\

St. Jude Catholic Church

Grand Rapids, MI

This week, we continue to review the

Bishop’s document “Forming Consciences

for Faithful Citizenship.” Follow this link to

view the text: http://www.usccb.org/issues-

and-action/faithful-citizenship/ We have

included additional paragraphs of Part One

of this document on page one of this week’s

newsletter. This week the document

addresses the question: Who in the Church

should participate in political life?

Also, please sign up at www.formed.org to

view Bishop Barron’s Catholicism DV

series in your home on whatever device

you use to connect to the Internet. This

week we cover Episode 8 or chapter 8 in the

book: A Vast Company of Witnesses: The

Communion of Saints.

And, you can help us increase the number of

children attending our Sunday evening

classes. Pass a copy of the registration form

to your own children’s kids who may not be

attending religion classes in their own

parishes. Identify children in your

neighborhood who may need a ride to get

to Sunday classes. We have plenty of room

for new enrollments.

From the Director of Faith Formation

August 11, 2016 Vol. 3 Issue 31

To get this newsletter e-mailed to you,

contact Mary Ellen at the Parish Office

by calling (616) 363-6897 or by email

to mboruta@stjudes.net

Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship Part I (con’t)- The

US Bishops’ Reflection on Catholic Teaching & Political Life

We continue our address each of the following four questions

this week with question #2:

(1) Why does the Church teach about issues affecting public

policy?

(2) Who in the Church should participate in political life?

(3) How does the Church help the Catholic faithful to speak

about political and social questions?

4) What does the Church say about Catholic social teaching in

the public square?

This week’s section from this document answers question two above.

Who in the Church Should Participate in Political Life?

Laymen should also know that it is generally the function of their well-formed Christian

conscience to see that the divine law is inscribed in the life of the earthly city; from priests

they may look for spiritual light and nourishment. . . . Since they have an active role to play

in the whole life of the Church, laymen are not only bound to penetrate the world with a

Christian spirit, but are also called to be witnesses to Christ in all things in the midst of

human society.

Bishops, to whom is assigned the task of ruling the Church of God, should, together with

their priests, so preach the news of Christ that all the earthly activities of the faithful will be

bathed in the light of the Gospel. All pastors should remember too that by their daily

conduct and concern they are revealing the face of the Church to the world, and men will

judge the power and truth of the Christian message thereby. (Second Vatican Council,

Gaudium et Spes, no. 43)

13. In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political

life is a moral obligation. "People in every nation enhance the social dimension of their

lives by acting as committed and responsible citizens" (Evangelii Gaudium, no. 220).

The obligation to participate in political life is rooted in our baptismal commitment to

follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do. As the Catechism of the

Catholic Church reminds us, "It is necessary that all participate, each according to his

position and role, in promoting the common good.

This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human

person...As far as possible citizens should take an active

part in public life" (nos. 1913-1915).

14. Unfortunately, politics in our country often can be a

contest of powerful interests, partisan attacks, sound bites,

and media hype. The Church calls for a different kind of

political engagement: one shaped by the moral convictions

of well-formed consciences and focused on the dignity of

every human being, the pursuit of the common good, and

the protection of the weak and the vulnerable.

(con’t on the next page)

Table of Contents

Forming Consciences 1

Parish Calendar 3

Announcements 3

Cath. Info Ctr. Schedule 4

Rel. Ed Classes Form 6

Gospel Summaries 7

Pope Francis 8

Formed.org 9

Catholicism Ep.8 11

Home Lesson Plans 13

Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship Part I (con’t)-

US Bishops’ Reflection on Catholic Teaching & Political

Life

As Pope Francis reminds us, "Politics, though often denigrated, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch

as it seeks the common good. . . . I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the

people, and the lives of the poor!" (Evangelii Gaudium, no. 205).

The Catholic call to faithful citizenship affirms the importance of political participation and insists that public service is a worthy vocation.

As citizens, we should be guided more by our moral convictions than by our attachment to a political party or interest group. When

necessary, our participation should help transform the party to which we belong; we should not let the party transform us in such a way

that we neglect or deny fundamental moral truths or approve intrinsically evil acts. We are called to bring together our principles and our

political choices, our values and our votes, to help build a civilization of truth and love.

15. Clergy and lay people have complementary roles in public life. We bishops have the primary responsibility to hand on the Church's

moral and social teaching. Together with priests and deacons, assisted by religious and lay leaders of the Church, we are to teach

fundamental moral principles that help Catholics form their consciences correctly, to provide guidance on the moral dimensions of public

decisions, and to encourage the faithful to carry out their responsibilities in political life. In fulfilling these responsibilities, the Church's

leaders avoid endorsing or opposing candidates.

As Pope Benedict XVI stated in Deus Caritas Est, The Church wishes to help form consciences in political life and to stimulate greater insight

into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act accordingly, even when this might involve conflict with

situations of personal interest. . . . The Church cannot and must not take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just

society possible. She cannot and must not replace the State. Yet at the same time she cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the

fight for justice. (no. 28)

16. As the Holy Father also taught in Deus Caritas Est, "The direct duty to work for a just ordering of society is proper to the lay faithful" (no.

29). This duty is more critical than ever in today's political environment, where Catholics may feel politically disenfranchised, sensing that no

party and too few candidates fully share the Church's comprehensive commitment to the life and dignity of every human being from

conception to natural death. Yet this is not a time for retreat or discouragement; rather, it is a time for renewed engagement. Forming their

consciences in accord with Catholic teaching, Catholic lay women and men can become actively involved: running for office; working within

political parties; communicating their concerns and positions to elected officials; and joining diocesan social mission or advocacy networks,

state Catholic conference initiatives, community organizations, and other efforts to apply authentic moral teaching in the public square.

Even those who cannot vote have the right to have their voices heard on issues that affect their lives and the common good.

Next week we will focus on the question: How does the Church help the Catholic faithful to speak about political and social questions?

To view the entire document follow this link:

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/

August 11th

Thursday

8:30 am Mass in the Chapel

August 12th

Friday

8:30 am Mass in the Chapel

August 13th

Saturday

Confessions at 3:00 pm

Mass at 4:00 pm

August 14th

Sunday

Masses 8:30 and 10:30 am

August 15th

Monday

8:30 am Communion Service in the Chapel

August 16th

August 4th

8:30 am Mass in chapel

ASA Band Instrument meeting - Thaddeus Center - 7:00-8:30 pm

Men of Emmaus, 7:30 to 8:45 pm – Millennium Conference Room

August 17th

Wednesday

8:30 am Mass in the Chapel

Senior Men’s Club - Thaddeus Center- 9:00 am to 12:00 noon

AA Support Group – Thaddeus Center – 6:30 pm to 8:45 pm

August 18th

Thursday

8:30 am Mass in chapel

Our Lady of Knock Mass & Potluck at 1:00 pm

at St. Patrick’s in Parnell Sunday August 14

Potluck Dinner will follow after Mass. Please bring a

dish to pass and canned goods which will be collected

for donation to the North Kent Community Ministry.

All are invited. Email Dianne Mankel at diannemankel.@gmail.com

or call (616) 991-4472

POLISH FESTIVAL

for CATHOLIC CHARITIES at Hackley Park in Muskegon

Sept. 2 and 3

A new Polish Festival in Muskegon to benefit Catholic Charities

West Michigan will take place in Hackley Park in Muskegon on Sept.

2 and 3. There will be polka bands, polish food and a Mass to

conclude the event at St. Michael’s Parish in Muskegon. For more

information, login to muskegonpolishfest.com

St. Jude FALL RUMMAGE SALE

Saturday October 8 (Setup –Fri. October 7)

Volunteers are needed to work the sale and for the

setup on the Friday before. Volunteers are especially

needed to help with the clean-up after the sale ends

on Saturday at 6 pm. To volunteer, call Dianne Mankel

at (616) 990-4722 or email diannemankel@gmail.com

28th Annual

“Pray & Spray” Softball Game

GR Priests vs. GR Firefighters

THURSDAY August 11

6:30 pm

Don’t miss the fun as the priests of the

Grand Rapids area take on the Grand Rapids Firefighters in a

charity softball game to benefit the Great Lakes Burn camp at

Mattawan, MI.

Holy Spirit Fields on Lake Michigan Drive at Covell NW – 6:30 pm.

There is no admission charge but free will donations for the Burn

Camp will be gratefully accepted.

Rekindle the romance in your marriage and make it even

better! Join a Worldwide Marriage Encounter to renew and

enrich your Marriage and your faith. Encounters are scheduled

for these weekends…

Sept 16 – 18 The Augustine Center near Petoskey

Oct. 21– 23 St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, MI

For more information about or to register for any of the

weekend encounters, go to www.wwme.org or phone Harry &

Karen Porter at (888) 628-7433

Spectrum Hospital Needs Volunteer Eucharistic Ministers

Spectrum Hospital is seeking volunteers for a two-day per month schedule bringing Holy

Communion to Catholic inpatients at

Butterworth and Blodgett Hospitals. Please contact Lenore

Nowicki by email at lenore.nowicki@spectrumhealth.org or by

phone at (616) 391-1957 to volunteer.

SUNGLASSES for MIGRANT WORKERS

Unprotected exposure to sunlight has

been demonstrated to cause certain eye

growths in migrant workers who do not

have sunglasses to protect their eyes.

A drop box for both new and used sunglasses is located on the

prayer table next to the door of the vesting room in the back of

church. Please place donated sunglasses in the drop box by

August 31. If you would like more information, please email

Diane Brewster at dianembrewster@gmail.com

-

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

for

SEPTEMBER, 2016 Located inside Cathedral Square – Suite 2A 360 Division Ave South, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Here is a partial listing of September events at the Catholic Information Center located in Cathedral Square on Division at Wealthy in

downtown Grand Rapids. To view the entire calendar month-by-month, go to http://www.catholicinformationcenter.org/events-2/

For information, phone the CIC at (616) 459-7267. Register online: http://www.catholicinformationcenter.org/course-registration

SEPT. 7 MEDICAL ETHICS AND END OF LIFE: JUST BECAUSE WE CAN, SHOULD WE?

DECISIONS INVOLVING ADULTS & CHILDREN

WITH A PANEL OF ETHICISTS & MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

The final months and days of life are frequently marked by strong emotions and hard decisions. During this time, family members face special challenges. Join us for this two-evening event that offers information and support to families who face end-of life decisions for their loved ones.

Decisions Involving Adults Wednesday, Sept. 7, 6-7:30 pm.

Decisions involving Children Thursday, Sept. 8, 6-7:30 pm.

Register online at: http://www.catholicinformationcenter.org/course-registration/

SEPT. 7 THE MYSTICS SERIES: ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS

WITH FR. JOACHIM LALLY, CSP

Wednesdays, September 7 & October 5, 7:00 -8:45 pm

St. John of the Cross, a Spanish mystic, was, with St. Teresa of Avila, a reformer of the Carmelite Order and was a major figure of the

Counter-Reformation. He is also known for his mystical writings on poetry and growth of the soul. These writings show how deep

spiritual darkness and the very bright light of God’s love are closely inter-related. ($10.00 donation per session requested.)

Register online at: http://www.catholicinformationcenter.org/course-registration/

SEPT. 7 DIVORCE RECOVERY & SUPPORT GROUP

WITH JIM KLINE

Wednesdays 7:30 pm - 8:45 pm

A ten-week series offered for all who are divorced or are in the process of becoming divorced. Led by those who have gone through the process themselves, these support groups provide a pathway to personal growth. The book, Divorce and Beyond, by Greteman, Haverkamp and Radtke, will be used as a guide and is included in the series cost of $15.00 . .

