Deacon Bob
Hi! I'm glad you stopped by. I hope my site can be an oasis of information for the different ministries with which I am connected. They range from
Christ Renews His Parish at Our Lady of the Ridge to the Deacon Formation Program. Please feel free to browse my page. If you happen to have a question or comment, click on the link below and send me a note.
Deacon Bob Landuyt
Our Lady of The Ridge Parish
Chicago Ridge, IL
(708) 425-3800 (Parish)
E-mail Deacon Bob
April 3, 2010 Well, its been almost a year and I want to thank all who have helped me and have prayed for me this past year. I know I would not be where I am with out all of your prayers and support. In my first year, I was privileged to baptize many into the family of God, was asked to be the celebrant at the marriage of two of our parishioners, and was given the honor to deliver a few homilies. I have just finished working the 241 Men’s Catholic Cursillo with a few of our parishioners as team. We were also joined by a few parishioners as Candidates who are now Cursillistias. The dates for the next few weekends are as follows: Below is a condensed version from my Good Friday homily. I hope you enjoy. ✝ ✝ ✝ In a sense, Good Friday is Fool's Day. You and I as Catholic Christians are indeed FOOLS for Christ. This is taken from 1st Corinthians: For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. For a Divine Person to leave Heaven, come to Earth, take on a human nature, relinquish His majestic splendor and power to become a man, become subject to His creatures, and most of all to willingly die for their sins which are in reality a rejection of His Divine Dominion in their lives and a rejection of His Will, is considered FOOLISH in the eyes of the world. Catholic Christians, especially, have been called fools for our belief in the Real Presence of the Body & Blood of Christ in the Eucharist; for our obedience to the Pope as the Vicar of Christ; for our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. To follow someone who asked us to "take up our cross" daily, as Fr George said last night, seems foolish. But in the words of the late, great Archbishop Fulton Sheen, to be a Fool for Christ is the greatest compliment the world can give. The doctrine of the Cross is foolishness to those on their way to ruin, but to those of us who are on the way to salvation it is the power of God. The world sees the Cross, Christianity and Catholicism as foolish. It rejects the Moral Law, the sanctity of human life from the womb to the tomb, the power of the Sacraments and the necessity of the Church. The TRUTH of the Cross, the Truth of Good Friday and the Crucifixion is that without the Cross there is NO crown. Without Good Friday there can be NO Easter Sunday. If the world considers Jesus Christ and His Crucifixion folly and if it sees our FAITH as FOOLISH, then we have nothing to fear for our destiny and our final home is NOT this world but the other world of Heaven, where all the The world ignores Christ and His Church. It will certainly laugh at us. Yet, the world will not and CAN NOT save us from our sins, ONLY the Cross of Christ. Michael Card in his song “God’s Own Fool” says it like this: When we in our foolishness thought we were wise "Take up your Cross and follow Me," says the Lord. Better to be taken as a fool and enter Heaven than to be wise and suffer for eternity. The choice is ours and has always been. Lift high the Cross! The love of Christ Proclaimed! Kiss the Crucifix of Christ. Be foolish and embrace the cross of love with LOVE! ✝ ✝ ✝ Again, thank you all so much for your prayers and support. Deacon Bob |
C.R.H.P. Christ Renews His Parish
Christ Renews His Parish or CRHP (pronounced "Chirp"), is a spiritual renewal experience which brings adult parishioners together in small groups in order to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ and each other. Since its beginning in 1969, Christ Renews His Parish has proven to be an effective instrument for spiritual growth in hundreds of parishes across the country. The substance of the weekend is the presentation of a number of talks in which individuals share their faith stories with the participants. Group discussion and response are invited following each presentation. Opportunities for Scripture sharing, Reconciliation, and Eucharist are provided throughout the weekend.
Deacon Formation Program
Back in September of 2005, when I was asked about the Diaconate journey, I responded that I was 100% committed to Aspirancy. One of the deficiencies of my personality is that I would have prejudged this process before I was even in it. I took my first step with the mindset to try and pick out at least one thing new or different in every aspect of this year. By the end of the year, my cup was overflowing. First in the cultural diversity masses, I saw how each group was not only unique, but very similar to each other. The language was different and the atmosphere was unique but each culture had a burning desire for the Eucharist.
