This Lent, different organizations of our parish will be providing a Lenten meal on Fridays before Stations of the Cross. As agreed at the January social, the Over 50 Group will be hosting the first Friday in Lent, February 24th. Beth Ryland and Shirley Luebbert are co-chairmen for our group but we need help from everyone else. Also, since Fr. Weldon is scheduling a mini-mission to begin that evening, parish participation could be larger than attendance when we had these “before the Stations” meals a few years ago. Our estimate and preparation will be to feed eighty people.
We will serve a simple and economical Lenten meal - meatless soup, salad and bread – no dessert, and only water to drink. • We will serve two choices of soup. The soups we have selected are Potato Minestrone and Macaroni & Cheese Soup - and we will need four 5-quart crock pots of each. The recipe will be provided to the eight who sign up to bring soup. • We will need ten lasagna size foil pans of salad consisting of lettuce, cucumbers and cherry or grape tomatoes. • We will need twelve loaves of French bread – we ask four people to sign up to bring 3 loaves each. Please do not slice the bread in advance. • The parish will provide table service and salad dressings, and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches for children.
Please be sure your portion of the meal is brought to Stewardship Hall not later than 5:30 pm so everything is accounted for and can be set up and ready to serve by 6:00 pm. When you bring your food, check your name off the list. Let Beth know if you bring your food earlier in the day so salad can be refrigerated and crock pots plugged in to keep soup warm.
Lent is only four weeks away and we need to know that we have a firm game plan, so please make your commitment to this project as soon as possible. When I hear from you I will add your name to the list and send you a confirmation. (sluebbert@cox.net or 744-3533).
This meal for the parish will be our 2012 Lenten project. We will not take on a fund raising project for The Lord’s Diner this year. The money collected by voluntary donations at the Lenten meals will go to Center of Hope.
Thank you in advance for helping The Over 50 Group pull this off, and set an example for younger organizations in the parish.
First of all let us imitate the breadth of His love. For the Church, the Bride of Christ, is one; and yet so vast is the love of the divine Spouse that it embraces in His Bride the whole human race without exception. Our Saviour shed His Blood precisely in order that He might reconcile men to God through the Cross, and might constrain them to unite in one body, however widely they may differ in nationality and race. True love of the Church, therefore, requires not only that we should be mutually solicitous one for another as members and sharing in their suffering but likewise that we should recognize in other men, although they are not yet joined to us in the body of the Church, our brothers in Christ according to the flesh, called, together with us, to the same eternal salvation.
Presenting oneself to receive Holy Communion should be a conscious decision, based on a reasoned judgment regarding one’s worthiness to do so, according to the Church’s objective criteria, asking such questions as: “Am I in full communion with the Catholic Church? Am I guilty of grave sin? Have I incurred a penalty (e.g. excommunication, interdict) that forbids me to receive Holy Communion? Have I prepared myself by fasting for at least an hour?” The practice of indiscriminately presenting oneself to receive Holy Communion, merely as a consequence of being present at Mass, is an abuse that must be corrected (cf. Instruction “Redemptionis Sacramentum,” nos. 81, 83).
Many of us are familiar with the story of the prophet Jonah being swallowed by a whale. That happened because Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh and preach. Maybe Jonah didn’t want to deliver God’s message because it threatened doom, or because he didn’t know how the people would react: repent, or attack?
I feel a little like Jonah. I would rather not have to deliver this message, mostly because the message itself is sad and disturbing.
You may have heard the news item from this past Friday: Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Director, decreed that a religious organization (like a Church) that offers health insurance to its employees will be forced to cover contraceptives (some of which can cause an abortion) and sterilizations, free of charge, even if it believes in conscience that these are morally objectionable.
Sebelius went so far as to say that she believes that this decree “strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services.” But how can you speak of balance when the result is taking away religious liberty and conscience protection?
There are exceptions; for example, a religious organization will not be forced to go against its conscience if it qualifies as a religious organization according to the federal tax code,and if it hires and serves mainly people of the same faith, and if its sole purpose is to teach religious doctrine. I can’t think of what kind of religious organization might possibly qualify for this exemption.
The only other exception is for religious organizations that since 2010 have made no changes to their health insurance plans beyond those specifically allowed by the federal government.
