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CCD hs: grace + sin + service journal (day 9)
In our high school Confirmation class, we reviewed everything we learned to date using handouts of outlined points covered each day (basically our catechist notes). I then covered GRACE, SIN, and CONFESSION. The visual illustrations are my own (in parenthesis) that I used to teach these “highly religious” words to 7th graders years ago. (If you have any other suggestions or comments, please let me know.)
—Holy = to be set apart and united with God.
—Grace = free and undeserved gift of God’s love and life. (like “air”)
—Sanctifying Grace = supernatural gift from God where our sins are forgiven & are made holy. First receive thru Baptism & continually sanctified through all sacraments. (like “clean air“) Lost by mortal sin.
—Actual Grace = God’s impulse to help in our everyday lives. (like “sweet smells”)
—Sacramental Grace = graces specific to each sacrament. (like “satellite TV”)
—Sin = freely choosing to do something that we know is wrong and against God’s will; we can sin in thought, word, action, or by omission. (like “rejecting air”)
—Mortal Sin = serious offense that breaks our relationship with God & His grace. (like “holding your breath”) Requirements are …
- it must be a grave matter
- we must know we are sinning
- we must freely choose to sin
—Venial Sin = a less serious offense that weakens our relationship with God. (like “smoking”)
—Sacrament of Reconciliation = by confessing mortal sins with a contrite heart to a priest (in persona Christi = in the person of Christ), we are reconciled with God and with the Church, the Body of Christ. Penance is the whole cycle of conversion, forgiveness and making reparation (repaying any debt) for our sins. This strengthens us to resist future temptations.
—CONFESSION Procedure …
Spend some time reflecting on your actions and do a thorough examination of conscience.- Go in the confessional & greet the priest.
- Make the sign of the cross together.
- Begin: “Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been (time) since my last confession.”
- Confess your sins.
- Priest will speak to you and/or share something from Scripture.
- Priest will give you your penance.
- You will say the Act of Contrition.
- Priest will pray the prayer of absolution.
- Thank the priest & leave confessional.
- Spend some time doing your penance.
We finished the class by giving examples on their “Christian Service” Journal reflection that is due next time.
CCD hs: St Ignatius + BAPTiSM + PRAY + ARRR + journaling (day 8)
In our high school Confirmation class, today was supposed to be a review of everything to day, but I couldn’t get my handouts run off in time, so I took the cue from the saint presented today and taught on next week’s topic, PRAYER.
St Ignatius of Loyola (16th century; feast day July 31) injured in battle at age 30. During recovery, he read the life of the saints & responded strongly to a personal call by God. He was convinced that God could be found in all things, and was guided by an inner peace (“consolation”) that comes from knowing one is doing the will of God. Developed the “Spiritual Exercises,” a practical guide to live a truly Christian life with prayer & especially devoted to the name of Christ (IHS). His companions were called the “Company of Jesus,” today called the “Society of Jesus,” or the Jesuits, one of the largest religious communities in the world. Besides the 3 vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, members take a 4th vow of obedience to the Pope.
Prayer of Self-Offering to God
— by St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)
Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess, You have given me. I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your Will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough and will desire nothing more.
Sacrament of Marriage … purpose is …
- —Pro-create (open to children),
- —Educate (evangelize your Catholic children)
- —Holy Mate (get your spouse to heaven)
Types of prayers … B.A.P.T.i.S.M.
- BLESSING – invoke God’s power for a person, place or activity
- ADORATION – the “created” before the Creator
- PRAISE – glory God (for who He is)
- THANKSGIVING – gratitude (for what He does)
- i ASK for ME (petition) + OTHERS (intercession)
- SORRY – ask of forgiveness
- MEDITATION – tuning into God, reflection (through quiet prayer, Sacred Scripture, lectio divina, liturgy of the hours, Rosary, holy icons, imagery, books of daily devotion, lives of saints, works of spirituality, etc.)
The MASS includes ALL these types of prayer
CONTEMPLETIVE prayer — “silent love” — a deep awareness of God’s presence by being alone with God who we know loves us (“centering prayer” helps develop skills)
Steps in prayer … P.R.A.Y.
- PRAISE = God for who He is + thanksgiving
- REPENT = confess + rec forgiveness + change
- ASK = for others + me (see A.R.R.R.)
- YIELD = be open to God’s voice & His Will
[PRAYER] When your spending time in personal prayer with the Lord, here’s a good outline to follow . . . . A.R.R.R.
Personal Prayer … A.R.R.R.
- ACKNOWLEDGE –- How’s my life right now? Pay attention to your thought + feelings + desires (“the Big 3”).
- RELATE -– Tell God about ALL “3” honestly.
- RECEIVE -– Quiet your mind, focus on God, & listen to “the Big 3.” (Discern spirits)
- RESPOND -– do what you NEED to do
—When you have something to talk to the Lord about, process your “Big 3” with this model.
HOMEWORK:
(1) 3 prayer journals — letters to God, (2) Chapter 3 Quiz, (3) Chapter 17 Quiz
CCD hs: Confirmation Commitment Mass (with Fr Whyte) (day 6)
Today, our high school Confirmation class had a Mass in celebration of their Confirmation Commitment this year. At one point during Mass, the teens presented Fr Whyte (pastor) with a contract involving their understanding and responsibilities in preparing this year for the sacrament of Confirmation. It was signed & presented by both teen and parents.
