WALK AROUND AFRICA
WEEK 1
WEEK 1 Prayer Intention: For the Risen Christ Community as e begin our walk across Africa starting this week across the U.S.A. in faith, hope, and joy for the challenges and lessons we learn along the way. We pray also to the Lord for perseverance.
Making the Decision: God promises to guide you through unknown territory and turns darkness into light.” Isaiah 42:16 “ “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. God will be with you wherever you go.” Book of Joshua
We are embarking on 31,216 miles round trip walk from Boise Idaho to Africa around the coasts and back to Boise, Idaho. As we begin with that first step we should remember that we are deciding, to participate. Walking with friends, relatives, neighbors, and members of our congregation. We can utilize these next 12 weeks to change or enforce our habits for spiritual growth and growing in health and wellness both physically and mentally. Aerobic activity has been proven to improve our attitude and outlook on life, leading us to be grateful for what God has given us.
Many of us have the desire to be healthy not only physically but mentally and spirituality. Some people feel or know they should have the desire but it does not appear. As Saint Ignatius said “Do you have a desire for this desire?” Even if you don’t want it do you want to want it? Sometimes our deepest desires are difficult to identify. Margaret Silf, the author of Inner Compass, “An invitation to the Ignatian society suggests two ways that may help you come to know your hidden desires, one is Outside In the other Inside Out.
The Outside In approach considers the desires already present that may point to deeper ones. The Inside Out approach considers the archetypical stories as sign posts. What stories, legends, myths, or stories from sacred scripture appealed to you when you were young. Ultimately our deepest desire planted within us, is our desire for God.”
What are your true desires? During these twelve weeks of “walking” with contemplation or moving meditation and quiet time with movement may allow you to hear God’s voice.
The first leg of our journey is across the United States of America (USA). The Catholic Church has listed 11 saints from the United States and 6 Blesseds (this is the step before canonization) from our country are being considered for Sainthood. There are 13 other Americans that are Venerables, and 77 that are Servants of God.
The people were born or lived their religious life in the present territory or the United States. As we travel across the USA we can remember the Blesseds from our land and pray that they will soon meet criteria to be canonized to Sainthood.
1) Blessed Solanus Casey (1870-1957) A Capuchin friar from Wisconsin, widely beloved for his humility, spiritual counseling, and reputed miraculous healings. If canonized, he would be the first American born male saint.
2) Blessed Michael McGivey (1852-1890) A parish priest from Connecticut who founded the Knights of Columbus, to financially assist families who had lost their bread winner, and immigrant families.
3) Blessed Francis Xavier Sielos (1819-1867) A Redemptorist missionary priest from Bavaria who served extensively in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Louisiana.
4) Blessed Father Stanley Rother (1935-1981) An Oklahoma born diocesan priest and martyr who was killed in Santiago Atatlan Guatemala. He left Guatamala due imminent threats on his life but returned saying” A shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger. A shepherd does not leave his flock.”
5) Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich(1901-1927) A New Jersey born Sister of Charity, known for her deep mysticism and writings on spiritual perfection.
6) Blessed Antonio Chevrier (1826-1879) and Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt (1817) While no native to USA their causes are deeply connected to the legacy of Catholic Religious orders operating in the USA.
Not room for all the information on the Blesseds and the Venerables but you can check them out online their stories are interesting and amazing but were down to earth people.
WEEK TWO
WEEK 2
Prayer Intention: “God calls each of us by name. Everyone’s name is sacred. The name is the icon of the person. It demands respect as a sign of dignity of the one who bears it.” (2158) Catechism
Reflection: To know the name is to know the essence, charter or nature of the person. (Gen17:5) Recently while I was totally lost in thought while making copies in the office a friend walked in and said “Hello Terry” and I answered back, “hello”, in a distracted way. My friend was silent for a moment and then said “In this place we acknowledge everyone by their name.” Then he said “Hello Terry” and I responded appropriately “Hello followed by his name”.
I should have apologized, everyone should be acknowledged and seen, but at that time I was so deep in thought I was not clearly present. At times, we forget when others are around to be truly present. It was good to be reminded and I will endeavor to remember next time.
Just being seen and acknowledged is important in our daily, busy distracted lives.
Speaker of the house Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neal once made the mistake of “taking the customer for granted”. On election day, a neighbor woman came up to him after leaving the polls, “Tip” she said, I voted for you even though you didn’t ask me. “The speaker was surprised, “Mrs. O’Brian”, he said, “I’ve known you all my life. I took your garbage out for you, mowed your lawn, shoveled snow for you. I didn’t think I had to ask.”
“Tip” she said in a motherly way, it’s nice to be asked.” He followed that advice ever since. (From Accent on Humor, Sandra Hughes, American Bar Association 1988.) Just a reminder to not take people for granted in our busy world.
WEEK 2
Prayer Intention: “God calls each of us by name. Everyone’s name is sacred. The name is the icon of the person. It demands respect as a sign of dignity of the one who bears it.” (2158) Catechism
Reflection: To know the name is to know the essence, charter or nature of the person. (Gen17:5) Recently while I was totally lost in thought while making copies in the office a friend walked in and said “Hello Terry” and I answered back, “hello”, in a distracted way. My friend was silent for a moment and then said “In this place we acknowledge everyone by their name.” Then he said “Hello Terry” and I responded appropriately “Hello followed by his name”.
I should have apologized, everyone should be acknowledged and seen, but at that time I was so deep in thought I was not clearly present. At times, we forget when others are around to be truly present. It was good to be reminded and I will endeavor to remember next time.
Just being seen and acknowledged is important in our daily, busy distracted lives.
Speaker of the house Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neal once made the mistake of “taking the customer for granted”. On election day, a neighbor woman came up to him after leaving the polls, “Tip” she said, I voted for you even though you didn’t ask me. “The speaker was surprised, “Mrs. O’Brian”, he said, “I’ve known you all my life. I took your garbage out for you, mowed your lawn, shoveled snow for you. I didn’t think I had to ask.”
“Tip” she said in a motherly way, it’s nice to be asked.” He followed that advice ever since. (From Accent on Humor, Sandra Hughes, American Bar Association 1988.) Just a reminder to not take people for granted in our busy world.
