Saint Peter's Point

St. Peter Schola Members in Upcoming Recital, Concert

2011-03-30T16:25:00.003-05:00

This Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 3:00 PM St. Peter Schola Cantorum members Phil Smyth and Jennifer Kruger will feature in a senior recital at UWSP, assisted by Rie Tanaka and Mara Beckman. The recital takes place in the Noel Fine Arts Center room 221. See the poster for the recital here.

On Saturday May 7, 2011 at 7:00 PM, St. Peter Schola Cantorum member, St. Peter Organ Academy student and assistant organist, James Smyth, with give an organ concert at St. Peter Catholic Church (800 Fourth Ave., Stevens Point, WI). The concert will feature works by J.S. Bach, Couperin, Sweelinck, Halley, and Boellman. Proceeds from a free-will offering taken during the concert will go toward the schola cantorum's upcoming pilgrimage to Rome to sing for the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. See the poster for the concert here.

Please attend and support our schola cantorum members!

Chair of St. Peter Coloring Sheet

2011-02-22T03:14:00.002-06:00

Today, February 22nd, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. It is a special feast day for our parish, so to commemorate it, here is a coloring sheet featuring a floor medallion from our church. It is the "St. Peter's Keys" medallion image, which contains the Latin Vulgate text, "Tu es Petrus, et super hanc Petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam." (You are Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church.")

Cardinal-designate Raymond Burke on Abortion and Voting

2010-10-28T15:44:00.005-05:00

If you have been wondering what the Catholic Church teaches about voting for politicians who support abortion, you will appreciate this video in which Cardinal-designate Raymond Burke discusses the issue.

Midnight Mass - Christmas Music from St. Peter's CD to be released next week!

2010-10-28T00:58:00.005-05:00

The St. Peter Schola Cantorum along with Michael Konkol have recorded a CD of Christmas music, featuring 20 tracks of music heard at Midnight Mass at St. Peter's. A unique feature of this disc is the inclusion of several Polish Christmas carols, many sung by Michael with two sung by the schola.

There are also traditional hymns and carols such as Veni, Veni Emmanual and O Come, All Ye Faithful, and two versions of the Ave Maria (one featuring soloist Danielle Kinderman), and some of the ordinary chants of the Mass that are being introduced at St. Peter's.

You can place an order for you copy right now, using this order form. The schola is asking a $15 donation for each CD. Proceeds go to support the schola's pilgrimage to Rome in January 2012.

Italian Chicken Dinner Oct 30 - Get Your Tickets Now!

2010-10-22T17:00:00.002-05:00

Dinner Gala Event with Silent Auction

Location: Saint Peter Parish Kolbe Hall

Date: Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010

Time: 5:00 pm

Cost: $12.00

Tickets: call St. Peter Church office: 715-344-6115 until Monday Oct 25.

Plan on a beautiful evening (Bella Notte) of Italian Food and heartwarming music.

Cardinal-Elect Burke in Stevens Point Journal

2010-10-21T09:51:00.004-05:00

The Stevens Point Journal carried an article about the announcement of Archbishop Burke to be created a cardinal.

They interviewed our good pastor:

For the Rev. Kevin Louis of St. Peter Catholic Church in Stevens Point, this is even more special. Burke is his uncle.
"It's rather overwhelming, because you think of a cardinal as being someone very distant, and you don't really know them personally," Louis said.
"There's a beautiful picture of my uncle Raymond, he must have been 12 years old, holding me as a little baby. For someone that you know and love so much and respect so much to receive such a great honor, it's an honor not just for our family but for our diocese."
Louis said he and Burke were e-mailing several times last week, but he has not spoken with him since the announcement.
"The rumor mills of the Vatican had been churning, and the fact is every person who's held the post he's in ... has been a cardinal. So it wasn't exactly a surprise," Louis said. "It's an incredible irony, because you will never meet a more quiet and humble man. All he ever wanted to be was just a parish priest, but he had way too many talents that the church needed to be used. All the limelight -- this is just so foreign to him. He's just a very, very humble man who's as comfortable talking with little second-graders as he is with high-powered theologians."

St. Peter Catholic Church on Facebook - Join Group!

2010-10-11T16:33:00.002-05:00

St. Peter's now has a group on Facebook. Anyone can join! This is a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest news and events at St. Peter Parish. You can also share your own comments and photos, etc. If you don't have a Facebook account, you can easily sign up for one. To join St. Peter's Facebook group, click here.

