The Mystery of God's Apparent Powerlessness

The Mystery of God's Apparent Powerlessness

        Faith in God the Father Almighty can be put to the test by
the experience of evil and suffering.  God can sometimes seem to
be absent and incapable of stopping evil.  But in the most mysterious
way God the Father has revealed his almighty power in the voluntary
humiliation and Resurrection of his Son, by which he conquered evil.
Christ crucified is thus "the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For
the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is
stronger than men."  It is in Christ's Resurrection and exaltation that
the Father has shown forth "the immeasurable greatness of his power
in us who believe."

        Only faith can embrace the mysterious ways of God's almighty
power.  This faith glories in its weaknesses in order to draw to itself
Christ's power.  The Virgin Mary is the supreme model of this faith,
for she believed that  "nothing will be impossible with God," and was
able to magnify the Lord:  "For he who is mighty has done great things
for me, and holy is his name."..

        "Nothing is more apt to confirm our faith and hope than holding
it fixed in our minds that nothing is impossible with God.  Once our
reason has grasped the idea of God's almighty power, it will easily and
without any hesitation admit everything that [the Creed] will afterwards
propose for us to believe -- even if they be great and marvelous things,
far above the ordinary laws of nature."

                                                -- Catechism of the Catholic Church
                                                        paragraphs 272-274

Our First, Most Cherished Liberty

Our First, Most Cherished Liberty:

    "We are Catholics.  We are Americans.  We are proud to be both,
grateful for the gift of faith which is ours as Christian disciples,  and grateful
for the gift of liberty which is ours as American citizens.  To be  Catholic and
American should mean not having to choose one over the other.  Our
allegiances are distinct, but they need not be contradictory, and should
instead be complementary.  That is the teaching of our Catholic faith,  which
obliges us to work together with fellow citizen for the common good of  all
who live in this land.  That is the vision of our founding and our  Constitution,
which guarantees citizens of all religious faiths to right to  contribute to our
common life together.

    Freedom is not only for American, but we think of it as something of  our
special inheritance, fought for at a great price, and a heritage to be  guarded
now.  We are stewards of this gift, not only for ourselves but for all nations
and peoples who yearn to be free.  Catholics in America have discharged  this
duty of guarding freedom admirably for many generations....

    ...From well before Cardinal Gibbons, Catholics in America have been
advocates for religious liberty, and the landmark teaching of the Second
Vatican Council on religious liberty was influenced by the American  experience.
It is among the proudest boasts of the Church on these shores.  We have  been
staunch defenders of religious liberty in the past.  We have a solemn  duty to
discharge that duty today."
                        -- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
                            Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty

Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley

http://ssptv.org, 925-931-5379

The Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley has many volunteer opportunities, including the Friendly Visitor Program, the Nutrition and Exercise Program, and the Transportation Program.

Volunteering in the Friendly Visiting Program:

• Friendly Visitor - matched with a senior to be a friend, help with reading, shopping, going for a drive, playing games, etc.
• Group projects to do work on seniors' homes - heavy cleaning, yard work, painting and repairs.
• Events - help with luncheons, Holiday gifts and baskets, fundraisers, outreaches.
• Office help - filing, shredding, mailings, computer data entry, etc.
• Telephone reassurance - Make phone calls to seniors to monitor their status and update their records.

The "Tri-Valley" is the region in the San Francisco Bay Area around Livermore, Pleasanton and Dublin.

Catholics nationwide preparing 'Fortnight for Freedom' events

Catholic News Service has a great article on the nationwide "Fortnight for Freedom" as all Catholics in America muster their energies to stand up for religious freedom:

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholics-nationwide-preparing-fortnight-for-freedom-events/#

In the Oakland Diocese, visit this website to learn what is going on in the San Francisco Bay Area:
http://www.oakdiocese.org/fortnight-for-freedom

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), concerned over the threats to religious freedom both at home and abroad, has called on all dioceses, parishes and other Catholic institutions to participate in a “Fortnight for Freedom,” June 21-July 4. This will be a 14-day period of prayer, education and action by American Catholics in support of religious freedom. All Catholics in the Diocese of Oakland are invited to join with Catholic faithful across our nation during this special time of prayer, study, catechesis, and public action to emphasize both our Christian and American Heritage of liberty. Below, you will find informational links intended to help your parish or group plan events and participate as fully as possible in this national event.

• Daily Reflections for June 21-July 4

• Protecting Consciences:  Why Conscience is Important

• Frequently Asked Questions on Religious Liberty

• Twelve Things Everyone Should Know About the "Contraceptive Mandate"

• Current Threats to Religious Liberty