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September 9, 2022Family Picnic and Birthday Party for the Blessed Mother in the Park
Sunday, September 11th | Memorial Park | 12:30pm
Organizational Meeting for Family Faith Formation
Sunday, September 18th | Church | 12:15pm
Seekers 601
Wednesday, September 21, 2022| Meeting Room | 6:01pm
Next weekend the Church will celebrate Catechetical Sunday and the theme is: “This is my body given for you.” In the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. The whole Christ is truly present -- body, blood, soul, and divinity -- under the appearances of bread and wine, the glorified Christ who rose from the dead. This is what the Church means when she speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist.
Catechetical Sunday offers all of us an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to this central Mystery of our Faith.
It is also a time to celebrate parents as the primary catechists of their children. They prepare the soil and plant the first seeds of faith. On Catechetical Sunday, we will launch our Family Faith Formation Program which I hope will take our faith community to a new level of vibrancy as we empower and help parents in their role of making their Catholic households a place where faith is passed on to the next generation.
September 11, 2022 | Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time | by the Faithful Disciple
Ex 32:7-11, 13-14 | 1 Tm 1:12-17 | Lk 15:1-32 or Lk 15:1-10
GROW AS A DISCIPLE | PRAY, STUDY, ENGAGE, SERVE
GROW: I think I lose more things than the average person. Car keys. That magic security card that gets me into my office. My son’s birth certificate (the night before the driver’s test). And my wedding ring, more often than I care to admit. I can’t rest until I find them. Oh, the elation when the missing item turns up! So, this is one parable I think I “get.” Of course, these items pale in comparison to our value as human beings – sons and daughters of God. Even – or perhaps especially – us sinners. As Jesus tells us, “There will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” What good news for all of us! Rather than wallow in our failures or close ourselves off to God, we are challenged to follow Paul's example and turn to God for our strength – we can turn to him knowing we are loved, valued, and cherished.
GO EVANGELIZE | PRAYER, INVITATION, WITNESS, ACCOMPANIMENT
GO: I confess I sometimes feel unworthy to become very active in my parish. I’ve made more mistakes than I can count; so, no, I’ll pass on volunteering to be a lector or a catechist. That’s a job for the “good Catholics.” As we see time and again in Scripture, ours is a Church of sinners. As was the case with Paul, “once a blasphemer and a persecutor and arrogant,” the Lord has mercy upon us, and his grace is abundant. Just as he considered Paul trustworthy to lead the Church, he trusts us; we need only trust ourselves. Gaining our strength from God, we can share our gifts through ministry and service. What’s more, we can actively reach out to those on the fringes of our parish or those who have left the Church feeling as though they don’t belong. Jesus reminds us that all are welcome at his table.
ENGAGE: At Sunday Mass, make a point of welcoming newcomers and strangers with a smile or greeting. Consider getting involved in a parish ministry.