St. Leonard Faith Community Mardi Gras Celebration
February 26 in the Auditorium at 6 PM
$25 includes Buffet Dinner, Live Dixieland Music by the Shakertown Stomper and a Costume Contest. Call the office at 435-3626 for more information or to make reservations.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
St. Leonard Book Read
How Big Is Your God
Paul Coutinho, S.J.
Purpose: Provide an opportunity for sharing books on spiritual issues
Open to any interested members
Website available to view comments from world wide readers, as well as a video of Fr. Coutinho at:
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/HowBig
Community Discussion and Social for anyone interested
Friday, June 25 from 7:30-9:30 PM in the Auditorium
Paul Coutinho, S.J.
Purpose: Provide an opportunity for sharing books on spiritual issues
Open to any interested members
Website available to view comments from world wide readers, as well as a video of Fr. Coutinho at:
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/HowBig
Community Discussion and Social for anyone interested
Friday, June 25 from 7:30-9:30 PM in the Auditorium
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Question for the 4th Sunday of Advent
Our reflections of hope during this Advent Season may well be summed up in the words of the popular Christmas Carol “Do you hear what I hear?” Our reflections have suggested that the Christian virtue of hope is founded on the spirit of God. In this last week of Advent we might reflect on what do I hear the voice of the Spirit within me speaking. Are my hopes Spirit based? Do I hear the Spirit not only in my own hopes but also in the hopes of others to whom I may be called to respond? Will the hopes I am attempting to fulfill more fully incarnate the Christ Child for my self and others because they are based on the voice of God. The Word of God has been spoken in the birth of Jesus. What is the Word you hear Him saying to you?
Response to the 3rd Week of Advent
Finding Jesus as part of the experience
On the early evening of May 24, 1991, my daughter, Tina, and I were attending the county softball semi-finals at Delco Park. Tina was learning to drive so she wanted to drive home after the game. It was sunny and dry. The time on her learner’s permit was running out! At that time, we were living in Waynesville and she was a sophomore at Alter High School. As we pulled out of a stop sign (she was learning on a manual transmission) about a mile from home, a drunk driver rounded the curve, went off the road on the right and overcorrected, going left and hit us head on! Tina died during the airflight to the hospital in Cincinnati, while I was transported to Southview. I have no remembrance of the crash, but awoke a week later in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Elizabeth to learn my daughter had died. I had missed the funeral! My life was changed forever – I was no longer the mother of a daughter. I had suffered many broken bones as well as other injuries.
It is easy to be bitter, to be angry but I learned that prayer was needed to make sense of the events. Working with MADD, I was able to deal with the prosecutor and the defendant. As a result of prayer and research, the other driver entered a plea agreement that I had suggested. When the defense attorney questioned why I would suggest such a plea agreement, I responded that Jesus would want it that way. The defendant had no prior OVI and was a family man. I asked that his driver’s license be cancelled indefinitely. I also had a private reconciliation service that I found very healing.
Since 1991, I have remained active in MADD and we present Victim Impact Panels quarterly for those ordered by the judge as part of the conviction for OVI. Only the presence of Jesus gives meaning to all these events that changed my life forever!
On the early evening of May 24, 1991, my daughter, Tina, and I were attending the county softball semi-finals at Delco Park. Tina was learning to drive so she wanted to drive home after the game. It was sunny and dry. The time on her learner’s permit was running out! At that time, we were living in Waynesville and she was a sophomore at Alter High School. As we pulled out of a stop sign (she was learning on a manual transmission) about a mile from home, a drunk driver rounded the curve, went off the road on the right and overcorrected, going left and hit us head on! Tina died during the airflight to the hospital in Cincinnati, while I was transported to Southview. I have no remembrance of the crash, but awoke a week later in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Elizabeth to learn my daughter had died. I had missed the funeral! My life was changed forever – I was no longer the mother of a daughter. I had suffered many broken bones as well as other injuries.
It is easy to be bitter, to be angry but I learned that prayer was needed to make sense of the events. Working with MADD, I was able to deal with the prosecutor and the defendant. As a result of prayer and research, the other driver entered a plea agreement that I had suggested. When the defense attorney questioned why I would suggest such a plea agreement, I responded that Jesus would want it that way. The defendant had no prior OVI and was a family man. I asked that his driver’s license be cancelled indefinitely. I also had a private reconciliation service that I found very healing.
Since 1991, I have remained active in MADD and we present Victim Impact Panels quarterly for those ordered by the judge as part of the conviction for OVI. Only the presence of Jesus gives meaning to all these events that changed my life forever!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Third Sunday of Advent
Question of the Week
December 13
Hope is generally not an issue when things are going well - with the exception that we may hope things continue to go that way. Hope seems to surface more frequently in the midst of difficulties when we actually wish things could be different. Certainly Jesus was a person of hope - but His life ended in derision and apparent suffering both in body and spirit. This presents the question of why hope if God is in charge anyway? Have you been able to bring hope to someone even though you were not able to change the circumstances that caused their suffering? If so, can you describe and share what happened?
