Winter 2018

Archdiocese of Newark

Call to Stewardship

Inside this issue:

St. Rose of Lima

Students’ Hurricane

Relief

2

Catholic Charities

Donation Bins

3-4

St. Joseph’s High

School Stewardship

5

St. Vincent de Paul

Shoe Drive

6-7

Stewardship

Workshop

8

Alter Server Honored 9-10

Men’s Conference 11

Fall Initiatives in

Development

12

Women’s Commission 13

Planned Giving 14-15

Evangelization School 16

Box Tops 17

Bulletin Reflections 18-23

Office of Development & Stewardship

Kari Volosin

Coordinator of Special Events

and Initiatives

Office of Development

and Stewardship

171 Clifton Avenue

Newark, NJ 07104

973-497-4046

kari.volosin@rcan.org

Happy New Year

from The Office of Development & Stewardship!

_____________________________________________________________

New Year Greetings,

I hope that you and your families enjoyed a Christmas sea-

son full of peace and joy. The Development office isn’t just about

fundraising. We were busy with various stewardship initiatives

throughout the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Thanks to

the generosity of our donors and partners, we were able to help

provide Thanksgiving meals for 32 families plus the young men at

Strong Futures. We pray that 2018 will be an exciting year in

stewardship throughout our great Archdiocese.

God bless,

Kari Volosin

Coordinator of Special Events & Initiatives

Office of Development & Stewardship

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In early September, Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida, where many suffered terrible loss-es. The students at St. Rose of Lima Academy in Short Hills wondered what they could do to help. Principal Mrs. Tina Underwood reached out to our sister school, St. Rose of Lima School in Miami Shores, Florida, to see if there was some way that we could help. The vice principal of St. Rose in Miami Shores, Mrs. Celine Zigmont expressed her gratitude for not only reaching out but she also ex-pressed an interest in our helping to replace the

“Young children’s playground,” which was completely destroyed.

With the help of our Academy students and the Adolescent Faith Formation group of St. Rose of Lima Church, we were able to raise $1000. Principal Un-derwood conveyed “It is incredible how we can make a difference in the lives of others.”

As fate would have it, St. Rose learned of a direct connection between the two schools, when it was discovered that our very own sixth grader, Amelia Lisco’s first cousins Nicholas Arrieta, fifth grade and Lukas Ar-rieta, Pre-K attend St. Rose in Miami Shores and that Lukas will benefit directly from the rebuilt playground. We can't wait to see the preschoolers utilizing the students’ gift.

St. Rose of Lima Students Fundraising Assists Hurricane Victims

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Stewardship and Catholic Charities Donation Bins……

Any Connection? “……I assure you as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.” (Mt5:40)

These are the words that drive the mission of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark. Would you like to help

Catholic Charities continue its mission as it touches the lives of those who are considered the marginalized members

of society and at the same time demonstrate that you are a good steward? Stewardship involves sharing our time, tal-

ents, and treasures. This is an opportunity to help the less fortunate and share the many treasures that are in your

closets, attics, and basements. You may do so by contributing the following items: used clothing, small appliances,

shoes, linens, sheets, towels, stuffed animals, novels, and children’s books.

All of the items will be sold and the proceeds will be used to support the many programs for the needy. As a direct re-

sult from the donations to the bins, Catholic Charities was able to purchase 85 new metal frame beds for our homeless

shelter at St. Lucy's in Jersey City. For many homeless, the harsh pavement of the streets has been replaced by the

comfort of a sturdy bed.

Catholic Charities has over 80 bins in 66 parishes throughout the diocese. You probably have seen our bins. They are

white and marked with Catholic Charities distinctive blue logo. A full listing of these parishes is on the Catholic Char-

ities web site – just click on the picture of the bin.