The Diocese of Wichita and its employee health insurance program enjoys this second exemption, at least for now. But we may still be forced by the federal government to provide notice to employees about where contraceptives and sterilizations are available.
Even though the Diocese of Wichita as an employer presently enjoys an exemption, the Catholic faithful here should still be concerned …
… Concerned because the federal government could in the future still make new requirements that would force us to do something against our conscience. A lot depends on who is running the government, and whether or not that administration is friendly towards religious liberty and conscience protection.
… Concerned because it does affect many other religious organizations, Catholic and others, that are denied religious liberty and forced to act against their conscience.
… Concerned because this mandate does not respect the diversity that is so much a part of our national unity.
… Concerned also because religious liberty and conscience protection are being threatened in a very real and concrete way, right here and now: the government forcing a Church to do something that it judges to be morally objectionable.
Catholic social justice teaches that, in keeping with human dignity, people have a right to health care. But it also teaches that, again, in keeping with human dignity, people have a right to freedom of religion and of conscience; to have that taken away is too high a price to pay for health care.
I said earlier that I feel a little like Jonah, also because I am not sure how people will react to this message. I am not looking that we fast, put on sack cloth and sit in ashes. My hope is rather that we will contact our elected leaders and let them know that we do not want to be forced to act against our beliefs, we or anyone else, and that we want religious liberty and conscience protection restored. And pray, pray more, pray more harder.
After one moment when I bowed my head And the whole world turned over and came upright, And I came out where the old road shone white, I walked the ways and heard what all men said, Forests of tongues, like autumn leaves unshed, Being not unlovable but strange and light; Old riddles and new creeds, not in despite But softly, as men smile about the dead.
The sages have a hundred maps to give That trace their crawling cosmos like a tree, They rattle reason out through many a sieve That stores the sand and lets the gold go free: And all these things are less than dust to me Because my name is Lazarus and I live.
Saturday, February 4, 2012 . Dance is from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. at a new location this year. Our dance will be held at the Church of the Magdalen’s Msgr. Schmidt Parish Hall.
This dance is being sponsored by the Wichita Challenge Club and is open to allgirls not just Challenge members.
Men, please bring your daughters, granddaughters, nieces, ages 10 and up for dancing, desserts, and fun.
Tickets are $10 per person ($25 per three) and includes one keepsake photo.
For reservations, call Katie Hund at 765-1321.
Tickets will be on sale in the narthex after all Masses the weekends of Jan. 21st and 28th.
Pat Frazier, Willa Decastro and Shirley Schwab will be our hostesses on Sunday, February12th at 6:30 in Stewardship Hall. Bring finger food snacks to nibble on while we socialize and roll the dice to play an old favorite – FARKEL. The rules are simple and it’s a fun time, so don’t stay away just because you’ve never played before. Coffee and tea will be provided – bring other beverages of your choice. RSVP to Pat Frazier (744-3380) by Wednesday, February 8th so they know how many people to expect.
Since we do not meet socially during Lent, this will be the last program until April. As a group we will be hosting a Lenten meal for the parish before Stations of the Cross on Friday, February 24th. More details will be forthcoming as plans are finalized. Also, during March we will continue the tradition of raising funds for a specific project for The Lord’s Diner. More on that later.
Recap of January – Soup Supper
Well, the weather outside was not cold or frightful but the homemade soups were still extremely delightful. We had eleven flavors to sample (Broccoli Cheese, Beef Burgundy, Spicy Meatball, Chili, Chicken Barley, Ham & Bean, Potato Leek, Sausage Potato, Seafood Chowder, Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder and Borscht) but I did not hear anyone claiming bragging rights for running the buffet. Appetizers and desserts complemented the evening’s culinary experience. We welcomed new member Sharon Ganyon and guests Ken Witzel and Rob Barten. Shirley Fowler, Pat Frazier and John McCabe were seated in the lucky chairs that earned them a door prize. Fr. Jim sang for his supper (read: spoke to the group), reminding us of the fundamental principle of our faith – to love others as Jesus loves us. Thanks to the Dirks and Grays for providing a pleasurable evening for the fifty-two attendees.
