FORT DETRICK HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

October 12, 2014 –28th

Sunday of Ordinary Time - A

The Fort Detrick Holy Family Catholic Community

Rich and Juicy The First Reading says that the Lord of hosts will provide a feast for his people, a feast of choice wines and rich and juicy food. Rich food is the kind that our culture warns us against. Everything shouts at us that if we want to look good and be healthy, the one thing we should be sure to avoid is rich food. And what can we say about choice wines? They cost a lot of money, which could be better spent on other things; and nobody can exercise hard or work well who is full of choice wines. Furthermore, almost everybody is dieting or has been dieting. But we all know that even successful dieters fail in the long run. Often, a person diets just long enough to get rid of excess weight and then happily goes right back to his old habits of eating rich and juicy food. That’s how diets fail. We seem pressed, then, to give up rich and juicy things forever. And it isn’t just a matter of food. Work,

marriage, children—all these things can give the same impression. Give unstintingly, labor ceaselessly; but, please, please, nothing rich and juicy! At least, not if you want to be healthy, attractive, and successful. This is a grim and grinding picture of human life. But it is not the Lord’s picture. We are made by him to be fed till full on the very best, the most rich and juicy of all. The Lord himself will provide it for us in heaven, in the wedding supper of the Lamb. But, in this life too, the Lord feeds us with the best, himself, in the bread and wine of the Eucharist. There is no choicer wine or richer food. And so, as the First Reading shows us, we are not commanded to a life of grimness. We are called to joy.

Eleonore Stump

Eleonore Stump is Professor of Philosophy

Saint Louis University

Copyright © 2014, Eleonore Stump.

All Rights Reserved.

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.

Reading I: Isaiah 25:6-10A

Responsorial Psalm 23:1-3A, 3B8-4, 5, 6

Reading II: Philippians 4:12-14,1-20

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Post Chapel: 301-619-7371

Coordinator of Catholic Services:

Pastor Reverend Daniel Mindling: 301-447-5787

Reverend John Detrich

Catholic Community Council Officers:

MAJ Pedro Bonilla – President – 240-439-4321

Karen Wells – Vice President

Elizabeth Bedard – Secretary

Benjamin Rubio – Chaplaincy Program Budget Advisory Committee (CPBAC) Representative

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY COUNCIL EMAIL: holyfamilyfd@catholicweb.com

CCD Coordinator:

Mary Gusman – CCD Coordinator – 301-788-5125

Catholic Women of the Chapel (CWOC):

POC - Edna Torres-Melendez

Points of Contact for the Catholic Community: (Please contact a Catholic Community Council Officer for phone

numbers)

Altar Servers – Rickey Casillas, Sr.

Catholic Women of the Chapel – Edna Torres-Melendez

CCD – Mary Gusman

Children’s Liturgy – Regina Johnson, Randy Underwood, Mary Stubbs

EOM and Lector Training – Isaac Gusman

Ministry Schedule – Marion Kelly

Saturday Night Music – Kim Carpentier

Soldiers Outreach – Rosemary Debes

Sunday Morning Music – Juana Anderson

Ministry of Hope – Mary Stubbs

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine: Sunday from 10:45 - 12:00 noon, Preschool thru High School.

Donut Sunday: 2nd Sunday of each month.

Child Care: Watchcare Providers are available to care for our children. On Saturdays there will be no watchcare provided

and the rooms will be open as “Cry Rooms” and for Nursing Moms to utilize it. Proper order, cleanliness, health and

sanitation standards must be maintained while using these facilities.

New Catholic Community Members: If you are new to our Catholic Community please see one of the Greeters after

Mass and fill out a Catholic Community Census Card.

Offerings: Checks should be made payable to: CONSOLIDATED CHAPLAINS FUND. Thank You!

Catholic Community Council Meeting: Will be held on the Second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. The Catholic

Community Council makes decisions as to the spiritual quality of the overall Catholic Community that includes all areas of

pastoral ministry. The Catholic Community Council is not only for those who are active in ministry but also for the entire

Catholic Community. We invite everyone to be a part of the team that insures the spiritual growth of the entire Fort Detrick

Catholic Community

Pastoral Services: Baptism, Marriage and Counseling must be requested through the Chaplain’s Office.

