Announcing:
Saint Mary's Press winner for the week of August 13, 2012

Congratulations to Sandra Clancy

Sandra will receive a copy of The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth, Second Edition, a $19.95 value.

The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth, Second Edition is an understandable and down-to-earth guide to all things Catholic. This book is an eye-opener and a page-turner, whether you are brushing up on specific Catholic terms and concepts or learning them for the first time.

The Ad Hoc Committee to Oversee the Use of the Catechism, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has found this catechetical text, copyright 2008, to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Now Available! Online correlation to the U.S. Bishops' High School curriculum framework Click here!

The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth, Second Edition
ISBN: 978-0-88489-987-7, paper, 480 pages

"The Servant Leader: Year Three"

Welcome to the third year of the Servant Leader newsletter. Saint Mary’s Press started this newsletter with the purpose of supporting you in your ministry, on a weekly basis, with reflections on Catholic ministry with young people, inspiration, and resources. This year we are making one change with the Servant Leader:rather than coming out every week, you will be receiving this newsletter twice a month, on the first and third Monday of the month. Because of this change, you will be receiving two “Break Open the Word” Gospel reflections in each issue. We hope this is a change that will work for you, and if you have any feedback on the Servant Leader, please let us know.

In the inaugural issue and in the issue that started the second year of the Servant Leader, I shared the following quote from Saint John Baptist de La Salle:

Since you are ambassadors and ministers of Jesus Christ in the work that you do, you must act as representing Jesus Christ himself. He wants your disciples to see him in you and receive your instruction as if he were giving them to you. (Meditation 195.2)

I feel it is again appropriate to share these words with you. In this statement, Saint John Baptist de La Salle beautifully expresses the role we share in our ministries with young people. We are, each one of us, ambassadors of Christ.

This summer Saint Mary’s Press once again hosted Catholic high school teachers for our fourth annual Educator’s Summit. This event is an opportunity for teachers to experience professional development, fellowship, and renewal before the start of a new school year. This year we had 43 teachers in attendance. In addition to a relaxing riverboat cruise down the Mississippi and a trolley ride around Winona, MN, those participating attended sessions on Understanding by Design, backward design, incorporating social justice across a curriculum, and how to bring current events into the classroom.

As a part of one of the sessions, participants had 30 minutes to build a model bridge that could hold a certain weight and withstand high winds. The activity was used to demonstrate an approach to teaching and assessments; however, it also served as a metaphor for what teachers do in the classroom. Every day religion teachers help students bridge their lived experience with the faith of the Church. Teachers guide students in building bridges of learning that will take them to the next stage in their lives. The bridges teachers help students build must be strong enough to withstand the forces of a culture that often stands counter to our faith. In addition, these bridges must stand the test of time so that 5, 10, 25 years from now, students can recall what they learned that will help them with the challenges of life.

With this metaphor of bridges in mind, I am reminded of another quote from Saint John Baptist de La Salle: “Look upon your work as one of the most important and most excellent in the Church, for it is one most able to strengthen it by giving it a solid foundation” (Meditation 155.1). All of your efforts in the classroom, on mission trips, at the parish, and in all the other countless places where you share the Good News with young people are in service of a larger “long term” building project. As a new school year begins, I pray that you are renewed in your mission to be an ambassador of Christ and, as always, I pray that God will continue to bless you and your ministry.

Peace,
Steven McGlaun

    
Click Here for More Information

“Back-to-School Blessing Prayer Service "
From Holiday and Seasonal Ideas for Ministry with Young Teens

This blessing ceremony celebrates the beginning of school and helps the young people welcome a new school year. It is ideal to use for the first meeting of a group in a new school year.

Suggested Time
10 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the group

Group Size
The ideal size for this activity is a group of ten to thirty

Special Considerations
Some of the young people in your group may be starting in a new school this year. As with any change in life, they may experience a wide variety of feelings, such as excitement, nervousness, and fear. Be sure to pay attention to their anxieties and help them to focus on the positive aspects of a new school and school year.

