August 13, 2017 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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1 IN THE PARISH Helpful Information Join the Parish Anyone wishing to register for membership in the parish is asked to fill out a registration form and drop it in the collection basket. Request Prayers Our INTERCESSORY PRAYER MINISTRY provides prayer for anyone in need throughout the parish. Contact MARY ANN MAGDA at or make your intention known on our parish website at Remember your Parish Your parish serves you faithfully throughout your life. Please remember your parish with a memorial gift or a Bequest in your will. Make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for you. SACRAMENTAL PREPARATIONS Anointing of the Sick The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick may take place at any time, but, sadly, too many families wait until the last minute to call the priest to anoint their loved ones. If someone in your family is seriously ill, preparing for surgery, or suffering a prolonged illness, please contact the parish office to arrange a time for Fr. Ken to visit. IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY or if Fr. Ken is unavailable to visit immediately, we will contact the first available priest to celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing with your loved one. Funeral Preparations We collaborate with the local funeral directors in arranging the times of the funerals. Please be aware that there is an additional fee for funerals on Saturdays imposed by most cemeteries in the area. Baptismal Preparations Parents of newly born infants may call the parish office to arrange a time for the Baptism of their child. Baptisms are celebrated, for the most part, on any Sunday, with the exception of the season of Lent. Wedding Preparations Couples contemplating Marriage are asked to contact the parish office at least one year prior to the contemplated date of marriage, before making other plans. The Dormition and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Catholic Church teaches as dogma that the Virgin Mary "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory". This doctrine was dogmatically defined by Pope Pius XII on 1 November 1950, in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus. While the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church believe in the Dormition of the Theotokos, which is the same as the Assumption, whether Mary had a physical death has not been dogmatically defined. In Munificentissimus Deus (item 39) Pope Pius XII pointed to the Book of Genesis (3:15) as scriptural support for the dogma in terms of Mary's victory over sin and death as also reflected in 1 Corinthians 15:54: "then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory". In the churches that observe it, the Assumption is a major feast day, commonly celebrated on 15 August. In many countries, the feast is also marked as a Holy Day of Obligation in the Roman Catholic Church and as a festival (under various names) in the Anglican Communion. Although the Assumption (Latin: assumptio, "a taking") was only relatively recently defined as infallible dogma by the Catholic Church, and in spite of a statement by Saint Epiphanius of Salamis in AD 377 that no one knew whether Mary had died or not, [11] apocryphal accounts of the assumption of Mary into heaven have circulated since at least the 4th century. The Catholic Church itself interprets chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation as referring to it. [12] The earliest known narrative is the so-called Liber Requiei Mariae (The Book of Mary's Repose), which survives intact only in an Ethiopic translation. Probably composed by the 4th century, this Christian apocryphal narrative may be as early as the 3rd century. Also quite early are the very different traditions of the "Six Books" Dormition narratives. The earliest versions of this apocryphon are preserved by several Syriac manuscripts of the 5th and 6th centuries, although the text itself probably belongs to the 4th century. Later apocrypha based on these earlier texts include the De Obitu S. Dominae, attributed to St. John, a work probably from around the turn of the 6th century that is a summary of the "Six Books" narrative. The story also appears in De Transitu Virginis, a late 5th century work ascribed to St. Melito of Sardis that presents a theologically redacted summary of the traditions in the Liber Requiei Mariae. The Transitus Mariae tells the story of the apostles being transported by white clouds to the deathbed of Mary, each from the town where he was preaching at the hour. The Decretum Gelasianum in the 490s declared some transitus Mariae literature apocryphal. An Armenian letter attributed to Dionysus the Areopagite also mentioned the supposed event, although this was written sometime after the 6th century. John of Damascus, from this period, is the first church authority to advocate the doctrine under his own name. His contemporaries, Gregory of Tours and Modestus of Jerusalem, helped promote the concept to the wider church. In some versions of the story, the event is said to have taken place in Ephesus, in the House of the Virgin Mary, although this is a much more recent and localized tradition. The earliest traditions locate the end of Mary's life in Jerusalem (see "Mary's Tomb"). By the 7th century, a variation emerged, according to which one of the apostles, often identified as St Thomas, was not present at the death of Mary but his late arrival precipitates a reopening of Mary's tomb, which is found to be empty except for her grave clothes. In a later tradition, Mary drops her girdle down to the apostle from heaven as testament to the event. This incident is depicted in many later paintings of the Assumption. Teaching of the Assumption of Mary became widespread across the Christian world, having been celebrated as early as the 5th century and having been established in the East by Emperor Maurice around AD 600. St. John Damascene records the following: "St. Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem, at the Council of Chalcedon (451), made known to the Emperor Marcian and Pulcheria, who wished to possess the body of the Mother of God, that Mary died in the presence of all the Apostles, but that her tomb, when opened upon the request of St. Thomas, was found empty; wherefrom the Apostles concluded that the body was taken up to heaven." The Assumption of Mary was celebrated in the West under Pope Sergius I in the 8th century and Pope Leo IV then confirmed the feast as official. Theological debate about the Assumption continued, following the Reformation, climaxing in 1950 when Pope Pius XII defined it as dogma for the Catholic Church.

