Dear Beloved Parishioners,
So, just two words before I get into the heart of this missive – Fall Fest. For the first time since the PANDEMIC began, we are able to host our annual festival. This Friday is adult night. And Saturday is everyone day. And if you remember, there is ALWAYS a need for help. So, if you have some free time and want to give the parish a hand, here is the google sheet to sign up… or call me with your availability and I will make sure you get assigned…
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tU5dO_qSTVe8gTOd0q8RyJcEHT-Afviy7gc5rD715UY/edit?usp=sharing
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Secondly,
Our St. Justin All Things New Listening Sessions are scheduled for Nov. 7th and Nov. 9th, in our parish center. (aka: Cafegymatorium) Parishioners must register in order to attend a Listening Session. Registration will close once the designated room’s seating capacity is reached. There will not be additional opportunities for Listening Sessions other than the ones scheduled for each parish. The same information is being shared each night, so you need only attend one session.
You can click HERE to be taken to the page, or cut and paste the link below into your browser.
https://allthingsnew.archstl.org/Ways-to-Engage/Listening-Sessions
There is a lot of information on this page, including a recap of the information sent out in my Pastor’s Pen this weekend. In addition there is a short video from Fr. Martin, links to the sign up form, the parish workbook and a set of FAQ’s about the listening sessions. And, a reminder from Fr. Martin to make sure we are surrounding this entire process with our prayer to the Holy Spirit for discernment.
And like the presentation to the priests back in August, these sessions will only be about the parish configurations within our planning area, and not about school configurations. They hope to get that information out to us in time for registration at the beginning of Catholic Schools Week at the end of January.
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So, the end of October/beginning of November is going to be a hopping place here at SJM.
- Trunk or Treat – Oct. 29th
- Feast of All Saints – Nov. 1st
- Parent-Teacher Conferences for the Day School – Nov. 2nd and 3rd
- All Things New Listening Sessions – Nov. 7th and 9th
- Progressive Dinner – Nov. 12th (won’t we have a lot to talk about…)
- Parish Mission – Nov. 14th – 16th
Other than that, not much going on….
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So, as if there were not enough things to pray about, here is the Prayer for our Parish Mission – November 14-16th. Print a copy and pray it before dinner on Sundays and midweek, and whenever the family gets together to pray.
PARISH MISSION PRAYER
GOD, OUR FATHER, WE OFFER YOU PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING FOR ALL THE
MANY GIFTS YOU HAVE GIVEN US THROUGH JESUS, YOUR SON. WE THANK YOU
ESPECIALLY FOR THE GIFT OF OUR PARISH MISSION.
LOVING AND GRACIOUS GOD, QUIET OUR MINDS AND HEARTS, THAT WE MAY BE
OPEN TO THE GIFT OF YOUR TRUTH.
GRANT THAT OUR MISSION MAY BE:
A TIME OF GRACE FOR ALL,
A TIME OF GROWTH FOR THE YOUNG,
A TIME OF REFRESHMENT FOR THE OLD
A TIME OF RENEWAL FOR FAMILIES,
A TIME OF HEALING FOR THE BROKEN,
A TIME OF JOY FOR THE SORROWING,
A TIME OF CHALLENGE FOR THE COMPLACENT,
A TIME OF FORGIVENESS FOR THE SINNER,
A TIME OF STRENGTH FOR THE HOLY,
A TIME OF HOMECOMING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AWAY.
GRANT, MOST LOVING GOD, THAT OUR MISSION MAY BRING DOWN
YOUR RICHEST BLESSINGS ON EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY.
WE PRAY THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF MARY, OUR MOTHER,
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST WHO LIVES WITH YOU AND THE HOLY SPIRIT FOREVER.
AMEN
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The Deeper Dive into the Sunday Scripture.
This is a short 2 paragraph summary of the gospel from Fr. Roger Karban, a diocesan priest (deceased) from Illinois.
In today’s gospel pericope, Luke’s Jesus reminds us that carrying on his ministry doesn’t happen by accident. It usually takes a lot of planning. He conveys that reality by pointing out the obvious: people work at doing evil much harder than they work at doing good. The unjust steward is ingenious in making certain his master’s debtors “will welcome (him) into their homes” after he’s been fired. Jesus demands his followers deliberately spend their lives giving themselves over to God, not to evil.
I’ve frequently suggested that we stop examining our conscience before we go to sleep at night, and begin to examine it when we get up in the morning. With the day in front of us, we can more easily figure out at what point we can squeeze in a good action for a friend, do an unrequested favor for someone, or simply be a loving person in a particular situation. It makes more sense to plot and connive good than just to instinctively do good when it comes to mind. Such precise planning could really make us prophetic Christians “dangerous” people in the world.
COPYRIGHT 2016 – The Estate of ROGER VERMALEN KARBAN
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Finally, the song of the day. (Because there is always time for some beauty in our world…)
The song is titled: Ndikhokhele Bawo (Traditional IsiXhosa arr. M Barrett)
And here is a translation of what you are hearing:
Ndikhokhele Bawo, zundi kokhele (Lead me oh Father [Lead me])
Ndikhokhele mmeli wami (Lead me my savior)
Ezintsizini, Zalomhlaba Bawo (in all the sorrows of this world Father)
(Bawo, Bawo, Bawo) ( Father, Father, Father)
Bawo ndiyabonga (Father I thank you)
Ngoba wena usandigcinile (for you still protect/keep me) (Repeat)
Thaluthele thuze kwami (You calm all my fears) x2
(Bawo, bawo, bawo) ( Father, Father, Father)
Bawo ndiyabonga (Father I thank you)
Ngoba wena usandigcinile (for you still protect me)
Mmeli wami bawo uthaluthele thuze kwami (Father, Savior, you calm my fears)
Bawo ndiyabonga (Father I thank you)
Ngoba wena usandigcinile (for you still protect me)
blessings,
fr. bill