Future Event Coordinators:
2012
March – Pre-Stations of the Cross Lenten Meal – Ryland & Luebbert Lent – Fund raising project for The Lord’s Diner – Luebbert April – Landoll & McCabe May – Fuhr & Garofalo June – Ackerman & O’Reilly July – open August – Ice Cream Social – Doug & Pat Johnson September – Fall River Cookout – Puetz and Fowler October – Oktober Fest – Burge & Moeckl November – Fowler Fish Fry – Fowler & Lara December - open
Please check out our Spring Calendars in the documents column to the right.
Challenge meetings are held at two locations in Wichita. The formation meetings held at Resurrection are twice a month after school from 3:30 - 5:15 on Fridays in Stewardship Hall. If that schedule doesn't fit yours, please refer to the Blessed Sacrament calendar listed. You are welcome to attend their Challenge meetings held in Blessed Sacrament's Bishops' Hall in the evenings on Fridays from 7:00-8:30.
Be sure to click on the pictures below to see other photos from each event.
Our First ‘Team Integration Activity’
On Friday, September 30, 2011 we met in the evening at the Parish Youth Room for our first team integration activity or ‘fun night’. Our 5th, 6th and 7th grade teams joined together in playing board games and of course devouring snacks.
On Saturday, October 30, 2011 we visited our retired priests at their retirement center. We sang songs for them , served ice cream and toppings and enjoyed socializing with them. This annual event is one of our favorites.
Our Resurrection Challenge Club hosted our first Challenge fashion show and dessert reception on Sunday, November 6, 2011. With the help of many Challenge moms and our team leaders, the ‘Modern and Modest Fashion Show’ was a great success. The Stewardship Hall was beautifully decorated and filled with moms and daughters who came to see how young girls can dress both fashionably and modestly. Showing how this can be done, were our high school team leaders as our lovely models.
Out Trust Out Pray Out Love –Survivor Winter Retreat
Our Wichita Challenge Club, which combines Resurrection and Blessed Sacrament girls, headed to Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg, KS on November 11, 2011 for a weekend retreat directed by our consecrated ladies and hosted by the Kansas City Challenge Club. The girls learned how they can ‘survive’ the challenges of this world with God at their side.
The next CYO event is on Saturday, January 21. We'll begin the evening with 5:30 pm Mass. After Mass we'll head over to the Youth Room where dinner will be provided. Then we'll caravan down to Wichita Ice Center (505 W. Maple) for an evening of ice skating. The cost is $7 per person. Questions? Call Beth Golay at 634-6083 or Kathleen Bergkamp at 744-2206.
"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."
We are in need of small group leaders for our annual Confirmation preparation classes, which will begin in February. Small group leaders will teach/facilitate 10 one-hour classes which meet weekly on Sunday evenings from February through the first week of May. If you are interested in this ministry, please contact Dusty at dgates@resurrectionwichita.com or in the parish office at 744-2776.
I am pleased to announce that I am going to lead a pilgrimage to Spain and Fatima in October 2012. I have been thinking about this trip for several years. Santiago deCompostela is the burial place of St. James the Apostle, so that is near to my heart. Fatima is obviously the place of Our Lady's apparition.
If you would like to learn more about this opportunity please go to link listed below. Anyone is welcome to attend.
We will have Mass every day and two meals per day are included in the price.
Thomas Aquinas, the great teacher of Western Christianity, endeavored to express the Christian image of man in seven theses, which can be summarized in the following manner. 1. The Christian is one who, in faith, becomes aware of the reality of the triune God. 2. The Christian strives, in hope, for the total fulfillment of his being in eternal life. 3. The Christian directs himself, in the divine virtue of love, to an affirmation of God and neighbor that surpasses the power of any natural love. 4. The Christian is prudent, namely, he does not allow his view on reality to be controlled by the yes or no of his will, but rather he makes the yes or no of his will dependent upon the truth of real things. 5. The Christian is just. He is able to live with the other in truth. He sees himself as a member of the Church and of the greater community. 6. The Christian is brave. He is prepared to suffer injury and even death for the sake of the truth and for the realization of justice. 7. The Christian is temperate. He does not permit his desire to possess and his desire for pleasure to become destructive to and inimical to his being. Written by Joseph Pieper
2nd Quarter Schedule
We've posted photos from the following recent KofC events:
