The Upper Room is the place the Apostles spent time during the passion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. The Last supper and washing of the disciples’ feet took place in the Upper Room the night before Jesus’ death. The disciples used the space as a home base during the 50 days following Easter. While in the Upper Room, they spent time discussing what they just experienced, they prayed together and finally they were given the gift of the Holy Spirit. They were then sent out unafraid to serve God and spread the Good News. With these Scriptures in mind, we were inspired to create a weekly event called Upper Room. Each Monday night and Tuesday night all are invited to join us as we dive deeper into what Jesus taught us, make time for prayer, have discussion and learn how to go out into the world to be disciples of Christ. There are two different types of programs as a part of Upper Room. One will be the Catholic basics and the other will go deeper into Catholic topics. Monday nights will go over the Basics of the Catholic Faith. All are invited to join us. If you are interested in becoming Catholic, then Monday nights is made with you in mind but all are welcome to join us. There is always so much we can continue to learn about our faith and our relationship with God. We will meet for 10 weeks from March 11 to June 3 leading up to Pentecost on June 9 when those interested in becoming Catholic will join the Church at Mass. Tuesday nights will go deeper into the faith. For 5 week from January 29 to February 26, we will take a Biblical Walk though the Mass. We are still finalizing the details on what we will do throughout Lent to continue to grow closer to God. PARISH ACCESS CODE FOR FORMED.ORG IS C98696 During the winter months we take a break so that we can all slow down to enjoy the Advent and Christmas Seasons. Between now and when we begin meeting again, you are invited to check out Formed.org. This is like a Netflix of Catholic Resources. Use our Parish Access Code to use these resources for free. Here are few suggestions to check out on FORMED.ORG: LISTEN - Audio Talks: The Case for Jesus with Dr. Brant Pitre, True Worship with Father Mike Schmitz, This Changes Everything with Ken Yasinski, Made for Greatness with Leah Darrow, Pray like a Saint with Matthew Leonard, WATCH-Movies: Joan of Arc, Bakhita From Slave to Saint, Restless Heart, Saint Francis of Assisi His life & Miracles, Mary of Nazareth, Pope John Paul II There are 168 hours in a week. We are asking for just 3 hours a week to build a relationship with Christ.
Calendar & Topics for Spring 2019 Upper Room We will meet in the Faith Formation Room at 7pm.
If you have any questions, contact Kate Tyler at 319-363-5238 or [email protected]
0 Comments
November is a time of the year when we remember all those who are no longer with us physically here on earth. As Catholic, we know that death is not the end, it is just the beginning. With this in mind, it is important to always honor and celebrate our family and friend's who have entered into eternal life.
If you have lost a loved one, celebrate their birthday, anniversary or days that meant something special to them. Visit them at the cemetery, pray for their soul and ask them to pray for you. Did you know that when you come to Mass all your deceased family and friends are with you? When we are at Mass, “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” (Hebrew 12:1). All Angels join us at Mass. The Communion of Saints are present too, which does included all of your loved one who are now in Heaven. So next time you are missing a loved one, come to Mass. For while you are there, you will be together with your loved ones as you are giving God glory and honor. And next time you come to Mass feeling alone, remember that you are surrounded by all those at the Mass which does include all the saints & angels. If you would like to learn more about this, please check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 1136-1199. If you do not have a copy of the Catechism, check out the Vatican's website. Here is a link to the exact section of the Catechism that talks more about this topic: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s1c2a1.htm - Kate Tyler - Pastoral Associate - Have you heard lies like these? Our culture seems to think that young adults are leaving Catholicism in droves, rebelling against organized religion, and rejecting the teachings of the Church. I see the opposite.
Via Fidei is a movement among young adults in the Cedar Rapids area, dedicated to spreading zeal for the Catholic faith and passion for a life of devotion. The phrase means ‘the way of faith’ in Latin. Via Fidei is a movement of young hearts who gather for prayer, study, socials, athletics, and outreach. We have weekly, monthly, and one-time events. All events are always open to new people. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Via Fidei wants to reach out to young adults searching for more and journey with them towards a life of deeper faith. We hope to inspire those in our community to live a life set afire by the Spirit, in love with the Heart of Jesus, and devoted to God our Father. Young adults in their 20s and 30s are welcome to join our community. We aspire to reach a greater number of young professionals and college aged students who are searching for a Catholic community. If you hold concern for our generation and the future of the Church, be encouraged. The Holy Spirit is tearing through this town and lighting hearts on fire. We are young, we are passionate, we are Via Fidei. Learn more about the movement and connect with our community by clicking on the image above.
