October 21, 2001
Prayers For Our Time
How
not to be Early for Mass
If you forget to set your clocks back one hour next weekend, you’ll
get to church an hour early. (Better than being an hour late!)
Tragedy
Aftermath
On Monday evening, October 22nd, we’re gathering for prayer and
a forum on the aftermath of the World Trade Center tragedy at 7:30 in
St. Anthony’s Hall. (see complete info in this bulletin) This may
be just what’s needed to heal the hurts. .
Away
at College?
If you know of a St. Brigid parishioner who
is away at college, you can help us stay in touch through our parish’s
weekly “letter from home”. Send in their name and e-mail address
just click here.
Today’s
Bible Quote
“Proclaim the Word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient;
convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.”
-2 Timothy 4:2
Technology
Ministry
If you’d like togive your time and expertise at helping our parish
connect its telephone systems or develop its computer networking or
work on its website, you can let us know by filling in our
online
form
El
Salvador Trip
If you’d like to see the parish’s mission trip to
El Salvador online, you can see photos and a travelogue by
clicking here.
Want
to e-mail Father Ralph?
Past Columns:
Oct 14: Warring Words
Oct 7: Getting more
from the Word
Sept 30: Saying Goodbye
Sept 23:
Gray Days
Sept 16: This
Week's Tragedy
Sep.9: Summer Vacation
Sep
2: I Used to be an Embryo
August 26: Holy
Walking
August
19: Just Like Family
Aug
12:Incredible Forgiveness
August 5: Diocesan Doings
July
29: On A Mission
July 22: Piecing Together
July 15th: Unpacking St Brigids
July 8th: Happy to Be Here
July 1st : First Words
Is it hard to find the right words to pray
these days? Some people are experiencing a “block” in their
ability to talk to God and listen to God in prayer. This is not unusual
when our senses are assaulted with the sadness, weariness and fear that
are part of each waking hour. The inability to know how to pray is not
a sign of a lack of faith but rather an indication that depression can
affect even our relationship with God.
It’s at times like these that the psalms
can help. Thousands of years ago, people experienced the threat of war,
the overwhelming fear of destruction, the effects of disease -- much of
this led to a feeling of exhaustion and depression. And the psalms were
songs from the heart that people sang to God. There are different kinds
of psalms. Some are songs of thanksgiving...some are psalms of sadness...some
are psalms of anger...some are psalms of praise. Even after thousands
of years the words of the psalms can really help us when we don’t
know how to pray.
Here’s one way to pray the psalms. Get
out your bible. (It’s helpful to have a modern translation such as
the New American Bible [NAB], or the New Jerusalem Bible [NJB] or the
Contemporary English Version [CEV].) You’ll find the Psalms in the
Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). And then just skim over the different
psalms that are there. I assure you, no matter what you’re feeling
on a given day, you’ll find a psalm just right for you. When you
find one that suits you at that moment, take some time to read it through
slowly. Let the images and feelings of the psalms sink in. Read it again
and make it YOUR prayer to God.
For people who have internet access, I invite
you to try out a little interactive psalm-prayer program that I recently
wrote. It is an 
easy
(and fun) and spiritually uplifting way to pray with psalms. If you want
to try it, you can click on the church interactive logo on our home page.
(OK, I'll make it easy -- just click here
for now.)
But even when you're not online, why not
take some time to let the psalms help in prayer? They can really be a
source of comfort and healing.
Come Visit Our Online Tour of our Youth Group's Trip To El Salvador!
For the Record..
See Father's Ralph's first spoken greeting to the community at St. Brigid..
Italian Mass
(translation provided)
(translation provided)
Haitian Mass
(translation provided)