Parent Teacher Talk
May 5, 2019
3rd Sunday of Easter
John 21: 1 - 19
Previously hiding in fear, the Apostles in the first reading have
received the gift of the Holy Spirit and now stand
before the very courts that prompted Jesus' crucifixion.
Undaunted by the danger, they proclaim the Truth of Jesus' saving work for Israel and then rejoice that they were found worthy of persecution for standing firm in their faith.
The Psalm rejoices in God's saving actions to rescue, protect, comfort, forgive and assist us throughout our life.
John's visions continue, witnessing the worship by all of Creation
of Jesus, the Lamb slain for a new covenant with humanity.
When John recognized the Lord in the miracle of fish suddenly caught Peter immediately moves into the water to meet Him - the first time since Peter denied Jesus before His crucifixion.
A loving God, Jesus enables Peter to counter the rejections with three affirmations of His devotion and clearly forgives Peter and affirms His trust in Peter's loyalty by giving Him a mission in the world.
He also affirms Peter's loyalty by foreshadowing the painful death Peter would accept for love of Christ.
May -- May Crowning on Thursday, 7:00 pm !!
May 2nd............ First Communion: Photos, Rosary Procession, and May Crowning
May 5th............. LAST DAY! PSR classes ended today
May 16th........... First Communion: Rehearsal and Ice Cream Social
May 19th........... First Communion Celebration 10:00 and Noon Masses
May 20th.......... 8th Confirmation Rehearsal
May 21st........... 8th Confirmation Celebration at Cathedral
Summer- Fall
July 12th - 14th.. Julyfest! Share fellowship as a volunteer or attendee
Aug 24th.......... Catechist Orientation
Sep 8th............ First Day of Grade School PSR!
Sep 22nd.......... First Day of Preschool PSR
Newsy Notes
 MAY CROWNING
& Rosary Procession at 7:00 pm
First Communion Individual (6:00 pm) and Group (6:45 pm) Pictures
All happening this Thursday - May 2nd!

This Sunday - Last Day of PSR!
Please return registration for next year!
Meditation

"We never give more honour to Jesus
than when we honour his Mother,
and we honour her simply and solely
to honour him all the more perfectly.
We go to her only as a way leading to
the goal we seek - Jesus, her Son."

--Saint Louis Marie de Montfort
Greetings Parents,

"Mom, repeating these prayers over and over is boring. Why do we have to do it? Why can't we do something else?"

"Well, eating the same foods (especially vegetables) could get boring, but we need nutritious food to stay healthy. Listening to the same song could be boring, unless you really like it because you connect with something in it. So perhaps it is not the repetition that is the problem, but more that you feel no connection to it.

We have been encouraged, for centuries, to pray the rosary - not just by popes and people we knew were holy, but also by Jesus and Mary themselves! They appeared to people - some who were saintly and some who became saintly after the apparition (supernatural appearance) by these heavenly people. When God speaks with you in person, it has a way of highlighting the shallowness and inconsistency of past decisions!

But back to the prayers and repetition... The rosary, if one mystery is said, includes 50 "Hail Mary" prayers - how can I pray that over and over without losing concentration? Recently, one sentence I read in "Praying the Rosary Like Never Before" (Edward Sri) shone light on this that changed everything for me when praying the rosary. The key was that, like listening to the same song, it is all about a connection. How can I relate to it, understand it, or want to revel and linger in it?

Sri proposed one perception of the "Hail Mary" wherein we consider God gazing at Mary, His beloved, obedient creature and saying the words found right in the Bible (thus words that are the Word of God), enjoying the beauty and goodness of His creation in her. We could then consider all of living humanity (and those in purgatory) turned to her and seeking her intercession for our intentions.

As I pondered this, I imagined Mary standing below and to the side of God so that they could see each other comfortably and she would look to Him during the first part of the Hail Mary, grateful and humble for His blessings, including her struggles, that led her to her place in heaven now.

At the center of the Hail Mary she looks to her Son who is named there, Jesus. All that she is and has is because Jesus was conceived in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit according to the will of the Father.

Beginning the last half of the prayer, it is all those not yet in heaven who speak now, requesting her aid. Having been reminded of who she is in God's Plan, we follow his advice and seek her aid to know her Son better and to request aid for ourselves and those we love. Her head is turned now, not to the Father or Jesus, but to us living outside of heaven but hopeful for it, with a mother's tender care and concern. She knows all that we can have and be and desires all of the joy and gifts that come from fully embracing Jesus in our lives. A true mother, Mary hurts with our sufferings and longs to ease those, thus constantly interceding for us, reaching out to comfort us while also reaching out to the Father, to her Divine Spouse the Holy Spirit, and to Jesus, her Son, seeking their forgiveness and aid on our behalf.

After that thought from Sri, how can I consider the rosary boring again - there is lot happening! And that was from one sentence! Not to be simply a commercial for Sri and his book, let me encourage you to pick up whatever religious reading, audio, or video that might have meaning for you - you never know what little, simple nugget could open a door to understanding and greater engagement - and thus fulfillment - for the spiritual rites i your life.

Ask your family's guardian angels to lead you and your children to that which will help you all be better engaged in our faith, which is God's action, past, now and forever because of love. May God bless you and your family abundantly!

- Linda Bader, CRE, St. Thomas More
Articles for Parents
Having just celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday, it is a good time to ponder mercy - both given by God to forgive us and given by us to forgive others. Not as easy to do as to say. Sometimes the best we can do is simply to ask God to help us not want to withhold forgiveness. He can do it, even when we make that prayer reluctantly. We simply have to be open to wanting to do the will of God. Click below to be inspired by the brief slideshow.
Mary is honored by Catholics, not worshipped, not because Jesus came out of her womb, but because of how she lived her role as Jesus' mother.

She is the new Eve for the new covenant God made with humanity through Jesus. She is the new Ark of the Covenant carrying the Living Word of God.
She is the spouse of the Holy Spirit.
She is the bearer of God, Theotokos.
She is the first to follow Christ, even to the cross.
She said, "Yes" to God, knowing the real-world consequences would not be easy.
She is worthy of respect and honor.

She is our Blessed Mother, loving each us more than any mother can love their children this side of heaven.
"Praying" to her is really asking her to intercede for us with her Son for Him to act on our behalf, knowing all Power and glory come from Him.
She wants nothing more than to help
bring all of her children into the Presence of her Son's Presence for eternity.
"Just give them what they want" is the standard advice when one's life is threatened. What if what they want isn't simply money, but violates your very core principles? Some say to yield. "It is under duress so you can't be held liable." There is some truth in it. What if one does give all for those principles? How can someone dying for a cause change the world? Catholics recall Good Friday, Easter, and all of the canonized martyrs. Read below for a modern day martyr (November, 2018) who loved God's Truth more than that of the world.