Dear Parishioners,
This weekend we celebrate the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. We have heard in Scripture that “God’s ways are not always our ways.” The readings this weekend pose a challenge to each of us to remain faithful to God’s ways — to seek God’s wisdom, to hear, and embrace God’s Word and to make God a priority in all of life, resisting the distractions of wealth and possession.
Next weekend we will celebrate the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In taking on hu- manity, Jesus became like us in all ways but sin. He experienced heartache and sorrow, joy and affir- mation, challenge and rejection. He suffered many things, but his message never wavered. He came as a servant in our midst, willing to accept his human lot, to transform all things with his submission to the will of the Father. His message to his disciples is clear: If you want to follow me, you must be a servant to all.
Special Collections: Thank you, in advance, for the support given to our Permanent Deacons and Catholic Charities for Hurricane Florence relief taken up last weekend. We don’t have any totals yet, of course, since this is being written prior to my departure for the Priests’ Convocation which was this past week … but I sincerely thank you all for your generosity. If you’d like to help with Hurricane Florence relief, we will certainly accept donations. Please make the check out to Saint Monica Parish and put “Hurricane Florence relief” in the memo line.
Archdiocesan Priests Convocation: I will give you a “blow by blow” account of the convocation next week. I hope you all prayed for us as we were away discussing and praying about the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis.
25th / 50th Celebration: One of the very nice traditions here at Saint Monica is the annual Mass and dinner honoring those couples observing their 25th and 50th (and beyond!) wedding anniversaries. This year that Mass and dinner is/was on Saturday, October 13. As of this writing we have two cou- ples from the parish observing their 50th (Golden) Anniversary this year and only four couples observ- ing their 25th (Silver) Anniversary. Thanks to all who were involved with the planning and carrying out the celebration. (I was not able to be present because my Golden Anniversary celebration for my high school graduation was this weekend … both Friday and Saturday. Since, unfortunately, I’m the only priest from our class, I was to be the celebrant of our class Masses both days.) The following blessing is suggested for couples celebrating their 25th or 50th anniversary. I think it is beautiful and might lead to some private prayer:
We praise you, O God, we bless you, Creator of all things, who in the beginning made man and woman that they might form a communion of life and love. We also give you thanks for graciously blessing the family life of your servants, N. and N., so that it might present an image of Christ’s union with the Church. Therefore look with kindness upon them today, and as you have sustained their communion amid joys and struggles, renew their Marriage covenant each day, increase their charity, and strengthen in them the bond of peace, so that, (together with the circle of their children that surrounds them,) they may forever enjoy your blessing. Through Christ, our Lord.
Parish Meeting: As announced last weekend, the Parish Council is hosting a parish meeting for this Tuesday evening, October 16th, beginning at 7:00 P.M. It will be in the Church. There are a number of topics which we will address, among which will be the tentative plans for the new elevator and renovations necessary to accomplish that. There will be drawings of the proposal and your input will be welcome and encouraged. We will also discuss parish finances, school finances and enrollment projections. Babysitting will be available during the meeting. If you have questions, please contact David Skaggs, [email protected].
Comings and goings: Besides the Convocation to which all the priests of the Archdiocese were strongly encouraged to attend, this coming week Father Mike Donald will be away, visiting his cousin in the Pacific Northwest State of Washington … where they actually have entered fall (according to one of my friends who lives up there!). He will be back on the 20th of October.
Meanwhile I will be leaving on Monday the 22nd and returning the evening of Thursday the 25th as I will get a few days (canonically four days) for a brief retreat at Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana. (I didn’t do a retreat at all last year … and am hoping for another brief retreat during Advent.) Please pray for a safe trip and restful time for Fr Mike and a prayerful retreat for me. Thank you.
Masses for the communal celebration of the Anointing of the Sick will be at the 5:00 P.M. Mass on Saturday, October 27 and the 9:30 A.M. Mass on Sunday, October 28. There really isn’t much more to say, but if you are “up in years” or have a chronic, debilitating disease or weakness (e.g., fighting cancer, even if in remission; dealing with diabetes; high blood pressure; etc.), you are a candidate for this Sacrament. Please, mark your calendars now, if you would like to be anointed later this month. If you know someone who doesn’t “get out” that often, please consider asking them to come and (perhaps) offer to pick them up!
May God bless us all. We aren’t “out of the woods” yet! Pray for the Synod of Bishops, still meet- ing in Rome. Pope Saint Paul VI, Saint Oscar Romero, Saint Francesco Spinelli, Saint Vincenzo Romano, Saint Mary Catherine Kasper, Saint Nazaria Ignazia di Santa Teresa di Gesù, and Saint Nunzio Sulprizio, all canonized on Sunday, pray for us!
Faithfully yours,
Fr Joe Weber