for our spiritual life july 22, 2018 sixteenth sunday ......2018/07/07 · radical hospitality: the...

FOR OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE Radical Hospitality: The First Practice of Fruitful Congregations

by Robert Schnase

www.ministrymatters.com This article is featured in the Opening the Door (Nov/Dec/Jan 2008-2009) issue of Circuit Rider

July 22, 2018 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Vibrant, fruitful, growing congregations practice

radical hospitality. Christian hospitality is the

active desire to invite, welcome, receive, and care

for those who are strangers so that they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the

unending richness of life in Christ.

Churches that practice radical hospitality sense a

calling and responsibility to pray, plan, and work

to invite others and to help them feel welcome

and to support them in their faith journeys. Out of

genuine love for Christ and for others, their

members, staff and pastors take the initiative to

invite, welcome, include, and support newcomers

and help them grow in faith as they become part

of the body of Christ.

It's easy to focus on what we expect from the

church rather than what the church expects from

us, just as it's easy to expect God to do for us

what God created us to do for God. We are here

in the spirit of Jesus, “not to be served, but to

serve.” How are we doing in our churches? Do we

focus only on how our needs are met, or do we

open ourselves to the possibility that our needs are best met when we place ourselves in service

to others in Christ's name?

What Is RADICAL HOSPITALITY?

Radical means “drastically different from ordinary

practice, outside the norm,” and so it provokes

practices that exceed expectations, that go the

second mile, that take welcoming the stranger to

the max. By radical, don't think wild-eyed, out of

control, or in your face. Instead, imagine people

offering the absolute utmost of themselves, their

creativity, their abilities, and their energy to offer

the gracious invitation and reception of Christ to

others.

Aspiring to radical hospitality, following Jesus'

example of gathering people into the body of

Christ, inviting them to the banquet of God's

gracious love requires intentional focus on those

outside the community of faith. Jesus' example of

hospitality demands an unceasingly invitational

posture that we carry with us into our world of

work and leisure and into our practice of

neighborliness and community service. It involves seeing ourselves as sent out by Christ and going

out of our way, even at the risk of a sense of

awkwardness and inconvenience, to invite people

into some aspect of the church's ministry.

Sometimes members forget that churches offer

something people need. What do people need

that congregations offer?

People need to know God loves them, that they

are of supreme value, and that their life has significance. People need to know that they are

not alone; that when they face life's difficulties,

they are surrounded by a community of grace;

and that they do not have to figure out entirely

for themselves how to cope with family tensions,

self-doubts, periods of despair, economic

reversal, and the temptations that hurt

themselves or others. People need to know the

peace that runs deeper than an absence of conflict, the hope that sustains them even

through the most painful periods of grief, the

sense of belonging that blesses them and

stretches them and lifts them out of their own

preoccupations. People need to learn how to offer

and accept forgiveness and how to serve and be

served. As a school for love, the church becomes

a congregation where people learn from one

another how to love. People need to know that

life is not having something to live on but something to live for, that life comes not from

taking for oneself but by giving of oneself. People

need a sustaining sense of purpose.

Having said that, the last thing people want is to

be told by someone else what they need! Inviting

people into Christ does not involve pounding

people with “oughts” and “shoulds.” Some people

recognize their needs, and they search for

meaning, for others, and for God. But most

people discover their need for God's grace and for the love of Christ through the experience of

receiving it.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

To become a vibrant, fruitful, growing

congregation requires a change of attitudes,

practices, and values. Good intentions are not enough. Too many churches want more young

people as long as they act like old people, more

newcomers as long as they act like old-timers,

more children as long as they are as quiet as

adults, more ethnic families as long as they act

like the majority in the congregation.

We can do better. It takes practicing radical

hospitality—and all the redirecting of energy and

resources and volunteer time that comes with this. Church leaders can't keep doing things the

way they have always done them. Little changes

have big effects.

If every ministry changed a little toward

welcoming younger people, the cumulative effect

might change the direction of the church. From

safe and easily supportable new initiatives, such

as Parents' Night Out programs for young families

or Brown Bag Bible Studies in workplace

cafeterias, to more edgy ministries, such as alternative services in strip malls for the “tattoos

and piercings” crowd, churches can let the Radical

Hospitality they see in Christ lead them in

creative directions.

Churches marked by this quality work hard to

figure out how best to anticipate others' needs

and to make them feel at home in their

ministries. All churches offer some form of

hospitality, but radical hospitality describes churches that strive without ceasing to exceed

expectations to accommodate and include others.

A congregation marked by such hospitality adopts

an invitational posture that changes everything it

does. Members work with a heightened

awareness of the person who is not present, the

neighbors, friends, and co-workers who have no

church home. With every ministry, they consider

how to reach those who do not yet know Christ.

The willingness to risk something new creates a buzz and a stir in the community that strengthens

participation in all other ministries of the church.

In ways no one understands, when the

contemporary service begins to welcome new

people in a manner that exceeds expectations,

often the traditional Sunday school class for older

members grows as well. Word-of-mouth is still

the most important form of human

communication, and when people talk about congregations as places that make people feel

welcome and loved, then the church thrives.

