A short-notice news announcement -- but a great opportunity!
A one-day retreat, on December 18, called Winter Solstice: Celebrating Light and Darkness, will take place at Nazareth Retreat Center, in Nazareth KY (near Bardstown).
Scheduled for December 18 (Saturday), from 9:30 AM till 6:00 PM -- this event will be led by the Rev. Joseph Mitchell, C.P. The retreat will center on spiritual presentations, contemplative prayer and reflection, and a concluding Vigil Mass around 4:00 PM (followed by a light supper).
For more information, contact the Nazareth Retreat Center. A retreat fee of $25.00 will include presentations and meals.
Web: http://www.nazarethretreatcenterky.org/
Phone: 502.348.1513
E-Mail: cmckean@scnly.org
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Juan Diego: A Patron Saint for Catechists & Lay Ministers
This week, on December 9, the Church will observe the feast of Saint Juan Diego. In some ways, we can refer to him -- an indigenous, simple Mexican by birth -- as an original lay minister and catechist in North America, who was (centuries later) canonized a saint. The story of Juan Diego is also initmately tied to beliefs and traditions, in North and Latin American countries, centered on the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the holy site of Tepeyac Hill.
Though key historical details remain much in dispute (e.g., the first historically-sound writings about Juan Diego did not actually appear until about 1650), it is generally said that the Mexican native, named Cuauhtlatoatzin ("Talking Eagle") at birth -- later baptized as Juan Diego, was born around 1474 and grew up in a pre-Columbian village, about twenty miles north of today's Mexico City. With his wife, a Mexican peasant who who took the European name Maria Lucia, he welcomed the first Franciscans into their territory around 1525, after Cortes had brought his army from Spain. They agreed to be baptized and join the local mission church. According to limited scholarly information available, Juan Diego and his spouse remained quietly faithful, had no children, lived peacefully, and helped the local Christian (mission) community grow via their witness and marriage. However, sadly, Maria Lucia became ill and died unexpectedly in 1529.
Two years later, on his usual walk to Saturday morning Mass, on a cold December 9th (1531), the simple widower Juan Diego experienced an apparition (a personal appearance or revelation) of the Virgin Mary. She told him that a special shrine should be built on the spot, Tepeyac Hill. Soon, Juan Diego -- and other believers -- began to think of the holy young woman he had seen as 'La Virgen de Guadalupe,' and sometimes "the dark Virgin" because her skin-tone and overall likeness bore both Spanish and native-Mexican characteristics. The mysterious Virgen also commanded Juan Diego to inform the local bishop about what she wanted. After some time, that nearby bishop, a Franciscan, and the Spanish bishop of the overall region accepted that Juan Diego had indeed seen the Mother of God -- the patron saint of all the Americas. Quickly, once word of Juan Diego and La Virgen de Guadalupe became more widely known, large numbers of people in Mexico were inspired and were baptized Catholic.
In 2002, after much study and sharply-pointed discussion, John Paul II canonized Juan Diego. The Pope praised him for being a model 'of simple faith' who was nourished by the Eucharist and by catechesis --- who in turn ministered to others and catechized them, in light of the revelations he received from the Mother of God. Juan Diego's annual feast day was set on December 9, for obvious reasons.
Juan Diego remains a model of faithfulness, bold proclamation, and humility for today's catechists and lay ministers. Legend has it that he claimed to La Virgen, on Tepeyac Hill, that 'I am nobody. I am only a small rope. A little ladder. The tail end, a leaf.' Several years ago, in the United States, the National Association of Lay Ministry (NALM) established its new, annual Juan Diego Award -- an award for outstanding service by an ecclesial lay minister in the U.S. church.
December 9th has rolled around again. St. Juan Diego, pray for us all.
Though key historical details remain much in dispute (e.g., the first historically-sound writings about Juan Diego did not actually appear until about 1650), it is generally said that the Mexican native, named Cuauhtlatoatzin ("Talking Eagle") at birth -- later baptized as Juan Diego, was born around 1474 and grew up in a pre-Columbian village, about twenty miles north of today's Mexico City. With his wife, a Mexican peasant who who took the European name Maria Lucia, he welcomed the first Franciscans into their territory around 1525, after Cortes had brought his army from Spain. They agreed to be baptized and join the local mission church. According to limited scholarly information available, Juan Diego and his spouse remained quietly faithful, had no children, lived peacefully, and helped the local Christian (mission) community grow via their witness and marriage. However, sadly, Maria Lucia became ill and died unexpectedly in 1529.
