February.  It is a month of winter freeze warnings and 50 degree weather,  a month of ground hogs, Super Bowls and Presidential birthdays.  February is the month of Valentine’s Day, of flowers, cards, cut out hearts, little kids signing names to messages to classmates, roses, and special dinners.   It is also a time when the Archdiocese of Baltimore celebrates with others “Worldwide Marriage Day.”

I am reminded of one of my favorite Valentine’s Day story.  It is an unusual Valentine’s Day story in that it takes place at Christmas.  “The Gift of the Magi.” is a famous short story by O’Henry that tells the story of Jim and Della.    Both Jim and Della have valuable possessions.  For Della, it is her long, beautiful hair that is valued. She sells that hair in order to buy a platinum watch fob for Jim’s valued possession, a watch.  Unbeknownst to Della, Jim sold his watch to buy combs for Della’s hair.  On Christmas, Jim discovers Della no longer needs the combs.  And Della realizes that Jim no longer needs the watch fob.  They both lost valuable possessions, but increased that which they valued the most…their love for one another.

Marriage has faced so many challenges lately, coming under attack in a number of ways.  We are re-defining terms.  I recently heard of a spouse who was “fidelity challenged.”   A  preacher in another faith tradition told me that couples wanted to change “as long as you both shall live,” to “as long as you both shall love.”  Worrldwide Marriage Day causes us to think about what is right and good, holy and true in marriage.  When I think about marriage, I think about a number of couples who have, in big and small ways, shaped my thinking about selfless love and the far broader implications of  what happens when two become one.

I think of a man who shaved his head bald to be in solidarity with his wife who lost her hair to chemo.  And of a husband I know whose love calls him to rearrange his schedule around his wife’s horrific migraines.  I think of a woman I know who left her native land to follow her husband across the ocean.  She left the world she knew for the world they would build together.

I think of a couple I know where the husband brings his wife a flower every day, and after their many years of marriage, she still cuts the crust off his sandwiches.  Not overwhelming gestures, just daily reminders of their love. They are like a couple I know where the wife writes her husband a note at the end of each day.  She was hospitalized not too long ago, and he said, “I missed her, and I missed her notes.  Her notes when straight from her heart to her pen, and from her pen to my heart.”

I think of a couple who still holds hands after 50 years of marriage.  And another couple married for two years, where the husband left in the middle of the night to try to find the food that would satisfy his pregnant wife’s cravings.  He didn’t know that cravings are never satisfied!  I know a woman who takes care of their children, their home, his sick mom and works while her husband is in Afghanistan.  You have to admire the sacrifice of military spouses.

We celebrate Worldwide Marriage Day in this month of February and every day of the year.  May we continue to look to happily married couples as a source of inspiration to our lives and the life of the Church.  And, as pastoral leaders, may our work do all that we can do to support married couples in growing in love.   We are grateful to all that Lauri Przybysz contributes to marriage and family life on our staff.  If you are looking for ways of preparing couples for marriage or sustaining couples in their marriage give her a call.  There is so much we can do to honor those who in these times step out in faith to make a lifetime commitment.

Over the course of the last month I have had the opportunity to have some meaningful conversations with Pastors and Pastoral Life Directors about Equip for Ministry.  In these conversations there are a few consistent strains:

• Equip is really just another form of certification
• Equip is one-size fits all
• Participating in Equip would take too much of a parishioners time – no one has that much to give

I must say – these conversations have been the highlight of my 2012 … an opportunity to have conversations with leaders who are committed to formation – these kind of conversations make me happy!  I firmly believe that our Church needs well-formed lay ministers – men and women who are dedicated to their faith.  Individuals and families that know the value that their experience of Church, community and relationship with Christ has brought to their life – and who are compelled to share this faith experience with others.  This is where Equip for Ministry comes in – it is not about forcing something, but about our deepest desire to support those who are ministering in our Church.

“Equip is really just another form of certification.”  This statement highlights the necessary balance between formation and celebration.  As a formation process Equip for Ministry is foremost about engaging our lay ministers in a process of reflection, self discovery and continuing formation in a life of faith.  We all know that we are called to continue to grow in our faith – we know that without a doubt.  Equip for Ministry is one tool to help our lay ministers grow in their own faith, and strengthen them in passing on the faith to others.  Equip is a formation process where the means and the end are the strengthening up of those who minster to the body of Christ.  Recognizing and celebrating those who hit milestones should not be interpreted as a negative.  The end goal is not the piece of paper, but the process in which one engages.  Certification has as its goal the completion of certain standards to obtain a certificate of completion.  Equip for Ministry is not a certification process.  The goal of Equip is to invite lay ministers into a holistic process of formation – one which challenges, strengthens, and forms.  This is the the goal and the purpose.

