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St. Margaret Church
Blessed Trinity Church
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From The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Resources and Background on HHS Rule on Contraceptive Coverage January 25, 2012 On January 20th, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a stunning and extremely disappointing final rule mandating that contraception and sterilization be included at no cost to the insured in all health care plans. The very narrow religious exemption was unchanged from the interim final rule, only offering a year of "grace" to comply. This means that most Catholic ministries would be compelled to provide and pay for "services" (i.e., sterilization and contraception, including some abortifacients) that are a clear violation of Catholic teaching. It rests on the appalling notion that the federal government can tell religious ministries what is religious. In this case, it says that a ministry is not religious if it serves or employs people who are not members of that religious body. For us, it is precisely our faith that calls us to "serve the least of these" without regard for their religious affiliation. We serve the poor, the hungry, the sick, the homeless, andeducate children "not because they are Catholic, but because we are." In short, the decision of the Administration is bad morality, bad policy and, for that matter, bad politics. President of the USCCB, Cardinal-delegate Timothy Dolan commented "Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn't happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights." The bishops along with Catholic partners including the Catholic Health Association, Catholic Relief Services, Catholic CharitiesUSA, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities and other Catholic and religious allies, had vigorously argued against the mandate and encouraged a broader exemption that would include religious institutions and ministries. The threat to our religious liberties is very real and challenging. The government should not be forcing us to choose between putting our faith into action and violating our consciences. Likewise the Administration's action poses real threats to the Churchs capacity to offer adequate health care coverage for those who serve in our charitable and educational ministries in ways that reflect our teaching and moral principles. This decision tries to force us to choose between these two principles. The rule would go into effect for religious employers in August 2013 and employers' new policies would have to be implemented by January 2014. The purpose of the year is supposedly to allow us time to comply, but in fact we have a year to reverse, repeal or change this unjust mandate. Included in this message are links to several statements, fact sheets and other materials that can assist you in helping to fix this injustice. For those of you who will be joining us for the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering next month, you will have the opportunity to make the case to Congress. We appreciate all you do to defend human life and dignity, to protect religious liberty and Catholic identity. We ask you to join with us and others inside and outside our community of faith to resist and reverse this appalling decision that threatens our freedom to serve those who need our help the most.
Links: Video of Cardinal-Designate Dolan, President of the USCCB, speaking about HHS rule: http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-013.cfm Catholic Relief Services' statement on HHS rule: http://newswire.crs.org/crs-objects-to-obama-administration-decision-to-require-catholic-institutions-to-offer-birth-control-to-employees/ Catholic Charities USA's statement on HHS rule: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/page.aspx?pid=2516 Michael Sean Winter's Distinctly Catholic blog commenting on HHS Rule: http://ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/jaccuse Washington Post editorial on HHS rule: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/respecting-religious-exemptions/2012/01/22/gIQA0ZESJQ_story.html?hpid=z3 USCCB Comments filed on proposed HHS rule issued in August 2011: http://www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/rulemaking/comments-proposed-hhs-regs-neonates-research-2001-08.cfm USCCB fact sheet on HHS rule: Click here
The 2012 Diocesan Catholic Sharing Appeal Program With the beginning of this new calendar year, we once again prepare to participate in the Diocesan Catholic Sharing Appeal Program. Officially beginning the first weekend of February and continuing on through the Pledging Process, Fr. Rick asks that you begin praying now, asking God to help you know how much of the blessings He has given you need to return to Him! As a rule of thumb, the bible asks 10% be returned for His work, the Church asks you to consider 5% to the Church and 5% to your personal charities! In either case, please try to be as generous as possible! Pledge Cards are now being prepared and will be sent out as soon as they arrive.
If you would like to donate on-line through the diocese' web site please feel free to use this link:
Donate to CSA
The Cost of Abortion Click the link on the right entitled "Watch it."
If you simply wish to watch this video, here it is.
