A Ministry for Sharing Our Losses:
A Journey of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.

Have you ever felt that your life was in the middle of a great storm?  You weren’t sure how or when it will end, or where it might take you.  Perhaps you were frightened, disoriented, had trouble problem solving, felt lost, angry, numb, guilty, sad or alone. Were there even moments when you were just too tired to care?  If you have experienced a recent loss in you life due to the death of a loved one or close friend, divorce, separation, loss of job, prolonged illness, loss of a pregnancy, or a reduction in income, I believe you may have known and experienced one or more of these feelings and emotions above.

Our St. James Community will begin a series of six-sessions entitled “Sharing our Losses. . .A Journey of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love” on Tuesday, September 15 and Wednesday, September 16. The sessions will be offered both in the early afternoon (Wed-1:00-2:30) and evening (Tue 6:00-8:30).  There will be time for prayer, scripture, sharing, and reflection.  It is the hope of our facilitators that this journey will help your healing process, bringing new hope and inner peace.

We know that God is the true healer, but we also believe that He works through each of us as we share His love with one another. We will provide a safe place and time for anyone who is hurting.  As such, all sharing will be confidential and respectfully received.  This is not an attempt to provide professional counseling, rather to share personal stories with others who are also experiencing loss.  There will be time for quiet meditation, and listening to God’s soft whisper and touch.  The facilitators will be with you as guides, fellow travelers who, like you are searching for answers, new direction, and a continual rebirth of Christ’s love in our hearts.  We are all broken in some way.  We all need Christ.  We all need the hope, peace, joy and love that only a relationship with Him can provide.

Please prayerfully ask if you are being called to join this Journey.  We begin September 14 and 15.  Choose a time and day that fits your schedule. See Session Schedule below.

Six Sessions Beginning September 15 and 16, 2015

Choose either Tuesday evenings – (6:30-8:00)
Or Wednesday Afternoons (1:00-2:30)

Place:  St. Gasper Room

If interested in being a participant, contact Sandy Gagnon
phone: 816-522-3311 or email:

Contact:  Sandy Gagnon   816-522-3311   

February 2015 Lenten Newsletter

Of the several thousand saints that the Catholic Church venerates, two names are readily recognized by both Catholics and non-Catholics alike – St. Valentine and St. Patrick. Both of these early century saints have secular holidays named in their honor.

St. Valentine

The history of who St. Valentine really was is cloaked in mystery. He is known to be a real person who died around the year 270. But who he really was remains an enigma. In fact, enough confusion surrounds his true identity that the Church discontinued liturgical veneration of him in 1969, though his name remains on its list of officially recognized saints.

One legend says that he was a priest in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II who decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families and outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of this decree, continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret and thus was condemned to death.

Other stories suggest he was killed for helping Christians escape persecution. Yet another describes Valentine as the Bishop of Terni, also martyred by Claudius. Whatever the case, he was beaten with clubs and stoned and ultimately beheaded on February 14.

Another legend says, while waiting to be executed, Valentine restored the sight of his jailer’s daughter and, on the eve of his death wrote a farewell note to her, signing it, “From your Valentine.” In the year 496, Pope Gelasius I questioned his true identity. However, because the similarities of these accounts led him to think they may refer to the same person, he referred to the martyr and his acts as “being known only to God” and declared February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day.

The truth behind the Valentine legends is murky but the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and, most importantly, romantic figure. And, because the heart symbolizes love, it has also become symbolic of Valentine’s Day.

St. Patrick

There are many legends and stories about St. Patrick. Perhaps the most well known is the legend that he drove all of the snakes out of Ireland. However, all evidence suggests that post-glacial Ireland never had snakes.

In his early teens he was captured by Irish raiders in his birth-country of Scotland and taken to Ireland as a slave to tend sheep. During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. Patrick’s captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found sailors who took him back to Britain. He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him “We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more.”

He studied for the priesthood and was ordained. Later, he was ordained a bishop, and returned back to Ireland to establish the church. Though the task was difficult and dangerous, he persisted and was able to build a strong foundation for Christianity. The Irish people were very receptive to his teachings especially since that he was able to take several of their Celtic symbols and Christianize them. The most prominent of these is the green shamrock. He used this plant, which was held sacred by the Druids, as a symbol of the Trinity.

Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years, working many miracles and writing of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.

Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, who had total devotion to and trust in God. He feared nothing, not even death; so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.

St. Joseph has long been regarded as the protector of families. He is one of the most beloved saints among Italian-Americans who honor him on (or near) March 19, his feast day.

One of the traditions honoring him is the St. Joseph Table. The table design is dignified, solemn, yet festive, grand and inspiring. One of the special customs calls for the selection of children to portray members of the Holy Family — Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

The table, blessed by a priest, has three tiers (or steps), symbolizing the Most Holy Trinity. The “steps” represent the ascent from earth to heaven. A statue of St. Joseph surrounded by flowers is on the top tier. The other tiers hold flowers, candles, figurines, and symbolic breads and pastries that may be shaped like a monstrance, chalices, fishes, doves, baskets, St. Joseph’s staff, lilies, etc.

This tradition began following a severe famine in Sicily that caused considerable suffering and starvation. The people prayed. They pleaded to St. Joseph, their patron, for relief. Their prayers were answered. When the famine ended a special feast of thanksgiving was held in commemoration of the Saint. This celebration became tradition.

The first St. Joseph Table set up on the Island of Sicily was a small one, but over time the tradition took hold and the flamboyant nature and creative spirit of the Italians caused the altars to grow larger and more ornate.

