R.E. Loreto College Foxrock: January 2013

Thursday, 31 January 2013

Day 4: Laity - We Participate

Apostolicam Actuositatem – Decree on the Apostolate of the

Laity

On 18 November 1965, the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity was published. In this

document those who participated in the Second Vatican Council outlined the role of the lay

apostolate in the mission of the Church. One particular area identified was that of Charitable

Works and Social Aid:

Wherever people are to be found who are in want of food and drink, of clothing, housing,

medicine, work, education, the means necessary for leading a truly human life, wherever there are

people racked by misfortune or illness, people suffering exile or imprisonment, Christian charity

should go in search of them and find them out, comfort them with devoted care and give them

the helps that will relieve their needs. (Ch 2, paragraph 8)

From the beginning, and inspired by his mother ‘Mama Margaret’ who sold her home and all

her earthly possessions to spend the last ten years of her life in devoted service to the little

inhabitants of the first Salesian home, Don Bosco encouraged lay people to participate in his

mission and apostolate.

Today lay people can participate in the work of the Salesians by volunteering to work with:

a) Don Bosco House. A home founded in Dublin by the Salesians to provide

residential care and support for young people who are unable to live with their

families.

b) Savio Volunteers, which provides opportunities for adults to participate in the

Salesian mission of ‘educating the young’ by sharing their talents with the young

and the poor in Salesian communities worldwide.

For You To Do:

1. Log on to the Salesians of Don Bosco Irish Website at www.salesiansireland.ie and read the

stories of the volunteers.

2. Download an application form to join either the lay volunteer programme at Don Bosco

House or Savio and see for yourself what is needed to participate in this aspect of the

apostolate of lay people.

3. Discuss why you would or would not like to be involved in these programmes.

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Day 3: Word of God - We Encounter

Dei Verbum - Degree on Divine Revelation

Fifty years ago, the biggest meeting to take place in the long history of the Catholic Church

was taking place in Rome. It was called the Second Vatican Council. It wasn’t a short meeting

either, in fact it lasted for three years and brought about important changes in the Church

that very much influence the kind of Church we are today. The changes came about as a result

of important documents that were prepared, debated and finally approved by the bishops

attending the Council. One of the most important documents they produced was called

Dei Verbum (The Word of God). This document sets out how Catholics are to understand the

central place of the Bible or sacred scripture in their faith.

Let’s take a little time to think about what we believe about the Bible as Catholics.

Consider the following statements and answer true or false to each one:

The Catholic Church teaches that the Bible is literally true

A Catholic Bible only has the New Testament

The Catholic Church believes not only in scripture but also in tradition

The Old Testament is never read at Mass

Catholics believe God is present in his word as well as in the Eucharist

If you have answered any of the above incorrectly take a little time to find out what the
Catholic Church actually teaches on this particular point.

Day 2: Liturgy - We Pray

Modern Day

Reporting from Croke Park on the 17 June 2012, Fr Thomas Rosia commented that ‘This temple

of football and rugby was transformed into an outdoor cathedral.’ Over 75,000 people from

over 120 countries gathered in Croke Park to celebrate the

Statio Orbis, or the final Mass of

the International Eucharistic Congress 2012. In his homily, Cardinal Ouellet said that ‘Faith is

the most precious gift we have received with baptism. Let’s not keep it private and fearful!

Let it grow as a splendid tree through sharing everywhere.’ And so from the 10 – 17 June 2012,

Dublin celebrated liturgies that allowed our faith to grow in a public and unfearful way. It

began with the opening ceremony and celebration of the Eucharist on day 1, with a theme

of ‘gathering’. Throughout the week there were daily celebrations of morning prayer, an

Ecumenical Liturgy of Word and Water, a Liturgy of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and

on day 4 there was an Evening Eucharistic Procession. The idea of a Eucharistic Procession still

exists around the country on the Feast of

Corpus Christi. This is when the Blessed Sacrament

is placed in a monstrance and processed through a village, town or city. Over a PA system,

prayers and music are led.

There were also many talks over the course of the week. One such talk on liturgy, given by

Julie Kavanagh, outlined the foundational principles of ritual and liturgy. She stated that

liturgy is ‘embodied ritual’. This means that we are bodily people and these bodies ‘do’ liturgy.

She quoted the late Aidan Kavanagh to point out that ‘liturgy is the Church caught in the act

of being itself’. Liturgy is action as well as being words and symbols. Liturgy is where we meet

Christ. We meet Christ through scripture, the Eucharist and the priest, but also through the

people who gather. What was the overall affect of the 50

th International Eucharistic Congress?

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin stated that the IEC ‘awakened in our hearts something which

went way beyond our plans and expectations’.

Create your own Liturgical

Calendar

First you are going to calculate the dates of the different special days in the liturgical year and

then you are going to create your very own liturgical calendar.

