Letters from a Young Catholic #4/Psalm 51 today - "A clean heart create for me, O God..." - +JMJ+

A picture taken a couple years ago of Therese with her baby sister, Magdalene.  Therese is the oldest and now 15 going on 16 next month, and Maggie is #7 in their family and will be 3 in May.  Therese is such a loving and caring oldest girl in their military family and has probably changed more diapers than her mom on the last 3 siblings.  

A month ago we made cards for the First Vows of Little Brother David at St Joseph's Cathedral in Kansas City, KS.  David is blind so we made cards that he can feel - Therese made a beautiful 3D Monstrance with Jesus.  

She added some beautiful flowers in the background.  They will have to be described to David as he will be unable to see them or feel them.  Therese even learned brail and wrote Holy, Holy, Holy with hot glue spots on the paper.  

I just read the latest newsletter that Therese and her friends wrote called Letters from a Young Catholic Volume 4.  Such wonderful sharing by young girls filled with love and Faith for their Catholic Church!  

LettersFromAYoungCatholic_Jan_2024.pdf  Here is her Editorial from the Newsletter

Letter from the Editor 

Appreciating the little things 

Dear Reader, It is the first month of the new year, and I have resolved to appreciate the little things. As Saint John Chrysostom said, “Why not learn to enjoy the little things - there are so many of them.” When it comes to the “little things”, there is nowhere easier to find them than around small children. One comical innocent moment I found in my life was the other day when my youngest brother, Hector, broke a saint statue. One of his sisters was quick to announce, “He dropped it again!”, for this was the second time in less than a day. He responded at the top of his lungs, “ It was a OOOPSIDENT”. How cute is that! We laughed about it for days, and it still is a family joke. It was a simple phrase, and yet gave me such joy. God gives us a life and it is full of so many things. Let us not focus so much on our busy-ness that we forget to notice and be thankful for the little things. Even the “oopsidents”! 

Christus regnat, Therese Librande 

Thérèse is a sophomore in high school who is often found babysitting, water coloring, or working on her many projects, one of which is this newsletter. She is the eldest of seven energetic siblings and a military kid who has lived in over ten states. She currently resides in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

Therese with her dad, Major Joseph, who is a Major in the Army and a JAG officer.  

Mom, our 3rd daughter, Maria Theresa, loves her books!  She moves an entire room of books with each move they make.  Last year they lived in Charlottesville, VA, and next year they will be going to Fort Riley, KS.  For Riley is 2 hours further into Kansas and away from Kansas City where our Community of the Lamb is located.  We will still visit both girls when we travel down there.

A new page and author they have added this month!  

Future Opportunities

 Franciscan 

Phoebe Borden 

For the first of our articles about future opportunities, I chose to check out Franciscan University of Steubenville. First, and most importantly, I have found that Franciscan University is Catholic. With each residence hall having a Eucharistic Chapel, four daily Mass times, and twenty-four-hour adoration at their chapel, there can be no doubt. Bridget Nohara, Admissions Communication Manager says, “Franciscan offers confession 5 nights a week, with lines out the door! Our students stay very close to the Sacraments.” Every year at Franciscan University’s opening Mass, the President’s cabinet and faculty members take the “Oath of Fidelity”. This is an oath to the Magisterium of the Church. Bridget Nohara says, “Students and families can be assured that everything taught at Franciscan University is of sound doctrine.” So, Franciscan University is truly Catholic, but how is it as a place to learn? Some of their most well-known courses are Theology and Philosophy. They also offer courses in nursing, communications arts, business, and over forty academic majors. With a required GPA of 2.4 on a 4.0 scale, we can be sure Franciscan wants to give as many people the chance to learn as possible. Financial Perks offered consist of merit-based scholarships, commuter student grants, sibling and legacy student discounts, and international student grants, among others. What about the life of a student? What is their community like? Bridget Nohara states that the Catholic community is thriving. Students sign up for Adoration at all hours of the day and attend Mass and confession often. Along with being a Catholic and educated community, there are many extracurricular events. Franciscan has a long list of academic organizations, including a Computer Science Club, Mathematics Club, and Philosophy Club, not to mention their sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis, and several gender-specific sports. Franciscan University seems to be a beautiful, thriving, Catholic, educational, and exciting University! 

* Thank you to Bridget Nohara for answering my questions. 

Phoebe Borden has been a Catholic and military kid all her life. She enjoys writing, sports, singing, and spending time with Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist 

They are currently living on base in Fort Leavenworth, KS.  We can stay with them on base and travel 40 minutes to visit our nun in the heart of the poor in Kansas City, KS.  It has been wonderful to share time with both of our girls!  

A very special sharing by Keira about her encounter with God at a amazing Catholic Youth Retreat put on by her parish!  Wow!  So powerful and beautiful!  

Personal Encounter With God

Keira Borden

 I had the opportunity to go on a Catholic youth retreat with my parish in November. It was an exciting 4-day experience filled with games, hiking, laughing, and most importantly, prayer. Every day we had Mass, the rosary, the divine mercy chaplet, and my favorite, adoration and benediction. When God was in the monstrance, we would listen to important talks about letting God guide us, on obedience, and love for our parents. On the last night that we were there, we had a truly heartfelt talk about allowing God past the walls in our hearts, about letting him truly be there with us. At the end of the talk, the priest walked around the room with Jesus in the monstrance, blessing each and every one of us, including the chaperones. It was a beautiful experience, with Jesus right in front of me. I was able to look right at Him and let the brick walls I had formed around my heart crumble. Ever since then, I feel I have had a different relationship with God. He is no longer this person that just created me and showed me love. I now know that He is my best friend, my Father, the man I can always talk to, no matter the time of day or where I am. Jesus is that same man to you as well, if not already. He loves us all deeply and is waiting for us all to accept him in our hearts. It's not always easy, but it is amazing once you do. 

Keira Borden is a 15-year-old military child, who loves the Extraordinary form of the liturgy, art, coffee, and her cat, Ben. 

Well, I could go on and on with many other wonderful articles by these strong Catholic young girls, but please take the time to read the others.  

Farmer Pat with a stack of books Nancy left from her ministry Catholic Sprouts.  Welcome - Catholic Sprouts  Pat is excited to take them to our Catholic School to be in the library for the students to use.  Rosary, Saints, Social teachings and many more.

The Psalm from Mass today is Psalm 51 - an amazing penitential Psalm for Lent!  It is worth sharing the entire thing here today as it is an amazing prayer request!  

Responsorial Psalm PS 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19

R. (19b) A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.  

For my friend, David, who shared that the Catholic radio station suggested that you repeat this over and over and basically memorize it as a prayer.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 33 plus many little sisters and little brothers.    

Catholic Social Teaching!  Thanks Pat and Nancy for all you do to help parents raise strong Catholic children in your family/home/domestic Church.  We must begin to teach the faith in our homes!  St JPII shared that we are a domestic Church in our homes where we live and share the Faith!  

Pat took the stack of books to the school where they were gratefully received.

Danielle Rose