Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Newsletter — February 2022

FEBRUARY 2022

Our Lady of Lourdes CATHOLIC CHURCH

Couples for Christ Ministry Spiritual Support and Guidance on the Shared Journey of Marriage

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ike and Lulu Miranda began their marriage in a great adventure.

Mike had returned to the Philippines in the hope of meeting his future wife. When he met Lulu, they both knew right away that they wanted to pursue marriage. After dating long-distance for 11 months, Lulu came to the United States. Mike’s father gave them some valuable advice — they should find a community that would support them in their Christian marriage.

“We were anxious at the beginning of our marriage,” Lulu says.

“Divorce is so rampant. One out of two marriages ends up in divorce Mike and Lulu Miranda celebrating their 25th and we did not want to be part of that statistic.” wedding anniversary with Bishop Zarama Just six months into their marriage, a friend invited the newlyweds to Couples for Christ, an international Catholic movement. In this group, they found a strong community that could help them grow in their faith lives and strengthen their marriage. Mike and Lulu have remained committed members for all 27 years of their marriage.

“In this faith-based ministry, we found the spiritual support and guidance that we needed,” Lulu says. continued on page 5

Hospitality

Extends to Our Family at Home and in Our Parish

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s Catholics, we are members of two very important family units. First, there are our own families, which consist of our spouses and children. And as a parish community, we are members of a larger “family of faith,” along with our clergy and fellow parishioners.

Of course, both types of units share in the Catholic faith, as we gather to celebrate Mass each Sunday.

Yet, all does not appear to be well. The modern media unfortunately seems to place a heavy emphasis on the destruction of both types of family units.

Indeed, every day, we are bombarded with disconcerting stories about the various issues that threaten the vital bonds of the family — divorce, abuse, gay marriage, and abortion, just to name a few. At the same time, the “families of faith” in our own parishes have also been threatened by several issues, from scandals and mismanagement of resources to drops in Mass attendance and school enrollment.

All of these threats and issues most certainly promote a hostile environment for today’s American Catholics. In turn, we may feel that there is little we can do to counter the negativity that is so pervasive within our country towards those practicing the Catholic faith.

The good news is that finding the solution to such seemingly insurmountable problems often begins in the most simple and basic of places — at home. In this particular case, it begins in two homes — that of our own family, and in the parish home of our “family of faith.”

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Certainly, we would like visitors in our own homes to feel welcome, whether they are extended family, familiar friends, or new acquaintances. Therefore, we do whatever we can to make these visitors feel appreciated — we might prepare a homemade meal for our guests, or serve them a fresh cup of coffee, all while we initiate a friendly and insightful conversation.

Of course, this effort to make visitors to our home feel welcome is a wonderful example of providing Hospitality, the first of the Four Pillars of Parish Stewardship.

So, if we consider our other family unit — the “family of faith” in our own parish — the same can be applied to those entering our church for worship and fellowship. Whether we try to get to know some of the familiar faces we see at church each Sunday, reach out to someone new to the community, or extend a warm welcome to those visiting our parish, we are following Jesus’ example of hospitality at its most foundational and engaging level.

Of course, while hospitality serves to enhance worship and fellowship for the entire parish family, it also impacts our community on a day-to-day basis.

If we foster a welcoming environment in our parish home and present the many opportunities to minister and serve, involvement will only increase throughout the community! Therefore, if hospitality continues to flourish throughout the parish and its many ministries, so will the stewardship way of life!

A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR

The Word of God: How Do We Hear It? And How Do We Respond to It? Dear Parishioners,

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few short weeks ago, we completed our Christmas season. We are now in what we call Ordinary Time — but before long, we will begin Lent. This is one of those rare years when Ash Wednesday is in March — so, Lent does not, of course, begin in February this year.

The Gospel of John begins with the statement, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We speak often of the Word in the Church. As most of you are aware, the first part of our Mass is called the Liturgy of the Word. What does that mean to us?

Basically, there are four parts of our celebration of Mass: Introductory Rites; Liturgy of the Word; Liturgy of the Eucharist; and Concluding Rites. My focus in this reflection is that second part — the Liturgy of the Word. The main parts of that are a First Reading, a Responsorial Psalm, a Second Reading, the Gospel, and a Homily.