Catholic Charities programs include:

counseling and support services for at-risk youth and their families

programs for the elderly

educational programs for children with special needs

psychological and psychiatric help for those with mental illness

job training for individuals with barriers to employment

affordable, high-quality early childhood education to children in Newark and Elizabeth

emergency shelter for the homeless and for those who are HIV-positive

affordable housing for low-income families

adoption services

If you have a large number of items or have breakable items such as dishes, glasses, and picture frames, please call 1-

877-343-3651 for a direct pick up. Need a tax receipt? Scan the QR code on the bin or call 1-877-343-3651.

If you cannot find a bin in your area or have questions or comments, please contact Maria Biancheri - 973-596-3985 -

mbiancheri@ccannj.org.

Catholic Charities needs additional parishes to participate in this program as the demands for services increase with

the passing years. If you are a pastor and are willing to add a bin to your parish grounds, please call Maria. The bins

may be a silent, visible reminder to some parishioners to put stewardship into action.

A good steward always gives thanks for his/her blessings. What better way to express our “thanks” than by “giving” to

others? May your everyday be a day of “Thanks-giving.”

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5

Saint Joseph’s Regional High School, Montvale NJ Stewardship Initiatives

Carla Repollet, Vice Chancellor/Executive Director

of Development & Stewardship was presented

with a check in the amount of $2475 to help vic-

tims in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and Turks and

Caicos who have been affected by the recent hurri-

canes. The check was presented by Deacon Joe

Sisco, Social Outreach Coordinator of St. Joseph

Regional High School in Montvale, along with stu-

dents Eric Stoeckel, Alex Alta and Connor Tsiki-

tas. Stewardship is alive at St. Joseph Regional

High School where the students are helping to make the world a better place.

The UNICO chapter of Saint Joseph’s Regional High School also

collected and donated 360 individual bags of candy to the Veterans Home in Paramus, NJ.

6

Saint Vincent de Paul in Bayonne is the fourth parish in the Archdiocese to organize a shoe drive with Funds2Orgs. It was a great success! A total of 121 bags (25 pairs of shoes in each bag) were collected.

Holy Family, Nutley; St. Stephen, Kearny & St. Michael, Lyndhurst each organized their

own successful shoe drive.

Maryann Angrosina (red coat) is the parish secre-tary and she took the lead. She encouraged the parishioners to clean out their closets and she al-so contacted various businesses in town. The shoes were collected before and after each Mass for eight weeks and stored in the parish

garage.

Funds2Orgs notified the parish when they were going to be in the area. So far has the

parish collected 121 bags (2,475 pairs of shoes) and received a $1173.20 check!

Funds2Orgs supplied 100 clear plastic bags and a box of rubber bands. Once they received the paperwork with the start date, the supplies were delivered right away to the parish at no cost.

Continues on following page...

Saint Vincent de Paul Shoe Drive

By: Lynn Gully

7

Volunteers sorted and rubber banded the shoes together (another requirement) and made sure each bag had 25 pairs and all the shoes still had some “sole” left! This is win-win-win-win opportunity – the parish raises money; shoes do not end up in the landfill; you clean out your closets; and you are able to help others with the donated shoes.

Continued from previous page…

If you are interested in giving this fundrais-ing idea a try you will need to commit to a minimum of 100 bags; you will need a place to store and process the shoes and a few volunteers to help. The shoes collected im-pact individuals, families, and communities in developing nations around the world.

If you would like to give this fundraiser a try, you can contact Funds2Orgs directly via email at asap@funds2orgs.com or by calling 407-930-2979.

I would also be happy to answer any questions you have. Contact me, Lynn Gully at Lynn.Gully@rcan.org or 973-497-4589 for more in-formation or if you have any questions.

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9

The deacon "kept asking me, and I kept saying, 'I don't know if she'll be able,' " explained

Tommy Hayes, who plays in the church band alongside his daughter every Sunday after-

noon. "He assured me she would be able to. Now, she loves it."

Tracey Hayes' down syndrome could not keep her from being an active member of the

church. And, her family explained, it does not keep her from being an active member of

the local community, either. She bowls, and plays baseball in the town's Challenger division,

a league for those with physical and developmental challenges.

