25thSunday of Ordinary Time

From the Pastor’s Desk... Masses for the Week

September 22, 2013

Sunday, September 22 8:00am - Kevin Kerrigan req. Roy Bowman 11:00am - Garrie Antonini req. Mr. & Mrs. Don Morris 5:00pm - For the Parish

Monday, September 23 6:30am - NO SERVICES 8:15am - Edith Shorten

req. Walters Family

Tuesday, September 24 6:30am - Christy Barford req. Roy Bowman 5:00pm - Grace Niec req. Ann Smith

Wednesday, September 25 6:30am - Ruth Young req. Norma Bainbridge 8:15am - Angie Bowman req. Alice Harrell

Thursday, September 26 6:30am - Jim Collins req. Roy Bowman 5:00pm - Antoinette & Peter Nuccio req. Carmella Mansfield

Friday, September 27 6:30am - End to Abortion 8:15am - Angelika Halstead req. Gary & Carol Halstead

Saturday, September 28 8:00am - Ed O’Korn req. John & Marilou Novak 5:30pm - Joe Keller req. Mr. & Mrs. Kermit Hays

Sunday, September 29 8:00am - Genevieve Jennings req. James & Lisa Kemp 11:00am - Ed O’Korn, Sr. req. Bill & Judy Botkin 5:00pm - For the Parish

Pray for priests and seminarians of our diocese…

Mon: Fr. Phil Haslinger Sem. Jamie Baxter Tues: Fr. David Hasser Sem. Joey Beck Wed: Fr. Louis Heitz, RIP Sem. Michael Block Thur: Fr. David Hellmann Sem. Michael Bower Fri: Fr. Bill Holbrook Sem. Cole Daily Sat: Fr. Keith Hosey Sem. Christian DeCarlo Sun: Fr. David Hoying Dcn. Stephen Duquaine

Gracious God, grant us holy ministers of Your altar, who are careful and fervent guardians of the Eucharist. Call forth ministers of Your mercy who, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, spread the joy of Your forgiveness. Holy Angels, watch over and guide our priests, deacons, and those in formation. Amen. (p) = studying for permanent diaconate

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Praised Be Jesus Christ…

40 DAYS FOR LIFE AND NFP…

I. 40 Days for Life… will be joining

with Anderson again this year to bring

about an end to abortion in our area

through prayer, fasting, peaceful vigil

and community outreach. Please join

us in any or all of these areas during the next 40 Days

from Sept. 25– Nov. 3, 2012.

The peaceful vigil will take place in front of the Planned Parenthood located at 3550 W. Fox Ridge Lane; Muncie, IN 47304. Though we encourage everyone to go thru-out the week to witness for Life, we will continue to go out after the 8:15 am Mass as a group on Fridays during the 40 Days for Life.

Prayer and Fasting: We will continue to have the 40 Days for Life cards available to place in the box in the Church or you can visit the local website:

www.40DaysforLife.com/Muncie.

History of 40 days for Life: It was first started in

2004 in College Station, Texas when four Texas A&M pro-life college students organized a grassroots move-ment of volunteers to do penance, to pray for and wit-ness to an end to abortion. During this time 1000 peo-ple committed themselves to doing something over the course of 40 days to promote the Culture of Life and put an end to abortion. The goal: “Body of Christ seeks God’s graces to change to a Culture of Life, end abortion.” Through their efforts, abortions were reduced 28% and the abortion center closed. Since then over 7500 unborn babies have been saved. Over 575,000 people have participated. Thank you for doing your part as the hands, feet and voice for Jesus!!!

II. NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING CLASSES… Did you know that NFP is a Foundation for Better Marriages! Couples who use NFP have a divorce rate of less than 5%. Couples who use NFP report increased intimacy, greater Communication and healthier marriages. To get

more information on our NFP classes please contact

Pete and Georgia Lundy: gpsn1975@yahoo.com.

The classes only meet once a month for 3 months

beginning in Sept. (The dates are Sept. 27, Oct. 25

& Nov. 22, 2013 at 5:30 pm @ St. Mary in the Fa-

cilities Bldg.