What Difference Will this Make?

A woman was going through a rough time in her

personal and professional life; and in her search

for connections, hope, and direction, she began to

visit a few churches. After her first two worship

experiences to which she came alone, sat alone,

and left alone without anyone speaking to her or greeting her, her prayer for her next visit to

another church service was simply, “I only pray

that someone speaks to me today.”

Wow! What an indictment. Could that really

happen to visitors in our congregations? How

many of us have had that experience? Have you

ever arrived at a church, entered the hallways

and despite your obvious “lostness” and active

searching for signs and directions, passed by forty or fifty people without anyone even nodding at

you or offering to help you find your way? And

we've all experienced the ushers or greeters who

offer perfunctory handshakes without even

looking us in the eye, who hand us a bulletin and

push us along without any personal engagement

or warmth. We can do better.

For the visitor or the person who is searching for

spiritual help, “This Sunday is the only Sunday

that counts.” In the same way stores sometimes employ agencies to provide “secret shoppers” to

test the responsiveness of their salespersons and

employees, perhaps churches should consider

working with a few conscientious members of

another congregation, asking them to show up for

worship and provide a “secret visitor” analysis.

Churches aspiring to Radical Hospitality must

regularly ask: How are we doing at inviting guests

and at teaching people to invite others? How are we doing at genuinely and authentically

welcoming people? How can we offer the Radical

Hospitality we see in the life, teachings, death,

and resurrection of Christ? And how can we do

better?

A congregation changes its culture one person at

a time. Radical hospitality begins with a single

heart, a growing openness, a prayerful desire for

the highest good of a stranger. It begins when

one person treats another respectfully and loves the stranger enough to overcome the internal

hesitations to invite that person into the life of

Christ's church.

Churches that practice radical hospitality do not

look only at the numbers, corralling people

through processes to get them to join. Instead,

they genuinely engage people, listen to them, and

help them feel accepted, respected, connected,

needed, involved, and loved. They focus on the ultimate goal of helping newcomers grow into the

body of Christ's people.

Radical hospitality. People are searching for

churches that make them feel welcome and

loved, needed, and accepted. By repeating,

deepening, and improving on the practices of

investing in and welcoming people, fruitful

congregations share the gracious love of God in

Christ.

Excerpted with permission from Five Practices:

Radical Hospitality, part of the Five Practices of

Fruitful Congregations series of resources from

Abingdon Press.

https://www.ministrymatters.com/circuit_rider/41/opening-the-door-novdecjan-2008-2009https://www.ministrymatters.com/circuit_rider

IN THE PARISH

Helpful Information

Join the Parish

Anyone wishing to register for membership in the parish is asked to fill out a registration form and drop it in the collection basket.

Request Prayers

Our INTERCESSORY PRAYER MINISTRY provides prayer for anyone in need throughout the parish. Contact MARY ANN MAGDA at 570-655-1218 or make your intention known on our parish website at www.standrebessettewb.com

Remember your Parish

Your parish serves you faithfully throughout your life. Please remember your parish with a memorial gift or a Bequest in your will. Make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for you.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATIONS

Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick may take place at any time, but, sadly, too many families wait until the last minute to call the priest to anoint their loved ones. If someone in your family is seriously ill, preparing for surgery, or suffering a prolonged illness, please contact the parish office to arrange a time for Fr. Ken to visit. IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY—or if Fr. Ken is unavailable to visit immediately, we will contact the first available priest to celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing with your loved one.

Funeral Preparations

We collaborate with the local funeral directors in arranging the times of the funerals. Please be aware that

there is an additional fee for funerals on Saturdays imposed by most cemeteries in the area.

Baptismal Preparations

Parents of newly born infants may call the parish office to arrange a time for the Baptism of their child. Baptisms are celebrated, for the most part, on any Sunday, with the exception of the season of Lent.

Wedding Preparations

Couples contemplating Marriage are asked to contact the parish office at least one year prior to the contemplated date of marriage, before making other plans.

RAFFLE RETURNS

Tickets printed 7,000

Tickets sold to date 5,057

Tickets returned unsold 50

Tickets remaining to be sold 1,943

Total Income to date $10,304.00

Thank You to all who have made

their raffle returns.

Our goal for this fundraiser is

$12,000.00. We are at 86% of our

goal.

We need everyone’s involvement to

make this raffle a success.

Parish Life Council

"The parish is where the Church lives. Parishes are communities of faith, of action, and of hope. They are where the Gospel is proclaimed and celebrated, where believers are formed and sent to renew the earth. Parishes are the home of the Christian community; they are the heart of our Church. Parishes are the place where God's people meet Jesus in word and sacrament and come in touch with the source of the Church's life." (USCCB, Communities of Salt and Light, pg. 1)

The Work of the parish life council is to foster a sense of community among all members of the parish and to encourage outreach and welcome to the larger

community. We are looking for volunteers who are

committed to building community within our parish to serve on this integral council. If this sounds like something that would interest you, please

contact Fr. Ken at the parish office (570-823-4988). The first meeting is scheduled for August 23, 2018.