Schola Members Chant Workshop Experience

2010-09-19T20:35:00.008-05:00

This weekend (September 17-18, 2010) St. Peter's Sacred Music director Patrick Burkhart and eleven schola cantorum members and organ academy students traveled to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse to attend the Gregorian Chant workshop. Co-sponsored by the Shrine and the Diocese of La Crosse, the workshop was led by international Gregorian chant expert Scott Turkington. The workshop was attended by 70 participants, traveling from areas throughout the diocese as well as from Minnesota and Iowa.

This is the third Gregorian Chant workshop to be held in the Diocese of La Crosse in the past few years. The first two workshops were hosted by St. Peter's, featuring Father Robert Skeris and Kurt Poterack. While we enjoyed hosting Gregorian Chant workshops, the Shrine presented an irresistible location, as an excellent facility for a workshop as well as a noble, beautiful and acoustically excellent setting for singing Gregorian chant.

Christopher Carstens, director of Sacred Worship for the Diocese of La Crosse, graciously took on the mission to connect with the Shrine staff and Scott Turkington to make the workshop possible.

The workshop was covered by the media: the La Crosse Tribune featured a story about the workshop on the front page of Saturday's paper including a photo of Scott Turkington with four members of our parish contingent in the background!

The Tribune's website also includes a video of the beginning of the workshop as participants learned to sing Kyrie XI (Orbis Factor). We are also looking forward to an upcoming edition of The Catholic Times including an article by Joseph O'Brien about the Gregorian chant workshop.

Patrick Burkhart served as the facilitator for the talks and was the organist for the final Mass. Ladies from our schola sang the introit (with Scott Turkington) and the gradual for Mass (as well as the beginnings of the stanzas for the Agnus Dei). All the chant workshop participants learned and sang the Kyrie, Gloria, Alleluia, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and Communion chants for Mass.

Through the process of learning the chants for Mass, Scott Turkington demonstrated a method for learning a new piece of Gregorian chant, by using solfege ("do re mi") to learn the relationship of the pitches in the music, and by identifying the types of neumes (a term for the various groupings of the "square notes" of Gregorian chants) in the piece and how they function. He then took participants beyond the mechanics of reading the music to some points on technique: how to sing the chant beautifully and with expression. There were also suggestions for working with your own parish choir or schola to succeed in singing chant for Mass. Turkington's presentation style was personable, sprinkled with interesting historical notes, "fun facts" and anecdotes. His style of directing the singers might be described as patiently organic - he was able to draw from the singers the result he wanted without blunt commands or excessive explanation. I think he would describe his style as "sneaky."

We were extremely blessed to have Scott Turkington come to our Diocese, as he is not able to run many Gregorian chant workshops (he is the new principal organist and choirmaster at the St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Charleston, SC). Moreover, our schola members were especially honored to have some extra instruction with him, working on the chants we sang for the Mass. It was a huge opportunity and we are looking forward to employing what we learned in the sacred music program at St. Peter's.

Here are some mp3 recordings of the chant sung at Mass (and some of the organ prelude). (Apologies for not having all the music recorded - technical difficulties.)

(Proper chants from the Mass for 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Organ Prelude 1
Organ Prelude 2
Introit Salus populi
Kyrie VII (Missa de Angelis) and Gloria XV
Gradual Quis sicut Dominus
Alleluia (Confitemini Domino, et invocate)

Schola Cantorum members attending chant workshop

2010-09-16T07:59:00.003-05:00

This Friday and Saturday September 17-18, 2010, members of the St. Peter Schola Cantorum will attend a Gregorian Chant Workshop at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, WI. The workshop, which is sponsored by the Diocese of La Crosse and the Shrine, will be led by internationally-renowned chant expert and presenter Scott Turkington. Turkington is a director of the Church Music Association of America, the CMAA hosts an annual sacred music colloquium which St. Peter's schola members have attended in the past. By attending the chant workshop, schola members hope to increase their ability to read the "square notes" of Gregorian chant and to sing more perfectly the official music of the Catholic Church's liturgy.