Rosary: 5:00 p.m. before the Mass 1st Saturday of each month. During the months of May (Month of Mary) and October

(Month of the Rosary) it will be said every Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

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The Fort Detrick Holy Family Catholic Community

Post Chapel: 301-619-7371

Coordinator of Catholic Services:

Pastor Reverend Daniel Mindling: 301-447-5787

Reverend John Detrich

Catholic Community Council Officers:

Pedro Bonilla-Vazquez – President – 240-439-4321

Javier Fuentes – Vice President

Marie-Angela Comeau – Secretary

Benjamin Rubio – Chaplaincy Program Budget Advisory Committee (CPBAC) Representative

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY COUNCIL EMAIL: holyfamilyfd@catholicweb.com

CCD Coordinator:

Mary Gusman – CCD Coordinator – 301-788-5125

Catholic Women of the Chapel (CWOC):

POC - Edna Torres-Melendez

Points of Contact for the Catholic Community: (Please contact a Catholic Community Council Officer for phone

numbers)

Altar Servers – Rickey Casillas, Sr.

Catholic Women of the Chapel – Edna Torres-Melendez

CCD – Mary Gusman

Children’s Liturgy – Regina Johnson, Mary Stubbs, Javier Fuentes

EOM and Lector Training – Isaac Gusman

Ministry Schedule – Marion Kelly

Saturday Night Music – Kim Carpentier

Soldiers Outreach – Rosemary Debes

Sunday Morning Music – Juana Anderson

Ministry of Hope – Mary Stubbs

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine: Sunday from 10:45 - 12:00 noon, Preschool thru High School.

Donut Sunday: 2nd Sunday of each month.

Child Care: Watchcare Providers are available to care for our children. On Saturdays there will be no watchcare

provided and the rooms will be open as “Cry Rooms” and for Nursing Moms to utilize it. Proper order, cleanliness,

health and sanitation standards must be maintained while using these facilities.

New Catholic Community Members: If you are new to our Catholic Community please see one of the Greeters after

Mass and fill out a Catholic Community Census Card.

Offerings: Checks should be made payable to: CONSOLIDATED CHAPLAINS FUND. Thank You!

Catholic Community Council Meeting: Will be held on the Second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. The Catholic

Community Council makes decisions as to the spiritual quality of the overall Catholic Community that includes all areas

of pastoral ministry. The Catholic Community Council is not only for those who are active in ministry but also for the

entire Catholic Community. We invite everyone to be a part of the team that insures the spiritual growth of the entire

Fort Detrick Catholic Community

Pastoral Services: Baptism, Marriage and Counseling must be requested through the Chaplain’s Office.

Rosary: 5:00 p.m. before the Mass 1st Saturday of each month. During the months of May (Month of Mary) and

October (Month of the Rosary) it will be said every Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

Sacrament of Baptism: Parental preparation is required. Please contact the Chapel Staff at least one month in

advance of the ceremony for further details.

Sacrament of Confirmation is a two-year program. One year of Pre-Confirmation must be completed in order to

attend the Confirmation Class. No more than 3 absences will be allowed for the Confirmation Class and the

Confirmandi are reminded to be on time and bring their completed homework each class. Thirty Service hours are

required this year from the Confirmandi and we will do these as a class.

Sacrament of Marriage: Arrangements must be initiated with the priest at least six months in advance of the

ceremony.

Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturday from 4:45-5:15 p.m., Sunday from 8:45-9:05 a.m.

Growing in Faith and Saturday Pizza Fellowship: Second Saturday of the month immediately following the 5:30

p.m. Mass.

Schedule of Services: Saturday, 5:30 p.m., Sunday, 9:15 a.m., Holy Day, 7:00 p.m.

Special Liturgies: Second Sunday of the Month, Children’s Liturgy presented by CCD Classes.

