HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

The Table

Coachela Thursday 3-25-2010 The Table 004, originally uploaded by Mission Trip 2010.

This is what the table turned out to look like. Pretty cool. Thanks Mario and Dominic and all those who sanded, buffed and varnished the table.

STUMPED
Here is a little taste of what we did on our mission trip. Here we are at the parish, Our Lady of Soledad, where we slept, and trimmed bark off stumps, and worked with the youth group. This is what it looked like before our handy work and Mario and Dominic's ingenuity. Later you will see the table that it turned out to become

Catholic EYE CANDY

I've just discovered a pretty amazing site. It's a blog called CATHOLIC EYE CANDY and it is a daily posting of photo(s) of all things Catholic. The photos are stunning. Here's the link, if you'd like to check it out: http://cathcandy.wordpress.com/. Warning: It's easy to lose large chunks of time just looking at all the amazing pictures!!!

Welcome Home!

Our Alternative Spring Break Mission Trip travelers will soon be on the road heading back to Eugene. Please pray for a safe journey for our "Mission Trippers;" for all University students making their way back to campus; and for our families returning from Spring Break adventures. WELCOME HOME!~

DISNEYLAND!!

Our Mission Trip gang is celebrating their week of service with a trip to Disneyland! They just sent us this photo...gee, it looks awfully sunny and warm down there! Hey Geni, say "Hi" to Mickey for us!

Bumping along...

We're still vibrating here in the office at Newman Center, thanks to the earth moving equipment and the steam roller...do they still call them steam rollers? Probably not. In any case, by the end of the week we will all be enjoying a newly graded and gravelled parking lot!

Please continue to pray for our 25 parishioners, permanent community and students, as they continue their work in Coachella, California.

Parking Lot Improvements

Monday and Tuesday we have heavy equipment rumbling outside, as we improve our parking lot. We are regrading and installng new gravel. There's never a dull moment at the Newman Center!

Please remember to pray for our folks who have ventured on the Mission Trip to Coachella, California. I'm hoping they will text me some photos to post here on the blog. Check back!!

Fish Sitting

Please continue to pray for our students and parishioners who are on the Alternative Spring Break Mission Trip to Coachella, California.

I'm fish-sitting for one of the students while she's gone - I love having Simon and Garfinkel on my desk!!!

...and they're off! Alternative Spring Break Mission Trip

Twenty five students and a handful of permanent community parishioners have set off on their mission trip to Coachella, California. Blessings on your journey!

MISSION TRIP
Pray for us; we are leaving today for the Mission Trip at 2 PM.
St. Joseph, pray for us that we have a safe trip and a good mission.
May God bless the people of Coachella, California and open our eyes and hearts to what they truly need.

Come and eat.

Fr. Daniel's Spiritual Magic - March Matinee

Newman Camping!!!

Our Newman Center is going camping at Sunset Bay from Friday, July 16 to Sunday, July 18th. Here is the link to Oregon Parks and Recreation:
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_100.php

Call the Newman Center to reserve your spot. We have 12 camping sites that can hold up to eight people each.

Thanks to Nancy Myers from the Pastoral Council, who arranged for this to happen.

Daylight savings time begins this weekend

Daylight savings time begins this weekend

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MISSION TRIP only 2 weeks away

This is from an article in AMERICA Magazine December 21, 2009 issue by the Pastor Bruce Cecil.

"Sunday Mass is the doorway through which most Catholics pass regularly to experience God and the church. Consequently, the quality of Sunday worship is of utmost importance. The parish emphasizes hospitality: everyone receives a greeting at the door, and before Mass worshippers are invited to offer a handshake or a hug to those nearby. Members learn that their first ministry is to be friendly and welcoming. After the announcements the presider welcomes visitors, recognizes wedding anniversaries and birthdays and blesses newborn babies.

To encourage congregational singing, the parish uses PowerPoint to project the words of songs onto a big screen. Songs sometimes involve clapping or movement. PowerPoint is also used to integrate photos, videos and music into the preaching. Our Mexican-American congregation responds well to visual aids, so this strategy is especially effective. Upon entering the church, the parishioners receive a homily outline, which they are encouraged to take home as a message reminder or to share with someone else.

The parish encourages inclusion and participation, especially of children and youth. At some Masses, the children’s Liturgy of the Word includes skits, games, puppets and music. At Communion time, those children who have not yet received the sacrament form a separate line and both receive and give a blessing. The priest makes a sign of the cross on the forehead of the child, and the child reciprocates by tracing a sign of the cross on the priest’s forehead. If there is a deacon, he sometimes takes on this role. Teens serve as ministers of hospitality, run the computer for the music and homily, help in the children’s program, sing in the choirs and more. The staff and parishioners also take special care to accommodate seniors and persons with disabilities.

Parish leadership also promotes stewardship of time and of talent, not just of finances. Cards placed in the pews allow worshippers to request prayers or information on programs and ministries. A follow-up team calls anyone who fills out a card. The parish gives away 10 percent of the weekly collection to a charity; naming the charity among the prayers of petition reminds parishioners of the importance of tithing."

And here is their website for youth ministry:
http://www.soledad-coachella.org/en/ministries/youth/youth.html

Join Me on the Bridge

Chartres Cathedral, Labyrinth Our Labyrinth is still up in the church, which is open from 9 AM to 7 PM Monday through Friday. Make your life a pilgrimage.