The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear Parishioners,
 
Today we mark the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time as we gather to celebrate the Lord’s Day. The Scriptural texts speak to us regarding the virtue of humility and the reward of eternal life which is promised to those who incorporate this virtue into their life. The person who exhibits humility wins the esteem of God and men. The humble one always considers the needs of the other before themselves and as a result becomes a servant. This was the manner of our Lord Jesus Christ, “ who came not to be served but to serve and to give His life in ransom for many.” This manner of life is always being presented to us for our emulation. Unfortunately  so many of us would rather be served than to come to the assistance of those in need. Our selfish attitude is the result of the culture in which we live and that is why Christians must always look to Jesus as the model for Christian living.
 
Next Sunday our Holy Father, Pope Francis, will canonize Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta at the Vatican. Most adults will remember Mother Teresa who entered eternal life on September 5, 1997. She was born in Skopje, Macedonia and entered religious life at 18 years old. She was sent to India were she was a teacher in a girls school. On September 10, 1946 during a train ride from Calcutta to Darjeeling, Mother Teresa received her inspiration to help the poor. The Lord Jesus revealed to her “COME, BE MY LIGHT.” He asked Mother Teresa to establish a religious order, the Missionaries of Charity, dedicated to the service of the poorest of the poor. On August 17, 1948 Mother Teresa dressed for the first time in a white and blue bordered sari and entered the world of the poor. Between 1948 and 1997, Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity grew to nearly 4000 members and were established in 123 countries. Even the secular world recognized her greatness by awarding her the Nobel Peace Prize and at her death a state funeral in India.
 
How wonderful it is that this saint of mercy and humility will be glorified during this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta will be our inspiration to follow the Lord Jesus in serving the needs of others, especially the marginalized in our society. She will be the one whose intercession we will call upon to make us humble servants of Christ, serving the poorest and the weakest.
 
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES TO BEGIN – First Holy Communion classes will begin in October for children of our parish ages 7-8, second grade. Mrs. Lucy Rovegno will serve as the catechist. Classes will meet following the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month in the rectory basement classroom. Please call the rectory office for registration and other information. The first class will take place on Sunday, October 9th from 11-11:45 am.
 
LABOR DAY MASS – Holy Mass on Labor Day, Monday, September 5th, will be celebrated in our church at 8:30 in the morning. The noon Mass will not be celebrated on that day. Also, Holy Mass will be celebrated at 9 o’clock in the morning at Saint Cecilia Cemetery. Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair should you plan to attend. In the event of inclement weather the Mass will be celebrated in the church.
THANK YOU – Many thanks to those who did “weeding” around the church property: Andy Chop, Janet Maulbeck, Lisa Sylvester, Mary, Christopher and Joseph Stefanese, Derek, Gianna, Gabriel, Lucianna , Ella and Jennifer Nelson. They did a wonderful job. May God richly bless them!
 
God bless you!
Fr. Zig