CC Lay Associates Newsletter

This winter, the themes at our Lay Associates monthly meetings have focused on the four pillars of the spirituality of the Companions of
the Cross. These are:
1. True devotion to Mary (January);
2. Reverence for the Eucharist of
    our Lord (February);
3. Loyalty to the Magisterium
    (March); and coming April 20,
4. Being led and empowered
     by the Holy Spirit.
We have been blessed by our Chaplain Fr. Bryan Sabourin, insights from Fr. Bob Bedard
and Pope Francis, our speaker
Alex Craven, our supportive small groups and Praise Music ministry.

On Friday, April 20, beginning at 6:50 pm at St. Elizabeth Seton,
we will have a special Praise and Adoration evening to open ourselves to the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The evening will include a talk on Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, individual prayer ministry and our Praise Music ministry, and initiation of our newest Lay Associates.

We welcome everyone to join us. The event will begin at 6:50 pm
with music to gather us and end
at 8:30 pm followed by some time
for fellowship. Please come and
see for yourself and invite a friend.

Reflection from Fr. Bryan Sabourin, LA Chaplain

Dear Lay Associates,

Are you looking forward to Spring? Here in the Halifax region,
we haven’t had much of a winter, and from my perspective, that’s something to be thankful for! But the signs of Spring are around
us already, despite recent snow storms. The birds are singing,
the days are getting longer, and Easter is fast approaching.

Spring is a time to look forward to new life, and that is what we celebrate at Easter. Jesus embraced the Father’s will and took
upon Himself the sins of us all, so that we can be set free. Jesus
died for us and rose for us. And through our baptism, and through every decision we make to unite our will to His, we die and rise
with Him.

We are called to be Companions of the Cross. That means we
willingly embrace the cross in our lives, in whatever form it takes.
And we do this not because we want to suffer. We do this because
we know that God uses everything we offer to Him for His glory.
And that our sufferings, in a particular way, are united to those of Jesus on the cross for the salvation of the world.

Just as winter gives way to spring, and the death of Jesus gave
way to the resurrection, our own crosses embraced with love sow
the seeds of new life in the hearts of others. They prepare a new springtime of evangelization. If we couple our offering with a zeal
to share Jesus with others, we have something very powerful to
offer the Lord. We have only to beg the Holy Spirit to go to work
on the people we invite to an encounter with the Lord to say yes
to the new life being offered to them.

And so, my friends, I ask you to offer everything you have for
God’s glory, be it sufferings or joys. Immerse yourself again in
the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Lord isn’t done with
you yet! Let Him continue His work in you, and allow Him to
work through you to reach those who don’t know Him yet.

Praying for a blessed Holy Week, and a glorious Easter season
for you all!

In Christ,
Fr. Bryan