In this issue: Important dates

Volume 1 September 2013

The SowerTeaching as Jesus taught

• It’s Tradition: Vigil Candles • The Task of the Church • Who was St. Lawrence? • Feast of the Archangels • Biblical Phrase: Bosom

Friend • Faith Symbol: The Fish • Barriers to Evangelization

Greetings! Welcome back to school and the important work God has called us to do. As Christians, we recognize that, in fulfilling our responsibilities, we are answering God’s call to evangelize … to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to others. The Sower is not intended to be a ‘one-time read’, but a publication you can refer to for information. You can expect some new types of articles in the newsletters, including the following: • Symbols of Our Faith

Each month we will explore the significance of one of our symbols.

• It’s All Biblical to Me! Tracing the biblical origins of common words and phrases

You will continue to receive Clips from the Catechism, a featured Word of the Month, a Catholic joke, and other bits of information and inspiration. As our faith dimension goal this year is “Shepherding Our Flock … Called to Love One Another,” we will examine not only how we can invite others into a relationship with Christ, but how we can ‘feed the lambs’ in the way Peter was called to do.

- Louis Kloster, Religious Education Consultant

Word of the Month

Concelebration

This refers to a mass in which several priests, led by one member of the group, offer Mass together, all consecrating the bread and wine. While concelebration has long been the norm in Eastern Rite churches, for many years it was restricted in the Roman Rite, taking place only at the ordination of bishops and priests. Since Vatican II, concelebrations, such as our opening mass this year, have become relatively common.

Spiritual Works of Mercy We are familiar with the corporal works of mercy, which describe how we are to help others meet their physical needs, for example, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, and visit the sick. We are also called to nurture the spiritual side of others in seven ways. They are called ‘spiritual works of mercy’ and include the following: • Share knowledge • Give advice to those who need it. • Comfort those who suffer. • Be patient with others. • Forgive those who hurt you. • Correct those who need it. • Pray for the living and the dead. This year we will examine one spiritual work of mercy each month.

September 2014 Sept.3 Feast of St. Gregory the Great

Sept. 5 Feast of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (patron saint, Bertha Kennedy School) Sept. 8 Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Sept. 13 Feast of St. John Chrysostom

Sept. 14 Feast of the Triumph of the Cross

Sept. 15 Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

Sept. 19 150th anniversary of the opening of first school building in St. Albert Sept. 20 Feast of St. Andrew Kim and companions – martyrs

Sept. 23 Feast of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Sept. 27 Feast of St. Vincent de Paul (patron saint of Morinville CHS) Sept. 29 Feast of the archangels (patron saint of St. Gabriel/iLearn) Sept. 30 Feast of St. Jerome, Priest/Doctor

Issue 1 September 2014

The Sower

Saint of the Month: St. Lawrence To be shared with your class; could be your classroom Saint of the month. This month, we feature St. Lawrence, who was born in the Philippines in the 1600's, the son of a Chinese father and a Filipina mother. When Lawrence was in his 20's or 30's, he got into trouble with the law and was falsely accused of a crime. He was afraid of being arrested and possibly killed for a crime he did not commit, so he fled to Japan with a group of missionary priests called the Dominicans. There, Lawrence worked in a Dominican mission. He taught the Japanese about Jesus, and many became Christians, even though Christians were being persecuted at the time. Lawrence got married and had two sons and a daughter. He made a living doing calligraphy – which is fancy printing. (He is often depicted with a quill in hand, such as in the above picture.) Unfortunately, in Japan, he was arrested for being a Christian. When the judge said he would not be killed if he stopped being a Christian, Lawrence boldly said: "If I lived a thousand lives, I would offer them all for God. You may kill me if that is what you want. I am willing to die for God.” He was hung by his feet and, after three pain-filled days, he died. When someone dies because of their faith, he or she is called a martyr. In 1987 Pope John Paul II recognized Lawrence as a saint. Let us ask St. Lawrence to pray for us that we may bravely teach others, by word and example, about our faith in Jesus Christ, regardless of the consequences.

A Bumper Sticker for Evangelists & Shepherds

It ’s not what you know. It ’s Who you know.

Clips from the Catechism

Why does God want there to be a Church? God wills the Church because he wants to redeem us, not individually, but together. He wants to make all mankind his people. No one gets to heaven by the asocial route. Someone who thinks only about himself and the salvation of his own soul is living a-socially. That is impossible both in heaven and on earth. God himself is not a-social; he is not a solitary, self-sufficient being. The Triune God in himself is "social", a communion, an eternal exchange of love. Patterned after God, man also is designed for relationship, exchange, sharing, and love. We are responsible for one another.

