the church of st. leo the great · 2018-08-26 · “life's tough but it's even tougher...
TRANSCRIPT
The Church of St. Leo the Great ST. LEO PARISH MISSION STATEMENT
A Stewardship Parish which gathers at 167 Lake Avenue, Hilton, New York 14468
The mission of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church is to provide a warm and supportive community to aid in the salvation of souls, to promote evangelization, and to serve God, our congregation and our world.
West by Northwest
A Cursillo Ultreya Center of the Rochester Diocese
Ultreya meets last Saturday of each month
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time August 26, 2018
THIS WEEK AT ST. LEO’S
Mass: Mon. 5:30 PM; Tues. - Thurs.8:30 AM; Fri. 8:30 AM Com. Serv. MONDAY - August 27
5:30 PM Mass 6:00 PM Youth Ministry Summer Program, Room 5 6:15 PM - 7:00 PM Group Reunions
TUESDAY - August 28 8:30 AM Mass
Office closes at 2:00 PM 7:00 PM Women’s Group, Room 3 7:00 PM Rosary at Mary’s Shrine, weather permitting 7:00 PM Knights of Columbus Council Meeting, Room 5
WEDNESDAY - August 29 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
THURSDAY - August 30 7:00 PM Discovering Christ Team Meeting, Room 5
FRIDAY – August 31
SATURDAY – September 1
Youth Ministry and Confirmation Registration Weekend 3:30 PM Confessions 4:30 PM Rosary 5:00 PM Mass
SUNDAY - September 2 9:30 AM Mass
Youth Ministry and Confirmation Registration Weekend 6:00 PM LifeTeen Mass 7:00 PM Youth Ministry and Confirmation Registration
Note New Start Time
ST. LEO’S “DASH FOR CA$H”
Most people have picked up their “DASH for CA$H tick-ets and the returns are beginning to come in. For those who have not had the opportunity to pick up your tickets or would like more, they are available. Pray for the success of this ven-ture. Ask your friends, relatives, etc. to share the cost of a ticket to have a chance to win $3,000.
1,000 tickets were made. Just imagine if all 1,000 were sold! All God ever asks is that you do your best!
DISCOVERING CHRIST
Discovering Christ Experience at St. Leo Church is for You and it begins Thursday, September 20that 6:00 PM. Are you satisfied with life in general or do you feel that there is something missing? You are especially invited to a seven-week experience called Discovering Christ! This is for anyone and everyone, from the baptized in the pews to the unbap-tized. Could this be what you need right now? Discovering Christ is an exciting course designed to help men and wom-en explore the answers to the basic questions of the meaning of life and the purpose of our existence. This all happens in a wel-coming environment where participants share a free meal, listen to a dynamic presentation, and meet others in small groups to discuss your thoughts and feelings on what you have just heard. Hopefully, by the end, all will have encountered the per-son of Jesus Christ in a welcoming environment and accept His invitation to know Him in a personal relationship.
Registration forms are available in the Parish Life Center or on the website www.stleochurch.org. Invite your friends and neighbors! Invite your relatives and loved ones! Invite people you come across in your day-to-day life! Jesus has commis-sioned us to spread the Good News of His love for us and this is a great way to do it.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
If you or someone you know are in need of school supplies to get your children prepared to start school, please contact Patty Gorman, 392-2710x4. Thanks to the generosity of our St. Leo Parishion-ers we have school supplies to share. Pictured are some of the supplies re-ceived and we are still accepting dona-tions. According to a recent article in the D&C the most needed school supplies are pen-cils. Many teachers purchase items with their own money to insure their students
have what they need. We share supplies with our teachers also.
LIFETEEN MASS WILL BEGIN AT 6:00 PM
BEGINNING SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION/YOUTH MINISTRY CONFIRMATION REGISTRATION
Religious Education, Youth Ministry and Confirmation registration will be held this weekend and next after Mass. See Dominic Salamida and Michele Pechie in the Parish Life Cen-ter. Registration forms will also be available on our website at stleochurch.org Classes begin September 17.
