Corpus Christi Catholic Church

Transcription

1 January 27, 2019 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Corpus Christi Catholic Church 6300 McKenna Drive, Mobile, Alabama Website: TELEPHONE NUMBERS Parish Office: Fax School Office: , ext. 1 Fax Rel. Ed. Office: , ext. 7 Fax Full-Day Care: Fax Youth Ministry: Fax PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PASTORAL STAFF Very Reverend James F. Zoghby, V.F. Reverend John S. Boudreaux Deacon Arthur W. Robbins Mrs. Kristy F. Martin, School Principal Mrs. Diane M. Stoyka, Parish Catechetical Leader Mrs. Judi B. Ankiewicz, R.C.I.A. Coordinator Mr. Peter J. Stoyka, Youth Ministry Director TO REGISTER AS A MEMBER OF THE PARISH Please fill out a Census Form. Census Forms are available in the church vestibule and parish office. COMMUNITY CENTER RENTALS & SERVICES For rental information and kitchen services, please call the parish office at or SUNDAY MASSES Vigil: 5:30 p.m. Saturday Morning: 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. WEEKDAY MASSES 6:30 a.m.: Monday through Friday 8:15 a.m.: Monday through Saturday SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday: 5:00 p.m. and by request, particularly after the 6:30 & 8:15 a.m. weekday Masses. BAPTISM, MARRIAGE, ANOINTING OF SICK Please call the parish office ( ) for information and scheduling baptism, marriage, anointing of sick. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.) Please see published schedule for specific dates and times, or call the parish office ( ). SUNDAY SCHOOL (C.C.D.) Grades K 12, Sundays during school year, 10:05-10:55 a.m. in school bldgs. SCHOOL, SACS-accredited for Grades PreK3 through 8. To register, or for information, please call the school office, , ext. 1, or send an to kmartin@corpuschristiparish.com.

2 THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Catholic Charities Appeal 1. Every parishioner should have received a letter from Archbishop Rodi announcing the 2019 Catholic Charities Appeal and asking for your prayerful generosity. Enclosed with each letter is a personalized pledge envelope which includes your printed name and address and also the number that identifies your parish (The 3- digit number for Corpus Christi Parish, which is 140), and to the right of the 3-digit parish number is your own 5-digit archdiocesan number. 2. Please check the accuracy of the information on the personalized pledge envelope you received. To make a pledge, just mark your intended pledge on the pledge envelope. You can return the pledge envelope by way of either collection at Mass or by dropping it through the front door mail slot of the parish office, or you can mail it to the address already printed on the outside of the pledge envelope. 3. If you prefer to donate online, text CCA to for a link. 4. If you did not receive the archbishop s letter and the personalized envelope, blank pledge envelopes are available in the pews. Catholic Charities distributes millions of dollars to sustain Catholic ministries across our archdiocese. All the funds collected stay in the Archdiocese of Mobile. Answer the Call to Give to those in need through the Catholic Charities Appeal. Volunteers Are Needed Today! Please meet in the atrium today, Sunday at 1:30 p.m. to help ensure that everyone in the parish has had an opportunity to pledge. John Gelineau ( ) and Mike Wilson will give each volunteer a number of pledge envelopes for parishioners who need to be contacted; the volunteers will write in the amount of the pledge for each and return the envelopes to be included in the first report. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION and R.C.I.A. Continuing Education For Catholic and other Adults to learn more about and/or join the Catholic Church. Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. In the Adult Ed. Room in the Community Center Presented by Fr. James F. Zoghby Info: Speak to one of the priests at or Church@CorpusChristiParish.com Please Note! If attendance at the classes are problematic for any reason, other arrangements can always be made. Our R.C.I.A. program is always flexible to make it easy for all who wish to join the Catholic Church. We also extend a special Welcome Home to any Catholics who have been away from the Church because of sacramental marital status or any other reason. Once a month 3 rd Sunday 5:30 p.m. Mass Celebrated by Fr. Mark Mossa, S.J. Director of Campus Ministry at Spring Hill College During the school year (Sept. to April), we have an extra Sunday Mass the 3 rd Sunday of each month. High School students serve. To d ay! CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOL Op e n Ho use Join us at our Open House! Sunday, Jan. 27, p.m. to 4 p.m. Interested parents are invited to tour our school and meet with students, teachers and current parents while learning about our many excellent academic programs for students. Starting in Fall 2019, we will have a K2 preschool program. Get information about the new program at the Open House. Tours of our school are always available by request. Contact the school office for more information , ext. 1 kmartin@corpuschristiparish.com McKenna Drive, Mobile, AL Catholic Schools Week 2019 Corpus Christi School students are attending the 11 a.m. Mass today, and staff members will take part in the various liturgical roles. Calling all alumni of Corpus Christi Catholic School As part of the celebration of our 60 th anniversary, we would love to hear from our alumni! If you are a CCS graduate, please send us your updated contact info and any news you would like to share (marriages, children, job promotions, etc. Contact us at alumni@corpuschristiparish.com or go to and click on the 60 th Anniversary Celebration which is found under Quick Links on the homepage. McGill-Toolen Foundation s St. Augustine Scholarship Fund The Scholarship Fund offers a $2,500 tuition scholarship per year to deserving incoming freshman Catholic students. Children of Catholic school teachers, children of first responders and active duty military, children of MCT alumni and our Aquinas Scholars are eligible to receive assistance through this fund. Last year, 10 scholarships were awarded. With your help we hope to award more. Student applications will be available online on Feb. 1. The application deadline is March 20. For more info or to make a donation, go to or contact Jenna Wood, McGill-Toolen Foundation Executive Director, at or at woodj@mcgill-toolen.org.

