PRAYER PAGE
St. Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians admonishes believers to "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus"
(I Thes. 5:16-18).
This page of the St. Rapahel Youth Ministry Website is dedicated to prayer in all its variety and forms in the
Catholic Tradition.
Check out the links and articles on prayer. May you be inspired to enter more deeply into the mystery of God's love through prayer.
"Pray for the many spiritual and
material needs of your families, your communities, the whole Church, and all
of humanity. Indeed, prayer is the first and greatest work of charity that we
must do for our brothers and sisters."
John Paul II From: Minute Meditations from the Popes
Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York
Megan on mission in Chicago in the summer of 2008
St. Raphael youth group member leaving for Denmark as an exchange student for the next year!
Megan Bender is an 11th grade student from Coon Rapids High
School and an active member of
St. Raphael's Youth Ministry Core Team. After much prayer Megan felt called to become a foreign exchange student. She will be in Denmark for the 2009-2010 school year.
Our youth group is committed to holding Megan up in prayer while she is away in Denmark. To learn more about her journey and keep up to date on her experience in Denmark please go to Megan's Denmark Blog:
or check out her monthly
youth group update below.
Megan's Monthly Update
Sacred Scripture
"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ"
St. Jerome
The Solemnity of Christ the King
(Nov. 22, 2009)
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First Sunday of Advent
(Nov. 29, 2009)
LECTIO DIVINA:
"Sacred Reading"
Lectio: Reading - Listening
Meditatio: Meditation
Oratio: Prayer
Contemplatio: Contemplation
To Learn More Go To:
or
First of all I want to start off by saying how incredibly blessed I am. I'm so very thankful for all the support I have back home, especially from youth group. You have no idea how much your prayers and thoughts have inspired and have helped me greatly. You all back home are the reason why I stay so strong, because I know that I have an amazing family of believers... and that inspires me to be a a light to everyone here.
Second. Things are going pretty well here in the DK. The drinking and partying scene will never fade away but I've grown accustomed to it, and I still can love others through it. I've made great friends with the exchange students, which is inevitable. I've also gotten closer to my classmates at gymnasium, so I feel much more involved. My Danish gets better everyday, but my "Minnesotan accent" never goes away. My host family and I are spending autumn break in Odense picking apples, and also touring around the DK a bit. So overall things are going well. I have some really bad days but I also have alot of good ones as well. The only thing I find difficult that I need prayers for is for the strength to stay true to myself. Here, its like I need to change to be accepted. I understand I will change in maturity but I know that there is alot I worked for that I don't want to lose. I feel like I still have a faith but I have no one to share it with, just people to challenge it. I just miss a big community of believers, I miss you all back home. So thank you for your prayers, its such a relief for me and I know it helps greatly. I love you all very much, and know my prayers are with you all as well. Keep up the great work, good luck on upcoming events, and praise Jesus for the lives, and even the hardships we are given, because THAT is the meaning of being a disciple. Love you all very much! Until next time
:) Megan