Altar Server With Down Syndrome Honored At Saddle Brook Parish

By: Melanie Anzidei

Tracey Hayes walked down the aisle with the processional crucifix, bowed her head when

she reached the altar and proceeded to her designated seat in the front of the chapel.

She rang her bells, smiled to those around her, and gave a thumbs-up to her family sitting in

the nearby front pew. Hayes never missed a cue during Mass.

The 33-year-old with Down syndrome carried out her altar server duties at St. Philip the

Apostle Church in Saddle Brook on Sunday the same way she has for the past 20 years. But

this weekend's Mass, she acknowledged, was special.

Hayes on Sunday was honored for her two decades of

altar service to the church, in a celebration that in-

cluded accolades from the Archdiocese of Newark

and Pope Francis himself.

"I feel so excited," Hayes said after the mass,

with flowers, framed certificates and gift bags in hand.

As parishioners walked by, she grabbed their hands,

smiled and thanked them for coming. "I feel thankful

for [everyone] who came," she said.

Hayes has been a beloved member of the tight-knit

parish since she was born, just like her father, Tommy

Hayes. The church's former deacon approached the Hayes family and asked if Tracey would

consider taking on the duties of an altar server when she was 13, Tommy Hayes said. At

first, the family was hesitant.

10

"We don't like to call it a disability," said Tommy Hayes. "We call it a 'different ability,' because it

just makes her a little bit different."

The church's current deacon, Anthony Liguori Jr., described Hayes as a dedicated altar server,

who is always there for the church when it needs her.

"Tracey is our most outstanding altar server," he said. "She is always there, and always on cue.”

Liguori has been a deacon at the church for only about a year, he said. But he grew up attending

the Saddle Brook parish, and he said Hayes has been a staple in the church community for

decades.

Tara Labrosse, who has been a member at St. Philip the Apostle Church since 1981, described the

parish as a tight-knit community. Most families, like hers and Hayes', have been attending weekend

Mass for generations.

"I remember when [Hayes] became an altar server. It was a beautiful ceremony," said Labrosse. "And

now she's celebrating 20 years. The church is really proud."

Hayes' importance to the church community was evident on Sunday.

The 1 p.m. Mass was "fuller than usual," said her father, with several people showing up to support

his daughter. Members of the church, including Liguori, sang for her, and her fellow altar servers

presented her with a bouquet of flowers. The Archdiocese of Newark and Pope Francis sent certifi-

cates in framed plaques that acknowledged her dedication to the parish.

At the end of the 1 p.m. Mass, Tommy Hayes couldn't hold back his tears of joy for his daughter.

"I'm so proud of her, and proud of my church for doing this," he said.

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Fall Initiatives in the Development Office

By: Kari Volosin

Our office isn’t just about fundraising! In the past few

months our staff has been hard at work with various ini-

tiatives. One of our continuous donors is clothing re-

tailer The Avenue. In September, we received our third

donation of brand new clothing which we distributed to

a number of shelters and parishes in need.

Thanks to a generous anonymous donation and the

Cheer Me Up Foundation, the Archdiocese was able to

provide thirty two Thanksgiving meals to shelters and

parishes in need within our Archdiocese. We were also especially pleased to provide a fully pre-

pared Thanksgiving meal to the young men at Strong

Futures, a program run by Catholic Charities which as-

sists young men aging out of the child welfare system.

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Leaving a Lasting Legacy

By: Theresa Lynch

With Spring fast approaching, now is a good time to look back and reflect on the blessings that God has bestowed on us. It is also a perfect opportunity to give thanks for those blessings by making a gift to your parish while giving you the opportunity to enjoy tax savings. We encourage you to work with your accountant, tax preparer or visit www.irs.gov for more information on tax savings. Below are a few ideas you may find interesting in making your end of the year gift.

