Where have we been—Where are we going?
Every so often you hear of groups who place time
capsules in cornerstones or in places to be dug up on a certain date in
the future. There is usually great fanfare in preparation for the
burying of such capsules. People work long and hard to come up with
items that would typify the time period when the capsule is buried.
Yet, hardly do you ever hear of much fanfare when a capsule is opened.
I rarely hear of comparisons or of what exciting things were discovered
when they opened up something buried earlier.
Our parish celebrates its 10th anniversary
beginning November 1. It is only natural to look backwards. Many
of you remember the days when you met for Mass in the storefront on Elkcam
and had to find a place to park. You recall the hot steamy days in Osteen
or the Christian Initiation sessions outside. Some recall when the
first Mass was celebrated in Clare Hall. I was with you when we were
able to put in permanent flooring and dedicate our San Damiano Cross.
Each of us has stories to tell about our parish’s history.
But what about the future? Where
do you see us in the year 2009? What will the next 10 years look
like for
our parish? Will there be a large church built by then?
Will we have an elementary school here? How many families
will be registered members of St. Clare in 2009 or in 2019? Will
anyone remember Osteen by then? We all can take
guesses about those events. Let me share with you a vision of where
I see St. Clare in 10 years. Due to the increased growth in Deltona, St.
Clare became a leader in evangelization and hospitality. We
made it part of our mission to welcome all new people to this area with
personal visits. Because of the warmth and kindness generated, we
now have 1,200 families. The parish outgrew Clare Hall in 2005 and
set out on a building campaign to erect a church. At that time it
became necessary to refit Clare Hall into a hall and classroom space for
religious education. A kitchen was added in 2003. After that
time, St. Clare started offering meals for the elderly and homeless on
a regular basis. We joined with other churches in the area to
provide needed services beyond the food pantry. Someone Cares became
the largest ministry in the parish.
The parish realized that true stewardship
could provide Catholic education to the huge number of children
who were members of the community. Through prayer and adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament, the parish committed
itself to tithing. A study was done and the parish was beginning
a school. That was to be finished for the beginning of
classes in 2010. This new facility would allow our children an
opportunity to receive a quality Catholic education that
otherwise would be beyond reach. Is it only my dream that St.
Clare look like this 10 years from now? I hope not.
Peace,
Fr. Chris
VIRGIN MOTHER VIRGIN MADRE
Virgin of seven stars, Virgen de siete estrellas
Bathe me in your light; Baname en tu luz;
Virgin of the centuries, Virgen de todos los siglos,
Mother of Jesus! Madre de Jesus
Virgin of the lights, Virgen de todas las luces,
How brilliant they are; Que brillante son;
Their radiant rays Han Dejado sus rayos
Penetrating my heart. Dentro mi corazon.
Virgin, glory of the heavens, Gloria de los cielos,
Blessed thou art; Bendita tu eres;
Mother so pure, Madre cita purisima,
Mother of all the souls. Madre de todo los seres.
Madonna of the universe, Madonna del universo,
Please listen to this prayer. Escuche esta oracion.
Pray for us sinners Ruega por nosotros
Mother of all salvation! Madre de la salvacion!
By Celestino Rodriguez, Sept. 1999
A QUESTION OF FAITH
Question: How does one combat the disease of racism within the
body of Christ in the Catholic Church?
Answer: The Church is an institution, and while drawing broken and sinful people to her “still on the way to holiness” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 827), racism, like other evils, can be exhibited. Racism weakens the Church’s witness to the full integrity of the Body of Christ in the world. For many, even today, the Church represents a racist institution. Each of us share part of this burden and must acknowledge our mistakes and prejudices based on fear, misconception, and distortion of the truth. We often have allowed conformity and apathy to take root in ourselves and our Church instead of speaking out for justice (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2407).
As a global church, encompassing many ethnic backgrounds and races,
the prophetic voice of the Church must be heard by
bishops, priests, religious and laity. Racism defiles the image
of God, degrades the dignity of all people and ridicules the
incarnation. We can add our voice to the authentic teaching
of the Church by deliberately transforming ourselves daily in our
hearts and minds to the unique and valuable contribution every racial
and ethnic group and individual contribute to the local church. We can
reject stereotypes, jokes and remarks about cultural groups. We can
work collaboratively in our ministries by intentionally inviting individuals
representing different ethnic and racial backgrounds into the dialogue
and decision-making process. We can become more sensitive to the
richness of diversity by deepening relationships one by one with our brothers
and sisters of color.
We can challenge the Church hierarchy to foster ever-greater diversity in agencies, schools, and diocesan offices. Probably the most immediate need in the Church today is a fresh examination of racism in the Church directed toward a revision of the 1980 pastoral letter, “Brothers & Sisters to Us.”