SCHEDULE

11 October 14 (Saturday) – 1730 12 October 14 (Sunday) – 0915

Priest: Father Smith Priest: Father Smith

Greeters: Casillas Family Greeters: Jones Family & 8th Grade CCD

Altar Servers: G. Maher. A. Maher, E. Maher Altar Servers: Rafaella, Renee, Robyn Reus

EM: E. Munoz EM: J. Kelly, V. Bonilla, I. Gusman

Lector: R. Richardson Lector: 8th Grade CCD

Children’s Liturgy: J. Fuentes

18 October 14 (Saturday) – 1730 19 October 14 (Sunday) – 0915

Priest: Father Smith Priest: Father Smith

Greeters: Deegan-McKinney Family Greeters: Debes Family

Altar Servers: G. Maher, A. Maher, E. Maher Altar Servers: B. Carrington, J. Cabacungan

EM: B. Rubio EM: M. Gusman, I. Gusman, V. Bonilla

Lector: J. Anderson Lector: N. Cabacungan

Children’s Liturgy: M. Stubbs

25 October 14 (Saturday) – 1730 26 October 14 (Sunday) – 0930

Priest: Father Smith Priest: Father Smith

Greeters: Sullivan Family Greeters: Kuhens Family

Altar Servers: G. Maher, A. Maher, E. Maher Altar Servers: J. Maultsby, J. Corpuz

EM: T. Murtaugh EM: R. Debes, L. Debes, J. Kelly

Lector: R. Casillas Lector: M. Stubbs

Children’s Liturgy: J. Fuentes

Thank You for Your Offering

Saturday, 4 October 14 $493.00

Attendance 100

Sunday, 5 October 14 $446.00

Attendance 50

TOTAL $939.00

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Prayer Requests

Bonnie C. – Pray for my daughter, Jenny who is going through a tough time with a new job supervisor.

Howard James – Debra James – Praise –successful completed pancreatic fund raising walk. Paul Edgerton –

Prayer and healing from cancer. Debbie – Prayer and strength to work through personal issues. Chaplain

Kimble – Prayer, healing and support

Elaine Fleming – Andre who is going through another round of chemotherapy for cancer. My sister, Chandra

who is starting a new job

Andrea Reeves – Please pray for Andrea Reeves’ co-worker who has helped her a great deal in recent weeks.

Her co-worker is undergoing treatment for a serious illness.

Pedro Bonilla-Vazquez: For all mothers in need of prayers. For all that are suffering addiction of any kind.

For all that are searching for truth and to be consoled. For all children born and unborn. For all that has

requested prayers and their intentions. May God hear all these prayers and give peace to all our hearts.

Personnel Deployed in Support of OEF

Bostic, Derrick (SFC)

Dentzic, Patrick (Airmen)

Hagberg, Keith (SGT)

Ladd, Bradley (MAJ)

Leary, Daniel (CPT)

Lewis, Theresa

Lowery, Dajuan (MSG)

Rivera, Rey

Smith, John (MAJ)

Stephens, Carlton (PFC)

Suarez, Victor (LTC)

Thompson, Patrick

Vanhoy, Justin (SSG)

Airmen

Army

Marines

Reserve Soldiers

Sailors

FORT DETRICK HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

11 & 12 October 14

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE BULLETIN: Announcements must be in by 12:00 noon on Monday before the

weekend you wish the announcement to appear.

BACKGROUND CHECKS: All Volunteers ages 12 and up will need to fill out a Background Packet and be

fingerprinted. Please pick up a packet on the table outside the office and return to SGT Webb at 301-619-7371. This is

Mandatory. You cannot volunteer without a background check. Thank You!

CALL TO SERVICE: The need for ministry assistance is ongoing. Lectors/EM/Greeters/Choir

Members/Catechists/Altar Servers are areas that you can serve God and the Community. Lectors & Readers should be at

least 21 years of age. The point of contact is any member of the Catholic Community Council or Father Dan.

CCD: Registration forms are available at the entrance of the Chapel. Please put the completed form in the basket

provided or give to Mary Gusman. Time from 10:30-12:00. The first day of CCD is 7 Sep 2014. There will be a picnic

at Nallin Pond.

CATHOLIC WOMEN OF THE CHAPEL (CWOC): CWOC has no events scheduled at this time. Date of next

meeting TBD.

CHAPEL USE: Everyone that needs to use the Chapel must fill out the new request form located in the Office. Thank

You!

CHAPEL VOLUNTEERS: PLEASE LOG IN YOUR VOLUNTEER HOURS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND

PLEASE CONTINUE TO LOG THESE HOURS INTO THE SYSTEM. THANK YOU!