We draw on Holy Scripture from the Bible for the readings. As Catholics, we do not consider that these readings are about God, or about the Church, or about our faith, or a history lesson, or a nice story from long ago. We consider them to be God speaking directly to us. Thus, our attentiveness to what is being proclaimed is important.

Are we listening? Do we hear? And then, do we respond

in our lives? All of those should be facets of how we approach the Word of God. For us, the Word of God is the living Word. God is speaking to us as a community, and He asks us to be faithful to His Word. If we pay attention and truly listen, God can nourish our spirit, and Christ can be more real and present to us. The Homily, the Responsorial Psalm, the Profession of Faith, and the Intercessions develop the Word further and complete it. The Profession of Faith is our acceptance of God’s Word.

However, the question for us is, how do we respond to the Word? Does it change our lives?

Does it bring us to the conversion necessary to live lives of stewardship and service? It is not easy, I know.

Being able to listen, to hear and then to act requires time, practice, commitment, and a desire to fulfill all of this. That is one of my prayers for us — that we can hear the Word, and that we can bring it to life in our own lives and in the lives of others.

In Christ,

Fr. Patrick Keane Pastor

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An Inside Look at Our Par On Fire for Christ and W

hen young Catholic adults graduate college, move out on their own for the first time, enter into a serious relationship, or begin their professional careers, they often are met with the realization that the world is very secular.

No one knows this better than Maya Reagan, the Co-Leader of the Young Adult Group at Our Lady of Lourdes.

“So often, young Catholics are told to sit down and stay quiet when it comes to faith and speaking on topics that might disrupt the societal equilibrium,” Maya says.

“This fosters compliance and spiritual mundanity instead of passion for sharing the Gospel. Our world and this age group need that fire put back inside of them.”

Setting the young adults of our parish on fire is exactly what the Young Adult Group strives to do.

The ministry encourages its members to grow spiritually through fellowship, study, and the sacraments.

Our Young Adult Group, which was started this past May, is geared towards young professionals, young couples, and young families, typically 22-32 years old. A weekly small group is hosted every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Bernadette Center.

The group’s first topic last May

Fellowship and fun at TopGolf.

was how to manage stress and anxiety from a biblical perspective. This study ended in October when they moved on to a new topic, defending the faith and apologetics.

A typical small-group discussion lasts about an hour and a half. However, after each meeting, many members like to continue

their conversation at a nearby brewery or restaurant. This provides a more relaxed environment to share a meal and grow together in the faith.

In addition to their weekly small group and monthly adoration, the Young Adult Group hosts fun group outings. Shortly before Thanksgiving, they enjoyed an event held at continued on page 5

“So often, young Catholics are told to sit down and stay quiet when it comes to faith and speaking on topics that might disrupt the societal equilibrium. This fosters compliance and spiritual mundanity instead of passion for sharing the Gospel. Our world and this age group need that fire put back inside of them.” — M aya R eagan 04

rish’s Young Adult Group the Parish Community TopGolf. While this event was different from most of their other events, the turnout was great and it provided a new environment for fun and fellowship.

“We are in the process of planning a few retreats, guest speaker talks, and additional opportunities to volunteer in the community,” Maya says.

The group has not yet participated in an official volunteer activity but is filled with young men and women striving to live as stewards within their community. Some of the members are part of the Knights of Columbus, a few members volunteer with the parish Youth Ministry, and many more are

Couples for Christ

involved in diocesan pro-life events.

“Relationships take two people, and if we’re not putting the work in on our end, we can’t expect to witness growth,” Maya says. “It’s my hope that our Young Adult Group offers a respite from the world, acting as a catalyst for that growth.”

If you are a young adult and interested in joining the group, please text Maya Reagan at 901-920-7650.

continued from front cover

“We were able to grow spiritually — not just individually, but together as a couple. We discovered the ultimate goal of our marriage, which is to bring each other to heaven.”