In Case you were wondering….

The Parish Choir and musicians are on hiatus for the month of July. They will return to duty on August 11th.

Parish Prayer Ministry

Monthly Intention During our recent parish Liturgical Council Meeting, it was suggested that

we “ramp up” our parish prayer ministry and ask all parishioners to be involved in praying for a particular intention for the parish each month. Our Parish Intention for this month is: That all parishioners may grow in a

desire to know God more fully and enter into a deeper relationship with Him.

We ask all parishioners and friends of the parish to include this petition in your daily prayers and works of charity.

RAFFLE DRAWING

THIS SUNDAY

AFTER the 11 :00am Mass

Get your tickets in ASAP!


Congratulations to Susan

and Michael Murphy who

are celebrating their 50th

Wedding Anniversary

this weekend. May God

grant them many years

filled with good health

and happiness.

THE LITURGY Liturgy of the Eucharist I

by Fr. Gabe Huck

www.homilies.net

Every Sunday, every Lord's Day, the church assembles here in its house and processes into its liturgy. That procession we talked about a few weeks ago. There is our gathering together, song, the sign of the cross, greeting, prayer. It takes a while to give us a sense of being here not as so many individuals, but as the baptized people who are the church. When this church has so prepared itself, we open our book and read the scriptures, sing psalms and alleluias, listen to the homily and join in the prayers of intercession. Those prayers conclude what is really a whole liturgy in itself, the Liturgy of the Word. But from their earliest times, Christians have had another liturgy that has been bound to their keeping of the Lord's day. That is the Liturgy of the Eucharist. "Eucharist" is a word that comes from Greek and has to do with "giving thanks," with "praise" and with "blessing."

But Eucharist begins quietly. We need that. We have just finished what ought to be hard work; concentrating on the scripture and on making prayers of intercession takes energy and leaves us both lifted up and a little worn out. So we take quiet moments to get the room and ourselves ready for Eucharist. This is the time called the preparation of the table or preparation of the gifts. Bread and wine are brought forward, such simple things, food and drink associated with the tables of ordinary people. Here they are called "fruit of the earth" and "work of human hands" as they are placed on the table in our midst. At the same time, the "work of human hands" is seen in the money that is collected, money or other gifts that are explicitly "for the church and the poor." Money could be collected in other ways and at other times; this is, after all, the age of credit cards. Why here and now? Because the money and the bread and wine are bound together. We are about to surround a single table and make a single prayer and eat of one bread and drink of one cup. Part of our preparation for this seems to be this gesture of pooling our resources, putting into one basket some of the money we have earned or received. We get ready for Eucharist by setting a table with bread and wine, but even more by showing some important things in this collection of money. One is that we are bound to one another-thus some of our contribution is for the work of the church. A second thing we show is that this bond is not selfish but is for the life of the world-thus some of our money is for the poor. And third, we show that what we do here together is bound to all the business and

commerce and give-and-take of everyday life. Bread and wine show that, but perhaps money shows it even more clearly. When all is ready, we stand up. In fact, we stand and gather around the table; only our numbers in this room keep us from coming into a circle. The one presiding stands at the table also and says four words to us that are not so much an invitation as an order: "Lift up your hearts." Some remember the Latin when it was only two words: Sursum corda! "Hearts on high!" we might say. And we answer that we are ready for this: "We lift them up to the Lord." Then the presider gives the invitation to do that deed that is the very heart not of the liturgy only but of Christian life: "Let us give thanks to the Lord our God." And we say: "It is right and just." All right. It is. Giving thanks. Giving praise. That's the heart of things for us. Are we any good at it? Probably we are

better at asking God, better at saying we're sorry, better at almost anything than this.

How do we think about those next few minutes? What do we think happens between this invitation and the Lord's Prayer just moments later? Some would say, "A lot of words by the priest while we all kneel down and pray." Others would say, "The priest consecrates the bread and wine." But there is a problem with answers like these. It still seems like we become a very passive audience right at the moment when we are supposed to be most active. The prayer that the presider speaks is the prayer of the church, OUR prayer. We show this when we sing those acclamations: "Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might," and "When we eat this bread.." and the Great Amen that we sing at the end of this prayer. All of those are shouts of approval, commands to go ahead with this prayer. They are like bursts of single-hearted song.

