Chris' prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Exalted Forever"

You turned my mourning into dancing

In just one week, it will have been 7 years since my mom passed away unexpectedly. I remember receiving the phone call while I was at work. I remember riding a bus all night to get back home. I remember my entire family in ruins.

And I remember proceeding into her funeral Mass behind the casket. As I did, I looked around and I saw my family and my friends and a bunch of people I didn't even know, all who had come together to pay respects to the wonderful lady my mother was. And I remember smiling during that procession and almost dancing into church that day. For my mother, I had no doubt, would be reunited with her Maker soon and how happy I was to know that.

This is where God's real power lies- His ability to turn mourning into dancing.


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Megan's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Exalted Forever"

The music found at St. Cletus’ noon mass each Sunday is simply wonderful. The music found at each monthly Encounters is amazing. These times finally give me the chance to satisfy my desire, my thoughts of “Oh, I just want to sing your praise.”

I can’t imagine the joy and gratification that comes from a job such as a music minister or a youth minister. Each and every day, as a requirement for their position, they are doing God’s work. Music ministers get to constantly sing God’s praise.

I hope that when I finally grow up and get a real job that I will be able to experience that joy each day. I hope I am blessed with a position that allows me to share that joy with others. It doesn’t have to specifically be a job within the Chruch or ministry, but I hope that I can turn any ordinary job into a chance to show God’s love. To somehow sing his praises each and every day.

Catie's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Exalted Forever"

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands

Last week I was in El Salvador building better houses for a few people who live there. Overall it was an absolutely amazing experience. The last full day we were there, we visited two communities children's centers. The first one we visited, we played with the kids all morning. I have yet to see God as present in people as I did in those kids on Friday morning. I constantly saw Christ present in the people down there all week, but Friday it really hit me. They were all just so excited we were there and so excited to spend time with us. The community that we visited in the afternoon was so welcoming. We didn't get to talk to them much, there was a brief presentation of the history of the children's center, then we did the stations of the cross with them. They were so welcoming and so excited to see us which is something rare here in the states. They didn't know any of us but they loved us just the same. But this is how it is suppose to be. We are suppose to appreciate and love and care for each other no matter what. We are to sing in joyful praise to God for the people he has placed in our lives, because the smallest thing, could be seen as the biggest blessing.