Another year has flown by and it is once again time to make sure that all of those hours you spent volunteering are

reported. Please log on to www.myarmyonesource.com and get those hours in. The system will now allow you to

enter your hours by month rather than just day to day. If you cannot report your hours yourself, please send me an email

at marsha.l.nelson-duncan.civ@mail.mil with the number of hours your volunteered each month as well as the

organization you volunteered for. Marsha Duncan, Fort Detrick Program Manager

CHILDREN’S LITURGY: Children’s Liturgy is recommended for those children who have not yet received First

Communion.

CHOIR PRACTICE: Saturday Choir practice is immediately following Mass. Sunday Choir Practice is held on

Saturday mornings in the Chapel at 0930-1030 and Sunday Mornings at 0845.

CONSENT AND PHOTO RELEASE FORM: A Consent and Photo Release Form needs to be turned in for each

child in CCD. The form is available online for download at

<http://home.catholicweb.com/HolyFamily_FD/index.cfm/NewsItem?ID=350133&From=Home>

CONTRACTS: If you are interested in applying for a Watchcare or Musician Contract for the Post Chapel please see

SGT Webb to fill out an application or please see Chaplain To or call the Chapel Office at 301-619-7371. The contract

starts 1 October 13.

GUIDELINES FOR RECEIVING COMMUNION: As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the

Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are Encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In

order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally

should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the

Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for Confession. In

this case the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of

DEVOTIONS

December 28 is the Feast of the Holy Family. February is the month dedicated to the Holy Family. Novenas are good

devotions for these two important times of the year dedicated to our Patron Saint: The Holy Family.

Next Second Saturday Fellowship Growing in Faith Series: Saturday 8 November 2014 after 5:30 pm Mass.

The Holy Family Growing in Faith Resources: is active please get a list of DVD, Audio CD, and Books that are

available to be lend for a week. Contact Pedro Bonilla by phone or e-mail to request or for more information. You can also

go to: http://holyfamilyfd.bugs3.com/oscommerce/

confessing as soon as possible (Cannon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.

INCLEMENT WEATHER: Call 301-619-7611 for a recorded Weather Line Message or check

www.detrick.army.mil/weather/. Decisions on delayed openings or closings of the Fort Detrick Post are usually made

by 0500. Also go to the Fort Detrick Chapel’s Facebook Page for Chapel specific information.

MASS INTENTIONS: Sunday Mass is offered for the intention of the Catholic Congregation but if you would like

to have Saturday Evening Mass said for a special intention please let Father know.

MASS TIMES: To find times of Masses in a Church and locations of Churches near you when you go on vacation

go the www.masstimes.org and enter the zip code of your vacation location. Or go to www.thecatholicdirectory.com

and select the State where you will be traveling.

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL: Please show respect for the Priest by silencing your pagers, cell phones, etc while at

Mass. Young men please remove your hats in church, and everyone please be aware that you should not eat or chew

gum during Mass.

ROSARY GROUP: The Rosary Group will be meeting at the Chapel on Tuesday Evenings at 6:30 p.m. for the

Rosary and Novena. It’s a really special time, everyone is welcome to come and be blessed, hope you can join us.

SICK OR HOMEBOUND: Please notify the Priest or a Eucharistic Extraordinary Minister of any member of the

family who is unable to attend Mass, so that the Eucharist may be brought to the home. When indicated, the

Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated. In an emergency, please call a Priest or Community

Council Officer at any time, day or night.

SOLDIER BOXES: The Soldier Boxes activity has been postponed until new date is set. We need donations for the

boxes. Please take a list from the foyer table and bring from there your donation to the Chapel and label “Soldier

Boxes”.

ST. JOHN REGIONAL SCHOOL: In 2006 an agreement was made between St. John Regional and Fort Detrick to

include Catholic active-duty military families who enroll their children at St. John’s as regional Parishioners.

Regional Parishioners are afforded reduced tuition rates that other families receive as Parishioners of Frederick Area

Catholic Parishes. We promote the fact that the Fort Detrick Catholic Community is included with other area

Parishes as regional Parishioners.