Welcome Fellow Sojourner in Christ, to the website for St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, DeFuniak Springs, FL. and Blessed Trinity Catholic Mission, Bonifay, FL. Both of these fine Parish Families are located in the far northwest section of the Florida Panhandle. Though small in numbers because of their rural locations, each is a vibrant group dedicated to increasing and expressing their faith in Jesus Christ as His disciples through the Catholic Church. And because each of them has their own unique character, they offer opportunities for growth by sharing the talents and treasures with which God has blessed each Community!
If you will be traveling our way, please take the opportunity to stop in and meet these wonderful people. Come and worship with us, then stay awhile and let us get to know you a little better. We will be awaiting your visit and greet you with the enthusiasm of family visiting once again. Safe travels and God's abundant blessings!
Your servant in Christ,
The current parish calendar / .PDF format.
The Roman Missal: The Church's common treasure by Lynn S. Williams The new English translation of the Roman Missal, the official manual for the Roman Catholic Mass, has been approved, and soon familiar prayers and responses said in churches around the English-speaking world will change. Priests will follow newly-translated instructions. Prayers used throughout the Mass and some responses of the congregation will change. Sacred chants and music used in worship will also be updated. The full texts of the English translation received recognitio, or approval, from the Vatican in June and July of 2010. The new translation will be implemented in U.S. dioceses in Advent 2011. It will be the most significant change to the Mass in over 40 years.
If you would like to see the response changes in the Mass, you can download two small .PDF files, one with the responses of the people and the other the parts of the priest. They are really very minor and very meaningful. If I might say, they reminded me a lot of when I was an altar boy and recited prayers in Latin, but I assure you, there is no Latin for the people, so fear not. I think you will like what you read. (This inserted block written by the webmaster of this site.) An occasion like this raises the question: Why is the Roman Missal so important? "The Roman Missal is a common treasure," says Msgr. Anthony Sherman, executive director at USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship. "It is the book that provides us with prayer text. It serves as a point of unity that keeps us all together, presenting the prayers that are used around the world, in many languages, during universal feasts or holy days." Latin is the core text of the Roman Missal, evolving from oral tradition to written words. During the 15th century, in the era of the first printing press, the earliest book called Missale Romanum appeared. After the Council of Trent in 1570, Pope Pius V issued the edition that set the premier standard of uniformity used by celebrants of the Catholic faith. Eight former Popes issued new editions between 1604 and 2002, and each maintained a consistent style of worship for prayer in the Roman rite. Over time, additional Masses, prayers and revised rubrics (instructions) used to celebrate the Mass were added. The need for vernacular translations of the Roman Missal arose after the Second Vatican Council, and the present English translation of the Mass, which dates back to the 1970s, follows the Vatican's guidelines of that time, which favored translations that were easy to understand in the vernacular. When Pope John Paul n issued the Third Edition of the Roman Missal in 2002, a new English translation was required. Since the new English translation is guided by the 2001 Vatican document Liturgiam Authenticam, it presents a more literal translation of Latin wording and sentence structure than is used in the current translation. "The current translations are centered more on the community than the divine," says Father Paul Turner, a parish pastor in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri and author of Let Us Pray: A Guide to the Rubrics of Sunday Mass. "They were somewhat inattentive to inclusive language, and lacked some theological depth and musicality. The first translations condensed some of the content of the prayers. The new translation improves that," he says. "This is not a new Mass," says Michael McMahon, president of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, adding that with a new translation, "one of the opportunities we have is to look at the parts of the Mass that should be sung" in the dialogue between the priest and the people and integrate them. One of the challenges of introducing a newly-translated missal is retraining priests to lead Mass. Downloadable recordings for priests who don't read music are being produced and distributed free, online. Major publishers will release material on compact discs. The Roman Missal itself is the primary source of training and instruction for the new translation. It displays rubrics, sentences printed in red that instruct a priest on what to say and do, how and when to gesture, and when to sing the common prayers in The Order of Mass. It provides instructions that guide the celebrant in leading the liturgy and the people assembled in ritual response for each occasion of Mass. It also dictates the words used by a priest during the Mass, which with the new translation will reflect a more formal style than past translations. "It will sound much more like Latin," says Father Turner. "The Roman Missal puts us into a tradition of prayer and creates an historical awareness in the roots of where we are now," says Msgr. Sherman. "When you study the background of these prayers, you become united" with the perpetual mission of the Church. Editor's note: Lynn Williams is a full-time communications consultant and an award-winning freelance journalist from Nashville, TN. She is a frequent contributor to the Catholic press. The link to God's Love in the Main Menu leads to a very special page. You will find what Jesus himself had to say about his passion. You will read what the Catholic Mass is truly about. You will learn things like where we got the Bible, what we have in common with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and a whole array of interesting and heart felt messages. Don't miss out on this special opportunity. Have a look see today, then come back often and may God bless you richly.
