St. Pius Catholic Church

Hello Everyone,

Happy Tuesday Morning one and all.  I know I am a day late in updating my blog this week, but it is for a good reason that I am late this week.  For you see I was on TEC 273 this past weekend at the Believers Together Center.  We had a phenomenal weekend.  All of the young men who came on the weekend were mature, respectful, funny, and filled with the Holy Spirit.  Everyone left yesterday filled with joy and peace from the Believers Together Center, the way it should be after going on a retreat and growing closer to God, and making new friends. 

Today my mother is celebrating her birthday!  Happy Birthday Mom, I love you and thank God everyday for you!  This week we also commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the passing of Fr. Lee, may he rest in peace.  And we also celebrate this week, the 5th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s papal election.  Please pray for the pope, especially during these trying times, for his health, and that he may lead the Catholic Church by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Please keep our Confirmation candidates in your prayers as Confirmation is only 4 days away now.  Bishop Jenky will be coming on Saturday April 24th, to celebrate our Confirmation Mass at 11am in church.  At the same time, we are less than a month from First Holy Communion in the parish, please keep our 2nd graders in your prayers as well.  They will receive their First Holy Communion at the 11am Mass on the First Sunday of May, May 2nd.

I would like to continue to invite everyone to continue praying about joining the pilgrimage that I will be spiritual director for coming up in October.  Your not going to want to miss this trip, we again are going to: Portugal, Spain, and France, with stops in: Fatima, Lisbon, Santarem, Salamanca, Avila, Burgos, Loyola & Lourdes from October 9-19, 2010.  Then there is also a post-trip excursion, for four more days in France, available for an extra fee to: Nevers (This is where St. Bernadette's incorrupt body is), Lisieux (To see the Carmelite Monastery where Saint Therese of Lisieux was a nun), Rouen, and Paris.  All the details and information, as well as, registration are available at: www.pilgrimages.com/frzorjan

For those who listen to the Christian Music Station K-Love here in the Quad Cities.  There are a couple of great Christian concerts coming up at the Adler Theater.  First on Friday night July 16th,  at 7:30pm Casting Crowns is coming to town with an opening act yet to be named.  My brother and I plan on attending the concert that night.  Also coming to town, in October on Sunday October 24th, to Adler is Steven Curtis Chapman.  I have seen both acts before live in concert and both put on a great show.  Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

Otherwise than that there is not a whole lot else to report at this time.  This week in the little lesson section, I have placed there an article I found on what it means to forgive as a Christian.  It is short and to the point, please consider reading it, especially if you are struggling with forgiveness in your life right now. 

In Christ,

Father Peter Zorjan
Assistant Pastor at Saint Pius X Church
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"Father Help to Forgive Others"
(Everything contained here was taken from an online article, full citation given at the end of the article.)

What is Christian forgiveness?

Defining Christian forgiveness is done with words and actions. The word “forgive” is a grace word in the English, as well as the Greek, meaning “to give or to grant.” The meaning is “to remit a debt, to give up resentment or claim for requital, or to pardon an offense.”

Christian forgiveness also encompasses action. Our confession with God involves us seeing our sins as He sees it, bringing God’s forgiveness. When we sin against others, we sin against God. For this reason, we ask God to forgive us of our sins, but we must also forgive our fellow man.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong” (1 John 1:9).

What guides Christian forgiveness if an offender is not willing to repent, when the victim has done nothing wrong? The Lord commands us to forgive, releasing the offense and the offender to Him. This is done in prayer to the Lord. God recognizes these situations with this Scripture.

“Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, ‘I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

When we have been wronged, and know we did nothing to deserve harsh treatment from the offender, we normally begin to think of retaliation. Retaliation or revenge is not the right course of action. We no longer dwell on the offense when we relinquish forgiveness, allowing God to take care of the vengeance in a fair, just, and appropriate manner.

Steps to Christian Forgiveness

   1. We recognize that we are sinners in need of forgiveness.
   2. We make the choice to forgive others.
   3. We believe and experience Christ’s loving forgiveness in our lives.
   4. Christ helps us to overcome negative thoughts that are blocking our ability to forgive.
   5. The Holy Spirit empowers us with the right attitude to forgive those who have hurt us.
   6. Trust that God will judge all the wrongs in the world.
   7. When struggling with forgiving others, talk with someone you respect and trust to give you wise counsel, such as your pastor or friend.


Source: http://www.allaboutprayer.org/christian-forgiveness-faq.htm