Operation Epiphany

Today, January 6, 2011, marks the official Feast of the Epiphany, which we (the Catholic Church in America along with several other countries) have come to celebrate on the second Sunday following Christmas. The 12 days of Christmas end on January 6th regardless. And to make things more complicated, liturgically, we are in the Christmas season until the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, which this year falls on Sunday, January 9th.

So, as we begin the seemingly confusing transition back into “Ordinary Time” – as we take down our Christmas trees, pack up the decorations and retire our poinsettias – the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation wants to remind you that there is nothing ordinary about Ordinary Time. This is especially true thanks to today’s launch of Operation Epiphany; we have officially opened up registration for a plethora of wonderfully Catholic opportunities in the coming months and YOU are invited.

I leave you with this quote from J.R.R. Tolkien, "The only cure for sagging of fainting faith is Communion. Though always Itself, perfect and complete and inviolate, the Blessed Sacrament does not operate completely and once for all in any of us. Like the act of Faith it must be continuous and grow by exercise…Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament... There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth." Open your hearts in 2011 to an encounter with Love!

January

Hands Around the Capital Youth Rally – Open to youth groups and families – January 15, 2011. Join us and hundreds of other people of faith as we support a culture of life in our state’s capital. There will be mass at 10am with Bishop Malone at St. Michael’s in Augusta followed by an adult rally and a walk/demonstration over at the state building. Afterwards, enjoy a bite to eat in St. Michael’s gym followed by a Keynote, a presentation by the Catholic Youth Leadership Team, a skit by the Catholic Youth Leadership Team and ending with a Praise & Worship concert. The cost is $10 (to cover the cost of food). Please register your group/family ahead of time so that we know how much food to order.

February

Capture My Heart – A Retreat for Young Adult Women – February 11-13, 2011: Theme- “I am my Beloved’s & His desire is for me” – Song of Songs 7:10. Ladies, join us for a weekend-long get-away to help women fall more in love with Jesus Christ, their Beloved. This retreat approaches womanhood in a completely positive light; it is designed to be a celebration of who we are as women, to build women up by affirming their femininity. The focus is on the truth of who God has created us to be. More information and registration information is available at cyamme.org.

Fully Alive – A Retreat for Young Adult Men – February 25-27, 2011: Theme- “The glory of God is man fully alive” - St. Irenaeus. Gentleman, join us for a weekend of brotherhood and retreat from the daily duties of life to help men refocus on their relationship with Christ. This retreat is designed to call men forth to be self-sacrificing after the model of Christ and His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. It will focus on authentic manhood and elements intrinsic to the nature of men. More information and registration is available at cyamme.org.

March

New Evangelization Weekend (N.E.W.) – A Retreat Weekend Open to Adults – March 4-6, 2011: "I sense that the moment has come to commit all of the Church's energies to a new evangelization. No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples." -Redemptoris Missio 3. Join us for a weekend-long retreat opportunity for any adult age 18 or above looking for an opportunity to grow in their faith and have a weekend away to focus on their relationship with Christ. The focus is two-fold: Discipleship & Evangelization. The retreat is designed to deepen your own relationship with Christ (discipleship) and assist you in sharing that with others (evangelization). In addition to dynamic talks centered on these two themes, the weekend will consist of opportunities for prayer and the sacraments, small group sharing and times of fellowship. More information and registration is available at camome.org.

April

Catholic Youth Convention – A Retreat for Teens in Grades 8-12 – April 29-May 1, 2011: Theme – Extreme Makeover Soul Edition: Renovated, Rooted, Redeemed. “As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Col 2:7). More information and registration is available at cymme.org.

May

Capture My Heart – A Retreat for Teen Women – May 20-22, 2011: Theme- “I am my Beloved’s & His desire is for me” – Song of Songs 7:10. Ladies, join us for a weekend-long get-away to help women fall more in love with Jesus Christ, their Beloved. This retreat approaches womanhood in a completely positive light; it is designed to be a celebration of who we are as women, to build women up by affirming their femininity. The focus is on the truth of who God has created us to be. More information and registration information is available at cymme.org.

Fully Alive – A Retreat for Teen Men – May 13-15, 2011: Theme- “The glory of God is man fully alive” - St. Irenaeus. Gentleman, join us for a weekend of brotherhood and retreat from the daily duties of life to help men refocus on their relationship with Christ. This retreat is designed to call young men forth to be self-sacrificing after the model of Christ and His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. It will focus on authentic manhood and elements intrinsic to the nature of men. More information and registration is available at cymme.org.

July

New Evangelization Week (N.E.W.) – A Retreat Weekend Open to Teens – July 10-14, 2011: Join us for a 5-day retreat opportunity for students who will be in grades 9-12 in the fall. The focus is two-fold: Discipleship & Evangelization. The week is designed to deepen your own relationship with Christ (discipleship) and assist you in sharing that with others (evangelization). In addition to dynamic talks centered on these two themes, the event will consist of opportunities for prayer and the sacraments, small group sharing and times of fellowship. More information and registration is available at cymme.org.

Shaina Tanguay-Colucci