Readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Is 5:1-7; Ps 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20; Phil 4:6-9; Mt 21:33-43
I once had a very observant teen lean over (in the middle of Mass) and ask me, “Hey Mark, what does the “IHS” stand for on the gold box up there?”
The gold box he was referring to was the tabernacle, where the Blessed Sacrament (Jesus, fully present in the Eucharist) is reserved. While the middle of Mass wasn’t the best time to stop and give a lesson on Greek or Church history, I have to say I was proud of him for asking.
Most of us see things like I.H.S. all over our churches and sacred vessels, but don’t really stop to ask what it means.
I.H.S. stands for Incarnation High School … it’s the high school prep academy where Jesus went, just outside of Nazareth. Their mascot is the fightin’ footwashers …
Readings for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Ez 18:25-28; Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14; Phil 2:1-11; Mt 21:28-32
Well, another new football season is under way and it got me to thinking about how the Catholic Mass can be a lot like a football game, if we look at it the right way …
Many of you have probably had beautiful experiences of the Mass. You have Life Teen at your parish and with it a vibrant Youth Liturgy with good music and preaching. But what happens when we go on vacation or off to college and that dynamic celebration of Mass is nowhere to be found?
To start out our fall Mass theme, we bring you … drum roll please … a video about ushers! They’re so dedicated to helping out at Mass, we thought they deserved their own video. Enjoy this classic, and don’t forget – you can also be an usher one day, as long as you promise to “dress for success.”
So that’s it. Our summer theme of friendship is over. We’re never going to talk about friends again so I hope that you were completely satisfied with everything we did. That sentence was sarcastic.
This sentence isn’t: Our fall theme is the Mass! And you can’t talk about the Mass without talking about the Eucharist, so that’ll be a big part of our theme too.
Readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Sir 27:30-28:7; Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12; Rom 14:7-9; Mt 18:21-35
Readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Ez 33:7-9; Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; Rom 13:8-10; Mt 18:15-20
Readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Jer 20:7-9; Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; Rom 12:1-2; Mt 16:21-27
Readings for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time: Is 22:19-23; Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8; Rom 11:33-36; Mt 16:13-20
Readings for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Is 56:1, 6-7; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Rom 11:13-15, 29-32; Mt 15:21-28
The last full day at Camp Tepeyac for the summer was full of teamwork, fun, and prayer. The day started off with men’s and women’s sessions and organized free time. After that, the campers geared up to run the Gauntlet. They got covered in water and mud and worked as teams to conquer the challenge. They celebrated their victories with a dance party on the basketball court. Musician Mikey Needleman led some worship before host Lisa Garcia gave a beautiful witness. The cross was processed from the amphitheater to the South Lodge and led into mass and adoration. God was incredibly generous with His grace this week!
On their last full day of their Epic adventure, the teens were split once more into guy and girl sessions. The guys went on an adventure to find a hidden treasure, while the girls enjoyed some Adoration. In the afternoon, teens participated in an obstacle course called THE GAUNTLET! They had to work together as a team to get everyone to the finish line. In the evening, the teens had their session on Epic Life. To finish off their last night at camp, the teens celebrated mass, and there was a procession of the Blessed Sacrament.
It was another day of conquering fears in the sunshine at Camp Tepeyac today! This morning, the guys headed into a men’s session and to low ropes while their sisters tackled the Tango tower. In the afternoon, they traded places, with the ladies in session and low ropes and the boys taking on the tower and the zip line. Later, the campers got to celebrate mass outside at the amphitheater before session led by host Lisa Garcia and a talk from worship leader Mikey Needleman. The campers were called to embrace silence and practiced with journaling and adoration.
It was a day of challenges and facing fears today at Camp Tepeyac. The campers took on the high ropes course and the paintball field today, spending time with their brothers and sisters, affirming each other and working as teams. After their challenges outside, the teens were challenged to enter deeply into mass and reconciliation, led by worship leader Mikey Needleman and host Lisa Garcia. God’s grace and mercy were abundant tonight and the campers celebrated with a bonfire.
Readings for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a; Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14; Rom 9:1-5; Mt 14:22-33
On day two of their Epic Adventure, teens ventured out to a High/Low ropes course. Teens were challenged to trust their fellow brothers and sisters in a series of team building exercises, and braved their fears on a series of High Ropes stations. Upon returning home, the teens had mass, and then were served dinner family-style with their parish. The session that night was called Epic Rescue. The evening was spent deep in prayer, and the teens were given the opportunity to go to Confession. The evening concluded with joyful praise and worship at a “No Sin Party!”
For the last full day of the Edge week at Camp Tepeyac, the campers had opportunities all day to tackle obstacles. The day started with organized free time, leading into Mass. With the strength they gained from the Eucharist, they were able to run the obstacle course and have an outdoor dance party. The evening featured praise and worship by worship leader Gabe Reyes and an empowering talk on obstacles from host Joe Chernowski, preparing the teens to go into battle when the come off the mountain. Read more [...]
Edge campers continued to conquer their fears today at Camp Tepeyac! They greeted the morning from the top of the Tango Tower, tackling the rock wall, the spider web, Jacob’s Ladder, and the zip line. Next, they took it to the ground for low ropes, working on team building and trusting their brothers and sisters. Building on that trust and fellowship, they celebrated mass and had men’s and women’s sessions. The night was closed with an incredibly powerful adoration session. God is good and provides so generously!
