Advent

Advent continues. We continue to wait. We continue to hope. We continue to trust. We are an Advent people, a people who wait excitedly for the coming of our Lord, for the light that will shatter darkness.

The people that walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those who lived in a land as dark

as death

a light has dawned.

You have increased their joy

and given them gladness;

They rejoice in your presence

as those who rejoice at harvest

Is. 9:1-2

Here are some good Advent resources as we proceed toward Christmas.

Catholic.org offers the meditation "Why We Need Advent" among many other Advent themed articles and resources.

The website "Stumbling After Francis, Learning to Live a Capuchin Life "offers weekly Advent Meditations.

Giving Thanks

The men of Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Men's Ministry would like to wish you and your families a holy and happy Thanksgiving.

Our Thanksgiving meditation is excerpted from the web page of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, the monastic community founded by John Michael Talbot. The community suffered a devastating fire in 2008, and the struggle to rebuild and carry on with their various outreaches continues. God has not abandoned them, and instead has visited upon them a renewed conviction in the work He has called upon them to carry forward. John Michael's Thanksgiving message can be found in it's entirety at the site, as well as news on the fire, the rebuilding, and information on the communities work and life.

"The bible says that we are what we think. If we think good things we are better people, and do good things. If we think negative thoughts we are negative people, and accomplish far less then what we would otherwise.

Scripture also says that we enter into God's presence through either repentance, or thanksgiving and praise. Repentance turns us from an unhealthy sorrow to a healthy sorrow that leads us from the negativity of sin to the positive joy of forgiveness. Praise and thanksgiving are positive thoughts that stir up the Spirit of God in our life. This makes us grateful for even the smallest blessings in life. This is all a choice. We can choose whether or not to repent of sin, or to be grateful.

In effect we either see the glass as half full or half empty. Those who see it as half full do not deny that we need to work to fill the glass, but they remain positive and therefore productive in filling it. Those who see it as half empty lose sight of the part that is half full, become sad and despondent, and unable to do anything to fill the rest of the glass.

This Thanksgiving let's remain filled with an attitude of gratitude to God and to people. Then we can respond to today's very real troubles in a way that can really make life better for everyone and for us. I believe that this is God's challenge, and God's will for us in these times." John Michael Talbot

November 2009 Breakfast meeting - Saturday 11/14/2009

Our November CMF Prayer Breakfast Guest Speaker will be Jose Adrian Gaviña, C.F.O. of F. Gavina and Sons Inc., makers of Gavina Gourmet Coffee, will be our keynote speaker at the November CMF Prayer Breakfast on Saturday November 14. The Gaviña family has been in the coffee business for over 135 years. A strong sense of family is at the heart of F. Gaviña & Sons, Inc., more commonly known as Gaviña. Jose will be speaking on the role of his faith and family in his life and work. The morning begins with Mass at 8 am in the Church, followed by breakfast at 8:30 in the Cafeteria. The fellowship concludes at 10:00. It will be a morning of inspiration, fellowship and great food. All parish men and women are invited. Bring some hungry friends. RSVP to Rob Eagan at (562) 682-5186 or Tom Silva at (562) 938-1677, or email olrcmenf@ourladyofrefuge.org.

Priesthood Sunday - October 25, 2009

Sunday, October 25th, is Priesthood Sunday. How will you celebrate?

Priesthood Sunday, the thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time, is a special day set aside to honor the priesthood in the United States. It is a day to reflect upon and affirm the role of the priesthood in the life of the Church as a central one.

This nationwide event is coordinated by the USA Council of Serra International. It is sponsored by the USA Council of Serra International and the Serra International Foundation.

What happens on Priesthood Sunday?

The lay faithful of all parishes in the country develop their own special way of marking the day and honoring their parish priests both at Mass and other parish events, such as social celebrations and school activities.

Priesthood Sunday was designed to be an event led by the laity, but your parish priest can participate by talking about how he experienced and answered his own calling, the need for vocations to keep the priesthood vital, and about priests who have inspired him.