One great way to give while enjoying tax savings is by opening up a charitable gift annuity. The Archdiocese of Newark Chari-

table Gift Annuity (CGA) program offers you a way to contribute to your parish or the many essential programs and ministries

of the Church of Newark. The benefits you will receive are payments for life and a tax deduction in the year you make your gift,

since a portion of your gift will be used for charitable purposes. If you are 65 years or older, you can make a gift of cash or se-

curities to establish a gift annuity for as low as $5,000.00, with payments starting almost immediately. It can be a great way to

supplement your retirement income by guaranteeing annuity payments at rates ranging from 4.7% to 9.0% depending on your

age. We also offer a two life gift annuity and deferred gift annuities. Any of these programs are a great way to help ensure the

lives of those that come after us by building the Catholic faith for generations to come. And it’s a great way to save on year-end

tax savings. Please call me at the number below for a free confidential and customized plan.

Cash is another way of giving and probably the simplest. You can give cash with a designation in mind or you can give to the

general purposes of your parish or the Church of Newark. Be sure to obtain a letter of receipt that documents your cash contri-

butions.

Donating stocks is also a beneficial way of donating to your parish. Of course, appreciated stocks are preferred. If you meet the

criteria, there is a possibility that you won’t pay capital gains tax and may be entitled to a charitable deduction. However, if you

have stock losses, the best idea would be to sell the stock and donate the cash and take a charitable deduction.

You may want to consider donating real estate. There are a few ways you can do this:

1) Donate the property now. If you have had the property for a period of time and it has gone up in value, eliminate a sizable

capital gains tax and donate the property. You will also receive a charitable deduction for the property.

2) Retain the property. You can deed your home to your parish or the Church of Newark now but continue to live in your home

for your lifetime. Since the gift is irrevocable, you can get an immediate income tax charitable deduction.

Another aspect of giving is long-term giving through your estate. You may consider leaving your parish in your will, a trust, life

insurance policy and retirement account. The wonderful thing about giving long-term is that you can give a gift of a specific

amount or a percentage, it is whatever you feel comfortable with. However you decide, we are always grateful and appreciative

of your support of the Church of Newark. If you have any questions, I am more than happy to help you in any way I can. How-

ever, it is very important to have a conversation with your tax advisor on which giving methods are right for you.

If you decide to leave your parish, our many ministries, or the Church of Newark in your estate planning, please let me know

and I will be more than happy to enroll you in our Legacy Society. The Legacy Society is a special group of friends who have

made a commitment to the future of the Church of Newark and its parishes by including the Church in their estate plans. Mem-

bers receive invitations to special Archdiocesan functions scheduled throughout the year and there are no dues or fees associ-

ated with membership. It is our way of thanking donors now who help ensure the future of our Catholic faith for future genera-

tions.

I hope you found the above information helpful and if you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to

contact me, Theresa Lynch, at (973) 497-4042 or by email at theresa.lynch@rcan.org.

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Wills Awareness and Planned Giving Seminar

Dear Pastors,

The Office of Development & Stewardship is pleased to offer your parish the opportunity

to host a Wills Awareness and Planned Giving Seminar. With the new year, consider schedul-

ing a Seminar for your Parishioners, Finance Council, Pastoral Council, Rosary Society,

Knights of Columbus, etc. The Seminar may be scheduled at your parish’s convenience that will

best meet your parishioners needs. We are available day or night, weekdays and weekends.

Our Wills Seminar inform Catholics in the Archdiocese of their right to make a will and

to ensure that their wishes and the needs of their family are carried out as intended. We also

illustrate some gift planning techniques people can use in coordination with their estate plans.

Our vision is to show parishioners the opportunities to leave gifts in their estate plans and

wills.

We are pleased to have Liz Durkin, Esq. attend the seminars to answer any questions pa-

rishioners may have. Ms. Durkin has been practicing in the area of estate planning for more

than 25 years. Ms. Durkin is a practicing Catholic and is a member of both our Development

Council and our Nourishing Your Faith Dinner Committee.

