Be Holy, Be Happy!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Brother Gregory Congote, OSB - Deacon!













Congratulations to our neighbors!!

On Saturday morning May 22, 2010 the monks of Mount Michael Abbey gathered with friends and family in the D.J. Sokol Chapel to celebrate the ordination of Brother Gregory Congote O.S.B. Omaha's Archbishop George Lucas presided at the ordination and mass.
The Benedictines of Elkhorn, Nebraska are supporters and long time friends of the Apostolic Oblates and the Pro Sanctity Center and Movement.
Fr. Dan Lenz chaplain for our Confirmation Retreats and good friend of the Camp is shown above singing .
Br. Gregory has been a good friend to the community and we love him dearly! We pray for him in this year of transitional deaconate and preparation for his ordination to the priesthood!

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Sunday, May 23, 2010

Interior Pentecost 2010 - The Spirit was at work!

Pro Sanctity Center in Elkhorn- back yard - the Vigil of Pentecost 2010

Pentecost 2010
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim (Acts 2:1-4).

"The experience of the Holy Spirit can happen in a 'pentecostal'
way (as in Acts) or through an interior pentecost where the Holy
Spirit is met personally and quietly..."
G. Giaquinta

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Saturday, May 22, 2010

Pentecost Novena 2010 - Day Nine!

DAY NINE:  YOUR GIFT IS CONSTANTLY GROWING!

Fifty years after my ordination, I can say in the words Mysterium Fidei we find ever more each day the meaning of our priesthood. Here is the measure of the gift which is the priesthood, and here is also the measure of the response which the gift demands. The gift is constantly growing! And this is something wonderful. It is wonderful that a man can never say that he has fully responded to the gift. It remains both a gift and a task: always! To be conscious of this is essential if we are to live our own priesthood to the full (Pope John Paul II – Gift and Mystery, page 79).

Hail Mary….

 

 

Today I attended both an ordination to the transitional deaconate and a wedding.  Parties for both sacraments had truly prepared with discernment, prayer, pausing….Will the deacon and the newly married couple be prepared to live the gift and task of their respective vocations? Without a doubt! But even so, it will be difficult without the gift of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of our Lady and the saints. The gift is constantly growing, as Pope John Paul II said, and they will certainly grow from strength to strength seeing that they truly understood the nature of their commitments from the beginning, but still they will need much help. Human nature can turn on a dime as we know so well, however the Lord labors to keep us on the straight and narrow; we must know that He wants us to live our vocations to the full, and be happy in this life and in the life to come. God is on our side!

 

Come Holy Spirit, into our lives again and fill us with the deep awareness that with you, in the spirit of our Lady, all things are possible; only one thing is necessary, trust! May we trust that the words proclaimed over us at our consecrations and ordinations, will be fulfilled because you are with us and promised to be with us always, until the end of time. Amen.  (Teresa Monaghen)

 

"The experience of the Holy Spirit can happen in a 'pentecostal' way (as in Acts) or through an interior Pentecost where the Holy Spirit is met personally and quietly..."

G. Giaquinta

 


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Friday, May 21, 2010

Fullerton, California

My Mother, My Confidence!
May 19, 2010

Congratulations!!
Cathy renews her vows for another year and Palmira celebrates her 50th anniversary!

Who is an Apostolic Oblate?
By Bishop Giaquinta

She is…

A contemplative.
A person of prayer.
One who has an intense desire for perfection.
In love with the charism of the Institute to sow hope and encourage holiness.
She is given only for God, set apart for him and for his service.
She is given without reserve to the point that there is nothing else necessary.
She is open to giving a witness that costs.
She is a person who knows what she wants and wants what she knows.
She is actual, real, and relevant.
She is easygoing in meeting with people.
She is authentic and thus believable.
She is able to listen.
Sisterly.
One who works.
Creative.
She is a woman who understands the gradual growth of the others.
She is a woman of the tent, ready to pick up and go at any moment, holding on only to the Lord her Spouse!

This is the woman that Bishop William Giaquinta describes as an Apostolic Oblate. It is the ideal and at the same time it is the challenge that we, as Apostolic Oblates strive
to meet.
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Monday, May 17, 2010

Pentecost Novena – May 16

Palmira Tafani, Apostolic Oblate,
She will celebrate 50 year of loving Jesus, this Wednesday in Fullerton, California!!
Year of the Priesthood 2010
Pentecost Novena – May 16

Need what you give and give what you need.