What is the task of the Church? The Church's task is to make the kingdom of God, which has already begun with Jesus, germinate and grow in all nations. Wherever Jesus went, heaven touched earth: the kingdom of God was inaugurated, a kingdom of peace and justice. The Church serves this kingdom of God. She is not an end in herself. She must carry on what Jesus started. She should act as Jesus would act. She continues the sacred signs of Jesus (the sacraments). She hands on Jesus' words. That is why the Church, for all her weakness, is a formidable bit of heaven on earth.

Why is the Church more than an institution? The Church is more than an institution because she is a mystery that is simultaneously human and divine. True love does not blind a person but rather makes him see. With regard to the Church, this is precisely the case: Viewed from outside, the Church is only a historical institution with historical achievements, but also mistakes and even crimes - a Church of sinners. But that is not looking deep enough. After all, Christ became so involved with us sinners that he never abandons his Church, even if we were to betray him daily. This inseparable union of the human and the divine, this intertwining of sin and grace, is part of

the mystery of the Church. Seen with the eyes of faith, the Church is therefore indestructibly holy.

(YOUCAT questions 122-124) The Feast of the Archangels (St. Michael, St. Gabriel & St. Raphael) The three saints we learn about this month do not have physical bodies. They never need to eat or sleep … never have. You may already have concluded that the saints being featured this month are not human … never were. They were created by God to protect His people … to protect us. They are spiritual beings which we call angels. In fact, these saints are called 'archangels' because they are very powerful angels, leaders amongst angels. They are the only angels that are named in the bible: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael. Gabriel was the angel that appeared to Mary and announced that she would give birth to the Son of God. As for St. Michael, when some of the heavenly angels turned against God, there was a great battle and he led the army of good angels in chasing Satan and the bad angels out. Michael means 'Who is like the Lord'. Finally, in the Book of Tobit in the Old Testament, we read about Raphael healing Tobit of his illness. The feast of the Archangels reminds us that, on this journey through life, we are vulnerable to temptation and to hurts. In His infinite wisdom, God knows that we will need help in staying on the path of holiness. Every year on September 29 we remember all three of these archangels. We can pray to St. Michael at any time, particularly when we need protection from temptation or anything that is evil. The prayer goes like this:

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

We humbly ask God to command you to thrust into hell Satan and all other

evil spirits that roam through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

The Sower    

Kind words can be short and easy to

speak, but their echoes are truly endless.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (Feast day: September 5)

Symbols of Our Faith This year, each issue of The Sower will present a different symbol of our faith and its significance. The fish is a symbol that has a great deal of meaning for us as Christians. In the bible, we read about the miraculous catch of fish (when Jesus asked them to cast their nets into the deep) and the account of Jesus feeding 5000 people with only two fishes and five loaves of bread. The fish symbol was used by early Christians to identify themselves as followers of Christ. This symbol was known as an ichthys. The letters of this word are an acronym that is made from three of our favorite names or titles for Jesus: Christ (which means anointed), Son of God, and Savior. In Greek these titles would read: Iesous CHristos THeou Yos Soter. The initial letters of these five words form the Greek word ichthys, which means ‘fish’. In the years shortly after Jesus was crucified, Christians were persecuted for their faith. The fish became a symbol – a secret code or a password

– for Christians. If two strangers met and were unsure whether the other was a Christian, one would draw an arc in the dirt. If the other person was a Christian, he or she would complete the symbol with a reverse arc, forming the outline of a fish. In this way one could then identify a fellow believer in ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior’. Even today this symbol of our Christian faith can be seen on bumper stickers and other objects.

   Afloat in a Sea of ‘Isms’

Our efforts to evangelize are challenged by changing attitudes and philosophies. At one time, we lived in a predominantly Christian society. There was a sense of neighborliness, interdependence, of community. Over time, family structures and societal values have changed. The Christian way of life is becoming increasingly countercultural. Here is a brief summary of three ‘isms’ that may be hurdles in the missionary work we are, by virtue of our baptism, called to do. Consumerism is a social and economic order that encourages the purchase of goods and services in ever-greater amounts. It is a tendency to consider material possessions and physical

comfort as more important than spiritual values.

Individualism promotes the subjective goals and values of each individual and believes that he or she has no obligation to be responsible to the community. Catholic Social Teaching, however, says that man should be treated as an individual, and yet he must do his best to contribute to the common good.

  Relativism is the idea that moral principles are based on your culture (such as where and when you live, your education, your age, and your level of wealth) and, therefore, are subject to individual choice. Taken to an extreme, a moral relativist believes there are no rules governing right and wrong, and, hence, that each person determines for himself or herself what is right and wrong.      