3 CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA JANUARY 27, 2019 Society of St. Vincent de Paul Meetings: 1 st & 3 rd Mon. of the month, at 6:30 p.m., The Parish House. Poor Box, Food, Clothing donations and In-Need Drop Box at the SVDP table in the vestibule. To seek help, call Backpack Ministry Please Restock the Pantry As we begin the new school year the St. Vincent de Paul pantry is in special need of the following items for the Backpack Ministry: Canned vegetables, canned tuna/meat, Spaghetti O's with meat or ravioli, boxes of macaroni & cheese, individual fruit or applesauce cups, individual packages of instant grits or oatmeal, small plastic containers of peanut butter or jelly, Ritz or saltine crackers, individual packages of snack crackers, Granola bars and fruit snacks. Please drop off donations at the St. Vincent de Paul table in the vestibule. Thank you for your support of this ministry. Archdiocesan Catholic Youth Conference (ACYC) It is now time to sign your teen up for our annual Archdiocesan Catholic Youth Confidence (ACYC)! Who: high school students (9th-12th grade) When: Feb Where: Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach, AL Cost: $200 (Includes hotel for 2 nights, meals, t-shirt, and conference material) Forms and more info can be found at the following link as well as at the youth table in the vestibule: Forms are due to the parish office by Feb. 1 and money is due by Feb. 20. (checks can be made out to Corpus Christi parish. Also, please note somewhere on the registration forms who your child would like to room with (4 teens to a room). Sing with the Choir at the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass Practice in the church on 2 nd & 4 th Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Instrumentalist? Please check with director, Stephanie Callan. Jazz Brunch in the Banquet Hall With Jazz Musicians Performing Live! 2 nd Sunday of the Month (Every month except June, July, August) Buffet Served from 12 Noon to 1:30 p.m. $15 for Adults! $7 for Children (Age 12 & under) Wednesday Night Dinner 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall $8 for Adults! $4 for Children (Age 12 & under) NO RSVP REQUIRED. Just come! Info: or Church@CorpusChristiParish.com Sacramental Dates for 2 nd Graders Mon, Feb 18, 2019: 1 st Eucharist Parent Mtg, 6:30pm Adult Ed Rm. Sun, Feb 24, 2019: 1 st Euch Enrollment Mass,9am & 10am-12pm. Sat, May 4, 2019: First Eucharist Practice, 10 am, Church. Sun, May 5, 2019: First Eucharist Mass, 1 pm Sacramental Dates for H.S. Confirmation 2021 Class: Nov 18, Spirit Day, 2-6:30pm 2021 Class: Feb.2, Visitation Monastery Retreat,10am-5pm, Lessons 2/ Class: Feb 17, 2019, Spirit Day, 2-6:30pm, Lessons 5 & 7. Info: DianeStoyka@yahoo.com or , ext 7 Men of St. Joseph Seminarian Breakfast This Tuesday, Jan. 29, here at Corpus Christi Archbishop Rodi will celebrate 6 a.m. Mass followed by Breakfast in the Banquet Hall, concluding at 8 a.m.. The Corpus Christi Chapter of the Men of St. Joseph host this annual St. John Vianney Seminarian Mass & Breakfast Meeting for Men from all MOSJ chapters in the Mobile & Baldwin deaneries. The Men of St. Joseph also invite ALL men to join them for this event. Twenty-nine seminarians from St. John Vianny will be in Mobile for the week of work on various projects in our community. REST IN PEACE Richard John Wood FIRST COLLECTION TODAY: Tithing Offerings. SECOND COLLECTION TODAY: Corpus Christi Building Fund. DEC. 31 ST END-OF-YEAR BUILDING FUND: $3, DEC. 31 ST END-OF-YEAR TITHING FUND: $2, JAN 6 TH BUILDING FUND ONLINE & COLLECTION: $2, JAN 6 TH TITHING ONLINE & COLLECTION: $62, Thank You and God Bless You To receive Offering Envelopes please notify the parish office at or at Church@CorpusChristiParish.com. To set up Online Giving, please go to the church website, click the green Online Giving icon on the left side of the homepage, and follow the instructions For help, call , ext 1, or the parish office, Annual reports of contributions for 2018 have been mailed out. If you did not receive your report, please notify the parish office, or Church@CorpusChristiParish.com. All can also receive a detail list of contributions anytime by mail, or fax.

