Updates From Precious Blood Center

from Lucia Ferrara, Hospitality Coordinator
Lots of events have happened at Precious Blood Center! Several groups met here for retreats and meetings. For example, the Northern Deanery met here for a day-long retreat and had lunch here as well. The Meeting Christ in Prayer group had their final session here in May. From the responses, people enjoyed their time here.
“Finding Peace at the Center” was the theme for our first annual Day of Prayer and Reflection on World Labyrinth Day, May 6th. Our presenter, Fr. Joe Nassal, C.P.P.S. led an introduction about finding peace within ourselves and others. After lunch, participants walked the labyrinth to contribute to a wave of peace across the world.
St. James 8th grade retreat was held here in May. Led by Fr. Timothy Armburster, C.PP.S., their day was filled with fun, games, and hot dogs on the grill! They also reflected upon their 8th grade year and the bright future ahead of them.
Pleasant Valley Baptist church Leadership Team spent time here focusing on their next year’s agenda for their church and came back the next day to experience a day of rest and renewal together.
“Growing in Awareness of the Qur’an” and how it relates to the bible presented by Biaggio Mazza was held the third Wednesday in May. The evening started off with food and fellowship followed by Biagio Mazza’s presentation. It was such a success that folks requested a Part Two!
Our “Circles of Understanding” sessions offer a path to greater connectedness to one another in peace and harmony on the first Wednesday of the Month. The group always begins with a simple dinner, fellowship, and hospitality.
The Jesuit Volunteers joined us for another retreat at the Center! The five young Jesuit Volunteers spent their time in prayer, reflection, and silence for five days. They also met with Fr. Timothy as their spiritual director. They commented on the tranquility and renewed spirit they experienced here.
One group that said they were overwhelmed by our hospitality was the Evangelistic Center Church Women’s Spring retreat. About 25 women of all ages joined together for a weekend of friendship and fellowship. During their retreat, they offered different classes for the women like “Intentional Living” and “A Godly Marriage.” A few days after the retreat, I received a letter from one woman that expressed how she felt during her time here and I wanted to share that with you:

Dear Lucia,

I finally have the chance to let you know that when I stepped in the door of the retreat Saturday, I could leave behind weeks of struggle through difficulties, as I walked in. I felt the sense of sweet welcome of His Presence. I realized so much had been lovingly prepared for me (us)! All day I was astonished by the fullness and variety of food and felt welcomed instead of merely tolerated. His loving comfort was there in your face when I saw you- A marvel that the Lord made a lovely combo of Mary and Martha when he created you- Thank You for your love, your faithfulness and hard work. I left refreshed! I love you Lucia!

-Sylvia

This is what it is about folks: transforming one person at a time thru showing our tender love and acceptance for one another. For me, I have come realize that this is my ministry. Please remember the Center is a safe place for all people seeking rest, reconciliation, and renewal.
Just a reminder that our “Circle of Understanding” has moved to the first Thursday of every month, as well as our “Growing in Awareness” will begin meeting on the third Thursday of the month starting in July.
To make a reservation please call Lucia Ferrara, Hospitality Coordinator at 816-781-4344.