In 2017, the Church of Newark and her parishes in all four counties have received over

$3,900,000.00 in bequests. Consider hosting a Wills Seminar and help spread the word of the

Lord for years to come.

If you are interested in holding your own Wills Awareness and Planned Giving Seminar,

please feel free to call or email me with the following information:

Month Day Time

1st Choice________________________________________________

2nd Choice________________________________________________

Example January 28, 2018 3:00 p.m.

Parish and Town ___________________________________________

Parish Phone Number_______________________________________

Contact Person & Phone Number______________________________

Here is my contact information:

Theresa Lynch

Office of Development and Stewardship

171 Clifton Avenue

Newark, NJ 07104

(973) 497-4042

Theresa.lynch@rcan.org

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Saint Joseph School, Jersey City,

“THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX” TOPS CONTEST!

Update

_______________________________________________________

Saint Joseph’s is still collecting box tops.

SJS has collected over 50,000 and counting!

Please keep clipping and mailing those box tops.

The following links allow anyone to sign up and contribute Box Tops to

the school:

http://www.boxtops4education.com

https://shopriteformyschool.com/

The school has a dedicated box top coordinator who is working with the Archdiocese of Newark

to make this wish come true.

Mail box tops (each worth $0.10) to:

Lynn Gully

Archdiocese of Newark

171 Clifton Avenue

Newark, NJ 07104

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PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

January 2018 – March 2018

January 7, 2018- Epiphany of the Lord

“..they fell down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh...” - Matthew 2:11

Notice the order of events in the Magi’s visit. First, they knelt before Jesus and prayed to Him. Then they presented Him with their gifts. We, too, must take time to pray before we present our gifts to the Lord. We never know what God may be asking us to share!

- That, like the Magi, we generously share our gifts with the Lord, trusting He will provide all that we need.

January 14, 2018 – 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’” - John 1:38

What are you looking for? Are you wasting your time looking for the material comforts of the world? Or, is your heart longing for something deeper that can only be found by spending time with God? Take time, each day, in silence and ask the Lord what it is that He wants you to do.

-That we take time, every day, talking to God - praising Him, thanking Him and asking for His guidance.

January 21, 2018-3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” - Mark 1:17

Jesus’ call to “Follow me” is a call to all Christians! The call is in the here and now, in our present circumstances, not when we think we are “ready” or have everything in order. Good stewardship of our God-given gifts means that things aren’t always going to go according to our schedule and that God has a much better plan in store for each of us.

-That we may hear Jesus’ personal invitation to “Follow Him” and re-spond by generously sharing all our gifts.

January 28, 2018- 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties.”

1 Corinthians 7:32

How much anxiety do we bring upon ourselves by constantly worrying about not having enough or attaining more things? God won’t neces-sarily give you everything you want, but He will provide everything you need. Try this – use the word “pray” instead of the word “worry” in the future.

-That we may open our hearts to receive more fully all of God’s simple and abundant blessings.

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February 4, 2018-5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed…He told them, ‘Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.’” - Mark 1:35, 38

In today’s Gospel reading we see a perfect example of stewardship. Jesus gives His time to do all that God wishes - heal-ing the sick and preaching. But before He begins, Jesus makes time to be alone with God in prayer. It is through prayer, spending time with God, that we find the strength to do what He wishes us to do. Be sure to find time every day to be with God.

-That – just as Jesus rose early to pray – we, too, may find time in our day to be with God and to receive strength and nourishment from Him.

February 11, 2018-6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Brothers and sisters, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31

Do a quick check of your priorities. Where does God rank in that list? If He’s not first, you have some work to do. Putting God first in everything helps us from putting other “gods” (like our pride and ego, money and possessions to name a few) before God. Before making a decision, ask yourself am I doing this for the glory of God or for the glory of me?

-That everything we do is for the glory of God.