4 Scrupulosity Do you never feel forgiven no matter how many times you confess your sins? Do you agonize about whether or not something you ve done is sinful, even when other faithful Catholics and your priest assure you that it s not? Is your conscience so hyper-sensitive that you cannot find peace with God? If so, you might want to start reading up on a condition called scrupulosity. It is one of the most painful psychological states there is. It can feel like hell to the sufferer. Scrupulosity is an age-old problem that the OCD Foundation describes as a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involving religious or moral obsessions. Scrupulous individuals are overly concerned that something they thought or something they did might be a sin or other violation of religious or moral doctrine. It s like being a moral hypochondriac. In Catholics, this problem manifests itself in people who are always going to confession obsessibly. They have irrational fears that, somehow, one s confession wasn t really valid, or the sacrament didn t quite count because of some imagined technicality. People with Scrupulosity/OCD worry excessively about sinning whether by having bad thoughts or other human imperfections and they have to struggle to accept God s forgiveness. They fear that God is angry with them, and often try to make up for things with perfect devotional practices. Instead of trusting in the mercy of God, scrupulosity-sufferers live with an awful anxiety. When you re in the bondage of a scrupulous mind set, nothing you do will ever be enough to bring lasting peace. Scrupulosity can certainly be emboldened by bad theology which emphasizes a wrathful God. Such a theology became very prevalent in the Church, starting in the 17 th century, and continuing for over 200 years. It is called Jansenism, named for the French bishop, Cornelius Jansenius, who originated and promulgated it in the Church. Like 16 th century Protestant Calvinism, 17 th century Jansenism preached a religion of fear and anguish. Priests and bishops with the Jansenist mentality were obsessed with sins of the flesh. They preached a distorted Christianity that presented God as severe, cold, and distant. Jesus was presented only as a harsh and condemning judge, not as a merciful Savior and Good Shepherd. The truth of God s love proclaimed by Jesus in his teaching and deeds and his ultimate sacrifice for all people was overshadowed by this heresy. And this heresy received a great deal of acceptance throughout the Church for more than 200 years in spite of the efforts of several popes who condemned it as false teaching. The Jansenists taught that all infants dying without baptism were condemned to hell. Pope Pius VI, however, condemned that teaching in But the most far-reaching part of the Jansenist heresy was its teaching on the Eucharist. Jansenism held that it was only the purest of souls, free of all taint of sin, that could approach Communion without the fear of committing a sacrilege. Jansenistic piety was excessively rigid and moralistic. It held that the possibility of committing a mortal sin was an ever present and constant danger. It deeply affected spirituality in the Church, and traces of it can sometimes be seen to this day. These beliefs gave rise to excessive introspection that was the breeding ground of scrupulosity. Jansenism tainted the pulpit and Catholic teaching, which, in turn, infected the faithful. Instances of this kind of preaching and teaching can still be found today. The Jansenist mentality, instead of fostering trust and hope in God s mercy, fermented fear and presented a grim and severe face of God, very remote from the face revealed to us by Jesus. It lead to a very strict and widespread interpretation of moral life. Pope Benedict XVI