When Mike and Lulu moved to Raleigh and joined Our Lady of Lourdes, they saw that the parish could benefit from the community and ministry of Couples for Christ. They had begun volunteering with the marriage preparation program in the diocese, which brought them the opportunity to ask the bishop to recognize Couples for Christ in the Diocese of Raleigh.

Over the years they have offered numerous Marriage Enrichment programs at the parish.

In their experience, Mike and Lulu have repeatedly heard of couples who divorce after years of marriage.

They firmly believe that Couples for Christ gave them the tools they needed to avoid that path.

“My observation is that when people get married, they focus on their children and they forget about each other and their spiritual life,” Mike says. “When the kids are gone, that’s when divorce happens because they don’t

know each other and they never focused on their faith.”

Couples for Christ provides a long-term community — members meet regularly with small groups called Households. They pray together, have praise and worship, and grow in friendship. After many years of offering Marriage Enrichment programs, Mike and Lulu are ready to see more families at Our Lady of Lourdes benefit from this faithful community. From talking with other couples, they realize that families have many commitments and priorities outside of church. However, they have found that prioritizing their faith and their marriage has had positive effects in every area of their lives.

“It is God’s plan that the family should be the basic unit of society,” Lulu says. “But there are so many forces seeking to attack marriage. When you renew the individual first, the family gets renewed.”

Mike and Lulu are excited to offer a new program for Marriage Enrichment this year. After the initial nine sessions, they invite all the couples to continue to meet monthly for continued growth and community.

If you would like more information about Couples for Christ and the Marriage Enrichment program, please contact Mike and Lulu Miranda at 919-341-7848 or michaelrmiranda@gmail.com.

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The Importance of Loving God More Deeply at Mass

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hen young people see a person that intrigues them, that attraction becomes the topic of conversation at every opportunity. This attraction alters behavior so that we become enthralled with the other and desire to share our enthusiasm.

Imagine if we were more enthralled with the presence of Christ in our lives.

Imagine if we fully recognized that Christ is truly present to us in His precious Body and Blood, and present as well in the proclamation of His Word and in the gathering of our community, praying and singing (see Sacrosanctum Concilium [Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy], para.

14). Recognizing the living Christ in all these ways would awaken in us the desire to be with the One who is the object of our most fundamental, pure, and holy attraction to our merciful, loving, and gracious Savior.

If we were to recognize the presence of Christ in these beautiful ways, wouldn’t our desire to be more completely in His presence increase? Surely our desire to be better stewards of our time with the Lord would grow. Our attention to the readings and other prayers of the Mass would bring about within us deeper communion with the One who suffered and died for us. If I recognized that God is the answer to all my pangs of hunger, that Christ is my way to the Father, and that the Holy Spirit works to convert my heart and soul every day, would I not seek to fill that hunger at the banquet of the Lamb?

While active participation in Sunday Mass is an obligation for Catholics, we also will do well to see the lovely, motherly care the Church shows us in establishing that requirement. The Code of Canon Law states clearly in paragraph 1247, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.” Sometimes, we might hear that as an overbearing rule. But it might more correctly be understood as our Mother, the Church, helping us learn what is best for us. At Mass, we hear the living Word of God proclaimed. He speaks to us. We receive as hungry, needy sinners, the precious Body and Blood of Christ. We encounter Christ’s living presence in our brothers and sisters worshiping God with us.

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If we truly understood that amazing truth, then how might it affect our lives? How might it affect our relationships? How might it impact our decision to bring our children along to Mass? How might it awaken within us a deeper attraction, fascination, desire for the Lord?

Generally, when we find ourselves fascinated with someone, we do not decide to spend as little time as possible with them. We do not ration our time with them. We want to spend time with them, to see them, to listen to them, to get to know them, to develop a healthy, loving relationship with them.

Considering our reliance on the Lord of life and love, our fascination with His mercy, His goodness, His willingness to call us to Himself, maybe we should ask ourselves about what happens in us at Mass. As I prepare to come to Church, do I find my mind turning to a receptive welcome of the Lord, just as I’ll be welcomed at the door of Church?

