Generation Christ - Ann Arbor at 530 Elizabeth Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 US
| 01-20-2012 | The Weekly Update is typically mailed out at noon on Fridays. Email paulcschultz at gmail dot com, if you would like to subscribe |
~ The Weekly Update ~
Feast of Sts. Fabian & St. Sebastian (OF/EF)
Greetings GenChrist,
Our Sunday evening Holy Hour will be in the church, this week. Adoration and prayer for life will happen from 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Fr. Bill will lead the meditation. GenChrist's hour will be from 7:00-8:00, though you're welcome to stay longer. On Sunday, check with members of FMH and SCH, to see whether there will be a social hour in the parish hall at 8:00 p.m.
If you arrive after 7:00 p.m., please enter through the doors on Kingsley Street, which will hopefully be open.
This weekend, please pray for all of our friends who are going to the March for Life.
In Christ,
Paul Schultz
News in Brief
Today: Adoration at St. Thomas
January 18-25: Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity
Tonight: Frassati Holy Hour, Royal Oak - fb
January 22: Work of Mercy - Delonis Center
January 22: CenChrist + pro-life Holy Hour in Church
January 23: Day of Penance for the Sin of Abortion
January 25: St. Thomas Parish viewing of Catholicism, Episode II
January 25: No midweek social: Go to ToT!
January 26: Kickoff - monthly Theology on Tap at Conor O'Neill's - fb
January 26: New Oremus group: adoration + confession
January 27: Ignite Game Night, South Lyon - fb
January 28: Snowball 2012 - fb
February 2: Candlemas: February Mass & Dinner - fb
February 3: SFL Fundraising Gala - fb
GenChrist Notes: Taizé: Pentecost opportunity in Chicago; February Mass & Dinner; Miles Christi Conference for Study and Prayer; Soul Food at Sava's: The Catholic Imagination; Catholic Urban Project 2012
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News
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
In 1908, Anglican clergyman Lewis Wattson proposed the first Christian Unity Octave - 8 days of prayer for the unity of all Christians commencing on January 18th, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter (until 1960), and concluding on January 25, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.
Later, he and his monastic community achieved full unity with the Church and he was ordained under his religious name, Fr. Paul Wattson. See the end of today's Update for news about some additional recent successes. Pope Benedict XV approved the unity devotion in 1916 and for a time it was known as the "Chair of Unity Octave." Now it is generally known as the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity."
Since 1968, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has jointly prepared Christian Unity Octave materials with the World Council of Churches. This year's materials are available on the Vatican's website or as a pdf on the WCC's website. The theme emphasized in those materials for this year is this sentence fragment taken from Acts 2:42: "One in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer."
I have been able to find no on-point treatment of the Octave in the Liturgy of the Hours but this Daily Scripture and Prayer Guide is featured on a website administered by Fr. Paul's order.
For those interested, we also have recourse to the devotions / prayers from the older Breviary as well:
January 18th - The union of all Christians in the one true faith and in the Church.
January 19th - The return of separated Eastern Christians to communion with the Holy See.
January 20th - The reconciliation of Anglicans with the Holy See.
January 21st - The reconciliation of European Protestants with the Holy See.
January 22nd - That American Christians become one in union with the Chair of Peter.
January 23rd - The restoration of lapsed Catholics to the sacramental life of the Church.
January 24th - That the Jewish people come into their inheritance in Jesus Christ.
January 25th - The missionary extension of Christ's kingdom throughout the world.
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January 23: Day of Penance for the Sin of Abortion
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, paragraph 373, provides as follows:
In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass "For Peace and Justice" (no. 22 of the "Masses for Various Needs") should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day.
If you are not able to make the pilgrimage to the March for Life, please make some effort on Monday to offer up some penance for the sin of our nation and for its improvement in the the future.
In past years, there have been some who have gathered to pray the Rosary at Planned Parenthood (Professional Drive) on this occasion. While such will be happening all of Sunday, January 22nd (12:01 a.m. - 11:59 p.m.), I can find no reference to local activities (save a rally in Lansing) on January 23rd.
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Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of Faith
Continuing this Wednesday, St. Thomas Parish will be showing this PBS/EWTN series over the course of ten more Wednesday nights. 7:30-8:30 p.m.
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Theology on Tap
Thursday, January 26th
7:00 p.m.
Conor O'Neill's
Fr. Bob Roggenbuck: Why Catholic?
Please invite your friends, even the ones that are just "spiritual."
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Oremus Prayer Group
Each Thursday night, beginning January 26th, their will be a time of quiet prayer, reflection on Sacred Scripture, adoration and intercession, beginning at 7:30 p.m., in the school chapel. The Most Blessed Sacrament will be exposed during this time of prayer. Fr. Bill will make himself available for confession and will hear them as long as is needed. Please come and spend some time with the Lord, responding to his proclamation of repentance.
New weekly Confession times: in addition to Thursday nights, confessions will be hear in the church after the 12:10 p.m. Mass on Mondays and Thursdays.
(Confessions continue to be heard every Saturday from 3:00-4:00 p.m.)
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GenChrist Notes
Taizé
The ecumenical monks of Taizé (France) are organizing a major gathering of young adults in Chicago over Pentecost (Memorial Day weekend, this year). More info: here.
While I may editorialize at greater length at a later time, I will note for now that, in my many readings, listenings, and studyings, I have often found the monks of Taizé to be much more obviously focused on Christian unity than those occasional prayer services in the States which are said to be organized in their name.
Mass & Dinner
February's young adult Mass & Dinner in Detroit will be Thursday, February 2nd - sometimes called "Candlemas," after the items that our blessed on the Feast of Our Lady's Purification. Facebook. Contact Pawel for more information.
Conference for Study and Prayer
Miles Christi's Conferences for Study and Prayer = a two-day event aimed at helping young and adult Catholics better understand their faith.
They happen twice a year, the next one is February 25th and 26th. Student rate for both days, including lunch: $55.
Fr. John Ezratty MC will be leading our GenChrist meditation on February 12th and it is possible that more information or an opportunity to pay the registration fee will be possible on that evening.
Otherwise, go to the facebook event to find the registration information.
Contact Carl for more information.
Soul Food at Sava's: The Catholic Imagination
As you may recall from the November/December Weekly Updates, St. Thomas parishioner and schola alum Tim Green is teaching a course on Modern Catholic Writers at the U, this spring. If you are a young adult who was interested in the topic but are not in the "studying season" of life, then I encourage to consider his upcoming presentation for the St. Mary's theology on tap (k/a "Soul Food at Sava's") on Monday, February 6th.
Students and young professionals are encouraged to gather for dinner, drinks and socializing at the back of the mezzanine level at 7:00 p.m. At 8:00 p.m., Tim will begin his presentation The Catholic Imagination.
Another St. Mary event to consider: GRAD and Young Professional Day of Reflection - Fr. Ben Hawley - Saturday, February 4th - 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Facebook
Catholic Urban Project 2012
Interested in living the Gospel and serving the poor? If so, we invite you to apply to Catholic Urban Project. Catholic Urban Project is an eight week, summer mission program centered in Ypsilanti, MI and Flint, MI. It is an opportunity to spend a summer in radical discipleship, sharing the love of Christ and serving the poor in the inner-city.
Who: Young adults (18 and older)
When: June 7th- August 6th, 2012
Where: Ypsilanti, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
(with plans for future sites)
For more information, please visit our website at www.catholicurbanproject.org, or e-mail us. We also invite you to attend our information session on January 29th, 2012, following the Sunday Holy Hour.