2 PARISH MINISTRIES Parish Summer Raffle Returns $7, to date $33, All Raffle Tickets have been sold $26, All Mailed raffle books have been returned $ 26, We can pay two month s Assessments $ 14, We can pay one month s Assessment $2, Covers Raffle Prizes Catholic Social Services School Supply Collection Once again, our Parish Social Justice Council will be conducting the Annual School Supply Collection in our parish for Catholic Social Services. Items for the collection may be dropped off in the box provided beginning next Weekend July All donations must be in by August 13th so they can be distributed in time for the beginning of the school year. THE PARISH THAT PRAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER. Join Us for EUCHARISTIC ADORATION every THURSDAY beginning at NOON and ending with EVENING PRAYER at 5 pm. ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCILS The Pastoral Council will meet on Thursday, August 24 at 6:30 pm in the Fr. Murgas Conference Room. Catherine Butel of the Diocesan Office of Parish Life will join us for discussion. The Liturgical Council will meet on Wednesday, September 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fr. Murgas Conference Room. The Parish Social Justice Council will meet Thursday, September 14 at 6:00 p.m. in the Fr. Murgas Conference Room The Finance Council will meet on Thursday, September 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fr. Murgas Conference Room. All members of the Finance Council are asked to plan to attend. THINKING AHEAD! Our Parish is already gearing up for our next great event: The ANNUAL TOY BINGO! This will be held on November 5th at St. Mary s Byzantine Social Hall. In preparation of this auspicious event, we will once again begin collecting Toys and gift cards in September. BUT KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN for TOY SALES NOW! You can get some great bargains as stores begin to reduce their inventory in preparation for Christmas. And you can hit two birds with one stone if you also pick up something for the upcoming Toys for Tots collection in December! August 14-15, 2017 LITURGICAL MINISTRY SCHEDULE Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Server Lector Extraordinary Minister of Communion 5:30 pm Maggie Benish Pat Baran AJ Kondracki 8:00 am Michael Boris Anna Hudock Mimi Tosh Noon Ted Harowicz Sr. Tina Hanrahan Elaine Snyder August 19-20, 2017 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Server Lector Extraordinary Minister of Communion 4:00 pm Maggie Benish Tina Evans Maggie Benish 5:30 pm Michael Boris Kayla Gianelli Pat Baran The Parish Choir has begun rehearsals on Tuesday evenings at 5 pm in the Choir Loft. We ask all seasoned members of the choir to be present for this important rehearsal and we welcome any new members who wish to join this illustrious group. No Auditions are necessary. All you need do is show up! Michael Boris 8:00 am Nicholas Kreidler Mary Ann Slavinski John Benz 11:00 am Patrice Rembish Sandy Snyder Elaine Snyder PARISH COMMITTEES The Young at Heart Committee will meet for their next monthly meeting on August 16th at 1 pm in the Fr. Murgas conference Room. The Development Committee will meet on Monday, August 21 at 6:00 pm in the Lower Meeting Room of the Parish Office. The Toy Bingo Committee will hold their next meeting on Wednesday, August 23rd at 6 pm in the Fr. Murgas Room. All interested individuals are invited to attend. FAITH SHARING Sr. Madonna s Group will meet on Saturday, August 19th at 10:30 am in the Fr. Murgas Meeting Room of the Parish office. There is still room in this group for anyone desiring to join. Rosemary Shedlock s Group will meet on Sunday, August 20th at 2:00 pm in the home of Elaine Snyder. Michael Boris Group will meet at 6 pm on Monday September 11th in the Fr. Murgas Meeting Room of the Parish Office. Loaves & Fishes Food for August Sugar by the Pound

3 THE LITURGY Participation in Grace, Trinity, and Liturgy by the Latin Church of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops PASTORAL MUSIC March 2017 Holy Mother Church clearly affirms the role within worship of the entire liturgical assembly (bishop, priest, deacon, acolytes, ministers of the Word, music leaders, choir, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and the congregation.) Through grace, the liturgical assembly partakes in the life of the Blessed Trinity, which is itself a Communion of Love. In a perfect way, the Persons of the Trinity remain themselves even as they share all that they are. For our part, we, though many, ar one body in Christ and individually pars of one another (Romans 12:5-8). The Church urges all members of the liturgical assembly to receive this divine gift and to participate fully depending on their order (and) their role in the liturgical services. (Sacrosanctum Concilium #26). Within the gathered assembly, the role of the congregation is especially important. The full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else, for it is the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit. (SC # 14) Participation in the Sacred Liturgy must be internal, in the sense that by it the faithful join their mind to what they pronounce or hear, and cooperate with heavenly grace. (Musicam Sacram #15. Even when listening to the various prayers and readings of the Liturgy or to the singing of the choir, the assembly continues to participate actively as they unite themselves interiorly