Generation Christ - Ann Arbor at 530 Elizabeth Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 US
| 01-29-2010 |
~ The Weekly Update ~
Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (OF) / Feast of St. Francis de Sales (EF)
Greetings GenChrist,
Our weekly holy hour will return to the parish hall, this Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Our meditation will be lead by Deacon Jim Miles of our parish.
Please see below for events in the weeks ahead.
In Christ,
Paul Schultz
News in Brief
Today: Friday Adoration - beginning after 7:00 a.m. Mass
February 2: Candle blessing - Feast of the Purification
February 3: Five Guys and a Catechism: Vocations
February 4: First Thursday - Year of the Priest Plenary Indulgence Opportunity
February 4: Catholic Men's Night
February 7: No Generation Christ
February 8: Theology on Tap: Designs of the Heart
February 11: Catholic Women's Apostolate: Fr. Mark Rutherford
February 12: GenChrist Young Professionals Happy Hour
GenChrist notes: SCH / FMH Housing for next year; Catholic Urban Project ("1CUP"); Retreats; Pope Benedict's February Prayer Intentions; Scythian; Blessed Palms.
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News
Candle Blessing: Feast of the Presentation - a/k/a "Feast of the Purification of the BVM" a/k/a "Candlemas" - Tuesday, February 2nd
40 days after Christmas, the Church celebrates the presentation of Jesus in the temple by Mary and Joseph. During that encounter, the holy man Simeon first described Jesus as a "light of revelation to the Gentiles" (i.e., just about all the readers of this update) and so, on this day, the Church blesses candles for devotional use in the year ahead.
At St. Thomas, the blessing of candles will occur at the 7:00 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. Masses on Tuesday. If you have candles you would like blessed, please label them and place them on the table that will be set up near the Baptismal font.
According to the Extraordinary Form calendar, the Feast of the Presentation is the last day of the Christmas season - so you should definitely pack up your nativity scenes and recycle your Christmas trees if you haven't done so already. :)
Fish Eaters has even more customs and readings for Candlemas, for those so inclined.
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Five Guys and a Catechism (plus friends)
This Wednesday, February 3rd, the Five Guys team will lead a discussion concerning vocations: marriage and religious life.
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Plenary Indulgence - Year of the Priest
Throughout the current Year of the Priest, it is possible to obtain a plenary indulgence on the First Thursday of each month. The next First Thursday is February 4th.
"The Plenary Indulgence is granted to all the faithful who are truly repentant who, in church or in chapel, devoutly attend the divine Sacrifice of Mass and offer prayers to Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest, for the priests of the Church, and any other good work which they have done on that day, so that he may sanctify them and form them in accordance with His Heart, as long as they have made expiation for their sins through sacramental confession and prayed in accordance with the Supreme Pontiff's intentions."
Full details here.
CatholicCulture.org has some other concrete suggestions for things that we can do during the Year of the Priest.
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Catholic Men's Night - "The Culture War - Report from the Front Lines"
The speaker for Thursday's evening, February 4th, will be Robert Muise who is an attorney with the Thomas More Law Center - a national, public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor. He practices in the area of constitutional law, defending religious liberties and the right to life in state and federal courts across the county. He is a retired Marine officer, having reached the rank of Major. He and his wife Christine are the parents of 11 children.
Gather your friends and come for Mass, to hear the talk and to enjoy the fellowship and refreshments. We will meet at the "Red Barn" - the Parish Center Gym at Christ the King Catholic Church. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the event will begin at 7:30 p.m. All men are welcome. For more info, visit the website or call (734) 930-4524
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Theology on Tap
Designs of the Heart: Respecting the differences between men and women and how they experience love
Cafe Habana (lower level), 211 East Washington Street, Ann Arbor.
Monday, February 8, at 7:30 pm.
All young adults (singles as well as married couples) are invited to attend this Theology on Tap given by Father Gerald Gawronski.
Father will focus on the natural design of men and women; the emotional, spiritual, and physiological differences designed into us by God, and how our learning about them can deepen our understanding of ourselves and how we relate to one another.
Following the talk, there will be a time for questions.
In addition to a cash bar, there will be free appetizers sponsored by Old St. Patrick Catholic Church.
Facebook RSVP
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Heart to Heart: Fr. Mark Rutherford
Catholic Women's Apostolate: The New Evangelization of John Paul II
Thursday, February 11, 2010
6 p.m. - Rosary
6:30 p.m. - Holy Mass
7:30 p.m. - Talk (Lobby H, Domino's Farms)
Email cwa at rc dot net or call (734) 930-7497
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Young Professional Happy Hour
February 12th
6pm-8pm
Bar Louie
Come wind down from your hard week and celebrate the weekend's arrival. Bond over 40+ hour work weeks, true understanding and appreciation of 'the office' and not having to wake up early to see your boss the next day.
