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On the 31st of January we celebrated the feast of St. John Bosco, our founder. He called our order, the "The Salesians." Don Bosco is declared by the Church as the father and patron of young people. He was a man who had a passion for God and a compassion for the youngsters especially the marginalized.
I would like to share with you our way of youth ministry, our way of walking with the young. THE SALESIAN WAY!
THE SALESIAN WAY IS...a personal approach.
"Lend me your ears". Don Bosco often recommended a technique he called the "word in the ear"; a few words spoken to a young person at a chance meeting especially in their free time. Recognition, praise, encouragement, occasionally reproach. Words spoken quietly and personally as someone passes by, not a lecture, not an interview. A sentence.....a few phrases. "I hear you're doing well". "Thanks for trying so hard". That's all. It sounds so simple, but the real technique takes time to acquire. Its effect can be electric!
THE SALESIAN WAY IS.....being a welcoming person - an educator.
The "eyes" have it. The playground is a prime place for education. Spend some free time there, not as a supervisor, but as a friend. Chat, join in a game, listen a lot, but above all be alert for the young person who is alone, afraid, out of it. Use your eyes and follow them. Eye contact communicates. You will get to know the young and they will get to know you.
THE SALESIAN WAY IS.....befriending the young.
The key...one can only influence the world of the young from "inside" that world. To get inside, one needs to listen, to show an interest in the things they like - their music, their games, their friends. Being an adult friend. Having done that, they will share with you the things that you like.
THE SALESIAN WAY IS.....being gentle, firm and reasonable.
Reward should never "go over the top" nor should discipline demean. Discipline administered in anger will be attributed to the anger, not the fault. The more I know
about a young person, the more that young person is an individual to me. But I do not pry, nor indulge my curiosity, nor do I retell things detrimental to the young person, except to the legitimate authority, and only when absolutely required. Above all, I know their name and in the form preferred by them.
THE SALESIAN WAY IS.....being yourself.
Familiarity...without contempt. The easy familiarity of the Salesian approach is an educational tool of great power, one, however, which requires practice and skill to master and use. To be familiar without ceasing to be an adult, friendly without needing to be "one of the kids", and playful without invading the young person's emotional space, make a youth minister, educator and especially an adult friend.
As we prepare to celebrate the 200th year of Don Bosco's birth we ask him to help us dream Big. To dream the impossible dream...sums up the hope we carry deep within us. Realizing this dream is an inner drive that eventually leads us to happiness. Yet often this potential to think 'BIG' and follow our dream remains suffocated until the right moment comes along and our courage kick starts us into life.
As we celebrate the Bicentenary of the Birth of Don Bosco, may we continue to journey with the young taking cue from our GC 27 to be Mystics in the Spirit, Prophets of Fraternity & Servants of the young. May St. John Bosco be our inspiration and guide.
God bless you,
In Mary Help of Christians,
I remain,
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
Director
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Walking with the Church
"Communion is distributed by intinction only (therefore, no communion in the hand); Normally it is the individual Catholic who decides the manner of receiving holy Communion in those countries where Communion in the hand is permitted. If, however, the priest opts to administer both species by intinction, then the option of receiving in the hand automatically falls by the wayside. If, for a good reason, a particular member of the faithful did not wish to receive under the species of wine, then he or she must be allowed to choose to receive the host either in the hand or on the tongue. The bishops of the United States have determined that the normal means of receiving Communion is standing and approaching the altar in procession. Rather than a law cast in stone, this norm describes what is in fact the most common practice in the country. It is still possible to kneel if this is the custom of the place and the use of the communion rail is not prohibited.
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 The Pebble in the shoe
by Jim Fannin
Everyone has had a pebble in his or her shoe. You may have one or two now. It's the small, nagging thoughts that eventually weigh you down. Some pebbles have been hidden, undetected for years. Others push, prod, and make their presence felt every day. Each pebble intrudes into the lives of the unsuspecting. At different times in life the pebbles arrive. Although they are small and mostly undetected, they represent many unresolved thoughts, images and experiences. Some are pebbles of doubt. They form from a single thought that occurred years, months or weeks before. Some pebbles are lodged only in your business shoes. Some reside in your house slippers that you tuck under your bed. Some pebbles find their way into your golf shoes while others form in the shoes worn while you parent. Unfortunately, some pebbles travel in all your shoes regardless of where you walk or run.
