My Brothers and Sisters, As I have expressed to you previously, one of the top recommendations made by parishioners who gathered for our Evening of Prayer and Discussion on September 24 th was the desire (and the necessity) of receiving regular updates about the Church s response to the current crises surrounding sexual abuse and the abuse of power in our Catholic Church. I had planned to write about an entirely different topic this week, but reconsidered when a very significant Open Letter on Recent Allegations against the Holy See was released by the Vatican News Service just this past Sunday. It was a letter authored by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops (the Vatican department responsible for advising the Pope on the appointment and management of bishops/archbishops throughout the world. The prefect is the head of that department ). Please go to our parish website, www.sttheresaphx.org, and take the time to read the letter of Cardinal Ouellet posted on/linked to the home page. It is most enlightening. You can also find there a copy of the homily that I preached at all Masses two weeks ago, as a follow-up to our Evening of Prayer and Discussion. Cardinal Ouellet writes on October 7 th with the express permission of Pope Francis in responding to various accusations made by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the former Papal Nuncio (Vatican ambassador) to the United States. You may recall that Abp. Viganò released a lengthy testimony to right-wing media outlets a few weeks ago that among other things alleged various conspiracies by Vatican cardinals and bishops, the promotion by Pope John Paul II of Archbishop McCarrick to Cardinal and the failure of Pope Francis to take action against the retired McCarrick. In his testimony, Abp. Viganò also called for the resignation of Pope Francis, leading to division and scandal in the Church and in the wider world. Evidently the Archbishop then went into hiding following the release of his testimony to the media and is unreachable. Sadly, much of the Archbishop s testimony appears to be politically motivated (yes, there are politics in the Church) against the Pope. Our Holy Father has pledged that, in investigating all the allegations raised by Abp. Viganò, We will follow the path of truth wherever it may lead. Pope Francis stated categorically that both abuse and its cover-up can no longer be tolerated and a different treatment for bishops who have committed or covered up abuse, in fact represents a form of clericalism that is no longer acceptable. The investigations into the allegations made by Archbishop Viganò are ongoing and the Open Letter of Cardinal Ouellet appears to be an initial part of the much fuller response to the allegations that the Holy Father has promised. To quote Cardinal Ouellet s closing words: It would please God that this injustice be quickly repaired and that Pope Francis might continue to be recognized for who he is: an eminent pastor, a compassionate and firm father, a prophetic charism for the Church and for the world. May he continue his missionary reform joyfully and in full confidence, comforted by the prayer of the People of God and by the renewed solidarity of the entire Church together with Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary. Peace and unity in Christ, Rev. Charles G. Kieffer Pastor
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME PARISH NEWS WHO ---- Ticketholders to Matthew Kelly Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose Event on October 27, 2018 at Comerica Theatre from 7:00-10:00PM WHAT --- First Come/First Served Opportunity to Purchase Parish Bus Transportation to/from Mathew Kelly event for $5 Round Trip WHERE --- Bus riders will meet in the St. Theresa Parish front (Thomas Rd) parking lot at 5:15PM to depart promptly for Comerica Theatre at 5:30PM. Bus riders will arrive back at the St. Theresa Parish front parking lot at approx. 10:30PM immediately following the closing of the Event (please note: Comerica Theatre does not allow any outside food or beverage products to be brought in. The Theatre will have food & beverages available for purchase.) HOW --- We have 2 buses (45 spaces each) available and you can reserve your space(s) by: calling Carrie Vinesky in the Parish Office at (602) 840-0850 or emailing Carrie in the Parish Office at: cvinesky@sttheresaphx.org. St. Theresa Parish Blood Drive Sunday, November 4, 2018 8:30AM ~ 12:30PM Bloodmobile will be located in the North Parking Lot. Please visit www.bloodhero.com and use Sponsor Code: st.theresa. Sign up today to help save a life! Eligibility questions call 1-800-288-2199 ext.5497 Join Us on Monday, October 15th in Fr. Feeney Hall from 6:30 9PM to learn more about Diocese of Phoenix Safe Environment Training. We will be offering the Safe Environment Foundation Training that is offered to all Priests, Religious, Diocesan Employees & Volunteers, as well as the materials that are used at St. Theresa Parish for the Safe Environment Training that all Catholic School Children as well as Religious Education students receive each year. If you would like to participate, please contact Rita Laguna in the Parish Office @ 602-586-7426 to reserve a spot. Praise For Parents BE THANKFUL Not being thankful is harmful to your health. There are some very interesting studies linking optimism to better immune function. Do you take time to sit in the present moment and thank God for the life you have been given? Do you really look around and appreciate family members and friends? Just having read this is an amazing blessing. You see! You read! Being a negative and complaining person is unhealthy and not fun to be around. Newspaper Recycling Drop-Off Students of STCS greatly appreciate parishioner support for their paper recycling program! Due to school security, the recycling bins will only be available for parishioner drop-off during Sunday Mass times. Thank You! The St. Theresa Parish Elementary Religious Education Program Is Collecting... NEW socks & gently used or new (closed toe athletic) shoes for children ages 5-12. We will be collecting these items until December 1st. If you have any questions contact Rita Laguna @ 602-586-7426 or rlaguna@sttheresaphx.org.
