Christmas 2007

Christmas this year was nice but a little sad and different since it was the first Christmas without Grandma.
My parents and I picked up Grandpa and went to Uncle Bob's house.
Everyone who was there included: Grandpa, Aunt Deb, Uncle Ted, Aunt Teresa, Uncle Gary, my parents, Uncle Bob, Emily, Debra (my Uncle's girlfriend), and Debra's kids (Kaylin, Jackson, and Caroline). We had fun and lots of good memories to share!

To check out pictures go to www.xanga.com/Crosswalkgurl and go to December 26, 2007

Las Posadas

I went to Mass last night and a few minutes before it started I saw my parents walk in (of course they sat with me). It was the night that St. Pius' sister Parish (St. Adalbert's) joined so it was more crowded than usual and Mass was spoken half in Spanish and half in English. Father Bob gave the homily in English first and then repeated it in Spanish (his Spanish is pretty good).After Mass I introduced my parents to Fr. Bob and he was really happy to meet them =]

Fr. Bob had told me earlier in the week that he was asked to be St. Joseph for the Las Posadas (a Catholic tradition that retells, through song, the journey of Mary & Joseph seeking shelter). He told me it would be fun and that I should go. My parents saw the sheet (explaining about the tradition) that he gave me and wanted to go too.

*Edit*
We went to the Posada tonight...Fr. Bob did a good job as Joseph. When we got to the "shelter" there was food & music...we also got to meet some new people from St. Adalberts too! =)

He knocked on several doors, each time making the same desperate plea. “My wife is very pregnant and my donkey is hungry,” Joseph said. Each time, the response was the same: “No lugar.” That is Spanish for “No room.” Joseph and his wife, Mary, moved on, undeterred. Finally, an innkeeper reluctantly allowed them use of a bar, where, alongside the livestock, Mary gave birth to the baby Jesus.
Since learning it from Spanish missionaries in the 15th century, Mexicans have long celebrated Las Posadas, Spanish for “hotel” or “inn,” a re-enactment of the first Christmas.

Tonight, Latino members of St. Adalbert Church in South Bend shared the tradition with members of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Granger. A group of about 200 people walked around the block near St. Adalbert Catholic Church, knocking on the doors of a church building, a home and the parish rectory, where priests live.

At the last stop, the church’s Heritage Center, Joseph and Mary - played by St. Pius associate pastor the Rev. Bob Lengerich, 26, and St. Adalbert member Evelyn Gonzalez, 13 - finally were granted entrance. Inside, the crowd enjoyed live music, ate Mexican pastries, drank champurrado, a Mexican form of hot chocolate, and cracked open a pinata.This was not the Sponge Bob- or Scooby Doo-shaped pinata now commonplace at many children’s birthday parties, but a Sputnik-shaped traditional one. Each of its seven points represents one of the seven deadly sins: greed, gluttony, sloth, pride, envy, wrath and lust. Cracking the “sins” with a stick yields little treats and treasures, a reward for keeping faith in Jesus Christ.


So here are some events I am going to this week:
~ Tuesday = Work on Christmas Presents; Advent Taize Prayer Service @ 7
~ Wednesday = Work 10-4; Advent Lessons & Carols @ 7
~ Friday = Finish up Christmas shopping/wrapping presents, pack for vacation
~ Saturday = Work from 10-4; Leave for Grandpa's house
~ Sunday = Go to Uncle Bob's for Christmas

Religious Discnerment

Yesterday I talked to Fr. Bob about my discernment. I talked to him about what a few people have told me and that I also heard a commerical interruption on WHLY during the program I was listening to. After Mass this morning my radio program was interrupted by the same thing so I called Fr. Bob and told him. He said, "Wow, well there's more confirmation. Pray about it and ask God." So I asked him how you ask God and pray for discernment - what exactly to say. So he told me the Bishop taught him a prayer in high school which goes like this:

"Holy Spirit, help me to find my vocation"

I wrote it out and put it up in my room to remind me to ask the Holy Spirit for help.

~ I showed Fr. Bob the elfyourself I made of him, Fr. Dan, and both Fr. Bill's. He laughed so hard and got a big kick out of it that he had to watch it twice. He even sent it to some of the staff @ St. Pius and showed it to Fr. Bill.

~I went the the Eileen Ivers Christmas concert tonight (at DeBartolo )...it was loads of fun! The St. Pius choir sang a few songs with Eileen & her group. Father Bob sang with the St. Pius choir and he got so into the songs (dancing & singing his heart out), lol.

First Sunday of Advent

Today is the first Sunday of Advent! I love the Liturgical Seasons of Advent and Lent the best! During Advent and Lent such beautiful music is played at all the Masses. It's such an awesome way of preparing our hearts for Jesus Christ! The prayer services every week are also very helpful in preparing.

Last Saturday Father Bob told me about the Advent Lessons & Carols that took place at St. Bavo's tonight (he was the one that officiated). The Marian High Schol Liturgical Choir sang and the teens from the Antioch youth group did the readings.One of the songs performed was called "Breath of Heaven" Dr. Holland's daughter (Rachel) sang it and has such a heavenly voice to do so!




The verse that stood out to me was this:
Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan

I was reflecting on this for a while and thought to myself - I think it's so awesome that God chose Mary out of all women to be the Mother of His son, Jesus! To be the Mother of God's Son - our Savior - is such an honor. I have so much respect for her and the fact that she was pure and sinless. It's no wonder we as Catholics are to honor her as our mother - she is our mother too. She offered her "yes" and all she was to Jesus and for the world even though she must have been afraid.

Have a blessed Advent/Christmas season Everyone!