(Courtesy Deborah Stafford-Shearer, Director, Respect Life Office, Diocese of Orlando - Reprinted with Permission)
DAY OF SPIRITUAL REFLECTION
A Day of Spiritual Reflection will be hosted by St. Therese’s Carmelite
Community in DeLand on November 6. Guest speaker, Tim Staples, will
present the topic “This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am Well Pleased.”
For further information, contact Kathleen (407) 668-4814 or Barbara (904)
775-0304. A flier can be found on the kiosk.
DIOCESAN CONFERENCE FOR SEPARATED, DIVORCED AND WIDOWED
On Saturday, Nov 6, the Diocesan Family Life office is sponsoring a
conference at Good Shepard Church, Orlando, for people who are separated,
divorced or widowed. This conference day will address many of the
issues and concerns related to the loss of a spouse. A brochure is
on the kiosk or you can call their office at (407) 246-4867 for additional
information.
DIOCESAN SPONSORED MORNING OF REFLECTION FOR EXTRA-ORDINARY MINISTERS
OF THE EUCHARIST:
November 20 Our Lady of Lourdes, Melbourne
$3 per person 9:00 A.M. – 12 noon
“It is vital that we enter the millennium with a strong sense
of mission.” Cardinal George Basil Hume of Westminster, England
said in an address prepared before his death. “The mission of
the church is weakened, both locally and nationally, if it is a divided
church. There is always the danger of speaking about and emphasizing what
we believe to be wrong with the church, instead of celebrating the good
and encouraging one another. .. I suspect it is a trick of the devil to
divert good people from the task of evangelization by embroiling them in
endless controversial issues to the neglect of the church’s essential role,
which is mission…”
“Handing on faith is not concerned about making people feel good about
their experiences; it is about deepening within them a
relationship with Jesus Christ. It involves ensuring that faith is
lived out every day, in every circumstance, not just in a particular
building on a Sunday.” (Catholic Trends, July 10, 1999) Is this
the Mission of St. Clare? Is it your mission?
COMMUNITY OUT-REACH – NEW BEGINNINGS
Community Out-Reach Services, Inc. in DeLand has begun a New Beginnings program under the direction of Margaret Kemp. This program provides transitional living for women and their children. It targets those women who have experienced problems resulting from substance abuse, with priority given to criminal justice involvement. It assists clients and their families with health-care needs, legal matters, budgeting , household management, and educational needs for job skills, living skills and relationships. The great need at this time is a transport van to carry clients for medical and educational needs. Other needs include materials for home repairs. For further information, call (904) 371-7394.
St. Therese of Lisieux’s Relics are coming to Boca Raton A reliquary housing the remains of St. Therese of Lisieux, a popular nun noted for her doctrine of the “little way” to sanctity will be on exposition at St. Jude Catholic Church in Boca Raton from November 24-27.
Tangible reminders of such revered persons as Therese in the form of
her bones, hair, clothing, etc. (relics) achieve significant value since
they give rise to the opportunity on not only admiring the saint’s life
of self-sacrifice for God but also
prayerfully reflecting and assessing one’s own progress toward holiness.
Relics evoke confidence that the power of God can turn the most hardened
hearts to being docile instruments of His will -even to the point of becoming
a saint. For information concerning the daily events, call Fr. Timothy
Johnson at St. Jude’s Church at 561-392-8172 ext 39. Those wishing a complete
schedule or to see pictures of the Relics can access it on the St. Jude’s
Church site at:
http://www.gate.net/-stjudes/stthereseschedule.htm.
NOVEMBER’S FEATURED FILM:
BLESSED ARE THE GENTLE
Jean Vanier worked with the handicapped, or “wounded” as
he calls them. Vanier is a highly effective preacher of acceptance
and equality and the meaning behind the Gospel story.
Meet this inspiring man in this short video.
Informal discussion will follow. Sunday, November 14, 6:00
P.M. Everyone is welcome.
F.R.E.E
The theme for adult education on November 14 will be: What’s hell all
about ?
This session will be held in the main assembly area beginning at 2:45
pm.
Send a “Welcome” to Catholic Volunteers who will be serving in Florida during the coming year! Please welcome these men and women who give a year or more of their lives in service to the people of the State of Florida through FCV. A periodic note, post card or call can strengthen the volunteers who will know that they have a community of caring people who are behind them all the way. Your prayers and support are appreciated more than you know. See flyers on the kiosk for pictures and addresses.
What a wonderful combination
A cool head
And
A warm heart
¿Donde hemos estado - Hacia donde vamos?