Priesthood Sunday will also offer an opportunity for priests and their parishioners to build a stronger working relationship for the future. Together, they can dialogue to take an honest look at the challenges of the future and how they can collaborate to meet those challenges as a united force. - from PriestSunday.org

For more information, and some ideas on Priesthood Sunday, visit the following sites:

PriestSunday.org

Worldwide Marriage Encounter's dedicated page

Discerning the Contents of Your Cellar

"Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth? If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man; it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light." C. S. Lewis Mere Christianity

October 2009 Breakfast meeting - Saturday 10/10/2009

Our October guest speaker will be Art Maramba, Music Director at Our Lady of Refuge Long Beach Parish and School. Art will lead us in a consideration of the place and importance of music in our worship and liturgy. He will be speaking from his extensive experience in liturgical music, and using Cardinal Roger Mahoney's Pastoral Letter on the Liturgy, "Gather Faithfully Together" asa guide. Join us for an inspirational morning of fellowship and music. Our morning will start with mass at 8 am followed by breakfast & fellowship in the cafeteria. This meeting is open to all parishioners. Please bring your wives, sisters, mothers and friends as we celebrate with Art our call to worship, drawing us closer to Christ who is our song.

NFCM National Prayer Chain

The National Fellowship of Catholic Men receives many prayer requests throughout the week. They have developed a special Prayer Chain Newsetter to facilitate those requests. Please remember to always take a moment to pray for others in their time of need. If you would like to become a part of the National Prayer Chain, submit a Prayer Request, or view the Prayer Board, select the following links:

NFCM National Prayer Chain

Prayer Request

Prayer Board

Independence Day 2009

Prayer for the Nation

Almighty God, You have given us this good land for our heritage. We humbly ask You that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Your favor and glad to do Your will. Bless our land with honorable endeavor, sound learning and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties and fashion into one united people the multitude brought here out of many nations and tongues. Endow with the Spirit of wisdom those to whom in Your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Your law we may show forth Your praise among the nations on earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble do not allow our trust in You to fail. Amen. Thomas Jefferson

Grace Before Meals

Bishop Joe Sartoris, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Los Angeles, California, has described the aroma of fresh bread filling a house as the "odor of sanctity." I have always appreciated that phrase for both it's Eucharistic imagery and for the holiness which it casts upon the little church of the home. With three young children, it is a daily effort in our house to sustain the sanctity with which our generous God wants to grace our domestic church. Food together as a family is second only to praying as a family when it comes to our daily efforts to grow together in love and holiness. This goal is not met without it's struggles. When the family's combined Church, school, athletic and social calendars kick into high gear, it is often tempting to "feed by need" instead of "feed indeed." My wife, thank you Lord, works hard to maintain the vision. Forks don't come up until the phones, tvs, and skates are off. It's not always a holy card portrait, but we are a work in progress. And - grace will always precede every meal.

Speaking of grace before meals, Fr. Leo Patalinghug, a Maryland Priest & chef who also believes that food & famly together are key ingredients in building the Kingdom of God, has founded a family friendly movement that aims to lead, inspire, and challenge us towards stronger families and better food, shared together, one meal at a time.

Grace Before Meals is centered on one fundamental concept: the simple act of creating and sharing a meal can strengthen all kinds of relationships. Founded by Fr. Leo Patalinghug in 2003, Grace Before Meals has grown from a simple idea to a worldwide movement, producing a book, blog and even a pilot for a TV show endorsed by PBS.

Research shows that having frequent family dinners can reduce the susceptibility of teens to risks like teen pregnancy, smoking, drug use and depression. And these benefits don’t just apply to traditional families or people with kids. Stronger families in turn foster stronger communities.

Fr. Leo, who was born in the Philippines and raised in the Baltimore area, actually developed his love for cooking while attending the seminary at the North American College in Rome. He recently filmed a surprise Throwdown with Food Network's Bobby Flay. The outcome of that culinary battle is a highly gaurded secret until the episode airs later this summer.

Visit Fr. Leo and Grace Before Meals and learn more about this inspiring ministry by clicking HERE!

Year for Priests, June 19, 2009 - June 19, 2010

Pope Benedict XVI has declared a “Year for Priests” beginning with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 19, 2009. The year will conclude in Rome with an international gathering of priests with the Holy Father on June 19, 2010.

With the announcement of this Year for Priests, the Pope has declared St. John Vianney the Universal Patron of Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé d’Ars.

The theme for the special year is “Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests."

Year for Priests Links:

Official Vatican Site

USCCB Site

Catholic.org

The National Catholic Register

Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony and the Auxiliary Bishops Statement

Catholic Men's Fellowship of California Summer Retreat

"The Challenge of Discipleship" Annual Men's Summer Retreat July 10-12 , 2009 Mary and Joseph Retreat Center, Palos Verdes. Catholic Men's Fellowship of California is holding it's nineteenth annual summer retreat, a time to get away from the pressures of the world and to gather with your brothers in Christ. Come and spend a weekend with Christ – He is calling you. This is indeed a safe place where you can recharge your spiritual batteries and enjoy the presence of the Lord. Come join us in prayer as we lift each other up and worship to the music of "Pillar". You will also enjoy free time for fellowship or just relaxing.

Retreat Master: Father Santan Pinto, SOLT. Fr. Pinto is a member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity and joins us from New Mexico. He is a popular parish mission speaker and retreat leader which he gives throughout the United States. He is uniquely gifted to help us men with the issues and struggles that we face in our lives.

Register Now @ www.catholicmen.org.

Homily For Corpus Christi 2009

Guest Homilist - Fr. Austin Fleming, Archdiocese of Boston

A Concord Pastor Comments - http://concordpastor.blogspot.com/

"You are what you eat.”

At least that’s what people say.

In fact, they’ve been saying that since 1826 when a Frenchman,

Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, wrote,

"Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are."

Dis-moi ce que tu manges et je te dirai ce que tu es.

(Everything always sounds better in French!)

Today’s feast of the Body and Blood of Christ

celebrates the sacramental reality of Christ’s presence

in the gifts of bread and wine we offer every time we celebrate Mass,

- what we eat and drink when we celebrate the Eucharist.

What does the spiritual food we share at Mass tell us about who we are?

Christ is present at Mass in several ways in the liturgy.

He’s present in our very gathering, our coming together to pray.

He himself told us,

“Wherever two or three are gathered in my name,

there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

He is also “present in the Word, since it is the Lord himself who speaks

when the scriptures are read in the Church.” (cf. CSL, no. 7)

And most important of all,

he is present in the sacramental supper of this table

where we are nourished by the sacrifice he offered

on the altar of the Cross.

Christ, present, truly, in the bread and cup of the Eucharist…

But what do we mean when we say that?

Back in the 4th century, people asked the same question

and St. Augustine gave them this answer:

What you see is the bread and the chalice;

that is what your own eyes report to you.

But what your faith obliges you to accept is that

the bread is the Body of Christ and the chalice the Blood of Christ...

How is the bread his Body?

And that which is in the chalice - how is it his Blood?

Those elements, brothers and sisters, are called sacraments,

because in them one thing is seen, but another is understood.

What is seen is the corporeal species

but what is understood is the spiritual fruit...

You yourselves are the Body of Christ and his members.

If you are the Body of Christ and his members,

it is your own mystery that is presented at the table of the Lord,

you receive your mystery.

To that which you are -- you answer: `Amen...'

For you hear: `The Body of Christ!' and you answer: `Amen!'

You hear: ‘The Blood of Christ!’ and you answer: ‘Amen!’

Be a member of Christ's Body, then,

so that your `Amen' may be the truth.

In St. Augustine’s effort to help us understand the comfort that is ours

in believing that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist,

there comes also a challenge,

to believe not only that the bread and wine become

the body and blood of Christ,

but to believe also that, indeed, we are to become

what we eat and drink:

we are to become the true presence of Christ

breaking ourselves like bread to nourish our neighbor;

pouring ourselves out like wine in outreach to those in need."

(Click Here to read more.)

Image: StJVNY

Feast of Corpus Christi

Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

   "There is nothing passive in Eucharistic Adoration; it is a font of activity, and it leads us to fuller participation in the true centre of our life as Christians, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, especially if we spend our time in adoration praying over the biblical texts used at Mass. There is nothing individualistic in Eucharistic Adoration, for we come before the Lord as members of the family of faith, linked to them through Baptism and through the celebration of the Eucharist. In the presence of the Lord in the Eucharist we seek the light to see our world and its needs, to judge the issues we face according to the values of the Gospel, and to act decisively as disciples of Jesus." Archbishop Thomas Collins, Edmonton Canada from therealpresence.org

   "God is near. God knows us. God is waiting for us in Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Let us not leave him waiting in vain! Let us not, through distraction and lethargy, pass by the greatest and most important thing life offers us . . . The Lord is near us in our conscience, in his word, in his personal presence in the Eucharist: this constitutes the dignity of the Christian and is the reason for his joy. We rejoice therefore, and this joy is expressed in praising God. Today we can see how the closeness of the Lord also brings people together and brings them close to each other: it is because we have the same Lord Jesus Christ in Munich and in Rome that we form one single people of God, across all frontiers, united in the call of conscience, united by the word of God, united through communion with Jesus Christ, united in the praise of God, who is our joy and our redemption." Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, God Is Near Us

   Homily from Mass of the Feast of Corpus Christi at the Marian Friary of Our Lady of Guadelupe, Griswold Conn.

