On Giving & Praying
Archbishop's Charity Dinner
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| His Grace, Archbishop Terence Prendergast speaking at 2013 Archbishop's Charity Dinner |
United Way Campaign 2013
The Ottawa Catholic School Board launched its 2013 United Way Campaign in early October. It has been recognized in the past for the incredible generosity of its nearly 4,000 employees.
Ottawa Catholic's remarkable campaigns of the past are summarized below:
2008 Campaign: $489,544
2009 Campaign: $565,115
2010 Campaign: $555,555
2011 Campaign: $562,050
2012 Campaign: $533,510
In 2011, the Board was also ranked first in The Ottawa Business Journal's Book of Lists for the Top United Way Campaign in the city of Ottawa, based on total amount of staff contributions.
This year's campaign target was set at $550,000. However, this target has been exceeded!
Please click on the link below to view the Board's 2013 video, promoting not only the United Way but as well its own Catholic Education Foundation:
Please click on the link below to view the Board's 2013 video, promoting not only the United Way but as well its own Catholic Education Foundation:
Catholic Spiritual Practices
edited by Colleen M. Griffith
& Thomas M. Groome
This book offers fresh perspectives, by multiple authors, on
traditional Catholic practices of prayer, practices of care, and practices of
growth. It establishes that the main purpose
of spiritual practice is a “deeper relational life” with God. I particularly like the sections
"Praying with The Saints", “Intercessory Prayer”, "Practicing
Forgiveness", "Family Life as Spiritual Practice", "The
Ignatian Examen", and "Thanksgiving After Communion".
Practices of Prayer
Practices of Prayer
In the chapter on The Lord’s Prayer, N. T. Wright nicely
summarizes this prayer that unites Christians around the world: “It divides
into two parts, the first containing three petitions about God’s purposes and
glory, and the second, three petitions for human need.” The human needs are “bread for today”,
forgiveness of sin and debt, and rescue from danger and evil.
Elizabeth A. Johnson brings a fresh and meaningful
perspective to the traditional concept of the communion of saints. Rather than view them as holy ones in heaven
to be venerated, they should be honoured as companions or dear friends of the
faith. Instead of asking the saints to
petition God on our behalf, we can pray to God in “profound gratitude” for the
witness and examples of the saints’ lives and in sorrow over their martyrdom. The lives of the saints should be a source of
encouragement to us and a call to confront the social and political structures
that caused injustices towards them.
Ann and Barry Ulanov in “Intercessory Prayer – A Practice of
Praying for Others”, emphasize the transformational effect of prayers we offer
for others, including prayers for our loved ones, those who are suffering, and even
our enemies. Intercessory prayer alters
us as we “open up” or “soften” to the plight of those we pray for, empathizing
with them and accepting the limited control we have over the welfare of others
and ourselves.
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| Prrayer Table - St. Cecilia |
Practices of Care
The nature of forgiveness
is clarified in “Practicing Forgiveness”, by Marjorie J. Thompson. She emphasizes that forgiving is neither
denying the hurt inflicted on you by another nor completely forgetting about
the wrong. Furthermore, to forgive someone
does not mean “putting the other one on probation”. In other words, true forgiveness is
unconditional and not dependent on better behaviour by the one who committed
the wrong. Instead, to forgive is to
make a deliberate choice “to release the person who has wounded us from the
sentence of our judgment”, even when he/she is deserving of that judgment. By forgiving others, we behave as Jesus did
and “participate in the mystery of God’s love.”
In “Family Life as Spiritual Practice”, Wendy M. Wright
elaborates on two important spiritual practices for those with a busy family
life. The first is the practice of availability – a “profound willingness
to be present to others in the family”, keeping their interests in mind and
attending to their critical needs. This
selfless devotion to our family is loving others “as God has loved us”. The second practice is the “art of Sabbath
keeping”. This practice involves finding
time amidst the busyness of life for rest and rejuvenation through family
prayer and restorative moments together.
Practices of
Spiritual Growth
Dennis Hamm offers in “The Ignatian Examen” a 5-step
approach to a daily examination of conscience.
It begins with a prayer for illumination or understanding amidst the
confusion of everyday life. Next comes a
review of the day with a focus not on your mistakes and sins but rather on the
small blessings and gifts that you received.
This should be followed by a review of both the good and troubling
feelings that that come to mind during the replay of the day. From these feelings, select the one that most
impacts you, and pray as you focus on this feeling – whether negative or
positive. Lastly, shift your focus to tomorrow, and pray
for help or healing as you move forward.
Thomas Groome provides a 5-part prayerful response that one
can use following the reception of Eucharist in “Thanksgiving after Communion”. By,
appropriately, focusing on the word ALTAR, one can easily remember the stages
of the response:
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Adoration
involves pausing in awe at this moment of encounter with Jesus;
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Love
should then be expressed for Jesus and for others;
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Talk
openly then to Jesus, sharing with Him your hopes and fears, joys and
sorrows;
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Ask
Jesus for the graces you most need;
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Repent
and resolve to live as Jesus’ disciple.
