Our Cross+Trainer Thanksgiving potluck and commissioning for first-year members was last Thursday. It was wonderful to support the new batch of Cross+Trainers as they made a commitment to the ministry for the rest of the year. Fr. Pat gave us a blessing and reminded us of the importance of centering our lives around the Eucharist and spending time in prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It was a beautiful evening of fellowship, blessings, and laughter. (Photos will be up as soon as people submit some for posting.)
On behalf of all the Cross+Trainers, we'd like to wish you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! As we celebrate with our families and friends, let us not forget to say a prayer for all of those who may not have a meal to eat or a family to share a meal with. Our hearts and prayers are also with all the families who lost their homes to the recent fires.
Sunday marks the First Sunday of Advent. What are YOU doing to prepare your heart for the coming of our Lord?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Let the FIRE fall, indeed!
I wanted to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped out with our Confirmation 2 retreat this past weekend, both physically (big ups to the 30 Cross+Trainers who staffed the retreat) and spiritually! The retreat was certainly a challenge for many of us, but by Sunday evening, the graces received throughout the weekend was evident on the faces of the retreatants. We had 79 Confirmation 2 students join us this weekend on retreat -- a packed house at Divine Word!
With the fires raging at home in Chino Hills and the surrounding areas, many of us were worried for the safety of our families and friends back home. Looking at the sky in Riverside, you wouldn't have known that any fires were going on -- the air was crisp, the sky was blue, and the weather was beautiful. Personally, for me, it was an exercise in faith as I felt helpless while getting phone calls from home. My family and the families of several Cross+Trainers were evacuated, and all we could really do was pray for their safety and for those of the firefighters. By the grace of God, no structures were damaged in Chino Hills even though the fires came close to many homes. Our hearts and prayers are with those who lost their homes in Corona, Anaheim, Yorba Linda, Brea, and other areas... and also with the firefighters who have been courageously risking their lives to protect our lives and property throughout Southern California.
The retreat was physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting for many of us who staffed it, including myself. In my moments of anxiety and tiredness, I remembered the words of inspiration of many saints who've gone before us -- to offer up our struggles out of love, on behalf of others. The thought of possibly going home to nothing made me really think about what I valued in life. Material things can be replaced, and yes, I trust that if our houses were taken away the Lord would provide... but the thought of our families in danger was what truly scared me. I thank the Lord for giving me peace and strength... prayer truly helped us on retreat!
Here are some photos from retreat courtesy of Jeremy "Jibbs" Janairo.... more to follow as soon as more people submit them :)
Martin is very passionate about drumming.
Early crew -- Jason, John-John, Rachel, Tiffany, and Joshie enjoy the calm before the retreat teens arrive.
Admiring the beauty of God's creation at the foot of the Divine Word cross.
In God's peace,
Richelle
With the fires raging at home in Chino Hills and the surrounding areas, many of us were worried for the safety of our families and friends back home. Looking at the sky in Riverside, you wouldn't have known that any fires were going on -- the air was crisp, the sky was blue, and the weather was beautiful. Personally, for me, it was an exercise in faith as I felt helpless while getting phone calls from home. My family and the families of several Cross+Trainers were evacuated, and all we could really do was pray for their safety and for those of the firefighters. By the grace of God, no structures were damaged in Chino Hills even though the fires came close to many homes. Our hearts and prayers are with those who lost their homes in Corona, Anaheim, Yorba Linda, Brea, and other areas... and also with the firefighters who have been courageously risking their lives to protect our lives and property throughout Southern California.
The retreat was physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting for many of us who staffed it, including myself. In my moments of anxiety and tiredness, I remembered the words of inspiration of many saints who've gone before us -- to offer up our struggles out of love, on behalf of others. The thought of possibly going home to nothing made me really think about what I valued in life. Material things can be replaced, and yes, I trust that if our houses were taken away the Lord would provide... but the thought of our families in danger was what truly scared me. I thank the Lord for giving me peace and strength... prayer truly helped us on retreat!
