|
|
President's message - February 2025
|
|
|
Finally, after months of deliberation, the Men’s Ministry Board has selected a new chairman for the membership’s approval. Steve Radigan, a worthy and qualified fellow, has agreed to perform the office of Ministry chairman for the remainder of 2025. This is great news, and I encourage all member to confirm this action, along with Tom Leen for the position of Vice-President. Other changes in the Board include Ashley Weerpass, well qualified as Ministry Secretary. Thank you for your commitment, and let them know that they have our full support.
Consequently, these changes have opened board positions of Service and Spirituality Chairman that are still being actively solicited. Please let any board member know if you have any interest these board positions.
The Men’s Ministry will be hosting the Hospitality Sunday on February 2 after each morning Mass. If you have not signed up to help out, please consider coming by to show your support, and let the men of the parish know about our speaker at the Tuesday meeting.
Our February monthly meeting will be in the Carriage House on Tuesday February 4 th at 7:00. In addition
to the social, our speaker will be tech advisor Ash Weerpass describing what to consider when buying a flat screen TV. This sounds very interesting.
|
See you there on the 2nd , and the 4th.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SJMM February Fellowship Meeting
|
|
|
SJMM will hold its February fellowship meeting on Feb.4th at 7:00PM in the Saint Joseph Workshop.
|
Snacks and drinks will be provided, all men in the Parish are welcome.
|
There will be a short presentation given by Ashley Weerpass.
|
Topic: Unlock the Future - Your Ultimate Guide to Buying a New TV in 2025! 📺🚀
|
🎬 Explore Cutting-Edge Technologies – LED,OLED,WOLED and Micro LED
|
🔍 Brand Showdown – TCL, Hisense, LG, Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, others
|
đź“Ź Size Matters Learn how to choose the perfect screen size for your room
|
🎮 Smart Features & Connectivity Get the lowdown on smart TVs, streaming services, and seamless integration with your favorite devices. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest in connectivity options.
|
đź’ˇ Pro Tips & Buying Guides Gain insider knowledge on what to look for when making your purchase.
|
Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your home entertainment to the next level. Mark your calendars and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey into the world of modern television.
|
February through April are great months to buy a new TV and entertainment system.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Men’s Ministry Celebrates Fat Tuesday
|
|
|
This year “Fat Tuesday,” the day before Ash Wednesday, falls on March 4th the same day as our March Men’s Ministry meeting. This is the last day of feasting before Lent’s fasting and penance. And we’re going to celebrate with something a little different! So, watch for details and be ready for some surprises on this day that embodies our joy and gratitude for God’s gifts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
A stained glass journey- Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1286)
|
|
|
Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in 1182. He grew up in a wealthy family. His father was a highly successful cloth merchant and he led a privileged life. Francis was a good student and be enjoyed learning and singing as a boy. As part of his education, he was taught French culture. His father taught him about the family business and wanted him to become a businessman.
|
St Francis as a Young Man:
|
About the age of nineteen Francis became a soldier and went into battle against the nearby town of Perugia. Francis was captured and taken prisoner. He was held in a dungeon for a year and was only released when his father paid ransom money in return for his freedom.
|
Over the next few years, Francis began to see visions from God that changed his life. The first vision was when he was sick with a high fever. At first he thought that God had called him to fight in the Crusades. However, he had another vision that told him to help the sick. Finally, when praying in a church, Francis heard God tell him to"repair my church, which is falling in ruins."
|
Francis gave all his money to the church. His father became very angry with him. Francis then left his father's home and took a vow of poverty.
|
As Francis lived his life of poverty and preached to people about the life of Jesus Christ, people began to follow him. By 1209, he had around 11 followers. He had one basic rule which was "To follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps". This required his followers to also take a vow of poverty. As numbers continued to grow, Francis travelled with many of his followers to Rome to get the approval for their religious Order from the pope. At first the pope was confronted by their vow of poverty but eventually he agreed to allow Francis to start the Franciscan Order because of his strong devotion to the Catholic Church.
|
Francis had a friend who lived in Assisi, a woman named Clare. Clare wanted to take similar vows, so Francis helped her start the Order of the Poor Ladies (Order of Saint Clare).
He also started another order (later called the Third Order of Saint Francis) that was for men and women who didn't take vows or leave their jobs, but lived out the principles of the Franciscan Order in their daily lives. Francis believed that actions provided the best example of a Christian life, telling his followers to "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."
|
Francis immersed himself in nature. He loved writing about God's creation and there are many stories about Saint Francis preaching to animals. He talked to birds and some suggest that they sang back to him. It was also said that Francis could tame wild animals with the sign of the cross. Francis set up the first known Nativity scene which incorporated animals to celebrate Christmas in 1220.
|
Francis emphasized the importance of:
|
- Poverty: Renouncing material possessions to focus on spiritual wealth. Â
- Humility: Recognizing one's dependence on God and serving others. Â
- Love for all creation: Seeing the divine in all of God's creatures. Â
Francis was the first person in recorded history to receive the 'stigmata'. This is where unexplained wounds appear on the hands, feet and side of the body which reflect the wounds of Christ's crucifixion. Francis experienced stigmata around 1224. The last few years of his life Francis was mostly blind. He died in 1226 while singing Psalm 141. Canonization: Saint Francis of Assisi was canonized on July 16, 1228, by Pope Gregory IX.  He was declared a saint of the Catholic Church only two years after his death and his feast day is celebrated on the 4th October.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year at a Glance
Here is a link to our "Year at a Glance" calendar:
|
|
|
|
|
|
