.::Firmum Est::. - - My Heart is Steadfast

I share an excert from an email by Fr Greg Shaffer.

As you may or may not know, we started a basketball team of Washington priests and seminarians two years ago called “DC ‘Hood” (short for DC priesthood). We have played 11 games against 8 different parish teams of coaches, teachers, and teens. Thanks be to God, it has been growing and growing, averaging about 200 fans a game. The games have been great nights of fun for families while promoting vocations.

The Catholic Standard wrote an article about DC ‘Hood a few months ago. The sales manager of the Washington Wizards read the article and generously called the Archdiocese to see if DC ‘Hood ever wanted to play at the Verizon Center after a Wizards game. Umm, yeah! Thanks, Wizards!!

So DC ‘Hood will be playing at the Verizon Center (against CYO coaches after the Wizards 3:30 pm game versus the Chicago Bulls) on Sun., April 15. After our game, there will a game b/w CYO 11th and 12th grade co-ed all-stars; the winners of the two (16 minute) games will play in a “championship” game.

This event is intended to a) promote vocations, and b) raise funds for the CYO / OYM (Catholic Youth Organization/Office of Youth Ministry). We are helping CYO to sell tickets to the Wizards game; they receive a generous portion of the proceeds.

I personally will be purchasing a large amount of tickets the week of Feb. 11. Can you help me? The tickets are $ 25 (Upper Level B), $30 (Upper Level A), and $85 (Lower Level). Buying two $25 tickets, for example, would help greatly! Even if you’re not able or interested in going, can you make a donation to our cause? The more tickets we sell, the more we promote the priesthood and raise funds for our youth.

You can order tickets online at www.verizoncenter.com/cyo or, for donations only, mail a check to me directly at: Fr. Greg Shaffer, St. Andrew Apostle parish, 11600 Kemp Mill Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20902 (I will give your tickets to kids in the school or parish).

It would be extremely helpful if we can get our orders in by mid-February. So, can you either place your order or send me a check by Feb. 10? If you mail directly to me, please include your prayer intentions so that I can take them to our Lord when I offer Mass or make a Holy Hour in His Presence.

In Christ, Fr Greg

There is a very small chapel below St Peter’s Basilica, called the Clementine Chapel.
This chapel is directly behind the “confessio” (the open crypt at the foot of the high altar) It is also called “St. Peter’s Chapel” since it is very close to where the bones of St. Peter are located. Actually it is the closest altar to the bones of St Peter.

It was in the chapel that Archbishop Wuerl celebrated Mass for us this morning. Mass with the Archbishop at St Peter’s is part of his usual visit. Today, he invited us to remember our interconnectedness with the Apostles, those who were sent to preached the faith. This was so real as we were in a basilica dedicated to St. Peter on the Feast of the Conversion of Paul. I love this city.

A few words from Benedict’s General Audience

This Week of Prayer for Christian Unity takes as its theme these words from St. Mark’s Gospel: “He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak” (cf. Mark 7:31-37). As we recall the wonder felt by those who witnessed Jesus’ healing of a man who could not hear or speak, we too marvel at the remarkable growth that has taken place in ecumenical relations during the last forty years.

The Lord has helped us to overcome our deafness, so that we can listen profoundly to one another, and he has restored our power of speech so that we can pray together and proclaim, the truth with conviction.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=8419

Since this time last year, I have been working here in Rome with American College students who come here to study. As we approached the new semester, we lauched a blog to reach some of the students of the American University of Rome (not connected with AU in DC) that might not see our signs or ever hear about us. We hope that it is a useful tool. Please take a look - AUR Neuman Sociey - Spring 2007: Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk

W.O.W.! Start “March for Life” Weekend off with a Bang!

This Saturday, Jan 20th - Wide Open Worship a young adult Festival of Praise, begins at 7:30pm (sharp!)

WOW is a festival of praise and worship for young adults college age to mid-thirties–Catholic and protestant.  All denominations are welcome!  Enjoy an evening of dynamic praise and worship music, powerful testimonies, the sharing of Scripture, and the freedom, healing, and new relationships that come from the Spirit of Jesus Christ!  We’re also hosting and welcoming visitors and seminarians from around the country who are in town for the March for Life.  Become part of our growing Christian family!

W.O.W. is held at The Mother of God School Auditorium, located at 20501 Goshen Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20879, across the street from St. John Neumann Catholic Church.

Visit www.wideopenwow.com for more details and info!

Just before Christmas, the Music Chapel here at the College prepared for a Night of Sacred Music from the seasons of Advent and Christmas. I was asked by our director to be a soloist. I waited to tell because I wanted to be able to share the music from the evening with you. There are also some pictures from this event and others just prior to Christmas. The song I sung was “Gesu Bambino” - The Baby Jesus.

One of the blessings of arriving in Paris on January 1st was the opportunity to celebrate the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God in the Cathedral of Notre Dame.

This church is amazingly hypnotic. Having some architectural training wasn’t necessary to be moved. What captivated me the most was the lack of building precision. The methods and tools were different back then - no lasers. The result is almost an optical illusion because your eye is always moving slightly - never fully at rest. This effect is increased by the interplay of light and dark - especially the with the haze of light breaking through the dark.

This is exemplary of the Lord, even as a child, breaking through the darkness of our scattered hearts. It is through this beautiful church - and Beauty - that He beckons us to true knowledge of Himself and His Love. It is this Mystery that under-girded my experience of this church.

And what a most perfect name to give that which draws us in loveliness and points us to Christ her Son - Notre Dame - Our Lady & Mother, Mary.