Corpus Christi Procession from St. Peter's to St. Stephen's

2010-06-04T13:35:00.001-05:00

Sunday, June 6, at Noon. To conclude "The year of the Priests" the Stevens Point Deanery will be holding a Corpus Christi Procession beginning at noon at St Peter Parish (800 Fourth Avenue, Stevens Point) and concluding at St Stephen Parish (1401 Clark St, Stevens Point). Refreshments along with a display of the Eucharistic Miracles will be available after the procession in the Undercroft at St Stephen. For more information contact the Stevens Point Deanery at stptdeanery@yahoo.com

You can also follow this event on Facebook.

Wedding Music at Saint Peters

2010-05-31T15:39:00.002-05:00

On 29 May 2010, choir member Clara Kimmet was united in marriage to John Kimani. The Schola Cantorum provided the music for the wedding. Visit our website for recordings of this Catholic Wedding Music.

St. Peter's Schola Cantorum Singing at Fr. Corapi Event

2010-05-31T11:04:00.006-05:00

Sacred music director Patrick Burkhart and the adult schola cantorum have been asked to provide music for the concluding Mass at a speaking event on June 12, 2010 featuring Fr. John Corapi at Appleton's Fox Valley Performing Arts Center. The event is sponsored by St. Pius X parish in Appleton.

Fr. Corapi is well-known in Catholic media, famous for his distinctive baritone speaking voice and rhetorical style, frequently seen on the Eternal Word Television Network and heard on Relevant Radio. He has also published several Catholic books.

The Mass will be celebrated by Most Reverend David L. Ricken, Bishop of Green Bay and con-celebrated by Fr. Corapi.

The schola cantorum is honored to be invited to provide sacred music for the Mass at such a distinguished event. We are grateful for the opportunity to share the gifts we have received in the talents of our dedicated schola members, and the blessing of having learned to sing Gregorian Chant and appreciation of authentic sacred music in the tradition of the Catholic Church.

Keys come up short against 1st place Kristin's

2010-05-31T09:45:00.002-05:00

In another sign of how much improved the Keys are this year, this past Monday evening they took the 1st Place Kristin's Riverwalk squad to the limit before falling 12-11.

The Keys went in to the 7th inning training 12-6 with the bottom half of the order due up. Then the hits started to fall as the Keys were able to put up 5 runs before stranding the tying run on base to end the game.

Kudus to Alex Uttecht who took at sharp grounder off his sternum at SS early in the game, then came back to make a highlight-reel bare hand grab to throw out the runner at 1st in the 4th inning. Kudos as well to Josh Zdroik and Alex again, both of whose hustle led to 2 runs in the 2nd. Erik Duhn key the Keys in the game with a 2 run double in the 6th. And Phil Lawson and Eli Zdroik helped limit the Kristin's Riverwalk offensively with some solid pitching. And a special welcome back to Maria Marchel and Leah Wierzba freshly returned from a semester in Spain and joined in the team this week!

Next game is Monday, June 7th @ 6:30 PM vs. our friends at Woodlands Church on Field #3. All games are at Zenoff Park.

The Keys fall to Family Wellness Chiropractic

2010-05-31T09:33:00.002-05:00

(Webmaster Note: Highlights from the May 17th contest between the Keys and Family Wellness Chiropractic)

On a gorgeous evening for softball, the Keys battled but were unable to build on last week's big win, falling to the undefeated Family Wellness Chiropractic Team 12-6. After last week's offensive explosion, this was the equivalent of a pitcher's duel. The Keys fell behind 6-0, but by the 6th inning had battled back to pull within 7-5. Unfortunately, Family Wellness added 5 "insurance" runs in the next frame, leading to the final score of 12-6.

Kudos to Josh Zdroik for an inside-the-park home run to right field; Matt Lepak for a booming triple; and Erik Duhn for a run-scoring double. Defensive kudos to Abby Wanserski for a "web gem" gorgeous catch of a liner at 3B.

We had an extra large turnout of fans for the game! Thank you!

Next game is Monday, May 24th @ 9:30 PM vs. Kristin's Riverwalk on Field #2. All games are at Zenoff Park.

Saint Peter's Defeats Tilted Kilt

2010-05-31T09:18:00.002-05:00

(Webmaster Note: Highlights from the May 9th Saint Peter Keys Game)

St. Peter Keys- WIN! The Keys used an offensive explosion to defeat Tilted Kilt 28-17 last Monday evening, breaking a long losing streak in the process. On a cold, blustery evening, the Keys opened the top of the 1st with 9 runs, batting around. The second inning they again batted around, adding 6 more runs making the score 15-3 after an inning and a half. Tilted Kilt would battle back, closing to within 5 runs at one point, before the Keys buried them with 8 runs in the 6th, which ended up being the final score. The Keys' record high score featured every batter reaching base at least once, and the Keys line-up batted around in 3 separate innings-- no small feat with a 12 player line-up! The offensive highlights are too numerous to mention as everyone contributed.

