Stewardship
Time
Celebrate the Sacraments
Join us as we celebrate of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life. It is when we are most in communion with God and with our neighbor. The Greek word eucharistia means thanksgiving. We gather to give thanks to God for all the blessings we have received. We come together to remember who we are as a pilgrim people to meet God in Word and in Sacrament. We can find God’s presence, strength, wisdom in the celebration of the Holy Communion and it becomes our food for our journey.
Our parish celebrations of Sunday Mass can be found by clicking here. We also celebrate daily Mass at 9 AM in the Brant Beach Church.
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Would you like to celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick?
This sacrament helps unite those who are suffering with Jesus’ saving and healing power. Over time, this sacrament came to be associated with and limited to the Church’s celebration of Last Rites, which includes the anointing and reception of communion as one approached death. The Second Vatican Council reclaimed the initial intention of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and shifted the focus from “Extreme Unction” of “final anointing” back to the healing powers found in the sacrament. We do have communal celebrations of the Sacrament of the Sick, but if you would like to celebrate this Sacrament please contact the parish office.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as Penance or Confession, is another sacrament of healing. This sacrament extends to the penitent God’s unconditional love and endless mercy. Nothing is beyond God’s ability to forgive. God is always ready to accept our return to him. This sacrament free us from our sins. It also challenges us to be merciful to those who sin against us. As we are liberated from our sin, we can also claim that freedom to be forgivers.
We celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation every Saturday from 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM in the Brant Beach Church [all year] and in Beach Haven and Surf City churches in July and August.
Click here to check the most recent Schedule.
The Sacrament of Matrimony is a covenant. A covenant is more than a contract. Contracts are typically made with people we do not necessarily know for a specific purpose. A covenant always expresses a relationship between persons. The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and in doing so grow closer to loving and knowing God. The Nuptial Blessing prayed during the marriage ceremony reminds us that the love the spouses have for each other foreshadows the covenant between God and his people.
If you would like to celebrate this Sacrament of Matrimony, click here, to contact the parish office.
Please also contact the office if you have questions and would like to discuss anything about your marriage.
Opportunities to Pray
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Sit with Christ and enter into the quiet meditation and prayer. Psalm 46:10 reminds us, “Be still and know that I am God.”
Wednesday at 2 PM, Brant Beach Church
Spiritual Direction: This is a relationship in which one person helps another person grow in their spiritual life and be attentive to God's presence, action, and movements in their lives. It can help one find their spiritual path or journey. Spiritual Directors have received special training in the art of accompanying another person on their spiritual journey.
Rosary: You can pray Rosary alone as you meditate on the mysteries of the life of Christ, or you join the faithful at 8:20 AM just before the Daily Mass.
Contemplative Prayer Group: This group offers contemplative reading and discussion of Scripture and other spiritual writings. This parish group meets at 9:45 AM on the 2nd Saturday of every month in the St. Francis Center and on Zoom at 10:30 AM the 1st Wednesday of every month. Check the Website for more details.
Go on Retreat: the parish offers the Women’s/Men’s Cornerstone retreats. Maris Stella in Harvey Ceders and Francis House of Prayer, Allentown, both offer a variety of retreats and opportunities to create some prayerful time away.
Soup and Stations: During Lent join us in our parish’s meditation on the Stations of the Cross. You can also pray the Stations of the Cross by yourself anytime of the year by walking through the church.
Seasonal Prayer Service: The parish offers different prayer services during Advent, Lent, and other times of the year. The bulletin would have the details when they arise.
Go on a Pilgrimage: A pilgrimage is not a vacation. It can be compared to a retreat that includes travel to spiritually significant places. The parish offers a a few opportunities during the year but there are many other places that offer opportunities for one to take a spiritual pilgrimage.
Men’s Spirituality Group This group meets at 10:00 AM every third Saturday of the month and reflects on the upcoming Sunday Readings.