Or are they? Sometimes they are not. Part of that may be our fault, part the presider's fault, part the fault of words that are not strong enough to bear the burden here, and part the fault of music that just doesn't get the job done for us. All of those can be improved. Our failure to make these moments the high point of the liturgy shows that the liturgy is very human. It isn't magic. From the presider's side, it takes great strength to lead the Eucharistic Prayer well, speaking a long prayer to God in the name of this assembly. A person can't do that without sensing that the assembly is attentive, wanting to give thanks and praise. That back-and-forth between the leader of the prayer and the ones praying is crucial. Posture, eyes, readiness to sing those acclamations-all these count. Despite an unfortunate distance between the leader and the assembly, we can get rid of all

papers and books and have eyes and all senses toward the table. We can sing out, by heart, the "Holy, holy" and the other acclamations. Though the spoken words of the prayer are familiar, we can try to hear them and make them our own prayer so that our "Amen" is real at the end. Though there are in English ten different forms that this prayer can take, each weaves together some common strands. Most obvious: This is a meal prayer. God is given all thanks and praise, not in the abstract but at a table on which are the bread and wine intended for the food and drink of this assembly. So this prayer echoes with all the meal blessings we say in our lives. We grow hungry and by God's grace are fed. All that we know about giving thanks we bring to this table. Over the bread and wine the presider puts words to our thanks, and they become words about Christ. All our thanks gravitate toward the body given up for the life of the world, toward the blood of the new and everlasting covenant, blood that was shed for all that sins might be forgiven. We call on the Holy Spirit to come upon these gifts and make them holy, make them for us the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. If we Catholics want to learn how to pray, then let us learn how to pray the Eucharistic prayer. Learn how to lift up our hearts and give God thanks and praise. Learn it here, at this table, gathered close to one another, gazing at simple bread and good wine. Copyright © 1992, Gabe Huck. Used by permission.


All Administrative Council Meetings begin with Vespers in Church at 6:00 pm. Meetings follow immediately in the Fr. Murgas conference room of the parish office. JULY 24th—Catechetical Council

AUGUST 2nd—Liturgical Council

AUGUST 9th - Social Justice Council

AUGUST 16th—Pastoral Council

AUGUST 23rd - PARISH LIFE Council

SEPTEMBER 20th - Finance Council

Food for July

Non-Dairy Creamers

ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCILS

PARISH MINISTRIES

PARISH COMMITTEES

The Development Committee will meet on Monday, August 6 at 6:30 pm in the Lower Meeting

Room of the Parish Office.

The Toy Bingo Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 22nd immediately following the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin.

The Young at Heart Committee will meet for their next monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 18 at 1 pm in the Fr. Murgas conference Room.

FAITH SHARING St. Andre’s Faith Seekers with

Michael Boris & Jackie Barkus

will meet at 6 pm on Monday August 6th in the Fr. Murgas Meeting Room of the Parish Office.

Disciples of the Spirit of Jesus

with Sr. Madonna will meet on Saturday, August 18th at 10:30 am in the Fr. Murgas Meeting Room of the Parish office. There is still room in this group for anyone who might be interested.

Sharers on the Journey with

Christ with Rosemary Shedlock will meet on Sunday, August 19th at 2:00 pm in the home of Elaine Snyder.

Loaves & Fishes

Summer Ordinary Time

Weekend of July 21-22 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

4 pm Vigil Mass 5:30 pm Vigil Mass 8:00 am Mass 11:00 am Mass

Debt Reduction Envelope RAFFLE RETURNS DUE

SUMMER RAFFLE immediately after the 11 am Mass

Weekend of July 28-29 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

4 pm Vigil Mass 5:30 pm Vigil Mass 8:00 am Mass 11:00 am Mass

SOCIAL JUSTICE COLLECTION SSCM Raffle Tickets on Sale

Monday, July 23

No Morning Mass

Monday, July 30

No Morning Mass

Tuesday, July 24

8 am Mass 5:30 pm NO CHOIR 6:00 pm PARISH CATECHETICAL COUNCIL

Tuesday, July 31

8 am Mass 5:30 pm NO CHOIR

Wednesday, July 25

8 am Mass 6 pm PC Agenda Meeting

Wednesday, August 1

8 am Mass

Thursday, July 26

8:00 am Mass Noon Exposition 6:00 pm Vespers

Thursday, August 2

8:00 am Mass Noon Exposition 1 pm Admin Staff Meeting 6:00 pm Vespers 6:00 pm Parish Liturgical Council

Friday, July 27

8 am Mass Friday, August 3 FIRST FRIDAY

8 am Mass 6 pm Confessions 6:30 pm Sacred Heart Devotions 7:00 pm MASS

Saturday, July 28

No Morning Mass 3:00 pm Confessions

VIGIL of 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Saturday, August 4 FIRST SATURDAY

No Morning Mass 3:00 pm Confessions

VIGIL of 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Get your Dancing Shoes Ready! Our Fall Dance will be Friday, September 14th

beginning at 6 pm in St. Mary’s Hall. Tickets will go on sale in August. Baskets are available for filling for our basket raffle which will be

held in conjunction with the Dinner/Dance.

Baskets can be picked up in the vestibule beginning July 23rd. If you need a basket before that, contact Tina Evans or the parish office and we’ll make sure you get one.


There will be 2 opportunities

to COME and SEE

what a HOSPITALITY MINISTRY

looks like.

They will be held on Saturday,

August 11 following the 5:30

pm Mass and again on August 12

following the 11:00 am Mass.

They will be held right in the

church.

All parishioners are invited to

COME and SEE how easy getting

involved in welcoming the stranger

(or even the regular cast of

characters) can be.

The Sisters of Sts. Cyril and Methodius will once again be selling raffle tickets beginning next weekend in the

vestibule. The SSCM raffle will be held on August 15th. Many parishioners have been past winners. This could be YOUR YEAR to win big!

