! Beyond these reasons not to have plastic surgery, there are some pretty high costs and serious health risks that come along with it. Talk to your parents for more!
More about The Village
Our mission is to prepare each of us for our encounter with the Risen Christ, especially in the Blessed Sacrament. Some of us may have doubts like our patron St Thomas did. Others have already joined St Thomas in those words of faith, "My Lord and My God!” Like St Thomas, we are asking real questions, having real dialogue, and developing real faith. The Village meets on Sunday nights from 5-6:30pm, in addition to having socials and service days. The highlight over and above all of these activities will be our Fall Retreat! Check us out online at www.findthevillage.com for more info.
28 September 2009
Corn Maze & Respect Life
Dear Villagers,
Thank you to everyone for a successful inaugural Dead Theologians Society last night! We headed up to the Church Choir Loft, and were surrounded with Gregorian chant, candles, and statues of the Saints who have gone before us. We heard about the life of St Francis de Sales from David, one of our Village Volunteers. In addition there was time for questions, intercessory prayer, and a decade of the Rosary. The Dead Theologians Society motto is, 'Dead to the World, Alive in Christ' to remind us of how we are called to live. Starting next week, the Dead Theologians Society will meet on Thursday evenings from 7-8pm.
This Friday is our first Village Social, the Corn Maze & Bonfire! We'll be arranged into small groups and get lost in 8 acres of corn fields, then relax at a bonfire with s'mores. All high school students are welcome, bring your friends! The cost for participation is $8 and the deadline for registration is this Wednesday, 9/30.
October is Respect Life month! Join us next Sunday at our regular Village meeting from 5-6:30pm for Respect Life Night We’ll be getting into freedom and the right to choice, partial-birth abortion, cases of rape and incest, and the many alternatives to abortion. It is critical that we take a stand for the most vulnerable in our society, the unborn!
With our first three Village meetings behind us, we've averaged 32 teens each week, and more than 20 different teens have come for their first time! If you haven't been able to make it to The Village yet this year, come this Sunday. Join us to be challenged in your faith, build friendships with other Catholic teens, and encounter the Lord Jesus through prayer.
You are all in my prayers!
God Bless,
Beth
--
www.thirstyforgus.com
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"The Cross is not a roadblock on the way to happiness; it is a ladder upon which one climbs to a heaven of love." -Bishop Fulton Sheen
The Village News 9/27
Corn Maze & Bonfire Social This Friday 10/2
Don't miss our social night at the Three Cedars Farm Corn Maze this Friday October 2nd! We’ll be wandering through a huge corn maze, enjoying a hayride, and cooking up some s’mores around the campfire. Drop off will be at Three Cedars Farm at 6:30pm, and pickup will be 9pm. All 7th -12th graders are welcome! Permission slips (attached/online) and money are due by this Wednesday September 30th.
Next Sunday: Life Chain & Respect Life Night 10/4
Next Sunday 10/4 marks the annual national Life Chain event at the corner of Washtenaw and
Next Sunday 10/4 at our regular Village meeting from 5-6:30pm we’ll be getting into freedom and the right to choice, partial-birth abortion, cases of rape and incest, and the many alternatives to abortion. It is critical that we take a stand for the most vulnerable in our society, the unborn! We'll also have some guests with us from the St Thomas Respect Life Committee.
More about the Village:
The Village is an outreach of
Here’s Your Question of the Week: Why do we call priests 'Father', when Jesus told us not to?
You’re referring to the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 23:9 where Jesus says ““And call no man your father on earth- for you have one Father, who is in Heaven.” Jesus does not distinguish between spiritual fathers and biological fathers here. So if he meant this literally- we should probably come up with a new name for Papa and for Father Bill!
Check out the context of this verse, and you’ll see that this verse comes in an extensive chastisement of the Pharisees. Calling them hypocrites and blind guides, Jesus is saying that the Pharisees exalt themselves with honorary titles while trying to take honor that should go to God alone. Based on the context of this statement, the Church sees this verse not as a literal teaching against using the word “Father,” but rather a warning against the Pharisees and Scribes who were trying to usurp the fatherhood of God.
