Come Explore the Worry Free Zone! (update)

Sunday Gospel of Matthew 6:24

Are you stressed out? Do you worry about the future?

This past Sunday we explored some ideas on how we can get into a Worry Free Zone this Lent. In our Gospel we hear Jesus teaching us how to live our lives - without worrying so much! We tend to worry about all sorts of things that don't really matter, and the worrying doesn't help us live a more passionate life or enjoy a single second more of our life, it actually brings us down.

In order to stop worrying about things - I like to use what I call the MIG Method.
It stands for Mindful, Intentional and Grateful.

Mindfulness is about slowing down and having a greater sense of focus about life. This Lent I am going to try to be more mindful by putting my iPhone away when I am with someone. I tend to have it out all the time, checking emails, or texts or Facebook, and it distracts me from being really present for the people who I am talking to. I'm not going to worry about what might be on my iPhone and I am going to make a more conscious effort to really focus on the people around me.

Intentional means saying a big YES and being deliberate and purposeful about decisions. And when we say YES, it also means saying NO to many other things. For me, I have wanted to listen to some incredible lectures given by Father Richard Rohr that are on CD, but I find that I never get to them because I waste so much time watching ridiculous things on TV when I come home from work. So I'm going to try to not worry about what I might be missing on TV and hopefully I will  actually finally listen to these great CD's and experience something really  transformational in my spirituality this Lent.

Gratitude is truly the antidote to worry and stress. You can't be filled with gratitude and worried or stressed out at the same time! I've noticed that when I come home from work I talk to my wife about all the stress and bad things that happened that day. For Lent I am going to stop worrying about whatever may have gone wrong at work and instead focus on being grateful for the sacrament of my marriage. I've been blessed to be married to my best friend, soul mate and lover for 33 years (this July 11th) and I am going to focus on how grateful I am to have Stacey in my life and what a blessing she is to me.

So this Lent I am giving up worrying!

I hope that you and your family come up with some great ideas that will make the 40 days of Lent a time of great peace and meditation and transformation in your life. And I'd love to hear what you are doing this Lent so feel free to send me an email at danny@deacondanny.com or to post something on the Deacon Danny Facebook!

Blessings to you and your family!
Grace + Peace,
Danny Amos

Great Concert on Sunday Night March 16th

On Sunday night March 16th there is going to be a great concert of some of the musicians whose music we hear almost every Sunday at the 5:00 mass. These three incredible musicians are in town for the Religious Education Congress and have joined forces to play an awesome gig on Sunday night at St. Agustine's Church in Culver City across from the Sony Studio. Chris Fagan is the pastor there. He is a former St. Paul's parishioner and a super incredible guy!  
BUY TICKETS HERE

Radical Compassion: Richard Rohr

Father Richard Rohr, a man of radical compassion, gives an insightful interview.
Listen to the interview by clicking here.
Richard Rohr is the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation.

Feb.14th Great Reading From St. Paul!

In today's Liturgy of the Hours there is a powerful and beautiful reading from St. Paul.
He tells us:

Never let evil words pass your lips;
Say only the good things that people need to hear; things that will really help them.

Do nothing that will sadden the Holy Spirit;
Get rid of all bitterness, anger, harsh words, slander and malice of every kind.

In place of these, be kind to one another, compassionate and mutually forgiving, 
just as God has forgiven you.

Beautiful words to live by today and every day.
May our hearts be filled with love today.
Happy Valentines Day!

Welcome St. Paul's New Principal!

St. Paul's is pleased to announce its new school principal Mr. Rick Billups.
Here is the introduction provided by Pastor John Ardis:

St. Paul's New Principal Mr. Rick Billups

Dear St. Paul`s Community:

Following a thoughtful and deliberate 18-month search, the Principal Search Committee (PSC) has made a unanimous recommendation and I have selected the new principal for St. Paul the Apostle School.  I am pleased to announce that Mr. Richard Billups, Associate Principal and Dean of Faculty at St. Monica Catholic High School, Santa Monica, has accepted the offer and will assume the role of principal on July 1, 2014.

A life-long educator, Mr. Billups has more than 16 years of experience in Los Angeles Archdiocesan Catholic Education, including seven years of elementary school and five years of high school administrative experience. He has taught throughout his administrative career and been a CYO-certified coach for 18 years. He is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, with Masters’ degrees in both Education and Catholic School Administration.

When the PSC launched its national search for a new principal it faced a daunting challenge. Sister Stella has been at St. Paul the Apostle School for 47 years. It would be impossible to estimate the number of lives she has inspired or number of students she has mentored in her role as principal. It is thanks to her that the PSC could set the bar so high.

Mr. Billups was selected after an extensive nationwide search. The PSC, comprised of school and parish leaders, examined a pool of qualified individuals from all over the country. After a thorough review, it began selective interviews of the most promising candidates. It invited three finalists to meet individually with Sister Stella and me, as well as key constituency groups on campus, including representative of the faculty and staff, School Board and school parents at large.

After incorporating the feedback from these groups and consulting with the Archdiocese, as well as much prayerful consideration, it was clear that Mr. Billups was the ideal candidate to lead St. Paul the Apostle School as its new principal.

Mr. Billups looks forward to working closely with Sister Stella over the coming months so that together they may ensure a smooth transition.

In the months ahead, as we prepare for the transition, we also will be preparing to celebrate Sister Stella and her nearly five decades of service to the school. You will be hearing more about a number of events that are being planned to help the community show our appreciation for her.

Thank you all for your support and prayers during this principal search. I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to the members of the PSC for their hard work, dedication and integrity. I am excited to embrace a future of continued growth and innovation at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Community.

Yours in faith,

Rev John Ardis CSP
Pastor

Sycamore and Romaine!

Thank you to the St. Paul's volunteers who came out this month to serve a hot meal to those in need at Sycamore and Romaine!

Theo, Penny, Gillian, Dan, Ted and Rick
were a fantastic crew! 

Rick is not only a great usher at St. Paul's
he also is an expert at serving soup! 

The Theo, Gillian and Dan fed everyone! 

The GWHFC truck was our headquarters. 

The service was fast and the food was fantastic! 

And when we were finished serving, we took hundreds of cans of food and
tons of bags of rice and pasta back to the GWHFC kitchen.
All of te food came from the generous donations that St. Paul's
parishioners leave each Sunday in our church food donation baskets.  
Thanks again to all of our volunteers!
Hope to see you next month at Sycamore and Romaine! 

A Super Baptism!

Congratulations to little Conner Quinn who was baptized on Super Bowl Sunday! And blessings to his parents Kevin and Katie and all the family who came in from North Carolina for this special celebration!