De vez en cuando escuchamos de grupos que ponen
capsulas de tiempo en una piedra angular o en otros lugares
para que despues de cierto tiempo en el futuro se desentierren. Usualmente
hay una gran fanfarria en la preparación
para el entierro de dicha capsula. Las personas trabajan largo y tendido
para conseguir los articulos que tipifique el periodo de
tiempo en el que esa capsula es enterrada. Pero, casi nunca se oye
hablar con mucha fanfarria cuando la capsula es abierta. Rara vez oigo
comparaciones o que cosas excitantes descubrieron cuando habren algo enterrado
antes.
Nuestra parroquia celebra su décimo
aniversario, comenzando Noviembre 1ro. Es muy natural mirar hacia atras.
Muchos de ustedes recuerdan los dias cuando se encontraban para la Misa
frente a una tienda en Elkam y lo dificil que era conseguir
estacionamiento. Se recordaran los dias calurosos en Osteen o las sessiones
de Iniciación Cristiana afuera. Algunos recuerdan
cuando se celebro la primera Misa en el Salon Clare. Yo estaba con
ustedes cuando logramos poner piso permanente y la
dedicación de la Cruz de San Damiano. Cada uno de nosotros tiene
algo que contar sobre la historia de la parroquia.
¿Pero qué del futuro? ¿Donde
te vez en el año 2009? ¿Como se ven los proximos diez años
para la parroquia?
¿Habrá una parroquia mas grande hecha para ese tiempo?
¿Tendremos una escuela elemental aqui? ¿Cuantas
familias se registraran como miembros para el 2009 o el 2019 en Santa
Clara? ¿Alguien recordará a Osteen? Todos
nosotros solo podemos especular sobre estos eventos. Permitanme compartir
con ustedes una visión de lo que yo
veo para Santa Clara en diez años.
Debido al aumento de crecimiento en Deltona,
St. Clara se hizo lider en evangelización y hospitalidad. Nosotros
hemos hecho parte de nuestra misión el dar la bienvenida a toda
la gente nueva con visitas personales. Por el calor y
la bondad generada, tenemos ahora 1,200 familias. La parroquia creció
y nos quedamos corto con el Salon Clara en
el 2005 y nos embarcamos en una campaña para levantar una iglesia.
Para ese tiempo se hizo necesario equipar el
Salon Clara como salon y espacios de salon de clase para educación
religiosa. Se añadió una cocina en el 2003.
Despues de eso Santa Clara comenzó a ofrecer comida para los
desamparados y ancianos regularmente. Nos
unimos a otras iglesias en el area para proveer servicios necesarios
mas alla de la alacena.. Alguien se Preocupa se
convirtió en el ministerio mas grande de la parroquia.
La parroquia se dio cuenta que la verdadera camaraderia podia proveer
educación Católica a un gran número de niños
quienes eran miembros de la comunidad. A traves de la oración y
adoración del Sagrado Sacramento, la parroquia se ha comprometido
al diezrno. Se hizo un estudio, y la
parroquia comenzaria una escuela. Esto sería terminado para
principio de las clases del año 2010. Esta nueva
facilidad les permitirá a los niños recibir una educación
Católica de calidad que de otra forma hubiese estado mas alla
de su alcance.
¿Es solo mi sueño de que Santa
Clara se vea asi dentro de 10 años? Espero que no.
Paz,
Padre Chris
Congreso carismatico diocesano Diocesis de Orlando “Renovados en el Espiritu Santo Para el Nuevo Milenio” Sabado Y Domingo, 20 Y 21 de Noviembre de 1999 Centro familiar Parroquia Santa Maria Magdalena Altamonte Springs, FL
Donacion: $15 por persona Oradores: Padre Tomas Galarza, Diocesis de Caguas, Puerto Rio; Padre Kiko Cordero, Diocesis de Mao-Monte Cristi, Rep. Dom
"Es esencial que entremos al milenio con un sentido fuerte de mision,"
dijo Cardenal George Hume de Westminster,
Inglaterra en un discurso preparado antes de su muerte. "La misión
de la iglesia está debilitada, tanto local y nacional, es una
iglesia dividida. Siempre hay el peligro de hablar y enfatizar lo que
creemos está malo con la iglesia, en vez de celebrar lo bueno y
animarnos unos a otros, yo creo que es un truco del diablo para desviar
a la gente buena de hacer su tarea de evangelizaci6n envolviendoles en
asuntos controversiales sin fin hasta el descuido del papel esencial de
la iglesia, que es misión. Ayudar en la fe no es preocuparnos de
como hacer sentir bien a las personas sobre sus experiencias; es profundizar
en ellos la relación con Jesucristo. Envuelve asegurarse que esa
fe es vivida cada dia. en toda circunstancia, no solo en un edif1cio
particular un Domingo." (Catholics Trends, Julio 10, 1999) ¿Es ésta
la misión de Santa Clara? ¿Es tu misión?