In addition to the context of this verse, the title of “Father” is used throughout the New Testament to refer to spiritual fathers.
- Jesus, in the story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16, has the rich man referring to Abraham as “father” several times.
- Paul, in Romans 4, refers to Abraham as the “father” of the Gentiles- referring to spiritual fatherhood.
- Stephen, the first Christian martyr in Acts of the Apostles 7, referred to the Jewish authorities and elders who were about to stone him as brothers and “fathers.” (As does Paul in Acts 22)
Since the Bible frequently speaks of this spiritual fatherhood, we Catholics acknowledge it and follow the custom of the apostles by calling priests "father." God has given a great gift to the Church in the spiritual fatherhood of the priesthood. As members of a parish, we have been committed to a priest’s spiritual care- therefore we affectionately call our priests “father.” Priests, in turn, follow the apostles’ biblical example by referring to members of their flock as "my son" or "my child" (cf. Gal. 4:19; 1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:1; Philem. 10; 1 Pet. 5:13; 1 John 2:1; 3 John 4).
Christ’s priests do have a role as spiritual fathers, and Jesus is not against acknowledging that. It is he who gave these men their role as spiritual fathers, and it is his Holy Spirit who recorded this role for us in the pages of Scripture. The important thing is to remember that our true Father is God the Fatherm, and that all aspects of fatherhood, biological and spiritual, are derived from Him.
21 September 2009
The Village News!
Dear Villagers,
Thank you to everyone who came and helped to make our first two Village Meetings so exciting! We had 48 teens at our first meeting, and between our two meetings- we've had 17 new teens who have come to The Village for the first time! It has been so good to get back into the rhythm of our weekly meetings on Sundays from 5-6:30pm here at the Church.
Last night John, one of our Village Volunteers, called us on to ditch the rulebook mentality towards our faith! Since the time of the Mosaic law our faith has often been reduced to simply following a rulebook, substituting the empty observance of rules for that active, living relationship with God. When we live according to this rulebook mentality we can become prideful and selfish- missing out on the communion with God that we are made for! Of course we don't want to just stop following the guidelines of the Church, we need that weekly Sunday Mass to nourish our faith and lead us deeper into worship! That said, it's so important for us to remember John's words- God doesn't just want our actions- he wants our hearts!
Join us this coming Sunday 9/27 for our Village Night, Introducing the Dead Theologians Society. The Dead Theologians Society is a Catholic apostolate for teens with chapters across the United States! Through the Saints of yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society (DTS) inspires the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow! This program is an opportunity for you to encounter the Saints and receive the graces you need to become Saints yourselves! Soon DTS will become a regular part of The Village, taking place on Thursday evenings in the church choir loft.
If you haven't been able to make it to The Village yet this year, come this Sunday! Join us to be challenged in your faith, build friendships with other Catholic teens, and encounter the Lord Jesus through prayer.
You are all in my prayers!
God Bless,
Beth
-----------------
Next Sunday: Introducing the Dead Theologians Society 9/27 from 5-6:30pm
Corn Maze & Bonfire Social 10/2
The Village and Grown-Up Soda are coming together for a social night at the Three Cedars Farm Corn Maze Friday October 2nd! We’ll be wandering through a huge corn maze, enjoying a hayride, and cooking up some s’mores around the campfire. Drop off will be at Three Cedars Farm at 6:30pm, and pickup will be 9pm. All 7th -12th graders are welcome! Permission slips (attached/online) and money are due by Wednesday September 30th.
More about the Village:
The Village is an outreach of St Thomas the Apostle to all high school aged teens. As a group, our mission is to prepare each of us for our encounter with the Risen Christ, especially in the Blessed Sacrament. Some of us may have doubts like our patron St Thomas did. Others have already joined St Thomas in those words of faith, "My Lord and My God!” Like St Thomas, we are asking real questions, having real dialogue, and developing real faith. The Village meets on Sunday nights from 5-6:30pm. We also have socials and service days. The highlight over and above all of these activities will be our Fall Retreat- a chance for renewal, fun, and prayer!
