Spiritual Discussion for November 2019

“Review” from Ongoing Formation Gathering

Using the Contemplative Process, allow the suggestions below to form your Spiritual Discussion in November.

Goal Year #1: “Cultivate a spirit of racial inclusion, cultural sensitivity, and respect for persons with disabilities, generate an awareness of the dynamics of racism and understand the effects.”

Presenter:  Dr. Bethany Welch, Ph.D., Aquinas House, Philadelphia

Suggested Reading: New Study on Cultural Diversity Displays Catholic Church’s Growing Multicultural Parish Population Data on diversity in church: USCCB Article

To read article online click this link:  http://www.usccb.org/news/2016/16-154.cfm
OR to PRINT out this article click here.

Related Passages from Sacred Scripture:

Psalm 67  The nations called to praise God

May God be gracious to us and bless us  and make his face shine on us—[b]
so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest;
God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.

 

Romans 12:4-5  One in the body of Christ

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Related Passages from Faithful Witness

FW#42.1, 42.2
FS #44. 47

Related Passages from Alphonsus: 

“I love Jesus Christ and that is why I am on fire with the desire to give Him souls, first of all my own and then an incalculable number of others.”

From the Redemptorist rule submitted by St. Alphonsus for the approval of the Pope  in 1748.

“The Work of the Congregation is defined as “Men who announce the Gospel to the faithful to whom the church is not able to provide sufficient means for salvation” (Chapter 1, Article 1).

For example:

The farmers of certain regions

Immigrants, refugees and fugitives

Those who live or work in large cities

Those who because of race or color feel unfairly excluded from the rights of all citizens.

 

Communal Contemplative Prayer (followed by silent reflection)

Deep within your soul there is a knowing place

a sanctuary where gifts are nurtured.

Enter the sacred space.

Spend time there

tending your gifts as you would tend the land.

There in the chapel of your heart

you will become a gift to be given.

 

Reflective Sharing

Having reflected upon the selected resources listed above, and the talk by Dr. Bethany Welch in October, let us allow the Spirit to move us into conversation.

How can we – here and now – be sisters, servants to all of God’s people . . .

In your presence I ask…        

  • How have I given and received redemptive love today?
  • How have I responded with hope to someone in need today?
  • How can I be more faithful to my call to live the charism tomorrow?

Closing Prayer

God of boundless love, we pray for a passionate spirit to live the virtues of love, creative hope, and fidelity. Give us the grace to proclaim the Gospel message in the spirit of Jesus, the Redeemer. Inspire us to radiate joyful service with compassion for God’s people.  Lord, heal me and help me to share your redemptive love with your people joyfully. Amen.

(If you prefer to print out the November Spiritual Discussion Guide Click here)