Today was the first Holy Communion at St. Polycarp Parish in Stanton California where I attended Mass. The children were beautiful and everyone seemed to have the sense of something great happening – yet, after the children and the congregation had received Jesus there was no silence – no moment to pause and say to Jesus, “I love you, thank you for loving me so much that you have come to me in this way.” The pastor at the end of Mass must have sensed something missing and did not want to let pass exhorting us all to pay attention to Jesus in our hearts. He especially encouraged the children to come to Mass often – to ask their parents to bring them- and to remember that this was not the end of their first holy communion but the beginning of a whole new wonderful relationship with the Lord.

At this point in the Mass, I became more aware that as a church we have the duty and the responsibility to stir into flame the gift that was given, and the more we encourage our children to pay attention to Jesus and remind them of how much he loves them and cannot keep his eyes off of them, the more they will find the silence in their hearts and stay with him, talk to him and have deep and meaningful relationship with him. We must witness that this is a real friendship that happens on Sundays, when we go to Mass, pause before the Blessed Sacrament and in reality every moment of our lives.

If we love Jesus and need him, then all the more we will want to witness this awareness of what we need and give to others what we have received.

I wish to ask every priest…
Dear fathers, cultivate this love for the Eucharistic Jesus in your heart and you will encourage this same love, this ardent flame of love in the hearts of your people. I pray it be so. Amen

Teresa Monaghen
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Friday, May 14, 2010

Pentecost 2010 - lst day

 

"The Spirit dwells in the Church and in the hearts of the faithful as in a temple..."

Vatican Council II, L.G. #4 &# 12

 

Pentecost Novena 2010

May 14, 2010 – May 22, 2010

Year of the Priesthood

We dedicate the Novena for increased graces for the whole Church as the Year of the Priesthood draws to conclusion

 

DAY ONE: YOU SHARE IN THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST

The priesthood, in its deepest reality, is the priesthood of Christ. It is Christ who offers himself, his Body and Blood, in sacrifice to God the Father, and by this sacrifice makes righteous in the Father’s eyes all mankind and, indirectly, all creation. The priest, in his daily celebration of the Eucharist, goes to the very heart of the mystery. For this reason the celebration of the Eucharist must be the MOST IMPORTANT moment of the priest’s day, the center of his life.

Hail Mary….

 

Teresa

 

I see in this first day of the Novena for all of us to go to the heart of Jesus, and like John, priest, lay our head on Jesus; this means to find him in the Eucharist and to stand before the Cross with our priests day in and day out. If the Mass is the center of OUR life, the Lord will raise up more and more young men to the ranks of the priesthood. We need the priests who love the Eucharist, and our priest need people who love the Eucharist and look to their priests for their greatest need, the Eucharist.

 

Oh Lord, I am just now, at this time of my life, stepping through the veil of the mystery. I find you more real and more present to me than I have ever experienced. You are the real and ever near, and yet I still run around so often looking for you; missing you who are right there for me. I pray for all the lay faithful that we may grow in Eucharistic amazement and be for our priests a support and an inspiration to their own priest hood. Amen!

 

 


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Monday, May 10, 2010

Flying Bethany Car Fund!


M.M.M.C!
May 10, 2010

Dear Members and Friends,

In honor of Joan Patten's First Profession of Vows, the National Council has set up a "Flying Bethany Car Fund,"please read the enclosed note below and if anyone would like to donate, or you know someone who was wondering what to give Joan besides PRAYERS, feel free to encourage everyone to give a dollar or two... Keep in mind that the money will assist all the Oblates who are on the go for the sake of others.

Thank you so much!! Make all checks payable to the Institute of the Apostolic Oblates, INC and send in honor of Joan Patten at 6762 Western Ave, Omaha NE 68132

Blessings, Teresa
***********************************************

Institute of the Apostolic Oblates
May 7, 2010

Dear Joan,

In honor of the occasion of your First Profession of Vows and in light of 1000's of miles you have driven for the sake of others and for the apostolate –which includes every walk of life and in more States than we can count - a fund has been established in your honor called, "The Flying Bethany Car Fund." All our members and friends may contribute to it for the missionary needs of the Apostolic Oblates!

Thank you for your great witness of availability, passion and good driving! Most of the time…
May the Holy Spirit and all your Guardian Angels be with you in these years to come – travel boldly and safely.

