ARISE Together in Christ is a three-year, parish-centered process of spiritual renewal and evangelization that enables people to deepen their faith, develop a closer relationship with Christ, grow in community, and reach out in service to others. It emphasizes people living in good relationship with one another, as they make concrete applications of the gospel to their life situations.
The start of Lent: Ash Wednesday, retiring for the day, preparing tomorrow’s post. I will be unable to put together a post in the morning, desiring to capture thoughts on the day. I have a bedside vigil schedule for tomorrow, from eight in the morning until work. It is a longer vigil. The gentleman is ninety, living in Macedonia, near my work. He is Catholic, attending the church of Cosmas and Damian. I am intrigued as the church is located near my employer. It has been quite some time since I was blessed with a bedside vigil. I greatly look forward to the opportunity to draw close to another soul preparing for eternity. The abundance of grace is good to be near, prayers and silence offered in witnessing and fellowship. This morning after mass at St Clare I attended the Arise gathering. Inclement weather caused a low turnout, only two women and myself. The numbers meant nothing as the gathering proved fruitful. A seriousness, thoughtful and shared, while sowing private seeds, was encountered. The opening paragraph is from the Arise website. The program is designed for mature Catholics, calling forth silence, song, prayer, and reading. I admire the structure, intelligent, while not focusing upon brilliance. The humble women proved sagacious, keen in perception, mature in faith, accomplished in life. Both are married having raised families. They are women whose personal life reflects their faith. I am confident to say we all feel blessed to have shared our time together, everyone looking forward to the next meeting. I followed the Arise gathering with mass at St Paul Shrine, startled by the beauty of the Rosary case my Cuban poet friend felt moved to gift me. The case originates from Lourdes. She admires my Rosary from Lourdes, a gift from my mother, therefor felt it appropriate her unused case from Lourdes should serves as its container. God is moving into my life a new maturity of fellowship. Saturday is a men’s meeting at Sacred Heart. The Hospice though slow in demand of volunteer service, expands in a different way. Training, both attending and conducting, emerges. I will be part of a training class, providing support as a working volunteer to those entering volunteer service. Also, the Franciscan Third Order from St Paul Shrine has invited me to speak at one of their gatherings about Hospice volunteer work. I spoke with the Hospice. They will provide me with a more seasoned volunteer in guidance. I have more thoughts, yet acquiesce to silence, the non-stating of ideas offered to God as a petition.
