January 27 - St. Pius X Catholic Community

St. Pius X RCIA
Kevin Hernandez is a Candidate in the St. Pius X RCIA Program. Kevin was baptized at St. Simeon Catholic
Church in Bellwood. He needs to complete his Sacraments of Initiation: Reconciliation, Eucharist and
Confirmation. Kevin will join some of the other members of RCIA at the Easter Vigil, receiving First Eucharist
and Confirmation. Reconciliation will take place during Lent.
Kevin lives in Villa Park with his parents, a sister, and a brother. His sister, Ashley, is also participating in
RCIA, and his brother Daniel is a third grade student in the St. Pius X Faith Formation Program. Kevin attends
Willowbrook High School where he is a Senior, planning to attend the College of DuPage after graduation.
After completing his basic courses at COD, he hopes to transfer to Northern Illinois University to study for a degree in Business.
Joining the RCIA Program marks a return to the Catholic Church for Kevin. Although baptized into the Catholic Church, he and his
family, for different reasons, did not attend or belong to a specific Church. Now Kevin and his family are ready to become full
members of the Catholic Church, leading to Kevin’s participation in RCIA. Kevin is enjoying the classes,
“I’m having fun interacting with others.”
The topics of the classes have had an effect on Kevin’s life. He says he is “…a much nicer person. I’ve
changed my personality and look at God.” He sees that he is applying his newly deepened faith in active
ways, trying to “…connect and help people with problems, and tell them what is good for you and what is
not good for you.”
The community of St. Pius has made an impression on Kevin as well. “There are a lot of friendly people
here.” He related being at a Friendship Sunday event after Break Out Class, and Sr. Ann greeted him and
asked him how he was doing. That one example of reaching out really made an impression on him.
Please pray for Kevin and all the participants in the RCIA Program. And don’t forget to greet our
Catechumen and Candidates when you see them. As you can see from Kevin’s response, it really makes a difference!
James: Pearls for Wise Living
Week of Jan. 27 – Session 2: Wisdom and Pure Religion
Readings: James 1:19-27
James moves on to the wisdom needed in the daily practice of our faith.
What does Christian life look like when it is practiced correctly What is
“pure” religion James’ original audience may have had more trials leading
to anger than Christians do today as well as temptations to keep their faith a
private matter rather than applying it to their daily life. Many of them were also first generation Jews turned Christians who needed
to shift their focus from the Temple and practicing their faith via sacrifice and observance of the Law to the New Covenant of Jesus
Christ, the New Temple and practical application of God’s Word beginning in the heart.
It is important to keep in mind that the Catholic Church understands that “word of God” refers first and foremost to Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, who is the Word made flesh (John 1:1) whereas our Protestant brothers and sisters think of it as referring only to
Scripture. God’s word is more than just ink on paper. “The word of God is living and active …” (Hebrews 4:12). It has come to us
through the preaching and teaching of Jesus and the Apostles, both oral and written; through the inspired writings of the Old
Testament; and through God’s creative word such as that which gave rise to creation in Genesis 1.
Please remember to arrive at least ten minutes prior to your session start time so that sessions may begin on time. If you have
any questions about the study, call Kelly Reznicek at 630-629-5954 or e-mail KellyRez@comcast.net.
Year of Faith: October 11, 2012—November 24, 2013
Catechism Corner: “The Holy Spirit is ‘the principle of every vital and truly saving action in each part of the Body.’ He works in
many ways to build up the whole Body in charity: by God’s Word ‘which is able to build you up’ by Baptism,
through which he forms Christ’s Body; by the sacraments, which give growth and healing to Christ’s members;
by ‘the grace of the apostles, which holds first place among his gifts’; by the virtues, which make us act
according to what is good; finally, by the many special graces (called ‘charisms’), by which he makes the
faithful ‘fit and ready to undertake various tasks and offices for the renewal and building up of the Church.’”
(CCC, n.798)
Diocesan webpage for Year of Faith: www.dioceseofjoliet.org/yearoffaith/
Year of Faith family page: http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/
year-of-faith/year-of-faith-family-resources.cfm
January 27, 2013
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