Christmas Message to Catechists

Cláudio Cardinal Hummes, Archbishop Emeritus of São Paulo and Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy in charge of all catechetical efforts in the Church wrote a beautiful Christmas Message to all who carry out the work of catechesis in the Church.  May it inspire you and draw you closer to Christ this Christmas Season.

Merry Christmas and God bless you and your family!!!    ~ William

Christmas Message 2008

I extend my joyous and fraternal wishes for a holy and festive Christmas, and that the year 2009 be enlightened, grace filled a full of accomplishments in the service of Jesus Christ and of our brothers and sisters, especially those who are poor or suffering. Christmas does not confine us to a commemoration of an extraordinary event in the past, recalled with gratitude and love, but it is also an event which is actualised in the present day, in our midst.

Jesus Christ comes because he loves us and wants to save us from evil: from every evil, and even from death. He comes to welcome us, to make us experience his love, to transform us into his disciples, true sons of the heavenly Father, to invite us to proclaim in the entire world that God is Love, and that he loves us unconditionally, without measure. Jesus comes! He becomes our companion on the journey of life. Let us be gathered to him. Let us allow him to overcome us and to make his dwelling within us. He will eat with us in an unimaginable communion, in which he will have us experience the mysterious and efficacious depth of his friendship and his salvation. Enlightened and transformed by this encounter with Him we will be able to proclaim him to every man and woman of our time. Behold, such is Christmas!

Cláudio Cardinal Hummes
Archbishop Emeritus of São Paulo
Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy

 

3 Gifts We Can Give This Christmas

Consider 3 Gifts to bring not only in the days leading up to Christmas but during the Christmas Season from Matthew 2:10-12:

[10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy;
[11] and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother,        and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
[12] And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

The wise men brought 3 wonderful gifts:

Gold… Gold is a gift for a King.  Gold reveals something about a treasure.  Christ is that treasure and king!  What gold can you give in your life to be a gift and treasure to others?  How can you use your gift or talent during Christmas to show Christ to others?

Frankincense…This is usually burned when offering something to God or in prayer.  How can your words and actions this Christmas be an offering to praise and love God?  This is a holy time, don’t miss the opportunity to make your actions and words an authentic offering to Christ, the newborn king.  Offer Him your committment to live for Him as he comes into your heart this Christmas is the gift Christ wants! After all, it’s his Birthday!

Myrrh…This is an odd gift.  Myrrh is a scent or a balm usually used at the time of death.  This gift is a a prefiguring of Christ’s death on the cross.  Our gift is to die to our sinful ways and our imperfections so we can be the best-version-of-ourselves for Christ to use.  We want to die to what does not lead us and others closer to God’s will.

They departed…by another way – May we depart by another way having really lived this Advent Season and Christmas Season to the full.

May Christ reign anew in your hearts this Christmas!  The world longs for the gifts of our Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh!

 

Advent Week 2: Making straight the way of the Lord

On Sunday our parish provided a session for all parents who have chosen Home Study for their child(ren).   This year we have asked all families who are choosing to home school (we call it Home Study) their child to attend 4 session that would foster a bit of community as well as learning.  33 out of 70 attended.  Not great, but not too bad.  I gave a reflection on Advent and making room for Christ in our lives this Christmas.  We then had the students break up into four groups where they spent 15 minutes at each station focusing on one of the 4 themes of Advent (taken from the 4 themes of the Advent Wreath/candles).  So I recruited 3 of my catechists to help lead a station (I also led one): Hope, Peace, Joy & Love.  Here is what each station covered:

Hope: students were given a large sheet of paper and listed how they could bring hope to  1)Family, 2) friends and 3) into their own lives. 

Peace: Students reflected on St. Francis of Assisi’s peace prayer and listed where there is hatred_________ and how they would sow love _________. They did this for each part of the prayer. 

Joy: Students resolved to live joy each day of the week Sunday: how they would live joy…Monday: how will you live charity when at a Christmas party….when seeing Christmas decorations…when shopping…etc…

Love: studnets listened to music and when the music stopped they sat down (but there was one less chair than student).  The one standing had to answer how will you live love… when your at school this Advent…when wrapping Christmas gifts, when shopping for others, etc…

 

It was a very fruitful afternoon.  Studnets and parents hopefully were given a lot of practical suggestions to reflect on this Advent season.  May God bless them and help them live the true meaning of Christmas.  Come Lord Jesus!!!