Adult Enrichment session: The parish is always offering a variety of adult enrichment programs to help us grow in our faith. The details are always listed in the bulletin.
Parish Book Club: This group discusses contemporary novels and non-fiction books through the lens of people of faith. They meet in the St. Francis Center every Tuesday at 1 PM.
Bible Talks After Mass: Once a month there is a brief talk on the Bible following the Daily Mass. These talks and discussions offer insights into the richness of the Scripture.
Scripture Study sessions: These bi-monthly meetings provide a deep dive into the literary, cultural, and theological insights in the scripture. They meet every other Wednesday from 10:00-11:30 AM.
Pray The Divine Office: The divine office is the daily prayer of the Church consisting of psalms, hymns, prayers, readings, and other writings. The friars and sisters pray the divine office every morning and evening. It is a way to sanctify the day with prayer and to dialogue with God, the Church, and the world. The divine office is also called the liturgy of the hours. cf. resources below.
Reading the Bible. The Daily Mass readings are listed in the bulletin They can also be easily accessed through several apps on your smart phone. cf. apps and other resources below.
Attend an AA, NA, or OA meeting: These are peer-led mutual aid fellowships dedicated to abstinence-based recovery from alcoholism, narcotic or food addictions. They are ground in the spiritually inclined twelve-step program. You can find meeting times online. Some are listed in our bulletin.
Participate in Survivors of Suicide meeting: For those who are looking for healing after the devastating loss of a loved one to suicide, this parish group help provide comfort as well as a space to explore this painful reality through the eyes of faith. The meet at 7:00 PM in the Parish Conference Room the 2nd Thursday of every month.
Seek Counseling: Sometimes we find that we have things that we need to talk about that goes beyond the Sacrament of Confession. Typically, these are wounds that have been carried for many years and often time and another person is needed to help untangle the pain. The St. Francis Center has a Counseling Center that is open to everyone. There are other opportunities for one to receive counseling in our area. Although this is a painful and at times scary journey, to take the healing and freedom can be quite profound. You can all the St. Francis Center Counseling office for more details or help to find a counselor.
Sing and join the choir: St. Pope John Paul II said, “When we sing, we experience God’s presence in a new way.” and St. Augustine is known to have said, “They who sing, pray twice.”
Praying with Apps.
[You can download these apps directly to your phone.]
Hallow: This app provides audio-guided Bible stories, prayers, meditations, sleep, and Christian music. Other features include community challenges and daily prayers such as the Catholic practice of Lectio Divina, curated music, praylists, and options to set prayer routines.
iBreviary: Here you can find the the Liturgy of Hours. Daily Readings for the Mass, and many other Catholic prayers.
Laudate: This very popular and comprehensive free App also provides the Daily Mass Readings, Liturgy of Hours, the New American Bible, interactive Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Franciscan Crown Rosary, multiple Stations of the Cross, many prayers and much more.