FROM THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

CHAPTER FOUR:

SIGNS OF HOLINESS IN

TODAY’S WORLD

IN COMMUNITY

140. When we live apart from others, it is very difficult to fight against concupiscence, the snares and temptations of the devil and the

selfishness of the world. Bombarded as we are by so many enticements, we can grow too isolated, lose our sense of reality and inner clarity, and easily succumb.

141. Growth in holiness is a journey in community, side by side with others. We see this in some holy communities. From time to time, the

Church has canonized entire communities that lived the Gospel heroically or offered to God the lives of all their members. We can think, for example, of the seven holy founders of the Order of the Servants

of Mary, the seven blessed sisters of

the first monastery of the Visitation in Madrid, the Japanese martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions, the Korean martyrs Saint Andrew Taegon and companions, or the South American martyrs Saint Roque González, Saint

Alonso Rodríguez and companions. We should also remember the more recent witness borne by the Trappists of Tibhirine, Algeria, who prepared as a community for martyrdom. In many holy marriages too, each spouse becomes a means used by Christ for the

sanctification of the other. Living or

working alongside others is surely a path of spiritual growth. Saint John of the Cross told one of his followers: “You are living with others in order to be fashioned and tried”.[104]

142. Each community is called to create a “God-enlightened space in which to experience the hidden presence of the

risen Lord”.[105] Sharing the word and celebrating the Eucharist together fosters fraternity and makes us a holy and missionary community. It also gives rise to authentic and shared mystical experiences. Such was the case with

Saints Benedict and Scholastica. We can

also think of the sublime spiritual experience shared by Saint Augustine and his mother, Saint Monica. “As the

day now approached on which she was to depart this life, a day known to you but not to us, it came about, as I believe by your secret arrangement, that she and I stood alone leaning in a window that looked onto a garden… We opened wide our hearts to drink in the streams

of your fountain, the source of life that is in you... And as we spoke of that

wisdom and strained after it, we touched it in some measure by the impetus of our hearts... eternal life might be like that one moment of knowledge which we now sighed after”.[106]

143. Such experiences, however, are

neither the most frequent nor the most important. The common life, whether in the family, the parish, the religious community or any other, is made up of small everyday things. This was true of the holy community formed by Jesus, Mary and Joseph, which reflected in an

exemplary way the beauty of the

Trinitarian communion. It was also true of the life that Jesus shared with his disciples and with ordinary people.

144. Let us not forget that Jesus asked his disciples to pay attention to details. The little detail that wine was running out at a party. The little detail that one sheep was

missing. The little detail of noticing the widow who offered her two small coins. The little detail of having spare oil for the lamps, should the bridegroom delay. The little detail of asking the disciples

how many loaves of bread they had.

The little detail of having a fire burning and a fish cooking as he waited for the disciples at daybreak.

145. A community that cherishes the little details of love,[107] whose members care for one another and

create an open and evangelizing environment, is a place where the risen Lord is present, sanctifying it in accordance with the Father’s plan. There are times when, by a gift of the Lord’s

love, we are granted, amid these little

details, consoling experiences of God. “One winter night I was carrying out my little duty as usual… Suddenly, I heard off in the distance the harmonious sound

of a musical instrument. I then pictured a well-lighted drawing room, brilliantly gilded, filled with elegantly

dressed young ladies conversing together and conferring upon each other all sorts of compliments and other worldly remarks. Then my glance fell upon the poor invalid whom I was supporting. Instead of the beautiful strains of music I heard only

her occasional complaints… I cannot express in words what happened in my soul; what I know is that the Lord illumined it with rays of truth which so surpassed the dark brilliance of earthly feasts that I could not believe

my happiness”.[108]

146. Contrary to the growing consumerist individualism that tends to

isolate us in a quest for well-being apart from others, our path to holiness can only make us identify all the more with Jesus’ prayer “that all may be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in

you” (Jn 17:21).

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON THE CALL TO HOLINESS IN TODAY’S WORLD

[104] Precautions, 15.

[105] JOHN PAUL II, Apostolic Exhortation Vita

Consecrata (25 March 1996), 42: AAS 88 (1996),

416.

[106] Confessiones, IX, 10, 23-25: PL 32, 773-

775.

[107] I think especially of the three key words

“please”, “thank you” and “sorry”. “The right

words, spoken at the right time, daily protect and

nurture love”: Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation

Amoris Laetitia (19 March 2016), 133: AAS 108

(2016), 363.

[108] THÉRÈSE OF THE CHILD JESUS,

Manuscript C, 29 v-30r.


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IN THE DIOCESE

Do You Want to Know More About the Annulment Process?:

In the Diocese of Scranton, the

annulment process is now more “user friendly” than you might expect, and there is no longer a processing fee.

Please contact your pastor or the Diocesan Tribunal Office (570-207-2246) to begin a conversation. It is possible to get clear answers to these questions and to renew your connection with the Church.