Have I dressed for the important weekly (or daily) moment of meeting my King? Do I expect some profound wisdom from God in the readings? Am I open to correction, to challenge, to affirmation in the readings of God’s Word? Do I intently pray along with the priest presider throughout the Mass? Do I make an offering of my life, along with the bread and wine? Do I genuinely hunger for the Body and Blood of Christ? And do I long for that blessing that sends me on my way with the mission to build the Kingdom?

Instead of worrying about what “counts” when it comes to Sunday Mass, maybe we should work hard at fostering our love for the Eucharist, our desire for eternal life, our attraction to the Master who calls us into a life of active discipleship. Instead of a merely heavy-handed requirement, maybe we can see more clearly that being at Mass together helps nourish us for a whole week of building God’s Kingdom. Coming with those expectations, desires, and hopes, leaving early when unnecessary would disappear as a temptation instantly. Coming late because other things have taken priority would not typically happen, other obligations notwithstanding. Christ desires our company at Mass, from beginning to end. Let’s draw near to Him.

Meet Parishioner

Bill Pratt

Accompanying Our Young People in the Faith and Fulfilling the Baptismal Promise

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arishioner Bill Pratt has worked with young people in various church ministries for many years.

It’s always a joy when he gets to see students he taught become successful, get married, and have children of their own.

As a member of Our Lady of Lourdes for the past eight years and a few Catholic parishes before that, he has worked with youth through Confirmation preparation and youth groups. Through all of this service, it has been his great joy to watch youth learn the Catholic faith. He currently teaches high school Confirmation preparation.

“I love working with high school kids,” Bill says. “They have so many toxic distractions these days.

It’s nice to engage them and talk about what they are dealing with, but not lecture them. I want to help steer them to a better way.”

Bill has found that, by teaching Confirmation preparation, he is constantly learning as well. Often, the youth will have questions that require him to look up the answer.

The Pratt family — Bill, Cathy, Carter, Anna, Mary and their pup, Roxy

He also serves as a teacher for the Family Honor apostolate, a chastity-based sex education program. He went through rigorous training for this ministry about 10 years ago.

“This program is a way to jumpstart parent and youth

conversations on the topic,” Bill says. “We teach that there is beauty in individual sexuality.

Reproduction is an incredible gift from God and one of the greatest ways for people to express love through marriage.”

In addition, Bill is involved continued on back cover

“I love working with high school kids. They have so many toxic distractions these days. It’s nice to engage them and talk about what they are dealing with, but not lecture them. I want to help steer them to a better way.”

— Bill Pratt

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2718 Overbrook Drive | Raleigh, North Carolina 27608 919-861-4600 | ourladyoflourdescc.org

Meet Parishioner Bill Pratt in the weekly men’s group, That Man is You! He also serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and a lector.

Bill was raised Catholic, while his wife, Cathy, converted to the faith about 16 years ago. The couple has three children — Carter, Anna, and Mary. They also have a “pandemic dog” named Roxy. In their free time, they enjoy hiking and spending time at the dog park with Roxy. The Pratt kids are involved in many activities, and Bill and Cathy enjoy watching all of them. All three Pratt children also stay involved in various ministries at Our Lady of Lourdes.

Being involved in the faith has had a significant impact on Bill’s life. He loves that Our Lady of Lourdes has a ministry for anyone. He was recently

continued from page 7

attending a Saturday morning Mass at an area parish when he saw a group come out to clean after Mass. He was so impressed by their commitment.

“I thought to myself, ‘Wow, you guys are awesome,’” Bill says. “It made me think about all the behind-the-scenes people, from the Parish Council to the people putting together the Sunday bulletins.”

Bill encourages everyone to get involved at Our Lady of Lourdes. He tries to do what he can to pitch in — he feels it’s the best way he can fulfill the Baptismal Promise.

“It isn’t a lifelong commitment — you can do a ministry for a while and try something different,” he says. “There’s a place for everyone. Just find something that you enjoy doing.”

Mass Times

SATURDAY VIGIL, 5:00 PM | SUNDAY, 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM Spanish, 5:00 PM MONDAY, 8:00 AM | TUE — FRI, 8:30 AM | THURSDAY, 6:30 PM Spanish Confession Times: WEDNESDAY, 12:00 PM | SATURDAY, 3:00 PM