Step 1:

Find Christmas day and count back 4 Sundays to find the date of the first Sunday of

Advent

Date:

Step 2:

In order to work out the date of Easter Sunday, you must find out the date for the first

full moon after the Spring Equinox. Easter Sunday is the following Sunday. So, if the first full

moon after the Spring Equinox is 31 March, find the date of Easter Sunday (if this date falls on a

Sunday then that is the date of Easter)

Date:

Step 3:

Now, take the date for Easter Sunday, and subtract 46 to get the date for Ash

Wednesday

Date:

Step 4:

Take the date of Easter Sunday, and find the date of the Sunday before. This is the date

for Palm Sunday

Date:

Step 5:

Next, take the date for Palm Sunday and go to the following Thursday. This is the date

for Holy Thursday

Date:

Step 6:

The day following Holy Thursday is Good Friday

Date:

Step 7:

Now take the date of Easter Sunday and add 40 days. This is the Feast of the Ascension

of the Lord into Heaven

Date:

Step 8:

Take the date of Easter Sunday and add 50 days. This is the Feast of Pentecost

Date:

Step 9:

Lastly, look at Christmas Day 2014. From here, count back 4 Sundays and find the date

for the first Sunday of Advent for the next liturgical year

CSW Day 1: Church - We Gather

Read:

Luke 10:25-37

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal

life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered,

‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your

strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have

given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’

Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into

the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving

him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when

he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he

came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan

while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with

pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine

on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and

took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the

innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay

you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the

man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus

said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

CSW Morning Prayer

Monday

The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2013 is

Catholic Schools in the Community of Faith: Sharing the Good

News

The context for our celebration this year is the Year of Faith announced by Pope Benedict, in which he

calls upon Catholics all over the world to take time to reflect upon their faith so that they may deepen their

understanding of and love for Jesus Christ, who reveals to us the infinite compassion of God. In our school we

are not just an organisation or a company; we are in fact a community and what unites us is our shared interest

in teaching and learning based on a Christian understanding of what it means to be a human being. Let us use

this week to reflect upon and celebrate who we are as a community that has its roots in a good news story – the

story of Jesus Christ who came that we might have life in its fullness.

Tuesday

It is very difficult to celebrate good news or exciting events on your own. Where’s the fun in celebrating your

favourite team’s victory if there is nobody with you? We need to gather with others for the things that really

matter to us, and that’s why for two thousand years Catholics have gathered for prayer every Sunday – it is to

celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It is a time to remember all the ways we are blessed, to find hope and to

experience the care and compassion of a community that has at its centre an awareness of the presence of the

risen Christ. When we are in school we are busy with work, study and all the demands that are part and parcel

of everyday life. So we can easily forget to make prayer a part of that life and that is why it is important to take

a little time to become aware of God’s presence and to allow the habit of prayer and reflection to become part

of who we are.

Wednesday

Even in our technological era books are very much a feature of school life – whether they are e-books or printed

pages we learn much from the wisdom that others share with us. Through books we come to understand

new ideas and cultures, and gain insights that can change our lives. In recent years, especially since the Second

Vatican Council, the Bible is a book that is being rediscovered by many Catholics. We have come to understand

that the Bible is a place where the human story and the story of God come together. Through its stories, prayers

and reflections our lives are touched by the Holy Spirit who brings us to awareness that the Word of God is alive

and active and is a force for good in our lives leading us leading us to a knowledge and love of Christ.

Thursday

One of the best images for our community of faith is that of the body – we are the body of Christ and although

we are different, each of us has our part to play, our gifts to use for the good of others. School is a great place

to show how this works in action. We are not just staff who teach and students who learn, rather we are a

community, where each person has a role to play and talents to share, and when we find ways of doing that

the community is made stronger and we all come to a greater awareness of our own worth. This vision is based

on the values that Jesus taught his followers, not just by his words but also by his deeds. During this Catholic

Schools Week and this Year of Faith let us try to be true to that vision.

Friday

Today is the Feast of St Brigid and the first day of spring in our tradition. It is a day to be grateful for the many

ways in which we are blessed. Brigid recognised the presence of God in her life in two particular ways: she could

see God in nature and in the poor. Nature points to the wonder, beauty and mystery of the divine presence,

inviting us to learn from its seasons and rhythms. Every spring offers the hope of renewal and speaks of the

God of life who wants to shed light in our hearts. Brigid also recognised that in Jesus, who was born poor

among the poor, God is speaking to us and challenging us to reach out to those in any kind of need and to those

on the margins. If our school community is closed to such people then we are failing to share the good news

that everyone is invited to God’s table.

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Mary Ward Week Prayer

Thought of the Day

We pray for children who never get desert,

Who find no bread to steal,

Whose pictures aren’t on anyone’s wall,

Whose monsters are real.

We pray for children, who have to live,

Watching their parents watch them die,

Who’ve never seen a dentist

And cannot cease to cry

We pray for those whose nightmares come

In day time instead of night,

Who never get a chance to live,

Who are forced out of our sight.

Like Mary Ward prayed for women,

And succeeded in her quest,

Let us pray for children,

And make saving them our quest.

Drop Everything and Meditate

Monday, 21 January 2013

Mary Ward Week Morning Prayer 1

Mary Ward Week

In 1941 our school was founded,

By those who fought for our rights.

In a time where women were ruled and not taught

On equality she set her sights.

She travelled for and wide for year and years,

Not on behalf of herself,

But on behalf of young women all over the world,

On behalf of you and myself.

On behalf of Sarah, chillin in Babthorpe.

Or Rachel chillin in Ward,

Be you in class learning grammar and sums,

She has earned her reward.

To she we owe plenty, much more that you know,

Hers are whose footsteps we follow.

Women are strong and courageous and smart,

Which, to men, was a hard fact to swallow.

In Mary Ward Week, we pay tribute to her,

We strive to fulfil her ambition,

We treat education like a song in Loreto,

And we give it our very best rendition

Tug A - Ward

The Tug - A - Ward will take place on Tuesday on the Green beside the Sports Hall. All year groups must attend at the following times:

1st Years - 12.35 - 12.45

2nd years - 12.45 - 12.55

3rd Years - 12.55 - 13.05

4th Years - 13.05 - 13.15

5th Years - 13.15 - 13.25

6th Years - 13.25 - 13.30

Even if you are not participating in the Tug - A - Ward all students should come to support thier class mates!! Watch this space for photos of the competition....