Little Dresses for Libby, pictures are now up, and the Canoe Trip

This is sort of a grab-bag post.  It's been too long, I'll try to post more frequently!

For now, some pictures.  My little sister Libby has been sending me pictures of all the students who have received dresses, pants, and school assistance through the generosity of St. Michael Parish.  The Christian Service & Evangelization Committee has coordinated this good work, especially the work of lots of volunteer seamstresses!  Here is one of the little girls who received some support:

Paola Mendez, age 6, preschool

So, more pictures are up with captions here and here.

Clink on those links and check out the pictures!  You can see the faces of a bunch of folks whose burden has been made a little bit lighter.  Along with the clothing, each child received some help for school, mostly notebooks.  The high schoolers in the second group of pictures received cash support to help pay for their school costs. 

I've also posted some pictures from my recent canoe trip here.  It was a beautiful with my dad, my Uncle Tim, and 3 of their buddies.  Here's the picture of the pike Scott caught with the red squirrel in his belly.  I wasn't joking, as some people thought:

A northern pike which swallowed a red squirrel whole!

 I know it's kind of a gross picture, but a lot of people were curious!

So, it is a busy time here at St. Michael's, with parish activities, the Catholic School, Kids Being Catholic, and Campus Ministry all in full swing!  If you were able to come to the Ministry Fair last weekend, you get some sense of all that good things that are happening here!

Finally, today is our patronal feast, the Feast of the Holy Archangels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael.  May St. Michael continue to intercede for us and protect us as we seek each day to follow the Lord more closely.

 Here are some varying images of St. Michael. He is cited in the Book of Revelation as being the one who did direct combat with Satan, casting him out of heaven:


Rv 12:7-12ab
War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan,
who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them."

This is one of the two options for the first reading for today's Mass.

I'll close with the Prayer of St. Michael the Archangel:

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.


God Bless, Fr. Ben