Servants of the Servant

My shoulder surgery on Mar 11 went well and I hope to be back posting soon.  Thanks to everyone who sent me “get well” notes and to those who continued to support John Paul II.

Peace be with you.

Adam

“Tom Rooney belongs to the generation of “John Paul II Catholics,” as I call them, who have answered the call to public service. Unlike the Catholic politicians of the last generation, most of whom ignored the Church on the key social and moral issues, Rooney would follow in the footsteps of the late Henry Hyde.”

Full story 

I know that most people know that the Holy Father is coming to the United States in April:

“VATICAN CITY, 8 FEB 2008 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today released a communique announcing that from 15 to 21 April, the Holy Father will make an apostolic trip to the United States of America and to the headquarters of the United Nations Organisation. The visit will take him to the cities of Washington and New York.”

I am hoping to meet up with some members/supporters of the Servants or my friends from SQPN in New York City while the Pope is in town. 

Please contact me if you are going to NYC to see the Pope and would like to meet.

John Paul pray for us,

Scott

While this program has nothing to do with JPII and is not a Catholic organization, my father Rev. Jim MacDonald is the Executive Director and I’m quite proud of the work that they do.

Botswana Alcohol Aids Project 

• A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY LIVING IN BOTSWANA HAS A 90% CHANCE OF DYING OF HIV/AIDS DURING HIS LIFETIME
• BOTSWANA HAS THE HIGHEST INSTANCE OF HIV INFECTION IN THE WORLD
• OVER ONE IN THREE OF THE POPULATION IS INFECTED

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

VATICAN CITY, 15 JAN 2008 (VIS) - The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, traditionally celebrated every year from January 18 to 25, begins on Friday.

The theme chosen for this year’s initiative, taken from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians, is: “Pray without ceasing”. The texts for reflection and prayer have been prepared by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches.

Each day of the Week will have a different theme:

18 January: Pray always. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5, 17).

19 January: Pray always, trusting God alone. “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5, 18).

20 January: Pray without ceasing for the conversion of hearts. “Admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted” (1 Thessalonians 5, 14).

21 January: Pray always for justice. “See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all” (1 Thessalonians 5, 15).

22 January: Pray constantly with a patient heart. “Be patient with all of them” (1 Thessalonians 5, 14).

23 January: Pray always for grace to work with God. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5, 16).

24 January: Pray for what we need. “. help the weak” (1 Thessalonians 5, 14).

25 January: Pray always that they all may be one. “Be at peace” (1 Thessalonians 5, 13b)

Although the traditional period for celebrating this week of prayer is in the month of January, in the southern hemisphere Churches sometimes seek other periods such as, for example, around the time of Pentecost, which is also a symbolically significant date for the unity of the Church, and was suggested by the Faith and Order movement in 1926.

In the basilica of St. Paul’s Outside-the-Walls at 5.30 p.m. on Friday, 25 January, Feast of the Conversion of the Apostle Paul, Benedict XVI will preside at the celebration of Vespers to mark the close of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
From:V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.
Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

I’m going to add a “Testimonies” page over at www.benotafraid.faithweb.com and I would appreciate your personal story about what JPII meant/means to you.

How did the life and teachings of Servant of God Pope John Paul II affect your faith?

Please send your comments to scott@benotafraid.faithweb.com and include your name (at least your first or last) and the name and location (city/state) of your home church.

Looking forward to hearing your stories!

Take a look and view the trailer….

http://www.johnpauliitrailer.com/english/index.htm

I just came by this interesting commentary about how the modern world now views JPII:

“It seemed as if all of the sudden everybody who defied John Paul’s authority while he was alive was suddenly longing for his return? Why would this be? Why is he suddenly being lifted up by a community that despised him while he reigned?”

From: Unam Sanctam Catholicam

“The office of the postulator, a church official pleading for a candidate for beatification, announced that the most important document needed for the beatification process of Pope John Paul II will be ready till the end of the year. “

Full story

If you would like to add a small widget on your blog or website to help promote the prayer group, please check out

http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/servants-of-the-servant?__fsk=596343457

God Bless and have a great new year!