RE Newsletters
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Newsletter Archive
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LENT 2018-Newsletter
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ALMSGIVING
By Intern, Chris Gattis
As we approach the liturgical season of Lent, it is worthwhile to think and pray about what we can take on as well as let go of. ‘Letting go’ of our time, talent, or treasure for the sake of others — specifically the poor and vulnerable — is a sacrifice of charity and is central to the Christian life. The giving of our treasure, almsgiving, is a particular mark of the Church from its very beginning. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops states, quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church (no. 2462), “The foundational call of Christians to charity is a frequent theme of the Gospels. During Lent, we are asked to focus more intently on "almsgiving," which means donating money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of charity. As one of the three pillars of Lenten practice, almsgiving is "a witness to fraternal charity" and "a work of justice pleasing to God." Along with prayer and fasting, almsgiving prepares us for the paschal mystery of Christ and is a witness to our faith in the Gospel.Gary A. Anderson, a professor of Biblical Studies at the University of Notre Dame, explores in depth this call to almsgiving as witnessed in the very beginnings of the Christian tradition and Christianity’s connection to Judaism and the Hebrew Scriptures. In his book Charity: The Place of the Poor in the Biblical Tradition (Yale University Press), Anderson notes that almsgiving is grounded in the belief that when someone sacrifices what she has to the poor — thus manifesting her faith in a world guided by charity and her dependence on God — she stores up for herself a treasury in heaven (Proverbs 10:2 and Luke 12:32-34). Our ‘investment’ of alms is not a merely a good deed; rather, it is, as Anderson makes clear, “a declaration of belief about the world and the God who created it” (Anderson, 4). A sacrifice of alms is an investment in our faith that God is love and calls us to love as well.
For a summary of Anderson’s thought, see his article in Commonweal: “The Current of Creation: The Jewish Sources of Christian Charity”
Whole Family Catechesis: Faith | Family | Food
In our Advent issue, you may have read some about our new Whole Family Catechesis model. Inspired by the Parish Mission during our dedication week, the Religious Education and Youth Ministry teams have now offered four sessions for parents and children. Our goal is to inspire family conversation, give parents tools for prayer, and help create “sacred time” for your family in a busy world. We hope those of you who have joined us so far have found those goals achieved for your family!
We have two sessions left for the is year. Coming soon is our Lenten session with Fr. Mike Magree, SJ. Fr. Mike is a Jesuit priest, and will share a little bit about the traditional Jesuit examen prayer. The examen is a wonderful way to look for God in our daily life, and it a particularly helpful form of prayer during Lent. And in April, Megan Swaim and I will talk about finding God in everyday life, highlighting the times we’ve failed and having a good laugh at ourselves, while still encouraging each other to continue to share God’s love in all we do. At that time, we will also have a special VBS preview for our children, so we hope you can come!
Here is the general format for the evening: once a month on Tuesday evenings, we offer simultaneous teaching on a topic of faith for parents and their children. Parents are given a night off from cooking and cleaning, and have the opportunity to listen to a speaker who can share ways to practice the faith, even when the business of life with young children intrudes! Kids have the opportunity for crafts, activities, and learning with their peers. There is even child care for infants and toddlers! At the end of the evening, families gather together for dinner and conversation. We send families to dinner with some nuggets for discussion, and encouragement to pray together as a family. Families are asked to register ahead of time - forms can be found on our website: stpius.net/whole-family. We hope you might join us!
Upcoming Dates:
February 13, 6:00 pm (Mardi Gras) – Lent and the Penitential Rites
April 10, 6:00 pm – Finding God in Everyday Life