Notice Regarding the Sexual Abuse of A Minor

It is the policy of the Diocese of Scranton to report any allegation of sexual abuse of a minor to law enforcement. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, you are encouraged to immediately report the matter to law enforcement. If any priest, deacon, religious, lay employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Scranton has cause or reason to suspect that a minor has been subjected to any form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, the matter will be reported to law enforcement. In accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law, reports of suspected child abuse should also be made immediately by phone to the 24 hour Child Abuse Hotline (ChildLine) at 1-800-932-0313 or electronically at www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis. It is also the policy of the Diocese to adhere to all civil and state regulations. To this end, the Diocese is equally committed to adhering to the norms of the Code of Canon Law and to upholding the tenets of the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which includes supporting victims of sexual abuse in their pursuit of emotional and spiritual well-being. As such, information regarding an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor should also be reported to the Victim Assistance Coordinator, Mary Beth Pacuska at 570-862-7551 or to Diocesan Officials, including the Vicar General, Msgr. Thomas M. Muldowney, V.G. at 570-207-2269.

Diocese of Scranton Pilgrimage

to the

National Shrine Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Cost: $55.00 per person + lunch and personal spending

TO REGISTER:

Call: MARY at 570-823-4988

Scranton Catholic Charismatic Renewal

is sponsoring The 36th Annual Charismatic Conference

“HE RESTORES MY SOUL!”

August 3—5, 2018

University of Scranton

The Conference will feature inspiring speakers and uplifting music.

Mass will be celebrated each afternoon

A well-stocked book/gift store will be available

The full weekend Registration fee is $50.00 until July 23rd.

after July 23rd, it will be $65

Single-Day registration is available on site.

Commuting and Brown bagging are encouraged

Dormitory housing and cafeteria meals are available at a separate cost from

registration.

For Registration forms please see the bulletin board at

www.ccrscranton.org or

e-mail: [email protected] or

CCR Conference PO Box 3306

Scranton, PA 18505 or call

570-344-2214


6:00 a.m. Buses begin to depart from various locations 9:30 a.m. Morning prayer on individual buses 11:00 a.m. Arrival at the

Basilica of the National Shrine 12:00 p.m. Welcome in the Upper Church, Fr. Hvozdovic 12:10 p.m. Tour of Faith - Upper Church – National Shrine Director of

Pilgrimages 12:30 p.m. Rosary for World Peace - Upper Church 1:00-3:00 p.m. FREE

TIME for lunch, touring, private prayer 2:00 p.m. Confession opportunity in the Crypt Church 3:00 p.m. Gather in the Upper Church to prepare for Mass 3:15 p.m. Pontifical Mass The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D.,

J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, Celebrant and Homilist 4:45 p.m. Buses depart National Shrine 5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer on individual buses 10:30 p.m. Approximate return time to point of departure

Deadline for Reservations is July 31, 2018

STEWARDSHIP

Arguably every church would like to be

known as friendly and welcoming to our

guests and in the community. Sometimes

however, the distance between that

desire and the practical reality of it is

unfortunately vast. But I don’t believe it’s

because we don’t care – I honestly think

we desire to be warm and inviting. I

believe it legitimately comes down to the

fact that most of us haven’t been

practically trained how to GREET others.

Leadership can exhort their people week

after week, month after month to be

friendly and engaging, but if we don’t

purposefully train and equip them,

ultimately we (ministry leaders) are

responsible for our guests feeling less

than embraced as they walk into our

church building and services.

Here’s my full disclosure: I am an

extremely outgoing extrovert. I have

learned that I can not (and should not)

expect everyone else to have my

personality. Quite frankly, that’s ungodly

and unproductive because God didn’t

make us all like me. (Can I get an

AMEN?!) Someone else’s engagement

and interaction with others does not and

will not look like just like mine – and

that’s OK. But I believe I can still make

the assumption that those who claim the

name of Christ will in fact engage in

some fashion, in their own way with

those around them. (Read: introverts

don’t get a blanket pass from people

ministry just because it’s not the easiest

for you. )

Listen…you know whether you are totally

comfortable starting a conversation from

scratch with a group of perfect strangers

or if you instead prefer to politely smile

at someone who is sitting by him/herself,

grab a friend, walk over, and kindly ask if

you could sit with them. It simply boils

down to having this Christ-like mindset:

people matter. PEOPLE MATTER TO GOD.

There’s hardly a clearer declaration from

the cross of Christ, which we remember

and celebrate this weekend. The issue

isn’t your style, approach, or personality,

it’s your willingness to put someone

else’s care and comfort above your own.

How can you and I show people that they

matter this weekend?

I was thinking about this the other day

as I was driving and I wanted to bring a

simple, practical piece of training to the

women in my Bible study. In my

conversation with God, he gave me a

simple acronym that I hope might prove

helpful to you: GREET.

G – Go. We have to be willing to initiate.

We have to be willing to put one foot in

front of the other and GO to them. Be

intentional. Don’t wait for our guests to

approach us. Go to them first. Try to

remember (some of us have to really try)

what it’s like to walk into a brand-new-to

-you church building for the first time.

Remember the thoughts, the feelings,

the angst, the unknown. It’ll help.