Summertime often includes time off from work, plans for vacation, attendance at baseball games, and time with family enjoying picnics and swimming. Summer means relaxation and a break from normal routine. The summer months can also be the perfect opportunity for spiritual growth. Here are a few suggestions to encourage your spiritual relationship with Christ, shared ways to get involved to deepen your faith, and keep God close throughout the summer: - Invite a friend or family member to join you at Mass. - Consider reading the Gospel of Mark. Start with a short prayer asking the Holy Spirit to be with you. Try and read for 5 minutes each day. - Next time someone asks you to pray for them, don't wait to leave to begin the prayer at another time. Pray right there with them. It could be as simple as an Our Father or a Hail Mary or you can pray spontaneously. - Go for a hike in nature and take pictures, write a poem or draw a picture. While you hike, thank God for everything that you see. You could even go stargazing one night. - Take a pilgrimage this summer. A pilgrimage is a journey a pilgrim makes to a sacred place for the purpose of venerating it or to ask for heavenly aid, and ultimately to come to know God better. Here are some places in Iowa you could visit this summer: Cathedral of St. Raphael - Dubuque Basilica of St. Francis Xavier - Dyerville Smallest Church in Iowa - Fort Atkinson - Pictures are from here New Melleray Abbey - Peosta Trinity Heights - Sioux City Outdoor Way of the Cross - St. Donatus West Bend Grotto - West Bend Grotto at Mount Mercy University or Prairiewoods are right here in town - When driving in the car, turn on Christian Music or pray. If it is a long road trip, consider praying the Rosary or Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Here is a Catholic Radio Station KMMK at 88.7fm. Here are a couple Christian Radio Stations Air 1 at 89.1fm or Life 101.9fm. - Read a faith-based book. Stop by our Parish Library in Kearn Hall to grab a book to read. Check out one of the 3 books below: - FORMED.ORG is a great place to go to learn more about our Catholic faith and to strengthen your relationship with God. Here is our Parish Code C98696 to access free Catholic Resources including ebooks, audio books, movies, audio talks and programs: ~ Watch a movie on the lives of St. Joan of Arc, St. Augustine, St. Francis, St. Rita, St. John Paul II, St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. John Bosco, St. Philip Neri, St. Maria Goretti and so many more Saints. There are also movies just for kids like Brother Francis, The Jesus Stories and more. ~ Check out the Symbolon Series to learn more about what we believe as Catholics and why. ~ Listen to an audio talk while doing the dishes. ~ Watch and discuss the Beloved Series with your spouse. ~ The best way to find out what is on FORMED.ORG is to sign up today and search around the website. You can download the app on your smart phone or go on from your computer. "Whether we eat or sleep,
Whether we work or play, May it all be for the honor & glory of God." St. Matthew’s is excited to begin a new faith formation program for families starting this fall! Family Formation draws families together to grow in faith at home and within the Parish. It replaces Wednesday evening classes. Family Formation is designed for ALL Parish families with kids in Grades K-5! This includes those at St. Matt’s school, public schools, and home schools. Mission: Family Formation is designed to help parents respond to the Church’s call to be “the first and foremost educators of their children” and to help families grow in the transforming love of God by understanding and living the Catholic Faith. “The family is a domestic church.” - Lumen Gentium, 11 - Starting this fall, our Faith Formation program for elementary aged children will change to meet the needs of our Parish. Family Formation is a family-based catechetical program for all Parish families with children in Kindergarten through Grade 5 with an emphasis on adult formation. Why the Change? “Parents are the primary educators in the Faith. It is for this same reason that the Christian community must give very special attention to parents. By means of personal contact, meetings, courses, and also adult catechesis directed towards parents, the Christian community must help them assume their responsibility of educating their children in the faith.” – General Directory of Catechesis, articles 227 and 255. In Baptism, parents promise to raise their children in the Catholic faith. Our current Wednesday evening programs focus mostly on teaching children directly, and do not equip parents properly for their role as the primary catechists of their children. Changing to a family-based faith formation program empowers parents to make faith a part of their home. What will Family Formation Look Like? Family Formation combines a monthly church gathering with weekly at home lessons. The first Sunday of each month, children meet in grade-specific class settings while parents gather for adult catechesis and formation. We complete each monthly gathering with the celebration of parish Mass. Parents are given materials and an overview of weekly home lessons to teach their children the Faith. - The program coincides with the school year from September through May, starting in the Fall of 2018. - Monthly gatherings will be on the first Sunday of each month from 8:30AM – 11:30AM, with families attending 10:30AM Mass. - There will be 3 home lessons each month, with families given the flexibility to do these according to their schedule. - First Reconciliation and First Eucharist preparation is incorporated into this program for second graders. Registration begins April 15 for Family Formation! Visit our website and click on Grow In Faith for much more information and to sign up your family!