I feel the biggest eye-opener was the Bishop’s ministries. The exposure of those less fortunate gave me a sense that we all have stories and situations in our life. It has also showed me we need to partner together so everyone has the dignity we all truly deserve. The best part of this was allowing us to be immersed in their environment. These exposures were not just words. They were experiences. These will stay with me the rest of my life.
So how does this all tie in? This process helped me to realize that I cannot just sit by and watch life go on. There are too many people less fortunate than I and I need to act. I don’t know what God has planned for me. I do know that I cannot be like the servant who buries the Master’s treasure only to return the same amount back to him. God gave me specific abilities and I need to use them to better others I encounter. I cannot just have the faith and sit idly by. “Bob, do you love me…feed my sheep”.
If you want to know more about the program visit the Chicago Archdiocese Deacons web page: Deaconate Formation
The following is a paper I wrote on Marriage:
FIDELITY + INTIMACY + LOVE = MARRIAGE
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Marriage: The Sacrament On April 20, 1980, MaryJo and I promised our lives to each other and every year we celebrate the anniversary of our wedding day. The other 364 days of the year we celebrate the sacrament of our marriage.
Three intersecting complimentary relationships lie at the heart of the sacrament of marriage. First, is the marital relationship. This is the joining of the bride and the groom. The second is the reliance on God shared by the bride and groom. And the third is the bond between the community and the wedding couple.
Marriage is not a series of gradual steps where one vow—like some finite task—is mastered and then left behind. The celebration of the marriage must be woven into the fabric of everyday life as each member, both individually and jointly, seeks to integrate their beings and the will of the Lord.
The Lord God said “It is not good that man should be alone. I will make him a suitable partner.” Genesis 2:18.
Though it may not be good for a person to be alone, no man or woman should unite until the promise of fidelity—for all days to come—can be vowed. The Latin root of “fidelity”, fidelis, boldly announces the promise made in the marriage vows as a vow stitched together with threads of faith in one another and faith in God.
Just as we return again and again to the Eucharist, the husband and wife return to the presence of the Lord in their daily life. Each spouse is a figure of God’s presence and a perpetual source of strength and comfort. In response, each spouse renews and reconsecrates the sacrament each morning, buoyed by constant growth in and with each other and with God. We pledge our obedience to each other and to God.
"So—in the self-forgetfulness of consecrated attention—the door opens for you into a pure living intimacy, A shared, timeless happiness, conveyed by a smile, a wave of a hand."
Dag Hammarskjold—U.N. Secretary General 1953-1957.
I was once told by a wise man that the second most intimate relationship in your life is the one you will have with your spouse. The first is with God. Intimacy is the giving of one's self without reservation. Intimacy in marriage is brought to total completion with the gift of God’s grace. Grace shatters the barriers that try to keep us isolated and alone. Grace gives us the confidence to trust our spouse. Intimacy in the marriage is a direct and uncontrollable result of obedience to each other and to God. Likewise, it is impossible to have intimacy without obedience.
The day of our wedding, Fr. Mike Hack spoke to the congregation and told them, "just because you all helped in getting Bob and MaryJo to this altar, don’t think your job is complete. On the contrary, your job is just starting. They will need your help every day of their lives.
The kingdom of heaven lies along the path of unity. While the path of marriage is often paved with joy, the journey is not always one of ease. A couple's journey needs to be supported by all who have shown them how to love. Jesus sent his apostles out two by two. He did this to show that we will need each other and we will need to depend on each other to bring forth the Kingdom of God. A marriage is no different. As the two become one, they will need the community for support and encouragement."
So, my prayer for a complete marriage comes from the Roman Liturgy:
"May the peace of Christ live always in your hearts and in your home. May you have true friends to stand by you both in joy an in sorrow. May you be ready and willing to help all who come to you in need. And may the blessings promised to the compassionate be yours in abundance."