NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE INFANT JESUS OF PRAGUE

Jesus Christ first manifested Himself to the world as an infant, to the Jews in the personage of the shepherds and to the Gentiles in the personage of the Magi. Then until His baptism in the Jordan by John, He lived a hidden life in love and obedience to His God and Father.

When we give ourselves in devotion to the Infant Jesus, under the aspect of the Infant Jesus of Prague, we are accepting Jesus in our lives as the loving and obedient Son of the  Father.  Such an acceptance calls for a transformation in our lives.  “If you love me, you will keep my
commandments” (Luke 14:15), and “Love one another as I have loved you” (Luke 15:12).

DIVINE INFANT JESUS, BLESS AND PROTECT US.

JUBILEE 2000 PRAYER FOR CHILDREN

Let us pray for the protection of the Divine Infant Jesus on our children that they may grow in His love.

Oh Divine Infant Jesus, bestow Your most precious graces on our children.  Increase in them faith, hope, and love.  May Your love lead them to solid piety, inspiring them with dread for sin, love of good, and an ardent desire of worth approaching Your holy table.  Preserve in them innocence and purity of heart, and if they should offend You, grant them the grace of a prompt and sincere repentance.  From Your throne in heaven, watch over them day and night; protect them in all of their ways.  Grant that they may acquire the knowledge that they need to embrace the state of life to which You have called them.  Grant us a sincere love, constant vigilance, and generous devotedness toward them.  Grant them all consolation on earth and eternal reward in heaven.  Amen.

Prayer distributed by the National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague
P.O. Box 488, 304 Jim Thorpe Blvd., Prague, Oklahoma 74864-0488
Telephone:  (405) 567-3080 / Email:

AUGUST 11 – THE FEAST OF ST. CLARE, OUR PATRONESS

During this Jubilee Year, on each parish’s patronal feast, special indulgence may be granted to those visiting their own parish on that date.  Please note the following schedule of activities planned for this Friday, August 11:

 No morning Liturgy
 8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
 12:00 p.m. Mid-day Prayer will conclude the Exposition
 7:00 p.m. Liturgy followed by Dessert Social

WANTING TO BECOME A CATHOLIC?

The normal process for adults and children (age seven and above) to become Catholic is the R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).  Those non-Catholics who would like to explore becoming members of the Catholic Church always begin with an inquiry.  The inquiry process is for any adult who is unbaptized or baptized in another denomination. The inquiry sessions will begin Wednesday, August 16 at 7:00 p.m. and last about an hour.  There is no commitment unless you are ready!  Come and ask your questions, and we will try to help you hear how your heart is responding to these stirrings.  For more information, call our parish office at (904) 789-9990.

PARENTS AND CHILDREN WHO ARE IN THE PROCESS OF RECEIVING THE
SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION NEXT EASTER…
are asked to attend a special meeting Friday, August 25 at 7:00 p.m. This would be those children who were welcomed into the process last year, and would be entering their second year of formation in order to receive those sacraments this coming Easter.  Plans, schedules and
expectations will be discussed at this meeting.  Please make every effort to attend.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Kindergarten through 7th grade
 Registration - August 12/13 and August 19/20 after all Masses
 Parent orientation – August 27 at 2:00 p.m.
 Further information – Patti DeLaCruz – (904) 789-9815

Youth in 8th – 12th grades
 Registration – August 5/6 after all Masses
Kick-off cookout - August 20, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Gemini Springs.
Further information – Tracy and Michael McKeown – (904) 789-6069

Children who have not been in religious education regularly, and who are at or past the average age to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist or Confirmation may receive their religious education through Christian Initiation.  We will attempt to identify those children during the Religious Education registration weekends.

ASSISI COUNCIL NEWS

Members of Assisi Council 10367, based at St. Clare Catholic Community, have re-elected Frank Cartagena to lead them as grand knight for the 2000-2001 term.

Also chosen for the term: K.J. Baker, deputy grand knight; William McCabe, chancellor; Rev. Christopher Hoffman, chaplain; Leonard Albanese, warden; Douglas Zimmer, financial
secretary; Tony Orona, treasurer; David Conner, advocate; Leonard LaPointe, inside guard; David Santiago, outside guard; and Kevin Carroll, Abe Colon and Tom Connolly, trustees.

Assisi Council has business meetings at St. Clare at 7:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month.

Special thanks go to
Mary Ann Woodward, Barbara Goulding, Florence Audette and Marge Peterson
for their work in restructuring and sewing our family banners. They really did a great Job!

Eulogy
by Paul Turner

The Catholic Church allows a eulogy to be spoken before the end of the vigil service and before the end of the funeral liturgy. "A member or a friend of the family may speak in remembrance of the deceased." After the Gospel, however, a brief homily based on the readings should always be given, "never any kind of eulogy" (Order of Christian Funerals 141).

The homily holds pride of place in every liturgy. At a funeral, the homily should proclaim the central Christian beliefs about life and death: God's undying love, the death and resurrection of Jesus, the consolation and strength which help the Christian face death with hope of eternal life.

The funeral homily brings the comforting word of God to the mourners. Although it frequently draws from the example of the deceased's life, the homily is not intended as a biographical summary.

To allow the good deeds of the deceased to be presented to the community, the liturgy also permits a spoken remembrance. This may occur near the end of the service, apart from the
homily. The funeral rites offer no further advice about the content of this talk. The one who prepares it should keep in mind the nature of the celebration.

The presentation may recall those aspects of the deceased which will inspire the community to renew its commitment to Christ. Brevity is advisable, because this talk should not detract from the Liturgy of the Word nor from the prayers for the deceased. A few details should suffice.

At some vigil services, the presider allows mourners spontaneously to share memories of the deceased. Such a ritual may kindle the community's memory of the deceased by allowing
those who grieve to share their insight. Even so, a few memories should suffice. In this way the remembrance will not overshadow the reason for the gathering: the proclamation of redemption in Jesus Christ.

This bulletin insert originally appeared in MINISTRY & LITURGY, a pastoral planning resource used by the worship leaders in your pansh as an aid for better liturgy. Copyright @) 2000 Resource Publications, Inc., 160 E. Virginia SL #290, San Jose, CA 95112, (408) 286-8505. Paul Turner, pastor of St John Regis Parish in Kansas City, Mo., holds a
doctorate in sacramental theology from Sant ' Anselmo University in Rome. Comment online at
www.rpine.com/wwwboard/forum8/.