Here’s Your Question of the Week: Are Mormons Christian?
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Well, the short answer is... not exactly. What I mean is this. If you ask any Mormon they will tell you that they are, but no other source will tell you that.
In the book "The Joy of Sects,” it states, "Mormons embrace a moral code similar to that of most conservative Christian groups, but some of their dogma is unique and places them well outside the Christian mainstream. For instance, they believe that God the Father is a male being of flesh and bones, that Jesus Christ is God but that men can become gods and many in fact have done so, existing in a complex level of spiritual worlds."
It’s true that if you were to speak to a Mormon they seem to be talking about the same things as we believe. They use terms like "Trinity," and "Resurrection," and even "Heaven," but take an extra moment and ask them to define those words. They will give you some very different views than what we hold in the Catholic Church.
That said, Mormons are not evil...that is, not any more than anyone else has the potential to be. In fact, many of the moral teachings they have on family values are incredibly beautiful. I'm amazed at the devotion their young people have, even to the point of giving up two years of their lives to evangelize. There is a lot we can admire about them, but it is important for us to know that there are major differences in our beliefs, and these differences run deep.
12 August 2009
All Night Lock In!
Dear St Thomas Village Teens,
I hope all is well with you! I can't believe the summer is almost over. I also can't believe school supplies cost only $9 at Walmart! Seems like a bit of a stretch, no? At any rate, the approach of school does mean that weekly Village Meetings will soon be returning to our Sunday nights!!
To celebrate the advent of school and the return of Village Meetings, we're having a Fall Kickoff event- an All Night Lock In at Paradise Park in Novi, Michigan. Join us next Saturday August 22nd and you’ll enjoy unlimited go-karts, laser-tag, mini golf, trampolines, soccer cages, a climbing wall, video games, and movies! AND, we’ll be having a pizza party at midnight, an ice cream social at 3am, and a continental breakfast at 6am! If you think that sounds sweet, it gets better. This event only costs $25. Return payment and attached permission slip by next Wednesday, August 19th to get in on the action!
Sunday Mass will not be offered during this event, and it is not recommended that you plan to attend Mass Sunday morning, as you will be exhausted! Please attend Mass before arriving, or make plans to attend Sunday evening after a good long nap.
God Bless, Beth
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The Village is an outreach of St Thomas Catholic Church to all high school aged teens. Like our patron, St Thomas, we are asking real questions, having real dialogue and developing real faith!
------------
Andy Forbing has joined the Dominican Order of St Joseph, and is preparing to become a Religious Brother. Read his testimony and discover his new name!
I hope all is well with you! I can't believe the summer is almost over. I also can't believe school supplies cost only $9 at Walmart! Seems like a bit of a stretch, no? At any rate, the approach of school does mean that weekly Village Meetings will soon be returning to our Sunday nights!!
To celebrate the advent of school and the return of Village Meetings, we're having a Fall Kickoff event- an All Night Lock In at Paradise Park in Novi, Michigan. Join us next Saturday August 22nd and you’ll enjoy unlimited go-karts, laser-tag, mini golf, trampolines, soccer cages, a climbing wall, video games, and movies! AND, we’ll be having a pizza party at midnight, an ice cream social at 3am, and a continental breakfast at 6am! If you think that sounds sweet, it gets better. This event only costs $25. Return payment and attached permission slip by next Wednesday, August 19th to get in on the action!
Sunday Mass will not be offered during this event, and it is not recommended that you plan to attend Mass Sunday morning, as you will be exhausted! Please attend Mass before arriving, or make plans to attend Sunday evening after a good long nap.
- Saturday there is a 4:30pm Mass at St Thomas and a 5pm Mass at St Francis
- Sunday there is a 5pm Mass at St Mary’s
God Bless, Beth
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The Village is an outreach of St Thomas Catholic Church to all high school aged teens. Like our patron, St Thomas, we are asking real questions, having real dialogue and developing real faith!