Gospel motivation: We

initiate with others,

because Jesus first initiated

with us. Go.

R – Reach out. Put your hand out and

shake theirs. It’s not hard. I promise. (It

actually might be the easiest one of all of

these–don’t waste it.)

Gospel motivation: Jesus

reached out for us first

when he willingly left his

throne in heaven.

E – Engage with them. Ask what their

name is. Ask if they’ve ever attended

before. Ask what their kids’ names and

ages are. Ask them how long they’ve

lived in the area. For this one, you really

need to know and understand your

personality. For example, if you have a

hard time with on-the-spot, get-to-know-

you, surfacey conversations, then make

sure you have a mental list of questions.

Equip yourself. Be prepared. Remember:

people matter and they matter enough to

have a couple of engaging questions

ready in your mind.

Gospel motivation: Jesus

first engaged with us

through his Holy Spirit. He

is the initiator of all things

faith.

E – Educate them. Listen to me: if they

are new to your building and services,

THEY KNOW NOTHING. They don’t know

where the bathrooms are. They don’t

know where the kids ministry is. They

don’t know what doors to enter for the

worship center. They don’t know if the

coffee is free or not (this has actually

been a question at my church). Educate

them. Find out what they need and help

them. Remove any possible obstacles to

their experience being completely

positive.

Gospel motivation: The

Holy Spirit taught us the

gospel while we were still

his enemies, and we can

teach others while they are

our strangers.

T – Thank them. Conclude your

conversation by thanking them for

coming. Thanking them simply shows

that we’re so glad they’re there. They

could have chosen any place of worship

in our area yet they chose ours. A

simple, sincere thank you will speak

volumes.

Gospel motivation: Jesus’

life, death, burial, and

resurrection will be

proclaimed. Their presence

means that they will sit

under the powerful hearing

of God’s Word. By his

grace, the Holy Spirit could

open their heart, enlighten

their eyes, and save their

soul…and that should make

us insanely grateful.

GREET. Go. Reach out. Engage. Educate.

Thank. Let me let you off the hook: this

conversation will only be a couple of

minutes. Keep it simple, kind,

intentional, and purposeful. I pray that

this information serves you and your

church body well.


Guests, Greeting, and the Gospel:

The how and why of Parish Hospitality by Courtney Cherest

www.one19ministries.com

FINANCES

INCOME

EXPENSES

July 14-15 2018 July 12-18, 2018

PARISH COLLECTION Administration 731.61

In Church Mailed In Clergy Residence 82.18

Loose 229.75 -0- Liturgy 318.91

Offering 3,754.00 1009.00 Religious Education -0-

Holy Days -0- -0- Social Justice -0-

Initial -0- -0- Maintenance 1,316.11

Dues 184.00 523.00 Parish Assessment -0-

Debt Reduction 304.00 22.00 Insurance -0-

Holiday Flowers -0- -0- Taxes -0-

TOTAL PARISH COLLECTION

$4,471.75 $1,554.00 Transfer -0-

DIOCESAN COLLECTIONS Diocesan Collections -0-

Diocesan Collection

3.00 16.00 Debt Service

(Principal + Interest) -0-

TOTAL DIOCESAN

3.00 16.00 School Subsidy -0-

OTHER INCOME TOTAL EXPENSES $2,448.81

Candles 32.00

Rental of Properties

-0-

Perquisites -0- Previous Balance $3,077.30

Transfers -0- + Income this week +6,076.75

Miscellaneous -0- -Expenses this week -2,448.81

TOTAL OTHER INCOME

32.00 Balance Forward $6,705.24

TOTAL INCOME $6,076.75 Your Gift to God

July 14-15, 2018

Over $100.00 4 $20 35

$100.00 2 $16-19 0

$76-99 1 $15 19

$75 2 $11-14 7

$51-74 3 $10 75

$50 8 $6-9 1

$26-49 16 $5 48

$25 11 under $5 32

$21-24 2 Total Envelopes used

266

Is your gift to the parish each week an honest reflection of God’s goodness to you?

Mass Attendance

July 14-15, 2018

People In-Church Collection

Average Offering

per person

4:00 p.m. 118 2,001.25 16.96

5:30 p.m. 74 866.00 11.71

8:00 a.m. 67 789.50 11.79

11:00a.m. 64 815.00 12.74

Total 323 4,471.75 13.85

REMINDER: In order for our parish to remain solvent, the average weekly offering per person MUST equal or be greater than $15.00 consistently.

Votive Offerings

Bread and Wine

Intention Mary Alice Stranova

Offered by Friend

Sanctuary Candle

Intention Mr. & Mrs. Edward Alusick

Offered by Son David

DIOCESAN ASSESSMENTS (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019)

Diocesan Assessment

School

Assessment

BALANCE

Prior

Balance 0.00 93,788.02 93,788.02

Current

Assessment 71,471.00 56,659.62 128,130.62

Amount

Paid 0.00 0.00 O.00

BALANCE DUE

71,471.00 150,447.64 221,918.64

The Monthly Assessment Installment for the Diocese is $5,956.00. (that is a little over 1 Weekend’s collection)

The Monthly School Assessment Installment is is $4,724.40 (another weekend’s collection)

To pay off the total current and past Schools Assessment, the monthly installment would be $12,537.30 (3 weekend collections.)

