A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR
National Catholic Youth Conference: The National Catholic Youth Conference is the celebration of Catholic youth in the United States. NCYC is organized by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry which is comprised of diocesan leaders and collaborating members from across the country. This conference typically draws up to 25,000 young people and adults from all over the country. NCYC includes an amazing variety of opportunities for our young people to experience an encounter with Jesus Christ and His Church. There are large general sessions with nationally known speakers, music, and Mass. There are rounds of smaller workshops and opportunities for prayer. There is also an interactive thematic park for hands on experiences and the opportunity to mingle with teens from all over the country. We have 6 of our youth that will be attending this conference from the 21st to the 23rd of this month in Indianapolis. Let us keep these youth in our prayers that they may be deepened in their faith and become more closer to the Lord.
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: According the traditional belief Sts. Joachim and Anna, the parents of Mary, brought their three year old daughter Mary from Nazareth to the Temple in Jerusalem ( a distance of some 80 miles), there to be educated by the holy women, and together with the other young virgins, consecrated to God’s service. This feast emphasizes that the holiness conferred on Mary from the very inception of her life on earth, and which continued through her early childhood and beyond, was a result of her total dedication to God. God indwelt in her in a marvelous manner and sanctified her for her unique role in his saving work. This feast also tells us that how important that we hand down the faith to our kids and bring them up in the faith of our fathers. As we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation on November 21st, we seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary.
Tit for Tat: When Nelson Mandela was studying law at the University, a professor, whose last name was Peters, disliked him intensely. One day, Mr. Peters was having lunch at the dining room when Mandela came along with his tray & sat next to the professor. The professor said, "Mr. Mandela, you do not understand, a pig and a bird do not sit together to eat" Mr. Mandela looked at him as a parent would a rude child and calmly replied, "You do not worry professor. I'll fly away," and he went and sat at another table. Mr. Peters, reddened with rage, decided to take revenge. The next day in class he posed the following question: "Mr. Mandela, if you were walking down the street and found a package,and within was a bag of wisdom and another bag with money, which one would you take ?" Without hesitating, Mr. Mandela responded, "The one with the money, of course." Mr. Peters, smiling sarcastically said, "I, in your place, would have taken the wisdom." Nelson Mandela shrugged and responded, "Each one takes what he doesn't have." Mr. Peters, by this time was about to throw a fit, seething with fury. So great was his anger that he wrote on Nelson Mandela's exam sheet the word "IDIOT" and gave it to the future struggle icon. Mr. Mandela took the exam sheetand sat down at his desk trying very hard to remain calm while he contemplated his next move. A few minutes later, Nelson Mandela got up, walked up to the professor and told him in a dignified polite tone, "Mr. Peters, you signed your name on the sheet, but you forgot to give me my grade."
God's blessings
Fr. Suneesh Mathew
|
