Proud to be Catholic

Recently the Catholic Church has had a negative spotlight thanks to the sexual harassment issue by clergy members. Scandals like this are embarrassing and even scary. However one woman wrote an article encouraging Catholics to hold their heads high.

“Walk with your shoulders high and your head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States.” — Sam Miller

Sam Miller, a Jewish woman, wrote this article about the Catholic Church. Unfortunately I’m not sure what publication she reports for (my dad read me the article) and  the site it’s found on doesn’t look very professional. But it’s definitely worth the read.

Don’t throw stones

Last night I went to mass and heard the Gospel. The reading was about a woman who committed adultery. When the people told Jesus they planned to stone her, He told them to have the person who has never sinned throw the first stone.

That made me think about how many stones I throw in my life. When I judge a person that’s a stone. Or when I yell at my sibling that’s a stone. Easter is less than two weeks away. It’s never too late to add to your Lenten promise.

For the next two weeks, focus on not throwing stones.

Pay it forward

Today I was driving with my sister and brother on the highway and we had to go through a toll booth. It cost one dollar and we had zero cash. It was raining and we were kind of lost and stressed already. My brother rolled down the window, explained the situation to the woman, and she said, “You know what? I just remembered. I’m going to pay it forward.”

She pulled out a buck and smiled. We thanked her and went about our way, thinking of how we could pay it forward.

Recently I read a story about freshman Holly Fielder who spent her Saturday morning at Camp Charity. Giving back to the community is a great way to pay it forward and there are tons of ways to get involved. I find it truly inspiring that she would take the time to attend a volunteer camp like that.

I’m going to try and be more involved in community service, but there are other ways we can serve every day. What if we all were like that woman in the toll booth who spared a buck to help someone out? If everyone tried to do at least one random act of kindness every day, think of how our lives would change.

Just don’t forget after you help someone out to remind them, “Pay it forward.”

God is everywhere

Hey guys, this week Rosie sent me a link of something pretty amazing. It was a collection of various objects people had photographed that looked like Jesus. One was a Cheeto that looked like Jesus on the cross. Another one was the face of Jesus in an ultrasound.

You should check out these pictures. If you can’t quite see Jesus then click the video that accompanies some of them. That helped me out.

The videos actually poke fun at these people who see Christ in different things. I guess sometimes it can be over the top and a little goofy, but the message is still important. God really is everywhere. And how often are we even looking? At least these people are making the effort.

This week I’m going to look for Jesus in my life– not necessarily in my Cheetos but maybe just in the amazing people I’ll see come Monday.

Keep on the look out, STA. He’s there.

Accountability

Deuteronomy 7:6 says “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be His people, His treasured possession.”

How do I know that? From my friend, Anne Marie Whitehead. She texts me (along with a few other friends) every day with a quote from the Bible.

That’s how we keep each other accountable. I expect that text daily. She reminds me to pray through that daily quote.

During Lent, I suggest you and a friend keep each other accountable by telling each other what you have given up or added on this season. Keep reminding each other and help each other grow closer to God this Lent.

Maybe it will turn into a habit that you can practice every day even outside of Lent, like Anne Marie does.

The best things in life don’t come easy

Have you ever been rejected? It sucks.

A few weeks ago I got rejected from Marquette University, one of my top two college choices. I was absolutely shocked. I had already told people I wanted to go there, and I hadn’t even been accepted yet. I was very confident I would get in– confident in this plan I had for myself.

Unfortunately for me, it seems like the things I’m most sure of are the things that let me down in the end. And the pain is that much worse.

Well, my dad caught wind of this and flipped. That same day, he made a call to the Marquette admissions board. The nice lady on the phone said she’d check with the Dean in the morning. And guess what. It was a mistake. About a week later, I received my acceptance letter to Marquette University.

Okay, so what the heck, God? Is this a sign that I should go there or not? How can I go to a college that hurt me like that and made such a careless mistake? On the other hand, isn’t it pretty lucky that my dad happened to make that call and I really did get in?

Well, I don’t know where I’m going to college. But I think if there’s anything to learn from the experience, it’s that nothing is just handed to you. As my grandpa would say, you have to work like everything depends on you and pray like everything depends on God.

Also, God is the man with the plan. And suffering is sometimes the harsh reminder I need that shows everything really does depend on God.

Changes in the Mass

Did you know that the Catholic Missal is being revised?

I had no idea until a few days ago when I attended a meeting in my parish. Father Paul Turner, a priest of the diocese of Kansas City- St. Joseph, spoke to the community members about the changes and why these changes are taking place. It’s not just my church. It’s worldwide!

Why is it changing?

Basically, priests and leaders of the Church have meditated and discussed this for a long, long time. After Vatican II, when we changed from Latin masses, some of the countries took a few more liberties with the translation. English speakers have a slightly different translation of parts of the mass than other countries. Now, we are trying to form a more united, consistent mass that follows most closely to its Latin root.

So, what does that mean?

Well, we’re going to have to learn new responses in the mass. That also means that some of the songs we sing will have to be altered since the wording has changed.

What are the changes?

A few examples are:

1. Opening greeting: “May the Lord be with you” / Response: “And with your spirit” (was “And also with you”)
2. Nicene Creed:  ”one in being” is replaced with “consubstantial”
3. “I am not worthy to receive you…” changes to “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof…”

When are the changes in effect?

The Church leaders are still working out the details of this complicated process. A good estimation of when the changes will happen would be Advent of 2011.

More information?

Visit the Notre Dame liturgy site for discussions and videos about these changes from Father Turner and others. I also suggest that you attend a meeting concerning this if you have the opportunity. It is best to talk to an expert. These leaders know what they’re doing and have fascinating explanations as to why they are making these changes.

Comments?

Are these changes important? Or is it even worth re-learning so much? What do you think?

Goin’ to the chapel…

Last night I went to the 10 p.m. mass at Creighton University. They called it the “candlelight mass.” All the lights were turned off and only candles lit the cathedral. A student choir sang songs accompanied by acoustic guitar and keyboard. It was truly beautiful and I definitely felt the presence of God.

It made me wonder how much we actually use our chapel at STA. Wouldn’t it be cool if we had our own candlelight mass? Even if it was just once a month? Or even once a quarter or semester? Maybe we could say a Rosary together during activity every other week? What if confession was held twice a year? Or we could sing praise and worship songs for an activity period?

I just feel like there are tons of cool things we could be doing with our chapel, but no one has really stepped up yet. We have this special place, but how often do we use it for actual prayer?

But then would students actually come and participate if we did plan something? I’d like to think we would, but what do you think?

Wow…it actually does all happen for a reason

You know how there are moments in your life where you just have to pause for a second? Like, when you step back and think to yourself that there’s something bigger out there? That this life really does have meaning and we’re not alone?

I totally had one of those moments on Tuesday afternoon. I guess it was just one of those weeks and I was having a really rough time. I had been stressed out and down on myself. To make matters worse, I nearly got in trouble for wearing a sweatshirt in school.

Thank goodness I only got a warning, but later that day the same teacher somehow spotted me out in the hall completely surrounded by other girls. Oh, and I was heading to the front office so I could check out right before my 15-16 free. About 10 seconds later and I would have been fine. But this teacher pointed me out and even said, “THE SWEATSHIRT!” and told me to see her after school for the SBR.

So, I went to her office and received my SBR. Mad at the world, I stormed out of the building. I remember asking God why He did this to me. It was the last thing I needed when I was stressed and sleep-deprived and everything else.

In all my fury, I had forgotten my keys back in the building. As I was walking back to get them, I happened to meet this same teacher again and she just happened to confront me once more (to make sure she was fair in giving me the SBR I guess).

And out of nowhere, I’m embarrassed to admit, I completely broke down. I started bawling in the middle of the hall. I can’t remember the last time I cried like that…especially in public.

The thing is, it wasn’t about the SBR at all. It had been building up for some time and needed to come out. This teacher asked if I’d like to come and talk to her, and after declining several times, I finally agreed to at least step in her office for a tissue.

Of course, we ended up talking for a good while and, again I’m even more embarrassed to admit, I was so grateful for it. Never would I have thought that I could benefit from discussing my personal life and crying in front of a teacher. But it was so refreshing. I left the building feeling a hundred times better than when I arrived that morning.

This mini-anecdote is a perfect example to me of God’s mysterious workings in our lives. Only He can turn an unlucky moment in an already crummy day into a positive opportunity to reflect and improve ourselves. And only He has the power to change my prejudices against people I may feel uncomfortable around and allow me to have a great conversation with them.

I feel silly now for yelling at Him when He had this plan all along. And it was His plan. There’s just no other reason.

And yes, everything does happen for a reason: it’s God’s will. And His amazing plan is a million times better than any other plan I could possibly dream for myself.

Happy New Year!

Even though there’s been snow on the ground since Christmas Eve, I still can’t help but admire the perfectly white snowflakes floating outside my window right now. A new snow has covered the gray, ugly slush that previously painted the town.

This new and completely untouched snow reminds me of the new year we have just begun. Everything from the past is cleared and we can start over, dropping bad habits and starting good ones. At this time, we feel the potential of a great new year. Anything can happen! And just remember how God tells us:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

Inspired by this, I wish all of you a very happy new year!

Don’t have enough dartnewsonline? Interested in being one of the first to know every time a blog is updated? Follow us on twitter to get live updates regarding important things in the school!

How to create a twitter account:

1. Log onto www.twitter.com and click “sign up now”
2. Follow the direction to create a username and password
3. In the search bar, type in “dartnewsonline”

Request to follow us and you’re well on your way to knowing all there is to know in the STA community!