Catholics believe in The Real Presence of Christ in The Eucharist.
By now everyone in the parish knows about the Parish Quilt Ministry. All ladies and even men are invited to join in this ministry. You can do as little or as much as you like and contribution to the ministry can come and any variety of ways. The prayers and sacrifices that have been made both during and after have resulted in remarkable miracles. Miracles of healing and revelation. Whether you have time to offer, talent, material, or a few dollars please don't hesitate to step forward when you hear the gentle whisper of God's voice in your heart. Just as Jesus never said no to those asking His help, so too these ladies never say no. What an inspiration to God's ministry of saving souls.
Right to Life The Catholic Church has expressed her position on Life since the time of Christ. Humanae Vitae The Encyclical Letter of His Holiness Paul VI on the regulation of birth, 25 July 1968 fully outlined the church's position in modern times. St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church is lead in this ministry by Cathy and Jeff Hahr. They and our church works with other Christian denominations within our community and county. If you have a calling from the Holy Spirit to help in any way for the respect and preservation of life, please contact Cathy and Jeff at 850-892-7176. They take donations of baby cloths, maternity clothes and any baby items, furniture such as cribs, high chairs, strollers, etc. Once received they take them to the Pregnancy Support Center (892-7400) on Highway 90 next to the Regions Bank. The center uses funds received from the "Choose Life" license plates to assist women who chose adoption for their child. Each May our church conducts an annual collection of diapers (all sizes), which will be given to the pregnancy center. Please consider being part of this drive. There is no reason for any life to be terminated. If anyone is in a situation of crisis, please do not despair. There is hope and there is help. Call Cathy at 892-7176, or the Pregnancy Support Center at 892-7400, or Life, Inc 850-862-9020, or the Family Life Center in Fort Walton Beach at 850-243-5800. They can and will help. Also, Catholic Charities 850-244-2825 will assist in adoption arrangements. You can also call toll free 1-800-848-LOVE (5683) who will direct you to the nearest pregnancy resource center. The first Sunday in October is "Pro Life Line Chain." Please consider giving a few hours of your time to show support for all life during this special time. For more information, please contact Cathy at 892-7176 for the time and place. Resources for help with a troubled pregnancy or after abortion healing, please visit this link. 158 babies are aborted/killed every hour of every day. You don't have to let that happen. There is help, there are answers. A life may be in your hands. The following short videos bring the truth of what is happening to the human race world wide.
Episode 2: Pro-Abortion Violence
Special Announcements: Please save your cancelled stamps and deposit them in the envelope at the vestibule of the church. This mission helps aid to secure funds to support the unborn.
Looking for a Catholic perspective on politics and culture? See this web site for interesting and up todate views. Special annoucements from the Diocese of Pensacola - Tallahassee is being replace with the links below to recieve them. If you want to know the activities, schedule of events and so on, please feel free to subscribe to the diocese's mail list or simply click the link to view a list of those happenings.
NewsNotes is a weekly e-newsletter of announcements for Catholics in northwest Florida.
If you would like to Submit An Announcement for The Catholic Compass and the NewsNotes.
Catholic Days at the Capitol, March 9-10:
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