...I am thrilled to be speaking at the "Embracing Your Call to Holiness" Women's Conference in Altoona, WI on Saturday, March 6th. If you or a lady you know lives somewhere in that area, please take this as a personal invitation! :)
The online PDF brochure can be downloaded here. You can still register by calling
715-597-2268.
I will be presenting two talks...
Clothed with Grace: Feminine Modesty and the Call to Beauty
Society depends on our authenticity as women, and more than ever has need of our gifts and dignity. This feminine dignity is empowered by purity and protected by the virtue of modesty. What does the Church say about feminine dignity, and what does it teach about modesty? What is feminine mystique? What role does beauty play in the healing of society? While exploring the answers to these and other important questions, we will learn from the inspiring examples of Our Lady and heroic feminine saints to understand the noble call of womanhood.
Raising Marylike Maidens amidst a Culture of Death
In a culture that eschews virtue and encourages vice, powerful influences infiltrate from every direction to affect the formation of our young generation. The challenge is to train our children to be in the world, but not of it. How can we raise young women confident in their identity as daughters of God and filled with holy boldness to resist the darkness? Sharing from her homeschool upbringing and experiences as a teacher and Catechetical leader, Claire will offer wisdom relevant not only to mothers, but to all Catholic women.
Regardless of your proximity to La Crosse, WI, please keep me in your prayers this week as I prepare my presentations, and work to update and replenish my print resources. I also really need to update my website... Holy Spirit, grant me efficiency!
Showing posts with label Prayer Requests. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer Requests. Show all posts
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Prayer for Priests — Novena Day 1
I decided there would be no better time than today to begin a novena for priests. I've had the Magnificat Year for Priests companion sitting in my book basket for at least a few months...
Won't you join me? Drop me a comment to let me know that you're participating in this spiritual effort, and if you have your own prayer source, do share it with us!
I will try to share a portion of the Magnificat Novena each day...
A Prayer to the Mother of God for Priests by St. Charles Borromeo
O Holy Mother of God, pray for the priests you Son has chosen to serve the Church. Help them, by you intercession, to be holy, zealous, and chaste. Make them models of virtue in the service of God's people. Help them be pious in mediation, efficacious in preaching, and zealous in the daily offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Help them administer the Sacraments with love and joy. Amen.
You can learn more about the wonderful Magnificat booklet here (it's only $3.95, and I found mine free at a nearby parish), or there is a beautiful prayer from EWTN here.
"How great is the priest!
He will only rightly understand himself in heaven.
To understand the priesthood on earth
would make one die, not of fear, but of love.
The priesthood is the heart of the love of Jesus."
(St. John Marie Vianney, Cure of Ars)
Friday, September 11, 2009
Prayers For My Friends
The father of some friends of mine (and volunteer catechists for the RE program that I coordinate) was found dead in his bed this morning. He was a devout Catholic husband, father of four (ages 24-4) and history teacher at the local Catholic high school. Please keep his soul and his family in your prayers in their time of grief!
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Request
I know my readers are pray-ers (if anyone is left reading this neglected blog by now), and I'm having an extraordinarily rough day, so could I please petition for your prayers for this tired soul? I can't go into all the detail, but a boost of grace would be a big help. Thank you so much.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Prayers, Please
I leave this afternoon for an Ignatian Spiritual Exercises retreat over the weekend. As I am presently in the midst of some great discernment and difficult decisions, I am very much longing for an outpouring of graces. I would be deeply grateful for your prayers, that the Holy Spirit may enlighten my heart during this retreat. Each of you will be in my prayers as well. Thank you so much!
Pax Christi.
Pax Christi.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Life is Fragile
Quite a lot has happened over the past few weeks. Most significantly, a heartbreaking accident which took the life of my friend and fellow Suzuki violin teacher, Amanda Jahn, along with her two young children. All three were killed when a drunk driver blew a stop sign and hit them last Thursday night. At our Suzuki string group concert rehearsal just a few hours before, Mandy and I were playing violin together, and even joking about our paychecks. I received a tearful phone call at 7:30 the next morning with the tragic news.