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Fr. A. Dudzinski

In the Scriptures . . . The dishonest manager in today’s parable knew how to manipulate money to his own advantage. But the Gospel warns that no one can serve both God and money. Which do I serve? Is my stewardship such that anyone can tell?

Our Stewardship of Treasure . . .

September 15, 2013 Year to Date

Budgeted Weekly: $ 15,480.77 $ 572,788.49 Weekend Collection $ 13,626.67 $ 553,649.24 Electronic Gifts: $ 1,535.00 $ 23,646.00 Total Collection: $ 15,161.67 $ 577,295.24 Overage or (Shortfall): $ (319.10) $ 4,506.75 Envelopes Used: 177 Children’s Treasure: $ 3.00 Last Year (9/9/12) $ 16,094.88 $ 576,521.30 Envelopes Used: 161

Our Life as Stewards

We pray for our sisters and brothers who have died. . .

May the souls of all the faithful departed

rest in peace.

TO OUR PARISH New St. Mary Parishioners:

Tony Lain

Tom & Sheila Bracken and children,

Abby, Rosie, & Tessa Bracken

Abby Molino & son Victor

Join the National 2013 Public Square Rosary Crusade.

As we all know, the world is in great need of public prayer, repentance, and conversion. Please join us in praying for our nation on:

Saturday, October 12, at 12:00 noon.

The local Public Square Rosary Rally will take place at the corner of

Riverside Avenue and New York Ave., near St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Please contact Angela Saval at 748-3780 for more information.

Ask “Father”? (If you have questions you would like an-

swered please drop me a note and I would

be happy to respond to them.

Q. I have researched the “Peace Sym-bol”. Is it alright for Christians to wear?

A.: Unfortunatley, the “peace Symbol” has

found it’s way once again into popular culture. If you

did more than a cursory investigation you will find that

it has a long and dubious history. The short answer is

that the “peace symbol” really is an offense to Christi-

anity in general and the Catholic Church specifically.

It is something that we would want to avoid if for no other

reason than it tries to separate true peace from the author and

source of peace—Jesus Christ. Words have meaning, just as

symbols have meaning. The Church cannot Christianize the

Occult symbols (though they are often Christian symbols the

Occult has distorted). The “peace symbol” isn’t the same as

Santa Claus or the Easter bunny. It’s like the Pentagram or

the Swastika. Just because one may not know the origin or

meaning of these symbols they have been and still are chan-

nels for evil. Many people are drawn to them out of igno-

rance or because they simply like the way they look or be-

cause of what they think they mean. A brief (but cloudy)

history… “for the symbol of a 1000 names.”

It’s earliest name seems to be “Nero’s broken cross”. This is

named after the Roman Emperor Nero (37-68 AD) who perse-

cuted the early church. Nero believed the Roman Empire could

only have peace if he did away with all of those institutions that

opposed him either directly / indirectly (i.e. the Catholic

Church).

It is also called the “Witch’s foot” or “Raven’s Claw” and

was used in the Germanic Occult (devil worship). This ex-

plains why it was picked up by Hitler and the Nazis in the

1930s and 40s who were very much into the occult.

The “peace symbol” was again brought to the forefront and

made popular by Pablo Picasso after World War II. Gerald

Holtom often gets credit for “inventing” it in 1958 as a sign

for “Nuclear Disarmament” which eventually expanded to

mean “world peace”. In the 1960s and 70s it seems to have

digressed to it’s original meaning (Nero) of achieving peace

by doing away with those institutions (i.e. Catholic Church)

which got in the way of sex, drugs and instant gratification.

The peace symbol turns the chasuble the priest wears at Mass

upside down as a way of over throwing or doing away with

the Church. Anton LaVey, the founder of the

church of Satan digressing once again (Occult)

uses this as a symbol for his satanic services.

Even if one wants to believe all this symbol means

is “peace” – how is this peace obtained? You can-

not have true peace without Jesus Christ. If you

want a true peace symbol wear a Crucifix.

Our Parish Calendar

An Invitation to the Liturgy of the Hours A small group of parishioners continue to pray Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours during the week in the chapel. This daily prayer of the Church is a public form of worship and all Christians are invited to take part in it. Evening Prayer at 4:40pm Monday through Friday with few exceptions. If you are interested in joining us or learning more about the Liturgy of the Hours as the Church’s other official liturgy, please come and pray with us.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: The Eucharist is exposed for adoration on Sunday October 13 following the 11am Mass until 5 pm mass. Divine Mercy at 3pm followed by Sacrament of Reconciliation until 4pm.