to what the ministers or choir sing, so that by listening to them they may raise their minds to God (MS #15) In a culture which neither favors nor fosters meditative quiet, the art of interior listening is learned only with difficulty. Here we see how the liturgy, though it must always be properly inculturated, must also be counter-cultural. (Pope John Paul II) Participation must also be external, so that internal participation can be expressed and reinforced by actions, gestures, and bodily attitudes, and by the acclamations, responses, and singing. (SC #30) The quality of our participation in such sung praise comes less from our vocal ability than from the desires of our hearts to sing together of our love for God. Participation in the Sacred Liturgy both expresses and strengthens the faith that is in us. Our participation in the Liturgy is challenging. Sometimes, our voices do not correspond with the convictions of our hearts. At other times, we are distracted or preoccupied by the cares of the world. But Christ always invites us to enter into song, to rise above our own preoccupations, and to give our entire selves to the hymn of this Paschal Sacrifice for the honor and glory of the Most Blessed Trinity. Excerpt from Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship (paragraphs 10-14), guidelines developed by the Committee on Divine Worship of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and approved by the Latin Church members of the USCCB on November 14, Copyright 2007, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

4 IN THE DIOCESE Do You Want to Know More About the Annulment Process?: In the Diocese of Scranton, the annulment process is now more user friendly than you might expect, and there is no longer a processing fee. Please contact your pastor or the Diocesan Tribunal Office ( ) to begin a conversation. It is possible to get clear answers to these questions and to renew your connection with the Church. SERVICE Convocation Mark your calendars now and plan on attending our SERVICE Convocation which will be held on Saturday, September 23, The day will feature Marie Dennis, Co-President of Pax Christi International. For more information or to register, contact the Office of Parish Life at WORD Convocation The WORD Convocation, also known as the Convocation for Catechists, will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at Diocesan Pastoral Center, in Scranton. The Key-note Speaker will be Joan Weber, Project Coordinator of Families on a Mission and Lifelong Faith Formation for the Center for Ministry Development. The Convocation will include Mass, the Keynote, Lunch and Workshops. Joan s keynote topic is Whole Family Catechesis. For more information or to register, contact the Office of Parish Life at Still Time to apply! Diocesan Certificate in Lay Ministry Program, Fall 2017 The Office for Parish Life is accepting applications for the Diocesan Certificate in Lay Ministry for August 2017! The Diocesan Certificate in Lay Ministry is a ministry formation program designed to equip and advance the servant leadership capacities of individuals serving in areas such as: Parish Pastoral Councils, Directors of Religious Education and Catechists, Liturgical Coordinators, Parish Staff, as well as members of Volunteer Ministry teams, and others. Through independent online study with the University of Dayton s Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF), as well as regional skills workshops and opportunities for prayer and reflection, Diocesan Certificate candidates enrich their knowledge base, while also learning practical tools for effective parish ministry in serving their local faith communities. The Office for Parish Life looks forward to welcoming new candidates into the Diocesan Certificate in Lay Ministry program in the Fall. Prospective candidates are encouraged to contact Kitty Scanlan, Coordinator for Lay Ministry Formation, at , or by at Kitty-Scanlan@dioceseofscranton.org for application information, materials, and application submissions. Extraordinary Minister of Communion Training The Office for Parish Life will offer an all-day training session for new Extraordinary Ministers of Communion on Saturday, September 30, 2017 from 9:00AM to 2:30PM at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 330 Wyoming Ave., Scranton. This session will cover the theology of the Eucharist and the Mass, the history and spirituality of the ministry, the particular functions of the Extraordinary Minister of Communion, and how to properly carry out this ministry. Candidates for the training should have the approval of his or her pastor/ parish life coordinator. There is no fee for the training and lunch will be provided. To register, please fill out the EMHC Training Registration Form or call the Office for Parish Life at and be sure to include your mailing address, phone number and the name of your parish. Regional Networking Meetings for Worship The Office for Parish Life will hold regional meetings for all those involved with liturgy to network and to address upcoming events and projects of-fered through the Office of Parish Life, including upcoming activities of the local chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. All liturgy committee members, liturgical ministers, music ministers are encouraged to attend. The meetings will be held at the following locations: Tuesday, September 19 at 6:30PM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Swoyersville