One hears of these kinds of tragedies from time to time, but it is so very different when the victim is someone you know. It's a gripping wake-up call to live each day as if it were your last, and not to take one's family for granted. Many of us can't imagine the grief of the young husband and father who lost his entire family in one night. But he is a man of strong faith, which is carrying him through this great loss.
According to the news article in our local paper, Josh spoke with Mandy over the phone just minutes before the crash, and told her he loved her. They said goodbye thinking they'd be reunited within twenty minutes. How treasured that phone call and those final loving words must be to Josh now.
Indeed, life is fragile. It is also precious. Do we live each day as if it were our last? Give your spouse, parent, or sibling a hug today...we never know how long we have left with them.
One hears of these kinds of tragedies from time to time, but it is so very different when the victim is someone you know. It's a gripping wake-up call to live each day as if it were your last, and not to take one's family for granted. Many of us can't imagine the grief of the young husband and father who lost his entire family in one night. But he is a man of strong faith, which is carrying him through this great loss.
According to the news article in our local paper, Josh spoke with Mandy over the phone just minutes before the crash, and told her he loved her. They said goodbye thinking they'd be reunited within twenty minutes. How treasured that phone call and those final loving words must be to Josh now.
Indeed, life is fragile. It is also precious. Do we live each day as if it were our last? Give your spouse, parent, or sibling a hug today...we never know how long we have left with them.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Prayers, Please
I apologize for being absent here lately. A lot has been going on, including health crises for both my dad's dad and my mom's mom. My grandpa recently underwent heart tests and has two blocked arteries. He is 87 and has been blessed with excellent health for the most part. About 13 years ago he underwent a very successful 5-bypass surgery, but it seems that some of them have clogged again. Because of his age, he is not a candidate for another open heart surgery. His physicians have opted to try and manage his condition with medications, but we are not sure how much longer he will be with us.
My grandma (mom's mom) has suffered from a huge variety of health struggles for years, including diabetes, heart failure, cancer, and more. But just yesterday she was rushed from her home (assisted living) to the hospital after a seizure-type of episode. We received a call a bit ago that they have moved her to the intensive care unit because of her lack of responsiveness. At this point we don't even know what is causing her systems to shut down.
If you would please remember Bernard and Jan in your prayers, I would appreciate it very much. If it is God's will, we pray that they may they remain with us longer. If not, we pray for the grace of a holy, peaceful death.
Amen.
UPDATE (7/15): Grandma came out of her "stupor" (not quite sure what to call it) late last night and spoke with my mom briefly over the phone. We are still unsure of the cause of these incidents (she's had two in the last few weeks). Thank you all for your continued prayers.
My grandma (mom's mom) has suffered from a huge variety of health struggles for years, including diabetes, heart failure, cancer, and more. But just yesterday she was rushed from her home (assisted living) to the hospital after a seizure-type of episode. We received a call a bit ago that they have moved her to the intensive care unit because of her lack of responsiveness. At this point we don't even know what is causing her systems to shut down.
If you would please remember Bernard and Jan in your prayers, I would appreciate it very much. If it is God's will, we pray that they may they remain with us longer. If not, we pray for the grace of a holy, peaceful death.
Amen.
UPDATE (7/15): Grandma came out of her "stupor" (not quite sure what to call it) late last night and spoke with my mom briefly over the phone. We are still unsure of the cause of these incidents (she's had two in the last few weeks). Thank you all for your continued prayers.
Monday, January 07, 2008
I've been sick
Having an intense cold the last several days, as well as the sorest of sore throats I've ever experienced (as in, every breath and swallow is excruciating), has served to give me just a little more understanding of Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross. It is a terrible thing to not be able to breathe. Oh! to have such a God... Who would choose to die by suffocation!