Come and See! You are invited to attend our Family Formation Preview Night on Wednesday, April, 25 from 6:15-7:30 PM in St. Matthew’s school gym. Families with children in Grades K-5 can come to experience our new program during a night of fellowship, prayer, and education. You will be given more information on Family Formation, as well as home lessons to try out. “Parents are the primary educators in the Faith… Indeed in the same way as the Church, the family is a place in which the Gospel is transmitted and from which it extends.” - General Directory for Catechesis, Article 255 - We are one month into the new year and for some people this means they have already given up on their New Years Resolutions. The beautiful part of being Catholic is there are many new years within each year; which means we have many chances to make change our lives. The Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent & Easter Seasons are a great time to reflect on your life and make changes to grow deeper in your faith. The Liturgical Season are just like the seasons within nature. Each season you can watch the trees change and learn from them. We are currently in the middle of winter which means the tree look bare yet on the inside they are slowly preparing for new growth. As we prepare for Lent, let us be like the trees and empty ourselves so that new growth can bloom. In order to make room for the new, one should begin with an examination of conscience. An Examination of Conscience is a “prayerful self-reflection on our words and deeds in the light of the Gospel to determine how we may have sinned against God” (— Glossary, The Catechism of the Catholic Church.) If you are looking for an Examination of Conscience to follow check out: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/penance/examinations-of-conscience.cfm Typically after one does an Examination of Conscience it is followed up by going to the Sacrament of Confession. It is through this Sacrament, that we are forgiven for our wrong doings and given the grace to change our ways. Once we have emptied ourselves, we can make room for growth. Lent is a great time to add some newness to your life. Throughout the season of Lent, we are invited to give something up. Most commonly people give up foods or drinks that are already meant to be had in moderation. Why not give up something or add something to your schedule that allows for you to deepen your relationship with God? Give up eating in between meals and any time you feel like a snack go pray for your family and friends who are going through a difficult time or read scripture instead of having that snack. Start a gratitude journal and daily write to God about what you are thankful for. Add Eucharistic Adoration to your Thursday Schedule and stop by St. Matthew's for a half hour of prayer in front of Jesus. Spiritual writer Henri J.m. Nouwen describe Lent as, "A time of returning to God....Lent is a time of refocusing, of re-entering the place of truth, of reclaiming our true identity." So this Lent make time for the Sacrament of Confession and time to deepen your relationship with God who loves you so much that He sent His only son to die so that you may have life and have it more abundantly (John 3:16 & John 10:10). If we are open to God and His will during the season of Lent, we will experience an Easter Season of new growth like never before. And just remember if you mess up on your Lenten Promise or New Years Resolution, every day is a great to start making changes to become the best version of yourself. If you need a refresher on how Lent works, check out the below chart from www.aleteia.org ~Kate Tyler - Pastoral Associate ~
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! The liturgical season of Christmas begins with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve and concludes on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. During this season, we celebrate the birth of Christ into our world and into our hearts, and reflect on the gift of salvation that is born with him…including the fact that he was born to die for us. That means this year, we celebrate the Christmas Season until January 8. To learn more about the Christmas Season, check out this link: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-…/liturgical-year/christmas/ ~Kate Tyler - Pastoral Associate ~
Mary’s heart was purely the Lord’s, from the very spark of her creation. The Immaculate Conception refers to Mary being conceived without sin, although its commonly thought to refer to Christ’s conception, that is a myth! When I hear the word immaculate, I always think of someone’s home that is cleaner than you could imagine, with sparkling counter tops and pillows fluffed to perfection! Definitely not my home! This clean, dazzling image we associate with that word immaculate is a great start to understanding Mary. The angel Gabriel addressed her as ‘Mary, full of grace’. God had conceived this design for Mary that was so perfect that she lacked no grace- she was completely full of God’s grace. She didn’t have the emptiness caused by sin that we all experience. She was of immaculate design. And perhaps the most beautiful part about reflecting on Mary is not her own sinlessness, but that her entire being was consecrated to God from day one. Her perfection and joy leads us directly to God, for she wouldn’t have been the Immaculate Conception if Jesus was not the end goal! In all she does, we see her leading us closer to her son. Think for a second about Mary’s Fiat- her yes to God when she says, “Let it be done unto me.” Do you have an image in your head? My guess is that you thought of the beautiful night when the Angel came to announce to Mary that she would carry Jesus Christ. But Mary’s fiat was not limited to that moment. I’ve heard it said that Mary wouldn’t even have had to say anything when the Angel asked her to give birth to Christ, because her entire life was a ‘yes’ to God. Wouldn’t it be amazing if our lives could that open to Christ.