COMPUTER HELP NEEDED!
We are still looking for people to help with the projector and slides. Are you familiar with computers? Would you like to operate the projector at LifeTeen Mass? St. Leo’s is in need of someone familiar with the opera-tion of the computer at Mass. Training is provided by our IT Team. Please contact the Parish Office at 392-2710—we really could use your help!
Discovering Christ Team Meeting Thursday, August
30th, 7-8:15pm. If you are interested in helping in any way with the upcoming Discovering Christ Experience please come on August 30 for a team meeting. If you have any ques-tions please call Dominic Salamida at 392-2710. Come, Holy Spirit, help us live our call to make disciples of all nations!
Page Two
IN NEED OF OUR PRAYER Paul Bajer Denise Bashta Harry Blossick Shirley Brenna Cynthia Crooks Robin Curatalo Allison Davis Amy Deck Marcel Defever Wayne Dreher George Edelman June Edelman Mary Fronckowiak Liz Fullwood Pamela Godshalk Walt Horylev Jim Hough Charlie Hubia Richard Kirchhoff Bernadine Kubitz Connie LaVilla Salvatore LeChase Barb Lill Edward Moats Eric Munson Rosemary Mykins Karen O’Brien Nicholas O’Hara Nicholas Rosien MaryAnn Rotolo Lois Ryan Mary Sauer John Schiffhauer Karen Schneider Laney Stever Marilyn Walker Michael Weldon, Jr. Bob Wilhelm Don Wilkens Gerry Wilkenson Bob Zenosky and all others in need of our prayers.
Stewardship: The gifts of God that the angel brought to Elijah — food, water, rest, and encouragement — were given, not for his own good alone, but to strengthen him for service. How am I using my gifts to serve others?
Talent: Thanks to our “silent, invisible, warriors” who spend so many countless hours volunteering their time and talents for the upkeep of our buildings
Treasure for August 18 & 19, 2018 Parishioner households using envelopes contributed: ..... $4,342.00 Visitors and others contributed: .......................................... $936.00 3 Children using envelopes contributed: ................................ $1.15 Miscellaneous Additional Funds: ....................................... $852.00 Collection for the Assumption of Mary: .......................... $1,144.01 Needed weekly: ............................................................. $10,810.00 Received this week: ......................................................... $6,131.15 Weekly Shortage: ........................................................ $<4678.85> Weekend Attendance: ................................................................ 505
Sept. 2 Second Collection will be for Improvement & Repairs
Let us remember in prayer;
Mike Little, brother-in-law of Anna and Joe Summa,
Nina Van Lare, Tyler Cusse Eternal rest grant unto them
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
RCIA CANDIDATES COMPLETING PREPARATIONS
The candidates enrolled in the Summer RCIA Pro-gram are nearing the completion of the program. Please keep Peter Boldt, Marcus Page, Daniel Thurston, Charles Toland and the McClellan Family in your prayers as they prepare to enter into the Catholic Faith.
NOTRE DAME RETREAT HOUSE GOLF TOURNAMENT
The Annual Golf Tournament to benefit the Notre Dame Retreat House will he played on Monday, September 24 at Midvale CC. Registration begins at 10:30 AM with tee-off at 12 Noon. Dinner at 6:00 PM is open to all. Go to [email protected] for infor-mation.
Congratulations to Kathleen and Charles Toland
and Jessica and Justin Christensen
who accepted God’s call to the vocation of Marriage. As we joyfully proclaim their Marriage, may we support them and all the people of our Parish by our prayers, and by the example we give them as we live with commitment to our own vocations.
We welcome to our family of faith Theodore Russel Conley,
son of Jessica and Stephen Conley. Through our prayers and example may we all be
models of faith to inspire this child.
BETHANY HOUSE BOXES
Bethany House is a Catholic Worker House of Hospitality located at 111 Joseph Ave. in Rochester. It first opened its doors to homeless women and children in 1977, a place where women and children are offered a temporary Safe Place to stay until they are ready to transition to a residence in the commu-nity.