The above-mentioned illness also kept me from completing many of the tasks I hoped to last week. I am trying to catch up right now while being "on the mend", and attempting to not work myself to the point of being bedridden again. Everything starts back full-force this week, including the huge project of our after-Christmas performance with my Religious Ed Program. So, needless to say, and despite how much I would love for it to be, blogging is not at the top of my list right now. My after-the-twelve-days-of-Christmas-return might not be for another week...
Please, pray for me... I need it right now.
The above-mentioned illness also kept me from completing many of the tasks I hoped to last week. I am trying to catch up right now while being "on the mend", and attempting to not work myself to the point of being bedridden again. Everything starts back full-force this week, including the huge project of our after-Christmas performance with my Religious Ed Program. So, needless to say, and despite how much I would love for it to be, blogging is not at the top of my list right now. My after-the-twelve-days-of-Christmas-return might not be for another week...
Please, pray for me... I need it right now.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
This Weekend's Focus
I seem to be doing plenty of public speaking lately! And I think today was the first time I've had the privilege of being at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass four times in one day. :) As the new DRE of our parish, I spoke and took registrations at each of the Masses this weekend. Since this new position is going to receive a lot of my time, energy, and focus this year, I thought it would be fitting to share my speech text. Not that I want to burden you with too many of these...
Anyway, if you would, please keep my role and our program in your prayers. Thanks!!
Good morning! As Father mentioned, I am Claire Halbur, and I am delighted to be your new Director of Religious Education here at St. Joseph’s. The past two years, I have been privileged to work with our Religious Ed Program here as a teacher and assistant to our former Director. It is fitting and Providential that I am now able to move into the role of Director for 2007-2008. I have been able to get to know many beautiful families here the last two years, and the Lord has placed a special mission on my heart to serve the families of our parish in this way.
I am convinced that this work of Religious Education – specifically, forming our children in the Faith - is a very important one in the Church today. Our children and young people are growing up faced with bigger challenges and bigger temptations than any generation before. The Truths of our Catholic Faith are their weapon for living a life of happiness, of fulfillment, and of peace – both here, and forever in Heaven. Parents: you want happiness, fulfillment, and peace for your children, don’t you? The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children”. This means that teaching the Faith to your children is ultimately your job. I beg you, take seriously your right and duty to raise up your children in the Faith.
We are here at St. Joseph’s to assist you in this task. The Catechism tells us that “The parish is the Eucharistic community and the heart of the liturgical life of Christian families; it is a privileged place for the catechesis of children and parents”. We do this through the Catholic Education offered here at our school, and for those children of our parish who attend Public School, through our Religious Ed program for grades 1 through 8. I must mention that the Diocese requires a minimum of two consecutive years of Religious Education classes in preparation for First Holy Communion or Confirmation. However, it is very important that your child receive the full 8 years of classes for their formation to be as complete as possible, and for them to be well-equipped to face the challenges of young adulthood in today’s society.
We have a great volunteer staff of Religious Ed teachers and assistants who love the Lord, love His Church, and love His children. The books we use are a wonderful, family-centered curriculum, and have been endorsed by primary Church leaders, including Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, and Cardinal Ratzinger – now Pope Benedict XVI. In addition, many unique and wonderful activities are part of our program here: monthly family nights, monthly RE Masses in which the children get to specially participate, and a beautiful Christmas play that involves every student in the program. We are focused on giving your children the riches and traditions of our Faith, in all their fullness and beauty. Students of our program learn about the Church year and learn many beautiful Catholic devotions such as the Holy Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and Benediction.
In the Gospel today, our Lord said: “I have come to set the earth on fire.” That is exactly what we are trying to do here – set your children’s hearts on fire with love: a love that will transform their lives. We are here to help you raise your children to be saints.
We are taking registrations after all the Masses this weekend in the back of Church. I encourage you to stop by our table after Mass to register, or to pick up information for yourself or for a friend. And those of you who are grandparents in the congregation: are your grandchildren being brought up in the Faith? Take a registration packet for them!
I look forward to meeting many of you. Thank you for your time, please keep me in your prayers, and know that you remain in mine. God bless you.