Materials Needed
• a backpack
• items that represent mind learning, such as school supplies, textbooks, a calculator, a globe, and musical instruments
• items that represent body learning, such as sports equipment, dance or gymnastics supplies, and physical education attire
• items that represent spirit learning, such as a book of prayers, a religious symbol or icon, a flower, a flyer for a service project, and a journal
• a pillar candle and matches
• a Bible
• a clear bowl of water
• a small branch from an evergreen tree
• new pens or pencils, one for each person

Preparation
Before the young people arrive, establish a prayer space with a backpack; items that represent mind-learning, body learning, and spirit learning; a pillar candle; a Bible; a clear bowl of water; a small branch from an evergreen tree; and a new pen or pencil for each person.

1. Gather the young people in the prayer space. Make a comment about the gift of new beginnings as the school year opens. Acknowledge the participants' anxieties, particularly if some of them are starting classes at a new school. Tell them that together they will begin a new school year with a blessing.

2. Invite the young people to observe in silence the items in the prayer space that can be considered tools for school. Point out that some of the items are for "mind learning"—things like textbooks, a calculator, a globe, and musical instruments. Other items are for "body learning"; sports equipment and dance supplies fall into this category. The last category is "spirit learning"; it includes items like a religious icon and a personal journal.

3. Light a pillar candle. Then read 1 Tim. 4:12–16. Return the Bible to the prayer space and pick up a bowl of water. Dip an evergreen branch in the bowl and sprinkle the items in the prayer space. As you do so, say the following prayer:

O God, we ask your blessing on these symbols of a new year. May they help us to learn, and to enjoy and to share the special talents that you have given to us. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

4. Ask the young people to move toward you one by one, with their hands in front of them, palms up. As each person reaches you, dip your thumb in the water and make the sign of the cross on her or his forehead, palms, shoulders, and feet as you say, "[Name of young person], use your mind and body this school year to learn, to serve, and to grow." Then give the person a pen or pencil before the person returns to her or his place.

5. To conclude the blessing service, make a few comments as follows, in your own words: •Remind the young people that they represent the Christian community in their school, and that they should offer hospitality to others. Encourage them to look for and befriend younger and new students.

•Note how important it is for all young people to feel like they are wanted and that they belong to the school community. Challenge the participants to include all fellow students in social gatherings, reach out to people at lunchtime, and pay attention to people who seem to be alone a lot.

•Tell them that the beginning of a new school year means a chance to start anew. Challenge them to establish good study habits right from the start, especially if that has been a problem in previous years. Encourage them to work at staying focused so that they can succeed academically and know that they are doing their best.

•If you have extra time, allow the young people to express their feelings about beginning a new school year.

•Consider putting all the mind, body, and spirit items in the backpack when you set up the prayer space. In step 2, ask the young people to take turns removing one item at a time and explaining what it represents and how it can help a person develop brain learning, body learning, or spirit learning. Note that many of the items can address more than one type of learning.

Additional links:
Back to School: Prayer for the Start of the School Year
Back to School: Intentions for the Start of the School Year

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 19, 2012
John 6:51-58

Opening Prayer
Jesus, in the Eucharist you offer yourself to us so we may share in your life. Your offering of your very self nurtures us and enables us to be your presence in the world today. As we receive you in the Eucharist, Jesus, continue to give us new insights into the various new ways we can be your presence in the world today. Amen.

Context Connection
In John 6:51, Jesus shares the revelation that this bread will come down from heaven and that one must eat it in order to live forever. This bread is his flesh. The concept was difficult to comprehend for the Jewish audience of Jesus' day. The Church teaches, however, that "the Eucharist is 'the source and summit of the Christian life'" (1) (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], number 1324).

Surely the passage is difficult to understand, though. We read in verse 52 that the concept of the bread being Jesus' flesh was so controversial in Jesus' day that those gathered at Capernaum complained among themselves. Scholars who have read this passage in its original Greek tell us that the word used for complained meant that they had a very heated debate on the issue. They argued whether Jesus, who to many present was just a human being like everyone else, could give his flesh to them to eat.

Jesus added to the controversy when he said, "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in you" (6:53). Now, besides eating his flesh, Jesus tells the crowd, one has to drink his blood. This statement overwhelmed those who were gathered to hear Jesus preach. The Jews of Jesus' day held human life as sacred. They gave ultimate dignity and respect to the human body, which was both flesh and blood. At face value Jesus appeared to be asking them to abandon their deeply-held belief that blood was life itself and that one should never drink blood. Drinking blood was prohibited in Judaism (see Genesis 9:4 and Leviticus 17:10,12,14). We can see how Jesus' words would have sounded strange to the crowd.

Jesus further states, "Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them" (6:56). Jesus shares his revelation that if we eat his flesh and drink his blood, we will become part of him and he will become part of us. The act of consuming will make us a part of one another. These are challenging ideas for the crowd, because Jesus is asking them to stretch their minds and rethink concepts that lay at the very foundation of their faith.

For you and me, who have an understanding of the Eucharist, the idea is not so strange. At the foundation of our faith, the Church teaches that when we receive the body and blood of Jesus, we enter into an intimate communion with Jesus and therefore with God.

The Gospel of John tells us that eternal life does not result from believing in Jesus but comes from feeding on his flesh and blood (6:54). Jesus promises that those who eat his body and drink his blood will be resurrected on the last day.

Tradition Connection
In the Nicene Creed, which we pray at Mass on Sundays, we profess, "We look for the resurrection of the dead, and life of the world to come"(CCC, page 50). Just as Jesus truly rose from the dead on Easter Sunday and lives forever, the Church teaches that after death the righteous will live forever with Jesus in heaven. Then, on the last day, Jesus will raise up everyone, the righteous to a resurrection of life and the evil ones to a resurrection of judgment. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (number 994) says, "It is Jesus himself who on the last day will raise up those who have believed in him, who have eaten his body and drunk his blood"(2).

The Church teaches that "by the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all" (3) (CCC, number 1326).

During Mass, the priest prays the Preface (the prayer just before the Holy, Holy, Holy that the congregation prays together), which ends with the recognition that our prayer is united with the heavenly liturgy. Listen for this when you attend Mass this Sunday. Here is just one example, "Now with the angels and archangels, and the whole company of heaven, we sing the unending hymn of your praise" (The Sacramentary, page 467). Each time we celebrate the Eucharist, we get a little glimpse of heaven, a foreshadowing of what is to come. Therefore, the Eucharist should be at the center of our life. All that we are and do should be centered in the Eucharist, because it is the way of salvation. "The Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: 'Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking'" (4) (CCC, number 1327).

Wisdom Connection
John gives us keen insight into what it means to be a Catholic Christian. At the center of the life of a Catholic is the Eucharist, the source from which an individual can draw life to live the Christian life more completely. Through the reception of the body and blood of Jesus, we become what we receive, the Body of Christ. This unifying nature of the Eucharist happens not only in this life, but it continues after death in the heavenly liturgy.

Besides being the source, the Eucharist is also the summit of Christian life. All things lead us to the Eucharist, in both our spiritual and personal life. Everything within our life in the Church always points to or ends in the Eucharist. Do you ever whine to your parents and ask, "Do we have to go to Mass again?" If you do, try meditating instead on the wisdom shared in John, chapter 6, the next time you find yourself about to whine.

Because the Eucharist is central to our faith as Catholic Christians, we often gather in its celebration. When the Eucharist is properly prepared and celebrated as a community, we are richly fed spiritually with the body and blood of Christ. We are also emotionally and socially nurtured because we are a gathered community. Even if the liturgy is poorly prepared and the gathered community might not seem supportive to you personally, the power of Christ is fully present in the sacrament.

Acknowledgements
The citations labeled CCC can be found in the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America. Copyright © 1994 by the United States Catholic Conference, Inc.-Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition (NRSV). Copyright 1993 and 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

The words of the Preface are quoted from The Sacramentary, English translation prepared by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (New York, Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1985), page 467. Illustrations and arrangement copyright © 1985–1974 by Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York. Permission applied for.

Endnotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition
1. Sacrosanctum concilium, number 47.
2. Cf. John 5:24-25; 6:40,54.
3. Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:28.
4. Saint Irenaeus, Adversus haereses. 4, 18, 5: J. P. Migne, editor, Patrologia Graeca (Paris, 1857-1866)

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 26, 2012
John 6:60-69

Opening Prayer
You may use the following short prayer or the prayer on page 6 of the peer leader's guide, or any member of the group may want to pray in his or her own words. Jesus, in the world we live in today, we are constantly making decisions that affect our relationship with you, our families, our friends, and the world around us. We are grateful that you gave us the gift of free will and allow us to take responsibility for our own decisions. We ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit so we can become fully informed to make good decisions. Jesus, be with us in a special way this week as we meet to share our reflections regarding your Word. Amen.

Context Connection
These verses in chapter 6 of John's Gospel conclude his discourse on the presentation of Jesus as the bread of life. Now the followers must make a personal decision whether to continue following Jesus and believing he is the bread of life come down from heaven. Jesus allows his words to speak for themselves rather than candy coating his message so people will not leave. Those who are struggling with what Jesus said about eating his flesh and drinking his blood say, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" (6:60). Because they could not believe, they left and returned to their former lives.

Jesus then asks the Apostles if they also want to leave. Peter answers for the whole group, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe...." (6:68-69). Peter's powerful statement tells us that Peter understands what Jesus has been teaching: those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God come down from heaven, and who are fed by his body and blood in the Eucharist, will experience salvation through Jesus. Peter professes for the Twelve that the Apostles have come to believe this. By following Jesus and listening to him preach, the Apostles gained the knowledge and insight necessary to believe in him. God also played a role in this process by gracing the Apostles and assisting them in believing. God continues to offer us the same grace so we can come to believe--as long as we are open to allowing God to work in our lives.

Tradition Connection
Jesus allowed those followers who could not accept his proclamation (that he was the bread of life) to leave and to return to their previous interests. Jesus did not manipulate his followers by easing the harshness of his proclamation. Jesus respected the freedom of those who decided to leave.

The first announcement of the Eucharist divided the disciples, just as the announcement of the Passion scandalized them: "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"1 The Eucharist and the Cross are stumbling blocks. It is the same mystery and it never ceases to be an occasion of division. "Will you also go away?":2 the Lord's question echoes through the ages, as a loving invitation to discover that only he has "the words of eternal life"3 and that to receive in faith the gift of his Eucharist is to receive the Lord himself. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1336)

We believe that God created humankind with an intellect and a free will. This intellect and free will, gifts from God our creator, are the core of our innate dignity as human beings. Out of respect for humans, God has never done anything to take away our freedom of choice. Throughout salvation history, which is recorded for us in the Bible, God has allowed freedom of choice even when people have made bad choices. Because Jesus is God, he allows people to express their God-given gift of free choice without interference. The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers this insight: "God created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who can initiate and control his own actions. 'God willed that man should be "left in the hand of his own counsel," so that he might of his own accord seek his Creator and freely attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him"'4 (paragraph 1730).

The other side of the coin of intellect and free will is responsibility. We have a responsibility to continue to expand our intellect and to correctly inform our will so we can make sound decisions.

Wisdom Connection
In this passage of the Gospel of John, Jesus presented the truth about himself without explaining it again or justifying it. He allowed each person to struggle with the truth and to make a personal decision whether to stay or leave. Some decided to leave and returned to what they were doing before they began following Jesus. Those who stayed included the Twelve. Jesus made a point of also asking the Twelve whether they wished to leave as well. The Apostles remain because they believe that Jesus is the Lord, and that he offers salvation.

The challenge this passage presented to the members of John's community in the first century--for whom the Gospel was originally written--is the same challenge offered to today's readers: accepting Jesus as the sacramental bread of life. Jesus's words to the Twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" (6:67) have haunted all Christian disciples since that time. Jesus's words appeared to have been addressed to us. Peter's response was one of hope: "You have the words of eternal life" (6:68). Today we have the same hope in Jesus--that eternal life springs forth from his words. Each week as you share the Scriptures in your "YES!" group, you are likely becoming more aware that Jesus's words are indeed the key to eternal life.

Acknowledgments
The scriptural quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition. Copyright © 1993 and 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

The quotations labeled Catechism are from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America, second edition. Copyright © 1994 by the United States Catholic Conference, Inc.--Libreria Editrice Vaticana. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica copyright © 1997 by the United States Catholic Conference, Inc.--Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

The Lord's Prayer is taken from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers. Copyright © 1988 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc., Washington, DC. All rights reserved.

Endnotes Cited in Quotations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church
1. John 6:60.
2. John 6:67.
3. John 6:68.
4. Gaudium et spes 17; Sirach 15:14

Saint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga

August 18 is the memorial for Saint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga.

Saint Alberto was dedicated to the education and care of the youth of Chile. He also worked to confront the social problems of his country. In his commitment to the young and marginalized, Saint Alberto is a wonderful model of servant leadership.

For more information on Saint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga, go to http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-alberto-hurtado-cruchaga/.