Ministries & Services ... 

The following are the list of ministries and services I offer…

A. Misíon Encontrándome con Cristo…Mateo 25... Mission Outreach in Guatemala

Missionary Prayer

Almighty Lord, Father of Jesus, Your first missionary,

You poured out your Spirit on the first disciples,

empowering them to preach the Gospel to all nations.

Almighty Lord, Father of all missionaries,

help me to be a missionary in spirit and in truth, in word and in deed

Give me and my brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world

Your Spirit today

so that we may sow the truth of the Gospel in all hearts

and proclaim your kingdom of justice, compassion and peace to the ends of the earth, especially in Estancia Grande, Guatemala

Bless all our works and efforts,

Bless La Mision Encontrándome con Cristo

and

call many missionaries to join in this mission;

may we never forget

our brother and sisters in Guatemala

Such is my prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Goal:

The greatest commandment of the law is to love God with one’s whole heart and one’s neighbor as oneself (Mt. 22:37-40). Christ has made this love of the neighbor His personal commandment and has enriched it with a new meaning. “When you showed it to one of the least of my brothers and sisters here, you did it to ME” (Mt. 25:40).

Objectives:

1. To Bring LOVE …

“Charitable action today can and should reach all people and all needs. Wherever men are to be found who are in want of food and drink, of clothing, housing, medicine, work, education, the means necessary for leading a truly human life, wherever there are men racked by misfortune or illness, men suffering exile or imprisonment, Christian charity should go in search of them and find them out, comfort them with devoted care and give them the help that will relieve their needs…” (Vatican Council II, Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People Apostolicam Actuositatem, 18 November 1965, chapter II, p. #8 (Charitable Works and Social Aid)

2. To Encounter LOVE…

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:34-40).

The Mission & Invitation

 Charitable action today can and should reach all people and all needs. Wherever men are to be found who are in want of food and drink, of clothing, housing, medicine, work, education, the means necessary for leading a truly human life, wherever there are men racked by misfortune or illness, men suffering exile or imprisonment, Christian charity should go in search of them and find them out, comfort them with devoted care and give them the help that will relieve their needs…” (Vatican Council II, Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People Apostolicam Actuositatem, 1965, c.II, p.8)

+Encounters Christ through our poor brothers and sisters in Guatemala

+Fosters a missionary spirit by going to the mission in Guatemala and work in the village of Estancia Grande

 +Offers medical aid when doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are willing to come and be available

 +Shares the Love of Christ through simple acts of cleaning, building, teaching, playing, praying and worshipping

The CAll... 

Jesus Christ was born poor, lived poor, and died poor. He loved the poor. In His kingdom the poor have a special place. The Church cannot be any different. She must be ever more fully aware of her fundamental duty to reflect in her life and action the very love with which God loves His creatures. For what is at stake is the mystery of God’s love as explained in the First Letter of John: "We, for our part, love because He first loved us” (1Io. 4, 19). All service has its first moment in God. ... Service to the needy not only builds up social harmony, it reveals God, our Father, the Rescuer of the oppressed. In the Old Testament it was God’s love for his people that decreed a special concern, for the stranger, the widow and the orphan. As God had treated His people, so were they to treat others.   John Paul II Catholic Charities, 1987.

Please send me more information on “I am encountering My Christ Mission”

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Frequently Asked Question

La Mision Encontrándome con Cristo Guatemala Mission

WHO: Interested individuals who are willing to share and sacrifice their time, talent and resources, for example, caring adults, young people, teachers, doctors, nurses, medical professionals —- everyone who is willing to work in a mission area.

WHY: The greatest commandment of God is to love God with one’s whole heart and one’s neighbor as oneself (Mt. 22:37-40). Christ has made this love of the neighbor His personal commandment and has enriched it with a new meaning “when you showed it to one of the least of my brothers and sisters here, you did it to ME” (Mt. 25:40); by going to a mission we spread this love of Jesus and foster the missionary spirit.

WHEN: The date in 2012 has been scheduled for June 22, 2012 – July 1, 2012.  Generally, the mission is scheduled during the last week of June. 