Questions please contact Katie Muer: kt8402 at gmail dot com
Young Professionals - Please join the GCYP group on facebook.
Everyone - if you're not a member, please join the GenChrist facebook group.
In his recently released message for World Communications Day, Pope Benedict encouraged priests to make effective use of the modern tools of social communication. As GenChrist members, please used the linked facebook groups and other tools of your own devising to evangelize Ann Arbor and our region of the world and to draw people closer to Jesus Christ, particularly in His presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
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GenChrist Notes
SCH / FMH Housing - 2010-2011
Are you wondering what God's plan is for your life?
Are you considering the possibility of religious life?
Are you desiring continued growth in holiness in your own life?
Some benefits of life at St. Catherine House include:
*SHARING A HOME WITH OUR LORD IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT!
*Close proximity to campus, St. Thomas and Zingerman's!
*Opportunity to experience life in community through House dinners, small groups
*Monthly Mass and dinners with speakers who will encourage growth in holiness
*Retreats in September and January
*Adoration in the St. Catherine House Chapel
*Annual "Nun Run" every Fall
*Monthly spiritual direction
We are currently accepting applications and scheduling interviews for the SCH summer household (May/June/July) as well as the 2010/11 Academic year.
Both single/double room options are available. Rents for summer household are a fraction of academic year rents ... this is a wonderful option if you are considering staying in Ann Arbor to work through the summer.
For more information or to receive an application and/or schedule an interview, contact Sr. Mary Ann Foggin, SGL at: mfoggin at dioceseoflansing dot org or call 517-342-2506.
Catholic Urban Project
1CUP (Catholic Urban Project) is a new summer service program for young adults, hosted and coordinated by St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ypsilanti. It is an opportunity for you to give eight weeks of your life to serve God’s children right here in the Ann Arbor / Ypsi area. Check out 1CUP for more information, or contact Rachel Thelen at Rachel at 1cup dot org or 734.483.3360.
Retreats
REFRESH - Diocese of Lansing Singles Retreat
[Not a matchmaking event.]
Are you interested in making new Catholic friends? Renewing your relationship with God? Finding peace and healing from past hurts? Are you 21 to 35 years of age and single? If so, you may want to consider attending a REFRESH weekend encounter.
The next weekend will be held in Howell, MI, March 12-14th, 2010.
Please contact
Katherine: 313-204-7155
Nick: 734-752-5480
email: refreshlansing@gmail.com
VERITAS - Lansing Veritas 10
March 26th-28th
St. Mary's Church, Jackson, Michigan
Veritas is an opportunity for Catholics ages 18-28 to get away from the burdens of every day life to take a weekend to reflect upon their relationship with the Lord. The weekend consists of a series of talks, prayer time, and music geared toward allowing each person an opportunity to grow in holiness, while also allowing time for fellowship with other young adults from the Diocese of Lansing. Additional information, and the registration form can be found on our website.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES -
The Spiritual Exercises are a weekend silent retreat with spiritual talks and time for personal meditation in silence. The spiritual conferences are preached by the priests of Miles Christi, according to the method and the principles of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Apart from the conferences and time for prayer, each day there will also be Holy Mass, Holy Rosary, and opportunity for confessions.
The retreats will start on Friday at 4:00 pm and conclude on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
More info
Men: February 19-21
Women: March 19-21
Pope Benedict's Prayer Intentions
Each month, Pope Benedict XVI announces his special prayer intentions--particular things that he wishes all Catholics to pray for that month. (When, for instance, we pray the rosary and say the prayers at the end for the intentions of the Holy Father, these are the intentions for which we're praying.) Pope Benedict offers two intentions every month, one general, and one for a particular Catholic missionary activity.
His general prayer intention for February 2010 is "For all scholars and intellectuals, that by means of sincere search for the truth they may arrive at an understanding of the one true God."
Pope Benedict's mission intention is "That the Church, aware of its own missionary identity, may strive to follow Christ faithfully and to proclaim His Gospel to all peoples."
Scythian
Scythian will play The Ark on Monday, March 8th at 8:00 p.m. Ticket might be available for purchase at GenChrist on February 14th and 21st. Please email back if you would be interested in purchasing your ticket at GenChrist.
Tickets are also available online.
Blessed Palms
Please bring your old blessed palms for this year's Ash Wednesday service to the labeled basket which is located near the Baptismal font.