To register, please complete the registration form or contact the Office for Parish Life at Youth and Young Adult Listening Session Thursday, August 31 at 6:00PM Diocesan Pastoral Center, Scranton The night is open to all high school youth and young adults who have been, or would like to involved be, involved in ministry in the Diocese of Scranton. Youth Ministers or youth volunteers are also urged to attend. To register or for more information, please contact Shannon Kowalski, Coordinator for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, at Shannon- Kowalski@dioceseofscranton.org. or by calling the Office for Parish Life at Community Convocation: God s Compassionate Face: Grief Support Ministry Seminar October 21, 2017, 9AM-3:30PM All who minister to the bereaved are invited to this daylong seminar on topics related to grief support ministry. Three sessions will address: the Loss of a Child with Brandice Ricciardi, M.S., NCC, LPC, HS-BCP, Faculty Specialist, University of Scranton; members of the local chapter of Compassionate Friends will also add their experiences as parents who have lost children. Loss through Suicide with Kathy Wallace, Northeast Suicide Prevention Initiative; Kathy is a retired mental health therapist. Theresa Doherty, MSPCC, Chaplain and Bereavement Counselor at Allied Services Hospice In addition, there will be opportunities for discussion of the presentations, networking and prayer. Lunch is included. For more information or to register, contact the Office of Parish Life at Notice Regarding the Sexual Abuse of A Minor It is the policy of the Diocese of Scranton to report any allegation of sexual abuse of a minor to law enforcement. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, you are encouraged to immediately report the matter to law enforcement. If any priest, deacon, religious, lay employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Scranton has cause or reason to suspect that a minor has been subjected to any form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, the matter will be reported to law enforcement. In accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania s Child Protective Services Law, reports of suspected child abuse should also be made immediately by phone to the 24 hour Child Abuse Hotline (ChildLine) at or electronically at It is also the policy of the Diocese to adhere to all civil and state regulations. To this end, the Diocese is equally committed to adhering to the norms of the Code of Canon Law and to upholding the tenets of the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which includes supporting victims of sexual abuse in their pursuit of emotional and spiritual well-being. As such, information regarding an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor should also be reported to the Victim Assistance Coordinator, Mary Beth Pacuska at or to Diocesan Officials, including the Vicar General, Msgr. Thomas M. Muldowney, V.G. at

5 FOR OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE Distraction may be the chief complaint levied about one s prayer life. Regarding distraction, here is something from the two leading teachers of prayer in the Carmelite tradition. from Carmelite Prayer: A Tradition for the 21st Century Ed. Keith J. Egan With little difficulty we can recognize the similarities between Teresa s teaching on prayer and contemplation and John s. Both admit to an activity on our own part, especially at the beginning, an activity of reading, thinking, and recollection. Both direct this activity to the loving knowledge of, or presence to, or relationship with Christ. In both, we find descriptions of the prayer of recollection active and passive, of quiet, and of union. Both admit that the wandering mind or imagination is an accompaniment to prayer and contemplation. In fact, after a lifetime of distraction and pain from distraction St. Teresa finally has this advice to offer: Taking it upon oneself to stop and suspend thought is what I mean should not be done.... She tells us that in regard to... this effort to suspend the intellect... labor will be wasted... (BL. 12.5). She warns against a kind of mental coercion to empty ourselves of thoughts in order to achieve a held absorption. St Teresa was too familiar with this experience in herself and in others, based on a too-demanding cut-down of outside stimuli, that could lead to quietism. To be always withdrawn for corporeal things... is the trait of angelic spirits, not of those who live in mortal bodies.... How much more is it necessary not to withdraw through one s own efforts from all our good and help with is the most sacred humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ (IC 6.7.6). from Jesus Christ in Carmelite Prayer by Sr. Mary Dorgan Distractions In Prayer by Steven Riddle For Teresa, and for John of the Cross as well, this constant babble of wayward thoughts is part and parcel of who we are. To deny it is to deny who we are. I would go further to say that this constant stream of thought defines, in a special way, who we are. More than that, this constant stream of thought forms the ostinato against which the melody of prayer plays out. That is to say, that these very real, very present concerns are a real part of prayer. When they invade, they do so out of two causes one is that we are insufficiently focused on our goal thus they serve as the watchdogs of prayer. The other is that