I’ve been reading a small booklet entitled, “Lord, Teach Us to Pray” by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P. during my personal prayer time. I’ve found it to be a good source for meditation. I thought that I’d spend the next few columns sharing parts of his writings in order to give you some spiritual food for thought. As people of faith, we must always be working on our spiritual lives and at the very heart of that is prayer, which find us cultivating a relationship with God.
The first part of the booklet is entitled, “What is Prayer? Why Should I Pray?” Fr. Cameron says that “prayer is a disposition … (a) willing(ness) to be consumed by God’s unbounded gift of divine love … (an) eager(ness) to respond personally to that utter self-giving with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.” And “prayer means standing before God and raising up our mind and heart to Him with reverent attention and devotion … the devout offer(ing) of the whole of ourselves in the Holy Spirit to the Father through Jesus Christ.”
When I was a freshman in high school my Theology teacher defined prayer as “a conversation with God.” I’ve continued to love the simplicity of that definition, and it has informed the way I pray. When I pray, I talk to God. And after I talk, I allow God to talk to me as I listen to Him with the entirety of my heart and soul. Fr. Cameron says that “the conversation of prayer deepens our intimacy with God drawing us into communion. It serves as an inspired act of love by which we become deeply united to God … prayer conforms us to the Lord.”
After offering a definition of prayer, Fr. Cameron lists the five basic forms of prayer: (1) Adoration, (2) Petition, (3) Intercession, (4) Thanksgiving, and (5) Praise. Adoration, he says, “exalts the greatness of God … (it) compels us to bless the One who remains the source of every blessing in our life.” Petition “acknowledges our dependence on God the Father.” Intercession finds us “entrust(ing) ourselves to God’s mercy, especially by placing before God the Father the concerns of others in need.” Thanksgiving “gives voice to the gratitude that befits every mature and honest person.” And praise “lauds God for his own sake and gives glory … because He is.”
Prayer helps us to love God for who He is and all that He does. Prayer allows us to bask in God’s mercy. Prayer provides us with an opportunity to sit in God’s presence and seek His assistance as we live as Christians. Prayer reminds us of God’s tenderness and the love He has for us, His children.
I invite and encourage you to be deliberate about your prayer time this week. Carve out some quiet time with the Lord. Talk to God. Share your joys and struggles. Ask for the grace to continue growing in holiness. And then sit in silence allowing yourself to listen … truly listen … to God who seeks to speak to you.
A few announcements: Mass Schedule … The one Sunday Mass at 9:30 will continue through the month of September so that the Parish Pastoral Council can discuss it at their meeting in mid-September. We will then have a parish vote.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd … The first Atrium sessions will be held this Sunday, September 8 from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. in the parish basement.
After School Tutoring … Is free and will be offered every Thursday from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. in our parish hall. For more information, please contact Michael Busk at (574) 216-6577.
St. A’s Women’s Group … Is meeting on September 21 at 2- 3:30 PM in the Parish Hall. All women of the parish are welcome to participate. “By listening to one another we share our stories, and we hope to learn what would be most important to the group. We want to build a sisterhood where we can call on each other in times of prayer and need without feeling embarrassed or judged."
Parish Pastoral Council … Will meet on Saturday, September 14.
Confirmation Program … With Deacon Mel will begin this month from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Sundays. Dates can be flexible in order to accommodate the needs of families, field trips, and service projects. All interested parents/teens must meet with Fr. John for an initial meeting/conversation and to gather the required sacramental records. He can be reached at [email protected] in order to schedule an appointment.
Catholic Communications Campaign … Is this Sunday, September 8. This special collection connects Catholics with Christ in the United States and around the world using the internet, television, radio, and print media. Half the funds remain here in the Diocese of Ft. Wayne – South Bend to support local efforts. Be a part of this campaign to spread the gospel message. A special envelope is in your packets, or you can place a check in the regular collection with “Catholic Communications Campaign” written on the memo line. THANK YOU for your generosity! Annual Bishop’s Appeal … All registered households will receive a mailing from Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades inviting you to consider a donation to this year’s Annual Bishop’s Appeal, which funds roughly half of our diocesan operating budget. Please prayerfully consider helping us invite thousands of Catholics in northeast Indiana to encounter Christ and each other. To make a gift, donate online at diocesefwsb.org/aba, donate in person at your parish, or donate by returning the pledge card included in this year’s mailing.
The assessment for St. A’s is $ 9,892.21 this year. THANK YOU for helping us reach our goal for the Annual Bishop’s Appeal. All monies collected over the goal will be returned to the parish for our needs. Mobile Key … LAST CALL … Employees, Soup Kitchen volunteers, and St. Vincent de Paul Society volunteers who need access to the parish for their ministry have been in the process of meeting with Micah Towery or Dan Mandell to download the app for the mobile key to the parish center door. If you fall into one of those categories and haven’t met with Micah or Dan to download the key, please see either of them after Mass on Sunday and they will walk you through the very quick and easy process. You will need to have your phone with you! The plan is to rekey the glass doors this week.
High Tea … The Knights of St. Peter Claver, Ladies Auxiliary, Our Lady of Kibeho, Court 416, cordially invites you to High Tea, our first fundraiser, to be held on Saturday, September 14 from 1:00 -3:00 pm at St. Augustine Parish. Tickets are $20 per person or a table for six can be purchased for $100. If you cannot attend, donations are always welcomed. See any member to purchase tickets or email us at: [email protected]. Tickets are for-sale until all the tickets are sold. Taizé Service … A diocesan-wide Taizé Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on September 19 at St. Matthew Cathedral. Join Bishop Rhoades and fellow Catholics praying for the upcoming Synod on Synodality being held at Vatican City during the month of October.
St. Augustine Men’s Group … is an anonymous gathering for those men who struggle with sexual addiction. For more information visit diocesefwsb.org/Augustine or email [email protected] … Brochures are located on the table in the gathering space. This is a diocesan group and NOT a parish ministry. Confidentiality is assured!
Pope’s Intention for the Month of September … For the cry of the earth. We pray that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth and of victims of natural disasters and climactic change, and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in which we live.
Saint of the Week … St. Peter Claver (September 9). He died on 08 September 1654 after serving as a Jesuit missionary in Cartagena, Columbia for 38 years. St. Peter devoted himself to caring for African slaves. He baptized more than 300,000 persons during his years of spreading the faith. St. Peter Claver is the patron saint of all missions to black peoples.