------------
Andy Forbing has joined the Dominican Order of St Joseph, and is preparing to become a Religious Brother. Read his testimony and discover his new name!
10 July 2009
It's That Time Again!
Dear Village Family,
I hope this finds you all well! It feels like it has been too longsince we got the Village Family together. For those who weren't ableto attend, we had an amazing time at Steubenville a few weeks ago! There were 13 of us who went down, with John and I supervising. We had a great time together and had some powerfulexperiences with our Lord in the Sacraments. The theme was worshippingGod- above all else! Pictures to come.
Coming up next week is the annual Ann Arbor Art Fair. As always, TheVillage will be sponsoring the annual Art Fair Parking Fundraiser hereat St Thomas. All proceeds collected go to our Village budget forsocials and retreats. Because of this yearly fundraiser, we are ableto break even on all youth programming! Without this extra income, StThomas would probably be unable to offer 3 retreats each year,exciting socials, our regular weekly meeting, or pizza on Adorationnights- not to mention the excellent junk food we all love. :) Intoday's economy- this fundraiser is a huge deal for St Thomas, and itdirectly affects you!
I need **teens** to cover a number of shifts from next Wednesday, July15th, to Saturday, July 18th. Teens always have a blast at Art Fairparking- playing board games, eating junk food and chatting under thetent! Teens are responsible for accepting payment and directing carsto appropriate spots. Please see the timeslots below and let me knowthis week when you are available.
I need **parents** to help out by covering one to two shifts next weekalso. I am able to be there for much of the duration of theFundraiser, but I am unable to cover all 42 hours in addition to setupactivities earlier in the week. This can be a great opportunity to dosomething for St Thomas with your teen! Adult Volunteers and Parentsare responsible for supervising teens and assisting as needed withaccepting payment and directing cars. Please see the timeslots belowand let me know this week when you are available.
Due to everyone's finances these days, we will not be going to CedarPoint this year. :( Instead, this August we'll be trekking away fromSt Thomas for an all night lock-in, which will cost less than $30!
God Bless,Beth
I hope this finds you all well! It feels like it has been too longsince we got the Village Family together. For those who weren't ableto attend, we had an amazing time at Steubenville a few weeks ago! There were 13 of us who went down, with John and I supervising. We had a great time together and had some powerfulexperiences with our Lord in the Sacraments. The theme was worshippingGod- above all else! Pictures to come.
Coming up next week is the annual Ann Arbor Art Fair. As always, TheVillage will be sponsoring the annual Art Fair Parking Fundraiser hereat St Thomas. All proceeds collected go to our Village budget forsocials and retreats. Because of this yearly fundraiser, we are ableto break even on all youth programming! Without this extra income, StThomas would probably be unable to offer 3 retreats each year,exciting socials, our regular weekly meeting, or pizza on Adorationnights- not to mention the excellent junk food we all love. :) Intoday's economy- this fundraiser is a huge deal for St Thomas, and itdirectly affects you!
I need **teens** to cover a number of shifts from next Wednesday, July15th, to Saturday, July 18th. Teens always have a blast at Art Fairparking- playing board games, eating junk food and chatting under thetent! Teens are responsible for accepting payment and directing carsto appropriate spots. Please see the timeslots below and let me knowthis week when you are available.
I need **parents** to help out by covering one to two shifts next weekalso. I am able to be there for much of the duration of theFundraiser, but I am unable to cover all 42 hours in addition to setupactivities earlier in the week. This can be a great opportunity to dosomething for St Thomas with your teen! Adult Volunteers and Parentsare responsible for supervising teens and assisting as needed withaccepting payment and directing cars. Please see the timeslots belowand let me know this week when you are available.
Due to everyone's finances these days, we will not be going to CedarPoint this year. :( Instead, this August we'll be trekking away fromSt Thomas for an all night lock-in, which will cost less than $30!
God Bless,Beth
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