December 13
Hope is generally not an issue when things are going well - with the exception that we may hope things continue to go that way. Hope seems to surface more frequently in the midst of difficulties when we actually wish things could be different. Certainly Jesus was a person of hope - but His life ended in derision and apparent suffering both in body and spirit. This presents the question of why hope if God is in charge anyway? Have you been able to bring hope to someone even though you were not able to change the circumstances that caused their suffering? If so, can you describe and share what happened?
Response to the 2nd Sunday of Advent Question
Six months ago when my husband passed away it seemed that all hope for me had passed with him. The life I had dreamed of, had planned on for so many years, had changed in that brief moment of his death. His passing was on the very day of my retirement, the day I had counted down with anticipation of a new life for the both of us. We had hoped to travel a little, have time to see old friends in other areas and finally have time to do what we wanted. But all hope seemed shattered with his passing. It felt like God had abandoned me, had taken away the person that I had put all of my hope and dreams in for so many years. I remember thinking how unfair God had been to me. How could I ever have hope again. I felt lost. Then, one day several month after Matt’s death and in God’s plan, that hope that I had lost was mercifully returned to me.
It was a warm evening as I sat on my patio, alone, the tears and ache in my heart with me once again. His chair next to mine was empty as usual, his presence had vanished yet this time it seemed different. I remember praying that if only I could know that he was there with me, not physically but his spirit near. I also remember asking God to somehow give me a sign that Matt was there with me. I hoped it was possible for a physical sign of some kind. I closed my eyes and prayed from my heart for some miracle. I opened my eyes I could not believe it but here, not more than two feet from me, was a beautiful robin just looking at me. He as so near I could have touched him. It took my breath away and I felt such peace and joy and such hope. Mr. Robin and I just sat there for what seemed to be minutes without moving. I know at that moment that just as the people of long ago had been awaiting a sign from God the Savior would come, I had received my “sign” from God that Matt was with Him and yet near me at that very moment. I was given my hope back that day in God’s way’s and in His time.
Since that evening, when the loneliness creeps over me and I feel such a sense of loss, I think back on that miracle and know that God is with me and will give me the courage to hope and carry on in His plan for me in this life.
It was a warm evening as I sat on my patio, alone, the tears and ache in my heart with me once again. His chair next to mine was empty as usual, his presence had vanished yet this time it seemed different. I remember praying that if only I could know that he was there with me, not physically but his spirit near. I also remember asking God to somehow give me a sign that Matt was there with me. I hoped it was possible for a physical sign of some kind. I closed my eyes and prayed from my heart for some miracle. I opened my eyes I could not believe it but here, not more than two feet from me, was a beautiful robin just looking at me. He as so near I could have touched him. It took my breath away and I felt such peace and joy and such hope. Mr. Robin and I just sat there for what seemed to be minutes without moving. I know at that moment that just as the people of long ago had been awaiting a sign from God the Savior would come, I had received my “sign” from God that Matt was with Him and yet near me at that very moment. I was given my hope back that day in God’s way’s and in His time.
Since that evening, when the loneliness creeps over me and I feel such a sense of loss, I think back on that miracle and know that God is with me and will give me the courage to hope and carry on in His plan for me in this life.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Second Week Of Advent
Question of the Week
Second Sunday of Advent
December 6
When prophets foretold the coming of Jesus, there must have been hope in the hearts of many people that they would personally encounter this Savior. But when the birth of Jesus did occur, the circumstances had to have turned the world upside down for many of these people. How could they be asked to believe that the long awaited Savior came as a baby in a manger in the town of Bethlehem with so little fanfare? These circumstances certainly must have smashed the hopes of many who anticipated the coming in a more comely way. Perhaps we have lost the shock value of what this meant because we have the advantage of knowing in hindsight the historical events surrounding the life of Jesus. But have we also hardened ourselves to the shock value of how Jesus might attempt to enter our lives today. Is our hope based more on who we think God should be and how our prayers should be answered or is it based on opening ourselves to recognize the surprise appearance of God in ways that He may intend? Have you had any “shock value” experiences when it seemed Jesus could not possible be present to you but then were able to recognize how much He was a part of the experience?
Second Sunday of Advent
December 6
When prophets foretold the coming of Jesus, there must have been hope in the hearts of many people that they would personally encounter this Savior. But when the birth of Jesus did occur, the circumstances had to have turned the world upside down for many of these people. How could they be asked to believe that the long awaited Savior came as a baby in a manger in the town of Bethlehem with so little fanfare? These circumstances certainly must have smashed the hopes of many who anticipated the coming in a more comely way. Perhaps we have lost the shock value of what this meant because we have the advantage of knowing in hindsight the historical events surrounding the life of Jesus. But have we also hardened ourselves to the shock value of how Jesus might attempt to enter our lives today. Is our hope based more on who we think God should be and how our prayers should be answered or is it based on opening ourselves to recognize the surprise appearance of God in ways that He may intend? Have you had any “shock value” experiences when it seemed Jesus could not possible be present to you but then were able to recognize how much He was a part of the experience?
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