Your Apostolic Oblate Family along with the Pro Sanctity,

Teresa Monaghen
National Moderator


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Saturday, May 8, 2010

Apostolic Oblates of Omaha, celebrate God's Blessings!


Margaret, Anne,Franca, Joan!!!, Jessi, Leela, Monica, Teresa

Congratulations to Joan on the occasion of her first profession of Vows!



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Friday, May 7, 2010

Motherhood: Sarah and Mary

Extraordinary and mysterious events emphasize how Sarah's motherhood was primarily the fruit of the mercy of God, who gives life beyond all human expectation: "I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her; I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall come from her" (Gn 17:15-16) (Pope John Paul II -13 March 1996, page 11)

Mary’s Motherhood transforms!

Motherhood is presented as a decisive gift of the Lord. The patriarch and his wife will be given a new name to indicate the unexpected and marvelous transformation that God is to work in their life.

Reflection

As children we were given pets, in our parents eyes it was for two reasons, partly to learn to take care of a living creature and primarily to teach us responsibility, but in our innocent way, it was, mostly to delight us! Caretaking, being mother to another, is an amazing gift that changes us forever. Just like the responsibility of caring for an animal changed us, so caring for another, as mothers and spiritual mothers, dramatically changes us. Our Lady, like Sarah, was given a life to care for beyond her wildest expectation and it changed her, expanded her, molded and formed her. Never would she be the same, and nor would our world!

Oh Mary, thank you for saying yes to the gift of life in your womb! Your yes brought us all into oneness with you, and with the Father. He is the vine and we are the branches, to be pruned often now, but never separate! Amen.

Teresa Monaghen


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Thursday, May 6, 2010

Pray for Joan Patten!

Oldest consecrated member and newest consecrated member (as of May 7th). Please pray for Joan on the occasion of her vows and for Franca in thanksgiving for her faithful yes!!

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Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Motherhood and Mary 2010

Motherhood is a gift of God. "I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord!" (Gn 4: 1), Eve exclaims after giving birth to Cain, her first-born son. With these words, the Book of Genesis presents the first motherhood in human history as a grace and joy that spring from the Creator's goodness (PJPII - Wednesday, 6 March 1996)

 

I have had the delight this past year to be present to several newly wed couples when they announced the birth of their first child as well as experienced couples with many children announce the birth of their 6,7 or 8th child! I have heard the joy in those who discovered their papers for adoption had gone through and soon they too would have a child. In all cases, the awareness of God’s gift of life was received with elation!

 

Thank you, Lord for the gift of those mothers, and those families that heroically witness their faith in you. You are  the giver of life, the source of the seed sown, and the one who helps each of us come into life in order to grow to the full stature of your Son, Jesus. I thank you for my own mother and father who said yes to life so that I too can praise you with my words and my life which is pure gift. Thank you Mother, of God who gave life to your Son Jesus so that we might have eternal life.  Amen!


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Consecration: Prepare for Mother's Day with Mary our Mother!

Mother of All Men and
Women and of All Peoples

O Mother of all men and women, and of all peoples, you who know all their sufferings and their hopes, you who have a mother's awareness of all the struggles between good and evil, between light and darkness, which afflict the modern world, accept the cry which we, moved by the Holy Spirit, address directly to your heart. Embrace with the love of the Mother and Handmaid of the Lord, this human world of ours, which we entrust and consecrate to you, for we are full of concern for the earthly and eternal destiny of individuals and peoples.

 

In a special way we entrust and consecrate to you those individuals and nations which particularly need to be thus entrusted and consecrated.

"We have recourse to your protection, holy Mother of God! Despise not our petitions in our necessities."

 

Behold, as we stand before you, Mother of Christ, before your Immaculate Heart, we desire, together with the whole Church, to unite ourselves with the consecration which, for love of us, your Son made of himself to the Father: "For their sake," he said, "I consecrate myself that they also may be consecrated in the truth" (Jn 17:19).

 

We wish to unite ourselves with our Redeemer in this his consecration for the world and for the human race, which, in his divine heart, has the power to obtain pardon and to secure reparation.

 

This prayer is a combination of prayers when the pope entrusted individuals and nations to Our Lady on the Jubilee Day for Families (2000): Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, VII, 1 (Vatican City, 1984), 775-777.

Find this prayer in its context on the Vatican web site at: www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith

 


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