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THIS WEEK AND BEYOND:  For more information, 586 777 9116


WALK:  A healthy body is a Sound Soul and City Wellness Program, 7 am, starting Monday, Aug. 2 and Wednesday and Fridays through August.  Meet at McDonald's Restaurant, Crocker and Metropolitan Parkway in Harrison Twp., MI. 
ALL FAITHS FESTIVAL (AFF) PRAYER SERVICE IN KARBALAA ISLAMIC EDUCATONAL CENTER: PILGRIMAGE AT 12 NOONAND 4 PM, AUGUST 7th, and, CHALLENGING THE CULTURE: clergy confronting the media and unacceptabe values and violence today, inlcuding media's message, drugs, diabetes and more, at 15332 W. Warren, Dearborn, MI., 48126, hosted by Islamic  Imam Hassan Al-Husainy, and Jewish and Christian clergy and faithful.  A Declaration of Values of the All Faiths Festival (AFF) will be proclaimed. A pilgrimage of the museum is set for 12 noon, followed by COME AND PRAY YOUR WAY at 1:30 PM, another pilgrimage of the Karbala Museum of art follows with a press conference at 4 pm.
Refreshments will be served.

PLAN AND MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 8TH, 10:30 am until 3 pm family, second annual All Faiths Festival picnic at Belle Isle, on Jefferson at E. Grand Blvd., in Detroit.  Please bring a food dish and non-toxic bevarages and water to share, and a grill to barb-b-cue hot dogs, turkey burgers and more.
Bring a chair, blanket and soccer ball, with a softball and bat to join some games.  Bring the entire family.  Reservations required to hhusainy@yahoo.com, or 586 777 9116, by 8/4/2010. 



+          DON WYNIEMPKO  BURIED

Three decades ago, his life began amid water in his mother's womb.

After graduating from the University of Michigan, he was happily employed, until
he was "let go" in a depressed economy.

Shortly after his birth, Don was baptized.

His parents, Ken and Denise reminded me of that as we prepared his funeral today.

Alcohol attachment disorder consumed Don after he became jobless.

"He was seeing angels and people welcoming him to heaven, Denise said.

"I told him if he wanted to go to a beter place, to go."

Minutes later, his breathing slowed and saliva oozed from his mouth, his mom said on the
phone.

One of the mysteries of life is that one day one's job may be gone.

More than one's work, meaning comes from it, however.

We can do better helping our young people know the mysteries of life early on
in life:

We don't get everything we want.

We may be rejected by a first love.

We may be excluded by others.

We may get sick.

Mystery, meaning and more.

Don:

Eternal rest unto you!  +

AN INTERIOR LIFE - BUILD THE INNER LIFE  -  ON TAP:

Young adults and meaning, marriage, maddening loss, and, mourning, fracture, alone, single again, and, money in Sacred Scripture.
Royal Canadian Legion, 1005 East 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI. 48067 (between Main and Campbell).  Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2010.  Time: 5:30 pm Gathering.  6 pm Talk on topic with Lawrence M. Ventline, D.Min.

Gather, mingle, drink, order food, listen, learn and live.  Enjoy young adults and others who continue the traditon of Theology on Tap, Spirituality on Tap,  and,
simply, ON TAP TUESDAY, June 15th.

YOUNG ADULTS:  FOR MONTHLY REFLECTIONS, SUSETTE@CCUP.ORG

REFLECTIONS FROM JAMES J. BACIK, CAMPUS CHAPLAIN, UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO
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Students in college at the beginning of the new millennium are on a spiritual journey very similar to their parents.

They have the same spiritual longings as previous generations for meaning and purpose in life. 

They know the age-old struggle between grace and sin. 

Their challenges sound familiar:

Forming their personal identity; developing good friendships; finding a life partner; choosing a career; appropriating their religious heritage; cultivating habits of good citizenship; and, deciding how to relate to the dominant culture.

Millenials still fall in love, treasure friends and empathize with suffering loved ones.

Catholic millenials have grown up with greater religious pluralism than their grandparents.  Most of them have not known an integrated Catholic world which transmits a coherent vision of the faith. 

They have, rather, gleaned fragments of their spirituality from various sources, including their families, parish liturgies, youth retreats, religious education classes, and, for some, Catholic schools.  This process has produced collegians with greater tolerance, but less institutional loyalty than previous generations of Catholics.