Eucharistic Exposition Sundays, 7:30-8:00pm (except 2

nd Sunday of the month)

Monday through Friday, 7:00 - 8:00am

S.E.E.D. (Seeking Evangelization through Eucharistic Devotion): Thursday, September 26, after 5:00pm Mass

Praying the Rosary in Church Sunday: 7:30pm for Vocations

Divine Mercy Chaplet in Church Monday through Friday: 2:55pm

Devotional Opportunities Weekly Scheduled Activities

Sundays 9:30-10:45am Religious Education (SRE) - Cyr Center Mondays 6:30pm Boy Scouts - Noll Hall Conference Room 7:00pm St. Vincent de Paul - Facilities Bldg. 7:00pm Men’s Bible Study - PO Lower Level Tuesdays 9:30am Women’s Study Group - Facilities Bldg. 6:30pm Adult Choir practice - Church 7:00pm RCIA - Noll Hall Conference Room Wednesdays 1:30pm Legion of Mary - Facilities Bldg. 6:30pm Instrumental practice - Church 7:00pm Cantor practice - Church Saturdays 3:30-4:30 Sacrament of Reconciliation

Our Parish Calendar

3:30 - 6:00pm Market Day - Cyr Center Cafeteria

Monday, September 23

9:00am-3:00pm Fibers Min. Bazaar Workshop - Facilities

12:00pm Baptism of Luke Knipp

6:30pm High School Youth Group (HS YG) - Noll Hall

7:30pm Eucharistic Adoration/Pray Rosary for Vocations

Sunday, September 22

3:15pm Girl Scouts - CC Library

6:00 - 9:00pm W.A. Bazaar Workshop - Facilities

Tuesday, September 24

6:00pm Secular Franciscans at Planned Parenthood

6:30pm Girl Scouts Opening Ceremony - Cyr Center Caf.

7:00pm Middle School Youth Group (MS YG) - Noll Hall

Wednesday, September 25

Thursday, September 26

6:30pm Healing Grief Workshop - PO Lower Level

7:00pm S.E.E.D., Fr. Travis Stephens - Church

8:00pm S.E.E.D. reception - Noll Hall

Sunday, September 29

9:30am - Baptism of Grace Dessing

7:30pm - Eucharistic Adoration/Pray Rosary for Voca-tions

10:00am - 2:00pm W.A. Bazaar Prep - Noll Hall

5:30pm Natural Family Planning (NFP) Class - Facilities

Friday, September 27

Living Your Strengths

The next Journey Team embarks:

Tuesday, Oct. 8

Who: Adults

What: LYS is about understanding that you were created by

God and for God with unique strengths. Discovering them will

help you become who He created you to be.

When: Tuesdays,1-2:30 pm OR 7-8:30 pm, 6 sessions

Space is limited.

Contact Tammy for more info

288-5308

The Secular Franciscans will meet on

Wednesday, September 25,

from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

in front of Planned Parenthood,

3550 W. Fox Ridge Lane in Muncie

to participate in 40 Days for Life.

Note time/location change for this month only.

We will reassemble at 7:15 pm at Mancino’s for dinner

and a brief planning meeting. For more information,

contact Sharon Roberts, sharon2161@att.net or

286-5278.

Staff Column … Sonya & Scott Paul Religious Education Coordinators

How can we best teach our SRE classes during this Year of Faith?