they are real and present concerns that define in part where we are in our day and in our lives. To deny them is, in a way, denying access to a real and important part of ourselves to the dearest friend we have. It would be rather like chatting about the weather to our best friend just prior to the time we are going to enter the hospital to have some serious medical tests. We haven t told our best friend and we are screening out that concern. Only it is worse because our friend already knows about these concerns because He lives within and sees them flitting about batting their wings against the cages we try to make for them. What then to do about distractions? Accept them. Don t welcome them, but accept them, and turn back to the conversation. Think about a conversation on your front porch on a fine spring say as your children are running on the lawn and playing. If your children are normal they are up on that porch at least as much as they are kicking a ball or playing catch or hideand-seek. However, it is a fine day, your friend as much as you enjoys the sounds and sights and presence of the children, and when they break into the conversation, He doesn t regard them with exasperation, but with the loving, doting look of one who has sat many a time watching them play. When the concerns of the children are finished, the matter of a moment or two, we return to the conversation. That is the important point we may be dragged off-course, but always return, gently, lovingly, longingly, to the conversation. On a personal note I have often been battered by distractions. Until recently they would completely derail my efforts at any sort of coherent conversation. And then, suddenly, as in a coup de grace, they became integrated into my prayer, they would appear and drop away and I would not worry myself about their intrusion, but, as in contemplating the mysteries of the Rosary, I would allow them to sound and then gently fall back below the surface. They continued throughout the prayer, but the prayer continued as well. No, I didn t achieve transports of union but then I m not there at this point. I am still learning to talk and to listen and to offer who I am and what I am concerned about. So my advice for those distracted in prayer don t focus on the distraction, focus on the person with Whom you are conversing. He knows what is playing through your brain. He knows who and what you are, and He is patient and welcoming to all of you distraction, intentions, and conversation. Don t worry about it. Prayer will not be perfectly quiet until it is time for it and then the Lord will lead. Otherwise, don t fret. Through her entire life, St. Teresa of Avila was plagued with distraction, and yet she is no less a saint for all of that.

6 LOCAL EVENTS Upcoming Bazaars, Picnics, and Parish Festivals August 10,11, 12 St. John the Evangelist 35 William St. Pittston 11, 12, 13 St. Jude 420 S. Mountain Blvd. Mountaintop 11, 12, 13 St. John s Larksville Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Waterson Bishop Joseph C. Bambera invites the faithful to join him on a special pilgrimage to Spain and Portugal in honor of the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima's appearance to three young shepherd children in The pilgrimage will take place September 18-26, 2017 and will include Masses celebrated by the Bishop and visits to many sacred and historic sites, including nearly two days in Fatima where the Marian apparitions occurred. Space is limited, so it is recommended that you call as soon as possible for reservations. All arrangements and reservations are to be made through TRAVELWORLD. For information, call TRAVELWORLD at or visit The Order of Alhambra (local caravan Alhamar #4) a Catholic organization dedicated to helping children and adults with special needs will be hosting their ANNUAL FESTIVAL FOR THE INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED, on SUNDAY, AUGUST 20th, at the Plains Polish American Veterans Pavilion, 2 South Oak Street, Wilkes-Barre, (Near the Penn-Lee Footwear), from 11:30AM -2:30PM. Free of charge. Please RSVP by August 13th to Ray Kownacki at , Please indicate the number of Special Needs individuals and number of aides or chaperones who will be attending. Weekend August Monday August 14 Tuesday August 15 Saturday August 19 Weekend August Sunday August 20 Tuesday August 22 Wednesday August 23 Thursday August 24 Weekend August August 29 Cemetery Envelopes Collect School Supplies Summer Raffle Tickets on Sale in church Deliver School Supplies to CSS Vigil Mass of the 5:30 pm Solemnity of the Assumption Masses at 8:00 am and Noon Parish office closed Choir at 5 pm Sr. Madonna Faith 10:30 am Debt Reduction Envelope Summer Raffle Tickets on Sale in Church Rosemary Shedlock Faith 2 pm at home of Elaine Snyder 5 pm Coronation of the Blessed Virgin 6 pm Choir 6 pm Toy Bingo Committee Meeting 6:30 pm Pastoral Council Diocesan Collection for Eastern Europe Summer Raffle Tickets on Sale in Church 6 pm Choir National Association of Pastoral Musicians Scranton Chapter Musicians Mass TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, pm St. Peter s Cathedral Scranton. All parish musicians (choir, cantor, musicians, etc.) are welcome to participate in this year s Musician's Mass. SAVE THE DATE: Our Annual Fall Dance will be held on Saturday, October 7th beginning at 6:30 pm. Tickets will go on Sale in mid-september. Watch the bulletin for more details.

