Mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 28th. Fr. George will be leading a Day of Reflection in Miami!

This trip is in jeopardy of being canceled. The bus has not been filled as of January 26th. A final count will be taken on Monday, January 30th. A decision will be made at that time on whether we will be forced to cancel.

Details: We will board a coach bus bound for Miami where our day will begin at the Chapel by the Bay. Mass will be celebrated at noon, followed by a boxed lunch. We board the bus again to John Paul II Retreat House for some spiritual talks, reflection, confessions and spiritual music before an evening of fun.

When night falls, we will be dining at Ft. Lauderdale's premier restaurant…MAI KAI. Feast on island fare while enjoying an evening of entertainment by their renowned Polynesian dancers.

Unwind while being chauffeured back to the church (around 11 PM).

The total cost for this trip is $105 per person. The fee includes transportation, materials, the chapel, all food and all gratuities.

Payment is due by Friday, February 1st. We only have room for 40 people! Contact Darlene in the Parish Office for more information- 461-2233.

The Florida Presidential Primary will be held on Tuesday, January 31st. Early voting begins Saturday, January 21st. If you have questions about where the candidates stand on IMPORTANT issues, check out the Florida Family Action website for Voter Guides!

Lord God, 

we seek to better understand the issues and concerns that confront our city, state, and country,
and how the Gospel compels us to respond as faithful citizens in our community.

We ask for eyes that are free from blindness
so that we might see each other as brothers and sisters,
one and equal in dignity,
especially those who are victims of abuse and violence, deceit and poverty.

We ask for ears that will hear the cries of children unborn and those abandoned,
men and women oppressed because of race or creed, religion or gender.
We ask for minds and hearts that are open to hearing the voice of leaders who will bring us closer to your Kingdom.

We pray for discernment
so that we may choose leaders who hear your Word,
live your love,
and keep in the ways of your truth
as they follow in the steps of Jesus and his Apostles
and guide us to your Kingdom of justice and peace.

We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

More than the Game

by Darrell Miller 

This powerful message was given to 3,000 men at the 2009 Men of Christ Conference in Milwaukee by former Major League baseball player Darrell Miller. While playing for the California Angels, Miller began a journey that led to his conversion to the Catholic Faith. Miller is a devoted family man, a leader in various major youth ministries, and speaks at conferences around the world.

Don't forget this Saturday, January 21st is the 2nd Annual Treasure Coast March for Life!

Fr. George will be both walking and speaking at City Hall. We hope you ALL can attend and support LIFE!

ITINERARY:
11:30 a.m. – Meet at the corner of 12th & Delaware in front of  A Woman's World Abortion Mill for Silent Prayer (park on Delaware Ave.)

12:00 p.m. – Peaceful March from Abortion Clinic to
Ft. Pierce City Hall (0.8 mile)  
(Those who do not want to walk can drive and park at the parking garage at City Hall)

12:30 p.m. – Local Pro-Life Advocates and Clergy will speak on the Sanctity of Human Life at City Hall

1:30-1:45 p.m. – Marchers will walk or be shuttled back to vehicles 

FOR MORE INFO: Jim Thoma at 240-6168 or  jimthoma@comcast.net

Interested in learning more about Natural Family Planning? Allen and Bonnie Ruppert will be holding a 3 class series in February for interested Parishioners.

Contact Bonnie at 772-332-6817 for more information!

Start Lent with..

A Day of Enrichment

For all men and women February 6, 2012 (Monday) 8:30-2:30 at St. John the Cross Church.

8:30- Mass in the Chapel 7550 26th Street, Vero Beach

9:30-2:30- Parish Hall 2355 82nd Ave, Vero Beach

Guest Speakers:

Brian Gail, author of Fatherless, Motherless and Childless, a trilogy that traces the impact of the "contraceptive menatility" on American society and the Catholic Church. Brian is a Knight of the Immaculate, a co-founder of three catholic classical academies, and a speaker on matters of faith and family.

