In the Second Week of September

Greetings fellow Areopagites!


The next Areopagus meeting will be held on September 9th, the second Friday of that month. The date was changed from the third Friday to the second Friday because Fr. Ward will be out of town on the 16th, and will thus be unable to assist us in our quest for the truth at that time. The September Areopagus will be held at the Mantey’s home. Their address is:

2834 Oakview Dr.

Dryden, MI 48428

I hope everyone will be able to make it to this meeting. If you have met anyone who is interested in coming to Areopagus or if your email address has been updated, please let me know so I can make the necessary adjustments to my mailing list. See you on the 9th, and don’t forget to bring plenty of snacks!

In Christ,

Lois

Summer Break

Odysseus the box has been found at last!  He was able to join us for the gathering on Fr. Ward's patio yesterday.  HUGE thanks to Fr. Ward for allowing us to meet at the Rectory for this month's Areopagus!  The location of September's meeting is still undetermined, and there will be no Areopagus during August, giving us a short break.
For those of you who weren't there, (physically, or mentally for that matter) Fr. Ward started the evening off by reading the sixth part of a letter from the Pope to the youth of the world, warning of temptations from within ourselves as well as from the world around us.
A short summary of the questions asked yesterday evening:
-What does Gollum represent allegorically, and why did Frodo choose him over Sam in the movie?
-What is eternity, and can it be defined with making reference to time?  Is time a human concept?
-Is is a big deal if you swear as long as you aren't swearing at anyone in particular?
-Can a good angel become bad and turn into a fallen angel?
-What are the conditions for receiving a partial indulgence?
-Is sabotage in wartime acceptable?
-If euthanasia is wrong, then why is it all right to kill someone in prison who has received the death penalty?
-Where do dinosaurs come into creation?
-A catechism teacher said it's not a sin to attend Protestant services.  Is this true, and if so, is it all right to attend SSPX Masses?
-Will people have personality traits in Heaven?
- Is there a personal demon assigned to each of us as described in the Screwtape Letters?
- Why are some of the prayers of the Mass said quietly?

I know I still don't have a complete email list, and I am still wrestling with the addresses I have being bounced.  It would be very helpful if you would tell me if you know of anyone who did not receive an email so I can add them or edit the address I already have.  Thank you!
Great meeting everyone, see you next time!

Lois

Picture credit: http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/g/giotto/padova/3christ/scenes_1/chris
Web Gallery of Art
Two Archangels1002-19
Gold and precious stones
Musée de Cluny, Paris

Areopagus at the Parish

Our next Areopagus is on July 15, 2011, here at the parish. If the weather cooperates, we can gather on the back patio, which is splendidly arranged right now. Come with munchies, questions, and great topics of conversation so we can grow both as Catholics and Philsoophers.

I lost Ulysses the Box again! Anyone know where he went? To Ithaka, probably...

Special thanks to the Ianuzzi family for the spendid hospitatlity!

Jumping into June

Hello everyone! A warm thank you to the Peters Family for hosting May's meeting! I know the questions have yet to be posted, but it would seem that Ulysses has sailed away from Calypso and home to Penelope a.k.a. Sacred Heart, ironically in the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart.


This month's meeting is tomorrow, the third Friday as usual at 7p.m. sharp. The Iannuzzi Family has generously offered to take up the torch this time. Please feel free to message or text me for their address and directions. Please bring a friend and a finger food to share along with your questions!

Also, speaking of passing the torch, Fr. and I are looking for someone to take up my place as his assistant in all matters Areopagus. I will be leaving for U of M in August, and will no longer be able to carry on the honor, unfortunately. If you're interested in the commitment, please email either Fr. or myself. It's quite fun, I assure you!

God Bless,
Gabrielle

Meeting in the Month of Mary

A great thank you to the Gagnon Family for hosting last month's meeting! The Peters Family has kindly offered to take up the torch this month. The meeting will be held at their house this Friday, the 20th, at the usual time of 7:00 p.m. sharp.

I know we're all waiting on the edge of our seats for Summer, so let's throw some of that pent-up anticipation into learning some new aspects of our Faith. Bring questions, friends, and a snack to stop all our chattering teeth from this cold spell if you can!

Feel free to message or text me for directions.
God Bless,
Gabrielle

Photo Credit: La Visitation, Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1491.
In this month of Marian feasts, let us remember and emulate the fervent devotion St. Louis de Montfort held for Our Lady. All true devotion to Mary leads to Jesus Christ, for who better to instruct us in knowledge and love of the Son of God than His mother? We pray that like St. Elizabeth at the Visitation, we may recognize and revere Our Lady as our channel to God, Salvation, and the Resurrection. 

Going to the Gagnons'

Hello, fellow Areopagites!  The Gagnon family has kindly offered to open their home to our meeting this month! It will be this Friday, April 15th, at the usual time, 7:00 p.m. on the dot. Their address is listed below, and please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. Come with questions, friends, and a snack to pass if you can! 

The Gagnon Home

12351 Hegel

Goodrich, MI 48438

Also, I am looking for someone to save Ulysses the Question Box from the captivity of Calypso, as Fr. has so humorously dubbed me! I cannot make it to this Friday's meeting, and I would greatly appreciate a volunteer to take him to and fro. Please email or text me if you would be able to do so! :)

God Bless,

Gabrielle

Lenten Illumination

 A very warm thank you to the Kray Family for generously opening their home to our meeting on such short notice last night! I'm sorry Ulysses had to miss it; he was detained by Calypso, as Fr. so humorously explained! For others who missed it as well, a recap of yesterday's curiosity:

• I think it is in the Gospel of Luke (the wise men, and the finding in the temple), where it says a couple of times that “Mary kept all these things in her heart.” What exactly does this indicate? And why is it repeated?
• If Jesus said, “about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mt 24:36), and if Jesus is God, then why doesn’t he know?
• I heard something once about different levels of happiness in heaven. Can you explain this?
• If God can create Mary without original sin, why doesn’t he create everyone else that way?
• Does a marriage count if the priest does not bless the wedding rings properly?
• Can you explain why some Protestants do not include some books in the Bible, books which Catholics do include? Why is this?
• What do you do if your friends don’t respect your parents’ property, and you have to hang out with them?
• I want to be a nurse for babies when I’m older, and if the baby is dying and I want to baptize the baby, and the parents won’t let me baptize the baby, can I over-power the parental rights to baptize him/her? Because every child needs to be a child of God. Help me understand this please!
• How exactly does the Catholic Church feel on organ donations?       

 I have had a few offers over the last few weeks to host our next Lenten meeting, on April 22nd I believe, but if anyone is sure they would like to host Areopagus please email me, thank you!

Photo Credit: Carl Heinrich Bloch- Christ at Gethsemane II
Let us remember throughout this Lenten Season that Jesus wept in the Garden for each sin, large and small, that we have committed in our lives. Let us keep His image on our hearts and minds so that we may console His sorrow with our penitence and wipe His tears with our gratitude for His sacrifice.