jesus_shepherd We are part of the Catholic Community of Good Shepherd Church in Montrose. This site was created to give you resources to help you in your daily walk with God and to keep you up to date on the latest news and information about our Youth Group events, activities and meetings.

We meet Sunday evenings from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Youth Room at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Montrose, unless otherwise noted on the CALENDAR. All high school teens are welcome to join us. Feel free to bring a friend. Our gatherings include: food, fun, faith-sharing, learning, games and friendship.

We hope you enjoy your visit and encourage you to check back often for updates!

high school teens join us for faith, fun, friendship and food Sunday’s 6-8 p.m.

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Want to know what Youth Group is all about? Check out our GSYG: About Us page!

Upcoming Events

High School Graduation Mass, Sunday, May 19 at 11:15 a.m., reception in Family Life Center to follow with cake
*please let Jesi or the parish office know if you would like to participate by Monday, May 13.

Senior Night, Sunday, May 19, 6-8 p.m. (New members are invited to come) *last YG until Fall

Youth Group News

Congratulations to our Graduating Seniors! Owen Hillard, Maddy Mahon, and Megan Powell “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 On May 19th, we will be honoring our graduates at our “Senior […]

Senior Appreciation Night

Youth Group High School Seniors are invited to leave their “mark” on a ceiling tile in the youth room at our “Senior Appreciation Night” May 19th at 6-8 pm. This will also be “Welcome Night” for our 8th grade Confirmation students, (future youth group members). Come share a special meal and fun time with us […]

Graduation Mass

On Sunday, May 19th at 11:15 a.m. we will have our Graduation Mass for High School Seniors. Graduates are invited to wear their cap and gown. Seniors are: Madison Mahon, Owen Hillard, Megan Powell. Please inform the youth or parish office if you plan to attend – we will print the names of […]

Saint Bernardine of Siena

Saint Bernadine of Siena | Vincenzo Foppa — Image: Saint Bernadine of Siena | Vincenzo Foppa

Saint Bernardine of Siena

Saint of the Day for May 20

(September 8, 1380 – May 20, 1444)

Saint Bernardine of Siena’s Story

Most of the saints suffer great personal opposition, even persecution. Bernardine, by contrast, seems more like a human dynamo who simply took on the needs of the world.

He was the greatest preacher of his time, journeying across Italy, calming strife-torn cities, attacking the paganism he found rampant, attracting crowds of 30,000, following St. Francis of Assisi’s admonition to preach about “vice and virtue, punishment and glory.”

Compared with Saint Paul by the pope, Bernardine had a keen intuition of the needs of the time, along with solid holiness and boundless energy and joy. He accomplished all this despite having a very weak and hoarse voice, miraculously improved later because of his devotion to Mary.

When he was 20, the plague was at its height in his hometown of Siena. Sometimes as many as 20 people died in one day at the hospital. Bernardine offered to run the hospital and, with the help of other young men, nursed patients there for four months. He escaped the plague, but was so exhausted that a fever confined him for several months. He spent another year caring for a beloved aunt whose parents had died when he was a child, and at her death began to fast and pray to know God’s will for him.

At 22, he entered the Franciscan Order and was ordained two years later. For almost a dozen years he lived in solitude and prayer, but his gifts ultimately caused him to be sent to preach. He always traveled on foot, sometimes speaking for hours in one place, then doing the same in another town.

Especially known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, Bernardine devised a symbol—IHS, the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek—in Gothic letters on a blazing sun. This was to displace the superstitious symbols of the day, as well as the insignia of factions: for example, Guelphs and Ghibellines. The devotion spread, and the symbol began to appear in churches, homes and public buildings. Opposition arose from those who thought it a dangerous innovation. Three attempts were made to have the pope take action against him, but Bernardine’s holiness, orthodoxy, and intelligence were evidence of his faithfulness.

General of the Friars of the Strict Observance, a branch of the Franciscan Order, Bernardine strongly emphasized scholarship and further study of theology and canon law. When he started there were 300 friars in the community; when he died there were 4,000. He returned to preaching the last two years of his life, dying while traveling.

Reflection

Another dynamic saint once said, “…I will not be a burden, for I want not what is yours, but you…. I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your sakes” (2 Corinthians 12:14). There is danger that we see only the whirlwind of activity in the Bernardines of faith—taking care of the sick, preaching, studying, administering, always driving—and forget the source of their energy. We should not say that Bernardine could have been a great contemplative if he had had the chance. He had the chance, every day, and he took it.

Saint Bernardine of Siena is the Patron Saint of:

Advertising
Gambling
Italy
Public relations

The post Saint Bernardine of Siena appeared first on Franciscan Media.

Author: Franciscan Media

Posted: May 20, 2019, 12:00 am