Register online at: http://www.catholicinformationcenter.org/course-registration/

SEPT. 8 CATHOLIC INQUIRY/UPDATE

WITH FRED JOHNSON, FR. JOHN GEANEY, CSP AND FR. RENÉ CONSTANZA, CSP

Thursdays, September 8- November 17, 7-8:45pm OR

Fridays, September 9 – November 18, 10-11:45am

The course, a 10-week program designed for those who wish to learn more about the Catholic faith and way of life, also works for Catholics who wish to update or renew their understanding of Catholic teaching. Specific topics are taught each week and participants are encouraged to ask questions.

Register online at: http://www.catholicinformationcenter.org/course-registration/

SEPT. 13 CONTEMPORARY PEOPLE OF GOD SERIES: “MARTIN SHEEN – PILGRIM ON THE WAY”

WITH FR. JOHN GEANEY, CSP

Tuesday, September 13, 7:00 - 8:45pm

Martin Sheen, best known for his role as a Catholic president on the television series The West Wing, returned to his Catholic faith at the age of forty after decades away. Today, he sees himself as a man in the pew and as a peace and justice activist. He has been arrested more than sixty times for non-violent civil disobedience speaking out for human rights. Fr. Geaney has worked with Martin Sheen professionally and has some personal insights to share.

Register online at: http://www.catholicinformationcenter.org/course-registration/

SEPT. 14 MOBILE DEVICES: HELP IS ON THE WAY

WITH CHRIS ECKMAN

Wednesdays, September 14 & October 12, 2:00-3:45pm (This is a two-session class).

Do you have questions on how to use your mobile devices? Laptops, tablets and smart phones can be overwhelming sometimes. Chris Eckman will answer questions and share technology tips. Chris has designed online courses for ecatechist.com ,Aquinas College and Western Theological Seminary and has over 20 years of experience supporting small business technology needs. Don’t forget to bring your mobile device! CFD: ($10.00 donation per session requested.)

Register online at: http://www.catholicinformationcenter.org/course-registration/

SEPT. 19 NEW ONLINE CLASS - READING THE BIBLE: A JOURNEY THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

WITH KATHLEEN SULLIVAN

Beginning Monday, September 19

Please register by September 12 by calling the Catholic Information Center at 616-459-7267 or by email

at register@catholicinformationcenter.org . Limited to 20 participants. Course Cost: $45.00 (includes course and book)

“The Bible journey is a unique trip… It is the doorway that leads from your ordinary, material, external world to a spiritual, extraordinary,

inner one. God stands at the door and invites you…” Steve Mueller, PhD This six-week, online course is designed with the busy pilgrim in mind. Weekly readings, discussions, and reflections are completed online at the participant’s convenience. Instructions and login information will be emailed to you after registration.

Whether you are a life-long Bible reader or simply one who knows the basic stories and teachings as heard at Mass, this course is for you! Using, The Catechist’s Guide to Reading Your Bible – A Catholic View, by Steve Mueller, PhD as the text, this course will both inform you about the Bible and equip you with the skills needed to read and understand its message.

SEPT. 20 SR. CORITA KENT: PEACE, LOVE AND ROCK’N ART

WITH H.J. SLIDER

Tuesday, September 20, 7-8:45pm

Sr. Corita was a designer, teacher, and an activist for civil rights and anti-war causes. She used her striking visual art to reflect her combined passions for faith and politics. She was one of the most popular graphic artists of the 1960s and ‘70s, and her “Love” postage stamp in 1985 made her a household name. Her images remain iconic symbols that address the larger questions and concerns of that turbulent time….concerns about violence and peace that are just as relevant today. Artist, HJ Slider will guide us in creating our own piece of art for social change as she explores the life and remarkable art of Sr. Corita Kent. ($10.00 donation per session requested.)

Register online at: http://www.catholicinformationcenter.org/course-registration/

SEPT. 21 CONTEMPORARY PEOPLE OF GOD SERIES: “DOROTHY DAY – LOVE IN ACTION”

WITH FR. PAUL MILANOWSKI

Wednesday, September 21, 7:00-8:45pm

By any measure, Dorothy Day lived a fascinating life. She was journalist, activist, single mother, convert, Catholic laywoman, and co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. Dorothy took the gospels at their word; she lived among the poor as one of them and challenged both the Church and state to build a better world for all people.

Register online at: http://www.catholicinformationcenter.org/course-registration/

St. Jude Religious Education Classes

Families….we need your help to fill classes!

Here is the registration form for you to register your grandchildren for the St. Jude Sunday evening

Religious Education program if your grandchildren are unable to attend religion classes at their

own parish. Or, you may want to talk it over with your sons and daughters and suggest that

attending classes at St. Jude might be a better option for their children.

You can register your grandchildren or pass the registration form on to your sons and daughters and they can complete and return

the registration form to the Parish Office. Remember, we ask all families who are able to pay a registration fee of $70.00 per child, or

no more than $140.00 for two or more children. This same fee schedule will be offered to your grandchildren no matter who

registers them into the program. Tuition assistance is available to families who are unable to pay the full tuition amount.

(Please Print Clearly)

Family Last Name: ______________________________________________________ Family Home Phone Number: ( )_________________________

E-mail Address

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please list below the names and grade levels your children will be in next September, 2016.

Childs First & Last Name Grade in Fall Circle Sacraments Received

________________________________________________________________ ________________ Baptism Reconciliation Eucharist

________________________________________________________________ ________________ Baptism Reconciliation Eucharist

________________________________________________________________ ________________ Baptism Reconciliation Eucharist

________________________________________________________________ ________________ Baptism Reconciliation Eucharist

________________________________________________________________ ________________ Baptism Reconciliation Eucharist

Are the children listed your children? Yes No

Are the children listed grandchildren? Yes No

NOTE: Registration materials will be e-mailed in August.