5 Numerous saints were influenced by Jansenism, and experienced scrupulosity. St. Ignatius of Loyola doubted that his past sins were truly forgiven and compulsively examined his conscience for hours at a time. St. Theresa of Lisieux used to examine and re-examine all her motives. Her work, health and prayers suffered as a consequence of her uncertainty and doubt. (See the next article) St. Alphonsus Liguori also suffered tremendously from scruples. These, and many others who have experienced scrupulosity, struggled with that condition and were healed by God s grace. So we must not think that those who carry the cross of scrupulosity are deficient or crazy. We must think of them as courageous for practicing their faith while bearing very difficult burdens. A very important part of the mission of Liguori Publications (the Redemptorists order of priests) is ministering to those afflicted with scrupulosity. For information, do a web search for SCRUPULOUS ANONYMOUS. St. Theresa of the Child Jesus ( ) (the Little Flower ) was a French Carmelite nun who entered the convent at Lisieux when she was 15 years old and bravely persevered in her vocation until she died of tuberculosis at age 24. Famous for her little way of spirituality, she offers a refreshingly realistic and human approach to having a personal relationship with God. Her beautiful writing, especially her autobiography, Story of A Soul, contributed to her cause for canonization. It also opens a window into a young person s private hell. Before she entered the convent at age 15, she experienced a time of excessive anxiety and introspection fearing that even her thoughts could lead to eternal damnation. When she was 12 years old in 1885 she attended a retreat, the theme of which was Better to die than sully one s soul with a mortal sin. The titles of the retreat conferences that Theresa heard were Hell, Judgment, Mortal Sin, The Necessity of Making a Good Confession, and Sacrilegious Communion. Theresa wrote: What the priest told us was frightening. He spoke about mortal sin, and he described a soul in the state of sin and how much God hated it. And she wrote: One would have to pass through this martyrdom (suffering) to understand it well, and for me to express what I experienced for a year and a half would be impossible. And Theresa continued to suffer even in the monastery. Numerous preachers of spiritual retreats at that time were infected with the heresy of Jansenism and preached fire and brimstone, stressing sin, and the sufferings of purgatory and of hell. This did not help Theresa who in 1891 experienced great inner trials of all kinds, even wondering sometimes whether heaven existed. One phrase she heard during a retreat made her weep: No one knows if they are worthy of love or of hate. But in October 1891, a sermon preached by a Franciscan priest gave Theresa great comfort. She wrote: His preaching on abandonment to God s mercy expanded my heart. My soul was like a book which the priest read better than I did. He launched me full sail on the waves of confidence and love which held such an attraction for me, but upon which I had not dared to venture. He told me that my faults did not offend God. I had never before heard it said that one s faults did not distress God, and I was overwhelmed with joy when I did receive this assurance. It gave me patience to endure this life of exile. It was, too, the echo of my inmost thoughts. For a long time I had realized that Our Lord was more tender than a mother and how well I know the depths of tenderness in more than one mother s heart! I know that a mother is always ready to forgive the misbehavior of her child. So Theresa received a grace from God that liberated her from crippling over sensitivity. And the emotional difficulties she endured would enable her to counsel the Lisieux Carmel s novices with wisdom beyond her years: Do not fear to tell Jesus that you love Him, even though you may not feel that love, she told her nuns in training. In this way you will compel Him to come to your aid, and to carry you like a little child who is too weak to walk. God our Father loves us always, absolutely, unfailingly, eternally..

6 It is not that the Gospel has changed; it is that we have begun to understand it better. St. John XXIII The Fear of the Lord doesn t mean being afraid of God, since we know that God is our Father who always loves and forgives us. It is not servile fear, but a joyful awareness of the grandeur of God in whom we can place all our trust, knowing we are protected, like a child with his or her father. Pope Francis The Fear of the Lord should be understood in terms of awe rather than dread. God is not a relentless sovereign who condemns the guilty, but a loving father whom we must love not out of fear of punishment, but because of his goodness. Pope Benedict XVI God loves us not because we have merited it or are worthy of it; rather, God s love for us is freely given and unearned, surpassing all we could ever hope for or imagine. St. John Paul II Christ died for all... for ALL. No one is excluded from his love, his forgiveness. St. John XXIII There is no one who cannot discover and find a place in God s love. There exists no one so bad, so brought down, so broken down, that he cannot find a place in that love. St. John Paul II God loves his people more than a bridegroom his beloved. His love will be victorious over even the worst infidelities. Catechism of The Catholic Church The love of Christ is stronger than all my personal sins or those of anyone else. This is the faith of the Church. This is the Good News of God s love that I proclaim to you today: God loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love. St. John Paul II God loves us all with an unconditional and everlasting love. St. John Paul II I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. He does not deal with us according to our sins. He does not punish us according to our crimes, but has compassion as a father having compassion on his children. He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. Psalm 103 We have a Father who is very close to us, who embraces us. Pope Francis

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