Saint Francis Xavier ParishSaint Francis Xavier ParishSaint Francis Xavier ParishSaint Francis Xavier Parish Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 4th, 2018

All Saints DayAll Saints DayAll Saints DayAll Saints Day

All Souls DayAll Souls DayAll Souls DayAll Souls Day

“ “ “ “At the end of the day, you will not remember the person with the most At the end of the day, you will not remember the person with the most At the end of the day, you will not remember the person with the most At the end of the day, you will not remember the person with the most beautiful face, but you will remember the person with the most beautiful heart beautiful face, but you will remember the person with the most beautiful heart beautiful face, but you will remember the person with the most beautiful heart beautiful face, but you will remember the person with the most beautiful heart

and soul.and soul.and soul.and soul.””””

THIRTY -FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME , NOVEMBER 4, 2018 FATHER DENNIS M. DINAN Dear Parish Family, Six years ago, Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, Archbishop of Philadelphia, in his essay A Heart on Fire: Catholic Witness and the Next America (a Kindle book), spoke of how “public opinion [can be] a great vulnerability for democracy,” suggesting of course: the future of America. He said, “To the degree that public opinion can be manipulated, democratic life is subverted. This is why the founders saw religion as so important to the health of the public square.” A number of years before that, the late Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, wrote in the Guest Column of the Denver Catholic Register, from Archbishop Chaput’s former diocese, suggesting that we Catholics use “the dialogue between faith and reason that takes place in our hearts, guided by the Church’s social doctrine” as we approach Election Day, as we are doing this week. Along with this “dialogue,” he mentioned Conscience, but he insisted that “Conscience is not an excuse for doing something irrational. We are to form our consciences according to the social teaching of the Church and use that formation to make political choices.” He also agreed, “This is not easy, because principles are clear but practice often is clouded by confusion of fact and the distraction of various forms of self-interest.” You can probably guess where he drew the line about what is “cloudy” and what is not. He clarified this with his statement that, “A Catholic politician who excuses his or her decision to allow the killing of the unborn and of others who can’t protect themselves because he or she doesn’t want to ‘impose Catholic doctrine on others’ seems to me to be intellectually dishonest.” “Intellectual dishonesty!” I thought, “Is that our problem? Yet, I also thought, “Isn’t this what I have spoken especially to teen groups about on numerous occasions?” At these times, I have insisted that we should not let other people live or run our lives for us—that we have to make good life choices based on principles and criteria that will help us to live good lives, leading to happiness in this world and the next? But, just as peer pressure can powerfully sway us, causing us to opt for a “mindless” way of life that leads nowhere; haven’t the various forms of self-interest that have clamored for a legitimate place in our society used “the lie,” its own peer pressure, as the foundation of their own existence—the lie that has no real footing to stand on? Have we let others treat lightly our own principles, values and beliefs? We might have nothing to blame but our own blindnesses. Yes. We have let much happen in our country that need not have happened. We Catholics are still the largest single voting block in the country. Although we are, we now live in “political crisis.” That can easily point the finger at us, that we have let things “slip away” by ignoring the power of the voting box. This is not an isolated problem. It works in conjunction with another crisis. This was stated by Father James V. Schall, professor of Political Philosophy at Georgetown University. He said,

The severest and least attended to crisis in the Christian Church in general and in the Roman Church in particular is not (lack of) service to the poor, not the quality of spiritual life, liturgy, scriptural or historical studies, nor is it the loss of vocations or the capacities of episcopal and papal leadership. Neither is it the [similar loss] of many religious orders, nor even less any weakening of faith. Such are indeed problems of particular import, but behind each of these (issues) lies something deeper, the erosion of Christian intelligence (emphasis is mine).

He says we are called to intelligently “participate” in society. The opposite would be mindlessly. We should not only be seeking goodness for ourselves, but a “Common Good.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that,

As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life. The manner of this participation may vary from one country or culture to another. “One must pay tribute to those nations whose systems permit the largest possible number of the citizens to take part in public life in a climate of genuine freedom.”

There are also obligations accompanying this participation. We might reflect on a few of them given to us in the Catechism, (see 1916, ff., and 2234, ff.). • As with any ethical obligation, the participation of all in

realizing the common good calls for a continually renewed conversion of the social partners.

• Much care should be taken to promote institutions that improve the conditions of human life.

• It is incumbent on those who exercise authority to strengthen the values that inspire the confidence of the members of the group and encourage them to put themselves at the service of others.

• Participation begins with education and culture. “One is entitled to think that the future of humanity is in the hands of those who are capable of providing the generations to come with reasons for life and optimism.”

• Those who exercise authority should do so as a service. “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant” (Mt 20:26). […And,] No one can command or establish what is contrary to the dignity of persons and the natural law.

• The exercise of authority is meant to give outward expression to a just hierarchy of values in order to facilitate the exercise of freedom and responsibility by all.

• They should take care that the regulations and measures they adopt are not a source of temptation by setting personal interest against that of the community.

• Political authorities are obliged to respect the fundamental rights of the human person. They will dispense justice humanely by respecting the rights of everyone, especially of families and the disadvantaged.

• Political rights are meant to be exercised for the common good of the nation and the human community.

Although we might be compelled in so many ways to be “loyal citizens,” it is essential that we realize loyalty can have its limits. All authority does come from God, but unjust exercise of it does not. Our teaching is such that,

Their loyal collaboration includes the right, and at times the duty, to voice their just criticisms of that which seems harmful to the dignity of persons and to the good of the community. [This also means that] The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel. Refusing obedience to civil authorities, when their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience, finds its justification in the distinction between serving God and serving the political community. “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mt 22:21). “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29) (2242).

We must therefore take seriously the right given to us to vote. We must also consider that this obliges us to make choices that will permit Divine authority to be used and exercised in the finest way that we see possible.

God’s Peace,

SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER & OUR LADY OF THE LAKE CHURCHES

B

PTAF Veteran’s Mass

The Sullivan County PTAF Youth Group will hold a special Veteran’s Mass on

Saturday, November 10th, at 4:30pm at Immaculate Conception Church in

Woodbourne. Refreshments and social hour will follow.

Please RSVP by November 2nd to 292-9100. All veterans and their families are invited to

attend.

Catholic Charities Campaign for Charity & Justice

Please remember that next Sunday, November 11th is our monthly Archdiocesan collection. This month your contributions will go to Catholic Charities. Please be generous as these funds will go directly to people and

communities in need.

THIRTY -FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME , NOVEMBER 4, 2018 FATHER DENNIS M. DINAN

Please Pray for our Parish Family For the Sick: Peggy Bayly Lohmann, Dennis Falk, Barbara Walter, Gloria Saures, Ed Brennan, Amy Ernano, Clayton Snow, Barnabas O’Driscoll, Sean Sweeney, Jose Mabama, Ron Burke, Charlotte Mills, Carol Mash, Mary Cauvaris, Barbara Smith, Janine Perry, Hilde Bielfeld, Rosemary Barile, Helene Indelicato, Christine Mary Faggione, Tracy Larssen, Septemberr Totten, Madeline Sheans, Peggy Lee Romano, Mary Weiden, Mary Tresh, Ida Alvarez, Mildred Meyer, and all those struggling with any kind of illness and suffering. For the Deceased: Theresa Delaney, Helen Bunis, Maria Meyer, Pat Noble, Joseph Meyer, Gloria Ackermann, Eileen Dempsey, Martin Ferrick, Jacoba “Cobi” Campfield, George Johnson, Josephine Kelly, Joanne Barnes Brennan, Dr. Robert Lucas, Daniel Kelly, Fr. William Scully, Jean Salmeri, Barbara Smith, Mary Ann Janowsky, Helen Guttzeit, and all those who have gone before us. For those Serving in the Military: SGT Vaughn Schlott USMC (TX)

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Deuteronomy 6:2-6 Hebrews 7:23-28 Mark 12:28b-34

Mass IntentionsMass IntentionsMass IntentionsMass Intentions Saturday, November 3rd 4:30pm -All Souls Sunday, November 4th 8:30am -All Souls 11:00 -All Souls Tuesday, November 6th 8:30am -All Souls Wednesday, November 7th 4:30pm -All Souls Thursday, November 8th 8:30am -All Souls Friday, November 9th 8:30am -All souls Saturday, November 10th

4:30pm -Joan Ernst & John Bernas Requested by The Bernas Family -Clarence & Marie Schultz Requested by Dorothy Schultz -Joseph Meyer Requested by Bob & Rose Meyer Sunday, November 11th 8:30am -Margaret Preis Requested by Mary Jane Nober -Craig Adams Requested by Colleen Tenbus -Helene Luning Requested by Helene Indelicato 11:00am -Ron Burke Requested by Wendell & Lillian Putz

Collection October 28th, 2018

1st Collection Our Lady of the Lake $763.00 St. Francis Xavier $356.00

Total $1,119.00 Thank you!

Variety Gift Fair Variety Gift Fair Variety Gift Fair Variety Gift Fair

FundraiserFundraiserFundraiserFundraiser

Saturday, November 24 Saturday, November 24 Saturday, November 24 Saturday, November 24

10:00am10:00am10:00am10:00am----2:00pm2:00pm2:00pm2:00pm

Join us for a Gift FJoin us for a Gift FJoin us for a Gift FJoin us for a Gift Fair in the SFX air in the SFX air in the SFX air in the SFX

Parish Hall Parish Hall Parish Hall Parish Hall to raise futo raise futo raise futo raise funds that nds that nds that nds that

will go directly to ourwill go directly to ourwill go directly to ourwill go directly to our Parish.Parish.Parish.Parish.

Crafts, flowers, baked goods, Crafts, flowers, baked goods, Crafts, flowers, baked goods, Crafts, flowers, baked goods, tricky tray, and moretricky tray, and moretricky tray, and moretricky tray, and more!!!!

Mark your calendars. More information to Mark your calendars. More information to Mark your calendars. More information to Mark your calendars. More information to

follow!follow!follow!follow!