Rick and Carrie Huebner Carrie is a Fertility Care Practitioner at St. Gianna's Center for women's health and fertility care in Melbourne. They will share the story of their confrontation and eventual embrace of the Church's teachings on marriage and family, and on the Creighton Model of family planning.

Tickets ($5) which inclides a box lunch, must be purchased by January 30th from Sandy Reardon 772-770-3599, Carol Bella 772-562-7436, or the church office 772-563-0057 (office hours: Monday-Friday from 9 am to 3:30 PM).

A message from Dr. Hoeffner, Principal, quoting Mathew Kelly

On February 17th, Mathew Kelly, an internationally-known writer and speaker will be speaking at our school. I invite you to read the book that the teachers and I have already read, titled Rediscover Catholicism. Many teachers from all over our Diocese of Palm Beach will be joining us on February 17th to hear Mathew Kelly speak about: The "Trinity" of Raising Children Catholic (Counter-Culture Parenting and Teaching).

After re-reading Rediscover Catholicism, I have been reflecting on the secular culture and the culture of holiness that are always at odds with each other in our school and in our families.  Do we desire holiness for ourselves and for our children? Mathew Kelly also reflects on this topic in the sixth chapter of his book titled, "What is the Authentic Life." He asks, 

"What is holiness? The falling attendance at church, the marginalization of the Church by our secular culture, and the failure to reach the youth are all caused by our inability to communicate clearly the answer to this question…What does living a holy life mean to you? We all have different ideas of who God is, and we all have different ideas of what it means to be holy. In your mind, does someone have to be a priest or nun to be holy? Can married people be holy? Do you view intimacy as a barrier to holiness or a path to holiness? Can a business-man or -woman be truly holy? Can you be holy?

Many people falsely believe that if you want to be holy, you are not allowed to enjoy life. Some believe to be holy you have to run away from the world. Others think you have to be in church or on your knees praying all day. Still others believe to be holy you have to walk around with a halo, that you're not allowed to smile, or have any fun, or enjoy yourself at all. They think to be holy you have to despise everything of this world and walk around with a long, drawn-out, stoic look on your face. These are all the very unnatural and unattractive ideas that the world proclaims about holiness.

Holiness brings us to life. It refines every human ability. Holiness doesn't dampen our emotions; it elevates them. Those who respond to God's call to holiness are the most joyful people in history. They have a richer, more abundant experience of life, and they love more deeply than most people can ever imagine. They enjoy life, all of life…Holiness doesn't stifle us; it sets us free….

Living a holy life means letting our decisions be guided by the Holy Spirit. It means allowing each moment to be all it can be. Holiness is living with the goal of the Christian life in mind. It is allowing our decisions to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Holiness is surrendering to the will of God, and at the same time, it is grasping each moment and making it all it can be. Sometimes holiness means indulging yourself and sometimes it means renouncing yourself. Each event in your life is an opportunity to change, to grow, and to become a better version of yourself – and that grasping of each moment is holiness. Holiness is allowing God to fill every corner of your being; that is when we truly become the best version of ourselves. Holiness is being set apart for God. It is a desire to do the will of God, and yet, the desire for holiness is itself a gift from God. Holiness is as simple as knowing when to say yes and when to say no, but like so many things in this life, we complicate the pursuit of holiness unnecessarily….(Mathew Kelly, taken from pages 75-77 in Rediscover Catholicism)."

I hope that you consider reading this book or come to join us for a morning of learning and reflection on February 17th. May God continue to bless your family, our church, and our school.

Click here to register!

The Catholic Council of Women (CCW) and St. Anastasia Ministries would like you to join them on Sundays following the 9:30 AM Mass in the Parish Center for Coffee and Donuts. We will be kicking off this weekend, January 8th and continue every Sunday.

Rekindle your spirit with your fellow parishioners while spending time with family and friends! We look forward to seeing you there.