Tragedy + New Life!

Happy Easter! He is Risen! Just wanted to check in and say that we missed seeing you all yesterday- but hope you all had great celebrations with friends and family.

Someone mentioned on our blog that this was Serafini the turtle's first Easter! Sadly, there was a minor tragedy on Good Friday and Serafini passed away. Apparently he had been sick for awhile- and while the water brought him some rejuvenation...it was not enough to revive him!! :( You can imagine how disappointed I was, and I speak for Bethany and myself in sharing our sorrow with you.

The good news, is that I have a new pet Turtle, and his name is Irenaus (ear-i-nay-us) after St Irenaus! He is a *very* active little guy...great swimmer, and one tough cookie. As St Irenaus said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." Hopefully, the glory of God is also 'turtle' fully alive, because I do hope Irenaus is with us for longer than 2 weeks!

In this glorious Easter season, we remember the resurrection of Jesus to new life. We recall the truth, that one day we will see Jesus face to face! After recalling his death and resurrection, let us begin to prayerfully consider how we might follow him with greater conviction. How will you answer His call to 'Put Out Into the Deep Water"?

All of the Volunteers and I are looking forward to our Village Spring Retreat this weekend!!! Thirty of us are signed up so far, making this our biggest Retreat yet! If you have not signed up yet, there is still space available, but signup asap! We will see you at St Thomas this Friday at 6:30pm!

Turtles Like Water!

So, about a week ago I got a pet Turtle! I named him Serafini (meaning 'finished'), and was all excited for the next 25 years of our pet-owner relationship. Around Saturday night I realized he wasn't moving around in his aquarium much- or eating anything! When I flipped him upside down- no reaction from the little turtle guy...

As I'm sure you understand, I became quite concerned. Last night, I added a couple inches of water- and he went nuts! He was swimming, swimming, swimming- and swimming. Finally, I had a happy turtle again. I guess turtles like water. I guess turtles are made for water!

I've been thinking a lot about what we are made for. This week, Holy Week, is the time that we relive Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. If any week can tell us what we are made for- it is this one.

We are made to know, love, and serve Jesus. We are made to share in His sufferings for the redemption of the world. When we are walking with Jesus, we are like a turtle in water.

Join us this week as we draw close to Jesus, through leading the Parish Stations of the Cross this Friday.

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Village News

Holy Thursday- No Dinner + Some Bible
Dinner and Some Bible has been canceled due to it being Holy Thursday!! See you all at Mass at 7:30pm, for Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Good Friday- Stations of the Cross
The Village will be leading the Stations of the Cross for the Parish this Friday starting at 7pm. We need at least 14 volunteers to do the Readings, and 4 Altar Servers to visit each Station carrying candles and the crucifix. Email me back if you are able to do either! If you wish to volunteer, you must arrive by 6:30pm. Stations usually go until 8:15 or 8:30pm.

No Village on Easter Sunday- Christ is Risen!

Spring Retreat, March 28-30th
Space is still available on the Village Spring Retreat, March 28-30th! Get your forms and money in by Easter to avoid a $10 late fee…join the 23 Villagers already signed up! Registration is limited; newly confirmed 8th graders are welcome.

Other News
---Do you have some pictures of Village? Email your pictures to me, and I'll put them on our website!

What's Up Ice Skating Glory??!

This past friday there were nearly 30 of us out at Buhr Park for some crazy Ice Skating! Here are a few of the highlights...

-Karen wore the kiddie helmet for extra protection!

-A game of keepaway resulted in a few dangerous falls (Ahem...Robert...)

-Peter ran into the wall and fell down...(that *may* have been a little bit my fault...but who could say?)

-Bridget + Rachel started a few snowball fights with all the snow on the ice!

-After several tries, Tom discovered his true size in an Ice Hockey Skate to be a 12! :)

Do I hear sounds of Villagers going ice skating again someday?? Thanks to everyone who came out, and especially to the Volunteers for making sure none of us died. Thanks! :)

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Next Sunday
Join us next Sunday March 16th from 5-6:30 for games and a discussion of Sharing the Love through Service Evangelism.

Spring Retreat
Register by *next* Sunday, March 16th and you will be entered into our drawing to win A Year's Supply of Big League Chew! Don't miss the commercial- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GyEkvqtHPs. Registration is limited to the first 35 who sign up; newly confirmed 8th graders are welcome.

The Passion this Saturday 3/15, 7-9:30
A group of us have decided to watch Mel Gibson's the Passion in preparation for Holy Week! We're going to have pizza at 7, and then settle into the film. Everyone is welcome! Bring a pillow/blanket for comfort. Please be aware of the graphic nature of this film.

Dinner and Some Bible: Every Thursday 7-8:30
Stop on by St Thomas this week for Dinner and Some Bible. We'll be eating some great food, and then reading some of the book of 1 Peter. It's going to be swell0- come hungry!

Other News:
-----GUS IS THIS FRIDAY! GUS Volunteers, please come 6-9:15pm.
-----Eight spaces still remain for the Steubenville Youth Conference June 13-15…

Mushroom Barley Soup? Just Say NO!

Last night Jason shared with us about Heaven, Hell and Purgatory.

We learned that “[Those in heaven] are hungry and satisfied, satisfied yet hungry- but they are far from bored with satiety or pained in their hunger.” [St Catherine of Sienna]

And my favorite- that “They will never hunger or thirst again; sun and scorching wind will never plague them, because the Lamb who is at the heart of the throne will be their shepherd and will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.” [Revelations 7]

The thing I keep thinking about, is that all goodness comes from God. Therefore- heaven is the absolute presence of all goodness, and hell is the absolute absence of all goodness.

What I'm trying to say here, is that Mushroom Barley Soup does not make the cut. There will be --absolutely--no-- Mushroom Barley Soup in heaven. This soup has no goodness in it. As you can see from the attached/below photo...the bits of barley are sqwooshy like worms- mixed with slippery mushrooms making an altogether wretched bowl of mostly tasteless mush.

This week- instead of trying to warm up with a bowl of nast (!) come on out this Friday Night for some fantastico Ice Skating!!! The Village is going Ice Skating this Friday, at Buhr Park from 7-9pm. Bring your permission slip and $10 with you on Friday.