Online Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at http://www.savior.org/ .

June 2009 Breakfast meeting - Saturday 06/13/09

All men and women of the parish are invited to help us celebrate Father Al Scott's 50th anniversary of the priesthood at our June Catholic Men's Fellowship Breakfast.

Father Scott is a native of Los Angeles. He studied at Loyola High School and Loyola Marymount University.He completed his seminary studies at St. John's in Camarillo and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1959.

Father Al spent 35 years teaching religion at St. Monica's High School in Santa Monica, St. Bernard's High School in Playa del Rey, St. Anthony's High School in Long Beach and St. Joseph's High School in Lakewood.He is now devoting the majority of his time to parish ministry at St. Cyprian's Parish in Lakewood, CA.

Previous to Fr. Al's move to St. Cyprian's, the community of Our Lady of Refuge in Long Beach was fortunate to have Fr. Al as an Associate Pastor and member of our parish family. As a priest among us, Fr. Al consistently challenged all of us to make a difference in our community. He encouraged us to practice simple acts of kindness, and to care for our personal temples, spirtually, mentally, and physically. Like a tenacious personal trainer, Fr. Al reminded us weekly from the pulpit to establish and keep regular patterns of prayer, physical excersize, and spiritual reading, to become, as author and speaker Matthew Kelly puts it, the best version of ourselves.

Father Al is especially dedicated to working with the homeless, the elderly, the poor, people who have alcohol and drug abuse problems or who are serving time in prison.

Please join us as we start the day with 8 am Mass in the Church, followed by breakfast, fellowship and a celebration of a true man of Christ and a dear friend to the people of Our Lady of Refuge. Please invite all family members and friends who would like to celebrate with us.

NOTE: Fr. Al's Grandfather, Joseph Scott, a brilliant lawyer and orator, was know as "Mr. Los Angeles." Click Here to read more on this great Catholic man.

Catholic Eye Candy

Holy Smoke! Looking for some wonder and awe inspiring catholic imagary? Just added this Catholic Blog to our Blog Roll. Catholic Eye Candy is a photo blog devoted to images of the Catholic Church: Her traditions, worship, and human faces. The blogger explains the site's purpose: "God laid the Church and Her tradition in front of me as a bait, and so He caught me. God has taught me to love beauty, because He is the source of all beauty. May this blog help you in that pursuit, which is ultimately a pursuit of God Himself."

Catholic Eye Candy has been nominated for a Catholic New Media Award 2009 . The following images are just a sample of the photos to be found on the site.

Pope 2 You

Did you know that Pope Bendict XVI is wired? Did you know that the Pope is on Facebook? Did you Know BXVI is broadcasting on YouTube? He's even sending out the Gospel message to IPhones and updating Wiki with the Good News! Find out what our Pope is up to and get connected at Pope 2 You, an internet site launched last week on the 43rd World Day of Communication. 

Vatican Pentecost Mass 2009

Watch the Vatican Pentecost Mass 2009 by clicking on this link for CatholicTV. 

Posted using ShareThis

Life - Imagine the Potential

May 2009 Breakfast meeting - Saturday 05/09/09

All men and women of the parish are invited on Saturday, May 9, to help us celebrate Monsignor Bill O'Keefe's 50th anniversary of the priesthood. 

Monsignor Bill is a native of Portarlington, County Offaly, Ireland.  He completed his seminary studies at St. Patrick's College in Carlow, Ireland and was ordained to the priesthood in 1959 for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.  In his years of priestly ministry, Monsignor Bill served in the following parishes  - St. Didacus in Sylmar, St. Barnabas in Long Beach, St. Louis of France in Bassett, St. Mel's in Woodland Hills and St. Margaret Mary in Lomita.  Monsignor Bill came to Our Lady of Refuge in Long Beach in 1980, and became its pastor in 1981.  In July of 2008, Monsignor Bill retired as active pastor of Our Lady of Refuge, but he remains in residence and continues all aspects of his priestly work except parish administration. 