Around 90% affirm the divinity of Christ and believe that at Mass the bread and wine become his body and blood.  They consider helping the poor as important to their faith as believing in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

My students often find that formal study of Vatican II teachings affirms general perceptions which they already hold.  Foremost, for example is the crucial conviction that we are the church, which means practically that the faithful should have a voice in how parishes are run.

Seven distinguishing types of spirituality are current among millenial, collegian Catholics:

1) Eclipsed:  Current concerns beyond religious or spiritual matters  eclipse  collegian culture.  Personal crisis, death of a loved one, or, getting married and having a baby may uncover this latent spiritual need.

2) Private:  Some seldom attend liturgies or participate in church activities, but pursue spiritual goals in other ways: Reading religious books, communing with nature, and, praying privately.  Hope that they will discover and tap the rich, spiritual tradition of their Catholic heritage.

3) Ecumenical:  Vibrant Catholic parishes are needed which will utilize the gifts and meet the needs of today's collegians
 given the competitive situation in which some have little institutional loyalty.  Some will join another denomination if it brings them closer to Christ and better serves their spiritual needs.  For a growing number, division among Christians make no sense. They seem to want to work together with all faith traditions.

4) Evangelical:  Some manifest a piety that resembles the evangelical Christian groups on campus, speaking easily about their personal relationship with Jesus as they gravitate to prayer groups with emotional intensity.  Learn to tap their energy and enthusiasm.

5)  Sacramental:  Many love their church and are satisfied with regular participation in the offical liturgy and traditional practices.  They are attuned to God in every day life and have a general sense of the sacramental character of the world.  Affirm them.

6)  Prophetic:  Catholic social teaching supports students aiming at "green" environment, racial harmony, justice and peace for this collegian type.

7) Communal:  Millennial Catholics associate with others who share their values, like worshipping with kindred spirits at Mass, and, engaging their  gifts for common good, participating in faith-sharing groups. Remind them that authentic, communal spirituality maintains dialog with the larger world.

 All seven, nevertheless, are empowered by the same Spirit -- the basis of hope for this generation of collegians.
                                                                                                    
 (Summary by L. Ventline, 5/26/10, Woodhaven, MI.,  Father Jim Bacik lecture hosted by Elephants in the Living Room)

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EVENTS THIS WEEK AND BEYOND:



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B A C K    B Y   P O P U L A R    D E M A N D

ON TAP:  TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 5:30 pm GATHERING, 6 pm TALK ON MEANING, MARRIAGE, MADDENING LOSS AND MOURNING, FRACTURE, SINGLE LIVING, MARRIED SINGLES, ALONE, TOGETHER, AND, MONEY IN SACRED SCRIPTURE.  MEET IN THE BACK ROOM THROUGH THE BACK DOOR OF ROYAL CANADIAN LEGON CLUB, 1005 EAST ELEVEN MILE ROAD, ROYAL OAK 48067 (BETWEEN MAIN AND CAMPBELL). DIANE, 248 541 9474.  MEET, GREET, ORDER FOOD, HEAR A TALK, ASK, ENGAGE, AND, LISTEN, LARN AND LIVE WELL.  ALL ARE WELCOME, ESPECIALLY YOUNG ADULTS AFTER WORK. CHILL!



LAYMEN'S RETREAT, July 9-11, Olivet College, Olivet, MI

RETREAT: Snowmass, CO., St. Benedict Monastery, July 15-18.

Catholic Alumni Club CAC-Convention, Colorado SPrings, CO, July 18-25.

INTERFAITH ODYSSEY,  CHANNEL 56, PUBLIC TELEVISION, SUNDAY,  7 AM FOLLOWED BY RELIGION AND ETHICS AT 7:30 PM.

IMAGINING A WAY OUT OF VIOLENCE IN METROPOLITAN DETROIT, MI., TASK FORCE OF SCIENTISTS, ARTIST, PRODUCERS, SEPT. 14, 12-1:30 pm, with H. Coleman McGehee, Jr., L. Ventline, Linda Norquist, Dr. Lynne Boyle, and more in St. John Episcopal Church, Royal Oak, MI.

INTERFAITH ODYSSEY, BLOOMFIELD, SOUTHFIELD COMCAST CHANNEL DURING THE WEEK. CHECK FOR LOCAL SPECIFIC TIMES.