In preparing for Confirmation, I will …
- —attend Mass on Sundays & holy days
- —attend & participate in class
- —pray regularly
- –assume more responsibility for my own faith
- –be involved & journal my Christian service
- –attend any additional activities
- —ask for help from the Blessed Trinity, my family, my sponsor and my friends
CCD hs: Reconciliation catechesis (by Fr Chris Bartos) (day 5)
Today, our high school Confirmation class was asked to help greet, usher & lector for a sacramental catechesis for those preparing for the sacrament of Reconciliation. It was a prayer service mixed with catechesis by Fr Chris Bartos. Even though about 10 of our kids are also preparing for Reconciliation, their “service” to the parish community is an experience of their “call to service” as they prepare this year to Confirm their faith with their parish family at St Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church.
CCD 7th: P.R.A.Y.S. + angels + Yom Kippur (day 2)
Today, in our 7th grade pre-Confirmation class, we handed out journals & wrote on inside cover …
In my BAPTISM, I …
- PRAISE = God for who He is … God
- REPENT = confess + rec forgiveness + change
- ASK = for me + other (“5 finger prayer”)
- YIELD = be open to God’s voice
- SHARE = my faith with others
In my CLASS, I …
- PRAISE = encourage others
- REPENT = take responsibility for wrongs
- ASK = learn by asking questions
- YIELD = respect speaker + listen
- SHARE = contribute + respect privacy
Difference between angels + humans?
- Angels = pure spiritual beings
- Humans = body + spiritual beings
—Yom Kippur = Jewish “day of atonement”
- fast, no work, pray, make reparations for sins
- “scapegoat” takes sins of the people = Jesus
HOMEWORK:
(1) Decorate Binder Cover with “ME” … on a sheet of paper, make a collage of you, your hobbies, likes, etc.
(2) do the “Doxology” prayer exercise from last week if you haven’t done it yet.
Bishop Noonan @ Confirmation prep
CCD — Since I’m a catechist for 10th grade Confirmation preparation (@ St Timothy’s), I went to the Confirmation prayer service led by Bishop Noonan. Kids, parents and sponsors prayed together with a very meaningful reflection by Bishop Noonan on Baptism, parents, purpose of marriage, our growth in faith, our call to service, our lives of prayer, and our response in Confirmation. — Awesome … I’m glad I went!
the Church
RECTOR’s CONFERENCE – (Fr Michael) — tonight’s topic: THE CHURCH
I. GENERAL INTRO
A. Difficulties of Definition
1. Paul: EKKLESIA – a gathering of a group — a group of believers gathering “in the Lord” — local community gathering
2. Attempts at Definition
a. Baroque needs — tried to make mysteries visible & concrete
b. Externals
c. Risk of polarization
d. Search for clarity has a price — risk losing the presence of God
3. Subject of Mystery
a. innermost reality of Church is a divine gift, itself
b. Church is communion of men through grace of Christ
c. mystery
d. connaturality / intersubjectivity — we cannot objectify the Church because we are a part of it
e. mystery of Christ
4. Use of models
II. CARDINAL AVERY DULLES + MODELS OF THE CHURCH
A. Intro / Context
B. Original Models
1. Institutional – visible structure, right & powers of its officers
a. Negatives: can become rigid, doctrinaire,
b. this should never be the first or primary model
2. Mystical Communion – people united by the spirit in Christ, spiritual, communal, personal
a. Negatives: can lead to disillusion, simply “a friendly family of believers”
3. Sacrament – a sign & transmitter of God’s grace in the world, connects outward institutional & inner mystery
a. Negatives: can lead to “sterile aestheticism” (overly spiritualized)
b. this should be the primary model
4. Herard – faith & proclamation of Gospel, focused on preaching, share gift with others
a. Negatives: can be not incarnational enough, saying & not doing, can be rather pesimistic
5. Servant – part of the whole human family & sharing their concerns
a. Negatives: can seperate from Word & Sacrament, can forget the Church is a community, can disolve things distinct to Christianity
C. Addition of Sixth Model
1. Polarization of 70’s (models were not embraced)
2. “Community of Disciples”
Confirmation Mass
Today, I helped alter serve at my home parish of St Bernadette Catholic Church (Hollywood, FL) for Confirmation Mass with Miami Auxiliary Bishop Roman and Deacon Blanco (from St Brendan High School), along with my pastor Fr Dalton, Deacon Lou, and Fr Kris (from Archbishop McCarthy High School). A beautiful Mass for some great kids and parents (some I taught last year in CCD).
SJVCS Seminary Life Album
July '09 -- hospital chaplains @ IPF
Easter '09 -- Miami SJVCS friends
the Son always finds a break in let the clouds
Feb '09 -- school vocation talks @ AMHS
Feb '09 -- cold breakfast with brothers (Matias, Fenly & Randy), now at SVDP and Imad (at SJVCS)
Superbowl '09 -- eating great @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- Worklist Coordinators?
St Raphael Chapel mural @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- retreats @ SJVCS
"It's not easy being green"
Catholic Kermit 
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