Catholic Prayer Club
… a Worldwide Apostolate
July
2007 A.D.
HOW THE CURRENT LITURGICAL YEAR IS
STRUCTURED
Vatican II called
for a reform of the liturgy. Besides
changing the language and turning the altar and the priest around, the
liturgical year also underwent significant change. Along with developing a three-year lectionary
cycle, the flow of the liturgical year also changed.
The heart of the liturgical
year is the Paschal mystery celebrated at Easter. The season of preparation for Easter is Lent,
whose length fluctuated until it settled into a 40-day preparation for baptism
at the Easter Vigil. Once infant baptism
became the norm, the baptismal focus was minimized, and Lent became a
penitential season focused on conversion.
The Easter season is celebrated for 50 days with the seven Sundays of
Easter culminating in the celebration of Pentecost.
Christmas is also
preceded by a preparation period that, similar to Lent, fluctuated in theme and
length, until it settled on the four Sundays before Christmas. The Epiphany, celebrating Jesus’
manifestation to the world, symbolized by the magi story from Matthew’s Gospel,
follows Christmas.
Ordinary time is a
liturgical season beginning with the first Sunday after Epiphany. It is interrupted by the 90 days of
Lent-Easter-Pentecost; Ordinary time picks up again on the day after Pentecost
and continues until the first Sunday of Advent.
The word “ordinary”
is meant to stress that these Sundays are “ordinal” or “numbered”. They are not “plain” Sundays, as most people
would understand “ordinary”, but rather are numbered Sundays.
Try making yourself
more attuned to the flow of the liturgical year.
Reprint
courtesy of Liturgical Publications
Memories from the
By Steve Macy
On The 14th
of June I returned to the
A group pilgrimage is the most enjoyable and
efficient way to see the major sites. Also you should go with a group of fellow
Catholics that is being led by an experienced Catholic tour leader.
Our pilgrimage was led
by Fr. Mario DiCicco an energetic and dynamic Franciscan Friar with over 30 Holy
Land excursions under his belt or should I say his cincture. He also lived
there for a time. Fr. Mario is a bundle of energy with a marvelous sense of
humor who laughs heartily over a good joke, particularly his own. He also knows
the
I can’t remember ever having more fun over an
eleven day period, however, you nevertheless knew from the get-go that you were
on a Catholic pilgrimage. Father started our day early with breakfast at 7 and
on the bus by 8:15. After a prayer the bus started out on the day’s itinerary
which ran until 5 or 6 each day. We were blessed with a wonderful local guide
Mr. Amer Shehadeh who became a dear and trusted friend over the 11 days that we
were together. Each site as well as our time riding in the coach included
insightful commentary from Amer and Fr. Mario. Father also read and offered
commentary on the appropriate scripture passages at each stop and of course led
the celebration of Holy Mass each day. His homilies were insightful and always
complimented the particular site where the Mass was taking place.
Another fellow pilgrim
was Fr. Joe Steele, a Diocesan Priest from
ODDS and Ends
June is the month when
the ordination of new priests and deacons occurs so please remember the newly
ordained in your prayers along with the religious that professed their solemn
vows this spring.
Parish collections
generally decline materially over the summer months as people are away on
vacation. Please keep this in mind when discerning your financial commitment to
your parish.
May summer be a time of
reflection, rest, and renewal as we seek to experience God in our everyday
lives.
The
CPC Prayer Intention for This Month
For an increase in vocations in the Church and for
the Lord’s Blessing on all of those who guide and minister the faithful.
Lord hear our prayer
Why
not start a prayer group in your home area?
Details are available on the following page……
You can help us spread the good word of our Lord…by becoming a CPC
Prayer Ministry Leader in your home area.
As a CPC Prayer
Minister (PM) you will form and lead a small Home Based Prayer Community (HBPC)
in your hometown.
It’s easy to
get started. All you need to do is invite several friends, co-workers or family
members to join your HBPC. Local communities are generally comprised of from 3
to 15 members who gather in community every other week to pray, reflect and
share our faith. The Catholic Prayer Club will provide you with all of the
materials you need to form organize and lead your ministry and Home Based
Prayer Community.
So if you feel
called to a ministry in the service of the Lord, please contact Steve Macy or
Aurora Ragaza Co-Stewards of The Catholic Prayer Club at
The
Catholic Prayer Club®
On the Worldwide Web www.catholicprayerclub.org
While our
Ministry is free of charge it is not free of cost. Please consider
supporting CPC with a tax - deductible donation by clicking the secure link
below
Donate Here Through
JustGive®
http://www.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=14-1977600
Or if you
prefer you can send a check payable to The Catholic Prayer Club at