When residents leave Bethany House there is a great need for basic products that food stamps do not cover including kitchen, bathroom and laundry supplies. In 2013 Deacon Lon and the Social Justice Committee began collecting “Boxes for Bethany House” and each year this is a tremendous success. If you wish to help continue this worthy project, boxes will be available in the Parish Life Center entry starting September 1. A label indicating items needed is affixed to each box. Filled boxes may be returned to the entryway.
The following letter was received from Bethany House: “To all the parishioners at St. Leo’s: We, at Bethany
House, are so grateful for your love, dedication and support for the guests of our house. Your donations help our women have all the necessary supplies they need as they move into new apartments. We are in need of paper towels, laundry detergent, toilet paper, dish soap, bar soap, napkins, cleaning supplies, and other kitchen and bathroom items. Thank you so much!
Meg Burkhard, Bethany House”
HILTON EAST DRIVER
Peter Giangrasso and Dan Schwind will drive Sunday, Sept. 2. **************************************************
“Life's tough but it's even tougher if you're stupid.”
Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people we like, respect, and enjoy spending time with.
20 WEEK CLUB WINNER The winner for Week 17 is Mary Ann Mance.
Congratulations!
Our Sanctuary Candle burns in Church this week for the intentions of Frank and Mary Ann Hubbell on the occasion of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. From: Susan Skarzynski and Mick Joyce. Our Sanctuary Candle burns in the Divine Mercy Chapel this week for healing and forgiveness.
MASS SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Monday - St. Monica 5:30 PM Bob Peter (wife, Norene and family)
Tuesday - St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church 8:30 AM Steven Lee (Sue Lorz)
Wednesday – The Passion of Saint John the Baptist 8:30 AM David Harris (The Harris Family) Thursday - Weekday
8:30 AM Kasimir Laszweski (Daily Mass Friends) Friday - Weekday
8:30 AM Communion Service Saturday - Weekday
5:00 PM To Honor Our Lady’s Birth (Rosary Society) Sunday - Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
9:30 AM Linda Krist (Mike and Patty Gorman) 6:00 PM Becky Cyzeski (Sheryl and Brian Camp) Note Start Time
Monday - St. Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Labor Day—no Mass or Communion Service
Parish Ministry Center 585 392-2710 - [email protected],167 Lake Ave - P O Box 725 - Hilton, NY 14468-0725 Web Site: STLEOCHURCH.ORG; Fax: 585-392-9254 Ministry Team Rev. Dr. Joseph Catanise, SFO, Pastor [email protected] - Phone ext. 3, then press 1 Denise O’Toole, Administrative Assistant Denise.O’[email protected] - Phone ext. 3, then press 2 Dominic Salamida II, Director of Christian Formation [email protected] - Phone ext. 3, then press 3 Patricia Gorman, Director of Music & Liturgy [email protected] - Phone 3, then press 4 Sharon Prince, Bulletin Editor [email protected] - Phone 3, then press 5 Michele Pechie, Youth Minister [email protected] - Phone 3, then press 6 Deacon Lon Smith - - Phone 3 then 7 Deacon Jim Steiger - [email protected] - 392-9558 Finance Council Chair: Stephen Carges [email protected] Pastoral Council Chair & Co-Chair: Mark Zieziula, 392-5353, Stewardship Council Chair: Co-Chairs: Carol Jones and Brenda Herman Parish Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM MINISTRY TO THE SICK: Please contact the Parish Office, 392-2710, concerning the needs of the sick, hospi-talized or shut-ins. Those unable to attend Mass regularly will have Holy Communion brought to their homes. PARISH MEMBERSHIP: Those who choose to worship regularly with us are invited and welcome to formally join our parish community offering your time, talent and finan-cial support. Call the Parish Office, 392-2710 to register. CHRISTIAN FORMATION - On-going education for Pre-School through adults. RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: (R.C.I.A.) Our faith community invites anyone who is interested in becoming Catholic or wishes to be fully initiat-ed into the Catholic Church by their Sacraments contact Mary Lou Rosien, [email protected] or 594-2621. SACRAMENT OF MINISTERIAL PRIESTHOOD (HOLY ORDERS) Interested in serving the People of God? To proclaim the Gospel, preside at Liturgies, see Fr. Joe. If interested in becoming a Deacon, see Fr. Joe. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE: Contact the Parish Office, 392-2710, as soon as you become engaged. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM: Contact Carol Steiger at 392-9558 or [email protected] six months before the anticipated birth date. Parent class is required. WILLS: Please remember St. Leo Church in your will to ensure the future of our Catholic tradition.