This is the third year that St. James has had its own St. Joseph Table. The blessing of the table will take place on Saturday afternoon, March 21, followed by the viewing of the table. A traditional St. Joseph Table meal consisting of Spaghetti, with or without sardines in the sauce, frittata, bread, salad and dessert will be served on both Saturday and Sunday. All attending will receive a small loaf of bread for protection from storms and Fava Beans for prosperity. There is no charge for the meal, but free will offerings are encouraged. Money collected is donated to those in need in our community.

The landscaping and irrigation system in our new parking lot have been finished thanks to the expertise and hard work of parishioners Mike Kromeich and Wally McCubbin. The donation of their time and talent is much appreciated. We invite all parishioners to look for opportunities to volunteer and share their time and talents with their St. James Parish Community.

A Prayer for Lent

God, heavenly Father, look upon me and hear my prayer
during this holy Season of Lent.

By the good works You inspire, help me to discipline my body and to be renewed in spirit.
Without You I can do nothing.

By Your Spirit help me to know what is right and to be eager in doing Your will.

Keep me from sin, and help me live by Your commandment of love.

Lord, during this Lenten Season, nourish me with Your Word of life
and make me one with You in love and prayer.

This we ask in the Name of Jesus, Your Son Our Lord. Amen

Our journey to Easter Sunday begins with Mardi Gras, a long-standing tradition of the Catholic Church, although more secularized today than was its original intent.

In earlier days, since Catholics didn’t want to be tempted during Lent by sweets, meat and other distractions in the house, they cleaned out their cabinets. They used up all the sugar and yeast in sweet breads before the Lent season started, and fixed meals with all the meat available. It was a great feast!

Today Mardi Gras – “Fat Tuesday” or “Shrove Tuesday,” as it is called by some – is celebrated as the last day to “eat, drink and make merry” before Lent begins the following day.

Ash Wednesday begins The Season of Lent, a period of prayer, penance, reflection, and fasting that prepares us for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday. On this day our foreheads are marked with ashes symbolizing fragility and mortality and the need to be redeemed by God’s mercy.

The distribution of ashes is an age-old ceremony in which Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled ashes over them. Later, all Christians, came to receive ashes out of devotion.

The Lenten season – the 40 day period, excluding Sundays, before Easter – has its roots in scripture. 40 is the traditional number of judgment and spiritual testing in the Biblical books of Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, and Jonah. It also bears particular relationship to the 40 days Christ spent fasting in the desert before entering into his public ministry.

The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence and Fridays are obligatory days of abstinence. It is common practice to “give up” (or fast from) something for Lent. However, instead of or in addition to fasting during Lent, some add a spiritual exercise or discipline to their life such as joining a Bible study group or participate in an act of kindness such as feeding people at a homeless shelter. Other acts of charity and almsgiving are also encouraged as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of the resurrection.

As we continue our journey to Easter, we arrive at Palm Sunday (also known as Passion Sunday), the beginning of Holy Week. On this day we commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem by processing into the church with our palms. This day is called Palm Sunday because of the palm branches that were laid on the road as Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem. The name Passion Sunday refers to the reading of the Passion this Sunday.

The final three days of Lent are known as the Paschal Triduum. The Mass of the Lord’s Supper is held on Holy Thursday, celebrated in the evening because Passover began at sundown. The worth that God ascribes to the humility of service is remembered by the washing of feet as Jesus did for his disciples. When the Mass ends, the consecrated Host in the monstrance is carried in solemn procession to the “Altar of Repose” remaining ‘entombed’ until the communion service on Good Friday. Finally, there is the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament by the people during the night, just as the disciples stayed with the Lord during His agony on the Mount of Olives before the betrayal by Judas.

On Good Friday, the focus is on the cross, beginning mid-afternoon with the Stations. The Church is stripped of its ornaments, the altar bare, and the door of the empty tabernacle stands open – as if in mourning. During the evening service (no Mass is celebrated this day), we venerate the large cross held at the foot of the altar by touching, kissing, and/or kneeling before it. The Passion is read and we receive the pre-consecrated host.

Although celebrated Holy Saturday evening, it is the dramatic Easter vigil liturgy that marks the beginning of Easter. The service begins outside the church. A new fire is lit and blessed and a Paschal Candle symbolizing Christ, the Light of the World is prepared. The candle is processed through the church; everyone lights their candle from the Easter candle and continue in procession until the whole church is alight. Seven Old Testament readings helping us meditate on the wonderful works of God for his people since the beginning of time are read. The Easter water is blessed, new members are brought into the Church through baptism, the Litany of the Saints is sung, followed by a blessing with water and renewal of baptismal vows. The Mass continues and ends with the glorious “The Mass is ended, go in peace, alleluia, alleluia – Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.”

Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking off every yoke?
Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry,
bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own flesh?
(Isaiah 58:6-7)

What will Lent 2017 look like for you? How will you celebrate Lent within your family? We have put together some resources for everyone in the parish to enjoy. Please feel free to download the calendar path for all the opportunities we have here at St. James as well as explore some of the staff’s favorite links. We will be adding more all through Lent so check back often.

Lent at St. James 

What Does Fasting and Abstinence Mean? To find out click here.

 Click on an image for more information.

Links for Making the Most of Lent

Some favorite links and videos from St. James Parish Staff.

Videos

• Lent in 2 Minutes
• 40
• Easter Story Told Through Social Media
• Go Into the Desert

Links

• CatholicMom Meatless recipes
• USCCB Lent Calendar with daily reflections
• Pope Francis Tips for Lent
• USCCB Lent resources
• 40 Simple Lenten Activities for Kids

Apps

• Lentsanity