Mar 27, 2016
The tomb has become the womb
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By upyernoz from Haverford, USA (Jesus’s Tomb) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Peter and John anxiously peer into the tomb to discover that the burial cloths had been discarded, no longer needed by one who was alive. They failed to see the significance; that Jesus was dead and entombed, but Christ has arisen to give forgiveness of sins to all who believe. The tomb of Jesus has become the womb of the mercy of Christ.
Two millennia later, do we appreciate the significance of the risen Christ and the empty tomb? Surely, we do rejoice that the tomb is open, but have we been reborn by the mercy that is given? Have we discarded the burial cloths of anger and resentment that we use to bind the wounds of our hurts and disappointments? Do we celebrated today that with Christ we walk out of the tomb of our sinfulness and are reborn as witnesses to mercy first received and then given to others?
Today the great Alleluia resounds throughout the Church. May it inspire us to live the words of the psalmist: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.
-Fr. Bill Nordenbrock, C.PP.S. (Cincinnati)
This reflection comes from the Easter Reflections, prepared by the Precious Blood Family of communities:
Adorers of the Blood of Christ (US Region)
Missionaries of the Precious Blood (Atlantic, Cincinnati & Kansas City Provinces)
Sisters of the Most Precious Blood (O’Fallon, MO)
Sisters of the Precious Blood (Dayton, OH)
Sisters of Saint Mary of Oregon
Easter Reflections is available for printing here.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
Mar 26, 2016
“Why do you seek the living one among the dead?”
Dear Friends,
When the women went to the tomb at daybreak that first day of the week, the first question they heard from two men dressed in “dazzling garments” were these, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead?” In the wake of the bombing in Brussels during Holy Week that adds to the geography of graphic violence that has marked the map of the world from Paris to San Bernardino, from Newtown to New York, from Charleston to Littleton, from Oklahoma City to Chicago with blood, the question, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” is the one that motivates first responders.
In the aftermath of terrorism, first responders look for the living among the dead. They seek movement of limbs amid the carnage. They search for a pulse in a person buried beneath the ruins. They do triage as they try to keep the wounded alive until more help arrives. First responders look for the living among the dead as they seek to save another human being so that another name will not be added to the endless roll call of victims of violence.
The women who came to the tomb on Easter morning were the first responders to the resurrection. They had seen the violence; they were witnesses to the torture and execution of Jesus; they watched where the body was buried. So they went to the tomb that morning expecting death, to pay their respects, anticipating they would anoint the body of their beloved.
These women thought they were doing a work of mercy: to bury the dead. But as it turns out they were doing something even more important: they were being the first responders to the most remarkable and significant event in history—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Though “their story seemed like nonsense” to their male companions still hiding in fear, these women persisted in being passionate about becoming a new creation even in the face of those who “did not believe them.”
First responders have a difficult, dangerous and depressing duty to search for the living among the dead in the aftermath of terrorism or tornadoes, natural disasters and tragic accidents, hurricanes and human acts of evil. The debt of gratitude we owe them is beyond measure. But as first responders to the resurrection, those women show us how we too are called to go to places where death has a grip and release that grip by being a living, healing presence.
As first responders to the resurrection, we are called to be people of life in a world where there is so much death, so many catastrophes caused by hate, so many threats of violence, so much rhetoric about retribution, exclusion, and revenge. My friends, our Easter challenge is clear: we are the first responders to a new way of being human, a new way of being alive, a new creation in a world where the ravages of violence continue to scar the face of the earth.
May we respond to the challenge with the hope of the first responders to the resurrection!
With Easter peace,
Joe Nassal, C.PP.S.
Provincial Director
Mar 24, 2016
[fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”3_5″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Chibumagwa ……………………… 18th February 2016
Praise to Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who saves us in His Precious Blood.
With the heart of full of gratitude, I am sending this letter to inform you on how we have used USD 8,000.00, the money you have sent to our Chibumagwa Kindergarten last year, 2015. Also I send attachments of photos and videos showing: the staffs with Children, food we bought, wood charcoal used for cooking, Children eating food, Children playing after class session and after eating.
Here is the breakdown showing how the money spent at our kindergarten school:
-We bought food which will be enough for the whole year 2015/2016: Rice, Beans Maize, Cooking oil, Sugar, tea leaves and Wood charcoal for cooking power 6,627.5 $
-Uniform for the 35 beginners 612.5 $
-Scholarly articles for Children 162.5 $
-Outdoor items for playing 225.0 $
-Subsidizing for paying part of three staffs salary for three months 372.5 $
Total 8,000.0 $
The grant is very helpful for subsidizing costs for this early childhood learning at our Chibumagwa Parish since the last year was severe food shortage, which affects parents’ ability to pay for required learning costs. Children were in vulnerable situation where cause poor attendance to the school. Now the situation is quite different because of availability of the basic needs for their learning. The children are happy and now attendance is good.
