This week's bulletin article has a few information items. After these items you will find an article from Sr. Fran Sulzer, FSPA and Br. Guillermo Morales, OFM about Spiritual Direction and their ministry here at St. Peter's Church.
Throughout the Archdiocese a second collection will be taken up this weekend, September 17-18 for the education of future priests for the Archdiocese. These funds provide support for those studying for the priesthood and future service to the Archdiocese.
LUNCHTIME PROGRAMS AT ST. PETER'S
As I have mentioned in previous bulletins, this summer at the end of May, our Provincial asked Fr. Derran Combs, OFM to relinquish his position as Programs Director at St. Peters and accept a position helping the Archdiocese in a new initiative on the Southside. Fr. Derran began his new position as Mission Director of St. Thomas More Mission on the Southside this summer. Thankfully, Fr. Tony Posadas, OFM has agreed to assume the responsibilities of Program Director at St. Peter's Church. Fr. Tony has been living here at St. Peter's the past year doing Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Loyola Hospital in Maywood in order to be certified as a hospital chaplain. Fr. Tony is presently on vacation visiting his family. Once he returns to Chicago, we will begin planning programs for the coming year.
YES, IT'S ALMOST TIME TO VOTE AGAIN!
If you watch TV, listen to the radio, look at the internet, are on various social media sites, look at highway billboards, signs in CTA buses or trains or, read newspapers, I imagine you are aware another national election will be held on Tuesday, November 8. In this time of our nation being sharply divided in opinions and ways to govern our nation, state and city, I strongly encourage you learn more about our political process.
The League of Women Voters is a civic organization in the United States that was formed in 1920 to help women take a larger role in public affairs after they won the right to vote. Today, the organization provides important information about voting and various stances of all candidates. The US Bishops Conference has published an informative brochure regarding our responsibility for our country. You will find the brochure, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States on the US Bishops website.
Pope Francis reminds all members of the Church of our responsibility to protect the common good. He said in 2013, "We need to participate for the common good. Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern."
If you are not registered to vote then please register to exercise your right as a citizen to help guide our country and VOTE! If you are registered to vote, then make plans now of how you will vote in the November election, whether by mail, early voting, absentee ballot or in person at your voting place.
SOLEMNITY OF ST. FRANCIS
The Solemnity of St. Francis of Assisi (October 4) will soon be here. We are still finalizing all the details for the celebration but tentatively we plan to offer the annual Blessing of Animals on Sunday, October 2 at 12:30 pm. Transitus Prayer Service to commemorate the death of Francis at 2:00 pm on Sunday, October 2. We will celebrate the feast of Francis on Tuesday, October 4 at the 7:30 am, 11:40 am and 1:15 pm Masses. More information in next weekend's bulletin.
RESPECT LIFE
As Catholics, we believe that every human life is valuable. During the month of October we are asked to reflect on how we might help build a culture that protects life from conception to natural death. More details in future bulletins and on our website. You also will find more information on the US Bishops web site at: https://www.usccb.org
SINCERE THANKS TO THE DAUGHTERS OF ST. PAUL
The Sisters arrived to their Michigan Ave. residence and book store in 1979. For 43 years they provided quality books, movies and religious articles helping many Catholics and others in the Chicago area to grow in their faith in God. A special Mass was offered on Saturday, September 10 at Assumption Catholic Church on Illinois St. to thank the sisters for their great service of ministry to the Archdiocese.
Like many religious orders in the Church these days, the sisters are also experiencing diminishment in sisters able to work in their various places of ministry. So they had to make the painful decision to close their store on Michigan Ave. and assign the four sisters who were presently here in Chicago to other houses in their community. The sisters and friars here at St. Peter's have worked together over the years to promote their bookstore and gift store as well as the gift and gift store here at St. Peter's. Please keep the sisters in your prayers as they prepare to move to new cities and assignments in the next couple of weeks.
Fr. Michael
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION INFORMATION FROM BR. GUILLERMO & SR. FRAN
Spiritual Direction is an opportunity to reflect on one’s personal experiences of relationships with God, with others and to see where God is in daily life. This reflection is guided by the Holy Spirit and can bring clarity to one’s purpose in life and a deeper understanding of a personal path, or of what matters most in life’s journey.
Spiritual paths are sometimes clear and sometimes not so clear. Key components are honesty with God and oneself, openness, and seeking to find God in daily life. The understanding that a person has about self and God grows and changes over the years. Spiritual Direction attends to these movements of growth and change through conversations with a friend or a spiritual director. The spiritual director helps to pay attention to God’s communication. Spiritual Direction helps to develop and to be aware of this personal relationship with God and how to respond to it.
Spiritual Direction differs from Counseling. Both address the human person but from a different lens. Counselors draw from different therapeutic frameworks to treat a range of needs: they may explore the origin of relational struggles and treat emotions that are stuck in repetitive patterns. Counseling supports persons through grief and losses of all kinds. Spiritual Direction accompanies persons in a way that invites and incorporates a realistic trust in God.
St. Peter’s offers two different approaches to Spiritual Direction. One is Individual Spiritual Direction where the person comes to meet with the spiritual director on regular basis. The second is Group Spiritual Direction where a group of persons come together to reflect on God’s presence in their ordinary daily life.
The content of our Group Spiritual Direction sessions are designed to build upon each other from week to week. The dates for Group Spiritual Direction are: November 8, 15, 29. December 6 and 13. We will meet on Tuesdays at St. Clare Auditorium room A from 1:45 pm to 3:00 pm. November 8th begins with an orientation including an experience of GSD.
If you are interested, there is more information about Spiritual Direction on page 6 in today’s bulletin. Please contact Sr. Fran or Br. Guillermo or call the church office 312-372-5111.