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| E-News to the Pews | July 2010 |
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 From the Pastor
Dear POP folks,
Someone from our community, who works at another parish, delights in comparing our weekly bulletin financial summary to that of the parish where he works. Our collections are higher. They do better at DSF.
Recently I responded to his comments by saying, "...and there are no numbers in heaven." I don't know where that came from or even if it's true.
But it is a truth. Jesus makes it very clear that He's not about the numbers (Luke 15:1-7).
We will soon celebrate our 40th birthday as a parish, but the important number will still be "1"; the single person who feels welcomed, the one who finds her calling to ministry at the August festival, the individual who returns to confession or begins the habit of adoration.
There may or may not be numbers in heaven, but God seems to work with us best the way we came into the world-one at a time.
Father John
P.S. Don't forget to check out my July blog, or follow Prince of Peace on Twitter  and Facebook  !!! |
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 Clergy Corner
"Celebrating Summer . . . in Church"
By Deacon Chuck Butler, July 2010
A few months ago, we witnessed the celebration of the many Sacraments that follow Easter- Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. The busyness of the school year and at work has been replaced by taking vacations and long weekend trips, planning family picnics and reunions, and sitting by the pool with friends to get caught up on what's happening in our lives.
In the summer, we find any activity that allows us to spend more time with our family and friends, to reconnect and celebrate the gifts each person brings to our lives.
There is one thing that never slows down, regardless of season-the Sacramental life of the Church. There are no vacations from reconciliation, or marriage, or baptism. These continue on indefinitely and are always available to you here at Prince of Peace. Most importantly, each weekend, we offer you the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Eucharist with your faith community. As St. Paul reminds us, the Eucharist allows us to be a part of a bigger, more important family-the "Body of Christ".
No matter how you look at it, summer is about reconnecting-with all of our "families". And these face-to-face connections are an important part of staying close to God our Father. One cannot "go it alone". Read more from Deacon Chuck... |
 Miracles Happen in Prayer & in Guatemala
By Susan Gallagher, Outreach Ministry Director, June 2010
Just six years ago, the parish-based Mission to Guatemala was an idea. Prince of Peace was introduced to a sound approach for traveling to a war-ravaged third world country, Guatemala.
We understood the philosophy of sharing the faith with the indigenous Mayan people living in the hills of Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala, and wanted to further cultivate a relationship with our Sister Parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus that resides there; but could we do this on our own? And what would we encounter? Would the entire parish come along with us in Eucharistic Adoration back home?
I am very pleased to report that we did accomplish our goal and are now in the fourth year of mission work on our own; but, not really.
One is never on his or her own with God.
And, to our delight, hundreds of people from POP have joined us on every mission by praying for us 24 hours each day from home during our seven-day journey. Read more from Susan about how prayer during Eucharistic Adoration at POP helps the missionaries thousans of miles away in Guatemala... |
 An Experience of a Lifetime
20-year-old, Luis Garcia, begins his discernment of a vocation to the priesthood after attending POP's 2009 Mission to Guatemala.
The following is Luis's personal story about how miracles really do happen during the POP mission, and how your prayer support during 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration helps make it all possible.
By Luis Garcia, POP parishioner, July 2010
A more renewed Luis had come back to Houston in July 2009 after the mission trip to Guatemala, and my parents began to notice it. One thing I was not ready for was to be thrown back into this noisy society where I found it difficult to experience God and feel His presence. I desired and prayed to God that He would use me as an instrument of peace and use me now while I was filled with the Spirit. I went back to work and school, and found it extremely difficult to feel His presence. I was also very insecure about who I was and my place on this earth. I prayed to God to send me a sign. Soon after, I went on a retreat that would introduce me to Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body", which my best friend, Andrew, had recommended for spiritual growth. I saw it as an opportunity to experience God again. At that retreat, I not only felt God's presence in the Eucharist, but my prayers were answered. Many had described how God works in mysterious ways, and that He listens to us, but this felt to me like He was trying to tell me something. Read more from Luis and his experience of a lifetime...
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 Youth
Ministry
The Cure for "Hurry Sickness": POP Youth Ministry's mission helps teens reboot their priorities and reconnect their souls
By Matt Regitz, Director, Youth Ministry, July 2010
Prince of Peace's Youth Ministry is on a mission: Evangelize the youth culture by meeting teens where they are and bringing them into deep communion with Christ, His Church, and one another. That is our mission, flowing from our parish mission, which gives us a reason for everything we do.
Whether we are hurling dodge balls across the gym floor, raising our hands in prayer, falling on our faces in Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, floating down a Venetian waterway in a gondola, or boarding a bus bound for a retreat or Steubenville Conference, our mission stays the same.
This mission also has many actors; real life participants wanting more from life or wanting their lives to have a purpose, a mission.
So teens...where do you fit in? What is your role in this mission? What is next for you?
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What's Happening
July 2010
July 10, 6:30 p.m., Family Movie Night, sponsored by the ACTS community: Doors open at 6 p.m.; movie (TBA) begins at 6:30 p.m. Contact Julia Blasch, jublas@att.net.
July 10 - 17, POP's Mission Trip to Guatemala: Men, women, and youth, ages 16 and up, experience a profound, one-week cross-cultural experience with the Mayas who live in the mountains of Guatemala.
July 11, 6:15 p.m. - July 17, 4:30 p.m.: Eucharistic Adoration prayer support: The entire POP parish is invited to support the mission team in Guatemala through Eucharistic Adoration prayer support in the Reservation Chapel inside the Main Church. Contact Susan Gallagher.
July 12 - 16, Vacation Bible School: Pre-K thru 5-graders will climb aboard for the voyage of a lifetime! They'll set sail on an exciting "High Seas" adventure to experience the deep, rolling waters of God's love. Contact: Mary Camarata.
July 17 - Aug. 8, School Supply Drive: POP's Outreach Ministry collects school supplies for donation to approximately 200 needy children who will otherwise go without. To donate school supplies, contact the OutreachMinistry.
July 18, Hospitality Sunday: Held in the Community Center after all the Masses (except 5 p.m.); contact Sue Hofmeister.
July 18 - 23, Junior High Youth Week: Week-long summer experience at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Contact Dave in the Youth Office, (281) 469-2686, with questions and to register. Contact Matt Regitz. |
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Save the Date
August 2010
Aug. 8: Hospitality Sunday, Community Center
Aug. 13 - 15: Youth Ministry Servant Leader Retreat (Camp Cho-Yeh)
Aug. 14 & 15: Children & Youth, Faith Formation Registration, Community Center, after all Masses
Aug. 22: POP's Blood Drive
Aug. 22: John Michael Talbot Concert, 7 p.m., Main Church
Aug. 24: Children & Youth, Faith Formation Registration, 10 - 12 p.m., 6 - 8 p.m.
Aug. 28 & 29: Called to Serve, "We are the Hands of Christ" weekend
Aug. 31: Children & Youth, Faith Formation Registration, 10 - 12 p.m., 6 - 8 p.m.
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| Prince of Peace Mission Statement | |
We, as a Catholic faith community, answer God's call to live out the Gospel through Sacramental worship, formation, evangelization, and serving those in need. |
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