Some pebbles are of fear. Others are created from guilt, rejection or shame. Maybe not today, but they eventually arrive unannounced and usually at the most inappropriate time. What challenges do they present?
To run the marathon race of life at your most efficient speed, you must be free of embarrassment, guilt, rejection, fear, envy, jealousy, anger, impatience, frustration and worry. All can be lodged in any shoe, from a pair of loafers worn by a city dweller in Manhattan, to a pair of boots on a farm in Montana. These intangible pebbles are crippling. They destroy relationships. They contribute to overeating and gaining unhealthy weight. They coax us into drugs, alcohol and other addictions.They destroy families and alienate friends. They thwart the potential of our children and physically snuff extra years from our life. These are the pebbles in the shoe.
The pebble can cause you to quit or perform with complete indifference. It can help instigate a fight or add disrespectful silence to an otherwise dynamic relationship. Even the desire for fame, fortune or power can turn into a pebble in your shoe if left undetected. Most pebbles stir up the past, cloud the future and keep the present to a blink of the eye. Like a garden that's been freshly tilled, a pebble can reappear without warning or detection. Prevention and removal are your only options for simplicity, balance and abundance.
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 Laughter the best medicine
Coined Humor
It is not true that banks have no sense of humor. After all, they are the ones who coined the phrase "easy payments."
- David Hart in The Citizen
Lure of the Media
A patient, lying in a hospital bed all bandaged up, was explaining to a visitor: "So, I told my wife that when Monday-night football was on
television, it would take wild horses to drag me away from the set. I still don't know where she got them."
Grooming Gusto
"Where have you been?"
"Having my hair cut."
"You know you can't have your hair cut on company time."
"Well, it grew on company's time, didn't it?"
"Not all of it."
"Well, I ain't had it all cut off."
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 The Devotion of the Three Hail Mary's
The devotion of the THREE HAIL MARYS is a very simple yet most efficacious devotion.
Everyday, recite Three Hail Marys, adding the invocation: "O Mary, My Mother, keep me from mortal sin." Many people recite the Three Hail Marys as part of their morning and night prayers. To practice this devotion in time of danger, stress, special need or temptation, is a sure means to obtain Our Lady's help.
One day I had gone to collect my son from school. On the way back he wanted to buy some sweets from a pastry shop. I parked the car by the curb and the child jumped out of the car from the drivers side. I noticed an oncoming car was too close and I screamed and he looked back at me. At that very moment the car passed by without even grazing
him. I am so grateful to Mother Mary for saving my son. I always make my son wear the scapular. I always pray the "three Hail Marys."
Magdalene, MA
Our sincere thanks to Mother Mary and Don Bosco for blessing us with a beautiful and healthy baby boy, Shaun Jason through the intercession of the three Hail Marys.
Trevor, NY
Our sincere thanks to Infant Jesus and Mary Help of Christians for helping my daughter find a life partner and for the safe delivery of my daughter- in-law of her second baby boy all through the recitation of the 3 Hail Marys. Mrs. J. Silveira, PA
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In Closing
Dear devotees of Our Lady and Don Bosco,
If you have received a miracle through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, we would like to hear from you. Email us at MaryShrine@aol.com.
Bookstore hours: Monday - Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm, Sundays: 12 - 4 pm
Weekday Masses: 12 noon. Confessions on weekdays begin at 11.30 am.
Sunday Masses: 11 am and 12.30 pm
Other activities: Day Retreats, Weekend retreats, Don Bosco Summer Camp, Eucharistic Adoration, Friday night Lenten Dinners, 50/50 raffle, 350 club, Rosary Madonna Statue. Rent Lomagno Hall, Rent our Banquet Hall.
MEMORIES
Remember a Loved One: Engrave plaques on Wall of Memories, adopt a Tree, Engrave blocks on Walk of Honor, All Souls, All year Candle lighting, Holiday (Christmas and Easter), Flowers, Schedule a Mass, Bell Chimes.
MASS INTENTIONS
To offer a mass intention, please write to
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
174 Filors Lane,
Stony Point, NY 10980
mckennasdb@yahoo.com.
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Our ministry is only possible with your help.
Visit our website: www.marianshrine.org to donate.
Marian Shrine
174 Filors Lane, Stony Point, NY 10980
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