Complete and return this form to:

St. Jude Parish Office

Attn: Mary Ellen

1120 4-Mile Rd NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Read the Sunday Gospel…

Read the Gospel, from your Bible, or go to the Bishop’s website for the readings:

LK 12:49-53 http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081416.cfm

Take Action on the Gospel

What is the message and how can you respond to it?

Families strive for unity and togetherness. Nobody enjoys occasions when divisions in

family life become all too evident. Yet, in this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus says that he has

come to bring division and that members of households will be divided.

Talk as a family about the things that you do together to bring about family unity

(togetherness), such as sharing meals, going to church together, celebrating special

occasions, or sharing family traditions. Explain that all of these things are important

and that Jesus wants families to show this kind of love for one another. Point out that

this Sunday's Gospel sounds as though Jesus is saying something very different. Tell

your children to listen closely as you read aloud Luke 12:49-53.

Apply that message to change your attitude or behavior.

Explain that sometimes as parents, you have to make decisions that are unpopular

with your children. You don't do it to divide the family but because it is the right

thing to do. In the short run, such decisions may “divide” children from their parents.

In the long run, however, doing the right thing will bring about a deeper unity. Talk

to your children about decisions that they have to make that might be unpopular

with their friends and how these decisions may divide them from others. Encourage

them to pray to the Holy Spirit for the gift of courage (fortitude) so that they may do

the right thing even if unpopular. Conclude by praying a spontaneous prayer to the

Holy Spirit, asking for the gift of courage (fortitude).

http://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/sunday-

connection/20th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-cycle-c-sunday-connection

Did You Know…

…”fire” in the Old Testament was associated

with the presence of God? It symbolized

God’s protective presence, God’s glory and

God’s wrath against sin.

It is also the symbol of the Holy Spirit.

The fire that Jesus speaks of the is fire of

God’s love that compels us to choose who

will be first in our lives.

Examination of Conscience

How do I live Jesus’ call to discipleship?

What do I need to do to change my attitude or actions that would help me to become a better disciple?

Are there divisions within my own family and within my relationships that needs repairing?

We would like to acknowledge the following publisher we have used with permission sections from its publication:

Celebrating the Liturgy for Junior High Copyright, 2014 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications. All

rights reserved. Orders 1-800-933-1800. Permission to publish granted by the Most Reverend Francis J. Kane, DD, Vicar

General Archdiocese of Chicago, on February 6, 2015

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

http://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-

faith/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/20th-

sunday-in-ordinary-time-cycle-c-sunday-

connection

Having reminded the apostles that facing the

coming judgment takes patience, Jesus now goes

on to speak of how difficult it will be to wait. He

tells them that he has come to set the earth on

fire. Recall that in chapter 3 of Luke's Gospel, John

the Baptist tells the crowd that he is baptizing

with water, but someone mightier is coming who

will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. The fire

Jesus speaks of here is the distress caused by the

coming judgment. It is also the fire of the Spirit

that Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, will describe

descending on the disciples on Pentecost. That

fire will strengthen them to go out to the whole

world to preach the good news of Jesus'

Resurrection.

Jesus will be the first to experience the distress of

the coming judgment. His baptism will be the

conflict into which he will be immersed as he

approaches Jerusalem and his death on the cross.

His followers will not be spared that distress. The

angels at Jesus' birth proclaimed peace on earth,

and Simeon, holding the baby Jesus in the

Temple, said to God: “Master, now you may let

your servant go in peace.” Here Jesus tells the

crowd not to think he has come to bring peace;

he has come to bring division. Simeon said as

much when he turned to Mary and said that the

child was destined for the rise and fall of many

and to be a sign that will be contradicted. Peace is

the ultimate end of the Kingdom of God, but

peace has a price. Jesus is warning the crowd that

wherever the Word of God is heard and acted

upon, division occurs. Fathers will be divided

against sons and mothers against daughters.

The coming judgment forces us to look at our

commitments. As Jesus warned in last Sunday's

Gospel, a commitment of faith requires us to

change our attitude toward material possessions

and to take even more seriously our moral

responsibilities. Here he reminds the crowd that

those who commit to him will find it affects the

way they relate to friends and family members.

The angel who announced the birth of John the

Baptist to Zechariah said John would go before

Jesus to turn the hearts of fathers toward their

children.

We don't expect to hear such difficult words from

Jesus in the Gospel. But it is good to be reminded

once in a while that the decision to do the right

thing, the good thing, is not always easy and

without conflict. Jesus himself did not make easy

decisions and avoid conflict. In today's reading, he

reminds his followers to be prepared for difficult

decisions and conflict as well.

The 2016 picks for US V-P: A tale of two

Catholics

Excerpted from…

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/a-tale-of-two-catholic-

candidates-a-look-at-the-2016-vice-president-picks-83927/

Washington D.C., Aug 4, 2016 / 03:26 am (CNA).- Although both

major 2016 vice presidential nominees were raised Catholic and still

profess to be Christians, their public policy records have drawn

concern from some members of the faithful.

The “free exercise” of religion “is not simply about what you do in

Church on Sunday morning,” Deacon Keith Fournier of the

Common Good Foundation told CNA. “It’s how you exercise that

faith in every sector, whether it’s commerce, politics, participation –

all of it.”

Both major nominees for vice president are baptized Catholics.

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine still identifies as a Catholic and was seen

at Sunday Mass on July 24 after he was picked by Democratic

presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to be her running mate.

Indiana Governor Mike Pence, meanwhile, was raised Catholic but

identified in 1994 as a “born-again, evangelical Catholic.” He

started attending an evangelical mega-church with his family in the

1990s. It is unclear which church Pence attends now.

“I’m a pretty ordinary Christian,” freelance journalist Craig Fehrman

reported him saying. Pence told the audience at the Republican

National Convention that he was a “Christian, conservative, and a

Republican, in that order.”

Sen. Kaine is a parishioner of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in the

diocese of Richmond, Va. In his July 27 speech at the Democratic

National Convention, he recalled his Jesuit education at Rockhurst

High School where the motto was “men for others,” and spoke of

his year of missionary work in Honduras with Jesuits. He speaks

very powerfully about how his faith shapes his commitment to

social justice and we see it on issues like healthcare, protecting the

environment, and civil rights,” Christian added.

“Both Mike Pence and Tim Kaine seem to be very sincere Christian

believers.”

Pope Francis: “Practicing Forgiveness is our

'direct route' to Heaven."

Excerpted from…

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/practicing-forgiveness-

is-our-direct-route-to-heaven-pope-francis-says-96519/

Assisi, Italy, Aug 4, 2016 / 11:22 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The path

to heaven is through forgiveness and pardon of those who have

offended us, just as we have received salvation through the love

and forgiveness of the Father, Pope Francis said today in Assisi.

“Today I would like, before all else, to recall the words that,

according to an ancient tradition, Saint Francis spoke in this very

place, in the presence of all the townsfolk and bishops: ‘I want to

send you all to heaven!’”

“What finer thing could the Poor Man of Assisi ask for, if not the

gift of salvation, eternal life and unending joy, that Jesus won for us

by his death and resurrection?” said Pope Francis during his

meditation at the Porziuncola church located inside the Papal

Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels.

“We are never alone in living the faith; we do so in the company of

all the saints and of our loved ones who practiced the faith with

joyful simplicity and bore witness to it by their lives. There is a

bond, unseen but not for that reason any less real, which makes us,

by baptism, ‘one body’ moved by ‘one Spirit.’”

Pope Francis visited the Porziuncola to mark the 800th anniversary

of the “Pardon of Assisi,” when, according to tradition, while Saint

Francis was praying, he had a vision of Christ and Our Lady

surrounded by angels. When the Lord asked what he wanted for

the salvation of souls, Saint Francis responded by asking God to

grant a plenary indulgence to all pilgrims who visit the church.

“Forgiveness – pardon – is surely our direct route to that place in

heaven. Here at the Porziuncola everything speaks to us of pardon!

What a great gift the Lord has given us in teaching us to forgive

and in this way to touch the Father’s mercy!”

“The world needs forgiveness; too many people are caught up in

resentment and harbor hatred, because they are incapable of

forgiving. They ruin their own lives and the lives of those around

them rather than finding the joy of serenity and peace. Let us ask

Saint Francis to intercede for us, so that we may always be humble

signs of forgiveness and channels of mercy.”

FORMED.org THE BEST CATHOLIC CONTENT….ALL IN ONE PLACE.

Access the truth, beauty, and meaning of the Catholic Faith anytime,

anywhere... with FORMED.org

How do I Register? Go directly to www.formed.org and enter the

parish code ab11f6 and your e-mail address and create your own

password.

During the summer we plan to focus on different episodes of the

CATHOLICISM DVD Program. You will need to register your e-mail

address using the parish code and creating your own password. You

will be able to view the entire CATHOLICISM DVD Program

whenever and as often as you like.

Episode 1 “Amazed and Afraid: The Revelation of God Become

Man,” we journey with Bishop Robert Barron to the mysterious and

sacred sites of the Holy Land. From Caesarea Phillipi, to the Sea of

Galilee, to Jerusalem and finally to the eternal city of Rome, Fr.

Barron illuminates the Catholic Faith’s conviction that Jesus of

Nazareth is the promised Messiah and the revelation of God

become man in Christ. (50 minutes) Here is a preview from Episode

1. Click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWf-h2BLzOA

Episode 2 ”Happy Are We: The Teachings of Jesus,” Bishop

Barron journeys from Galilee to Krakow, Warsaw, New York City,

Kampala, and beyond and presents throughout what is means to be

a disciple of Christ. The Church extends a stunning invitation to a

unique way of life. (53 minutes. Click on this link for a preview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwbw9gsMWmo

Episode 3 “The Ineffable Mystery of God: Than That Which

Nothing Greater can be Thought” takes us on a journey from the

heights of Mount Sinai to the mysterious site of Istanbul, from the

glittering streets of Paris to the glorious Sistine Chapel. Bishop

Robert Barron presents the Catholic Faith’s compelling vision of God

as the ineffable and majestic Trinity. (52 minutes) Here is a preview

from Episode 3. Click on this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRcpaFArz6Y

Episode 4 “Our Tainted Nature’s Solitary Boast: Mary, the

Mother of God,” we travel to the ruins of Ephesus and to the great

shrines of Lourdes and Guadalupe. Bishop Barron explains the

Church’s great reverence for Mary and her unique role in the history

of salvation. (49 minutes) Here is a preview from Episode 4. Click on

this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwx8g8z7FUo&index=12&list=

PLnNpkAOswnbkORN1fPLzZuNzvIuh37SN2

Episode 4 “Our Tainted Nature’s Solitary Boast: Mary, the

Mother of God,” We travel to the ruins of Ephesus and to the

great shrines of Lourdes and Guadalupe. Bishop Barron explains the

Church’s great reverence for Mary and her unique role in the

history of salvation. (49 minutes) Here is a preview from Episode 4.

Click on this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwx8g8z7FUo&index=12&list=

PLnNpkAOswnbkORN1fPLzZuNzvIuh37SN2

Episode 5 “The Indispensable Men: Peter, Paul, and the

Mystical Union of Christ and the Church,” presents the Church’s

missionary endeavor which begins with the adventures of Saint

Peter and Saint Paul. From Ephesus, Corinth, Athens, and Rome and

to the far reaches of the world, Bishop Robert Barron traces the

influence of these two great apostles and their enduring legacies in

the life of the Church. (58 minutes) Here is a preview from Episode

5. Click on this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=391EKSs1n0M&list=PLnNpkAO

swnbkORN1fPLzZuNzvIuh37SN2&index=24

Episode 6 “ A body Both Suffering and Glorious: The Mystical

Union of Christ and the Church.” Bishop Barron explores the

Catholic Faith’s unique understanding of the relationship of Jesus

Christ and the Church. Witness how the Mystical Body of Christ is a

living organism that stretches from Rome to New York, Sao Paulo,

Manila, and Namgongo, embracing humanity in all of its joys and

sorrows. (47 minutes) Bishop Robert Barron explores the ancient

practices of the Church’s worship that endure to this very day. The

Eucharist is the central practice of the Catholic Faith, “the source

and summit” of the Christian life. If you want to view an entire

episode of the Catholicism series, click on this link and you can view

the entire Episode 6.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hcl4x2283E&list=PLnNpkAOs

wnbkORN1fPLzZuNzvIuh37SN2&index=1 Or for a three minute

preview, click on this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmv3B6LLDrQ&list=PLnNpkAO

swnbkORN1fPLzZuNzvIuh37SN2&index=6

Episode 7 “Word Made Flesh, The Bread of Heaven: The

Mystery of the Liturgy and the Eucharist,” Bishop Barron

explains the words, gestures, and meaning of the Church’s

Eucharist. Bishop Robert Barron explores the ancient practices of

the Church’s worship that endure to this very day. The Eucharist is

the central practice of the Catholic Faith, “the source and summit”

of the Christian life. (49 minutes) Here is a preview of Episode 7.

Click on this link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2CB-x-

6dkk&list=PLnNpkAOswnbkORN1fPLzZuNzvIuh37SN2&index=16

Episode 8 “ A Vast Company of Witnesses: The Communion of

Saints,” Bishop Barron celebrates some of the Church’s most

extraordinary saints – Edith Stein, Mother Teresa, Therese of Lisieux

and Katharine Drexel. (58 minutes) Here is a preview of Episode 8.

Click on this link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stGZQupuT9Y&list=PLnNpkAO

swnbkORN1fPLzZuNzvIuh37SN2&index=18

Episode 9 “The Fire of His Love: Prayer and the Life of the

Spirit,” Bishop Robert Barron explores how the Catholic Faith

transforms humanity through prayer, spiritual communion, and the

mystery of vocation. Featured: New York, Avila, Toledo,

Gethsemane

(continued on the top left column on the next page)

An encounter with the Manoppello Image of

the Face of Christ

Excerpted from:

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/an-encounter-

with-the-manoppello-image-of-the-face-of-christ-95030/

Chieti, Italy, Aug 6, 2016 / 02:05 pm (CNA).- Ten years ago,

Benedict XVI visited the Shrine of the Holy Face in Manoppello,

which houses what appears to be an image on cloth of the face

of Jesus Christ.

“Seeking the Face of Jesus must be the longing of all of us

Christians; indeed, we are 'the generation' which seeks his Face

in our day, the Face of the 'God of Jacob',” Benedict said

during his Sept. 1, 2006 pilgrimage to the shrine.

The Pope also said: “If we persevere in our quest for the Face

of the Lord, at the end of our earthly pilgrimage, he, Jesus, will

be our eternal joy, our reward and glory forever.”

During that pilgrimage Benedict was the first Pope in more

than 400 years to kneel in veneration before the Manoppello

Image,.

The Manoppello Image, thought by some to be the Veil of

Veronica, is kept in the shrine, located about 12 miles

southwest of Chieti in Italy's Abruzzo region.

After his visit to Manoppello, the talk of the human face of God

in Christ became a kind of mark in Benedict's pontificate.

In commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the event,

Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti-Vasto was asked about his

memories of the day.

According to the Archbishop"there is a “moral certitude” that

the image of Manoppello is identical with that which the

Evangelist John mentioned as “soudarion” from Christ’s empty

tomb in Jerusalem."

and beyond. The Catholic Faith offers a vision of life directed by a

supernatural destiny. Click on this link for a preview of Episode 9:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jeqw6XJMAQ&list=PLnNpkAO

swnbkORN1fPLzZuNzvIuh37SN2&index=21

Episode 10 “World Without End: The Last Things,” Bishop Barron

journeys to Florence, Ireland, and Rome to illustrate how this life is a

preparation for an extraordinary world yet to come. Click on this link

for a preview of Episode 10.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdl-

HJRRNyw&list=PLnNpkAOswnbkORN1fPLzZuNzvIuh37SN2&index=

22

Here are some of the other DVD programs that are presently

available on www.formed.org

Symbolon: Part 1 on the Creed (10 DVD’s)

Symbolon: Part 2 on the Sacraments and Morality (10 DVD’s)

The Bible and the Virgin Mary (10 DVD’s)

Bible Study: Peter-10 DVD’s Eucharist -10 DVD’s Prayer-6 DVD’s

Sunday Gospel Reading: Opening the Word, Cycle C (weekly video)

Footprints: Profiles of Abraham, Mary, Jesus, Moses, Paul, Peter,

David/Solomon and the Apostolic Fathers

Sacrament Programs:

Beloved: 1 The Mystery and Meaning of Marriage (6 DVD’s)

Beloved: 2 Living Marriage (6 DVD’s)

Reborn (6 sessions about Baptism)

Confirmation: (5 sessions on Confirmation)

Featured Movies: Peter, Joseph of Nazareth, Ocean of Mercy, The

Jeweler’s Shop, Mary of Nazareth, Paul VI, Pius XII, Pope John Paul II,

St. Francis of Assisi, Bishop Fulton J Sheen, Mother Teresa, and many

other titles.

Audio: (CD’s)

Prayer and Spirituality: Walk the Walk, An Invitation to Consider the

Catholic Faith, Mary, Handmaid of the Lord, The Resurrection of

Jesus Fact or Fiction, This Changes Everything. Beyond Belief

Year of Mercy: Being All In, Confession, The Healing Power of

Confession, The Saving Power of Divine Mercy, The Second Story

Ever Told, Freedom through Forgiveness

Young Adult: No Imitations, How to Save your Marriage, The

Awkward Moment when God changed my Life, Real Womanhood,

Emotional Virtue,

Conversion Stories: Former Satanist Becomes Catholic, From Atheism

to Catholicism, I am not being Fed, Made for Forgiveness, Why a

Protestant Minister Became Catholic, No Price too High

Marriage and Family: Green Sex, From Love, by Love, for Love,

Catholic Teaching on the Sacraments and Annulments, Detox,

Adult Faith Formation: Lectio Divina, The Body and Blood of Christ,

Anger and Forgiveness, Changed Forever, Praying the Rosary like

Never Before, The Lamb’s Supper

Apologetics: The Pope, the Eucharist, Mary, Confession, Purgatory,

the Saints

Catholicism Episode 8 or Chapter 8: “A Vast Company of

Witnesses: The Communion of Saints.”

The next two chapters or episodes will be quite different from what we have experienced in the previous

episodes. This episode is light on theology and filled with details about the lives of four individuals who

many consider saints or holy people.

Bishop Barron captures the meaning of saints in these words: “Saints are those who have allowed Jesus

thoroughly to transfigure them from within” (page 195). Paul caught this when he observed, “yet I live,

not longer I, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). Quoting Chapter 5 of Luke’s Gospel, Bishop Barron tells

the story about Peter and how Jesus asked him to “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a

catch” (Luke 5:4). Jesus entering Peter’s boat uninvited “represents the invasion of grace, the incoming of

divine love into someone’s life.” The saints are those who have allowed Jesus to get into their boats and

who have thereby become fully human, as alive as God intended them to be. The entire purpose of the Church is to produce saints. Bishop

chooses four contemporary women to give us an example of what it means to be a saint (Page 196).

KATHARINE DREXEL

Katharine Drexel was born in Philadelphia on November 26, 1858. Mother Drexel dies on March 3, 1955. Note she had a long life. She was

wealthy and inherited a vast fortune from her parents. She visited Pope Leo XIII. She eventually found a religious order for Indians and

Colored people, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. After gathering a number of women in Philadelphia, she established a community

among the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico and Xavier University in New Orleans, dedicated to the advanced Catholic education for young

African American students (Pages 198-204).

The money for all these projects came from her trust fund, the four million dollars bequeathed to her by her Bishop. Bishop Barron

concludes the Katharine Drexel was much more motivated not merely by justice, but justice under the influence of grace, not simply a

calculation of what was owned by a superabundant and excessive gift on behalf of the other (Page 203). We have not been given the

millions of dollars like Katharine Drexel, yet what gifts do we have we can share with others?

THERESE OF LISIEUX

Unlike Katharine Drexel who lived a very long life, Therese died at the age

of 24. Her reputation quickly spread after her death because of her

autobiography called The Story of a Soul. Therese came from a French

middle class family. Born in 1873, her mother died in 1877. Her older sister

became a substitute mother until she entered the convent.

When she was ten years old in 1883, Therese was relieved of her physical

and psychological symptoms and was healed when she noticed a statue

of Mary with a special smile. Therese interpreted this as a manifestation

of God’s grace, God’s unmerited love. On Christmas day in 1886, when she

was thirteen years old, Therese resolved to enter the Carmelites. After a visit

to Pope Leo XIII, like Katharine Drexel, in tears, her bishop relented and

granted permission to enter the Carmel at Lisieux. For the next nine years

until her death, she never left the confines of that simple place

(Pages 204-211).

Bishop Barron characterizes Therese’s holiness as transfigured prudence, for

at the heart of the little way is the capacity to know in any given situation the

precise demand of love, how best in the here and now of the present moment

to will the good of the other. She concluded her vocation was to love

(Page 210). Bishop Barron also mentions that Therese of Lisieux had a

struggle with unbelief. She had doubts about the existence of heaven.

How different are these two saints! Therese’s life was short and she

traveled very little; Katharine Drexel lived a long-life and started a

community of sisters dedicated to help the very poor and traveled most

of her life.

What message for your own life does Therese’s life offer you?

www.formed.org

EDITH STEIN

Edith Stein was born on October 12, 1891, and she was Jewish! According to Bishop Barron after her studies a visit to a Christian friend

who lost her husband in World War I caused Edith to consider the Christian faith. It was Theresa’s of Avila autobiography that brought her

to the Catholic faith. After teaching with the Dominican sisters, she was accepted into the Carmelite convent in Cologne. To protect her

from the Germans who were rounding up all German with Jewish roots, Edith’s superiors transferred her from Germany to Holland . In

time, the Germans advanced on Holland and she like many others died on August 9, 1942 at death camp of Auschwitz (Pages 211-216).

According for Bishop Barron Edith Stein represented the virtue of courage, that enables one to do good despite external threats.

Most of us are not asked to give of our lives for our Catholic faith. However, we may be asked to give up other things in order to

demonstrate our love for Christ and his people. What are some of those things in your life?

MOTHER THERESA OF CALCUTTA

The final person Bishop Barron speaks about is Mother Theresa. She was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910 in Skopje,

Serbia. She joined the Loreto Sisters, the Irish branch of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which had a strong presence in India. She

took the name Sr. Mary Teresa of the Child Jesus, after the recently canonized Little Flower. After spending a brief training period in

Ireland (where she learned the English language, which she would use the rest of her life), Sister Teresa set sail for India.

Calcutta, India would be her home where she would spend the rest of her life. Eventually she left the isolation of the boarding school and

went directly to assist the very poor in India. Her order sent her back to where she had been as a novice when she experienced a

breakdown from her work. It was at this time, she heard the voice of Jesus calling her to form an order to serve the poorest of the poor. It

was in April of 1948 that canonical approval from Rome came for Missionaries of Charity (Pages 217-229). Bishop Barron points to the

virtue of temperance, the virtue by which we control our desires for food, drink, and sex so that we might achieve the demands for justice.

He says that Mother Teresa practiced an elevated or transfigured temperance, a disciplining of the desires that goes far beyond the

requirements of justice so as to serve the infinite demand of love (Page 221).

Like Katharine Drexel order of sisters, Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity spread throughout the entire world. By the end of the 1990’s

there were five hundred communities on six continents. When Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, she took the

occasion to decry abortion as the greatest enemy of peace in contemporary society.

Bishop Barron concludes his story about Mother Teresa with her interior struggle, an aching sense of the Lord’s absence, that she suffered

much of her life. She came to understand her suffering, as did Saint Therese, as a sharing in the passion of Jesus, his own feelings of

abandonment by the Bishop. Feeling the absence of God, Mother Teresa entered even more fully into the suffering of those she longed to

serve, the poorest of the poor. Mother Teresa died in Calcutta on September 5, 1997, at the age of eighty-seven.

No doubt we are not called to form a community of sisters or to work in India with the poorest of the poor. The question we

need to ponder is what is God asking of us to bring the love of Jesus to others? Or how can we make the world we live in, work

in, and exist a better place, a more loving place? What can you do individually or together with others to demonstrate love?

Future Summaries on Episodes will be in the newsletter on the following Thursdays:

August 18th

Episode 9: “The Fire of His Love: Prayer and the Life of the Spirit” Here is a preview of Episode 9. Click on this link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jeqw6XJMAQ&list=PLnNpkAOswnbkORN1fPLzZuNzvIuh37SN2&index=21

August 25th

Episode 10: “World Without End: The Last Things.” Here is a preview of Episode 10. Click on this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdl-HJRRNyw&list=PLnNpkAOswnbkORN1fPLzZuNzvIuh37SN2&index=22

FREE Home Lesson Plan for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Making the Connection (Grades 1, 2, & 3) - Children at this age consider it extremely important to be a part of a

group (usually of the same gender). Use this Sunday's Gospel as an opportunity to talk about doing the right thing even

if it means going against the crowd.

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings: Materials Needed None

▪ Write the word popular on a piece of paper and ask your children to explain what this word means. (liked by many)

▪ Ask your children to name some people and things that are popular right now in various categories such as movies, TV

shows, music, sports, and entertainment. (Answers will vary.)

▪ Tell your children that we usually want to be popular with our friends, meaning that we want them to like us. Say: In this

Sunday's Gospel, Jesus is telling us that living as one of his followers does not always make us popular.

▪ Read aloud Luke 12:49-53

▪ Ask one of your children to come forward and to divide a sheet of paper (tear it in half).

▪ Say: To divide something is to separate it into pieces. In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus tells us that when we follow him,

some of our relationships might become divided. Sometimes, when we want to do the right thing, others might not

understand us. Our decision might not be popular, and our relationship might become divided.

▪ Give an example such as making a decision not to let a friend copy your homework.

▪ Ask if your children can think of other decisions that might be unpopular.

▪ Tell the children that we need courage to make decisions to follow Jesus that might be unpopular with others.

▪ Say: Courage is a gift that the Holy Spirit brings to us. Let's pray for this gift of the Holy Spirit.

▪ Conclude with a spontaneous prayer asking the Holy Spirit for the gift of Fortitude (courage).

Making the Connection (Grades 4, 5, and 6) - Children at this age are keenly aware of being included and excluded

from peer groups. Use this Sunday's Gospel as an opportunity to talk about the challenge of doing the right thing even

when it turns out to be the “road less traveled.”

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings: Materials Needed A copy of Robert Frost's poem “The Road Less

Traveled” (see the next page for a copy)

▪ Ask one of your children or yourself read aloud the Robert Frost poem “The Road Less Traveled.”

▪ Ask your children to describe what they think the title means. (Accept all reasonable answers.)

▪ Ask: What is the speaker facing? (a difficult decision)

▪ Ask: What might taking "the road less traveled by" mean to kids your age? (choosing the less popular option, saying no

to peer pressure, not always going with the group and so on) ▪ Say: In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus is telling us that when we make the decision to follow him, we may face opposition

from our peers including our family and friends.

▪ Invite one of your children to read aloud Luke 12:49-53

▪ Ask: What image does Jesus use to describe the difficulties we may face when following him? (fire)

▪ Say: Fire is very frightening because of the great harm it can cause. In a similar way, we can be very frightened at the

prospect of going against the crowd and making a decision that will be unpopular.

▪ Say: Following Jesus, even though difficult at times, makes all the difference because it is the way that leads to eternal

life with God!

▪ Tell your children that it is through the Holy Spirit that we receive the gift of courage (fortitude) that helps us to remain

strong when making decisions that might be unpopular with others.

▪ Conclude with a spontaneous prayer asking the Holy Spirit for the gift of Fortitude (courage).

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8) - Young people desperately seek peer approval. This Sunday's Gospel is

challenging on many levels but is most helpful to this age group when approached within the context of understanding

peer pressure.

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings: Materials Needed: none

▪ Explain to your children that sometimes it takes a strong will and a lot of courage to go against one's friends when they

ask us to do something we know is wrong. Our friends might try to get us to let him or her copy your homework or to

take something without paying for it when out shopping.

▪ Ask one of your children to describe how he or she felt being pressured to do something that he or she knows is wrong.

We sometimes call that “peer pressure.” Peer pressure is a very powerful motivating force. It's not easy to go against the

crowd. In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus tells us that following him will often cause us to go against the crowd.

▪ Invite one of the children to read aloud Luke 12:49-53

▪ Say: We don't expect to hear such difficult words from Jesus in the Gospel. But it is good to be reminded once in a while

that the decision to do the right thing, the good thing, is not always easy and without conflict. In this Sunday's Gospel,

Jesus reminds his followers to be prepared for difficult decisions that will bring them into conflict with those closest to

them.

▪ Tell your children that it is through the Holy Spirit that we receive the gift of courage (fortitude) that helps us to remain

strong when making decisions that might be unpopular with others.

▪ Conclude with a spontaneous prayer asking the Holy Spirit for the gift of courage (fortitude).

▪

The Road Not Taken

By Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.