Resources
1) Word of Fire Catholic Ministries: This global media apostolate supports the work of Bp. Robert Barron and reaches millions of people to draw them into—or back to—the Catholic faith. It is evangelical; it proclaims Jesus Christ as the source of conversion and new life. It is Catholic; it utilizes the tremendous resources of the Roman Catholic tradition—art, architecture, poetry, philosophy, theology, and the lives of the saints—in order to explain and interpret the event of Jesus Christ. It exists to draw people into the body of Christ, which is the Church, and thereby give them access to all the gifts that Jesus wants his people to enjoy. www.wordonfire.org/
2) Dynamic Catholic: The Mission is “To re-energize the Catholic Church in America by developing world-class resources that inspire people to rediscover the genius of Catholicism.” The website provides daily and seasonal reflections and offers free books that focus on our Catholic spirituality. www.dynamiccatholic.com
3) Franciscan Media: The website offers an opportunity to look at our Catholic faith and Traditions through the Franciscan lens. It also provides the chance for people to learn more about the Franciscan Tradition and spirituality. In addition to the Daily Mass Readings and reflections, one can also find a variety of news and commentaries on the issues of our day. One can also find prayers, pray the Rosary, or read about the Saint of the Day. www.franciscanmedia.org
4) United States Catholic Conference of Bishops [USCCB]: This website provides the daily Mass Readings as well as many resources that are useful to our living out of our Catholic Tradition. You can find Papel Encyclicals and Statements by the Bishops’ Conference, as well as resources on many topics relevant to today. This website also hosts the Daily Mass Readings and reflections. This website also provide a link to listen to the readings rather than reading them. https://www.usccb.org/
5) Center for Action and Contemplation: Created by Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, the CAC provides resources and opportunities to see the intimate connection between contemplation and action. Their vision is that we become “Transformed people working together for a more just and connected world.” www.cac.org/
6) Living Faith - Daily Catholic Devotionals: You can find daily devotionals, prayers, and blogs as well as a resource for children so they too can grow in their faith. www.livingfaith.com
More ways…
Take a walk on the beach. Contemplate the vastness of the oceans. God is bigger. Watch as the waves never give up. God’s love and mercy doesn’t either. Let your mind and your senses enjoy the grandeur of creation.
Create a prayer space in your house. It could be a separate room or even just a corner of room. Statues, candles, crucifixes, pictures of loved ones can all help to create a sacred space for you.
Sit quietly for 10 minutes.
Prayer your favorite prayer daily, such as The Peac Prayer of St. Francis, Psalm, or favorite Scripture passage.
There a few techniques that can help to relax. If you fall asleep, that’s OK. You probably need to sleep. When you wake, try again.
The following relaxation techniques have been taken from the Mayo Clinic webpage. www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/relaxation-technique/art-20045368]8]
Autogenic relaxation. Autogenic means something that comes from within you. In this relaxation activity, you use both visual imagery and body awareness to lower stress.
You repeat words or suggestions in your mind that may help you relax and lessen muscle tension. For example, you may imagine a peaceful setting. Then you can focus on relaxing your breathing or slowing your heart rate. Or you may feel different physical senses, such as relaxing each arm or leg one by one.
Progressive muscle relaxation. In progressive muscle relaxation, you focus on slowly tensing and then relaxing each muscle group.
This can help you focus on the difference between muscle tension and relaxation. You can become more aware of physical sensations.
In one type of progressive muscle relaxation, you start to tense and relax the muscles in your toes. You gradually work your way up to your neck and head. This is best done in a quiet area without interruptions. You also can start with your head and neck and work down to your toes. Tense your muscles for about five seconds and then relax for 30 seconds, and repeat.
Visualization. In visualization, you may form mental pictures to take a visual journey to a peaceful, calming place or situation.
To relax using visualization, try to use as many senses as you can, such as smell, sight, sound and touch. If you imagine relaxing at the ocean, think about the salt water's smell, the sound of crashing waves and the feel of the warm sun on your body.
You may want to close your eyes and sit in a quiet spot. Loosen any tight clothing and focus on your breathing. Aim to focus on the present and think positive thoughts.
Spiritual Reading: Find a book or article that feeds your spirit. St. Augustine, Thomas Kempis, St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi are some traditional writers. Thomas Merton, and C.S. Lewis wrote in the mid-20th Century. A few contemporary writers, Henri Nouwen, Sr. Joan Chittister, Ronaldo Rolheiser, OMI, Richard Rohr, OFM, Jim Wallis, Annie Dillard, Parker Palmer. For a list of more contemporary writers, ronrolheiser.com/contemporary-writers-in-spirituality/
1. Each of the popes has numerous encyclicals on a variety of topics. You can find them at www.vatican.va/offices/papal_docs_list.html
5. Begin the routine of praying in the morning and the evening. The Divine Office/Liturgy of the Hours. can help you form this pattern.
