Saint Casimir Parish

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       Lietuviškai              

MINISTRY OF PRAISE
 

FEBRUARY, 2015
 
St. Casimir Parish
 

Almighty God,
grant that with the help of St. Casimir’s intercession
we may serve you in holiness and justice.

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE FOLLOWING INTENTIONS

 

  • That prisoners, especially the young, may be able to rebuild lives of dignity. (February Papal intention)

  • That the Lord will bless all men and women in the Church who live the vocation of consecration.

  • That civil leaders will use their authority to provide bread for the hungry, shelter for the homeless , and justice for the oppressed.

  • That God bless Father Bacevice and the Pastoral and Finance Councils in their efforts to secure the future of St. Casimir Parish.

  • That all parishioners recognize their responsibility to St. Casimir Parish's future through financial support, fund-raising efforts, commitment to parish activities, sharing ideas and, most importantly, prayer.

  • That members of the Catholic press will be faithful stewards who courageously advance the Gospel.

  • That, as our nation celebrates President’s Day, God will bless and protect our president and make us ever grateful for the liberty we enjoy.

  • That lawmakers may have the wisdom and courage to uphold conscience rights and protect all people from being forced to violate their moral and religious convictions.

  • That our Ministers of Praise be validated in their belief in the power of prayer.

 

 

WHAT’S HAPPENING            AT ST. CASIMIR PARISH?

First Friday Holy Hour for Life:  Friday, Feb. 6th after 7:30am Mass and until 9:00am

Celebration of Lithuanian Independence, Feb. 7th

Monthly Evening Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament:  Wednesday, Feb. 11th from 6:00-9:00pm

Ash Wednesday, Lent begins, Feb. 18

Stations of the Cross, Feb. 20 and 27, 7:00pm in church

 

SAINT FOR FEBRUARY

 

ST. ANSGAR

 Bishop, Monk
(801--865)

February 3rd  

St. Ansgar said that he would ask of God only one miracle, that by his grace he would make of me a good man.

     Saint Ansgar was a Benedictine monk. He was born in Amiens, France. His missionary work was in Denmark after the conversion of King Harold. He was invited also to Sweden where he remained a short time. Then he was recalled to become the abbot of a new monastery and Archbishop of Hamburg, Germany in 831. He was a legate to Scandinavia, and for the next fourteen years labored there only to see all his work come to naught because of the destructive invasions of the Norsemen. He returned to Germany in 854 and then nine years later returned to Denmark and Sweden. He experienced some success there, but the whole area fell into paganism after his death.

     Ansgar was untiring in his missionary efforts, but, like many missionaries, he lived to see his work destroyed and his efforts proved apparently unsuccessful. He is remembered as an extraordinary preacher, a humble, ascetical priest and a bishop, who was greatly concerned for the poor and the sick. He often endured hardships from hostile pirates and marauding tribes. At times he prayed for a martyr’s crown. His death, however, was a peaceful one.

     The zeal of missionaries like St. Ansgar is a source of admiration. As they responded to God’s call, so must we. The II Vatican Council in the Decree of the Church’s Missionary Activity reminds us:

          Every disciple of Christ is responsible in his own measure for the spread of the faith, but Christ the Lord     is always calling from among his followers those whom he wills, so that they may be with him to preach to the nations…He must follow in the footsteps of his Master, who was gentle and humble of heart, and reveal to others that his yoke is easy and his burden light. (Ad Gentes. Nos. 23-24)

 Sources:  IN HIS LIKENESS by Rev. Charles E.Yost, SCJ, STL  and  SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS, Loyola University Press)

 

THOUGHTS FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Interior Penance

 

#1430  Jesus’ call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, “sackcloth and ashes,” fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion.  Without this, such penances remain sterile and false; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works of penance.

#1434  The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, express conversion in relation to oneself, to God and to others. Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins: efforts at reconciliation with one’s neighbor, tears of repentance, concern for the salvation of one’s neighbor, the intercession of the saints, and practice of charity “which covers a multitude of sins.”

Download Lenten calendar page 1, page 2