Two years later, on his usual walk to Saturday morning Mass, on a cold December 9th (1531), the simple widower Juan Diego experienced an apparition (a personal appearance or revelation) of the Virgin Mary. She told him that a special shrine should be built on the spot, Tepeyac Hill. Soon, Juan Diego -- and other believers -- began to think of the holy young woman he had seen as 'La Virgen de Guadalupe,' and sometimes "the dark Virgin" because her skin-tone and overall likeness bore both Spanish and native-Mexican characteristics. The mysterious Virgen also commanded Juan Diego to inform the local bishop about what she wanted. After some time, that nearby bishop, a Franciscan, and the Spanish bishop of the overall region accepted that Juan Diego had indeed seen the Mother of God -- the patron saint of all the Americas. Quickly, once word of Juan Diego and La Virgen de Guadalupe became more widely known, large numbers of people in Mexico were inspired and were baptized Catholic.
In 2002, after much study and sharply-pointed discussion, John Paul II canonized Juan Diego. The Pope praised him for being a model 'of simple faith' who was nourished by the Eucharist and by catechesis --- who in turn ministered to others and catechized them, in light of the revelations he received from the Mother of God. Juan Diego's annual feast day was set on December 9, for obvious reasons.
Juan Diego remains a model of faithfulness, bold proclamation, and humility for today's catechists and lay ministers. Legend has it that he claimed to La Virgen, on Tepeyac Hill, that 'I am nobody. I am only a small rope. A little ladder. The tail end, a leaf.' Several years ago, in the United States, the National Association of Lay Ministry (NALM) established its new, annual Juan Diego Award -- an award for outstanding service by an ecclesial lay minister in the U.S. church.
December 9th has rolled around again. St. Juan Diego, pray for us all.
-- Butch Ekstrom
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Feeling a Little Off-Balance?
Self-Care: Finding Balance in Your Ministry! 
Here's a practical workshop that will help you establish better balance in your life and ministry -- given the many activities, expectations, and possibilities of every day.
Date: Saturday, December 4 (2010)
Time: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Place: Flaget Center -- 2nd Floor www.archlou.org/flagetcenter
Fee: $10.00 per Participant
Presenters: Sharon Benton, Archdiocesan Coordinator of Planning Services + Team
Sponsor: Archdiocesan Office of Lifelong Formation & Education (OLFE)
To Register: Call 502.448.5451, x. 1324, or E-Mail to lmclemore@archlou.org
Here's a practical workshop that will help you establish better balance in your life and ministry -- given the many activities, expectations, and possibilities of every day.
Date: Saturday, December 4 (2010)
Time: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Place: Flaget Center -- 2nd Floor www.archlou.org/flagetcenter
Fee: $10.00 per Participant
Presenters: Sharon Benton, Archdiocesan Coordinator of Planning Services + Team
Sponsor: Archdiocesan Office of Lifelong Formation & Education (OLFE)
To Register: Call 502.448.5451, x. 1324, or E-Mail to lmclemore@archlou.org
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Time to Give Thanks
Please join us, the OLFE Faith-Formation staff, in pausing to give thanks to God for all the gifts, blessings, and challenges that have been given to us. We wish your family, parish community, school community, ministry staff, and -- of course -- you a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday and beginning of the Advent season !
Like other Archdiocesan offices, we will close on Wednesday, November 24, at 2:30 PM. OLFE will re-open on Monday, November 29, at 8:30 AM.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Time For You
Take time. Take care. Mark this Fall season with a spiritual-growth opportunity or two.
Fall Retreat Day -- A Spirituality of Waiting
A retreat oriented toward Advent that will focus on the
paradox of both longing for and discovering God in our lives.
Saturday, November 20 (2010)
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: Flaget Center -- Fee: $25 (includes Lunch) www.archlou.org/flagetcenter
Presenters: Various Team Members
Sponsored by: Office of Lifelong Formation & Education
To register: 502.448.8581, x. 1324, or lmclemore@archlou.org
Self-Care: Finding Balance in Your Ministry
A workshop that will help you better balance your life, given the
many commitments and stressful expectations of our day.
Saturday, December 4 (2010)
9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Location: Flaget Center -- Fee: $10.00 www.archlou.org/flagetcenter
Presenters: Sharon Benton, Archdiocesan Coordinator of Planning Services + Team
Sponsored by: Office of Lifelong Formation & Education
To register: 502.448.8581, x. 1324, or lmclemore@archlou.org
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