SCRIPTURE CORNER Do you want to spend time in prayer each
day? A good way to begin is to read or reread the daily Scripture readings. Readings for the week of August 26, 2018
Sunday: Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b/ Eph 5:21-32/Jn 6:60-69 Monday 2 Thes 1:1-5, 11-12/Mt 23:13-22 Tuesday: 2 Thes 2:1-3a, 14-17/Mt 23:23-26 Wednesday: 2 Thes 3:6-10, 16-18/Mk 6:17-29 Thursday: 1 Cor 1:1-9/Mt:24:42-51 Friday: 1 Cor 1:17-25/Mt 25:1-13 Saturday 1 Cor 1:26-31/Mt 25:14-30 Sunday: Dt 4:1-2, 6-8/Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27/MK 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Pray for our Seminarians
Page Three St. Leo Church, Hilton, NY Website: www.stleochurch.org August 26, 2018
TRAVELING VOCATIONS CHALICE
Our Parish gratefully acknowledges that
Rita Cahill will host our Traveling Chalice this week.
ST. LEO’S IS GROWING St. Leo Faith Community warmly welcomes Patrick, Catherine, James & Ava Allen; and Clare Dady to our faith community.
GARAGE SALE Guiseppe Cardella is having a month-long Garage Sale at 1537 Hamlin-Parma Town Line Rd., just North of Route 18. Stop by and see if there is something you need. ************************* EMBRACE GOD’S GIFT OF LIFE. “Do not be afraid to embrace God’s gift of life. Whatever storms or trials we face, we are not alone. He is with us.” USCCB Secretariat of Pro-life Activities, Respect Life Reflection, www.usccb.org/be-not-afraid
First Banns The following couple feels God’s call
to the vocation of marriage:
Amy Baker & Chad Okolowicz As we joyfully proclaim their Banns, may we support them and all the young people of our Parish by our prayers, and by the example we give them as we live with commitment our own vocations.
TRAVELING VOCATIONS CHALICE
People are needed to take the Traveling Chalice home and pray for our priests and vocations to the priesthood. The sign-up sheet is in the Parish Life Center. The Traveling Vocations Chalice has been traveling around to St. Leo homes since May 15, 2011. Each week a different family receives the Traveling Chalice at the Mass they attend, take home the Chalice and the folder with the prayers and sometime each day during the week they pray for Vocations to the Priesthood and for our priests. You pickup the Chalice at whatever Mass you attend and return it either sometime on Friday or Saturday before Mass. Please pray for our priests.
HILTON LOCATION Mon & Fri. 7:30 AM-2:30 PM
Tues. 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Mike’s Automotive Major and Minor Repair (585) 392-7799
Mike Liccione 650 Lake Ave, Hilton, NY
Services for people with disabilities
and those living with chronic illnesses
1099 Jay Street, Bldg. J • Rochester, NY
585.339.9800 www.cccsrochester.org Independence—Inclusion—Individuality
Jo’s Diner 444 North Ave (Rte 259) @ Curtis Rd.