It’s Tradition

As a young altar server I was intrigued – even mystified – by the lingering smell of incense, the mystery around the tabernacle, and the glow of the vigil candles when the lights were off. Most Catholic churches have a stand with vigil or votive candles, often situated in a side chapel and placed

before statues or icons of faith. Often the candles are placed

in colorful glass vessels. To cover the cost of the candle ‘insert’, people are invited to make a donation. The word ‘vigil’ comes from the Latin word vigilia, which means ‘waiting’ or ‘watching’. With the lighting of the candle, a particular prayer is lifted to God, either for oneself or on behalf of or for the benefit of another person. Because we believe in the intercessory role of the saints, who are in the presence of God in heaven, the prayer can also be offered to Mary or to another saint. The offering of that prayer is extended, day and night, for as long as the candle remains lit … a symbol of expectant faith. The tradition of lighting vigil candles may have originated in the early days of the Church when it was customary to light candles at the tombs of martyrs in the catacombs (underground crypts

and vaults). At a time when Christian disciples were persecuted for their faith, these candles served as a sign of solidarity or unity amongst Christians, those deceased and those still living. Because the lights burned continually, as a silent vigil, they became known as vigil lights. As always, the lighting of candles is a reminder of Jesus’ words: "I am the Light of the World" (John 8: 12).  

The Sower

For more information on The Sower, contact:

Louis Kloster Religious Education & Christian Family Life Consultant Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools

Phone: (780) 459-7711 Ext. 140 Email: lkloster@gsacrd.ab.ca

Greater  St.  Albert  Catholic  SchoolsFaith  in  Our  Students

It’s All Biblical to Me!

We may not realize it, but many common phrases in the English language, in fact, have biblical origins. This year, we will examine one of them each month. We sometimes refer to a close friend or a ‘soul mate’ as a bosom buddy. In fact, the phrase comes from the Second Book of Samuel. In this book, the Lord sends the prophet Nathan to David, the great King of Israel. Nathan tells him a parable, which begins: “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him.” This is the kind of intimate and close relationship we have with a bosom friend. This is the kind of relationship God wants with each of us. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16: 22), another pertinent reference is made to the word bosom. “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom.”

Save me! Have you considered saving each issue of The Sower newsletter in a

binder for future reference?

A Prayer to Begin a New School Year

O God of truth and wisdom, I ask your blessing on me as I begin a new teaching year.

Open my mind to your wisdom, truth, and goodness that I might share these gifts with your children.

Help me to understand that you do touch the minds and hearts of your children – through me.

Make me wise enough to trust that the seeds of faith I will sow this year, with your help, will someday blossom and grow in your children.

I pray that I may be a witness of faith and be a good example to those I teach. Amen. Have You Heard This One?

A Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi were chatting one day, when the conversation turned to a discussion of job descriptions and the future.

"In what position do you see yourself in a couple years from now?" asked the rabbi to the priest.

"Well, actually, I’m next in line for the Monsignor’s job," replied the priest.

"Yes, and then what?" asked the rabbi.

"Well, I could become Archbishop," said the priest.

"Yes, and then?" asked the rabbi.

The priest, beginning to be a bit exasperated, replied, "With some luck and real hard work, maybe I can become a cardinal."

"And then?" continued the rabbi.

The priest was really starting to get frustrated, but replied, "With lots and lots of luck and some real difficult work, and if I’m in the right place at the right time and play my political games just right, maybe, just maybe, I can get elected Pope."

"Yes, and then what?" continued the rabbi.

"Good grief!" shouted the priest, "What do you expect me to become, God?"

"Well," said the rabbi, "One of our boys made it!"

Our Work as Builders … as Evangelists

Isn’t it strange that princes and kings and clowns that caper in sawdust rings And common folk like you and me are builders of eternity? To each is given a bag of tools, a shapeless man, a book of rules, And each must make, ere life is flown a stumbling block or a stepping stone. You are the person who has to decide whether you’ll do it or toss it aside. You are the person who makes up your mind whether you’ll lead or linger behind, whether you’ll try for this goal that’s afar or just be contented to stay where you are. Take it or leave it – here’s something to do; just think it over, it’s all up to you.

R. L. Sharpe  

What’s Pope Francis Saying Lately? In his most recent exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis writes: "I want to say, with regret, that the worst discrimination that the poor suffer is the lack of spiritual care. The great majority of the poor have a special openness to the faith; they need God and we must not fail to offer them His friendship, His blessing, His word, the celebration of the sacraments, and a journey of growth and maturity of faith. Our preferential option for the poor must mainly translate into a privileged and preferential religious care."