from Sandy Ponto
WINONA DIOCESAN COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN
APRIL 2013
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS
Family and
Community Concerns
Kathy Wilmes
What an exciting time to be Family and Community Concerns
Chairman. I looked on in absolute
joy as our new shepherd, Pope Francis, was installed this past March. It is very clear that, true to his
name, this leader has a special place in his heart for the poor and
marginalized as well as the environment, and that his ministry will reflect that
fact. It is my hope
that, as Catholic Christians, we will follow the example of this gracious man
and reach out our hands to the poorest among us.
In that same vein, I am privileged to share with you an
invitation to watch a special webinar entitled
“Our Immigrant Neighbors,
Catholic Health Care and the New World of Health Care Reform”.
The speakers at this presentation will
outline the many ways in which the Affordable Care Act overlooks the need of
our immigrant brothers and sisters in the Lord who are having an especially
hard time accessing health care and what part Catholic Health Care has in
addressing this situation.
Contact
Julie Caulfield at
caulfield.julie@mayo.edu for more information or to reserve a
spot in this special discussion.
I would be remiss if I did not remind you that the month
of April is Autism Awareness Month.
Clearly, this is becoming a public health crisis as statistics now show
1/88 children diagnosed with this developmental disability.
I remember the day that nurses and doctors informed my
husband and I that Rachel had Asperger’s Syndrome, a high functioning form of
Autism Spectrum Disorder. I
remember pulling over on the drive home (we drove separate cars) and pounding
the dashboard, wondering “why?” The
following week we were at church and I remember praying to the Blessed Mother
“My Lady, if anyone knows how to raise a special needs child, surely you
do. Please bless me with
your wisdom as I have NO IDEA how to raise this child.” Although the journey since was not (is
not) easy, I truly believe that Our Blessed Mother has always been there,
giving me the ideas to see all of us through. Let us all pray for these special families, that Our
Blessed Lady will give them wisdom as they make this journey of faith.
CHURCH
COMMISSION
Cindy Heimer
64722 State Line Rd.
Adams, Mn
55909
507-582-3591
Prayer for A Mission Heart
Lord, Serving you is my greatest
joy. Help me to become as compassionate and caring as Jesus was. Help me share
your love for the sick and the poor with kind words and acts of charity. Help
me to live your Gospel, especially among those who are separated from you or do
not know you at all. Walk beside me now and always. I promise to do your
Will always until the day I am home with you and all the Saints of heaven. Amen
Saints Corner – St. Rita –
May 22.
At an early age, Rita begged her parents to allow her to enter a convent. Instead
they arranged a marriage for her. Rita became a good wife and mother but her husband
mistreated her. He taught their children his evil ways. Her husband
was stabbed by an enemy. Before he died, he expressed sorrow for his sins
because Rita prayed for him. Shortly after her husband’s death, her two sons
died leaving Rita alone. Rita spent her time in prayer, penance and good works.
She entered the convent of the Augustinian
nuns. Sister Rita had a devotion to the Passion of Christ. She said
“Please let me suffer like You, divine Savior”. One day a thorn from a
crucifix struck her on the forehead. It left a deep wound which did not
heal and caused her much suffering for the rest of her life. St. Rita is
the patron of family problems because of her good example of a wife and mother.
__________________________
The material for this article is from
the National Council of Catholic Women Spirituality Commission .
We learn that faith is the cornerstone
of our lives – temporal and eternal. And just as food fuels our bodies,
prayer fuels our ever important and essential faith.
Knowing this, we must also nourish
ourselves with daily prayer – calling upon Christ, the saints, and the Blessed
Virgin, Our Lady, for patience, intercession and grace –a grace that deepens
with each day as we draw closer to our Lord.
Prayer for individuals and for groups
rests at the heart of our living Catholic faith – following in the example of
our blessed Lord with mental and vocal prayer to God the Father. It can
be challenging to incorporate formal prayer into our daily lives, but it
doesn’t have to be so. There are several wonderful Catholic prayer
activities on the Internet which provides simple guidance on the topic of daily
prayer. One of many examples is the Apostleship of Prayer effort. Take
some time to peruse the website, try out the various prayers, find a prayer
which you would like to memorize or bookmark the website for reference during
your prayer time. The morning offering prayer is a wonderful way to start
the day.
Another option that taps into the depth
of Catholic tradition is a prayer of Marian consecration. The daily
offering of one’s effort to the Blessed Mother to help bring the world to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a powerful prayer to consider. The St. Kolbe website
resource to facilitate Marian consecration is http://www.consecration.com.
Many parishes have
recurring schedules times of Eucharistic adoration and pray the rosary.
We know the importance of seeking out group prayer activities, but our faith
formation can be easily expanded into our daily private lives. Both
aspects of prayer are essential to making sense of events that we cannot
otherwise comprehend. Whether at Gethsemane or when Christ would pray alone
at night to his Father, Christ clearly demonstrated that He desired his
followers to pursue active, daily prayer lives. Doing so will only deepen
our ability forever and more deeply to understand “Thy will be done.”
Speaking of God in human terms is a necessity for us and it often yields
helpful insights. In the Exodus story the author says that as God was
about to lead the Jews out of slavery it was "a night of vigil for the
Lord" (Exodus 12:42). We have a picture of the Lord
staying awake the whole night, alert for any danger to the Israelites.
In turn, the writer says, on the anniversary of this day the people
"must keep a vigil for the Lord throughout their generations" (v. 42).
Speaking of God in human terms is a necessity for us and it often yields
helpful insights. In the Exodus story the author says that as God was
about to lead the Jews out of slavery it was "a night of vigil for the
Lord" (Exodus 12:42). We have a picture of the Lord
staying awake the whole night, alert for any danger to the Israelites.
In turn, the writer says, on the anniversary of this day the people
"must keep a vigil for the Lord throughout their generations" (v. 42).
