March 14, 2023, Class Update: We are Worth Fixing

Greetings everyone!

In our most recent class, everyone had the opportunity to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation with Father Rex.  

Also during class was an activity to create images representing Who God is using cotton swabs, based on chapters 4, 8, and 12 in the green book, Christ Reveals God's Mystery.  I saw some great images.

In reconciliation, we recognize that our sins cut us off from God, Who, in His grace and mercy, provides a way for us to be restored back to our right relationship with Him.

I showed the traffic court scene from the movie Cars, my favorite animated movie, with the line, "We are a town worth fixing!"  God looks at each of us and says that we are worth fixing.  And that is truly something to celebrate.  (That's why Father Kevin, who I knew in college, remarked that we should celebrate having gone to reconciliation.)

And so I brought out treats to celebrate having gone through reconciliation, as well as for March 16, which is the midpoint of Lent 2023 and my birthday.

For this week's activity, please spend 5 minutes looking at the Litany of St. Joseph, with many descriptors for St. Joseph.

Then, in this form, please state which of the descriptors stood out to you and briefly explain why.

The descriptors start at "Illustrious Son of David" and end with "Protector of the Holy Church".  Please pick one of them between those two.

This activity is due by class time on March 21.

(Pope Francis was installed as Pope on March, 19, 2013, the Feast of St. Joseph.  This year, since March 19 is on a Sunday, the Feast of St. Joseph is moved to March 20.)

Looking ahead to our upcoming class, we're going to continue exploring Lenten themes and our mission as people of faith.

Thank you all for your contributions to the Companions Journeying Together collection, which will help inmates connect with their moms.

As usual, please feel free to contact me with questions, etc.

As we reach the midpoint of Lent 2023, with Laetare Sunday coming up on March 19, let us rejoice in our God Who, in His love, bestows His grace and mercy on us, forgiving us of sins.

As I celebrate my birthday this week, I gave thanks for all those who have been part of my life over the years, including all of you, my students.

We remain connected as One Church:
All my relations.

God's blessings on your week,
Paul

P.S. The opening prayer in class was a condensed version of Psalm 51.

The closing prayer was the 2nd reading from Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Lent, Romans 5:1-2, 5-8.


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