ST. JOHN REGIONAL CATHOLIC PREP: Saint John’s Catholic Prep is a Catholic, coeducational, college-

preparatory high school now located in Buckeystown, MD. The school is dedicated to developing the whole student –

mind, body, and spirit. Saint John’s students receive a high level of academic preparation as well as internal strength

and confidence. Students emerge from their years at the school prepared for college and well-grounded in the goals

and ideals of a Catholic education. In addition to excellent academics, Saint John’s also offers a diverse array of co-

curricular activities that teach students self-discipline and control, the value of teamwork and mutual respect, and an

appreciation of personal worth and accomplishments. Saint John’s Catholic Prep is now accepting applications for

the 2014-2015 school year! Please contact the Admissions Office at 301-662-4210 or visit www.saintjohnsprep.org.

Annual Fall Open House for prospective family’s on Sunday, November 2nd

from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Location 3989

Buckeystown Pike, Buckeystown, MD. For more information about admissions or open house, please call the

school at 301-662-4210 or e-mail admissions@saintjohnsprep.org.

ST THOMAS MORE ACADEMY: Is currently accepting applications for the 2014-2015 school year. Saint

Thomas More Academy is a co-educational Catholic School serving PreK3-8th Grade that offers a Classical Liberal

Arts Curriculum, affordable tuition rates, small class sizes and highly qualified, caring teachers. Tours are offered.

103 Prospect Street, Middletown, MD 21769. 240-490-5479. www.stmamd.org.

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I AM GLAD YOU ASKED!

(Send all your questions to: pbonillav@comcast.net )

Q. Questions for your reflection on today’s readings:

First Reading

Isaiah 25:6-10a

1. Does banquet imagery describe well the fullness of life in the presence of God? How can a feast, juicy,

rich food and pure, choice wines be a sacramental vision of the universe?

2. In this reading, “veil” means anything that separates the people from the divine presence of God. It says

that God will destroy the veil, and will also destroy death and wipe away all tears from every face. Do

these images speak to you? Explain.

Second Reading

Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20

1. “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” Will the Lord ever test you beyond your capacity?

Will he always be with you? When you face daily life, when difficulties arise, do you remember Paul’s

words: “I can do all things in him who strengthens me”?

2. Sunday’s readings show God bestowing gifts on us without measure. Do you “measure” when you

give? How could you be a little freer?

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Gospel

Matthew 22:1-14

1. Discuss what Pope Francis (Cardinal Bergoglio at the time of this interview for La Stampa, an Italian

newspaper) says below about the following quote from the Gospel. “Go out therefore, into the main roads

and invite to the feast whomever you find.”

True accidents can happen when you go out into the street, as can happen to any man or woman. But if the

Church remains closed onto itself—self-referential—it grows old. Between a Church that goes into the

street and gets into an accident and a Church that is sick with self-referentiality, I have no doubts in

preferring the first.

Which Church do you prefer?

2. Besides answering God’s invitation to the feast, what is our job? How does this banquet not only

sustain life but also transfigure it?

TITHES AND OFFERINGS ENVELOPE: Chapel parishioners have the option of having their tithes and offerings

tracked for tax deduction purposes. Please ask for an envelope when giving and make sure that you fill out the

information completely. For calendar year 2013, we are only able to give you the total for October, November, and

December. However, if you would still like for us to give you a statement for all of 2013, please bring in the previous

months’ processed checks. Thank you for choosing the Chapel as your place of worship! ~ Chaplain To.

THE VISITATON ACADEMY: Visitation Academy, in the heart of historic downtown Frederick, Maryland, is a

Catholic School for young ladies in grades Pre-K through 8. The Academy is located at 200 West Second Street,

Frederick. Contact Cindy Cantrel, Executive Director, at 301-662-2814 or see our website at

www.thevisitationacademy.org for more information. The only all-girls PreK3-8th grade Catholic School in Frederick

County, is now accepting applications for all grades. Please contact Carol Guaccero at

cguaccero@thevisitationacademy.org or call (301) 662-2814. For more information, visit our web site at

www.thevisitationacademy.org. The visitation Academy in Frederick – empowering young women since 1846 – is

now accepting applications for the 2014-2015 academic year. Please contact Cindy Cantrel, Executive Director at

301-662-2814 for more information.

