Relationship lessons learned

Some wisdom from our TOT presenters Len and Carleen Velez from their TOT talk at Good Shepherd, July 23:

• You have to become relationship-ready yourself before entering into a relationship. While you're looking for a relationship, be sure you're working on your "own stuff."
• You have to keep changing and keep working through things.
• You have to keep finding ways to grow as a couple (time alone w/o kids, retreats, date nights, counseling, etc.)
• Love is a daily decision.
• Order of priorities has to be: (1) Faith; (2) Relationship with your spouse; (3) Children
• God has a calling for each of us.  God wants us to be in relationship: marriage, religious life, single, but most of all relationship with God.
• God has created that special person for you; as challenging as it is, God's timing is perfect.

Vocation: Three Key Questions

Videos from Fr. Michael Himes on vocation discernment:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/3-key-questions-part-1-what/id319379995?i=56241519

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/3-key-questions-part-2-what/id319379995?i=56241520

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/3-key-questions-part-3-who/id319379995?i=56241521

Also at http://bcintersections.podbean.com.

Theology-on-Tap 2011 is here!

Our latest newsletter has all the info you need on Theology-on-Tap 2011! Check it out here:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Theology-on-Tap-is-here-.html?soid=1102102916177&aid=iKO8zyTgtwU

Theology-on-Tap is a speaker and fellowship series that reaches out to young adults who want to explore the role of faith in their daily lives. In this casual atmosphere, you'll hear straight talk and honest answers to your deepest questions about faith, love, work, and other real life experiences. And TOT is a great opportunity to meet other young adults and make new friends. The series is open to all young adults, ages 18 to 39, regardless of religious affiliation.

June 12: Feast of Pentecost

June 5: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Each week during Lent and Easter, a young adult from the Archdiocese offers a reflection on the upcoming Sunday's Gospel.

Gospel: Mt 28:16-20

The Great Commission

As Disciples of Christ it is our duty to spread the good news of Christ’s love. We are all Disciples of Christ and just as the eleven disciples worshiped and some doubted Christ when they saw Him, some of us go through the same doubts. It is in us as humans to continue to question the presence of Christ in us; it is then that we need to remind ourselves that Christ has reassured that that He is with us always, “to the very end of the age.”  We are the light of this world and our light needs to be shining for those that are without the light of Christ in their lives.  In what ways are you shining your Light unto others? How do you keep the flame of Christ’s love and His promises lit in your heart?  In times of trial and doubt, what do you do to remind yourself that Jesus is with you always? In what ways, as a young adult, are you spreading the good news and making “disciples of all nations”? 

"Jesus' departure and ascension into heaven was both an end and a beginning for his disciples. While it was the end of Jesus' physical presence with his beloved disciples, it marked the beginning of Jesus' presence with them in a new way. Jesus promised that he would be with them always to the end of time. He assured them of his power -- a power which overcame sin and death."  © 2002 Don Schwager

Noelia Ballesteros
St. Helen, South Gate

Vatican Issues Major Report on Science of Climate Change

A sobering report on the impacts for humankind as a result of the global retreat of mountain glaciers as a result of human activity leading to climate change has been issued by a working group of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, one of the oldest scientific institutes in the world.

In their declaration, the working group calls, “on all people and nations to recognize the serious and potentially irreversible impacts of global warming caused by the anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, and by changes in forests, wetlands, grasslands, and other land uses.”  They echoed Pope Benedict XVI’s 2010 World Day of Peace Message saying, “…if we want justice and peace, we must protect the habitat that sustains us.”

The report focuses on the impact of anthropogenic climate change on mountain glaciers and warns that, “Failure to mitigate climate change will violate our duty to the vulnerable of the Earth, including those dependent on the water supply of mountain glaciers, and those facing rising sea level and stronger storm surges. Our duty includes the duty to help vulnerable communities adapt to changes that cannot be mitigated. All nations must ensure that their actions are strong enough and prompt enough to address the increasing impacts and growing risk of climate change and to avoid catastrophic irreversible consequences.”  (Emphasis added.)

The working group recommends three measures to reduce the threat of climate change and its impacts:

1. “Reduce worldwide carbon dioxide emissions without delay, using all means possible to meet ambitious international global warming targets and ensure the long-term stability of the climate system. 

2. “Reduce the concentrations of warming air pollutants (dark soot, methane, lower atmosphere ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons) by as much as 50%, to slow down climate change during this century while preventing millions of premature deaths from respiratory disease and millions of tons of crop damages every year.

3. “Prepare to adapt to the climatic changes, both chronic and abrupt, that society will be unable to mitigate. 

You can read the entire report which has been posted on the Catholic Climate Covenant website.

May 29: Sixth Sunday of Easter

Each week during Lent and Easter, a young adult from the Archdiocese offers a reflection on the upcoming Sunday's Gospel.

Gospel: John 14:15-21

The words in today’s Gospel are part of Jesus’ Last Discourse—that is, part of his farewell speech to his closest and most beloved friends. What a powerful message that must have been, both for Jesus and for his apostles. And, it can still be as powerful for us today.

For Jesus, he had to carefully choose the ideas, messages, and hopes that he wanted to share with his friends before having to say goodbye. What would we say to our closest loved ones if we could only say a few things more? For the apostles, even though they did not yet fully understand what would soon transpire, they must have had some sense that these were significant moments, both for their friend and for themselves. Perhaps they were wondering what they would do when Jesus was no longer with them.

For us, Jesus’ words may be a little easier to grasp today because we know that the Passion ultimately paved the way for the Resurrection, and for the joy we experience at Easter. With this knowledge, we can more easily hear two important messages that Jesus has for us. First, Jesus assures us that we are never alone. He has sent us the Spirit of truth whom will always be with us. And, Jesus promises that he himself will someday return: “I will not leave you orphaned; I will come back to you.” Second, Jesus lets us know exactly what we should do in memory of his time on Earth and as a witness to his living presence: we are to obey his commands to love God, our neighbors, and ourselves. Indeed, what better way could there be to remember Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection than to keep his love alive in the world through our faith and actions!

Christine Gerety
St. Monica, Santa Monica