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12-19-06

Greetings!

I was at ShopKo yesterday and was startled when I heard the cashier wish a customer "Merry Christmas".  I don't think that's a company policy because another clerk was doing the standard "Happy Holidays."  We've come a long way when it's a pleasant surprise to hear "Merry Christmas"---which is indeed the reason for the Season.  

 

This Holy Season, may you and your family have a Merry Christmas.  May you be a light amidst so much darkness.   May the light of Christ manifested in this Holy Season permeate all that you do.  And may God's blessing be upon you.

"for behold I proclaim to you good news of great joy…a savior has been born…" –Luke 2:10-11

 

Phil's Tidbits:

 

One local family has decided their gift-giving will take place on the Feast of St. Nicholas the Feast of Epiphany.   Christmas Day will then focus exclusively on the birthday of Christ.  A very noble and praiseworthy goal in helping teach their children the Faith---one that my own family may eventually adopt.   However, "the best laid plans"….resulted in the children deciding 4am was a good wake-up time on Dec. 6^th to see what St. Nick had brought J.  This was a school day no less!   No word yet on what Mom and Dad have in mind for Epiphany…..

 

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For those of you who would like to send some Christmas Cheer to some of our modern day "Scrooges" here's some addresses.   If you do this, make sure they are respectful---for "they will know we are Christians by our love." 

 

Freedom From Religion Foundation
PO Box 750
Madison WI 53701

 

Bill Donahue, President of the Catholic League is always a good quote.  In our soundbite culture, he has a way of succinctly getting his point across.   The following is a memo the Catholic League recently put out.

 

December 14, 2006     ANTI-CHRISTMAS FEVER ABOUNDS   Catholic League president Bill Donohue released these remarks today on the latest round of anti-Christmas incidents:   "Like most Jews, Olympic skater Sasha Cohen is not offended by Christmas carols. But that didn't stop a government employee from trying to protect her. While Cohen was skating at a rink in Riverside, California, a high-school choir started singing 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman,' immediately sending Michelle Baldwin into orbit. She summoned a cop and got him to institute a gag rule: he ordered the choir to stop singing. Baldwin maintained that because Cohen was Jewish, she would be upset by the carol. But she never bothered to ask the skater if she objected. As it turns out, Cohen couldn't have cared less. As usual, those who say we must be careful not to offend non-Christians at Christmastime are the ones who object to Christmas—not those whom they falsely claim to represent.   "Like Baldwin, Sandra Byrne, principal of an elementary school in Delray Beach, Florida , has a need to show how inclusive she is. That's why she has no Christmas tree, nativity scene or menorah in her office. Instead, her spot is adorned with teddy bears wearing sweaters. Moreover, only 'winter parties' and 'winter celebrations' are tolerated. 'We're very careful about this,' she says. No doubt she is.   "Here's another example of anti-Christmas fever. In a Detroit suburban school district, they've instituted a quota system on religious songs that can be sung at school concerts. That's right, only 30 percent of the songs at Howell Public Schools can be religious. It's not certain whether the choir director will be fined or imprisoned if a multicultural monitor finds that 31 percent of the songs are religious. We recommend incarceration.   "After Pope John Paul II visited Cuba in 1998, Castro made a good-faith gesture by allowing Cubans to celebrate Christmas again. Maybe we should hire Fidel to talk to these madmen."

A True Shepherd to His Flock

Bishop Thomas Olmstead inherited a mess in the Diocese of Phoenix.   The previous bishop resigned amid scandal and there were a lot of problems in the running of the diocese.  Here's an update on some of the actions this true shepherd has been taking of late.   From a correspondent writes about Bishop Olmstead of Phoenix :

I had the pleasure of speaking with Bishop Olmsted last evening.  In a few days, he will mark the three-year anniversary of his arrival in Phoenix .  One of his first acts as Bishop was to pray the Rosary in Spanish outside the Planned Parenthood clinic on 7^th Ave.   Last year, I shared with you the story of the woman who asked the Bishop to pray over her after she bravely left the clinic right before her abortion was to begin.  She continued to keep in touch with him and he will baptize her child soon at his own parish, where the mother is taking classes!  He told me last night that there was another "save" last Saturday!  He said he knows it is a great blessing to these women to hear the Rosary in their own language.  There is always a large replica of the Tilma of St. Juan Diego with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, as well as local Catholic Native American dancers.  (They perform a centuries-old dance in honor of the Virgin and they are in prayer the entire time.)

He will pray the Rosary in English next weekend at the same clinic and we will be with him.  Just imagine if every Bishop in the United States did what Bishop Olmsted does, even if only during Advent!   They could give their Respect Life Ministry quite a boost, don't you think?

I cannot express how real and down to earth this man is.  He will never break a conversation with anyone.  I was actually moved to tears when I realized he would lay down his life for me if it ever came to that.  He has given such hope to all of us in Pro-Life work here.  He told my husband that we give him hope when he sees us doing what we do!  Now that is humility.      

And finally, a story sure to bring a smile:

 

Marvelous innocence

    It was the day AFTER Christmas at a church in San Francisco. The pastor of the church was looking at the manger scene, when he noticed that the baby Jesus figure was missing from the cradle. He immediately   turned and went outside and saw a little boy with a red wagon walking down the street. And in the wagon, was the figure of the infant Jesus.
 So he walked up to the boy and said, "Son, where did you get that little baby Jesus that's in your wagon?"

 

  The little boy replied, "I got him from the church."
 

And why did you take him?" asked the pastor.

 

There will be no Areopagus next week.

God bless you!                                                                                                                                       Phil Lawson                                                                                                            For the latest info on St. Peter's, check out the parish website:   www.saintpetercatholic.com                                                                                 (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)

The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events.  Hope you find it fruitful!

 

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