novena « Oddwalk Ministries

Category: novena

August 5, 2009

Happy Feast Day!

by oddwalk — Categories: catholicism, Mary, novena, shrine — Leave a comment

Today, August 5th, is the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows, known today as the Dedication of the Mary Major Basilica in Rome.

And so, today, we celebrate Mary as Mother of God. The Mary Major Basilica was built to honor this very fact, and was the first church built in honor of and thusly named for Our Lady. It is on Esquiline Hill, the site of the legendary apparition of Our Lady of the Snows. We thank Mary for being the first “sacred vessel” to contain the body and blood of Christ, and for her giving spirit in presenting him to us. We see this too in the representation of Our Lady of the Snows, presenting to us both Christ and his message of Healing and Hope.

May we all take a moment today, those whose lives are connected through employment, vows, or some other way to Our Lady of the Snows (or indeed Mary under any title), and in that moment, rejoice and be thankful for all that is good in our lives. May we also respond as Mary did, in welcoming the many chances each day to present Christ to the world, and be thankful for these opportunities.

May Our Lady of the Snows continue to watch over us and pray for us. May we, in the spirit of her son, Jesus, share the healing and the hope with all that we may meet.

Happy Feast Day! Our Lady of the Snows, pray for us!

July 31, 2009

Our Lady of the Snows Novena

by oddwalk — Categories: catholicism, friends, liturgy, ministry, novena, oddwalkia, prayer, shrine — Leave a comment

Hey all, sorry for the slow posting again during the busy summer. On July 28, the annual Our Lady of the Snows Healing and Hope Novena began, which has been keeping Orin busy (so, theoretically out of trouble).

Tomorrow, Saturday night, Oddwalk leads the music ministry at a mass which will also include sacramental anointing of the sick. 7:30pm, please drop by the Shrine if you can!

If you can’t, the Shrine is posting homilies from each night online. Also, you might note that each night isn’t celebrated in the context of Mass this year, something unusual, but so far a fruitful endeavor. Tonight (Friday) is adoration and benediction, with Oddwalk friend Matthew Baute leading the music. Should be special!

Join us in prayer up until the feast day, August 5!

July 27, 2009

Nuns on the Run, etc.

by oddwalk — Categories: catholicism, novena, odd, YNIA — Leave a comment

An OMI friend of Orin’s (Thabang) shared this with him last week – apparently reported by the BBC:

Nuns on the run at triple speed limit

A Roman Catholic nun has been caught speeding at 180 kilometres per hour in Italy.

Her speed was more than three times the limit, and the nun was not travelling alone – there were two other sisters in the car at the time.

The nun told police she was anxious to be by Pope Benedict’s side at his holiday home in northern Italy, where he is recovering from an injured wrist.

- BBC

Don’t forget to check out many YNIA pics in out twitter feed, down in the sidebar, or just follow @oddwalk – we both had great weeks, no Orin is gearing up for the Our Lady of the Snows Novena, and Oddwalk will be there for the Saturday Night mass coming up! Please come join us in prayer.

August 5, 2008

Happy Feast of Our Lady of the Snows

by oddwalk — Categories: novena, prayer — Leave a comment

Hello all – we write to all of you on this August 5th, 2008, the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows, known today as the Dedication of the Mary Major Basilica in Rome.

The early Church was often struggling in its theology, and one of the first debates was on the very nature of Jesus: was he a man, was he God, or was he somehow both earthly and spiritual? Jesus, uniquely, is fully God (part of the Holy Trinity) but yet Son of both God and of Adam and Eve, through Mary – fully human.And so, today, we celebrate Mary as Mother of God. The Mary Major Basilica was built to honor this very fact, and was the first church built in honor of and thusly named for Our Lady. We thank Mary for being the first “sacred vessel” to contain the body and blood of Christ, and for her giving spirit in presenting him to us. We see this too in the representation of Our Lady of the Snows, presenting to us both Christ and his message of Healing and Hope.

May we all take a moment today, those whose lives are connected through employment, vows, or some other way to Our Lady of the Snows (her Shrine is where Orin is music and liturgy coordinator) or any other title of Mary, and in that moment, rejoice and be thankful for all that is good in our lives.

Happy Feast Day!

Pilgrims pay homage to a cross constructed of prayers for healing and hope.

Pilgrims receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick while Karl Z and the band lead the sung prayer. Oddwalk also played last night at the novena.

August 1, 2008

Come Pray With Us

by oddwalk — Categories: novena, prayer, shrine — Leave a comment

This coming Monday, as part of the ongoing Healing and Hope Novena at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL, Oddwalk will lead the music for Mass, beginning at 7:30pm.

The Mass, being held in the Church of Our Lady of the Snows, will feature Fr. Jeff Vomund as the main celebrant and homilist. Some of you may know Fr. Vomund as the producer and host of Faith Matters, a bi-monthly television program for KMOV in St. Louis as well as regular guest on the Dave Glover Show in the “Priest and the Rabbi” segment for 97.1 FM Talk, also in St. Louis.

Following Mass, there will be a candlelight rosary procession.

Hope you can join us!

July 28, 2008

2008 Healing and Hope Novena to Our Lady of the Snows

by oddwalk — Categories: novena — Leave a comment

Orin coordinates the liturgies for this annual event at the Shrine, the Healing and Hope Novena. Each night we celebrate mass at 7:30 with a specially-picked presider and homilist, good music ministry, meaningful ritual, and communal prayer. Each night has a different focus, i.e. Finding Healing and Hope within… Physical Infirmities, The Loss of a Loved One, Spiritual Difficulties, etc. The 9 nights of prayer lead up to August 5th, which is the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows.

Oddwalk and friends are providing music ministry the night of August 4, Finding Healing and Hope within Social Injustices. Please join Orin and many others in prayer at the Shrine July 28 to August 5, 7:30 each night, come for any or all.