Cross in the Mountains

Rev. John Rausch a Glenmary priest shares some of his reflections on the Mountain Top Removal in Appalachia.

Be sure and check out this brief video of Fr. John sharing his vocation story.

Oraciones para Vocaciones

Ante ayer escribí una carta a un señor quien esta rezando para más vocaciones por la iglesia. Gracias a todos ustedes quien están rezando para vocaciones a servir en las misiones de los Estados Unidos.

Encontré una página de la USCCB que contiene más oraciones para aumentar vocaciones como esta oración abajo:

Amadísimo y Generoso Dios,

Eres Tú quien no llamas

por nuestro nombre y

nos pides que te sigamos.

Ayúdanos a crecer en el amor

y en el servicio a nuestra Iglesia.

Danos el entusiasmo

y la energía de Tú Espíritu

para preparar su futuro.

Danos líderes llenos de fe

que abracen la misión de Cristo

en amor y en justicia.

Bendice la Iglesia del

con líderes de nuestras familias

que dediquen sus vidas

al servicio de su pueblo

como sacerdotes, religiosos,

diáconos y ministerios laicos.

Inspíranos a conocerte mejor y

abre nuestros corazones

para oír Tú llamada.

Amen.

Workers Memorial Day

Today is the day we remember, honor and pray for all those workers who were killed, disabled or injured on their job.

One example of the dangers on the job is in the poultry industry which has one of the highest rates of worker injuries.

Watch this Video to learn more.

Inside a Poultry Processing Plant:

Praying for Vocations

Just responded to a letter today from a man who wrote to say he was praying for vocations! I told him how much we at Glenmary appreciated his prayers. I want to thank all who were praying for the men on retreat last week and who have been praying for vocations to serve in Mission Land USA.

Found a page on the USCCB website that has lots of prayers for vocations like the one below:

(Para mas oraciones en español visita la página de la USCCB)

Gracious God,

You have called me to life

and gifted me in many ways.

Through Baptism You have sent me

to continue the mission of Jesus

by sharing my love with others.

Strengthen me to respond to

Your call each day.

Help me to become all You desire of me.

Inspire me to make a difference in

others' lives.

Lead me to choose the way of life

You have planned for me.

Open the hearts of all to listen

to Your call.

Fill all with Your Holy Spirit that

we may have listening hearts and

the courage to respond to You.

Enkindle in my heart

and the hearts of others the desire

to make the world a better place

by serving as

Lay Minister, Sister, Priest,

Brother or Deacon.

Amen.

EASTER

HE HAS RISEN!!!

ALLELUIA

HAPPY EASTER!

Holy Thursday

I am visiting the Glenmary missions in Western Arkansas and meeting with a couple of prospects who are interested in joining Glenmary Home Missioners. I think that the visits to the missions is a fabulous way for someone discerning a vocation with Glenmary to get to experience a little of the mission lifestyle and to connect with the people in the areas where we serve. For me too, it has been great to return to the place of my former mission assignment and participate in the weeks activities including doing some home visits, participating in the Holy Week talks, tonights washing of the feet and tomorrows living Way of the Cross. Saturday night will culminate the weeks activities in the mission with a number of people coming into the church and others receiving the sacrament of communion and confirmation. Pray for those men discerning with us.

Palm Sunday

Today starts Holy Week. A chance for us to reflect on our lives the times we have said "Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" and the times we have said "Crucify him."
This week I will be reflecting on this thought while in the Glenmary missions in Arkansas. A couple of men discerning religious life will be here with me as well. A great opportunity for them to reflect on Holy Week, their own call and for them to get to know some of the people and needs in the missions.
Please pray for us and for all those discerning a call to religious life.

Location:Waldron AR

Jornada Vocacional

Gracias a Diócesis de San Juan de los Lagos y a todos quien participó en la Jornada Vocacional la semana pasada en Yahualica, México.

Rosary

Just wanted to share an email message I received. I figured sharing it on the blog might be a good way to reach others. Feel free to copy and paste it into your email, posts, tweets, etc in order to pass it along to others.

Hi Everyone,

Imagine what might happen if every Catholic in the world would pray a

Rosary on the same day! We have an example in October of 1573, when

Europe was saved from the invasion of the mighty Turkish fleet, by the

praying of the Rosary by all Christians!

So, on Good Friday, let us all pray a Rosary for peace in the world and

the return of moral values into our communities If possible, please

pray your Rosary between Noon and 3:00pm.

Also, please e-mail this message to every Catholic on your address list,

and ask them to pass it along to every Catholic on their lists. Let's

unite in praying one of the most powerful prayers in existence, for

these intentions, on one of the holiest days in our Church year.

God bless us all!

Hearing Voices?

My latest column Hearing God or Hearing Voices? on Glenmary's website has been getting some attention. In the column I quoted Mark Mossa SJ from his new book and added a few reflections of my own... Surprised that he stumbled across it but glad to see that he liked what I wrote. He wrote in his blog GODsTALKed "One good shout out deserves another. Glenmary Brother David Henley has written an insightful reflection about the experience of vocation. He also kindly jumps off a quote from Already There!"

A quote from the column and Fr Mark:

In a book I have been reading, Already There: Letting God Find You, author Jesuit Father Mark Mossa gives a good explanation about some of our doubts regarding whether we are being called. "In the course of history," he writes, "some saints and even some crazy people have shared with others that God has spoken to them in an audible voice. It may be that I'm not saintly or crazy enough, but this has never been my experience."

Read the whole article on the Glenmary website: Hearing God or Hearing Voices?

Plant the Seed

I am finishing up my visit here in Mexico. It has been a great week! Talked with so many young people about Glenmary and religious life that I truly believe that Glenmary will receive MANY, MANY, MANY more vocation prospects from here in the years ahead. The diocesan office has worked out a great system for us to get out and share the joys of religious life in many places throughout the diocese. It has been a fruitful and moving week. The spirit has been present. Thanks to everyone who organized and made this week possible. And thanks to a wonderful host family allowing me stay with them this week

If you are considering a vocation to Glenmary I encourage you to visit our website glenmary.org or contact our office to get more information sent to you.

Hope to update you all some more when I return. Short posts this week as I have had limited access to the internet.

Vocations Week

WOW! What a great week it has been for vocations for Glenmary and all the communities participating in the Vocational Week here in Yahualica, Mexico. Planting the seed with hundreds of young people the joys of being a religious and in particular of being a religious with Glenmary Home Missioners. Many of the men and women participating in this weeks activities are still in high school or middle school but it is never to young to promote the call to religious life. We also used this opportunity to meet with families and remind them of their responsibilty to encourage vocations in their families. An essential part of being a missioner so far from home does include receiving support from ones families and receiving their blessings. Let us continue to pray for more vocations and for more families to figure out ways to promote a positive culture of vocations to the church and the missions.