Activity: Sacrament of Reconciliation
Celebrant: Visiting Priest
Location: The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Comments: Gorgeous architecture! There's even a ministry to greet people at the entrance, and the lady told me where to get holy water, and where the washroom is. Another ministry to welcome new parishioners. You have to fill in a registration form if you want to join as a parishioner and I'm sold! The visiting priest was very dynamic and clear. Apparently he serves a Black community and he's used to 25 to 30 minute sermons so he consciously cut short his sermon for us. I liked that his message was very clear, about the prophetic voice, and to be like Jesus, and not be afraid to stand up for the poor, the marginalized etc. And to be the prophetic voice in our daily lives even if we're persecuted (or killed, the way the prophets are like). It is a calling and a cross that we must fulfill!
6 September, Friday
Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Fr. Josh
Location: Georgia Tech Catholic Center
Comments: Halfway through, the bread and wine offertory person sat next to me and his strong cologne got to me. Other than that, it was a nice weekday mass with prayers afterwards. Wrote a mass intention for John's dad and my mum, for their upcoming eye surgery.
Priest shared that it was Blessed Mother of Calcutta's feast day and his sermon touched on how God calls us not to be successful, but to be faithful.
7 September, Sunday
Activity: Mass
Celebrant: ~
Location: Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Comments: Rushed and made it to mass on time, by God's grace! We were early even. Reached 5 minutes before noon. The cantor sang beautifully, opera-style. Chills when she sang the psalm. The priest was a little monotone for me. His message was about loving your neighbor as yourself. Love.
After mass, headed to the basement to hear the Just Faith program presentation (http://justfaith.org/programs/). The program is appealing, about the Catholic Social Teaching of the Church. However, it is from 7:30 to 9pm at night, and it is simply not safe. There are homeless people and creepy people making small talk to us even in broad daylight. So to compromise safety for this is foolish. Sad, but at least there are other programs out there, like the weekly faith formation at 11:15am after 10am mass, which I'll probably go for instead :).
14 September, Sunday
Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Visiting Priest from St. Pius X Church
Location: Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Comments:
The Gospel for the day includes the famous verse in John 3:16: 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.'
The young priest was very dynamic and charismatic. He started off his sermon with a prayer, and shared that his best friend is a pilot and had a host family whom he stayed with. When he visited his best friend, his host family, who are Presbyterians, asked him why Catholics do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus. He was stumped and prayed the prayer that he asked us to recite, so that he would have the Spirit fill his tongue with words of truth and enlightenment.
He went on to expound that the Cross is the pre-eminent sign of God's love for us. And that in Jesus life and ministry, the wood of the Cross was present in every stage of His life. When he born in a God-forsaken manger among the lowliest of the low, when he was persecuted on the Cross.
God could have easily bought our salvation any other way, but He chose to have his own beloved Son come and experience the turmoils of the World and suffer with us. When Jesus foretold his death, Peter told him that it wold not happen, and Jesus said, 'get behind me, Satan', for not accepting the Cross is in Jesus' words, Satanic. It's a strong reminder that as Christians, we cannot have resurrection and Life (eternal life), without first, accepting the Cross that we have to carry.
Lord, may I bear my Cross with more grace and fortitude.
Aside: He also recommended reading Fulton Sheen's book, The Life of Christ.
21 September, Sunday
Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Parish priest Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Thein
Location: Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Comments: He is someone the church has been praying for, for weeks, so it's good to finally see him in flesh, although he was limping and struggled to go up the pulpit. The main takeaway for me was, "time, talent and treasure" and this was a good plug for the Ministry Weekend. I signed up for St. Vincent De Paul, Habitat for Humanity and some pro-life organization. Only problem is the availability of a car to get around, so I'll commit when I'm more permanent in the US. I prayed to God cos I feel very lost in my research and its stumbling blocks, and how it will bear fruit in the future. Once again, I was reassured that I need only do small things with great love... :).
28 September, Sunday
Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Parish priest Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Thein
Location: Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Comments: The priest spoke about hypocrisy and how we as Catholics need to live out our lives in an authentic, spirit-filled fashion! Aside, I am seriously thinking of building an altar in our apartment :).
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