7 STEWARDSHIP 5 Steps to Becoming An Intentional Disciple by Mark Shea www. OSV.com Continuing Conversion is necessary for ALL as we walk the road to Christ Sherry Weddell s book Forming Intentional Disciples (OSV, $16.95) is, I think, one of the most important Catholic books of this decade. In it, she addresses the core issue facing the Church in our time: How to foster a culture in which all Catholics consciously see themselves as disciples of Jesus Christ living according to his will and as apostles sent into the world to proclaim him to others. Weddell also outlines five stages of spiritual growth that typify the experience of conversion. Conversion is, in the Church s thinking, not simply for converts i.e., non-catholics joining the Catholic communion but for everybody. In the Church s thinking, not just Scott Hahn, G.K. Chesterton or Saul of Tarsus experienced conversion. Cradle Catholics like Ignatius of Loyola, Francis of Assisi, Blaise Pascal and Teresa of Avila also had profound conversion experiences that transformed them. So must we. Step 1: Initial trust Where a person is able to have a positive association with Jesus Christ, the Church, a Christian believer or something identifiably Christian. Trust is not the same as active personal faith. Without some kind of bridge of trust in place, people will not move closer to God. An example of initial trust is shown in the experience of a young garage-band pagan at the University of Washington in the late 1970s. He had almost no grasp of even the most basic aspects of the Gospel and had long ago learned the crucial truth of social life in the already heavily anti-christian culture of Seattle: Christians are to be treated as social lepers. His perception of them was of fundamentalists obsessed with nutty end times theories, creationism and mysterious code words. His exposure to the Gospel consisted of a brief stab at reading Genesis and Revelation, coupled with some anti- Catholic Chick tracts, plus a few pious types he remembered from high school who might as well have spoken Greek for all the sense their lingo made to him. He knew essentially nothing about Christ and did not trust Christians. I know this guy s story because he is married to my wife. And when I was 20 years old, I went home for Thanksgiving break only to return to my dorm with a case of Martian Stomach Flu so virulent that I found the prospect of a quick death rather appealing for GO DEEPER In her book FORMING INTENTIONAL DISCIPLES, Sherry Wendell writes that before Catholics evangelize others, they must first make a choice to know and follow Jesus themselves. a day or two. In the midst of this, I received a phone call from a friend living on the Christian floor of my dorm. I mumbled something about my illness and hung up. About a half an hour later, there was a knock at my door and I heaved myself up from my bed of suffering, my face smeared with drool, and answered it. It was a young woman named Sandy MacKinnon, who I did not know from Eve, but who lived on the Christian floor. She said, I heard you were sick. I brought you this and brandished a bottle of Pepto-Bismol. It s been 35 years, but I have never forgotten that. With that one act of kindness to a stranger, done simply out of generosity, she won my trust. And eventually, by the integrity of their lives as Christians, the rest of the fellowship of Christians on her dorm floor did likewise. Lives lived in joy, generosity and integrity not for show, but for the glory of Christ can and do break down walls of distrust and give off a sweet aroma of beauty that people follow. Step 2: Spiritual curiosity When a person is intrigued by or desiring to know more about Jesus or some aspect of the Christian faith. This can range from mere awareness of a new possibility to something quite intense and proactive. Nevertheless, a person at the threshold of curiosity is not yet open to personal change. Curiosity is still essentially passive, but it s more than mere trust. The spiritually curious, often shyly and in fits and starts, find themselves drawn toward wanting to know more about Jesus, the Church, the Bible and the whole Catholic thing. This can be a protracted and complicated affair, as the Catholic Faith encompasses the whole universe, and the human person is massively complex and