WHERE: Cahabon. Guatemala is surrounded by volcanoes, many are active, so you can just imagine how beautiful the country is —- surrounded with beautiful plants, flowers, and lagunas, etc.  Guatemala is filled with a rich history and interesting stories.  The normal temperature in the months of June and July is about 75-85 degrees, but it is lower in the other parts of the country. We will fly into Guatemala City, and travel by van/bus to mission area.

WHAT: What to expect, what to bring, etc….  As we get closer to the date of the mission, we will have at least two mandatory meetings with fellow missionaries to offer us an opportunity to meet one another and to answer questions that you may still have. All missionaries are expected to attend these important meetings.

HOW MUCH: Participation in this opportunity to help others and go to a 8-10 days mission will require personal sacrifices in regards to the expenses that will be incurred by you, my fellow missionaries:

          Approximate airfare:  $850.00-950.00

Very simple shared dormitory and meals: $175.00

       Land Transportation: $125.00

          Mission Cross: $5.00

          Missionary Shirt: $15.00

Extra: Since we will be there already, we will try to visit some interesting spots in the country during our Tourist Day.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Please call Fr. Robert-Joel Cruz at 985-633-2903

Our Lady of Prompt Succor

529 HWY 20

Thibodaux, LA 70301

admin@fatherrobertcruz.com

B. Pax Christi Healing Ministry 

“The purpose of the Pax Christi Healing Ministry is simple.  Understanding that Jesus came to heal His people, the main goal of this ministry is to bring the healing message of the Gospel, the message of healing prayer to the world — both by teaching and by actually praying for the sick, so that every person throughout the world may understand this message.” (From Christian Healing Ministries, McNutt)

Ministries and Services:

+ Healing Mass and Services: every 3rd Thursday of the Month. We begin by praying the holy rosary at  6:30pm and the Holy Mass starts at 7pm, Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church, 529 HWY 20, Thibodaux, LA 70301, (985)633-2903

+  December 15, 2011

 + January 19, 2012

+  February 16, 2012 

+  March 15, 2012

+  April - No Healing 

+ May17, 2012

+Home Healing Services: upon request       

C. Deliverance Ministry

Most of us experience some degree of negative circumstances in our life. For many, however, the negative emotions have become an oppressive, destructive force that dominates our existence. For example, anger, rage, and lust, etc. We do things we don’t want to do, and act in ways that are contrary to who we are – children of God. It seems that we are struggling against forces stronger than ourselves.

Sometimes, the problems are more than just bad habits and destructive behavior.

DELIVERANCE MINISTRY AND PRAYER OF LIBERATION, which is part of our Pax Christi Healing Ministry, wishes to help you break the bondages, curses, generational problems and torment. We have learned that sometimes the problem is spiritual, and not just in our minds, bodies or personalities.

We have found freedom, healing and renewal through spiritual authority!

Our Mission is born out of Luke 4:18-19

MINISTRY Includes but not limited to

Ø  Sessions on Deliverance & Prayer of Liberation

Ø  Spiritual Canopy Prayer

Ø  Prayer of Protection

Ø  Prayer of Forgiveness

Ø  Breaking Curses

Ø  Renouncing Occult

Ø  Breaking ungodly ties

Ø  Prayer for healing of emotional wounds

Ø  Prayer of Healing

Ø  Deliverance from spiritual bondage and infirmities

D. Parish Mission/Retreat      

Once or twice a year I accept invitations to give a Parish Mission/Retreat. Topics are varied and I do it through preaching, teaching, witnessing, praying and singing.

Objective

The Parish Mission or Retreat or Conference that I offer have these varied objectives in mind: ·         To help the People of God in their Spirituality and prayer life ·         To deepen one’s commitment to God and the Holy Catholic Church ·         To rediscover God’s love and mercy; ·         To be able to continue or be able to trust in the Lord ·         To help one in his/her quest in the meaning and purpose of life ·         To be able to live for God freely ·         To live ultimately for Him

E. Retreat

          Time-to-time I offer retreat for different groups.  

F. Spiritual Direction

What Is Spiritual Direction? (From Spiritual Direction International)

“Spiritual direction is the process of accompanying people on a spiritual journey. Spiritual direction exists in a context that emphasizes growing closer to God.

Spiritual direction is the contemplative practice of helping another person or group to awaken to the mystery called God in all of life, and to respond to that discovery in a growing relationship of freedom and commitment. (James Keegan, SJ, Roman Catholic, USA, on behalf of the 2005 Coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International)

What is Christian spiritual direction?

