October
15,2006
Marriage
Help
Super
Raffle
We’re a couple of weeks away from giving away $10,000 in our “reverse
raffle”. Only 250 tickets will be sold and there are only a few
left. Each costs $100 and the proceeds support our school. Tickets available
in the Parish Center.
Youth@Saint
Brigid
Do you know a young person in high school who has something to give
our parish community? Perhaps a talent that would help others, perhaps
a desire to serve and make our world better, perhaps a desire to spend
some time each month with other peers who want to grow closer to God
and be involved in our church community.
Please let them know that the “kick off” for the start of
this season of Youth @ Saint Brigid (our parish youth ministry program)
will take place at and after the 6pm mass on Sunday November 5th. Invite
them to come with their parents and friends for this first night.
Off
to College?
Are you or your child away at college? At St. Brigid’s we like
to stay in touch via occasional e-mails as we send photos and news from
“home”. College students wishing to be connected through
our “Letters from home” can sign up online here
or you can mail or
e-mail thecollege names and e-mail addresses to Father Ralph and he’ll
put them on the list.
Census
Continues
Of the approximate 6,000 families we usually send mail to, we’ve
received completed Census booklets from over 4,000. So we’ve got
a ways to go.
Is your booklet in?
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past Columns:
October 8: Fall Fix Up
October 1: Cut Off Week
Sept 24:War Begins At Home
Sept 17: Who Do You Think
You Are?
Sept
10:God Be With You
Sept 3: Back to
School
August 27: Merry Christmas
August 20: Wine or No Wine
August 13: Mangia...
August 6: Mixed News
July 30: Impossibly Little
July 23: Come away!
July 16: Got a Mission?
July 9:Missing God
July 2: Jesus Interrupted
June 25: One Here, One to
Come
June 18: A Father's Gift
June 11: Charity Begins
At Home
June 4: Turning Silver
May 28: Eight Years •
Eight Months
May 21: If Any
May14: Celebrating Mothers
May 6: Celebrating Priests
April30: Baked Fish
April 23: What we hear
April 16: Out of the Tomb
April 9: Jesus, Our Source
of Peace
April 2: NOW, Can you Hear
Me?
Mar 26: Can You Hear Me
Again?
Mar 19: Can You Hear Me
Now?
Mar 12: Now Take 4Steps
March 5: Take A Step
Feb 26:Coming Home
Feb19: Visiting Heros
Feb 12: Passing Pastor
Feb 4: Annual Appeal
Jan 22: Abandoned Nets
Jan 15: Everlasting Life
Jan 8: I'm not going to
jail..
Jan 1: Happy New Year
Columns
from 2005
Columns
from 2004
Columns from
2003
Columns from 2002
Last
week we heard Jesus’ passionate defense of marriage. “What
God has joined, let no one divide.” But what if marriages bring
about more suffering than joy? What if mistakes were made and a couple
is having trouble forgiving? What if a couple is drifting apart or only
staying together “for the sake of the kids”? Don’t give
up hope. There is a process that helps couples who are experiencing difficulties
in their marriage. It’s called “Retrouvaille” (pronounced
retrov-eye) and it means “Rediscovery”. I had a chance to
sit in on this weekend program a year ago and I’ve been invited
to be the priest on the upcoming weekend on October 27th thru 29th. I
understand that there are still some openings available for this weekend
(the next one is in January) and you can get more information at (800)
470-2230 or go to www.retrouvaille.org.
If you and your spouse want your
marriage to work and are willing to put in your best effort, consider
attending. If you are thinking of separation or divorce or you are already
separated, but want to try again Retrouvaille can help. If you know of
a couple who might need help, please tell them about Retrouvaille. They
are probably desperately looking for help and don't know where to turn
to find it.
Retrouvaille is a live-in weekend
at a retreat house. The emphasis is on a technique of communication between
a husband and wife. During the weekend, a series of in-depth presentations
are given to couples. Each presentation, given by one of three married
couples and a priest (this time it’s me) , focuses on a specific
area of a marriage relationship. After each presentation, you will have
a chance to reflect on it by yourself, then discuss it with your spouse
in complete privacy. The weekend is not a spiritual retreat, not a sensitivity
group, not a seminar, nor is it a social gathering. You will, however
be encouraged, to put the past behind you and start 'rediscovering' one
another again. The weekend is not a 'miracle cure', therefore, post-weekend
sessions have been designed to continue the marriage renewal begun on
the weekend.
Please pray for those attending
the next Retrouvaille Weekend. Please pray for me too!