February 18, 2018- 1st Sunday of Lent

“After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God….” - Mark 1:14

Do you ever think about how difficult it must have been for Jesus to come into Galilee, knowing that John had just been arrested for teaching the same message that Jesus was proclaiming. It must have taken great love and trust for Jesus to do what the Father had sent Him here on earth to do. In the same way, following a life of stewardship takes great love and trust from us. We must be willing to surrender completely to God, trusting that God will always give us all that we need to fulfill His plan for us.

-That we may place our lives in God’s hands and have the strength to carry out His unique plan for each us.

February 25, 2018- 2nd Sunday of Lent

“’Here I am!’ he answered.” - Genesis 22:11

It is easy to say, “Here I am, Lord,” when we are kneeling in church. But how easy is it to say “Here I am, Lord,” when a neighbor needs our help, when we are invited to join a parish ministry, or when we are asked to provide financial sup-port? Often times we are called when it’s not convenient for us. Discipleship is not always easy, most of the time it will make us uncomfortable and vulnerable.

-That we may answer, “Here I am, Lord,” whenever, wherever and however God calls us to serve Him.

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March 4, 2018-3rd Sunday of Lent

“You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything…” - Exodus 20:4

How many “gods” do you put before God? “Idols” do not always take the shape of physical things, things we can touch and feel. Those are easy to recognize. Many times they take the form of things we cannot touch and are much harder to spot like pride, power, ego, time, comfort or health.

-That we may learn to turn away from the false idols of our society – those visible and invisible.

March 11, 2018-4th Sunday of Lent

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” - John 3:16

Of all the wonderful gifts that God has given to us, the gift of His own Son is truly the greatest. How can we ever thank God for a gift like that? God does not ask us to sacrifice our own precious firstborn, but He does ask that we are grate-ful and generous with our God-given gifts. That we nurture and develop them and return with increase. -That we may show our gratitude for Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice by generously making sacrifices in our own lives.

March 18, 2018-5th Sunday of Lent

“I will be their God and they shall be my people.” - Jeremiah 31:33

What does it mean to be God’s people? It means we recognize that everything we have and everything we are belongs to God. We aren’t “owners” of anything, we are merely “stewards” of the gifts God has given us. It means we are will-ing to use our gifts and our lives to care for our neighbors and the world, just as God cares for us. -That, as God’s chosen people, we may accept and follow God’s plan to generously share our time, talent and treasure with others.

March 25, 2018-Palm Sunday

“Pilate again said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with the man whom you call the King of the Jews?’ And they cried out again, ‘Crucify him.’” – MARK 15:12-13

Jesus told us “whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me.” Every day we are presented opportunities to help someone. Every day we have the opportunity to see the face of Jesus in others and be the face of Jesus to oth-ers. Pray for the strength and courage to stand up for those in need of our help.

-That we have the strength and courage to stand up for those in need of our help.

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REFLEXIONES DEL BOLETÍN DE CORRESPONSABILIDAD

Enero 2018 - Marzo 2018

7 de enero de 2018- Epifanía de Nuestro Señor

"... se arrodillaron y lo adoraron. Entonces ellos abrieron sus tesoros y le ofrecieron dones de oro, incienso y mirra ... "- MATEO 2:11

Observa el orden de los eventos en la visita de los Reyes Magos. Primero, se arrodillaron ante Jesús y le rezaron. Luego le presen-taron sus regalos. Nosotros también debemos tomarnos un tiempo para orar antes de presentar nuestros dones al Señor. ¡Nunca sabemos lo que Dios nos puede estar pidiendo que compartamos!

- Para que, al igual que los Reyes Magos, generosamente compartamos nuestros dones con el Sen or, confiando en que É l nos proporcionara todo lo que necesitemos.

14 de enero de 2018- Segundo domingo del Tiempo Ordinario

"Jesús se volvió y vio que lo seguían y les dijo: <<¿Qué están buscando?>>" (JUAN 1:38).