While during Advent we often focus on the coming joy of the nativity, it is important to keep the cross in our hearts. Mary and Jesus journeyed together on this Earth toward the cross, as do we. The pinnacle of Christ’s love for us, of salvation history as a whole is held in the cross. When he willingly gave of Himself for us, Mary was there, willingly giving of herself for Him. She stood at the foot of the cross, with all the joy and agony mixing in her heart from her life lived with her Son, with all the knowledge and grace God gave her, her whole life leading to this moment of Fiat. And she said YES. We wait for our Savior in the manger, and we live with the knowledge of why He came. Let us sit at the foot of the cross with Mary this Advent. - Emily Gignac, Director of Faith Formation
On November 1, each year we celebrate All Saints' Day. This is one of the six Holy Days of Obligation that Catholics observe. Holy Days Obligation also includes every Sunday. These Days are when all Catholics should attend Mass. Below is a list of all the Holy Days of Obligation:
If you would like to learn more about Holy Days, I invite you to check out this article which beautifully explains about them: http://www.aggiecatholicblog.org/2010/09/why-have-holy-days-of-obligation/ These Holy Days of Obligation are also called Solemnities. This means that they are celebrations of the greatest importance to our Catholic Faith. On the right, you will see a list of other dates throughout the year that we celebrate as a Solemnity: As Catholics, we love to celebrate! The Saints are worth celebrating. It is because of the Saints that we know how to live a Holy life. Each Saint spent time in prayer, read scripture and developed a relationship with God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit. The Saints also served God and His children in whatever way they were called and gifted in this life. We recognize that all Saints are in Heaven with God and therefore they can pray for us. So seek their intercession and be inspired by their lives. If you are looking for some inspiration in your life, look no farther then to get a book or read an article about one of the thousands of Saints. We have several books on Saints in our Parish Library which is located in Kearn Hall or go to FORMED.org and watch a movie on the life of one of the Saints. Our Parish Access Code is C98696 which will give you free access to FORMED.org There is always so much we can continue to learn about our Catholic faith! Never stop learning. These pictures from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California. The pictures are called the Communion of Saints and shares images of those who are a part of the Communion of Saints in Heaven.
~Kate Tyler - Pastoral Associate ~ Have you ever wondered what exactly people do within our parish? Throughout the next year, we are going to share stories from the staff about what a typical day looks like for them. We will also share stories from parishioners about their experience on a committee or being involved with an activity in our parish. Today we will hear from Kate Tyler our Pastoral Associate: "The joy and challenge of being a Pastoral Associate is how different each day looks. The only tasks that are ever the same each day is taking care of emails and phone calls. It is a blessing to be able to have a job that is as unique as the people in the parish. It is truly a pleasure to serve God and his children. Here is a just a brief summary of one Monday in the life of the Pastoral Associate: I begin & end each week by walking throughout the Church to straighten up the materials by all the doors. I collected the Liturgical Ministers sign in sheet to contact any ministers who did not check in or did not get a sub to assist with Mass that weekend. I made copies & scans of the scripture readings for our Lectors and emailed them out or left them to pick up in the sacristy so they can prepare to proclaim the Word of God for the coming weekend. I checked out a few Catholic youtube pages to find a new worth watching video to share on the parish website as well as the parish facebook page. I tweeted information on our parish twitter page. I touched base with Emily about our plan for the Becoming Catholic Gathering & we finalized any details that we still needed to work on. As part of the Pastoral Care Team, I went to St. Luke's/Unitypoint and Mercy Hospital to visit parishioners. Our pastoral care team has coordinated at least one St. Matthew's member to visit those in the hospital each day of the week. It is a great pleasure to pray and talk with parishioners no matter what is happening in their life. I started working on the planning details for the Mass of Remembrance on Thursday November 2 which is All Souls' Day. I left work for a bit of family time & dinner together before returning to set up for our Becoming Catholic Gathering. Each Monday night Emily & I work together to lead a group of individuals who are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith. We coordinate all the details but the night is truly lead by the Holy Spirit. We spend much of the time in prayer & having small group discussions. At the end of the night I turn off all the lights and lock the doors. Each day of the week and each week may have similar tasks to get done but there is always different needs that I am responsible for taking care of. I have the great blessing of working together with every staff member at the Parish which includes the School & ECC. If I had to pick one word to describe a day in the life of a pastoral associate, it would be Grace. God blesses me with the gifts I need to serve Him each day and I get to bring His Love & Grace to all those I journey with each day. |
Archives
November 2018
Categories
All
|