As we know, Parents are the first and most im-portant teachers of their children. Some of the program objectives of Sunday Religious Education program come alongside the role of the parent in order to model the search to know, love and serve God, self and one another. As a community within a community, St. Mary parish offers a unique diversity of students, faculty, townspeople, commuters, farmers, and those seeking to know God. In this Year of Faith, some program ob-jectives are to reflect on the gift of faith, deepen a knowledge and understanding of God, read, reflect, and pray the scriptures, nourish and strengthen our faith through the holy Eucharist, and “Open the door of faith” for others, most especially the youngest of our St. Mary Parish. As we, your co-directors, Catechists, Priests, and staff provide a program of formal religious instruc-tion for the children and youth of the parish, keep us in prayer, offer at home to help the children discover the richness and challenges of Scripture and the teachings and traditions that make us uniquely Catholic Chris-tians. As “we open the door of faith” to your children here at the Cyr Center, may it also “open our hearts” to give ourselves more fully and completely to Christ and to his holy Church. Please do not hesitate to talk to us, or send any questions that you may have about the pro-gram to us at religioused@stmarymuncie.org.

Pro-Life Corner

Spiritual Adoption:

Please pray the following prayer every day for an end to abortion and for the unborn babies…

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted

who is in danger of abortion.”

(Late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen)

Baby’s Name:______________________________

Date Adopted::_____________________________

Due Date:___________________________

Developing Unborn Baby: Week 36

I’m almost ready...If I were born now I would do just fine!

I measure 18” long.

Notes:

Check out the Bishops website: www.usccb.org

Post-Abortion: Healing & Reconciliation:

Project Rachel, a post-abortion healing ministry, offers confidential and skilled help. Call 1-877-522-3300.

PROJECT GABRIEL

The angel Gabriel told Mary “Do not be afraid.”

The Gabriel Project offers free mentoring through pregnancy and

after. 1-877-734-2444

The IRS lists Planned Parenthood and other abortion mill operators as organizations engage in promoting health. Whose health? Certainly not the health of the hundreds of thousands of babies that they abort every year, and not the health of the women who suffer physical and emotional trau-ma from the abortion.

Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures for Sunday Religious Education:

All children K-4 should be escorted into the Cyr Center Cafe-teria by a parent or older sibling. Grades 5-8 may be dropped off at the entrance doors. Catechists should be in the cafeteria 10 minutes prior to the start of the session and will take the children to their rooms together. There is a brief “meeting time” at 9:30 a.m. for the students, parents, and Catechists. At the end of the session, please come to the Cyr Center Cafeteria to meet your chil-dren. No Child will be allowed to leave the Cyr Center without a Parent or Authorized Guardian Present. Out of courtesy for the Catechist wishing to attend the 11 a.m. Mass, please make sure to pick up your child promptly upon dismissal.

Religious Education (SRE) News

A Eucharistic Rosary Rally for the

Protection of Religious Liberties will be

held at Marian University in Indian-

apolis on the Football Field on Sunday,

September 29th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Fr. James Kelleher S.O.L.T. will ad-

dress the crowd. Fr. Kelleher is from

Corpus Christi Texas and the promoterof

Eucharistic Rosary Rallys and Children’s

Holy Hours in the United States and internationally. A Living

Global Rosary will be part of the event.

Please join with Priests, Religious, Seminarians, and fellow Catho-

lics to demonstrate our belief that; “prayer changes things”. See

you there! “The only thing necessary for evil to prevail is for good men & women to do noth-

ing.” Edmund Burke

We pray for our parish sons and daughters in the military… Major Scott Vores, Chris Scheidler, Tim Scheidler, Andy Baierwalter, Jeff Calvert, Matthew Nitz, Major Todd Howell, Phillip Michael Shaw, Joe Tankers-ley, Sam Tankersley, Cory Brown, Derek Halstead, John Kelly, Joe Dugan, Captain Nick Ringo, Air-man Erick Ringo, Mark Springer, Daniel Shaw and Nathan Bolka

Upcoming Events at St. Mary . . . and Around the Diocese

This week’s bulletin is sponsored by:

Casa del Sol

Children’s Liturgy of the Word Now that kids are all back in their school routines, it is time to get back into Children’s Liturgy as well. We want to continue to offer CLW at the 11:00 Mass each Sunday, but we are in need of your help! We are in need of a few volunteers to help to teach or aide the teacher during the liturgy time. This could be something you do as little as once a month or every other month. It is less really only 15-30 minutes of your time and the rewards are immeasurable. The parents of children benefit from being able to listen more attentively to the readings and homily with less distraction; the children hear the readings and a kid-friendly discussion about the Gospel that they can understand and hang onto. Call Michele Barber, Children’s Liturgy of the Word coordinator with questions. 289-8828.