¿Qué estás buscando? ¿Pierdes el tiempo buscando las comodidades materiales del mundo? O es tu corazón que anhela algo más profundo que solo se puede encontrar al pasar tiempo con Dios? Toma un tiempo, todos los días, en silencio, y pregúntele al Señor qué es lo que Él quiere que hagas.

- Para que tomemos tiempo, todos los dí as para hablar con Dios, ala-ba ndolo, da ndole gracias y pidie ndole su guí a.

21 de enero de 2018-3er domingo del Tiempo Ordinario

"Síganme y los haré pescadores de hombres" - MARCOS 1:17

¡El llamado de Jesús a "seguirlo" es un llamado a todos los cristianos! La llamada está en el aquí y ahora, en nuestras circunstanci-as actuales, no cuando pensamos que estamos "listos" o que todo está en orden. Una buena administración de los dones que Dios nos dio significa que las cosas no siempre van a ir de acuerdo con nuestra agenda y que Dios tiene un plan mucho mejor reservado para cada uno de nosotros.

- Para que podamos escuchar la invitacio n personal de Jesu s a "Seguirlo" respondiendo generosamente al com-partir todos nuestros dones.

28 de enero de 2018-4º domingo del Tiempo Ordinario

"Hermanos y hermanas: me gustaría que estén libres de ansiedades". (1 CORINTIOS 7:32)

¿Cuánta ansiedad nos causamos al preocuparnos constantemente por no tener lo suficiente o por no lograr más cosas? Dios no necesariamente te dará todo lo que deseas, pero Él te proporcionará todo lo que necesites. Prueba esto: usa la palabra "orar" en lugar de la palabra "preocuparse" en el futuro.

-Para que podamos abrir nuestros corazones para recibir ma s plenamente todas las bendiciones simples y abun-dantes de Dios.

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4 de febrero de 2018-5º domingo del Tiempo Ordinario

"Levantándose muy temprano antes del amanecer, salió y se fue a un lugar desierto, donde oró ... Les dijo: 'Vayamos a las aldeas cercanas para predicar allí también. Para eso he venido '".

- MARCOS 1:35, 38

En la lectura del Evangelio de hoy, vemos un ejemplo perfecto de corresponsabilidad. Jesús da su tiempo para hacer todo lo que Dios desea: sanar a los enfermos y predicar. Pero antes que Él comience, Jesús se toma el tiempo para estar a solas con Dios en oración. Es a través de la oración, pasando tiempo con Dios, que encontramos la fuerza para hacer lo que Él desea que hagamos. Asegúrate de encontrar tiempo todos los días para estar con Dios.

- Para que, así como Jesu s se levanto temprano para orar, tambie n nosotros podamos encontrar tiempo en nues-tros dí as para estar con Dios y recibir fortaleza y alimento de É l.

11 de febrero de 2018-6º domingo del Tiempo Ordinario

"Hermanos y hermanas, ya sea que coman o beban, o lo que sea que hagan, hagan todo para la gloria de Dios".

- 1 CORINTIOS 10:31

Haga una revisión rápida de sus prioridades. ¿Dónde se ubica Dios en esa lista? Si Él no es el primero, tienes trabajo que hacer. Poner a Dios primero en todo nos ayuda a poner otros "dioses" (como nuestro orgullo y ego, dinero y posesiones, por nombrar algunos) ante Dios. Antes de tomar una decisión, pregúntate: ¿voy a hacerlo por la gloria de Dios o por la gloria mía?

- Para que todo lo que hagamos sea para la gloria de Dios.

18 de febrero de 2018- Primer domingo de Cuaresma

"Después de que Juan había sido arrestado, Jesús vino a Galilea proclamando el evangelio de Dios..."

- MARCOS 1:14

¿Alguna vez pensaste en lo difícil que debe haber sido para Jesús entrar a Galilea, sabiendo que Juan acababa de ser arrestado por enseñar el mismo mensaje que Jesús estaba proclamando? A Jesús le debe haber requerido gran amor y confianza para hacer lo que el Padre le había enviado a hacer aquí en la tierra. De la misma manera, seguir una vida de corresponsabilidad requiere gran amor y confianza. Debemos estar dispuestos a rendirnos por completo a Dios, confiando en que Dios siempre nos dará todo lo que necesitamos para cumplir Su plan para nosotros.