We would ask you to invite family and friends as we share stories and fellowship of our dear friend and inspiration in Christ, Fr. Bill. We will start with an 8 am Mass followed by breakfast and celebration in the School Cafeteria. 

For more information please  email olrcmenf@ourladyofrefuge.org.

Crossing the Goal Ministries Special on EWTN - the 2009 Columbus Men's Conference

EWTN will broadcast a special episode of the series Crossing the Goal Ministries featuring the 2009 Columbus Men's Conference, which was held on March 7 of this year. The episode will air this Sunday, April 26 at 6 pm.  Crossing the Goal was created by Danny Abramowicz, former NFL all-pro wide receiver and coach, along with the EWTN Global Catholic Network. Other team members include Peter Herbeck, Vice President, Renewal Ministries; Curtis Martin, Founder of Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS); and professional broadcaster, Brian Patrick.  Crossing the Goal uses a sports show format to encourage men to get into spiritual shape. This is a program that you will not want to miss.  Check the EWTN television broadcast schedule for more information.

Papal Audience Saint Peter's Square Wednesday, 22 April 2009

"Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today I would like to speak about the writings of a little-known author from the eighth century - the Benedictine monk and abbot Ambrose Autpert. The turbulence of the times in which he lived affected life within the monasteries, and many of Autpert's writings summon his brethren to rekindle the fervour of their monastic vocation. One of his most widely-read works is his Conflict between the vices and the virtues, designed to assist his monks in their daily spiritual struggle. For each of twenty-four vices threatening the soul, he indicated the corresponding virtue that would help the Christian to overcome temptation. Observing the widespread thirst for power and wealth in society of that time, he taught that greed is the root of all vices, and he urged his contemporaries to seek the narrow gate that leads to life. In his extensive commentary on the Book of Revelation, viewed as a treatise on the Church, Autpert taught that Christ must "be born, die and rise again every day in us, his body". Hence the Virgin Mary serves as a model of the Church. Indeed, Autpert is considered the first great Marian theologian in the West, and he writes with an almost mystical love for the Blessed Virgin. Love, he says, is the key to our knowledge of God. Intellectual study may point the way, but only when we love God do we truly know him. Following Autpert's teaching, let us strive to grow daily in our love for God."

Pope Benedict XVI

Keep up with Pope Benedict XVI. Find his Papal Audience addresses, homilies, and other words of counsel direct from St. Peter's Square at fromthebalcone.somcmedia.com.

Culture Unplugged Video

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

Being Men of Prayer

"I would like to speak to you about the call to prayer.

We have meditated on these words of Jesus: “Pray that you may have strength... to stand before the Son of man.” And we welcome again today the call to prayer that comes from Christ himself to each of us and to the whole Church. The call to prayer places the Church’s full commitment in the proper perspective. In 1976, Paul VI. speaking of the “call to commitment,” declared that “In the tradition of the Church every call to action is first of all a call to prayer.” These words have great significance today, too. They are a stimulus for the Church everywhere in the world.

The universal Church of Christ, and hence every particular church, exists for prayer. In prayer the individual expresses his nature; the community expresses its vocation; the Church approaches God. In prayer the Church enters into communion with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. In prayer the Church expresses her Trinitarian Life, because it is directed to the Father, is subjected to the action of the Holy Spirit, and lives fully the relationship with Christ. Indeed, it is experienced as the Body of Christ, as mystical Christ." John Paul II The Church Exists for Prayer

Prayer, then, is the true stimulus package, the source of our hope, the engine of our faith. Prayer is not an accessory to the Christian walk, but the essence of the walk itself. We can not be men for Christ if we are not first men of prayer. How then do we pray?

Prayer at it's core should be intuitive. Prayer is a "built-in" feature, a capacity created into us. Unfortunately, most of us have not exercised this natural ability to anywhere near it potential. Fortunately for us, our God is tenacious in his will to relate with us. Our first prayer can be "Lord, teach me to pray."

Types of prayer - The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines prayer as "a surge of the heart . . . a simple look turned toward heaven, . . . a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." When our heart "surges" and looks "toward heaven" the occasion of the prayer defines it's type. The Catechism lists five types of prayer: blessing & adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, & praise. For a compact consideration of these types of prayer, check out the article on prayer at Cyberfaith.