Seeking Evangelization through Eucharistic Devotion

S.E.E.D. This Thursday,

September 26th

Eucharistic Exposition begins following 5pm Mass and continues through the 7pm pray-

er service. Our guest speaker will be Fr. Travis Stephens (a "parish son"). He

will give a talk at 7pm in the church:

"Discerning Your Vocation Through Eucharistic Adoration - Family Prayer"

A reception will follow in the Facilities building.

ALL ARE WELCOME!

ST. MARY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL BAZAAR

November 8 & 9

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to

chair a booth at this year’s bazaar. We still have a few

booths that need a chair. If you are interested please

contact Cindy Heintzelman at c.heintzelman@att.net.

The Facilities Bldg. has been reserved, Tuesday eve-

nings from 6pm - 9pm , and Noll Hall, Friday morn-

ings from 10am - 2pm. Groups may use this time to

work on any of their items for the bazaar. If you would

like to schedule a different time for your group, please

contact the parish office.

If you are new to St. Mary, or have never taken part in

the Women’s Association, please consider sharing

your time and talent. Your help is greatly appreciated in

making the bazaar a success.

SUNDAY BAZAAR WORKSHOPS

For those people who are busy with jobs through

the week but have always wished to be able to par-

ticipate in workshops for the bazaar, here is your

chance. Knitting and crocheting will be the focus.

Bring whatever you are working on for the Bazaar.

Also nylon net will be available for those wishing to

make the famous “scrubbies.” The workshops will

start at 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m., but come for as

long or as little time as your schedule allows. Mark

these dates on your calendar now!

September 22, October 6, 13, and 20, Novem-ber 3. Facilities Bldg.

Hope to see you there!!!!

Questions – Call Sarah Demaree -284-2734

or Donna Young – 284-2714

Mark your calendars!!!

Woman’s Association

“get acquainted dinner” is coming!

October 17, 2013 6:30 P.M.

In Noll Hall

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS, GRADES 4-8, WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE AN ALTAR SERVER

(ALSO FOR CURRENT SERVERS WHO WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL TRAINING)

We will have an Altar Server Training on Saturdays, October 5TH and 12TH in the church from 10:00 until 11:15 AM.

School News

St. Mary Preschool registration is now open to school and church families. Children must be at least 3 years old and toilet trained. Preschool brochures are in the school office; call the school office for more details at 288-5878.

The options & monthly rates are as follows:

Full time M-F 8am - 2:45pm $380

3 Full days MWF 8am - 2:45pm $180

5 half-days M-F 8am -11am $180

3 half-days MWF 8am - 11am $120

Assistance through St. Mary Parish Prescription Bank helps defer the cost of certain medications for people without prescription insurance coverage. Contact the Parish Office at 288-5308 Thomas Fiscel Outreach Fund: Established through the gen-erous donation of parishioner Thomas Fiscel, helps to provide for basic needs and services of St Mary parishioners and the needy of Delaware County. Contact the parish office to begin a confi-dential application process or speak to Fr. Dudzinski.

Community Assistance Programs St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry & Help Line: Call 254-9513 and leave a message with your contact information and the type of assistance you are needing. A member of the St. Vincent dePaul Society will return your call within 72 hours. St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop: The Thrift Shop is located at 920 E. Charles Street and is open from 10am to 3pm on Tues-day thru Friday and 10am to 12noon on Saturday. Their phone number is 282-2842. Harvest Soup Kitchen: The Harvest Soup Kitchen, is located at 920 E. Charles Street, in the old St. Lawrence School. A free lunch is served to anyone needing a meal every Monday - Friday from 9:30 - 11:00am.