Defensive Kudos to Eli Zdroik for his solid pitching amidst the howling winds., Alex Uttecht for solidifying the SS position, Michael Reilly for some nice glove-work in the OF and Chelsea Rudiger and Stephani Treichel for anchoring the Infield at 3B.

Special thanks to the many fans who braved the cold weather to cheer the team on!

Next game is Monday, May 17th @ 6:30 PM vs. Family Wellness Chiropractic on Field #1. All games are at Zenoff Park.

Saint Peter Keys are Back!

2010-05-31T09:12:00.004-05:00

(Editor's Note: Highlights from the May 3 Saint Peter Keys Season Opener)

Our first softball game took place this past Monday evening against Mikey’s Pub. The Keys took an 8-7 lead in the 4th inning, but then ran out of gas, eventually falling 20-8.

Kudos to Josh Zdroik with a 2 run triple, Derek Treichel with a 2-run single, Brittny Hebert with 3 hits, and Stephanie Treichel with a double and a triple—both of which came 2 days after she ran a marathon!

Next game is Monday, May 10th @ 730PM vs. Tilted Kilt on Field 3. All games are at Zenoff Park.

Catholic Vacation Bible School July 19th-23rd

2010-05-24T15:06:00.002-05:00

St. Peter Parish in Stevens Point will sponsor a Vacation Bible School July 19th-23rd from 9:30 AM - noon. This year's theme is "Friends of Christ" and focuses on the Year of the Priest. Designed by volunteers at St. Peter's, the VBS program is strong on Catholic identity and fun as the young people meet the saint of the day "in person", learn from scripture and the Catechism, attend children's Eucharistic adoration, sing songs, do crafts, and play sports, culminating Friday in a lunchtime pizza party with parents including a dramatic performance by the students. Open to grades K-6. Download the VBS Flyer here or call Phil Lawson at 715-344-6115 for more informatino.

This blog has moved

2010-04-04T21:56:00.001-05:00

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Last Chance to Stop Pro-Abortion Health Care Reform

2010-03-09T14:29:00.002-06:00

President Obama and Nancy Pelosi are pulling out all the stops to pass a massive pro-abortion health care bill -- the days immediately ahead will decide the issue.

Changes that have been proposed by President Obama would fix NONE of the abortion problems in the Senate-passed bill (H.R. 3590) which will likely be voted on soon by the House. In fact, they would make them worse.

This is no time to relax! Read about the many problems with the current Senate bill at www.nrlc.org.

Please immediately TELEPHONE the Washington, D.C. office of your U.S. House member. Any U.S. House office can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121. Simply give them your zip code and ask for the phone number of your U.S. Representative. Many are undecided how they will vote, allegedly including Congressman Ron Kind from Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District (according to the Capitol publication “The Hill”). Your Representative needs to hear from you right away, even if you’ve called before!

Ask him or her to vote “no” on the Senate healthcare bill unless the language of the Stupak Amendment is added. If they try to say there is no abortion funding in the current bill, tell them that is NOT true and ask them to go to the website of the National Right to Life Committee (www.nrlc.org) and read the commentary by Legislative Director Douglas Johnson.

This alert was sent to the parishes by:
Christopher J. Ruff, S.T.L.
Director of the Office of Ministries and Social Concerns
PO Box 4004
La Crosse, WI 54602-4004

Christopher West coming to Stevens Point 4/22/10 at 7 PM

2010-03-04T14:14:00.002-06:00

Recordings from Holy Week 2009

2010-03-03T11:26:00.002-06:00

Get in the spirit of the season... relive the sacred music from last year's Holy Week:

http://www.saintpetercatholic.com/schola-recordings.html

The Areopagus 2-3-10

2010-02-03T13:52:00.001-06:00

2-3-10
I have written about the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist out of Ann Arbor, MI before. (Not least because my sister-in-law is a part of the Order  ). Website here: http://www.sistersofmary.org/

This beautiful, young, and rapidly growing order is going to be featured on Oprah of all places next week Tuesday, Feb. 9th.