CatholicMenToday.org has a podcast by Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR Ed.D. titled The Art of Prayer. Click Here for the link.

To read Why Men Don't Pray by Fr. Thomas D. Williams, LC, Click Here.

Just Do It. Pray now. Pray alone and pray in community. The following links provide opportunites online to submit your own prayer intentions or to join your prayers to the intentions of others:

catholicmen.org

National Fellowship of Catholic Men

Catholic Online

St. Anthony Shrine

Our Lady of Refuge parish holds a weekly prayer meeting. Find information on time and location Here.

Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Men's Fellowship also has a prayer outreach. For information, or to request prayer support from our ministry, email olrcmenf@ourladyofrefuge.org.

Divine Mercy Sunday

"I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of my mercy”. This day we are invited to approach the throne of Mercy and cry out with St. Thomas: "My Lord and My God" (Jn 20:28). Thus does Deacon Keith Fournier begin his reflection on Divine Mercy Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter, which can be read in it's entirety at Catholic Online. In his reflection, Deacon Fournier links Sunday's Gospel narrative of Thomas, the doubting apostle, with the Feast Day of Divine Mercy. He quotes a homily given by Pope St. Gregory the Great who said:

“Surely it was not by chance that this chosen disciple was missing in the first place? Or that on his return he heard, that hearing he doubted, that doubting he touched, and that touching he believed? It was by divine dispensation and not by chance that things so fell out. God’s Mercy worked wonderfully, for when that doubting disciple touched his Master’s wounded flesh he cured the wound of our disbelief… So this doubting disciple, who actually touched, became a witness to the reality of the resurrection”

Please see Deacon Fourniers complete article for an inspiring look into both Divine Mercy Sunday and the witness of St. Thomas the Apostle.

To learn more about the origins of Divine Mercy Sunday, and Pope John Paull II's role in it's establishment as a Church Feast Day, visit DivineMercy.org . To learn more about St. Faustina visit Faustina.org and AmericanCatholic.org .

If you would like information on how to pray the Chaplette of Divine Mercy, visit Catholocity.com.

Finally, enjoy the following video by Matthew Baute, "It is Mercy."

March 2009 Breakfast meeting - Saturday 03/14/09

CMF At The Movies -  All parish men and women are welcome as CMF sponsors the feature length movie Fireproof, starring Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea. Fireproof is a movie about a firefighter, his wife, and a marriage worth rescuing. Every marriage matters, because every marriage comes from the hand of God. Join us for this must-see movie event! We'll start with the 8:00 am Mass, then move to the cafeteria at 8:30 am for a  continental breakfast and the movie Fireproof. 

Call Rob Eagan with any questions at 562-682-5186.

February 2009 Breakfast meeting - Saturday 02/14/09

This Saturday we will enjoy the pleasure of having Monsignor Joe Greeley as our speaker. Monsignor Greeley serves as the Dean (Vicar Forane) of Deanery 20 of the San Pedro Region. There are 14 parishes in Deanery 20 that include the parishes in Long Beach and St Pancratius in Lakewood. Monsignor Greeley will present  Engaging our Parish Community--The Fruits of Being Active in Your Parish.

We will start with the 8:00 AM Mass and move to the cafeteria at 8:30 AM for fellowship, breakfast, and Msgr. Joe Greeley.

January 2009 Breakfast meeting - Saturday 1/10/09

Our May guest speaker will be Rich McElrath,  President and CEO of  DaRue of California - Manufacturer of women's sportswear. Rich  played Division 1 college basketball at Utah State and was also head  basketball coach at College of the Desert 1981-1983. Rich and his wife Barbara have been married since July 1, 1987. Their son, Austin, attended Our Lady of Refuge School and is currently attending Servite High School.  Our morning will start with mass at 8 am followed by breakfast & fellowship in the cafeteria. As a involved OLR parishioner, Rich has proven himself to be a true Rock and an inspiration to others. Please bring  your wives, sisters, mothers and friends as we celebrate Rich and his journey to grow closer to Christ.

December 2008 Breakfast meeting - Saturday 12/10/09

"Embracing Bethlehem." Tom Silva will present an Advent meditation in story and song on Saint Joseph as a model for learning to always trust God in spite of ourselves. We will gather for Mass in the Church at 8 AM. Breakfast and fellowship will follow at 8:30 AM in the OLR Cafeteria. Come hungry and bring a friend.