Assistance Resources at St. Mary Parish and in the Community

The Knights of Columbus

We Need Your Help: Donate and Attend the 4th Degree Dinner and Auctions October 11th

The 4th Degree Assembly and Knight Jack Gardella, Chair of the Dinner and Auctions Committee, are soliciting items for the Second Annual 4th Degree event. Virtually anything of value you no longer want or need we need as donations for the silent auction and live auction. We need lots of clean items in good condition so please call Jack at 765-730-7622 or e-mail him at Jimamy1921@wildblue.net You may also contact Tom McComish, Grand Knight, at tsmc-

comish@aol.com

8th

GRADE FUNDRAISING DINNER

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th

5:00 -7:00 pm

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL

3600 W. Purdue, Muncie, IN

Pulled Pork

Cole Slaw

French Fries

Assorted Desserts

Non-meat option (Grilled Cheese)

CARRY-OUTS AVAILABLE

Children 3-12: $4 (Under age 3 FREE)

Adults: $6 in advance ($7 at the door)

Tickets may be purchased in advance at: St. Mary/Pope JPII School (288-5878)

St. Mary Parish Office (288-5308)

Or through a member of the 8th Grade Class. Make checks payable to the Knights of Columbus.

For more information, contact Carol Scanameo (730-8625)

PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE 8th

GRADE CLASS TRIP

TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

“Being and Belonging...A retreat for separated and

Divorced Catholics” will take place Friday, October

4th to Sunday, October 6th, 2013 at Fatima Retreat

House, 5353 E. 56th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. You

are invited to relax as you journey with others, listening

to their stories and exploring a common loss. The pro-

gram will help deepen your understanding of the heal-

ing process, increase your sense of belonging, and help

you affirm that God is with you in your struggles and

hope. To receive a brochure or to register please con-

tact The Office of Family Ministries at 317-236-1586

or 1-800-382-9836 or Fatima Retreat House 545-7681

or www.archindy.org/family/divorce or

dvanvelse@archindy.org

LIFE CHAIN 2013 Sunday, October 6th, from 2:00pm to 3:30pm

along McGalliard Road between Granville and Oakwood.

We appreciate your standing for innocent un-born children. For more information, please

contact Sherry Whitesel @ 284-8428

Women at the Well Meets on the first Thursday of each month

September - April 7:00pm in the Facilities Bldg.

Join the study of My Life With the Saints

By Fr. James Martin, SJ Martin’s memoir offers multiple examples of how to appropriate

the wisdom of saints into our own lives.

Ministry Schedule for Next Weekend . . . September 28th and 29th

Children’s Liturgy of the Word - 11:00 Mass . . . . Sarah Schmidt

Youth News

High School YG Meeting Tonight

Sunday, Sept. 22

Where: Noll Hall Time: 6:30-8:00 pm

Don’t miss it! We miss YOU when YOU are not there!

Registration is free; forms available in the PO vestibule or by contacting Tammy (288-5308)

tdlaudicina@stmarymuncie.org

Coming Soon for 9th grade religious ed:

T3: The Teen Bible Timeline

Youth Bible study is changing the way

Catholic teens learn Scripture.

Relevant, engaging, and effective, it lays a

foundation that lasts a life time.

When: Sunday, Oct. 6

6:30-8:00 pm

Where: Noll Hall

Cost: $35 (scholarships available)

8 sessions; meets first Sunday of the month

Leaders: Tom Korson and Sonya Paul

Reg. forms in Parish Office vestibule and Church vestibule

Middle School Youth Group Next meeting:

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 25 Time: 7-8:30 pm Place: Noll Hall

Topic: Building Blocks

All youth in the parish who are in Middle School are members of MS YG! Registration is FREE!

Forms available in the Parish Office vestibule or by contacting

Tammy Laudicina @ 288-5308

Readers

September 28th 5:30pm J. Montgomery M. Bryja

September 29th 8:00am T. Laudicina C. McGill

September 29th 11:00am T. Young A. Krejsa

September 29th 5:00pm S. Roberts C. Smith

Altar Servers

L. Scanameo M. Scanameo S. Scanameo

B. McGill I. Manor S. Manor

E. Smith L. Smith A. Sutton K. Vinson

M. Mitsch M. Mitsch E. Nowakowski

Extraordinary Ministers of Communion *Setup for Mass

*G. Grzesk *L. Grzesk R. Hughes W. Hughes P. Morey M.A. Thiery A. Lind

*S. Chatot *S. Chatot R. Courtney B. Courtney D. Gildersleeve N. Grewe C. McComish L. Lombardi

*L. Green *E. Kelly J. Haynes A. Robinson J. Robinson S. Smith M. Smith C. Robinson

