Second Week of Advent - Video Reflection

Here's the second week's video reflection from the University of Notre Dame.  The author this time is a student.

First Week of Advent - Video Reflection

For the past few years, the University of Notre Dame has released a series of video reflections to coincide with Advent.  Below is the video for the First Week of Advent.  May it help us be patient and learn to wait!
 

What's the Advent Wreath about?

Check out this two-minute video about the history of the Advent Wreath.

What's Advent About?

Advent is the first season in the liturgical year.  It's meant to help us focus on Jesus' coming.  It's a season of waiting, preparing, hope, praying, and joy.  Watch this two-minute video for more information:

All Hallows Eve

Today is Halloween!  What sort of connection do we as Christians have to this day?  Watch the video below to hear about Halloween, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day from Fr. James Martin, S.J..

[Video is 8:14 long]

Vatican II -- 50th Anniversary

Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, which is partially the reason why we're celebrating a "Year of Faith" this year.  While the blog will feature articles throughout the year on Vatican II, here's a little known gem straight from the Bl. Pope John 23's heart, spoken on the night of October 11, 1962:

If your Italian isn't what it used to be, see the translation below (HT to Whispers in the Loggia)

Dear sons and daughters,

I feel your voices! Mine is just one lone voice, but it sums up the voice of the whole world.

And here, in fact, all the world is represented here tonight. It could even be said that even the moon hastens close tonight, that from above, it might watch this spectacle that not even St Peter's Basilica, over its four centuries of history, has ever been able to witness.

We ask for a great day of peace. Yes, of peace! 'Glory to God, and peace to men of goodwill.'' If I asked you, if I could ask of each one of you: where are you from? The children of Rome, especially represented here, would respond: ah, we are the closest of children, and you're our bishop. Well, then, sons and daughters of Rome, always remember that you represent 'Roma, caput mundi' ['Rome, the capital of the world'] which through the design of Providence it has been called to be across the centuries.

My own person counts for nothing -- it's a brother who speaks to you, become a father by the will of our Lord, but all together, fatherhood and brotherhood and God's grace, give honor to the impressions of this night, which are always our feelings, which now we express before heaven and earth: faith, hope, love -- love of God, love of brother, all aided along the way in the Lord's holy peace for the work of the good. And so, let us continue to love each other, to look out for each other along the way: to welcome whoever comes close to us, and set aside whatever difficulty it might bring.

 When you head home, find your children. Hug and kiss your children and tell them: 'This is the hug and kiss of the Pope.' And when you find them with tears to dry, give them a good word. Give anyone who suffers a word of comfort. Tell them 'The Pope is with us especially in our times of sadness and bitterness.'

And then, all together, may we always come alive -- whether to sing, to breathe, or to cry, but always full of trust in Christ, who helps us and hears us, let us continue along our path.

The Year of Faith

To enter the door of faith is to begin a journey that lasts a lifetime -- Pope Benedict XVI

Today, October 11, 2012, marks the opening of the Year of Faith, a 13-month long opportunity to deepen our faith in Jesus.  To help us all enter the Year of Faith, the Arlington Diocese has created a website designed to inspire and invite us to grow in faith.

At the national level, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) also has a website designed to help us take a deeper look at our faith.  There's a collection of videos from the website, including an introduction to the Year of Faith, a saint for each of the 13 months, and a Q&A about the Year of Faith.  The Bishops also offer a simple family prayer to pray this year.

Globally, the Vatican's English Year of Faith website provides us with a wider view of our faith, more focused on what the Pope and other Church officials offer us during this year.  For example, below is the video produced with Pope Benedict announcing the Year of Faith:

With the proliferation of these Year of Faith websites, the Church recognizes the need to be present where people work and live part of their lives: the digital realm.  Throughout the year, you can join us here at the blog as we highlight the best of what the Diocese, USCCB, and Vatican have to offer us during this Year of Faith.

Turn! Turn! Turn!

There is an appointed time for everything, 

and a time for every affair under the heavens. – Ecclesiastes 3:1 

For the leaves, a time to die.

Popularized by the Byrds in 1965 with their song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” this Bible verse is one of the most recognized from the Hebrew Scripture (Old Testament). In a strange twist, the underlying current of the Scripture passage is easy to lose amid the familiarity and popularity of the words. As the passage continues to tell us there’s a “time to be born, and a time to die” and “a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant,” a basic quality of knowing the “appointed time” screams to be recognized: discernment. Without proper time, space, and silence for discernment, it is difficult to know whether it’s “a time to keep,” or “a time to cast away;” whether it’s “a time to be silent” or “a time to speak.” In a world that places a premium on what’s now (see: the series of commercials saying “that was so 15 seconds ago”), on knowing the latest news (“did you hear about the NFL refs?”), and on having the latest gadgets (iPhone 5!), I have to work to carve out a part of my life to discern the “appointed time.” No clock, no calendar, can tell me the time or the season. Only in conversation with God and those who love me can I properly discern the time.