- Para que podamos poner nuestras vidas en las manos de Dios y tener la fortaleza para llevar a cabo su plan u nico para cada uno de nosotros.

25 de febrero de 2018-2º domingo de Cuaresma

"<<¡Aquí estoy!>>, Respondió. "- GÉNESIS 22:11

Es fácil decir: "Aquí estoy, Señor", cuando estamos arrodillados en la iglesia. Pero ¿qué tan fácil es decir "Aquí estoy, Señor", cuando un vecino necesita nuestra ayuda, cuando nos invitan a unirnos a un ministerio parroquial, o cuando se nos pide que brindemos apoyo financiero? Muchas veces nos llaman cuando no nos conviene. El discipulado no siempre es fácil, la mayoría de las veces nos hará sentir incómodos y vulnerables.

- Para que podamos responder: "Aquí estoy, Sen or", cuando sea, donde sea y como sea que Dios nos llame a servirle.

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4 de marzo de 2018-3er domingo de Cuaresma

"No se forjarán ídolos de ninguna forma ..." - Éxodo 20: 4

¿Cuántos "dioses" pones delante de Dios? Los "ídolos" no siempre toman la forma de cosas físicas, cosas que podemos tocar y sentir. Esos son fáciles de reconocer. Muchas veces toman la forma de cosas que no podemos tocar y son mucho más difíciles de detectar como el orgullo, el poder, el ego, el tiempo, la comodidad o la salud.

- Para que podamos aprender a alejarnos de los í dolos falsos de nuestra sociedad- aquellos visibles e invisibles.

11 de marzo de 2018-4º domingo de Cuaresma

"Porque tanto amó Dios al mundo que le dio a su único Hijo ..." - JUAN 3:16

De todos los maravillosos regalos que Dios nos ha dado, el regalo de su propio Hijo es verdaderamente el más grande. ¿Cómo podemos agradecerle a Dios por un regalo como ese? Dios no nos pide que sacrifiquemos a nuestro precioso primogénito, pero sí nos pide que seamos agradecidos y generosos con los dones que Dios nos ha dado. Que los alimentemos y devolvamos con au-mento.

- Para que podamos mostrar nuestra gratitud por el ma ximo sacrificio de Jesu s haciendo generosos sacrificios en nuestras propias vidas.

18 de marzo de 2018-5º domingo de Cuaresma

"Seré su Dios y ellos serán mi pueblo". JEREMÍAS 31:33

¿Qué significa ser el pueblo de Dios? Significa que reconocemos que todo lo que tenemos y todo lo que somos le pertenece a Dios. No somos "dueños" de nada, somos simplemente "administradores" de los dones que Dios nos ha dado. Significa que estamos dispuestos a usar nuestros dones y nuestras vidas para cuidar a nuestros vecinos y al mundo, así como Dios se preocupa por no-sotros.

- Para que, como pueblo elegido de Dios, podemos aceptar y seguir el plan de Dios para compartir generosamen-te nuestro tiempo, talento y tesoro con otros.

25 de marzo de 2018- Domingo de Ramos

"Pilato volvió a decirles: << ¿Qué haré con el hombre a quien llaman el Rey de los judíos?>> Y volvieron a clamar: << Crucifícale>>” - MARCOS 15: 12-13

Jesús nos dijo "lo que sea que hagas por el más pequeño de mis hermanos, lo haces por mí". Todos los días se nos presentan opor-tunidades para ayudar a alguien. Todos los días tenemos la oportunidad de ver el rostro de Jesús en los demás y ser el rostro de Jesús para los demás. Reza por la fortaleza y el valor para defender a aquellos que necesitan nuestra ayuda.