*P. Shaw N. Moody D. Moody S. Scheidler

Cantors Tim Thiery Diane Frye Katie Kellogg Phil Shaw

Ushers K. Durbin T. McGraw D. McGraw S. Rousseau

M. Bartholome E. Kseniak B. Delk J. Smedinghoff

R. Dugan F. Glancy R. Harnish K. Hays

J. Bauer G. Bauer

Reflection on the Sunday Readings

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 MEMORIAL OF PIUS OF PIETRELCINA, PRIEST From an acorn comes a mighty oak When Saint Pius of Pietrelcina—Padre Pio as he’s widely known—decided he wanted to build a free hospital for the poor up the road from his friary, he literally started with a piece of land and a few friends and supporters. Four years later, in 1956, he had one of the most modern hospitals in Europe. Since the padre’s death in 1968, the facility, which he wanted to be “a place of pray-er and science,” has quadrupled in size and stands as a tribute to the desire to help others radically and the determination to follow through on it. What seeds of service can you plant and cultivate?

TODAY’S READINGS: Ezra 1:1-6; Luke 8:16-18 “Then . . . everyone . . . whom God had inspired to do so . . . prepared to go up to build the house of the Lord in Jerusa-lem.”

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 We are family While many English translations make it sound as if Jesus had brothers, confusion arises because Hebrew and Aramaic, the written and spoken languages of the day, lacked distinct words for brothers, cousins, and other close kin. When Christian scrip-tures were written in Greek, the word adelphos—“brothers”—was used to represent all of those relations. So it remains unclear what kind of extended family Jesus might have had. What is clear, however, is that Jesus saw blood relations as secondary to spirit relations. Those who follow Jesus are family to him. Claim your place in that great gathering.

TODAY’S READINGS: Ezra 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20; Luke 8:19-21 “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Be a servant of justice The church has not always been on the right side of history when it comes to slavery. In fact for centuries the “right side” meant justifying slavery because it was an accepted social institution. The ancient Israelites were slave owners, and the early Chris-tians—and lots of Christians afterwards—took it for granted. Judaism, however, believed the law of God protected slaves from mistreatment, and early Christianity thought the differences between masters and slaves evaporated in the kingdom of God. While just about all people of faith today reject slavery outright, it is still very much alive in forms like human trafficking. A number of Catholic religious orders are involved in the fight against trafficking, and you can find out more about what you can do on web-sites such as csjboston.org/Human_trafficking.htm.

TODAY’S READINGS: Ezra 9:5-9; Luke 9:1-6 “For slaves we are, but in our servitude our God has not abandoned us.”

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 MEMORIAL OF COSMAS AND DAMIAN, MARTYRS Isn’t that a little much? If there’s one thing about the writers of the Bible, it’s that they didn’t mind a good exaggeration to make a point. Did Abraham really live to 175? Probably not literally. Rather, in biblical terms great age meant “a hugely blessed person.” This kind of over-statement sometimes applied as well to stories of the early Christian martyrs. Did the physician-brothers Cosmas and Damian really miraculously survive burning, drowning, and stones and spears thrown at them before finally succumbing? Perhaps they did, but these tales also express how these saints were so holy that it took several attempts to dispatch them from this life. Their example should inspire you to pursue your own holiness with similar determination.

TODAY’S READINGS: Haggai 1:1-8; Luke 9:7-9 “Now thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways!”

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 MEMORIAL OF VINCENT DE PAUL, PRIEST Hear the cry of the poor From the 17th century until now, the name Saint Vincent de Paul has been a byword for service to the poor. At the end of his vigorous career, Vincent was asked what else he might possibly have done with his energies than what he’d already accom-plished. His answer was smooth: “More.” In societies bearing his name around the world, the saint is surely getting his wish. If your parish has a “poor box” for spare change, it’s a sign that Vincent’s work is never done. In the same way, thrift stores, soup kitchens, and shelters operate under the energy of volunteers moved by his example. Give a check, an unused chair, an hour and get heavenly returns!

TODAY’S READINGS: Haggai 2:1-9; Luke 9:18-22 “And in this place I will give you peace, says the Lord of hosts!”