Most people would agree that spiritual direction means companionship with another person or group through which the Holy One shines with wisdom, encouragement and discernment. Some, however, expect this companionship to be of a professional nature, with a trained, supervised, and perhaps even certified spiritual director. Others see it as spontaneous and gifted, strongly resisting signs of professionalism.

Spiritual guidance can happen authentically in a vast variety of forms. The many forms can be divided into two major groups: Formal spiritual direction and informal spiritual companionship. Formal spiritual direction includes relationships that are explicitly defined as spiritual direction with a clear separation of roles between directors and directed. Meetings are usually scheduled in advance on a regular basis, and a directed normally has only one formal director.

Informal spiritual companionship is characterized by a lack of structure and role definition. These relationships are not considered exclusive, and most people have several such companionships. Meetings tend to be irregular and spontaneous. There is nearly always some atmosphere of mutuality, and each person retains his or her own locus of discernment. There is no notion of providing a service, and fees are out of the question. (Gerald May, MD. Excerpted from Shalem News, Volume xxii, No. 1, Winter, 1998, "Varieties Of Spiritual Companionship”)

Spiritual direction is, in reality, nothing more than a way of leading us to see and obey the real Director — the Holy Spirit hidden in the depths of our soul. (Thomas Merton, Trappist monk, USA)

We define Christian spiritual direction as help given by one Christian to another which enables that person to pay attention to God’s personal communication to him or her, to respond to this personally communicating God, to grow in intimacy with this God, and to live out the consequences of the relationship. (William A. Barry, SJ and William J. Connolly, SJ, Center for Religious Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA)

The greatest teacher is silence. To come out of interior silence and to practice its radiance, its love, its concern for others, its submission to God's will, its trust in God even in tragic situations is the fruit of living from your inmost center, from the contemplative space within. The signs of coming from this space are a peace that is rarely upset by events, other people and our reactions to them, and a calm that is a stabilizing force in whatever environment you may be in. God gives us everything we need to be happy in the present moment, no matter what the evidence to the contrary may be. A good spiritual director helps us to sustain that trust.  (Father Thomas Keating, Summer 1997, Part II lecture notes)

The whole purpose of spiritual direction is to penetrate beneath the surface of a person’s life, to get behind the façade of conventional gestures and attitudes which one presents to the world, and to bring out one’s inner spiritual freedom, one’s inmost truth, which is what [Christians] call the likeness of Christ in one’s soul.  This is an entirely supernatural (spiritual) thing, for the work of rescuing the inner person from automatism belongs first of all to the Holy Spirit.  (Thomas Merton)   

G. Pilgrimage

            Every 2 or 3 years I offer the opportunities to visit holy places to help us in our faith development or just have the opportunity to travel with other pilgrims. In July 2013, I am going to lead a Pilgrimage in in Poland - Divine Mercy and Venerable Pope John Paull II and Rome. If you need more information please send me an email. The approximate cost will be  $3,000.00 (double Occupancy) out of New Orleans, La, plus departure tax/fuel surcharges of approximately $440.00.

H. Faith Education

            I believe that we all need to continue to deepen our understanding of our faith, our relationship to God and one another and our great Catholic Tradition. With this belief, I offer different classes, sessions, and teaching conferences to assist us in this endeavor. In the past, I offered classes on Spirituality & Prayer, Guided Meditation, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Christology, Apologetics, etc. Presently, I am in the series of teaching Spiritual Warfare & Deliverance . It is being held at 529 Hwy 20, Thibodaux, LA. 70301 (985)633-2903 --- Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church (Chackbay).

             Fr. Mike Scanlan, TOR and Randal Cirner said: "Christians are caught up in a struggle between God and Satan. Satan is a ruthless and resourceful enemy and our implacable foe because we are citizens of God's Kingdom. Evil spiritual forces are at the root of many temptations, failure and difficulties we encounter in our lives." --- The Fall Sessions/Classes - Continuation on Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance: Dates: Sept. 1 & 22, Oct. 6 & 27,  Nov. 3 and Dec. 1, 2011, Thursdays, 6:30pm-8:30pm - Chackbay Hall. Future dates will be added... Pax et Bonum!

All for the Greater Glory of God!