Here’s the email I received:
Please keep this in your prayers -- but on Feb. 9th, our 13th
anniversary as a community, we will be on the "Oprah Winfrey Show"!!
They were out here yesterday filming and 4 Sisters will be flown to
Chicago for the filming to be completed Thursday. So...if you
wish....you might decide to tune in on Feb. 9th -- and to PRAY that GOD
will be able to use these efforts, too, for His Greater Honor and Glory.

God bless us all....counting on your prayers, please!
in Jesus, Mary, and all our saints,
Sister!!

I’ll certainly be praying that this remarkable opportunity bears much fruit!

Phil’s Tidbits:
Here’s an inspiring story of Grant Desme—a top baseball prospect for the Oakland Athletics who is giving it up to enter the seminary. The Oakland Athletics, to their credit, are being completely supportive.
TOP BASEBALL PROSPECT RETIRES TO ENTER PRIESTHOOD
NEW YORK — As a top prospect for the Oakland Athletics, outfielder Grant Desme might've gotten the call every minor leaguer wants this spring.
Instead, he believed he had another, higher calling.
Desme announced Friday that he was leaving baseball to enter the priesthood, walking away after a breakout season in which he became MVP of the Arizona Fall League.
"I was doing well at ball. But I really had to get down to the bottom of things," the 23-year-old Desme said. "I wasn't at peace with where I was at."
A lifelong Catholic, Desme thought about becoming a priest for about a year and a half. He kept his path quiet within the sports world, and his plan to enter a seminary this summer startled the A's when he told them Thursday night.
General manager Billy Beane "was understanding and supportive," Desme said, but the decision "sort of knocked him off his horse." After the talk, Desme felt "a great amount of peace."
"I love the game, but I aspire to higher things," he said. "I know I have no regrets."
In a statement, Beane said: "We respect Grant's decision and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors."
Athletes and the priesthood have overlapped, albeit rarely.
Al Travers, who gave up 24 runs during a one-game career for a makeshift Detroit Tigers team in 1912, became a Catholic priest. More recently, Chase Hilgenbrinck of the New England Revolution left Major League Soccer in 2008 to enter a seminary.
Desme spoke on a conference call for about 10 minutes in a quiet, even tone, hardly sounding like many gung-ho, on-the-rise ballplayers. As for his success in the minors, he said "all of it is very undeserving."
The Athletics picked Desme in the second round of the 2007 amateur draft and he was starting to blossom. He was the only player in the entire minors with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases last season.
Desme batted .288 with 31 homers, 89 RBIs and 40 steals in 131 games at Class-A Kane County and high Class-A Stockton last year. He hit .315 with a league-leading 11 home runs and 27 RBIs in 27 games this fall in Arizona, a league filled with young talent.
Desme went into the AFL championship game well aware it might be the last time he ever played. "There was no sad feeling," he said. He homered and struck out twice, which "defines my career a bit."
The Big West Player of the Year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Desme was ranked as Oakland's No. 8 prospect by Baseball America. There was speculation the Athletics might invite Desme to big league spring training next month.
Rather, Desme intends to enter a seminary in Silverado, California, in August. He said abbey members didn't seem surprised someone who would "define myself as a baseball player" was changing his life so dramatically.
Desme said he didn't consider pursuing his spiritual studies while also trying to play ball. His family backed his decision and he said the positive reaction to his future goal — the surprising news spread quickly over the Internet — was "inspiring."
"It's about a 10-year process," he said. "I desire and hope I become a priest." In a way, he added, it's like "re-entering the minor leagues."
Desme's first two years in the minors were beset by shoulder and wrist problems. He said his days off the field gave him time to think about what was most important to him, to read and study the Bible and to talk to teammates about his faith.
In retrospect, he said, those injuries were "the biggest blessings God ever gave me."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The idea and use of “excommunication” continues to be widely misunderstood. Bishop Vasa recently gave a helpful explanation :

Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker Oregon via Lifesitenews.ccom
Using medical imagery, Vasa explains that just as it is not good for a doctor to allow a patient with diabetes to continue eating sugar, so also a bishop cannot let a Catholic who is in error remain so. It is the duty of the doctor to prescribe the proper medication and “accusing the doctor of being a tyrannical power monger would never cross anyone’s mind,” says Vasa.
“In fact, a doctor who told his diabetic patient that he could keep ingesting all the sugar he wanted without fear would be found grossly negligent and guilty of malpractice.
In the same way, bishops who recognize a serious spiritual malady and seek a prescription to remedy the error, after discussion and warning, may be required to simply state, ‘What you do and say is gravely wrong and puts you out of communion with the faith you claim to hold.’ ”
Further, Vasa also explains that excommunication guards the rest of the faithful from falling into the same error as the excommunicated. If a person is allowed to publicly dissent from the Catholic faith, Vasa says that other Catholics may become confused as to what the Church actually teaches.
-Bishop Vasa’s full column can be found here: http://www.sentinel.org/node/10596

Finally, this is so far out there as to be humorous:
John Paul II Attacker Wants to Team With Dan Brown
Agca to Be Released Monday; Interview and Book in Future
ROME, JAN. 13, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The man who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981 is set to be released Monday from a Turkish prison after serving almost 29 years. He said he has contacted the author of "The Da Vinci Code" for help in writing a book.

Agca has said once he is free he wants to do two things: visit John Paul II's tomb and write two books, including one about his life. For help with this second task, Agca reported that he has contacted Dan Brown, author of the bestselling science fiction work "The Da Vinci Code."
"I will proclaim the perfect Christianity that Vatican [sic] has never understood," Agca announced in a handwritten letter sent to The Sunday Times newspaper.
Agca's 29 years in prison resulted not only from his attempted assassination of the Pope, but also from having killed Abdi Ipekci, director of the Turkish newspaper Milliyet, in 1979.

God Bless you!
Phil Lawson For the latest info on St. Peter’s, check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)
The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events. Hope you find it fruitful!
If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com
On the other hand, if you would like to be removed, send an email to the same address indicating that.

Experiences from the March for Life 2010

2010-01-26T05:24:00.001-06:00

THE SERVANTS OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

PRESENT:

REFLECTIONS FROM THE MARCH FOR LIFE 2010

COME AND HEAR THE HIGHLIGHTS OF
SEVERAL ATTENDEES' EXPERIENCES OF
THE MARCH FOR LIFE!!

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2010

7PM AT ST PETER'S CHURCH
KOLBE HALL

ANY QUESTIONS CONTACT:

email: vitapretiosa(AT)gmail.com

Pro-life Speaker Patrick O'Donnell coming January 16

2010-01-14T21:25:00.001-06:00

THE SERVANTS OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

PRESENT…..

PATRICK O’DONNELL
(PRO-LIFE SPEAKER)

The Pro-Life Challenge:
“Re-Warming Love Grown Cold”

• The Global Challenge

• The Post-Abortive Healing-Christ Rises Again

• The Preborn Christ-Making It Personal

Time: 9AM
Date: SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 (AFTER 8 AM MASS)
Location: KOLBE HALL (St. Peter Church basement)

FREE SNACKS!

(PLEASE PASS ON TO YOUR PRO-LIFE FRIENDS)

The Areopagus 12-21-09

2009-12-21T12:16:00.001-06:00

12-21-09

Over the weekend, the Vatican announced that our late and beloved Pope John Paul II had been declared “venerable.” In layman’s terms this means that those charged with investigating his life—as a part of a process likely leading to his being declared a saint—have determined that he lived a life of “heroic virtue.” The next step is investigating the various miraculous claims associated with his intervention---which may or may not have already occurred. If a miracle is substantiated, then he will be declared “Blessed” and beatified. The final step after that is the process of canonization—or sainthood. Got all that? 

Either way, it’s an exciting process, especially for those, myself included, who are called the “JPII Generation”-having grown up with his as our Holy Father.

I remember years ago being at the Golda Meir Library at UW-Milwaukee one day and stumbling upon a traveling exhibit to the life of John Paul II. This was probably around 1998. I remember being very impressed with this man’s life—growing up during WWII, living under Communism, working with the Solidarity Movement in Poland, the assassination attempt on him, his background as a poet, playwright, and actor…the list goes on and on. Seeing that exhibit, was another step on my journey back to Catholicism. The influence he had while tied to this earthly world continues from Heaven.

Phil’s Tidbits:

Sports Illustrated recently published a photo of a man, Kevin Fast, pulling a 208-ton CC-177 Globemaster III transport plane. He pulled the plane 28’ 10 ½ “ to set a Guinness World Record. Even more impressive? He’s an ordained Lutheran Minister in Ontario. I suspect he has some “powerful” sermons…maybe? 

