Culture Unplugged Video

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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.