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Calendar:
Dec 11=3rd-5th reconciliation 6th-11th & parish reconciliation; 7pm; SA 2nd graders’ reconciliation workshop and sacrament; SA; 6pm & 7 pm Dec 18=No Rel Ed Classes (changed from the original calendar) Light the Advent candle two. Think of humble shepherds who filled with wonder at the sight of the Child on Christmas night. Blessed 2nd Sunday of Advent to you all! What does it mean to be worthy? There are a few different ways to approach this question. Today’s Gospel highlights two: the way of the Pharisees and the way of John the Baptist. Our faith values good works and discipleship. Perhaps, then, we “earn” our worth by adhering to the right doctrines and following the right pious practice. The Pharisees thought they were worthy. Due to their religious pedigree and proper procedures, they were self-satisfied. John the Baptist’s words to them are strong. “Do not resume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’” Of course, Jesus (and John) don’t omit the responsibility for moral behavior. John gives the Pharisees quite a strong warning in that regard. “Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance … every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” It’s a question of attitude. Of disposition. It’s a matter of the heart. If anyone would be worthy in this scenario, it’s John the Baptist. Jesus himself will name him the greatest of prophets and a great man. John, however, recognizes his own lowly place in the grand scheme of things. “The one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals.” The Pharisees take pride in being “better” than others. John embraces humility in Christ being “better” than him. We don’t self-generate our own worthiness. We receive it as a gift from God. In a few short weeks, we’ll celebrate the birth of Christ. Bishop Ven. Fulton Sheen wrote about the Nativity in his “Life of Christ”: “Because [Jesus] was born in a cave, all who wish to see Him must stoop. To stoop is the mark of humility. The proud refuse to stoop and, therefore, they miss divinity.” God invites us to prepare our hearts this Advent. When you consider your own life, where are you looking for your worth? This Christmas, are you prepared to stoop? ©LPi
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Calendar:
Dec 4=K-5 Christmas caroling K-9 & Juniors meet Dec 8=Sophomore Introduction Mass; SA; 9:30am 4th & 8th have Mass ministries; SA; 9:30am 2nd graders’ Reconciliation Commitment ceremony; SA; 9:30am Dec 11=3rd-5th reconciliation 6th-11th & parish reconciliation; 7pm; SA 2nd graders’ reconciliation workshop and sacrament; SA; 6pm & 7 pm Light the Advent candle one. Now the waiting has begun. We have started on our way. Time to think of Christmas Day. Calendar: Nov 20=grades K-9 & Sophomores meet Nov 22=Video after Mass: Advent: More Than a Chocolate Calendar (6:26 min) Nov 27=No RE classes Nov 28=Happy Thanksgiving Dec 1=1st Sunday of Advent Dec 4=K-5 Christmas caroling K-9 & Juniors meet Dec 8=Sophomore Introduction Mass; SA; 9:30am 4th & 8th have Mass ministries; SA; 9:30am 2nd graders’ Reconciliation Commitment ceremony; SA; 9:30am Faith is the postage stamp on our prayers.  Calendar:
Oct 30=class K-11 Nov 1= All Saint’s Day= Holy day of obligation Nov 6=class K-11 = 2nd graders’ Parent meeting for First Reconciliation; 6pm; Immaculate Conception Nov 10=Junior Confirmation Commitment Mass, SA, 9:30a =Mass ministries lead by the sophomores Nov 13=class K-11 Nov 16=Juniors’ Confirmation retreat at SA; Time TBD God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners. ~Soren Kierkegaard Question: Why do we pray to saints? Answer: Have you ever heard jokes about Catholics and big families? Well, our family is much, much bigger than most of us can imagine! Our family transcends the here and now. It includes heaven! Your great, great grandmother may have passed away, but does that make her any less your family? Of course not! We have a similar perspective when it comes to our baptized Christian community. We are brothers and sisters in Christ and that extends beyond the grave. The saints are women and men who have led such exemplary lives on earth we can be certain that they’re in heaven. That means their focus is on worshipping God and loving all that God loves, including us. When we pray to saints, we’re actually asking for their prayers. If something challenging was going on in your life, you might consider asking someone close to you for their prayers. When we ask for the intercession of saints, we’re inviting them into our needs and concerns. I hope we’re ready to help a loved one who needs it. The saints are ready to pray for us, so we can grow in relationship with God, love our neighbor, and join them in heaven one day! Calendar:
Oct 23=class K-11 Oct 25=Video after Mass-The Meaning of Suffering (6:15min) Oct 30=class K-11 Nov 6=class K-11 = 2nd graders’ Parent meeting for First Reconciliation; 6pm; Immaculate Conception The first happiness of a child is to know that he is loved. ~Don Bosco Where Is God? A couple had two little boys, ages eight and ten, who were very mischievous. The two were always getting into trouble, and their parents could be assured that if any mischief occurred in their town that their two young sons were in some way involved. The parents were at their wits' end as to what to do about their sons' behavior. The mother had heard that a priest in town had been successful in disciplining children in the past, so she asked her husband if he thought they should send the boys to speak with him. The husband said, "We might as well. We need to do something before I really lose my temper!" The clergyman agreed to speak with the boys but asked to see them individually. The eight-year-old went first. The clergyman sat the boy down and asked him sternly, "Where is God?" The boy made no response, so the clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God?" Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face, "Where is God?" At that the boy bolted from the room and ran directly home, slamming himself in the closet. His older brother followed him into the closet and asked what had happened. The younger brother replied, "We are in big trouble this time. God is missing and they think we did it!" Calendar:
Oct 16=class K-11 Oct 23=class K-11 Oct 25=Video after Mass-The Meaning of Suffering (6:15min) Oct 30=class K-11 “Sometimes I just look up, smile and say, ‘I know that was you God!’ Thanks!” —Anonymous To Give of Oneself In the South, the use of “Yes, Sir,” “Yes, Ma’am,” and “Thank you,” have been drilled into many a little person’s brain. Unfortunately, as time goes by, those social conventions seem to be in danger, even in the very places that have held them sacred for so long. In fact, I have found that I sometimes will even get a strange look when I utter similar words to a stranger or passer-by. It seems manners are being traded for acceptance of ill-conceived tolerance, even tolerance of the ill-mannered. We know this is nothing new when we look at the story of Jesus’ healing of the ten lepers. After healing ten, only one comes back to show gratitude to the healer. Why did 90% of those healed not offer thanks? We all find our lives filled with blessings. We may sometimes think we deserve the good things we receive. We may also believe because everyone receives the same gifts — things like life, air, and the planet — that God didn’t single us out, and our obligation to offer thanks is diminished. However, gratitude is never obligated. The other 9 did not get their leprosy back due to ungrateful hearts. Gratitude is simply the gift we give to the one who was generous to us in the first place. A gift for a gift. Generosity gives birth to more generosity. Without as much gratitude in the world, there is less chance for an increase of love and generosity. So, who do you need to thank today? — Tracy Earl Welliver ©LPi Calendar:
Oct 9=class K-11 Oct 16=class K-11 Oct 23=class K-11 Oct 25=Video after Mass-The Meaning of Suffering (6:15min) Oct 30=class K-11 The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today. Francis of Assisi Jesus Is Watching You A burglar broke into a home and was looking around. He heard a soft voice say, "Jesus is watching you." Thinking it was just his imagination, he continued his search. Again the voice said, "Jesus is watching you." He turned his flashlight around and saw a parrot in a cage. He asked the parrot if he was the one talking and the parrot replied, "Yes." He asked the parrot what his name was and the parrot said, "Moses." The burglar asked, "What kind of people would name a parrot Moses?" The parrot answered, "The same kind of people who would name their German Shepherd Jesus." |