Hilton, NY 14468 • 585-392-7720 Tuesday-Sunday 6:30 am - 2:00 pm Friday for dinner 6:30 am - 8:00 pm
Knights of Columbus Meets 4th Tuesday 7PM
Jose Rivera Grand Knight
To place an ad call the Parish Office @ 392-2710 St. Leo the Great, Hilton, NY
Thomas A. Rohr Attorney & Counselor at Law
109 Lake Ave - Suite 210, Hilton, NY
4 doors from St. Leo’s St. Leo Parishioner
Tel: (585)663-7050 Fax:(877)775-4686
E-mail: [email protected]
This Space
Is Available! Call 392-2710
ARE YOU IN“FORMED”?
The best Catholic content all in one place
Direct link through our Website: Stleochurch.org - then click on: :click here for St Leo access: U get 24/7 access to the best
Catholic programs on your computer, smartphone,
and tablet with internet access.
SAINTS OF THE WEEK
St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine Feast Day August 27 Born around 332, Monica was the model Christian mother. Her dissolute and violent husband caused her much suffering, but with patience and dedication she succeeded in bringing him to baptism. She always looked after her son Augustine and after she died at Ostia, in 382, he was baptized. Monica’s cult spread in the 10th century. She is depicted in the black habit of an Augustin-ian nun; her attributes are the book of the rule and the crucifix. She is invoked as propitiatory of births. She is the protector of mothers and widows. Monica may be of Latin origin with the uncertain meaning of “mother, bride.” St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Feast Day August 28 Augustine was born at Thagaste, in what is now Algeria, in 354. He studied rhetoric and philosophy and renounced the Christian faith he had been brought up in to follow the principles of Manichaeism. He taught grammar, rhetoric, and philosophy at Thagaste, Carthage, Rome, and Milan. In Milan, he heard the preaching of Bishop Ambrose, who led him to convert and to be baptized in 386. He returned to Africa to live in a religious community in 388, and in 391 he was ordained priest. Augustine be-came bishop of Hippo in 396 and died in 430. He is depicted in the robes of a bishop, usually busy studying. He is the protector of printers and theologians. Augustine is from the Latin and means “great, venerable.
This space Is
Available Call 392-2710
This Space
Is Available! Call 392-2710
$2.00 off any bill over $15 Kids under 10 eat free for dinner
(1 free child dinner/with adult dinner)
This Space
Is Available! Call 392-2710
Be More. - Do More. - Have More. - What do you want? Are you ready for the life you deserve? Gain clarity on your goals and find out how I can support you with fulfilling them.
John Mance — Visit: www.mancecoaching.com
Schedule complimentary session with me. Personal and Business Consulting
[email protected] - 585-313-9504
This Space
Is Available! Call 392-2710
FINDING OUR MOUNTAINTOP
In the Bible we hear that Jesus often went to a deserted place to pray, a place in the desert or on a mountaintop. We need to follow the example of Jesus to discern what He is calling us to do. We need to get away from the distrac-tions of everyday life, just like Jesus did. Away from the all the normal everyday things in our life. Summer is winding down, school is starting and it is time for women to seek the soli-tude that Jesus did. One rewarding way is to attend the Annual Women’s Retreat at the Notre Dame Retreat House from Friday evening, September 14 through Sunday morning Septem-ber 16. This year’s retreat will focus on im- proving and growing every aspect of your life through Faith, Hope and Love. The founda- tion of our Christian life is Faith...it is the root. From Faith comes Hope—the stem or trunk...where we grow. The blossoms or leaves are LOVE...how we live.
Yes, it will be difficult - but not impossi- ble—to carve out a weekend to spend time with Christ and the Spiritual team at Notre Dame. Fr. Frank Jones, Fr. Dennis Billy, Sister Carole Proia and Mrs. Nancy Lynch have an exciting weekend planned for our Retreat. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that “The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it its special character. They inform and give life to all the moral virtues. They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life.” (CCC,1813)
The Retreat starts Friday evening at 7:00 PM, women from St. Leo’s are welcome to carpool or you can drive yourself. The carpool leaves St. Leo’s parking lot at 5 PM Friday; stops for a bite to eat at Tom Wahl’s in Canan-daigua; returning home around 1 PM on Sunday. For information or to register call Mary Ann Hubbell at 392-3824 or Sharon Prince at 392-2710.
