Prison Ministry #5

I just got back from my fifth prison ministry visit. Tonight we celebrated Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. There were only three of us that went and about eight of the prisoners who came.

Although this was the smallest service I have been to there, it was very well done. We had no palm leaves for the service so one of the men made some out of paper. On the leaf it says, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Mark 11:9.

Since Deacon Cartwright couldn't be there tonight one of the men did the service and gave a reflection. It was very well done!

Please continue to pray for these men, especially during this Holy Week. As they will be away from their families during this season.

What Holy Week means to me:

Holy Week is coming up. In fact, it starts tomorrow with Palm Sunday! This is a very special time in the Church and arguably the most important time in the Church (along with Christmas).

This week makes us who we are! Because of this week we are able to call ourselves Christians! It is the last week of our Lord and Savior before He is put to death.

This week also has another meaning (at least for me). It is my 2nd year anniversary of being Catholic!!! It was only 2 years ago that I came into the Catholic Church. It was a week that I almost (and I was very close) to giving up on school, my faith and especially the Catholic Church. Not because of any Catholics though, but mostly because of the people here at Liberty.

But thanks be to God for all of the prayers that people prayed for me. I can say that throughout Holy Week, I actually felt the prayers that people where offering up for me. Because of that, I am where I am today.

Holy Week 2007 for me was my persecution and trials. Now I know that our Lord went through so much more, but it is just one small way that I can relate to His suffering.

Let us truly thank God for what this week, and what it means to us. This week makes us who we are, and none of us would be here if it wasn't for this week! (I would not be at Liberty, this blog wouldn't be here, there would be no churches, all of the ministers would be doing something else), this week made all of this happen. If this week never happened, there would be no Christianity today.

PRAISE GOD FOR HOLY WEEK!!!

I just woke up

So it is almost noon and I just woke up. Now many of you are probably thinking, "That's ok, he probably went to bed late." No, I went to bed at midnight.

I am just now catching up on all of my sleep from last weekend and this week. Last weekend I didn't get much sleep because of the retreat, and then throughout the week I have been doing homework and going to church events.

So last night I just went to bed and got almost 12 hours of sleep, and man do I feel great!

Well, I g2g, it's a big day today. Going to the prison and then a birthday party!!!

Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world.

As Jesus hung on the cross, he forgave the soldiers who had crucified him, and prayed for his mother and friends. Jesus wanted all of us to be able to live forever with God, so he gave all he had for us.

Jesus, let me take a few moments now to consider your love for me. Help me thank you for your willingness to go to your death for me. Help me express my love for you!

My Jesus, three hours didst Thou hang in agony, and then die for me; let me die before I sin, and if I live, live for Thy love and faithful service.

Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory be to the Father....

Leader: Jesus Christ Crucified.

All: Have mercy on Us.

Leader: May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.

All: Amen.

Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world.

You are stretched out on the cross you have carried so far. The soldiers take big nails and drive them into your hands and feet. You feel abandoned by the people you loved so much. People seem to have gone mad. You have done nothing but good, yet they drive nails through your hands and feet.

As a child, sometimes I hurt others. Sometimes I join with friends and decide not to like another. We gang up against another and cause them hurt and pain. Sometimes I say or do hurtful things to my brothers and sisters. I can wonder what they'd think about themselves if they believed everything I told them about themselves.

As and adult, sometimes I discriminate against others. Even without thinking, I judge others because of their color, intelligence, income level or name. I forget that I am to live as a brother or sister to all people. Sometimes I use harsh words when I speak to my children and family members. I can find it easy to look for something that isn't very important and make it very important.

Help me look again at the people around me. Help me see the hurt and pain I have caused in others. Be with me to help me make amends for the harm I have done.

My Jesus, by Thine agony when the cruel nails pierced Thy tender hands and feet and fixed them to the cross, make me crucify my flesh by Christian penance.

Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory be to the Father....

Leader: Jesus Christ Crucified.

All: Have mercy on Us.

Leader: May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.

All: Amen.

Coming up on Holy Week!!!

Lenten Video for April 1, 2009