  
 A CLASS IN ACCEPTANCE, BASED ON THE NOTES AND BEATITUDES OF MATTHEW'S GOSPEL, CH. 5:1-12, LEARNING TO LOVE WHEN I DON'T HAVE A CLUE, WHEN I'M POSSESSIVE, IN A FOG OF FUZZY THINKING, OR, IN ATTACHMENT DISORDERS, EVERY MONDAY IN ST. BARNABAS CHURCH SCHOOL, 10 Mile Road at Phlox, east of Gratiot, 7-8:30 pm.  RSVP to 586 777 9116.  EVERY FOURTH MONDAY, LAWRENCE VENTLINE ADDRESSES A TOPIC ON HEALING AT THE CLASS. Reservations to lindylou789@yahoo.com, 586 777 9116. EVERY FIRST SATURDAY, LAWRENCE VENTLINE LEADS THE FATHER POPS CLASS IN ACCEPTANCE IN SHRINE OF ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, 400 SOUTH BLVD., IN PONTIAC AFTER 4:30 MASS, AT ABOUT 5:30-6:45 PM WITH OPTIONAL DINNER AFTER CLASS. EVERY SECOND TUESDAY THE CLASS IN ACCEPTANCE IS LED BY LAWRENCE VENTLINE IN SACRED HEART SCHOOL, ROSEVILLE AT 7 PM BY RESERVATION ONLY TO 586 777 9116, sacredheartroseville@saintly.com.

A FRESH SUMMER PICNIC FOR YOU AND FRIENDS OF ALL FAITHS

Metropolitan Christian Council, Detroit/Windsor (MCC D/W), and the All Faiths Festival (AFF) Family, partner for an Inter-faith Picnic, at Belle Isle, at Grand Boulevard and Jefferson, Detroit, Sunday, August 8, 10 am - 3 pm.  Reserve at lindylou789@yahoo.com, or Metropolitan Christian Council, D/W at 313 870 9550, councilweb@sbcglobal.net.

The Metropolitan Christian Council, D/W is a community of churches, empowered by the Holy Spirit and proclaiming the love of God through Christ Jesus.  The Council explores, communicates, and celebrates  our commonality.  It identifies, models, and nurtures practical expressions of Christian love by serving people. 
Join its Interfaith Commitee chaired by Lawrence Ventline, D.Min.,  by contacting councilweb@sbcglobal.net, or, calling 313 870 9550.   Reserve now for the Heralds Awards Banquet
June 3rd in Andiamo's Restaruant, in Warren, MI.

The All Faiths Festival (AFF) Mission:  To build bridges, create dialog, foster recognition and repsect among all faith traditions, religions and cultures, and to support families and people in crisis.

COUNSELING AND PASTORAL CARE in Clinton Twp. Office in the Foam Factory on Hall Road, west of Groesbeck, and in Sacred Heart Church, Roseville, 586 777 9116 to schedule.

Catholic Care of the Soul Counseling, inspired by Saint Gregory the Great's classic, Cura Animarum, aims to ignite each one's dignity and worth by awakening it in self and others with the famous Father Pops' Class in Acceptance, grief and addiction counseling with spiritual solutions to clinical issues, holy hours and day of prayer, and retreats at local retreat houses such as Manresa in Bloomfield Hills, MI., or St. Paul of the Cross in Detroit, or longer respites of recreating one's spirit at Gethsemane, Kentucky (for reservations, 502 549 4133).

A DUMP STORY

Watch for, A DUMP, A GARDEN, AND ONE'S WORTH, a family-illustrated story about a dump's attraction for more of the same like one's worth or lack there of inviting more of the same debris (AuthorHouse), and a longer version, artfree, by the same title.  Reflections on wellness,  roots, relationships, and religion.

See the blogs at The Oakland Press.

EARLY CHRISTIANITY IS COURSE TOPIC AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY THIS SUMMER WITH JOHN KINKEL. 

DECLARATION FOR LIFE FROM THE FAITH TRADITIONS OF JEWISH, MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS ========================