Come, strengthen your roots so you might grow and bloom in your walk with Christ and others.
DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER CATHOLIC MEN’S CONFERENCE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13
Bishop Salvatore Matano, Bishop of the Roman Diocese of Rochester extends an in-vitation to all men to participate in the annual Rochester Catholic Men’s Confer-ence. Now in its fourth year, this Conference has been highly successful in serving the men throughout our Diocese. Bishop Matano tells us “the theme for this year’s Con-ference, ‘The Eucharist,’ presents us with the privileged opportunity to contemplate
the very heart, the source and summit , of our Catholic Faith….The closer we are attached to the Most Holy Eucha-rist and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the perfection of the spiritual life and the end to which all the Sacraments tend, the more we will hear His words, ‘Come to Me,’ and ‘Go make disciples.’ It is my prayer that the Conference will help us grow in greater love for the Mass, the Most Holy Eucharist, and equip us to be Eucharistic missionaries to our families, and beyond.”
The Conference will be held at St. Jude the Apostle Parish, 4100 Lyell Rd. Rochester, from 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Featured speakers this year are Dr. John Bergsma, Catholic Bible Scholar & Theologian; Dr. Marcellino D’Ambro-sio, Best-selling author and Inspirational Speaker, and Troy Guy, Evangelist, author and Nuclear Engineer.
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION IS $40; $55 after August 31; $60 at the door. Students are $15. The doors open at 7:30 AM with 8:30 AM Mass celebrated with the Most Reverend Bishop Salvatore Matano. Morning snack and lunch is included. Registration details are available at: www.exultrochester.org.
SIGNS
In a Podiatrist’s office: “Time wounds all heels.”
At a tire Shop in Milwaukee: “Invite us to your next blowout.”
On a plumber’s truck: We repair what your husband fixed.”
On another’s plumber’s truck: Don’t sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.”
On an Electrician’s truck: “Let us remove your shorts.”
In a Veterinarian’s Waiting room: “I’ll be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!”
On a Septic Tank Truck: “Yesterday’s Meals on Wheels.”
On a blinds and curtain truck: “Blind man driving.”
On a sign in a shoe repair store: We will heel you We will save your sole We will even dye for you.”
At an optometrist’s office: “If you don’t see what you’re looking for, You’ve come to the right place.”
PUBLIC SQUARE ROSARY RALLY FOR PEACE
Join in the estimated one million Catholics who will attend the 2018 Public Square Rosary Rally in honor of the 101st anniversary of the Marian apparitions at Fatima in 1917. Our rally will be held in front of the old Church at 12 Noon on Saturday, October 13. An estimated 20,000 rallies will be held at the same time across America. Please join us and pray for peace.
The Public Square Rosary campaign began with a discussion about commemorating the 90th anniversary of the last apparition at Fatima when Our Lady performed the Miracle of the Sun. Its organizers tried to think of a special way to cele-brate this anniversary. The idea of holding a yearly rosary in a public place seemed a natural response to the Fatima call for conversion, penance and prayer. On October 13, 2007, over 2,100 Public Square Rosary Rallies were held in public squares, busy intersections, city parks, in front of town halls or local abortion clinics all across America. The rallies have grown immensely since that time, with 16,323 rallies in 2016.