Anyway, if you would, please keep my role and our program in your prayers. Thanks!!
Good morning! As Father mentioned, I am Claire Halbur, and I am delighted to be your new Director of Religious Education here at St. Joseph’s. The past two years, I have been privileged to work with our Religious Ed Program here as a teacher and assistant to our former Director. It is fitting and Providential that I am now able to move into the role of Director for 2007-2008. I have been able to get to know many beautiful families here the last two years, and the Lord has placed a special mission on my heart to serve the families of our parish in this way.
I am convinced that this work of Religious Education – specifically, forming our children in the Faith - is a very important one in the Church today. Our children and young people are growing up faced with bigger challenges and bigger temptations than any generation before. The Truths of our Catholic Faith are their weapon for living a life of happiness, of fulfillment, and of peace – both here, and forever in Heaven. Parents: you want happiness, fulfillment, and peace for your children, don’t you? The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children”. This means that teaching the Faith to your children is ultimately your job. I beg you, take seriously your right and duty to raise up your children in the Faith.
We are here at St. Joseph’s to assist you in this task. The Catechism tells us that “The parish is the Eucharistic community and the heart of the liturgical life of Christian families; it is a privileged place for the catechesis of children and parents”. We do this through the Catholic Education offered here at our school, and for those children of our parish who attend Public School, through our Religious Ed program for grades 1 through 8. I must mention that the Diocese requires a minimum of two consecutive years of Religious Education classes in preparation for First Holy Communion or Confirmation. However, it is very important that your child receive the full 8 years of classes for their formation to be as complete as possible, and for them to be well-equipped to face the challenges of young adulthood in today’s society.
We have a great volunteer staff of Religious Ed teachers and assistants who love the Lord, love His Church, and love His children. The books we use are a wonderful, family-centered curriculum, and have been endorsed by primary Church leaders, including Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, and Cardinal Ratzinger – now Pope Benedict XVI. In addition, many unique and wonderful activities are part of our program here: monthly family nights, monthly RE Masses in which the children get to specially participate, and a beautiful Christmas play that involves every student in the program. We are focused on giving your children the riches and traditions of our Faith, in all their fullness and beauty. Students of our program learn about the Church year and learn many beautiful Catholic devotions such as the Holy Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and Benediction.
In the Gospel today, our Lord said: “I have come to set the earth on fire.” That is exactly what we are trying to do here – set your children’s hearts on fire with love: a love that will transform their lives. We are here to help you raise your children to be saints.
We are taking registrations after all the Masses this weekend in the back of Church. I encourage you to stop by our table after Mass to register, or to pick up information for yourself or for a friend. And those of you who are grandparents in the congregation: are your grandchildren being brought up in the Faith? Take a registration packet for them!
I look forward to meeting many of you. Thank you for your time, please keep me in your prayers, and know that you remain in mine. God bless you.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
I know I haven't been around much
of late, as my sister kindly reminded me in a comment yesterday. :) The past two weeks have been a time of some real spiritual highs -- and lows. Through the "struggling" days, I try to keep foremost in mind that no matter how askew my feelings might be, my God is a God of strength and security. What a consolation! And what gentle gifts He sends my way. I only have to glance out the window at today's perfect blue sky and brilliant sunshine dancing across the green tree leaves to have a striking reminder of His love for me. Hopefully soon I will be able to post about a few of the wonderful graces of the last several weeks!
Meanwhile, would please you join me in praying for all those souls who have much greater challenges than we do, such as lovely Crystal of BiblicalWomanhood.com? I'm often blessed by her blog and her example. Due to complications with her second pregnancy, she's to be induced tonight and is asking for special prayers.
May you recognize the Lord's smile on your day!
Meanwhile, would please you join me in praying for all those souls who have much greater challenges than we do, such as lovely Crystal of BiblicalWomanhood.com? I'm often blessed by her blog and her example. Due to complications with her second pregnancy, she's to be induced tonight and is asking for special prayers.
May you recognize the Lord's smile on your day!
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