Drop Your Nets

I once attended a retreat based on Imaginative Prayer. It comes from the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius and allows scripture to unfold in our minds using imagination. I'll never forget praying with the call of Simon in Luke 5. Jesus gets into the boat with Simon and tells him to drop his nets, even though they had caught nothing all day.

The story proceeded normally in my mind until it dawned on me how hilariously awkward this scene would be! Imagine: hundreds of blubbery fish in a tiny boat, whacking things with their tales and covering the men in the boat. The Scripture was coming to life! Jesus erupted into a deep warm laugh in my mind as He and Simon worked furiously to pull in the nets. A few moments later, after the biggest catch of his life, Simon leaves everything and follows Jesus!

As the scene played in my mind, Jesus was suddenly looking at me, asking me to drop my nets - my fears, my doubts - that He might fill my heart to overflowing. He didn't stop there. He wanted me to follow Him, wherever He goes He wanted me to be. As Simon followed Him, we are to follow Him. If Jesus calls, are we willing to leave everything and follow Him?

-Emily Hoffmann

Upcoming Events

• Our November Search retreats are coming up! Aberdeen will host November 1st-3rd and Sioux Falls November 8th-10th. Register Here! 
• Our Youth Conference will take place in Brookings on November 16th! You don't want to miss this day of prayer, music, speakers and fun. Learn how to register here! 
• The Diocese will be leading a pilgrimage to the March for Life in Washington D.C. this January. All are welcome! Click here for more information!
• Want to get the most out of your Catholic faith and help your family and friends do the same? That’s what Saturday, October 26, Encountering Jesus Christ is all about. National leaders will share their insights on how we can all grow closer to God. Learn more and register here!

Never Permit Me To Offend You Again

One of my favorite saints since I was in high school has been St. Alphonsus Liguori.  The first thing that attracted me to him was this prayer.

"Lord I am sorry for ever having offended me.  Never permit me to offend you again.  Grant that I may love always and do with me what you will"

During this Lenten season I challenge to spend much time in praying this or as St. Louis De Monfort said "Nail my heart to the Cross so that it may never leave you."

It is difficult to pray that all control of your life would be taken from you.  But that control is the only thing that gets in the way from an awesome relationship with God.  Begin praying for the discipline to let go of things that get in the way.  Especially if you are not a person committed to daily prayer.  Ask the Lord to reveal those things to you that you need to let go of in order to be able to make prayer a priority in your life.

- Eric Gallagher

Announcements:

• D-Camps are filling up fast.  You can print a registration form here.  I recommend you register within the next few weeks if you want to guarantee your spot for the summer.
• Totus Tuus hiring is nearly finished.  Please pray for all of those who applied for Totus Tuus for this summer. 
• Our March youth ministry conference is on March 16th.  Please pray for all of those adults who will come to be trained, that they can walk away with a greater desire to serve the Church, especially the youth.
• Lastly, please pray for our Cardinals in the Church that will be meeting soon to elect a new Shepherd for the Catholic Church in the coming weeks.  Also, pray for all of our Bishops who are without an earthly Shepherd right now.  

Lord Possess All That I Am

February is believed to be one of the hardest months of the year.  The reasoning is because it is the month after most people have made new commitments and New Year's Resolutions.  In February they start realizing how they have not kept those commitments or how hard it is actually going to be.

Remember though who was with us the day we started this year.  January 1st is the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.  The one who made the ultimate YES and the ultimate commitment.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr.  She, in a similar way, devoted her life to Christ.  May she be a reminder to us in this difficult month of the commitments we have made to Christ in prayer and love.  Let us pray as she prayed:

Jesus Christ, Lord of all, you see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am. I am your sheep: make me worthy to overcome the devil.

Also please pray for our office this month.  With several things going on in the Diocese, we can sure use them.  There is a Search retreat this weekend, eight parishes in our Diocese will be receiving their first big training for a new youth ministry effort in the Diocese, and this is the month we begin hiring our Totus Tuus missionaries for the summer.

Lastly, a simple reminder to sign up for D-Camp this summer.  The camps are already filling fast.  I will be sure to keep you updated through this newsletter as it gets closer.

St. Agatha - Pray For Us!

Stop Messing Around

Many of the youth that are signed up for this email newsletter have been to an event like D-Camp or the Youth Rallies.  Many of you are striving to live out your faith in a town where it is very difficult because you can feel so alone.  At our Winter D-Camp this summer I gave a few challenges that will help you.  Here is what they were:

Pray No Less Than 30 Minutes A Day

Disciplined prayer is difficult to begin.  Most people will not see the fruits of this prayer and it can be tempting to tell yourself that you could be getting so many other things done.  In reality, what God is doing to you in this time of committed prayer is far more important than anything else you could commit to.

Go To Confession The First Week of Every Month

Do not just commit to once a month because missing one month can easily become three or four months. Commit the first week, put it in your calendar.  If it is impossible that week than make it top priority for the 2nd week.  The grace you receive from confession will be a constant reminder of how much God loves you and takes care of you.

Go To Weekly Mass and Invite Friends and Family To Go With You

Going to Mass is the most important thing you will do all week.  If your family does not go, invite them to go.  If you have to go alone, invite friends to come with you, even if they are not Catholic.   

Love Your Parents First

Many of us have parents that struggle in their faith.  It can be easy to get angry at them and assume they should be perfect and do everything right.  Do not wait for your parents to hug you or tell you that they love you.  If they do not do this, you do it first.  Start doing things around the house without being asked and without expecting anything in return.  In short, be Christ to them!

Have a great new year!

Eric Gallagher