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Spiritual Life
"A School Rich in Tradition"



Campus Ministry

 

        

CAMPUS MINISTRY NEWS!!!

 

Why are we suppose to go to church?

 

Dear Sacred Heart Family!

 

I thought I would share with you a question that I hear very often... "Why are we supposed to church? Can't we have a relationship with God without going to church?" The Catholic Church has never varied on its answer to this question. Mass and going to church is not about us!! It's about our relationship with God and His love for us! Liturgy from the Greek word...leiturgia...means public work, service, achievement by, and for the people. The Liturgy is never a mere meeting of a group of people, who make up their own form of celebration....Through our sharing in Jesus' appearing before the Father, we stand as members of the worldwide community of the whole church and also the communion of saints...don't you love the part in the Liturgy of the Eucharist where Father says, "And so, with the angels and all the saints, we declare your glory, as with one voice we acclaim...Holy Holy...That means we are all hanging out with the saints!!

 

The centerpiece of liturgical celebrations is the Holy Eucharist. The most profound encounter with Jesus Christ on earth is the Liturgy of Divine worship. The people of Israel interrupted their work 7 times a day (Ps 119:164) in order to praise God. Jesus participated in the Liturgy and prayer of His people; he taught his disciples to pray and gathered them in the upper room so as to celebrate with them...the Liturgies of all Liturgies: the gift of Himself in the last supper. The Church calls us to the liturgy and obeys his command, "Do this in remembrance of Me".

 

Just as a man breathes air in order to stay alive, so to the Church lives and breathes by celebrating the liturgy. God himself is the one who breathes new life into her day by day and enriches her with gifts through his Word and the Sacraments. We can use another image too: every liturgy is like a rendezvous of love that God writes on our calendar. Anyone who has already experienced God's love is glad to go to church. Someone who from time to time feels nothing and goes nevertheless shows God his faithfulness.

 

During Jesus' lifetime, multitudes of people flocked to him, because they were seeking his healing presence. Today we can find Him, for he lives in his church! He assures us of His presence in 2 places: In service to the poor and in the Eucharist. There we run directly into his arms. And when we let him get close to us, he teaches us, feeds us, transforms us, heals us, and becomes one with us in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

 

When we celebrate the Liturgy, we encounter the One who said about himself," I am the way, the truth and the life." Someone who is forsaken and goes to Mass receives protection and consolation from God, someone who feels lost and goes to mass finds a God who is waiting for him.

 

So...if we are Catholic... do we have to go mass? Actually...we should never want to miss mass!!

Just a thought from Debbie Bolin, Campus Minister