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 Your attention, please! The early 20th-century French philosopher and mystic Simone Weil had much to say about the value of attention. “Attention is the highest and purest form of generosity,” she said. “Prayer is made of attention.” “There is never a case when an effort of at-tention is lost. It will always be spiritually effective.” Learning to pay attention—to focus and concentrate on what is at hand—is an often neglected practice, in all times and places. No doubt multitudes who lived at the time of Jesus rushed right by him as he preached in the synagogues and healed in the streets, too caught up in the day’s affairs to see the savior right in front of them. How about you? If Jesus were to come again today, would you be too “crazy-busy” to pay attention? TODAY’S READINGS: Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15a; Luke 9:43b-45

“Pay attention to what I am telling you.” ©2013 by TrueQuest Communications, L.L.C.

Reflection on the Weekday Readings

Readings for next Sunday (Sept. 29th

): Amos 6:1a,4-7; Psalm 146:7,8-9,9-10; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; Luke 16:19-31

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY

IN ORDINARY TIME

Justice

The first and third readings of today’s liturgy speak messages of justice. And their loudest message is that God alone is true jus-

tice. This is good news, but it is not comforting. Once again, the liturgy is challenging our comfort and complacency, our luke-

warm ways, our sloppy stewardship.

FIRST READING: Amos 8:4–7 RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 113:1–2, 4–6, 7–8

SECOND READING: 1 Timothy 2:1–8 GOSPEL: Luke 16:1–13

Comment

Amos cared a lot. He lived in Israel sometime near but before 750 B.C., in a time of a growing prosperity that was achieved at

the cost of the powerless poor. And Amos was blunt. He reminded the rich that he saw their greed. They could hardly bear to

waste a day resting on the Sabbath, could hardly wait to measure grain using the illegal ephah measure. They could hardly wait

to lighten the weight of the shekel, could hardly wait to weight the grain with chaff. Amos rages against such wholesale greed

and promises that such injustice will not be forgotten in heaven. To make a buck is one thing, Amos is saying. To make it on the

backs of the helpless is quite another. Such avarice harms both the greedy and the poor. Both are ground down and rendered

impotent in their ability to seek and serve God. One is weighted by selfishness, the other crushed by poverty. Money or the desire

for money then becomes an idol for both, turning both away from justice and from God.

In the second reading, Paul reminds us of our charge and duty to pray. Notice that Paul’s roster of those who have a claim on

our prayers is analogous to the form of our own general intercessions (prayers of the faithful) as found in the eucharistic liturgy.

Paul, however, is not offering a format for liturgical prayer, but a call to more expansive prayer, prayer that should mark the

daily life of Christians within and without the liturgy.

In the Gospel, Jesus describes the wholehearted effort of a crafty servant who sees “downsizing” heading his way. The wily fel-

low greases the skids, as it were, and through a series of fabrications creates his own golden parachute. Jesus finds him a mar-

vel and puzzles over why such cleverness is limited to the world of commerce. Jesus wonders why those who seek a “position” in

the reign of God lack such wit and wherewithal. Jesus commends the manager for being astute enough to use what was entrusted

to him in a way that ensured his future. As Christians, we want to ensure our futures as well. Jesus is urging us to use what has

been entrusted to us to do just that. But Jesus also urges us to recognize that the treasure we’ve been given stewardship over is

not one that can be bartered away—only given away, given and shared freely with others, just as it has been given and shared

freely with us.

It’s important to note that the Gospel addresses the steward’s ingenuity—his focused, farsighted, clever, unfailing plan. Like-

wise, it’s also worth noting that in biblical times the manager of a household was often a slave who had earned his august role

and who, if he guarded the owner’s fortune, was pretty much free to wheel and deal, skim and connive. The crafty manager in

today’s reading did just that, winning in the bargain the loyalty and gratitude of the creditors and leaving his master’s fortune

intact.

Reflection

It seems that we who seek the kingdom of God in the company of our friends need to be as focused and as careful as the steward

in today’s Gospel story. We need to assess the gifts we have and then spend them thoughtfully. Our goal is not to secure wealth,

but to secure life with God. The gifts we have are to be spent and shared where they will do the most good and where they will

yield the most benefits. Copyright © 2003, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.