SANCTUS

SANCTUS2021: The Value of You Presenter: Fr. Daniel Gutierrez Introduction by: Linda Sepulveda #SANCTUS2021 #SANCTUSunmasked “I know, my soul, that while you are loving anything, you are transformed into its likeness.” Hugh of Saint-Victor PSALM 139:1B-7, 11-14 LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. You sift through my travels and my rest; with all my ways you are familiar. Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all. Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, far too lofty for me to reach. Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee? If I say, “Surely darkness shall hide me, and night shall be my light” Darkness is not dark for you, and night shines as the day. Darkness and light are but one. You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know PRE-VIDEO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Psalm 139 speaks of the wonder of each and every one of us, of you. What does it mean to you that God knows everything about you, that you are “wonderfully made?” If you believe that God does know everything about you, how could this lessen the shame or guilt we may sometimes feel when we come before God as we are? If “darkness is not dark for [God]” what does that say about where God is when we feel darkness, dryness, or isolation from His presence? POST-VIDEO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Fr. Daniel references these lyrics from the Christmas hymn, O Holy Night: “Then He appeared, and the soul felt its worth.” What do you think it means for your soul to feel its worth? What do you think it means when Fr. Daniel says that Christianity isn’t just about being good, but that it is about believing that we are loved? Do you agree with him? How can you promote the light of self-worth? How can you shine brilliantly? (i.e., through social media, when spending time with friends, within your family, etc.)

SANCTUS2021: You Do You Presenter: Fr. Michael Niemczak Introduction by: Linda Sepulveda #SANCTUS2021​ #SANCTUSunmasked​ Fr. Michael explores the importance and process of discovering our authentic self and discerning who God calls us to be and what God calls us to do in our unique vocation as individuals loved by Him. “In the hidden recesses of the human heart, the grace of a vocation takes the form of a dialogue. It is a dialogue between Christ and an individual, in which a personal invitation is given. Christ calls the person by name and says: “Come, follow me.” This call, this mysterious inner voice of Christ, is heard most clearly in silence and prayer. Its acceptance is an act of faith.” St. Pope John Paul II LUKE 5:1-11 While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. PRE-VIDEO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Place yourself in this Scripture passage, this story of Jesus calling Simon Peter to follow Him. What do you think you would have done in response to this miracle? Why do you think Simon fell to his knees and said to Jesus, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man?” What does Jesus’ response to Simon say about those He calls to follow him? Do you trust that Jesus calls you even in your own brokenness? POST-VIDEO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Fr. Michael poses the question: “Who am I when I sit alone in silence?” How might you answer this today? Fr. Michael speaks about looking more deeply into who we really are to find who God is calling us to be. What are the barriers you have to exploring those parts of yourself? Who in your life would you consider friends and/or mentors who can “reveal to you aspects of who you are that you might be blind to,” who can or who is already journeying with you spiritually?

SANCTUS2021: Living What You Believe Presenter: Antonio Gonzales Introduction by: Taylor Kingston Gonzalez #SANCTUS2021 #SANCTUSunmasked We know we are all called by God to serve Him in this world. God invites us to build the Kingdom even in our public life. We are often distracted by the expectations placed on us by society and our peers. It can be difficult to know who we are when society tells us to be someone we are not. Knowing the values that guide our life is an important part of discerning our path. The closer we are to God, the clearer it is to understand how He wants us to use our lives to help transform our world. We are called to serve our neighbors in this life in a way that keeps us mindful of the life to come. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 Excerpts from PASTORAL CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD GAUDIUM ET SPES PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS, POPE PAUL VI ON DECEMBER 7, 1965 4. . . As happens in any crisis of growth, [cultural and social] transformation has brought serious difficulties in its wake. Thus while man extends his power in every direction, he does not always succeed in subjecting it to his own welfare. Striving to probe more profoundly into the deeper recesses of his own mind, he frequently appears more unsure of himself. 11. The People of God believes that it is led by the Lord's Spirit, Who fills the earth. Motivated by this faith, it labors to decipher authentic signs of God's presence and purpose in the happenings, needs and desires in which this People has a part along with other men of our age. For faith throws a new light on everything, manifests God's design for man's total vocation, and thus directs the mind to solutions which are fully human. 45. While helping the world and receiving many benefits from it, the Church has a single intention: that God's kingdom may come, and that the salvation of the whole human race may come to pass. For every benefit which the People of God during its earthly pilgrimage can offer to the human family stems from the fact that the Church is "the universal sacrament of salvation",(24) simultaneously manifesting and exercising the mystery of God's love. PRE-VIDEO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What are the crises of our current time and the difficulties that they present? What are the expectations placed on you? What do they ask you to prioritize? Are these the things God would want you to prioritize in your life? How does knowing that your choices and actions are not just for yourself, but for building up the coming of God’s Kingdom, change how you approach the decisions you make each day? POST-VIDEO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What pressures exist for you that might be hindering your ability to discern how God is calling you? As our pilgrimages of life continue, how can you turn yourself over to the will of God today? What is your “North Star of Equity,” or how do you determine fairness in your social settings (i.e., home, school, work, etc.)? What are the values that ground your life?