Happy February Everyone! Old Punxutawney Phil saw his shadow on Tuesday morning and so we are in for another 6 weeks of winter, and it looks like the snow is coming tonight followed by some pretty chilly weather for the next week! Since we might not want to venture out into the cold for a while here are a few opportunities to help us pass the time:
Join us for our discussion of Pope Francis's
LET US DREAM
on Tuesday, February 11 at 7:00. Contact me for the ZOOM link at
lynp@blessed-midland.org
Our EVERYBODY, ALWAYS video small groups begin February 16:
https://www.blessed-midland.org/2020/12/30/love-does/
Our next Ladiback Book Club begins February 21.
“Kisses from Katie invites readers on a journey of radical love down the red dirt roads of Uganda. You’ll laugh and cry with Katie as she follows Jesus into the impossible and finds joy and beauty beneath the dust. Katie and her children delight in saying yes to the people God places in front of them and challenge readers to do the same, changing the world one person at a time.”
Did you know that today is International Day of Human Fraternity? Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar spent a year drafting Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together and signed it on February 4, 2019. Learn more about the collaboration here:
You can watch the presentation of this year's award:
And how about something for Saturday date night?
You are invited to “Marriage on Purpose,” a multi-church virtual marriage event with Dan Seaborn. For more information and to register visit the parish website: https://www.blessed-midland.org/2021/01/28/marriage-on-purpose/
CARE FOR THE SICK
February's Corporal Work of Mercy
The feast day of St. Blaise was yesterday, February 3 and he is a wonderful choice to kick off our discussion of Care of the Sick. St. Blaise is the patron saint of throat ailments and that seems particularly pertinent since in this time of Covid, what used to feel like just a sore throat, a simple annoyance, might in fact be the beginning of something more. When I was a kid growing up at St. Joseph's Parish in Warren, PA, I used to love having my throat blessed. Father Meyer would place the two candles around your neck and pray: "Through the intercession of Blessed Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, may you be delivered from all illnesses of the throat and any other ailments. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." I used to hope that I would have a sore throat that day, and that I would experience a miracle! It makes me laugh now at how I thought it was like magic, but there is comfort in knowing that the saints will pray with and for us, particularly when we are sick or hurting in some way. If you aren't familiar with St. Blaise or the Blessing of the Throats heck out this 90 second video.
The actual name of this month's Corporal Work of Mercy is "Visit" the Sick, but since in-person contact is not advisable at this time, here are two ways that we can CARE for the sick:
1. Donate Blood
2. Call, send a card, or send an email to someone who is feeling under the weather.
And of course, prayer is often the most important way that we can Care for the Sick:
"Almighty God, as we ask your help for our brothers and sisters who are ill, we
ask you to help us to be healing people in our time and place. May your love
touch others through us, and may we help all people to live in peace. We ask this
through Christ our Lord. Amen."
The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi NYC
Wishing you good health, peace, and hope, Lyn