March 1: Ash Wednesday – the Beginning
of Lent
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of fasting
and prayer as Christians prepare for the
celebration of Easter. It is one of the most popular and observed days by many
Catholics in the liturgical calendar.
Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday. While it is chiefly observed by Catholics, many
other Christians observe it too. Ash
Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on
the forehead, which symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person's
forehead, he speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust
you shall return."
Alternatively, the priest may speak the words,
"Repent and believe in the Gospel." Lent, therefore, offers a reminder for us to
go out, live out the Gospel as disciples
(followers) of Christ!
March 17 – 19, 2017: Come and See Weekend
The Sisters are still talking about our February Come and See Weekend. That was a great weekend – and if you didn’t
and/or couldn’t come, I invite you to consider coming in March! Not only do you get to stay, pray and play
with the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids, but you also get to meet other women
who are discerning their life vocation.
I invite
you to come spend some time with us –
Dominican
Sisters ~ Grand Rapids
March 17th –
19th, 2017!
I have heard from some of you already,
and I look forward to meeting you in person!
Please
register
– even
if you have already told me that you’ll be attending –
by
clicking on the following link:
This way I’ll
be sure to have a room reserved for you.
Remember: There is no cost for this weekend.
Room and
meals are provided.
Embrace
Trust – RE Congress 2017
I
just got back from attending the Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, CA
last night – or, should I say, very early this morning! I’m still feeling the exhaustion of the
airport adventures, but I’m not complaining.
I look forward to Congress each year.
This is my annual ‘spiritual shot in the arm!’ I have been attending since 1980 (missing
maybe four or five times) – and I’m still on a high! I could sit here and try to tell you what
Congress is, but will share just a few pictures instead. I also copied some information from their
website below (www.recongress.org –
they have lots of pictures)!
While
this started out as a local diocesan event (still is) sixty-one years ago, participants
come from all over the world – including
the Vatican! I would add that they have
the cream-of-the-crop presenters!
WHAT IS CONGRESS?
- Nation's
Largest – The Religious Education
Congress, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Religious
Education, is the nation's largest annual
gathering of Roman Catholics!
- With 40,000 in Attendance – Our last Religious Education Congress brings in nearly 40,000 for the four-day event, which includes 20,000 registered from across the country and as far away as the U.K. and Australia. Attendance at Youth Day draws in about 15,000 youth!
- Variety
of Topics – Over the three days, Congress offers over 300
workshops presented by more than 200 speakers. Topics range from personal
growth to music to spiritual topics – in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
- Representing
Many Cultures – Congress annually offers a
number of liturgies of different character. Congress 2017 offered 16 Eucharistic
Liturgies of different character, including Care of the Earth in the
Hawaiian Tradition; Celtic; Contemplative in the Filipino Tradition;
Immigrants, Exiles, Refugees (in English) and Inmigrantes, Exiliados,
Refugiados (in Spanish); Joy of Love – Celebrating Christian Marriage;
Maronite Divine Liturgy; Mass of Healing; Preservation of Peace &
Justice in the African-American Tradition; Spanish; Vietnamese; Young
Adult and Evening Prayer and Taizé services.
- Free
Exhibits – Congress showcases 500+ booths housing over 260
companies as exhibitors – ranging from religious art to music, and from
publishing houses to educational institutions, in addition to the
represented ministries of the host Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
- Free Entertainment for Registrants – Admission to Congress includes both free lunchtime and evening concerts – ranging from contemporary Christian music to the leading Latino composers and artists.
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