approaches the Faith from all over the map. One thing to bear in mind is that such curiosity is not the same as spiritual seeking (that s two steps down the road). It is, as yet, a passive approach. A person who is spiritually curious is interested in learning more. He or she will not dismiss God talk but will not initiate such conversations. They will be quietly taking it in. They are intrigued and may find themselves surfing the Web furtively to explore something or other about Jesus or the Faith, or wondering about some theological question prompted by anything from a half-remembered Bible verse to a speculation prompted by a science-fiction story they saw on TV. Interestingly, Jesus pedagogy with the spiritually curious is often the deeply Jewish method of answering questions with questions or with answers designed to provoke more questions. Why do you call me good? (Mk 10:18). Who do you say that I am? (Mt 16:15). What do you want me to do for you? (Mk 10:51). Was John s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? (Lk 20:4). Whose image is this and whose inscription is on this coin (Mt 22:20)? All these questions and many more were asked by Jesus in order to force the curious more deeply into their curiosity. This is important for us, as it can be a temptation to accidently put out the small fire of newly kindled curiosity with a gallon of hasty, preprocessed answers. Sometimes it is better to let the curious work through things themselves for a while and make the answers their own. In our own lives, it is good to cultivate an attitude of curiosity as well so that we can pass it on to others. Some have foolishly said, What the mind doesn t understand, it worships or fears. The truth is not that simple. Typically, what the mind doesn t understand it either ignores or wonders about. Those who cultivate spiritual curiosity in themselves and others are on a trajectory, not only to learn more about God, but about everything, because God is the author of everything. But they are not yet worshipping, for they are not yet acting as intentional disciples. If they make the choice to follow their curiosity, then exploration, not fear and worship, is typically what happens next. Moses at the Burning Bush was not afraid or worshipful, but curious. Worship (and fear) only began when he learned who was there, not when he didn t know who was there. In short, wonder is the common root of all art, philosophy, science and religious experience. But it is not the flower. To Be Continued

8 FINANCES INCOME EXPENSES August 5-6, 2017 August 3 9, 2017 PARISH COLLECTION Administration 3, In Church Mailed In Clergy Residence -0- Loose Liturgy Offering 3, Religious Education Holy Days Social Justice Initial Maintenance 2, Dues 1, Deposit to Savings -0- Debt Reduction Insurance -0- Prior Balance DIOCESAN ASSESSMENTS (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018) Diocesan Assessment School Assessment BALANCE , , Holiday Flowers Taxes TOTAL PARISH COLLECTION $5, $ Capital Outlay -0- Current Assessment Amount Paid 81, , , Diocesan Collection TOTAL DIOCESAN DIOCESAN COLLECTIONS Diocesan Collections $ $ Debt Service (Principal + Interest) -0- School Subsidy -0- OTHER INCOME TOTAL EXPENSES $8, Candles Perquisites GENERAL FUND RECAPITULATION Rental Previous Balance $ Transfers Income 7, Miscellaneous Expenses -8, TOTAL OTHER INCOME TOTAL INCOME $7, $1, BALANCE FORWARD $ BALANCE DUE 81, , , PLEASE NOTE: We owe $29, toward the Assessments by August 25th. PARISH DEBT SERVICE Parish Loan Amount Paid Your Gift to God August 5 6, 2017 BALANCE Due PRINCIPAL 400, , , INTEREST 12, , , BALANCE 412, , , Please Note: The Parish Debt service has been paid to date. This Account is current. Mass Attendance August 5-6, 2017 People In-Church Collection Average Offering per person 4:00 p.m , :30 p.m :00 a.m. 71 1, :00 a.m. 72 1, Total 359 5, REMINDER: In order for our parish to remain solvent, the average weekly offering per person MUST equal or be greater than $15.00 consistently. Intention Offered by Votive Offerings Bread and Wine Sanctuary Candle Intention Edward Check Offered by Wife & Children Over $ $20 39 $ $ $ $15 18 $75 0 $ $ $ $50 7 $6-9 5 $ $5 56 $25 13 under $5 20 $ Total Envelopes used 294 Is your gift to the parish each week an honest reflection of God s goodness to you?

