March Meeting Recap

Hi Connect!

How are you?

Here's a recap of our March meeting. Great food for our potluck once again! Phil led the discussion on why we do not eat meat on Fridays. He played a podcast from "Catholic Stuff You Should Know". It started out weird talking about capybara,the largest rodent in the world, but it was informative and relevant by the end. =) Latin word for meat is carne, livestock that is hunted. Fish is separate, piscis. 

Abstinence vs fasting. Abstinence is the quality of the type of food. Abstinence is practiced all Fridays especially during Lent.  Christ gave up His flesh for us. So to prepare for His offering, we practice giving up of flesh on Fridays to unite with Christ's sacrifice spiritually. Fasting is the the quantity, refraining from certain amounts of food or meals, especially on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday. Fasting cleanses the soul, exercises prudence, the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. The reason for abstinence and fasting is ultimately doing a penance, asking forgiveness and acting on it. We should purify our attachments, in order to be filled with spiritual joy with Christ.

I hope this helps you better understand our Friday ritual! Thanks Phil for sharing the podcast!

Our next meeting is on April 2nd at 7 PM. Suzanne will lead the discussion on Easter.

Our next community service event is on April 27th with OPERATION: Sack Lunch in Seattle from 2-6:30. I'd like some ideas on donation gifts to give to the Compass Center Chapel, to give spiritual encouragement to the homeless men. I found bookmarks, coins, pocket prayer books, rosaries at the Alleluia! Catholic Store. We could also print up everyone's favorite prayer or psalm. Anyone have a laminating machine? 

I hope to see you at the next meeting!

God Bless!

Reggie