“Equip is one size fits all.“  Actually, one of the strengths of Equip for Ministry is that it is anything but.  What formation have you had?  What formation do you most need?  What are your strengths?  What are the areas you most need to work on? These are the questions of Equip for Ministry.  Through a personal formation plan, through selecting courses and sequences that most fit the needs of the individual, through reflecting on how knowledge learned applies to their ministry, the lay minister creates a unique journey.  Equip strives to be comprehensive – focusing on the four major areas of formation which together encapsulate the whole of the human person – what part of us if not touched by Spiritual, Human, Intellectual and Pastoral – what part of our lives does not fall into one or more of those areas?  However, just because there is a shared scope, don’t think the view is not individualized based on where you stand.  Each participant takes the journey in the manner which they most need at the pace and timing that most works for them.  What a great opportunity for us as Lay Ecclesial Ministers to discern with our lay ministers where they are headed on their journey.

“Participating in Equip would take too much time – it is unreasonable.”  Looking at Equip for Ministry as a certification process that just needs to be finished, one which insists on finding ways to fit 4 or 6 or 8 classes into the smallest amount of time possible would correctly be a bit overwhelming.  No human could do that with a family, job and any sort of life.  However, as a process of formation, one which focuses on the journey and the learning – there is no time limit or constraint.  What if Equip for Ministry was instead approached this way:  2 hours/week for 8 weeks/year = 16 hours per year.  Is 16 hours per year more doable?  Equip should not be about cramming in as much as we can in as short amount of a time, the quantity over quality theory never seems to work anyway.  What if we approached the formation of our lay ministers as a long-term investment?  One topic at a time, with time in between to process, pray and reflect upon how what they have learned has reshaped who they are.

Pam is an active Catholic attending Mass every Sunday, while Joe comes from a “Christmas, Easter, and funerals” family. They are both Catholics, but theirs is also a mixed religion marriage. Although they were both baptized in the same faith tradition, they are coming to realize that the similarity of their religious practice ends there.

“Mixed religion” usually refers to a marriage in which the couple is of two different faith traditions, but actually each person approaches God in a personal as well as an “institutional” way. Read more at Marriage Enrichment.

Looking for more information on Parishioner Day for the MAC on March 10th?  Here you go, all in one convenient place!

REGISTRATION FOR THE DAY IS ONLY $50 … REGISTER FOR THE MAC AND PAY NO ADDITIONAL FEE FOR PARISHIONER DAY!

Register a group and receive a discount – register 4 and the 5th is FREE!

Resources:

• Check out this Welcome Message from Archbishop O’Brien
• Flier (in English) with Speaker Information
• Flier (in Spanish) with Speaker Information
• Registration in English
• Registration in Spanish

Schedule for March 10 -

7:30 AM     Exhibits Open

8:15 AM     Opening Keynote – Rev. James Martin

9:45 AM     Break

10:00 AM   Workshops Round 1

11:15 AM     Exhibits and Lunch

12:30 PM    Workshops Round 2

1:45 PM      Exhibits

2:30 PM     Workshops Round 3

3:45 PM     Closing Prayer

4:30 PM    Exhibits Close

“We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life given to us in our encounter with Jesus Christ: they are meant for everyone, for every man and woman … It is our responsibility to pass on what, by God’s Grace, we ourselves have received.”

-Pope Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini 2012

The Spring 2012 Session of Equip for Ministry offers opportunities for lay ministers to grow in their own Spirituality, Theological understanding and the knowledge of Church!  Registration opens at the end of this week!

Who could you invite to these courses:

1. A Pastoral Council member could expand their understanding of “the Church” through the Church and Ministry course at St. Bernadette
2. The newest member of an RCIA team – the young man or woman recently welcomed into the Church and whose enthusiasm is contagious for your RCIA process, and who would benefit from the Theology for Ministry course.
3. The catechist who knows more information about the Church and her teachings than any one person could remember, and yet is looking for a way to recharge their own personal prayer life may find the styles of prayer in A Call to On Going Conversion just what they needed

The Spiring 2012 course listing provides information on each course with dates, location and facilitators.  All courses are from 7:00 – 9:30 pm.

The informational video is a great way to share with a lay minister the “why” of Equip.

