Volunteering at Holy Name Cathedral

Did you know that Holy Name Cathedral has a monthly email that offers a wide variety of ways to get involved and volunteer at the parish, Catholic Charities, and other locations in the area?

As we edge closer to Lent, why not add yourself to the list so you can find out about ways that you can serve others this Lent?

Head to the website here to sign up for the newsletter. Volunteering for parish based activities is a great way to get to know others, help the community, and live your faith more vibrantly!

Challenge Yourself

Lent begins in just a few days. It seems so incredible that the time between Christmas and Ash Wednesday has already passed. New Year's Day was just yesterday, right?

Often when people approach Lent they treat it as a sort of New Year's - Lenten resolutions to 'give something up' often mirror those New Year's Resolutions. Some don't give much thought and fall back on the old standby that they give up every year. Others go back to those New Year's resolutions that have already fallen away and decide those make good Lenten practices. Some give great thought and reflection to what their Lenten sacrifice may be.

If I may be so bold, let me offer a bit of a suggestion. Try for that last category this year. To help, here are a few reflection questions to spend time on today or over the next few days:

• What thing, relationship, event, behavior, or activity negatively affects your relationship with God?
• How does that thing, relationship, event, behavior, or activity negatively affect your relationship with God?
• Given that, what can you change over the 40 days of Lent regarding that situation? Do you need to stop participating in an activity? Change a habit? Resolve a negative relationship? Seek reconciliation with someone? Something else?
• What steps are involved in changing that thing, relationship, event, behavior, or activity?
• Who might you seek to help support you in this journey of Lent and sacrifice? Spiritual director? Go to confession? A mentor or faith-filled friend?
• What thing, relationship, event, behavior, or activity can replace the negative one that will help draw you closer to God?
• How can you incorporate that into your daily Lenten life?

Take time to reflect. Challenge yourself. If you wish, feel free to share your Lenten sacrifice in the comments.

Tomorrow: Ways to share your time in service this Lent.

Welcome to the Rice Bowl

Today is just the welcome message - beginning tomorrow you can find daily posts relating to Lent, the Rice Bowl, prayer, scripture, social justice, current events, and much more.

Until then, please take a moment to download the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl App. You will find great resources there for your spiritual journey and participation in the Rice Bowl activities.

Refugees and Architects

On Monday we had Br. Joseph Schenk from Catholic Charities here in Chicago speak about Refugee Resettlement.

This is a huge issue that covers an immense spread of the world, diversity of individuals, and is only growing in need.

Here's a great video from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) that talks about how CRS and Caritas International are working to help house the refugees left stranded in Greece - thanks to the creativity and dedication of architects and engineers!

No matter your background, skills, or knowledge, there is something you can do! How will you make a change in the world today, make the world a bit more like the Kingdom of God?

Resources from "Finding Home"

There were many great resources from last night's presentation, Finding Home: Refugee Resettlement and Our Catholic Faith.

The video on the Syrian ICU doctor that was resettled with his family in Chicago can be found here.

Here is the video that was produced by the State Department under President Obama, explaining the background checks and vetting process for refugees:

The video on Catholic Charities LOOM program is here.

In addition, among the many documents that Br. Joseph Schenk mentioned was this document, Refugees: A Challenge to Solidarity, that was delivered to the Pontifical Council for the Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

We will be looking at more social justice issues and ways that you can make a difference as we journey into the season of Lent. Through the CRS Rice Bowl project, we will find out more about how to help individuals around the world, deepen our Lenten spiritual practices, and much more. Watch this page for daily posts beginning February 25.

CRS & Human Trafficking

After Monday's Winter Justice Series discussion with Sr. Jean Okroi, several people requested more information and ideas on how to help.

Take a look at what Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has to say and offers as a way to make a difference in the world!