Here are some photos from retreat courtesy of Jeremy "Jibbs" Janairo.... more to follow as soon as more people submit them :)
Martin is very passionate about drumming.
Early crew -- Jason, John-John, Rachel, Tiffany, and Joshie enjoy the calm before the retreat teens arrive.
Admiring the beauty of God's creation at the foot of the Divine Word cross.
In God's peace,
Richelle
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Retreat season is now in full swing!
Our second Confirmation 2 retreat is coming up this weekend, November 14-16. Please join all of the Cross+Trainers staffing this retreat in prayer & sacrifice for the teens who will be attending! May the Holy Spirit inspire us all and inflame our hearts with His love.
Next week, we will also have the commissioning of our newest batch of Cross+Trainers. Please keep these young men and women in your prayers as they begin their journey in our ministry. I am personally so proud of all of them and feel humbled and honored to have witnessed a small part of their faith journey... I've had the great pleasure of serving many of them on their retreats and in class, and now I will have the honor of serving alongside them as fellow Cross+Trainers! God is good!
I know it's still a few weeks away, but ADVENT will soon be upon us. How are YOU preparing your heart for the coming of Christ?
In His love,
Richelle
Next week, we will also have the commissioning of our newest batch of Cross+Trainers. Please keep these young men and women in your prayers as they begin their journey in our ministry. I am personally so proud of all of them and feel humbled and honored to have witnessed a small part of their faith journey... I've had the great pleasure of serving many of them on their retreats and in class, and now I will have the honor of serving alongside them as fellow Cross+Trainers! God is good!
I know it's still a few weeks away, but ADVENT will soon be upon us. How are YOU preparing your heart for the coming of Christ?
In His love,
Richelle
Friday, November 7, 2008
You are loved.
"And only where God is seen does life truly begin. Only when we meet the living God in Christ do we know what life is. We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary. There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him."
{Pope Benedict XVI, Homily April 24th, 2005}
I think I can speak for all Cross+Trainers when I say that at the root of all that we do, what draws us into ministry is our own faith life, which is catalyzed by a true encounter with Christ. We may not all have these huge moments of conversion, these big "AHA" moments, but I know we've all had intimate encounters with Christ that have moved and changed us to the very core of our being.
We cannot push forward in ministry without first forging and strengthening our friendship with Christ. It is only through the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith, that we are strengthened and from which we draw the graces that allow us to go forth and do His work. If we do these great works but do not have the love of God in our hearts, then to paraphrase Mother Teresa's quote... we would be great volunteers but mediocre ministers.
Today is First Friday, and I'm blessed that I work at church where I can take breaks to sit and pray in the chapel, where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed all day long. One of our guest speakers in formation this past summer told us... if you want to be like the One you love, then spending more time with Him will make you more like Him! So spend some time with God today... pray! Invest in your relationship with Christ, who loves you unconditionally and continually invests Himself in you.
Yours in Christ,
Richelle
{Pope Benedict XVI, Homily April 24th, 2005}
I think I can speak for all Cross+Trainers when I say that at the root of all that we do, what draws us into ministry is our own faith life, which is catalyzed by a true encounter with Christ. We may not all have these huge moments of conversion, these big "AHA" moments, but I know we've all had intimate encounters with Christ that have moved and changed us to the very core of our being.
We cannot push forward in ministry without first forging and strengthening our friendship with Christ. It is only through the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith, that we are strengthened and from which we draw the graces that allow us to go forth and do His work. If we do these great works but do not have the love of God in our hearts, then to paraphrase Mother Teresa's quote... we would be great volunteers but mediocre ministers.
Today is First Friday, and I'm blessed that I work at church where I can take breaks to sit and pray in the chapel, where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed all day long. One of our guest speakers in formation this past summer told us... if you want to be like the One you love, then spending more time with Him will make you more like Him! So spend some time with God today... pray! Invest in your relationship with Christ, who loves you unconditionally and continually invests Himself in you.
Yours in Christ,
Richelle
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