Oct 27, 2018
“Let us serve God with holy joy.” ~St. Gaspar del Bufalo
Sunday, November 4 marks the beginning of National Vocation Awareness Week (Nov 4-10, 2018). It is an annual week-long celebration promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
As we each are called to reflect upon our own vocation and ministry in our lives, I challenge and encourage you to reflect upon the great joy your ministry has brought to you and to others as you continue to serve God’s people. In the words of our founder, “Let us serve God with holy joy,” we are called to find that joy in our lives and share it with others.
This Sunday’s responsorial psalm is “I love you, Lord, my strength.” These words remind us of the one who first loved us and what is our response in return.
As ministers of the word, we are called to invite others to join us in the ministry. Christian life comes with many choices. National Vocation Awareness Week is designed to help promote vocation awareness and to encourage young people to ask the question: “To what vocation in life is God calling me?” Will you be called to the single life, consecrated religious life, ordained priesthood, or married life?
As we reflect upon the readings for the weekend of Nov 3/4, may we also take the time to reflect upon our own vocation as well as inviting others to consider his or her vocation to serving God’s people. In addition, bulletin inserts (both in Spanish and English) have been sent out to all the parishes we serve. They should arrive by Monday. Please let me know if you don’t receive them.
Finally, as we reflect upon the readings and National Vocation Awareness week, I also encourage you to visit the Bishops website for more homily hints and other resources for the week. NVAW-reflection
Fr. Timothy
Mar 18, 2018
By Timothy Armbruster, C.PP.S.
“Sometimes the most difficult person to forgive is ourselves,” was one of the many thoughts that were shared and reflected upon during this year’s Lenten Discernment Weekend, March 16-18 at Drexel Square Formation House in Chicago.
Sr. Donna Liette, C.PP.S., Br. Juan Acuña, C.PP.S., and Fr. Dennis Chriszt, C.PP.S., shared and led our discussions throughout the day Saturday focused upon The Mercy of God, Forgiving Others, and Forgiving Ourselves. Through the sharing of stories, videos, and discussion, we engaged our inquires in Precious Blood Spirituality and community life. Each inquirer was invited to reflect upon his own person life and understanding of forgiveness and mercy.
On retreat with us were inquirers: Travis Burns from Chickasaw, OH; Michael Orengo and Matt Carner from Dayton, OH; and Elliot Rich and Tony Sorgi from Chicago, IL. We were joined by members, Fr. Steve Dos Santos, Fr. Lac Pham, and candidate, Matt Perez. We ended our wonderful weekend with Mass at St. Ambrose and brunch at Mellow Yellow.
May we continue to pray for vocations to religious life as well as the next steps for these men as these discern God’s calling in each of their lives.
Mar 18, 2018
By Timothy Armbruster, C.PP.S.
The “Daring Disciples” of St. Francis Xavier Parish in St. Joseph did indeed Deliver! On March 12-15, students in grades 1-8 participate in this year’s Lenten Retreat led by Fr. Timothy Armbruster.
Our retreat theme captured both the school theme of “Daring Disciples Deliver” as well as the parish theme of “Welcome, thru the Waters of Baptism.” With the help of four saints, St. John the Baptist, St. Mother Teresa, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and St. Teresa of Little Flower, we captured the story of faith and how we live it beginning with the welcoming water of baptism. We shared the stories of each of the saints and how those saints connect with us today and we ended our week with an All School Mass on Thursday.
Each year, a different symbol is chosen to capture the week’s retreat. This year a giant raindrop tree was chosen. Each student was given a raindrop on which to write an act of kindness he or she could do. The raindrop was attached to the larger drops and now the raindrop tree stands in Gaspar Hall for all to witness what the school and School of Religion have promised to do for the remaining time of Lent.
—pictured above is Fr. Timothy Armbruster along with Robin Shalz who assisted with the week.
Jan 7, 2018
It might not have been my first choice of where to spend New Year’s, but Chicago was home for the first days of the New Year. This year, Fr. Steve dos Santos, Srs Patti Kramer, C.PP.S., Karen Elliot, C.PP.S., Therese Wetta, ASC, and myself were on hand to spend the week with college students at this year’s FOCCUS Student Leadership Summit (SLS). Although it was too cold to be outside, the spirit was warm and welcoming within McCormick Convention Center. Around 6,000 students, alumni, benefactors and other leaders were on hand for liturgies, various talks and training sessions. Several women and men religious were represented. We invited students to stop at the booth and to write a prayer request and place in daily calendar which will be in one of the sister’s houses and those prayers remembered daily. We also had a drawing for a FitBit, “Stepping it up for Jesus.” We had a great response to both. Each student that stopped by, also received a Precious Blood chaplet. May we continue to share our story as well as our devotion so that more may come to know us.
Fr. Timothy
Oct 29, 2017
By Timothy Armbruster, C.PP.S., Vocation Director
National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promote vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations.
Observance of Vocation Awareness Week began in 1976 when the U.S. bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year for the celebration. It was later moved to Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January. In 2014, after extensive consultation, the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations moved the observance of National Vocation Awareness Week to November to engage Catholic schools and colleges more effectively in this effort.
Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the Chair of the US Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, reminds us that each of us in the Church has a key role to play in the witness of our vocation in ordinary circumstances, “As we go about our everyday life and most especially this week, we must keep vocations in our prayers, while, at the same time, being a mindful witness with our own vocation. We may never know how our lives may have an impact on someone else’s story. Simply living out our call as disciples of Jesus Christ fully and joyfully in the world bears witness to the love of Christ as He generously bestows on each of us our own personal call.” -from USCCB website
We are all invite and encouraged to share our vocation story and how we each answer God’s call in our live.
As we meet with Inquirers for Companions last week at Precious Blood Center as well as the Discernment Weekend Oct 6-8, we spoke of vocations, but more importantly we spoke of relationship. Not only inviting others to join us, but also inviting others to get to know us so that they may consider religious life.
I still remember growing up in WaKeeney and the members that came to visit prior to Steve Park’s ordination as well as those who visited during Dennis Meyer’s year of Diaconate. It was those interactions and getting to know the guys that called me and planted the seed to get me thinking of religious life and priesthood. It seemed that even though the members hadn’t seen each other in months it was as if they picked up the conversation right where it left off.
Invite, share who you are and what you do, and encourage others to consider where God is calling them in their lives. As Gaspar challenged, “I wished I had a thousand tongues to proclaim the saving powers of the Blood.” May we invite others to join us.
Below are the bulletin inserts sent out to our parishes.