On behalf of the Kindergartens Children, parents, Parish finance committee and our Precious Blood Community in Chibumagwa, we express a lot of thanks to the Kansas City Province and the entire benefactor who respond to this Crying of The Blood. May the Blood of Christ Bless all and finally inherit the Everlasting life in Heaven. AMEN.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Paul Kitaly
Parish Priest[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_5″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_slider hover_type=”none” width=”100%” height=”100%” class=”” id=””][fusion_slide type=”image” link=”” linktarget=”_self” lightbox=”yes”]https://preciousbloodkc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20150901_114013-300×169.jpg[/fusion_slide][fusion_slide type=”image” link=”” linktarget=”_self” lightbox=”yes”]https://preciousbloodkc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20150806_102215-300×169.jpg[/fusion_slide][fusion_slide type=”image” link=”” linktarget=”_self” lightbox=”yes”]https://preciousbloodkc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20150901_115355-300×169.jpg[/fusion_slide][fusion_slide type=”image” link=”” linktarget=”_self” lightbox=”yes”]https://preciousbloodkc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20150901_114747-300×169.jpg[/fusion_slide][fusion_slide type=”image” link=”” linktarget=”_self” lightbox=”yes”]https://preciousbloodkc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160115_114133-300×169.jpg[/fusion_slide][fusion_slide type=”image” link=”” linktarget=”_self” lightbox=”yes”]https://preciousbloodkc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20150807_121059-300×169.jpg[/fusion_slide][fusion_slide type=”image” link=”” linktarget=”_self” lightbox=”yes”]https://preciousbloodkc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20150903_120837-300×169.jpg[/fusion_slide][/fusion_slider][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
Mar 23, 2016
This election year we, Missionaries of the Precious Blood, respond to our call to political responsibility in choosing our nation’s leadership. We can once again thank our Catholic Bishops of the United States with providing us with a framework for examining our consciences as we strive to be faithful citizens. May we rely on their guidance as we invoke the Holy Spirit to gift us with prudence in this difficult decision making. Let us turn once again to the bishops’ statement, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” and apply Catholic moral principles to a range of important issues.
One such current and problematic issue is immigration reform. The bishops acknowledged in their statement the following: the failure to repair a broken immigration system that promotes true respect for law, protect the human rights and dignity of immigrants and refugees, recognize their contributions to our nation, keep families together, and advance the common good. I ask you all to please attend one of our final study sessions on immigration reform in preparation for our Annual Assembly. Let’s truly explore this issue together through critical discussion and debate as we move towards making a corporate stance.
Please choose one of the following sessions to attend for study: April 1st in St. Joseph at 4 p.m., April 2nd in Sedalia at 10 a.m., April 3rd in Liberty at 4 p.m.
Mar 22, 2016
[fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]Registration is limited to 35 people. Members of all Precious Blood communities are welcome to register. Click on flier image to print pdf form.[/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”10″ bottom_margin=”10″ sep_color=”” border_size=”10px” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””/][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_fusionslider name=”precious-blood-retreat-2016″ class=”” id=””][/fusion_fusionslider][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”10″ bottom_margin=”10″ sep_color=”” border_size=”10px” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””/][fusion_text]June 20, 2016 Monday Retreatants arrive at the Ruma Center. Informal gathering at 7:00 p.m.
Retreat Schedule
June 21-Jun 24 Tuesday through Friday
9:00 a.m. Morning Prayer in Chapel
9:30 a.m. Input and reflection time
10:30 a.m. Discussion
11:30 a.m. Lunch: Choice to eat with the community in the main dining room or to eat quietly in the East dining room
Break
1:30 p.m. Input in Chapel and reflection time
4:00 p.m. Eucharistic Liturgy
4:45 p.m. Evening Meal: Choice to eat with the community in the main dining room or to eat quietly in the East dining room
6:00 p.m. Discussion
7:00 p.m. Contemplative Moment (10 minutes)
June 25-26 Saturday and Sunday (for those who wish to stay)
Desert days of prayer and contemplation
4:00 p.m. Eucharist on Saturday
11:00 a.m. Eucharist on Sunday
June 27
11:30 a.m. Dinner and end of retreat[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