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Imam Steve Elturk of the Islamic Organization of North America (IONA) in Warren, MI.,  David Kasbow and Rev. Earnest Hatcher, Co-chairmen of the American Clergy Leadership Conference, Father Lawrence Ventline, D.Min., on special assignment for the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit, Director of Cura Animarum, J. David Ivers of Macomb County Interfaith Center for Inter-racial Justice, Victor Ghalib Begg of Bloomfield Hills, MI., Chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan (CIOM), and Rabbi Dr. Mordehai Waldman of Congregation Beth Tephilath Moses, Mount Clemens, promulgated the following document in support of life across the globe with a press conference March 31, 2008 in the IONA, 28630 Ryan Road, Warren, MI (586) 558 6900:
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IT IS TIME THAT WE AS FAITH LEADERS COME TOGETHER AND CONDEMN THE SENSELESS LOSS OF LIFE ALL AROUND THE WORLD, AND AT HOME.
IT IS TIME FOR ALL FAITHS TO STAND TOGETHER: THE JEWISH PEOPLE HAVE DEEP ROOTS IN IRAQ. ABRAHAM, THE OLD TESTAMENT PATRIARCH, WAS BORN IN THE ANCIENT CITY OF UR, IN WHAT IS NOW SOUTHERN IRAQ. ABRAHAM, THE OLD TESTAMENT PATRIARCH, WAS BORN IN THE ANCIENT CITY OF UR, IN WHAT IS NOW SOUTHERN IRAQ. ABRAHAM FATHERED ISAAC, WHO FATHERED JACOB,WHO WAS RENAMED ISRAEL BY GOD AND PROMISED A NATION. JESUS IS SAID TO HAVE DESCENDED FROM THAT LINE. ABRAHAM'S OTHER SON, ISMAEL, WAS ALSO PROMISED A NATION IN THE BIBLE. HE IS CONSIDERED THE PROGENITOR OF THE ARAB PEOPLES. FROM THE BRANCH OF ISHMAEL, ISLAM'S CENTRAL FIGURE, THE PROPHET MOHAMMED, DESCENDED.

THE TIME HAS COME FOR LEADERS TO STAND TOGETHER IN HOLDING HIGH REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE ACROSS THE GLOBE WHEN SO MUCH CONFLICT, CARNAGE AND HUMAN BLOODSHED MOCKS THE MANDATE OF THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES: "THOU SHALL NOT KILL." THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES: "LOVE ONE ANOTHER." AND, THE ISLAMIC SCRIPTURES; "KILLING AN INNOCENT PERSON UNJUSTLY IS LIKE KILLING ALL MANKIND."

GLOBAL WAR WITH COUNTLESS HUMAN CASUALTIES DEPRESSED AND DEMEANS THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF HUMANS MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE AND LIKENESS. GOD HELPS MORAL LEADERS RISE TOGETHER TO STOP THE CARNAGE ENVELOPED IN A CULTURE OF FEAR HOLDING THE CONSCIENCE OF AMERICA.

CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM MUST STOP KILLING EACH OTHER. NONE OF OUR FAITHS TOLERATE UNJUST KILLING. IT IS REQUIRED BY OUR FAITHS TO STAND UP AGAINST ALL FORMS OF TERROR WHETHER COMMITTED BY INDIVIDUALS OR BY SOVEREIGN STATES. WE MUST CALL FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE ON EARTH. GOD ALMIGHTY EXPECTS US, AS THE CHIDLREN OF ABRAHAM, TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST ACTS OF UNWARRANTED VIOLENCE, NO MATTER WHERE AND BY WHOM.

CERTAINLY, WAR IS THE MOST PRIMITIVE METHOD OF RESOLVING CONFLICTS. WE URGE A NEW ERA OF RECONCILIATION WHERE WE CAN END CONFLICTS BY LOVING PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF ALL ISSUES. GOD LOVES THE PALESTINIANS AND JEWS. HE LOVES MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS. HE LOVES AFRICAN AMERICANS AND WHITES ALIKE.

GOD LOVE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS. WE STAND HERE IN REPENTANCE BECAUSE NONE OF US HAVE DONE ENOUGH TO LOVE EACH OTHER AND RECONCILE WITH ONE ANOTHER. WE PLEDGE TO LIVE UP TO A HIGHER STANDARD AND CALL ON OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. MAY GOD FORGIVE US FOR OUR FAILURES, GUIDE US IN HEALING AND HELP US TO USHER IN A NER ERA OF PEACE.

(Respectfully submitted by the leaders listed above,with hundreds of signatures, and, presented to Pope Benedict XVI, (by G. Victor Begg) during his visit with interfaith representatives when he was in Washington, D.C., in April, 2008.) 















PLEASE SHARE A HINDU, BUDDHIST, JAIN, MUSLIM, SIKH, BAHA'I, SHINTO, AFRICAN, NATIVE AMERICAN, ZOROASTRIAN, JEWISH, CHRISTIAN, OR OTHER PRAYER HERE, OR SEND IT TO ME AT Ventline1@att.net to post for you.

KEEP IT FRESH - YOUR PRAYER, RELATIONSHIPS, LOVE, PLAY, WORK, COMMUNICATIONS.  BE SPIRITED, POSITIVE, AND BUILD BEING BETTER

 
 
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