WEBSITE: The Post Chapel has a website that can be accessed by http://www.detrick.army.mil/chapel. Like us on

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FortDetrickChapel. The Fort Detrick Holy Family Catholic Community has a

website that can be accessed by http://home.catholicweb.com/HolyFamily_FD/

YOUNG ADULTS ALERT: The Young Adults Group wants to continue inviting new young adults interested in

this great ministry to join. We are recently meeting on the First and Third Sunday of the month and we have

participated already in awesome activities like Planet Wisdom, The Annual pilgrimage of the Archdiocese of

Baltimore. Anyone interested in participate must be 13 to 19 years old and have proper consent forms submitted. For

more information please contact Ms. Juana Anderson or Mr. Javier Fuentes.

FISHER HOUSE LOVE BAGS: The Fisher House Love bags project will be conducted this year to support the

wounded Warriors and families at the Fisher House. Please sign up to get a bag and fill it with donations for this great

project. The bags will be distributed on the weekend of 25-26 October and will be collected on the weekend of 15-16

November to make it available to The Fisher House in Thanksgiving. There will be a donation list from which you

can select the items you want to donate. Thanks and God Bless you always!

OFFICERS ELECTIONS RESULTS: During last weekend the Catholic Community conducted the Catholic

Community Council Officers elections. The results of the elections are as follows:

President: Mr. Pedro Bonilla-Vazquez

Vice-President: Mr. Javier Fuentes

Secretary: Mrs. Marie-Angela Comeau

"The results of the Parish Council election is:

President: Pedro Bonilla: 55; no other candidate b) Vice President: Javier Fuentes: 32; Karen Wells: 24 c. Secretary:

Marie Angels Comeau: 31; Rowena Cruz: 21; Tess Corpus: 1; Ben Rubio 1

Congratulations to the winners! But more importantly, congratulations on a successful election process."

DESIGNATED OFFERINGS FOR FY15: The following will be the Regular Designated Offerings for FY15 for

the Archdiocese for The Military Services:

4-5 October 2014

17-18 January 2015

18-19 April 2015

18-19 July 2015

Holy Family Prayer

O God of infinite goodness and

kindness, who has deigned to

call us to this Congregation,

give us the grace to venerate

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, so

that, imitating them in this life,

we may enjoy with them the

life to come. We ask this

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Holy Family Prayer

O God of infinite goodness and

kindness, who has deigned to

call us to this Congregation,

give us the grace to venerate

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, so

that, imitating them in this life,

we may enjoy with them the

life to come. We ask this

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

GROWING IN FAITH

ST. JOHN XXIII Feast: 11 OCTOBER

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

parables

kingdom

heaven

servants

invited

banquet

refused

dinner

oxen

cattle

come

wedding

street

corners

filled

guests

PRAY WITH THE SAINTS

Dear Pope John,

Your simplicity and meekness carried the scent of God

and sparked in people’s hearts the desire for goodness.

You spoke often of the beauty of the family gathered

around the table to share bread and faith: pray for us

that once again true families would live in our homes.

With outstretched hands you sowed hope, and you

taught us to listen for God’s footsteps as he prepares a

new humanity: help us have a healthy optimism of

defeating evil with good. You loved the world with its

light and darkness, and you believed that peace is

possible: help us be instruments of peace at home and

in our communities. With paternal gentleness you gave

all children a caress: you moved the world and

reminded us that hands have been given to us not for

striking, but for embracing and drying tears .Pray for us

so that we do not limit ourselves to cursing the

darkness but that we bring the light, bringing Jesus

everywhere and always praying to Mary. Amen

Items of Interest

International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes

Very soon, the Archbishop will send you a letter about the International Military

Pilgrimage (PMI) to Lourdes, to encourage your support and participation, which will

also published on the special website for the same pilgrimage.

However, he does wish to avoid any confusion about this pilgrimage sponsored only by

the AMS and the Knights of Columbus. Should you receive any request to solicit

volunteers, funds, or priests on the part of the North American Lourdes Volunteers

(NALV), please refuse to do so and inform the Archbishop immediately of the request.

This group has repeatedly failed to co-operate with the AMS, has embarrassed the

image of the United States among the organizers of the PMI, and, in general, has

persisted in employing and sponsoring one model of Lourdes visit—theirs.

Last year, the Archbishop did obtain a grant for the NALV to help the AMS bring

wounded warriors on the pilgrimage. The collaboration was non-existent, and he has

been forced to abandon any similar attempts in the future. The Knights have been able

to draw on the long experience of the Knights of Malta, in addition to the “trial run” last

year. They are already far along in their preparations for this year’s PMI.