I admit to not being overly familiar with actor Jeff Bridges—but I came across an interview with him in the Wall Street Journal with this delightful quote:
Interviewer: You’ve been married to the same woman for 32 years. Rule No. 1 for staying together in Hollywood?
Bridges: Don’t get a divorce. That will keep you together, you know.

What more needs to be said? 

http://www.inforumblog.com/?p=2684
This website chronicles an increasing number of attacks on Christian Churches around the world—and not just in Africa and the Middle East—but including one in New York.

A Christmas message from the Pope to a gathering of children (and a glimpse into his own tender heart):

Pontiff to Children: Approach Christ Without Fear
Tells Them That Jesus Is Glad to Hear From Them
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 20, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI encouraged the youth of Italian Catholic Action to not be shy about approaching Christ, as he is very interested in hearing from them.
The Pope affirmed this today in a traditional Christmas meeting with a delegation of the youth organization, urging them to take as a role model the biblical figure of Zacchaeus, "the man who meets the Lord and welcomes him with joy."

"You too are a little like Zacchaeus, who climbed a tree because he wanted to see Jesus," the Holy Father said. "But the Lord, looking up, noticed him immediately, in the midst of the crowd.

"Jesus sees you and hears you even though you are little, even if the grown-ups do not take account of you as you would like."

"Always imitate the example of Zacchaeus," Benedict XVI continued, "who immediately came down from the tree, full of joy he welcomed him into his house and did not cease to celebrate him!"

The Pope spoke to the children of Jesus as a friend who "comes to meet you and calls you!"

"He is the Son of God, he is the Lord whom you see every day in the images in churches, along the street, in houses. He speaks to you always of the love that is 'greater,' able to give itself without limit, to bring peace and forgiveness," the Pontiff added.

"Only Jesus' presence in your lives gives complete joy, because he is able to make everything always new and beautiful," the Holy Father said. "He never forgets you."

This seems like a fitting way to conclude the last Areopagus prior to Christmas. Peg Hammill is the director of Pro Life Wisconsin—I have been blessed to know and be inspired by her for quite a few years now. She recently penned this beautiful tribute to her Mom.
Reflection on motherhood

Jane O’Brien of Oconomowoc, mother of Pro-Life Wisconsin state director Peggy Hamill, passed away Dec. 11 at the age of 91. Jane was one of Pro-Life Wisconsin’s most loyal supporters. In 1999, Peggy had the following reflection published in a number of newspapers. In memory of her mother and in honor of all mothers, especially the mother of the Christ Child, Peggy would like to share it with you. Memorials to Pro-Life Wisconsin, Gifts for Life, are gratefully appreciated. To make an online Gift for Life donation, click here.

Reflection on Motherhood
How often have I heard my mother say, “Don’t worry. The Lord will provide.” Her life has been a living out of this belief. The Gospel of Life has been a way of life for her. This gospel proclaims that life is sacred from the moment of conception to natural death. If we humbly subject ourselves to the will of our Heavenly Father, we will be provided for. Mom never refused this gift of life; always trusting in God. According to God’s plan, she and my dad were blessed with 11 children.

What a contrast this is to today’s prevailing feminist mindset. These people aggressively promote contraception, sterilization and abortion as liberating and empowering to women. They mock and pity women who are “burdened” with one or more children. Tragically, their false enlightenment has led many women into darkness.

I praise God for the empowering faith example of my mother. I thank the Lord for mercifully protecting me from falling into the bondage of contraception.

What a privilege it has been for my husband and me to welcome 10 miracles into the world. We look forward to a heavenly meeting with the 11th child we lost through miscarriage. All of our children have enriched our lives so much. We are so proud of each and every one of them. Motherhood is a wonderful opportunity to experience the awesome providence of God. The word of the Lord says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:33.

To all mothers and mothers-to-be: Don’t worry. The Lord will provide if you follow His will and fully trust in Him. I know; my Mom told me so.
God Bless you! Phil Lawson For the latest info on St. Peter’s, check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)
The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events. Hope you find it fruitful!
If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com
On the other hand, if you would like to be removed, send an email to the same address indicating that.

Merry Christmas & God Bless you! Phil Lawson For the latest info on St. Peter’s, check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)
The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events. Hope you find it fruitful!
If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com
On the other hand, if you would like to be removed, send an email to the same address indicating that.