PARISH DEBT SERVICE

Parish Loan Amount Paid BALANCE Due

PRINCIPAL 400,000.00 48,812.27 351,187.73

INTEREST 12,000.00 15,190.17 -3,190.17

BALANCE 412,000.00 64,002.44 347,997.56

Please Note: The Parish Debt service has been paid to

date. This Account is current.


LOCAL EVENTS

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CHOMAN’S MOBILE CARE

Cemetery Care His services include steam cleaning of headstone, manicuring the lawn around the stone, mulching, flowering and more! He offers one time, seasonal and monthly packages. He also offers military and veteran discounts.

Automobile Detailing We love our cars and rely heavily on them. But giving them the care they deserve is no easy task! Even dropping it at the detailing shop can be an obstacle. That’s why we bring the detailing shop to you! We supply the water, power, tools and come right to your home or office! We’ll have your vehicle looking like new with no worry or hassle to you!.

Power Washing Buildings lose their pristine look due to dirt, grime and motor exhaust. These can build up and severely damage your property and destroy its value. We’ll restore your investment and help prevent the mess for coming back as well as increase the curb value of your property overnight. We build our service based on your desire and your budget. We remove mold, graffiti, tar, gum, oil and more. We clean buildings, houses, sidewalks, balconies, porches, rain gutters, decks and patios, windows, parking lots, garages and much more. Commercial and

Residential services available.

You can contact Chris at

(570) 262-3109,

or Book your appointment online at

ChomanCares.com

or by e-mail at

[email protected].

ECO-FRIENDLY CARE FOR YOU

AND YOUR INVESTMENTS

JULY

20-22 Exaltation Holy Cross Buttonwood

27-29 St. Maria Goretti, Laflin

AUGUST

2-4 St. Robert Bellarmine (St. Aloysius), Wilkes-Barre 9-11 St. John the Evangelist,

Pittston

10-12 St. John’s, Larksville 10-12 St. Jude’s, Mountaintop

For more information, please call 1-800-227-2345

or visit www.cancer.org/driver.

Seven Lovely Logics

1. Make PEACE with your PAST

so it doesn’t spoil your future.

2. What OTHERS think of you

is NONE of your BUSINESS.

3. TIME heals almost everything

Give TIME some TIME.

4. NO ONE is the

Reason for your HAPPINESS,

except YOU!

5. Don’t COMPARE your Life

to Others,

You have NO IDEA what

THEIR JOURNEY is about.

6. Stop THINKING so much,

It’s ALRIGHT not to know

ALL the ANSWERS.

7. SMILE,

you don’t own ALL the

Problems in the World

St. Ignatius Loyola Parish will hold

GRANDMA’S ATTIC (Flea Market)

in Fr. Conlan Hall

Thursday, June 26th 8 am –1 pm and 6—8 pm

Friday June 27th

8 am—1 pm only Saturday, June 28th

8 am—Noon (BAG DAY!) Bake Sale and food Items

available for lunch.


WEEKLY CALENDAR

LITURGICAL MINISTRY SCHEDULE

July 28-29, 2018 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Servers Lectors EMOC Hospitality

4:00 pm Rosemary Shedlock John Bednarz Rosemary Shedlock Mary Ann Amesbury

5:30 pm Manuel Baez Jackie Barkus Mimi Tosh Pat Baran Barb Deeb

8:00 am Ted Harowicz Anna Hudock Ted Harowicz Dolores Yesuvida

11:00 am John Benz Sr. Tina Hanrahan John Benz Joe Stone

Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time July 23-29, 2018

Day and Date Time Intention Offered by Events

Monday, July 23 St. Bridget of Sweden

NO Morning Mass Scheduled

Tuesday, July 24 St. Sharbel 8 am Maryanne Frank Parish of SAB

5:30 pm NO CHOIR

6 pm Parish Catechetical Council

Wednesday, July 25 St. James the Great, Apostle

8 am Leo Magri Parish of SAB 6 pm PC Agenda Meeting

Thursday, July 26 Sts. Joachim and Anne

Parents of Mary,

Grandparents of Jesus

8 am Sophie Strazewski Family

Noon Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 6 pm Vespers

Friday, July 27 Weekday

8 am John Harowicz Jr The Robbins Family

Saturday, July 28 Weekday

NO Morning Mass Scheduled 3 pm Confessions

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time VIGIL 4 pm Edward Lisofsky Mr. & Mrs. Tom Kane

SOCIAL JUSTICE COLLECTION SSCM Raffle Tickets available

VIGIL 5:30 pm Karen Zapotowski AJ & Margie Drier

SUNDAY 8 am Barnard Gryskecicz Loretta & Jeff Hines

SUNDAY 11 am Parishioners Pastor

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for our spiritual life july 22, 2018 sixteenth sunday ......2018/07/07 · radical hospitality: the...

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