Feast of the Precious Blood

July 1, 2017
 
There Will Be Blood
 
Dear Members, Companions, and Friends,
Recently, the New York Times’ film critics listed their 25 best films of the 21st century so far. At the top of the list was the film that has nothing to do with the feast we celebrate on July 1st except the title. Their choice as the best film of the century so far is the 2007 movie, There Will Be Blood, about a money and land-grabbing oilman played by Daniel Day-Lewis who won his second of three Academy Awards as Best Actor for the role. The film depicts the eternal struggle between the things of earth and those of heaven, between God and greed, as a preacher plays the major foil for the oil man.
But in assessing the film, a line from one of the critics, A.O. Scott, is what stays with me. He wrote, “I never tire of thinking about There Will Be Blood. But every time I watch it, I find it out runs my thoughts.” I find myself in the same situation regarding this feast of the Precious Blood. I never tire of thinking about the blood of Christ, and yet every time I try to write about it, I find it outruns my thoughts. But this year, I invite us to think about three key words that reflect our spirituality: remembrance, recognition, and remain.
Throughout the Scriptures, memory plays such an important role in our life of faithful witness. In the book of Deuteronomy, we hear Moses say to the people, “Remember how for 40 years God directed you” and “Do not forget God who brought out of slavery.” In the gospel for today’s feast, we hear Jesus telling his disciples as he offers them his body and blood on the night before he died to “do this in memory of me.”
As pilgrims of the precious blood, we are to keep this memory alive in our relationships with one another and with all with whom we journey as we seek to live our spirituality with intentionality and inclusivity. We keep this memory alive by remembering how the blood of Christ frees us from slavery to sin as we seek to break the chains of whatever enslaves our brothers and sisters in our world today. We live this memory when we open doors when others want to slam them shut. We live this memory when we build bridges instead of walls. We live this memory when we confront the callousness of our world with the compassion of God found in the blood of Christ who seeks to draw all near. “For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh (Ephesians 2, 14).”
We live this memory by recognizing the image of Christ in the poor, the hungry, the victim, the immigrant, the stranger, the imprisoned, the depressed, the weary, the wounded, the aged, the lonely, the fearful and the forgotten. This is what it means to be blood brothers and sisters in Christ: all creation and all creatures are our cathedral and everyone is part of the body and blood of Christ.
To recognize Christ in one another means we actively engage in the problems and issues confronting our world. We do not stand on the sidelines but rather roll up our sleeves and get down on our knees to wash the dusty feet of all who are part of this journey to God. Too many in our world see what is happening and offer their opinion from their perch safe and secure on the sidelines. Our founder, St. Gaspar, challenges us to read the signs of our times and respond with the force of our faith, the compassion of our charism, and the reconciliation revealed in our spirituality: “In our miserable times…the crisis among the people is a general one. Consequently, is it not time to stir up our apostolic zeal and follow the light given to souls especially favored by God…to recall to the minds of people the inestimable price of our redemption and excite them to penance and tears? Does not Sacred Scripture trace for us this reform by ‘making peace through the Blood of his cross’ for those in heaven as well as those on earth”?
Finally, there is that word from the Gospel of John when Jesus says to his disciples, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in them.” What does it mean to “remain in Christ”? When we remain, we are faithful to our call. Remain implies fidelity. It speaks of a commitment in good and glorious times and difficult and dangerous ones. Indeed, our lives of fidelity reflects our call to be the living memory of God’s love and action in the world.
As we celebrate the feast that forms our missionary identity, I pray these three words—remembrance, recognition, and remain—will encourage us to live our spirituality more intentionally. Because, in the words of Saint Maria De Mattias, “The Blood of Jesus is our only hope and our only Good—this Blood, shed with so much pain and so much love for our eternal salvation. Let our hearts be filled with courage, fearing nothing, not even death, so that every moment the Precious Blood be glorified, loved and blessed by all!
I will be celebrating the feast with our Jubilarians at St. Charles. I plan to return in time for our celebration at Precious Blood Renewal Center on Sunday, July 2, at 4:00 PM. I hope many of you can join us for prayer and a cookout. On behalf of the Leadership Team, may the blessings of the Blood of Christ be yours as we celebrate our Feast Day!
With peace in the blood of Christ,
Joe Nassal, C.PP.S.
Provincial Director
 
 
 

The New Wine Press, Vol 25, no 10 June 2017

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Congratulations Fr. Peter Tam Hoang, C.PP.S.!

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Fr. Peter Tam Hoang, C.PP.S. was ordained on June 7, 2017 at St. Francis Xavier Parish in St. Joseph, Missouri. Fr. Hoang will serve in the Vietnam Mission. Be sure to scroll all the way down to see both slideshows.
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