9 FROM THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH August 13, 2017 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish A Pastoral Statement of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops The Roots of Parish Social Mission The roots of this call to justice and charity are in the Scriptures, especially in the Hebrew prophets and the life and words of Jesus. Parish social ministry has clear biblical roots. In the gospel according to Luke, Jesus began his public life by reading a passage from Isaiah that introduced his ministry and the mission of every parish. The parish must proclaim the transcendent message of the gospel and help: bring "good news to the poor" in a society where millions lack the necessities of life; bring "liberty to captives" when so many are enslaved by poverty, addiction, ignorance, discrimination, violence, or disabling conditions; bring "new sight to the blind" in a culture where the excessive pursuit of power or pleasure can spiritually blind us to the dignity and rights of others; and "set the downtrodden free" in communities where crime, racism, family disintegration, and economic and moral forces leave people without real hope (cf. Lk 4:18). Our parish communities are measured by how they serve "the least of these" in our parish and beyond its boundaries-the hungry, the homeless, the sick, those in prison, the stranger (cf. Mt 25:31). Our local families of faith are called to "hunger and thirst for justice" and to be "peacemakers" in our own communities (c Mt 5:6,9). A parish cannot really proclaim the gospel if its message is not reflected in its own community life. The biblical call to charity, justice, and peace claims not only each believer, but also each community where believers gather for worship, formation, and pastoral care. Over the last century, these biblical mandates have been explored and expressed in a special way in Catholic social teaching. The central message is simple: our faith is profoundly social. We cannot be called truly "Catholic" unless we hear and heed the Church's call to serve those in need and work for justice and peace. We cannot call ourselves followers of Jesus unless we take up his mission of bringing "good news to the poor, liberty to captives, and new sight to the blind" (cf. Lk 4:18). The Church teaches that social justice is an integral part of evangelization, a constitutive dimension of preaching the gospel, and an essential part of the Church's mission. The links between justice and evangelization are strong and vital. We cannot proclaim a gospel we do not live, and we cannot carry out a real social ministry without knowing the Lord and hearing his call to justice and peace. Parish communities must show by their deeds of love and justice that the gospel they proclaim is fulfilled in their actions. This tradition is not empty theory; it challenges our priorities as a nation, our choices as a Church, our values as parishes. It has led the Church to stand with the poor and vulnerable against the strong and powerful. It brings occasional controversy and conflict, but it also brings life and vitality to the People of God. It is a sign of our faithfulness to the gospel. The center of the Church's social teaching is the life, dignity, and rights of the human person. We are called in a special way to serve the poor and vulnerable; to build bridges of solidarity among peoples of differing races and nations, language and ability, gender and culture. Family life and work have special places in Catholic social teaching; the rights of the unborn, families, workers, immigrants, and the poor deserve special protection. Our tradition also calls us to show our respect for the Creator by our care for creation and our commitment to work for environmental justice. This vital tradition is an essential resource for parish life. It offers a framework and direction for our social ministry, calling us to concrete works of charity, justice, and peacemaking. 4 AGNUS DAY by Pastor Jim Weitzstein

10 WEEKLY CALENDAR Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time August 7 13, 2017 Day and Date Time Intention Offered by Events of the Week Monday, August 14 St. Maximillian Kolbe ofm conv. NO Morning Mass Scheduled Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary VIGIL Monday 5:30 pm Dr. Albert Danishanko Donald Crane PARISH OFFICE IS CLOSED TODAY FEAST DAY Tuesday 8:00 am Living & Deceased Members of the Sophie & Andrew Chupka Family Family FEAST DAY Tuesday Noon Parishioners Pastor 5 pm Parish Choir Wednesday, August 16 8 am Thomas Baloga Mr. & Mrs. Al Kondracki Thursday, August 17 8 am Robert E Griffy Griffiths Sr. David E Alusick 8 am Mass Noon Exposition 5 pm Vespers Friday, August 18 8 am Lillian Dombroski Fr. Ken & the parish of St. Andre Bessette Saturday, August 19 NO Morning Mass Scheduled 3 pm Confessions Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time VIGIL 4:00 pm Joan Donnelly Family VIGIL 5:30 pm Julia Jackson Niece Debt Reduction Envelope Summer Raffle Ticket Returns SUNDAY 8:00 am Parishioners Parish SUNDAY 11:00 am Andrew, Emily, & Joseph Rebarchak Mary Shorts