Image Credit: joiseyshowaa on Flickr

Junior High kick off Friday, September 28

All 7th and 8th graders are invited to the Junior High kickoff on Friday, September 28!  Watch the video below (or get your youth to watch it).  It looks like it'll be a ton of fun!


Contact Angie Pometto in the youth office for more info on the Jr. High kickoff or other youth ministry offerings.

Feast of Sts. Peter & Paul

St. Paul in the Vatican

St. Peter in the Vatican

Today, the Church celebrates two of our most beloved early Christians, Sts. Peter & Paul.  Peter was the leader of Jesus' handpicked disciples and, together with Paul, the leader of the Early Church.  Paul's influence lives on in his letters to the earliest Christian communities in Rome, Corinth, Thessolonika, and other places.  Although they clashed on at least one recorded occasion (see Galatians 2), their passion for Jesus and their intense desire for discipleship helped them overcome any disagreements and focus on spreading the Good News of Jesus the Christ.

Want to learn more?  Watch this video and St. Paul.

St. Paul

Image Credits: Mary Harrsch on flickr (Paul); Mr. G's Travels on flickr (Peter).

Pentecost in Two Minutes

Continuing Busted Halo's "...in Two Minutes" series is our Church's celebration of the coming of Holy Spirit to the Apostles and to the world in Pentecost.  Check it out:

Come Holy Spirit!

Where do you need inspiration in your life?  Where do you need the gifts of Wisdom, Counsel, Knowledge, Understanding, Fortitude, Piety or Wonder/Awe/Fear of the Lord?

Where Communion Hosts Come From

Have you ever wondered where Communion hosts are made?  Well now you can find out with a look inside the Cavanagh Company, the good folks who make the bread we use at St. Mark and throughout the United States.  I like to think of this video as a Mr. Rogers-esq trip into a religious bread company.

This video requires Flash.  If you're using an iOS device, sorry!


You can read the entire article here.

Note: There's been a lack of posting and updates on the blog mostly due to the flurry of preparation time that goes into First Eucharist.  After first Eucharist and Confirmation are completed, we'll be back to regularly posting.

The Eucharist (how we receive)

With First Eucharist coming up the next two weekends at Mass, it's a good time to brush up on what we believe about the Eucharist.  Check out this quick video that explains a little of what we believe and a little on how to receive:

Keep these children in your prayers!

Sky VBS - Coming July 9-13 to St. Mark Catholic Church!

Sky VBS is coming this summer to St. Mark Catholic Church!  More information forthcoming.  For now, check out this video:

Holy Thursday

To prepare for Holy Thursday's liturgy (Mass of the Lord's Supper), take a look at this video from Fr. Robert Barron's Catholicism series.  In it he talks about the words of Jesus in John 6.



What's my experience of the Eucharist?  Do I believe with my actions as well as with my mind that Jesus has the words of everlasting life?

Virtual Stations of the Cross

If you're looking for a way to pray the Stations of the Cross at home, I recommend taking at look at the Virtual Stations of the Cross put together by Busted Halo, a website run by the Paulists (in addition to the two I previously recommended).  These stations are very well done, combining our Tradition with contemporary artwork and reflections written for people trying to follow Jesus in the world today.  The Stations are pray at your own pace, so you can reflect on and pray with one station for as long as you wish before moving on to the next Station.

I've embedded the first two below, but you can pray with the rest by clicking here.

First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death


Second Station: Jesus Carries His Cross
 

Palm Sunday Video

Here's a video (not intended for children) about Palm Sunday.  How do we approach the only Sunday Gospel of the year where we, the assembly, have speaking parts?



Do I just go through the motions of Palm Sunday?  Where in my life do I need to turn away from sin and embrace the Gospel?

Holy Week in 2 Minutes

This two minute video which runs through the holiest week of the year, Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday.
What did you learn from this video?  What could you pass on to your children?

Video: 40 Days

Check out this video of Matt Maher's Lenten song "40 Days" set to drawn images of Jesus in the desert.

Forty days to wander

Forty days to die to self

Forty days to grow stronger

Where do you need strength this Lent?  What do you seek as we wander together these forty days?

Ash Wednesday in Two Minutes

Continuing our preparation for Lent, below is an excellent video that reviews Ash Wednesday in two minutes.  As a reminder, if you're clink the link to see when St. Mark in Vienna, VA has Mass on Ash Wednesday 2012.



Video courtesy of Busted Halo.