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A Few Words from Father Steve

This year, the church will celebrate Catechetical Sunday on September 16th. The 2018 theme is “Enlisting Witnesses for Jesus Christ.” Catechists will be called forth to be commissioned for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing down the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith. It is a moment to pray for all engaged in catechetical ministry.

Pope John Paul II said that “catechesis is an education of the faith of children, young people, and adults which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted in an organic and systematic way with a view to imitating the hearers into the fullness of life.” In short, it is all about handing on the faith.

How do we do this? Faith is more often “caught” that “taught” to use a word-play in the English language. By that I mean, we tend to believe more what we actually see and experience for ourselves then what we just read in a book or pick up through hearsay. Yet, when we think of catechesis or the catechism, it is often books and classrooms that first come to mind.

We need to remember that, at the time of Christ, most people could not afford, let alone read books or the parchment scrolls that were the “books” of the time. Those who came to believe in Jesus were attached by His words but mostly by His actions of mercy, healing and generosity. Ultimately, it was the breaking of His body and pouring out of His blood that demonstrated a love that could only be divine, in the scope of its forgiving breadth in the face of the universal rejection of God’s pure holiness through sin. We know that if we are to teach as Jesus did, if we are to “Do this in memory of Me” as He commanded us, then our actions must speak louder that our words.

It was St. Francis of Assisi who said: “Preach always, use words if necessary.” One reason this saint is so loved and remembered is that his life was so authentic. He lived the poverty, purity, and generosity of the gospel message so credibly through his humility and good example. This is the example that Christ gave and that St. Francis chose to follow. It is also what we are challenged to imitate.

In our catechetical program, we are making a renewed commitment not only to teaching our children about the faith but also showing them how we live what we believe. We want to tell them about Jesus but we also want them to know, love and serve Him in their everyday lives. To do this, we are reaching out to the parents, grandparents and caretakers of our children by inviting them to work with us, to “come and see.” We are living in a secularized society which continues to squeeze Christianity to the margins or completely out of engagement with Jesus Christ and the Church.

We are losing baptized Catholics at an alarming rate. Many parents are saddened to report that their children are leaving the church after preparing for and celebrating initiation sacraments and after years of Catholic school or parish religion classes. Figures of Baptisms, Church weddings and weekly Mass attendance are down. At the same time, we are blessed with an incredibly generous cohort of faithful who are sacramentally graced to give Gospel witness in their homes, schools and workplace.

We are praying today, most especially, for our catechists who are enthusiastic about sharing their faith in Jesus and showing our children His love by their presence and good example. Thank you for your love and support and remember that you may be the only “Christ” some person may ever know. Let others know His love through you!

Love, Father Steve

Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors: You new schedules is now available in the sacristy and on line. A list of Ministers names and phone numbers is also available in the sacristy. Please take one home with you.

CLERGY HEALTH AND RETIREMENT TRUST COLLECTION
The diocese-wide collection this weekend will support the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust which cares for the health and well-being of our priests. Your gift will provide our priests with an appropriate level of care and quality of life so they can continue to share the good news, perform good works and spread good faith. Remember the priests who have been there in your time of need and consider honoring them with a generous gift to this collection. You may also give your gift on-line at clergytrust.org. Thank you for your generous and prayerful support of our priests.

GRAND ANNUAL COLLECTION - Goal: $100,000 Total Recieved: $68,300
Your Grand Annual envelopes may be placed in the collections baskets or mailed directly to the rectory throughout the year. Funds from this collection help to pay our weekly bills. Each family is asked to contribute $350. However, what one gives is your choice and no one should give beyond their means. If you did not receive an envelope in the mail, you will find envelopes on the ushers’ tables. Thank you for your generosity and support of our parish family.

Last Weekend's Offertory Collection
Budgeted Goal:	$9,800
Received:	$6,543
Online Giving:	$2,740
Total:	$9,283
Clergy Health and Retirement Trust Collection. See details above.Thank you for your generous and prayerful support of our priests.
~ Thanks to all our Online Giving subscribers. ~
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION