Peter & Paul. Saints. October 1, 2017 Respect Life Sunday. 902 East Ninth Street Hopkinsville, KY MEMBERSHIP IN THE PARISH.

Transcription

1 Saints Peter & Paul C AT H O L I C C H U R C H 902 East Ninth Street Hopkinsville, KY Established 1872 OUR MISSION STATEMENT We are a Roman Catholic Community of Christians called to be a priestly people, a household of faith, a temple of the Holy Spirit, a beacon of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church shining for Jesus Christ in the heart of Christian County. Rev. Fr. Richard Meredith, Pastor crmeredith@stsppchurch.org Rev. Fr. Basilio Az Cuc, Parochial Vicar bazcuc@stsppchuch.org Permanent Deacon, Mr. Tim Barnes tdbarnes@stsppchurch.org Permanent Deacon, Mr. Roberto Cruz Permanent Deacon, Dr. Bill Sweet wesweet@stsppchurch.org PARISH OFFICE PHONE: (270) PARISH FAX: (270) PARISH WEBSITE: DIOCESAN WEBSITE: VATICAN WEBSITE: OFFICE HOURS: 8 AM - 5 PM Monday Friday Closed Noon -1:00, Monday-Friday SCHOOL TELEPHONE: (270) SCHOOL FAX: (270) SCHOOL WEBSITE: Tru h Radio WSPP 93.5 FM (Local Catholic Radio) Saints Peter and Paul Assistance: Saints Peter and Paul Thrift Store: MASS SCHEDULE Saturday evening... 5:00 PM Sunday... 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM Misa en Español... 2:00 PM, 10:30 PM Monday - Saturday... 8:00 AM Wednesday... 5:30 PM Thursday MISA EN ESPAÑOL... 5:30 PM MEMBERSHIP IN THE PARISH We give a sincere welcome to all new families moving into our Parish. Please register in the Parish Office as soon as possible. Families who plan to move from our parish community are asked to inform us. Bulletin material deadline: Monday at noon in writing or . October 1, 2017 Respect Life Sunday

2 2 SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY MINISTRY TO THE SICK Please notify the Parish Office upon admission of a family member into any hospital or nursing home. Any parishioner who is ill or infirm may request anointing by calling the Parish Office, PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION This is a devotion whereby members of the parish unite in taking hours of Adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament during the day and throughout the night, seven days a week. (Code required for evenings.) There is a regular schedule of adorers but all are welcome to stop in for a visit. Parishioners are encouraged to sign up for a scheduled weekly Adoration time. Please contact Bill & Jenny Rush at , if you are interested in adopting an hour or if you can be a substitute or prayer partner. Available hours: 11 pm Mondays, 4 am Tuesdays, 1am Wednesdays, 11 pm Fridays, 3 am, 8 pm & 9 pm Saturdays. We also need a prayer partner for Tuesday 8am and an Hourly Captain for the 9am hours Parish Pastoral Council Robin Bilan, Chair, Education......rcbilan@hotmail.com Jim Creighton, Administration..creighton.jim@gmail.com Libby Downs, Pastoral Associate.ljdowns@stsppchurch.org Norma Folz, Worship.. nbfolz@gmail.com Gary Harden, Assistant Chair, Family Life garyharden@gmail.com Fran Marko, Secretary...franmarko@gmail.com Morgan Murray, Spiritual Life...morgan.c.murray.1@vanderbilt.com Hilda Linares, Social Concern linareshilda@hotmail.com Katie Wyatt, Principal...kwyatt@stsppschool.org PARISH STAFF Tom Buehrle (twbuehrle@att.net)...director Of Stewardship Brenda Chaudoin (bchaudoin@stsppchurch.org). Parish Office Mgr. Libby Downs (ljdowns@stsppchurch.org)...pastoral Associate Jennifer Groves (jgroves@stsppschool.org) School Secretary Leigh Ann Johnson Parish Assistance Coordinator Steve Kinnard (skinnard@stsppchurch.org)...maintenance Foreman Katie Wyatt (kwyatt@stsppschool.org)...school Principal Donna Pfeufer (dgpfeufer@gmail.com)...thrift Store Gen. Mgr. Angie Phillips (abphillips2013@gmail.com)...thrift Store Mgr. Mayra Tirado (mtirado@stsppchurch.org)...hispanic Ministry Asst. Sue Wassmer (swassmer@stsppchurch.org)...parish Secretary Dan Wilkinson (dwilkinson@stsppchurch.org)...parish Music Director The Catholic Church teaches that the sexual abuse of any person is a grave moral evil. To report any instance of sexual abuse by any employee of the Catholic Church please call the Office of the Bishop in Owensboro at (270) The Safe Environment Program is now available at the Diocesan website SACRAMENTS Reconciliation: Confessions will be heard Saturday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (English and Spanish), Wednesday at 4:30 PM. (ENGLISH and SPANISH). Confessions will be heard any time by appointment. Baptism: Baptismal Preparation Class is usually held the first Sunday of each month. Our next class is scheduled for October 1, 2017 at 4:00 pm. Please call the Parish Office. Registration is required. Marriage: Contact the Office six months prior to the desired date. Zaxby s Restaurant is offering a Saints Peter and Paul Night on the first Tuesday of every month from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. A percentage of all proceeds is donated to the school. Please take Tuesday, October 3 rd off from cooking and enjoy a night out at Zaxby s. Saints Peter and Paul School Cross Country Team Results from Saturday, September 23 rd : Our fabulous Saints Peter and Paul Cross Country Team ran a great race this past Saturday in Marshall County! The weather was hot, but it did not stop our runners. The Boys Elementary Team placed 2 nd. Tobias Duncan placed 2 nd and beat last year s time, Ryan Luckey placed 7 th, Elias Braboy was 17 th, Josiah Braboy was 18 th, and our strong finisher Matt Baker was 31 st beating last year s time too. Great job boys! In the Girls Middle School race on Saturday, Eva Blankenberger ran a 4K beating her last year s time by over a minute, and placed 67 th. Our Middle School Boys had great times as well. Walter Kunnmann placed 7 th and beat last year s time. Nic Luckey also beat last year s time and placed 26 th. This meet at Marshall County was a huge meet with a lot of fast runners. Go Saints! Ed Choice KY SUPPORT SCHLORSHIP TAX CREDITS Enhances parental choice in Kentucky s education system & expands educational opportunities for all KY students. Mark your calendars for two upcoming events. Tuesday, January 23 rd at 10:00 a.m. there will be a Kentucky School Choice Rally at the Ballard Convention Center in Madisonville as well as on Thursday, January 25 th at 10:00 a.m. at the capitol in Frankfort. A website for the event has been created and, to receive newsletters, sign up at

3 OCTOBER 1, 2017 TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 3 Picnic Thank You: Last Sunday Parish Picnic Sunday was a great day here at Saints Peter and Paul Parish. We began with a Bi-lingual Mass at 10:30 a.m. which included beautiful music from our choir under the direction of Dan Wilkinson. After Mass, we moved over to our new parish facility Meredith Hall. We had record numbers of people come and join us in food, fellowship and fun. We give thanks to our Folz Family and the Knights of Columbus Council 7847 for preparing and serving our lunch and we thank our youth for the desserts. Outside activities included pony rides, baby chicks and rabbits brought to us by the Chris and Marcy Stevens family, we had several Jello Eating Contests lead by Jenny Rush and Heidi Wheeler, we had Fr. Richard with his potato cannon, we had Amanda Tallon with her cups game and we had several middle school youth helping with Face Painting. Snow cones were provided by our Saints Peter and Paul 8 th graders. We were blessed with beautiful weather and just an enjoyable day to share fellowship with one another. Thank you to all those who helped make this day such a success, those that work behind the scenes so that this day could happen. Happy Birthday, Fr. Richard Blessing of Pets: All are invited to join us for our annual Pet Blessing scheduled for this Sunday, October 1 st at 12:00 Noon. Fr. Richard will be there to welcome you and bless your beloved pet. Our Christian County/ Hopkinsville Humane Society will be presents with treats for our pets. Life Chain: This Sunday, October 1 st from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. please come and join us at Saints Peter and Paul by Standing Up for Life. Participants will pray and display posters with Pro -Life messages as part of LIFE CHAIN 2017 which will be taking place in over 1000 cities and towns across the USA and Canada. Posters will be available on Sunday. Just see Jenny or Bill Rush. Respect Life Sunday: This weekend, September 30 th and October 1 st is Respect Life Sunday. For more than 35 years now, the Catholic Church and others have dedicated the month of October, starting with the first Sunday, to extra time and resources in advancing the culture of life. This can be done through prayer, activism, and education against the falsehoods promoted by the pro-abortion advocates. Sympathy: We pray for the repose of the soul of our parishioner, Larry Puckett, who passed away on Saturday afternoon, September 23 rd at Centennial Hospital in Nashville with his family around him. Larry was 77 years old. We pray for Pat Puckett, his wife, and their entire family during this time of loss. Larry was born in Ann Arbor Michigan on September 11 th 1940 to Charles Arthur and Sara Jane Puckett. Larry was a retired truck driver and over the years drove for several different companies. If you knew Larry, then you know he loved his family, his parish and importantly he love to pick and joke with people loved to laugh and make you laugh. He was a joy to truly be around. In addition to his wife, Pat Puckett, he is survived by 4 sons Lawrence Arthur Jr (Shari) of Atlanta, Joseph Charles of Hopkinsville, Martin James of Pompano Beach, Florida and Douglas Arthur of Hopkinsville; 2 daughters, Teresa Lynn (Brett) Greene of Cadiz and Debra Ann of Clarksville; 4 step-sons including Robert, Jack and David Lahey of Florida, Bryan Ritzheimer of Morgan City, Louisiana and one step-daughter, Julie Tiell of Pembroke. Also surviving is one brother, Chuck (Arline) Puckett of Hopkinsville and two sisters, Sheila Tharl of Phoenix, Arizona and Joan Deadloff of San Diego, California, 25 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. Larry s Mass of Christian Burial was held here at Saints Peter and Paul on Thursday, September 28 th with burial at Riverside Cemetery. We also pray for our parish family, Billie and Edward Todd Jr at the loss of Billie s brother, Charles Thomas

4 4 SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY Young. Mr. Young passed away on Thursday afternoon, September 21 st at Skyline Medical Center in Nashville at the age of 66. Charles was born on July 28 th, 1951 to John Marshall Young Sr. and Eunice Leavell Young who are both deceased as well as a brother John Marshall Young Jr. and a sister Mary B. Snorton. He is survived by one sister, Billie Todd, (Edward Todd, Jr.), a nephew Edward D. Snorton II (Taneko Amos-Snorton), a niece, Eugenia Renee Snorton-Davis (Colonel Reginald R. Davis) one great niece and a devoted friend. Charles Funeral Service was held on Monday at Gamble Funeral Home with burial at Cave Springs Cemetery here in Christian County. We also keep in prayer, Todd and JoAshley Hall at the passing of Todd s sister, Andrea Hall. Andrea passed away on Friday evening, September 22 nd at Jennie Stuart Medical Center at the age of 58. Andrea is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana and is the daughter of Buddy and Ruth Ann (Everett) Hall. She was a member of Fairview United Methodist Church. Survivors include two brothers, Todd and Ben Hall both of Hopkinsville. Andrea was cremated and private services will be held at a later date. Lamb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. May we keep these families in our prayers this week as they mourn their loss and may we as a church pray: May their soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen. Tootsie Rolls: This weekend is the Knights of Columbus annual Tootsie Roll Drive. The Knights will be available in the narthex to sell boxes of their Tootsie Rolls for $10.00 per box. Remember all funds are used to support local special needs such as: Hands of Hope, Special Olympics, APSU Basketball and Hopper Baseball games, Camp MARC and other Special Needs Program. These make great ideas for your Trick or Treaters. Franciscan Sisters of the Third Order Regular (TOR) Visit: Once again two Franciscan sisters are here this weekend visiting our parish from Mexico. Their Franciscan Convent is situated in Amecameca, Mexico, the same city Fr. Julio grew up. The sisters are here selling their cookies and sweet breads. All monies received will be used to continue building their chapel at their Motherhouse. Because of your generosity over the years, they were able to make progress in their building needs. Let us support them with prayers and according to our possibilities, support them with the purchase of their cookies and sweetbreads. Anything you can do to help them will be gratefully appreciated. Departing Parishioners: Please keep in prayer Marlene and Tony Castro who have moved to Arizona to be closer to family as Tony s health is declining. Marlene and Tony have been parishioners here at Saints Peter and Paul for a number of years and stopped by on Tuesday to tell us goodbye. They asked us to let you know how much they have appreciated being members here at Saints Peter and Paul and being supported by such a wonderful parish family. If you would like to send them a card, their address is 1522 N. Bank Swallow Road, Green Valley, Arizona Fr. Uwem Enoh: Fr. Uwem was an Associate Pastor here at Saints Peter and Paul from June of 2010 until June of He was recently here to celebrate with us the Ordination of Fr. Byron Macias. Please know that Fr. Uwem is currently deployed, serving as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force. Join us in saying a prayer for him and for those he ministers to as they serve our country! October, the Month of the Rosary: The rosary dates from the twelfth century, when it provided a way for ordinary Christians to learn about the lives of Jesus and Mary. Unable to read the 150 psalms that formed the Church s official daily prayer, medieval Christians substituted 150 Ave Marias. By meditating on the various mysteries of the rosary while repeating these simple prayers, the faithful could immerse themselves in the whole mystery of the Incarnation and the Resurrection. The month of October is an appropriate reminder of this venerable form of prayer. Faithful Christians everywhere continue to meditate on the mysteries of the rosary, praying in groups or alone. If you need material on How to Pray the Rosary, please stop by the parish office or the sacristy. During the month of October, try to gather your family each night and pray the rosary for the needs of our world, our community, our parish, your family, allow your children to experience this time in prayer with you. So good on a hot day at the picnic!

5 OCTOBER 1, 2017 TWENTIY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH OCTOBER 2-8 Wed: Rosary Makers-HFR, 8:45 am MS/HS Youth -5:30 pm Choir-6:30 pm Thu: Women s Group-6:30 pm, OA RCIA -MH, 7 pm Fri: Educational Council-OA, 11:30 am Readings for the Week of October 1, 2017 Sunday: Ez 18:25-28/Ps 25:4-9/Phil 2:1-11 or 2:1-5/ Mt 21:28-32 Monday: Zec 8:1-8/Ps 102:16-23, 29/Mt 18:1-5, 10 Tuesday: Zec 8:20-23/Ps 87:1b-7/Lk 9:51-56 Wednesday: Neh 2:1-8/Ps 137:1-6/Lk 9:57-62 Thursday: Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12/Ps 19:8-11/Lk 10:1-12 Friday: Bar 1:15-22/Ps 79:1b-5, 8-9/Lk 10:13-16 Saturday: Bar 4:5-12, 27-29/Ps 69:33-37/Lk 10:17-24 Next Sunday: Is 5:1-7/Ps 80:9, 12-16, 19-20/Phil 4:6-9/ Mt 21:33-43 Liturgical Publications Inc 40 Days for Life: 40 Days for Life is an intensive campaign that focuses on 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, peaceful vigil at abortion facilities, and grassroots educational outreach. Since 40 Days for Life began, 11,796 mothers have chosen life for their children; 133 abortion workers have quit their jobs; and 73 abortion centers where 40 Days for Life vigils have been held have gone out of business. From September 27 through November 5, you re invited to join other Christians for 40 Days for Life 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion. Public Square Rosary Campaign: This is the 100 th Anniversary Year of the Appearance of Mary at Fatima. Though the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima took place a hundred years ago, our Lady s call to prayer and penance for the salvation of souls and peace in the world is as relevant now as when first delivered to three Portuguese peasant children in So we invite you to come and pray the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet as a way to join our prayers for the leaders of our communities and country and to pray for peace. We will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 14 th at Virginia Park 9 th Street (walking distance of our parish). Remember, this is a way for us to show people who we are as Catholics and not to be afraid to publicly call upon the power of God. Let us join together all peoples to pray for peace in our lives, in our families, in our society. For more information, contact Jenny Rush at Please know we are joining 13,000 other American cities in this 2017 National Rosary Crusade and the 100 th Anniversary of the Great Sign at Fatima. Baptism: We welcome through water and the Holy Spirit, Thomas Nathaniel Tallon, son of John and Amanda Tallon. Thomas Nathaniel was baptized on Wednesday, September 20 th here at Saints Peter and Paul with Fr. Richard presiding. Monday, October 2 The Holy Guardian Angels 8:00 AM DAVID SMITH Tuesday, October 3 8:00 AM MICHAEL THORNTON Wednesday, October 4 St. Francis of Assisi 8:00 AM JOSEPH WILLIAMS & FAMILY 5:30 PM Thursday, October 5 MARCO & SUSAN STERGAS 8:00 AM PEGGY HANRATTY 5:30 PM Spanish ARTURO ROJAS CRUZ Friday, October 6 St. Bruno & Blessed Rose Durocher 8:00 AM PRESTON RODGERS Saturday, October 7 8:00 AM DEAN SPURR Our Lady of The Rosary 5:00 PM BERNICE JORDAN Sunday, October 8 27th Sunday In Ordinary Time 8:00 AM GEORGE & VICTORIA SPURR 10:30 AM ROSSELLA & FRANCO CINCOTTI 2:00 PM BILINGUAL FOR ALL PARISHIONERS 10:30 PM Spanish POOR SOULS IN PURGATORY Indicates Requiem Mass SANCTUARY LAMP IN MEMORY OF LARRY PUCKETT ADORATION CHAPEL CANDLES IN HONOR OF CHARLIE FOLZ Parish Picnic Fun! Stewardship News..The first son in today s Gospel said he would do his father s bidding, but did not. The second son balked at first, but then repented and did as he was asked. What service is God calling me to do? Which son am I more like? Budget News Weekly Parish Collection... $8, Weekly Parish Budget Needs...$17, Diocesan Assess. 17/ 18 (Due:$63,662.00) Paid $11, Weekly Capital Improvement Donations $0 Capital Improvement Fund Balance...$19, Weekly A Legacy of Faith Fund Pledge Payments...$1, A Legacy of Faith Fund Balance.... $198, Diocesan Construction Loan to date... $2,931, Stained Glass Window Donation... $0 Stained Glass Window Fund Balance... $383,

6 6 SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY In Need of Prayers Bradford Heights Melnora Altshuler, Cecelia Omundson, Covington Convalescent Pat Chesnut, Karen Logsdon, Teresa Mathieu Western State Nursing Facility- Arnold Borders, Debbie Dickerson, Ellen Jones Christian Health Center- Lillian Cotthoff, Norma Downs, Barbara Holubecki, Eleanor Rogers, Ron Todd, Albert Weakly Friendship House- Christine Mills Others.. Clarence & Helen Allard, Trudy Anhalt, Randy Alvarez, Diane Bailey, Jean Baker, Vincent Barna, Garrett Blue, Julia Borders, Norma Boyd, Madison Boren, Randy Caldwell, Marie Chandler, Alice Chuhralya, Sam Chesnut, Mary Curtsinger, Katie Holmes Dillingham, Bonita Fitzgerald, Terry Flanders & Family, Connie Fowler, Martha Fowler, Michael Freebohrn, Jim Gorman, Beth Hancock, Debbie Harden, William Hegedusich Family, Mary Jean Hester, Jason & Monica Jefcoat & Family, Jennifer Jefcoat, Anita Jones, Jacob & Lindsay Jones & Family, Joe Kukral, Larry Lytle, Margie Meredith, Carlo & Lucia Mereu, Joe Mezzoni Sr., Elizabeth Miller, Mary Ann Moore, Eric Moran, Bill Nichol, Theresa Pazin, Emily Thomas Pyle, Martha Reed, Lynn Reeves, Charlene Rowe, Brandon & Tara Rush Family, Emma & Gabriela Schiller, Kristian Shouse, Sharon Smith, Mike & Marilyn Stocker, Georgiann Svestka, Ken Swicicki, Jerry & Bernie Thomas, Rose Ann Tobin, David Turner, Helen Winstead, James Wittschack R E L A X I N G Please Pray for our Deployed Soldiers, Civilian Workers & Families: Jeremy Chuhralya, Ace Crawford, Jeremy Crawford, Fr. Uwem Enoh, Richelle Goodin, Greg Ligibel LAY MINISTERS OCTOBER 7/8 TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Saturday, 5:00 pm Altar Servers... Rebecca Lee, Susanna Sargeant Cross Bearer...Ivan Viall Commentator... Jane Irwin Lectors:... Robin Bilan, Mary Lee Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Deana Holdman,... Mary Ann Keel, Vicky Barnes, Mike Stocker Choir Loft... Julie Tiell, Dana Nethery Ushers... Ken Tiell, Pat Puckett... Laura Waldron, Doyle Shelton Vocational Cross... Deana Holdman Sunday, 8:00 am Altar Servers... Ashleigh Stevens, Cole Stevens Cross Bearer... Lucy Wilkins Commentator... LaDonna Downs Lectors... Jerry Brockman, Libbie Rutland Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Tom Folz,... Joyce Wiedmer, Terri Means, Jenny Rush Choir Loft... Dan Gardner, Lori Gardner Ushers... Dirk Downs, Alvin Schmitt... David Cotthoff, Jon Pace Vocational Cross...David Cotthoff Family Sunday, 10:30 am Altar Servers... Anna Allard, Tera Adams Cross Bearer... Lucas Adams Commentator...Michelle Sandheinrich Lectors... Dee Daily, Russell Malone Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Wendy Anderson,...Pam Carlton, Don McCowan, Sue Wassmer Choir Loft... Nathan Tillman, Jennifer Hanks Ushers... Bill Harkins, James Long... Billy Garnett, Greg Jones Vocational Cross... Mike Groves Family 2:00 pm, Misa En Español Comentarista:... Mayra Tirado 1-2 Lectura:... Carmen Huertas, Karla Arangure Ministro E:... Ana Ethridge Hospitalidad:... Victor Hernández, Tomas Macario Monaguillos:... Michelle Salas, Bryan Linares Parish Picnic 2017

7 OCTOBER 1, 2017 TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 7 Pastor s Greeting Conversion to loving and thus obeying God first, always, and last, because God, in addition to creating us, completely loves us, may seem challenging enough. Besides all that, God s love is personal, that is, God loves us even as he loves his eternal Son, and does so in the very same act of love, who is the Holy Spirit. Our conversion to obedient love is only possible by our surrender to divine love, otherwise, it is quite impossible. The Father s gift of his beloved Son Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit to us, when received and lived, gives us capacity to love God and neighbor in return. Conversion to the truth of this dynamic of grace is a radical changing of attitude and life. It is a conversion to a relationship to God as his own child in Christ. It is inseparable from a conversion to other human beings as God-siblings in Christ. As with the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, so the parables of the vineyard in Matthew 20 and 21 operate on the level of this divine-human relationship. The Owner/Father who sends us into the vineyard and entrusts it to us would have us be children to him and siblings to each other, a family affair. The hiring or the sending to work in the vineyard is intended as an honor, a gift, in which human purpose is achieved. That purpose is neither grapes nor wine, neither wages nor monetary profit. The work is creation itself and our gift to work along with the creator as sub -creators of this world, of ourselves and of each other. We are shaping an eternal destiny and helping craft a new creation in our stewarding of the passing material of this creation. Humans are made in this creation to be raised up in the next, having helped in its making. But we can serve this purpose only through the obedience of faith, hope, and love. Jesus is always revealing the Father to us and when he tells parables of a father and two sons, he is a third Son speaking to his brothers and sisters. He is demonstrating in his own obedience how each of us is called to relate to God and to each other. A profound mystery is at work here. In the Fourth Gospel, when Jesus knows that his hour at last has come, he begins the prayer recorded in all four Gospels which culminates in his absolute embrace of the will and the glory of his Father. In John, he prays this even before the Last Supper and Gethsemane, I am troubled now. Yet what should I say, Father, save me from this hour? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name. This is at heart the same prayer as told of Jesus agonizing in Gethsemane, Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will. The Fourth Gospel reveals to us the motive of his Father s glory in the will of the Son. Jesus adherence to willing the Glory of the Father sets the stage for teaching us the profound call of our own conversion. The glory of the Father is our greatest good. By embracing it, we experience ourselves and witness to the world that trust in God is never misplaced. By choosing the Father s will for us, we stand with Jesus Christ. God is then glorified in his martyrs, who lay down their wills, their worldly honor, their property, even their lives, despite the pain, the shame, and the rejection of others, for God sustains them in faithfulness. The wisdom of the Church, however, cautions that one always seek counsel so as to be clear on what the will of God may be. Even Jesus in prayer sought to be sure that it was his Father s will that he take the cup of suffering. It was then perfectly manifest to Jesus that it indeed was the Father s will. For us, who are much more easily confused and conflicted concerning our own will and that of God, it is abundantly clear that one must discern what the will of God may be for us in our circumstances and state in life. Discernment of spirits and examination of conscience go along with seeking spiritual counsel. All of us have been self-deceived and fooled into confusing some aspect of our own wills or impulses for God s will or permission in our lives. How many young, middle aged, or elderly people fool themselves into the deception that God makes an exception for them from moral norms in some sexual escapade, their standard being it must be okay because it feels so good, or it s okay, because I m in love, or I can t help it? This isn t complying with the will of God, it s choosing the fate of one s own deceived will in pursuit of vagrant desire. As good counsel knows, the Father s will honors our personal, parental, filial, spousal, ecclesial, and neighborly covenants in Christ. God is glorified by our being faithful to what is true, good, loving, responsible, right, and holy in the circumstances of our state in life. While it is always better to obey God rather than man, when there is a conflict between the two, one cannot obey God by breaking faith with the people to whom Jesus Christ himself binds us. Just because I am a priest does not mean that my duty to God excuses me from the love of my family or the support of my mother as she ages. Neither can family require me to violate my promises as a priest. Obedience to God is better than any self-chosen sacrifice I might make. Thus embracing the Father s will glorifies God, and that glory is the very power and joy which conquered death in Jesus and ushers in eternal life. To the son who first refuses the father s orders and even to the son who lies saying, Yes, sir, conversion is being offered us by the Son of the Father. He offers us the power of his own obedience unto death to make us right with God, with each other, and fit for the kingdom. Fr. Richard Online Donations NOW ACCEPTED: Several parishioners have inquired about online donations. We now have a Donate Now button on our parish webpage The button links you to our secure site provided by VANCO. Donations may be made with a credit or debit card or directly from your checking or savings account. Set up is EASY! If you have any questions, come see or call Brenda in the Parish Office.

8