Dear Parishioners,

This weekend we celebrate the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. I think that we all know this but the word “Eucharist” means “Thanksgiving.” The Greek word eukharistia is used to describe what Jesus did before sharing His Body and Blood at the Last Supper. This weekend, as always, we will give thanks to God for all the blessings we have received and continue to receive, especially for Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, whom we receive in a special way in the Eucharistic Banquet.

Next weekend will be the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, as well as MISSION SUNDAY. How do we pray? Do we only pray once a week when we come to Sunday Mass? Maybe once in a while when something important comes up? Or do we pray regularly and purposefully? Do we try to listen to what God is telling us? Do we find prayer helpful? Next week as we celebrate Holy Mass, let’s think about how Jesus asks us to pray and pray that we may more closely follow his example.

October 2019: Extraordinary Mission Month. Baptized and Sent: The Church of Christ on Mission in the World (An excerpt from Pope Francis’s Message to the entire Church regarding this special “Missionary Month.”)

 Dear Brothers and Sisters,

For the month of October 2019, I have asked that the whole Church revive her missionary awareness and commitment as we commemorate the centenary of the Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud of Pope Benedict XV (30 November 1919). Its farsighted and prophetic vision of the apostolate has made me realize once again the importance of renewing the Church’s missionary commitment and giving fresh evangelical impulse to her work of preaching and bringing to the world the salvation of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again.

The title of the present Message is the same as that of October’s Missionary Month: Baptized and Sent: The Church of Christ on Mission in the World. Celebrating this month will help us first to rediscover the missionary dimension of our faith in Jesus Christ, a faith graciously bestowed on us in baptism …

To men and women missionaries, and to all those who, by virtue of their baptism, share in any way in the mission of the Church, I send my heartfelt blessing.

From the Vatican, 9 June 2019, Solemnity of Pentecost

+FRANCIS

On Mission Sunday, coming up next week, in this special Extraordinary Missionary Month, we are called through our baptism to be part of the Church’s missionary efforts, through prayer, self-sacrifice and support of missionary vocations through material aid. Remembering that we are baptized and sent as a Universal Church of Christ on mission in the world, we can… PRAY for the Church’s worldwide missionary work OFFER financial HELP and CHARITY through The Society for the Propagation of the Faith for vulnerable communities throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Pacific Islands.

There is an envelope in the set you received in the mail as well as some at the church entrances.

Adult Faith Formation: This new effort to help us all grow in the faith will continue today, October 13th, after the 9:30 A.M. Mass until 11:15. The meeting will be in the Cry Room / Chapel until the Msgr. Schneider Hall renovation is completed (first meeting there is tentatively planned for November 10th). We will meet on the Second and Fourth Sundays. I hope that some of you will be able to attend and learn more about our faith.

Confirmation for our 8th graders was celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Robert Hermann this past Wednesday, October 9, with a special celebration of Holy Mass at 7:00 P.M. Congratulations to our newly confirmed, their sponsors, parents, and families. May the Holy Spirit continue to lead and guide you.

Baptism Ceremonies: Steph and Mark Hampton’s baby girl, Holly, was baptized in the NICU at Mercy Hospital. The other ceremonies that were omitted because of the necessity of baptizing her in the NICU will be “supplied” during the 9:30 A.M. Mass next Sunday, October 20th. Just like the Baptism we recently had, it should not add too much time to the Mass. Congratulations to the Hamptons on the birth of their daughter, Holly, and her recovery.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday, October 23, 2019: Because of a special recital program sponsored by the National Pastoral Musicians here in Saint Louis, Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament will END at 6:30 P.M. on Wednesday, October 23. The recital will begin at 7:00 P.M. I am sorry we did not give you more of a notice. I hope this suffices.

The Renovation / new elevator programs are moving along. Pending approval by Creve Coeur we should be able to occupy the newly renovated Msgr. Schneider Hall on Monday, October 21, 2019. Please note: “pending approval by Creve Coeur” and “should.” If not that day certainly not too long past that date. However, because of some delays in the building of the new “elevator shaft,” it seems that we will not be able to use the new elevator until the middle of December. Our General Contractor is very apologetic about this delay. Work on the new “over hang” entrance to the “choir entrance,” the northwest entrance to church, should begin on October 21. We have been told that it should be able to be used on the weekends, even if not during the week. The timeline for that construction is about three weeks. Again, as we get closer, I’ll keep you posted. Thank you for your patience. I think you will very much like the “finished products”!

May the Lord continue His healing powers in us, even as we give thanks to Him for all He has done!

Faithfully yours,

Fr Joe Weber