MONDAY MORNING MISSION MEDITATION for the week of March 28, 2010

Catholic Charities. Providing Help. Creating Hope.

VISION: Believing in the presence of God in our midst, we proclaim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the person by sharing in the mission of Jesus given to the Church. To this end, Catholic Charities works with individuals, families, and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.

MISSION: Rooted in the Mission of the Diocese of Youngstown "to minister to the people in the six counties of northeastern Ohio . . .(and) to the world community", we are called to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same.

GOALS: Catholic Charities is devoted to helping meet basic human needs, strengthening families, building communities and empowering low-income people. Working to reduce poverty in half by 2020.

KEY VALUE: Hospitality

WHAT WE DO: Organizing Love. "As a community, the Church must practise love. Love thus needs to be organized if it is to be an ordered service to the community" (Deus Caritas Est, par. 20)

On Sunday (Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, Cycle C http://www.usccb.org/nab/032810a.shtml) we read St Luke's account of the Passion, Trial and Death of Jesus the Christ. The great hymn from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians, shouts with joy: "Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Our God loves us so much that God the Father sent his only Son to become one like us, to die an ignoble death, to witness that great love by being of service, not seeking to be served.

In Catholic Charities http://www.ccdoy.org we are called to model the same life and actions as Jesus: to be servants not to be served. Our call is to witness that incredible love, in gentle ways, to bring healing to those who come to our door who are suffering. Sometimes that healing takes place with a simple smile, a kind word or gesture, or even a loving embrace. The message of Holy Week is that God loved us first, so that we in turn can love each other in the love we have for God -- Father, Son and Spirit -- a God who suffers with us by the power of the Cross. But that suffering is not the end. Easter Sunday has the final Word.


Reflection from Pope Benedict XVI's Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate:

Openness to life is at the centre of true development. When a society moves towards the denial or suppression of life, it ends up no longer finding the necessary motivation and energy to strive for man's true good. If personal and social sensitivity towards the acceptance of a new life is lost, then other forms of acceptance that are valuable for society also wither away. The acceptance of life strengthens moral fibre and makes people capable of mutual help. By cultivating openness to life, wealthy peoples can better understand the needs of poor ones, they can avoid employing huge economic and intellectual resources to satisfy the selfish desires of their own citizens, and instead, they can promote virtuous action within the perspective of production that is morally sound and marked by solidarity, respecting the fundamental right to life of every people and every individual. (par. 28d)

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.htm



Some important date(s) this week:

SUNDAY, MARCH 28. Anniversary of the Installation of Bishop George V. Murry, SJ, as the fifth Bishop of Youngstown.


HOLY WEEK
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07435a.htm

APRIL 1. Holy Thursday. 10:30 Mass of the Chrism Oil, St. Columba Cathedral.
Mass of the Lord's Supper, 6 pm, St, Columba Cathedral.

APRIL 2. Good Friday. 3 pm. St. Columba Cathedral. Community Stations of the Cross, 4:30 commencing at the front of the Federal Building, Downtown Youngstown.

APRIL 3. Holy Saturday. 8 pm. St. Columba Cathedral, The Resurrection of the Lord At the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter



Note: Please consider joining our
FACEBOOK CAUSE http://apps.facebook.com/causes/106889
FACEBOOK GROUP http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=461833870606
TWITTER account, CCDOY, http://twitter.com/CCDOY
for current updates and calls to action that we can all use.


Sharing Hope In Tough Times: Catholic Charities Responds to Families Facing Economic Crisis

Last year, Catholic Charities provided 341 older adults with prescription assistance and senior support, including transportation, friendly visitation, advocacy, and in-home case management and social work services.


Reflection: Jesus gave all! Even those with limited material resources can give from their time and talent; there may just be someone who needs you right now.

Prayer Intention: That all will give of themselves in service to others.


PAPAL INTENTIONS:


March 2010
World Economy
General: That the world economy may be managed according to the principles of justice and equity, taking account of the real needs of peoples, especially the poorest.

The Churches in Africa
Missionary: That the Churches in Africa may be signs and instruments of reconciliation and justice in every part of that continent.

APRIL 2010
Fundamentalism and Extremism
General: That every tendency to fundamentalism and extremism may be countered by constant respect, by tolerance and by dialogue among all believers.

Persecuted Christians
Missionary: That Christians persecuted for the sake of the Gospel may persevere, sustained by the Holy Spirit, in faithfully witnessing to the love of God for the entire human race.


Corporal Works of Mercy: The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor

Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Visit those in prison
Bury the dead

See our website at www.catholiccharitiesyoungstown.org for links to the our ministries and services.
For more information on Catholic Social Doctrine and its connection to our ministries, visit my blog at: http://corbinchurchthinking.blogspot.com/