Need something a bit more personalized for your community?  We created a 4 minute video for North Anne Arundel County sharing the motivation behind Equip and specifics for their regional course.  Sound like something that your region could use?  Let us know at mae.richardson@archbalt.org

Adaptive First Eucharist Preparation Kit

Loyola Press and the initiative of Eagle Scout Brendan Rizzo and his parents, David and Mer- cedes Rizzo, have developed materials that are very useful in preparing children with autism and other learning disabilities to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Brendan did this to assist his sister, Danielle, who has autism, to distinguish the Holy Eucharist from ordinary food and to receive Eucharist reverently.

All baptized persons with disabilities have a right to adequate catechesis and deserve the means to develop a relationship with God. National Directory for Catechesis

The Kit provides tools that allow children to enter fully into the ritual of Mass and be prepared for receiving the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist.

Children with autism and other special needs learn best when their sensory processing is ac- tive and engaged in the learning process.

The use of the Adaptive First Eucharist Preparation Kit enables children to come to an under- standing of the liturgy and invites them into the mystery of our faith. “Through the Holy Spirit, the Risen Christ is alive in those who believe, helping them to understand their experiences in the light of faith.” NDC 16

The Missal and other activities in the kit teach and support our Catholic Faith in a meaningful and participative method for children with autism and other special needs. Contact Loyola Press for more information: Phone 800-621-1008 or www.loyolapress.com

Saturday, February 11, 2012 – Valentine’s Day Dinner, Cost: $75 a couple

Thursdays, April 19, 26, May 3, 10, 17 — “Mastering the Mysteries of Sacramental Love”6:30 pm – 9:00 pm. Cost: $50 per couple each session or $225 per couple for the series

Register at http://www.bonsecoursspiritualcenter.org/

See Links & Clips on marriage education at http://scoop.it/t/narme

“As pastors of the Catholic Church in the United States, we state as clearly and strongly as we can that violence against women, inside or outside the home, is never justified. Violence in any form”—physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal”—is sinful; often, it is a crime as well.”—U.S. Catholic Bishops, When I Call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women

A YOGI

Yogi Berra played for the New York Yankees and was a mighty fine player at that!  Poor Yogi.  Despite the fact that he was named MVP three times, and managed teams that made it to the World Series a couple of times, the thing he is most known for is his misspeaking!  Yogi could turn a phrase!  Here are a few comments attributed to Yogi.

• “You can observe a lot just by watching.”
• “You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.”
• “If you don’t know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.”
• “If you can’t imitate him, don’t copy him.”
• “You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.”
• “Baseball is 90% mental — the other half is physical.”
• “It was impossible to get a conversation going; everybody was talking too much.

A WISE MAN

I recently talked with a very wise person who told me, “Ruthie, New Year’s Resolutions come early in the year, so that you can break them in time to think about what you are going to do for Lent.”  I like that kind of thinking…viewing our resolutions as a sort of “dress rehearsal” for Lent.  This year, that is the exact frame of reference I will take into Lent.  I am using this “New Year” period to think about how I will approach the “dangerous” forty days of Lent.

AND LENT

Why dangerous?  Simply because Lent can change the whole way you look at life.  Lent and all of discipleship tends to turn our perspective upside down.  An example might be in order.  It is usual to begin with fire that turns into ashes.  Lent begins with ashes that over a period of time become the fire of Pentecost!  A few of the other upside down curves that discipleship throws our way, include understanding that we have to lose our lives to find it (Luke 17:33); or that we boast of our weakness (2 Cor 12:9); or how about the exalted are humbled and the humbled are exalted? (Matt 23:12).

While these sayings take us a lifetime to understand, it is not because we are trying to understand “just what did Yogi mean?”  It is because we are seeking wisdom in living out our discipleship.  And that kind of reflection on discipleship takes time.

And so, maybe the wise man that told me that New Year’s resolutions come early, so that we can dress rehearse for Lent is right.  Maybe we use this time to contemplate a well spent Lent.  Maybe we use this time to reflect on how best to spend forty days of growing in discipleship.  Yogi said, “it ain’t over till it’s over,” and to that I will add only that “Lent will begin when it starts.”  Amen.

Please see the attached letter and flyer for more information.

Retreats will be held at Resurrection of Our Lord in Laurel (English and Spanish), St. Joseph-on-Carrollton-Manor in Buckeystown (ASL interpreted) and St. Pius X in Baltimore.

Direct any questions to Michael Ruzicki at 410-547-5417 or michael.ruzicki@archbalt.org.