The message of Our Lady was for the entire world. Her message was not limited to a person, city, region, country, or even a
40 DAYS FOR LIFE 2017 The Knights of Columbus and St. Leo’s have traditionally been very involved in the first day of the 40 Days For Life
Campaign. Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, September 27 (and other days throughout the campaign) and stand up for the Gospel of Life! Through prayer and fasting embrace human life and promote the end of abortion. Volunteer to pray the Rosary with your friends, in a silent, peaceful vigil, outside of Planned Parenthood at 114 University Avenue. Join the Kickoff Rally on Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30 PM, starting with Mass at Our Lady of the Americas Church, 864 E. Main St, and followed by a reception in the church hall, featuring Jim Havens of The Station of the Cross Catholic Radio Network (1460AM), as well as Mark and Cynthia from the band “Thru the Roof”. Jim hosts the weekly pro-life radio show Love Will End Abortion, airing live Tuesdays 4-5 PM, replaying Saturdays 12-1 PM. Visit www.40DaysforLife.com/Rochester for info and to sign up for prayer vigil times. For more info, contact Rick Paoletti at (585) 489-9555 or [email protected]
Marriage Enrichment Opportunity
Are you looking for a marriage enrichment opportunity? Come to St Cecilia Church, 2732 Culver Rd, Newcomb Friendship Center on Saturday, September 29,2018 at 6:30 PM. Bring an appetizer to share – Drinks will be provided. The program will be from 7:00 – 9:00 PM: Mini Marriage Enrichment -Renewing Your Relationship with Private Reflection & Discussion Time with Spouse, & Optional Group Sharing. Child Care is available. RSVP by 9/21 to Leonor "Leo" & Ed Rivera, email [email protected] or call (585)223-1121.
If you're ready for a full weekend enrichment go to wwme.org for info or to register for the Nov. 16-18 weekend at the Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua. Read about a couple's experience at https://tinyurl.com/CouplePowe.
HOPE AND HEALING FOR THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC
Mother of Sorrows Church, 5000 Mt. Read. Blvd is having an evening of hope and healing in response to the opioid epidemic. All are welcome to attend this service of psalms and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Friday, September 14 at 5:30 PM with Reverend William G. Coffas, Celebrant After the ser-vice, light refreshments and fellowship will follow in the OMOS Parish Hall. Free and open to all faiths. For more infor-mation, call (585) 663-5432 .
GOD WRITES STRAIGHT WITH CROOKED LINES
We love the insight that God writes straight with crooked lines. We’re a crooked bunch and we take comfort in the fact that God uses us anyway, at the same time he’s helping us straighten out. But sometimes, like now, the lines just feel too crooked ever to get straightened out. The whole Church in the US has been mortified by the revelations about former cardinal Theodore McCarrick. We’re all expecting more revelations, more embarrassment, and that our faith may be tested.
It may be tested. Your faith may be tested. At times like this, it’s really easy to feel that the Church isn’t who she says she is. But you don’t need to feel that way.
God was there as his chosen people chose other gods and fought with each other and split up into two warring nations. He was there, as the great and good ones of the day cold-bloodedly murder his Son, and Jesus’ best friends run for cover. He’s been with His Church through all the centuries, including all the times her leaders failed so bad-ly. He knows every horrible act, every stupid move, every bit of laziness and selfishness and pettiness, every lying, cheating, lowdown thing his people ever did. Neither McCarrick nor the attorney general’s report were unknown to him.
Our Father didn’t promise all of these men would be saints, or even just run-of-the-mill good guys. He prom-ised that the gates of Hell would not prevail against his Church, no matter what. He promised to be with us to the end of the age. He promised to write straight with crooked lines. For God so loved the world, and so deeply knew his people, that he gave us the Church.
And most relevant here, perhaps, he gave us the sacrament of confession. We can’t do much directly to change the culture of the Church in America. We can do something to change ourselves, with God’s help. And therefore, together and over time, change the Church
On Good Friday 2005, then-cardinal Joseph Ratzinger reflected on Jesus falling for the third time. He saw the shame: “How much filth there is in the Church, and even among those who, in the priesthood, ought to belong en-tirely to him,” he said.
Here’s the prayer with which the future pope responded to that insight: Lord, your Church often seems like a boat about to sink, a boat taking in water on every side. In your field we
see more weeds than wheat. The soiled garments and face of your Church throw us into confusion. Yet it is we our-selves who have soiled them! It is we who betray you time and time again, after all our lofty words and grand ges-tures. Have mercy on your Church; within her too, Adam continues to fall. When we fall, we drag you down to earth, and Satan laughs, for he hopes that you will not be able to rise from that fall; he hopes that being dragged down in the fall of your Church, you will remain prostrate and overpowered. But you will rise again. You stood up, you arose and you can also raise us up. Save and sanctify your Church. Save and sanctify us all.
A Biblical Response to Church Scandal: What Can We Do? By Dr. Edward Sri In the face of scandals in the Church, Catholics are experiencing a wide range of emotions: shock, sorrow,
anger, bewilderment. Many of the faithful feel helpless and wonder, “What can we do?” The Church needs more than political, legal and crisis management solutions right now. We must go deeper,
into the heart of the Gospel. The Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasize three ancient practic-es for times like these: the three main acts of penance, which are prayer, fasting and almsgiving (CCC, 1434). Think of these as small acts of love—visible signs and gestures that can express our sorrowful hearts, grieving over the atrocities committed by our fellow brothers in Christ.
We can offer these acts of penance in union with the whole Church in reparation for the suffering our broth-ers have caused. While no single act can possibly repair the harm done to the victims, their families and the larger community of Christians and non-Christians alike, we believe our small acts of love can reverberate throughout the Body of Christ and offer some consolation to those who are suffering.
How Do My Acts Make a Difference? St. Paul said the Church is one body in Christ, but made of many parts. When any part of the Body suffers,
we all suffer. But at the same time, when love grows in one part of the body, it benefits the other parts. So by of-fering prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we can ask the Lord to comfort, heal and strengthen the parts of the body that need his mercy most. Indeed, we can perform acts of love and sorrow on behalf of another.
The 2018 Marvel Studios movie Black Panther has at the center of its plot the main character King T’Challa wanting to do something to make up for the wrongs of his father. T’Challa himself had done nothing wrong, but sensed his responsibility to do something on behalf of his family to help set things right, to somehow makeup for his father’s mistakes.
This is what we are called to do in the Body of Christ (cf. CCC, 2412, 2487). We can offer prayer and fast-ing for others and on behalf of others in the Body. First, we can offer these penitential acts for the perpetrators themselves—for their conversion and sincere repentance, for their healing of whatever spiritual, moral or psycho-logical maladies drove them to do these horrific crimes and for God’s mercy upon them.
Second, we can also offer these sacrifices on their behalf, as part of the mystical body of Christ, in reparation for their sins. These are small acts of love we can offer for the victims, their families and the many people who have been so wounded and dismayed by the actions of our brothers in Christ.
Many great heroes in the Bible did just this: They shared in the suffering of God’s sinful people and offered
prayers and sacrifices on their behalf. The prophet Daniel was a youth sent into exile in Babylon. Even though he was not guilty of the grave sins of his people, he experiences their punishment of exile and prays on their behalf, confessing their sins and imploring God to rescue them (Daniel 9). Similarly, the priest Ezra led the people in a national day of repentance and covenant renewal. Even though he himself was not guilty of the grave sins of his generation, he confesses sin on their behalf, offers sacrifices for their sins and begs God for mercy (Nehemiah 9). The perfect example, of course, is Jesus: the Innocent One who on the Cross bears the sufferings of the entire world and offers his life in atonement for sin.
Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving Now let’s get practical. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving should always be a part of our spiritual lives. But they
take on greater significance in moments of crisis and repentance. In our own troubled times, let’s devote some extra time to prayer: for the victims, for the Church, for the evil-doers. Psalm 51 might be a great place to start—a beautiful, heart-felt penitential Psalm which brings us humbly for the Lord recognizing the truth of our own sinfulness and the truth of his steadfast love for us even with those sins. We can pray it for ourselves and for the Church as a whole in these days.
The key here is not just saying a random prayer here or there for the Church, but committing ourselves to some extra time in prayer on a regular basis as an act of penance. It could be going to Eucharistic adoration once a week or offering an extra decade of the Rosary or saying a Chaplet of Divine Mercy or reading one Psalm a day. Or maybe we ourselves need time to grieve, express frustration and process with God in prayer all that is happening. Taking our sorrow to the Lord is always the best place to go.