2nd Grade Sacramental Preparation Thank you to the parents who attended the sacrament meeting for 2 nd Grade Reconciliation. We went over the meeting dates, the syllabus, the retreat, and handed out the Sacrament of Reconciliation workbook to each family in attendance. If you missed the meeting, please follow these steps: ~ Make sure to register your child online for the 2 nd Grade Sacrament at www.sttheresaphx.org. ~ Call or email Gina Keating to pick up sacrament workbook and drop off a copy of child s baptismal certificate; 602-840-0850, gkeating@sttheresaphx.org. The first parent and child formation class is THIS Sunday, October 14th at 10:30AM in Fr. Feeney Hall. Be prepared by having lessons completed. See you there! -The Sacrament Team 3rd Grade Sacrament Preparation Parents of Third Grade Children: The Rehearsal Mass for Third Grade Sacraments will be Friday, May 17th, at 6PM in the church. Children, their sponsors and a parent must attend. The Mass of Confirmation/First Eucharist will be Saturday, May 18th at 11AM in the Church. PASTORAL CARE MASS OF REMEMBRANCE 2018 will be held on Monday, 5th November 2018 at 7:00PM. If you have had a loved one die this year (since November 1st 2017) and their funeral was NOT at St. Theresa Parish, you are invited to contact Maureen Schaaf @ 602-586-7429 or mschaaf@sttheresaphx.org with your loved one s name so they may be remembered in this Mass. The deadline for submitting names is Monday, 29th October at NOON. Pray For Those... Who Are Sick: Bill Haugen Who Have Died: Joanne Haugen & Paul Haugen Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Every Thursday Convent Chapel 9:00AM ~ 7:00PM We are in need of Adorers for the following hours: Noon, 1:00 and 2:00. Please contact Maureen at 602-586-7429 or mschaaf@sttheresaphx.org if you can help. St. Theresa Kitchen Angels The New Evangelization is a task of apostolic (or pastoral) action. Authentic apostolic action is nothing other than acts of true love done for the love of God and for all our brothers and sisters. Pastoral Care is in need of MALE Kitchen Angels to help with washing dishes and heavier lifting at Senior Luncheons. You would be needed from about 11:30AM- 1:30PM on those days. If you are able to serve in this manner please contact Maureen Schaaf in the Parish Office @ 602-586-7429 or by email at mschaaf@sttheresaphx.org. The Alzheimer s Support Group... group meets on the LAST Tuesday of every month. The October meeting will be on Tuesday, October 30th at 4PM in the Parish Office Conference Room. If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer s or dementia and you need the support of others please come by and see if this is the group for you. BUNCO ~ Monday, October 15th at 1:45PM in Fr. Feeney Hall. Come make new friends, and have a laugh or two. For more information please call Patti Iannucci @ 602-952-0802.
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME November Senior Luncheon: November 7, 2018 at 11:30 AM RSVP to Andrea Myton at 602-214-0553 (Please leave a message if you get Andrea s voicemail). $10.00 per person You can now RSVP and/or pay on line at https://sttheresaphxcatechesis.weshareonline.org/ SeniorLuncheon If you have contributed online or signed up for an event online in the past be sure to click the Login button in the upper right corner and use your email address and password prior to completing your registration/giving. If you can t remember or need a new password, click the Login button and then click on Forgot Password? button and a temporary password will be emailed to you and you can set a new password. RSVP deadline is Friday, November 2nd!!! Please bring non-perishable food items for the St. Vincent de Paul pantry. They are in particular need of Cereal, Peanut Butter, and Jelly. Thank you and God s Blessings. Parishioners Who Are Sick, Hospitalized, Or Homebound please call Maureen Schaaf @ 602-586-7429 to request Holy Communion. Appointments may also be scheduled for Confession and Anointing of the Sick. When the Church cares for the sick, it serves Christ himself in the suffering members of his Mystical Body the Church shows this solicitude not only by visiting those who are in poor health but also by raising them up through the sacrament of anointing and by nourishing them with the Eucharist during their illness and when they are in danger of death. (Decree of the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, 7 December 1972) DIOCESAN NEWS Annual Arizona Rosary Celebration, Sunday, October 21st Plan to be at the Phoenix Convention Center, Halls F and G, NE corner of 3 rd St. and Jefferson, Sunday, October 21. Main program is from 2-4:15PM. Bishop Thomas Olmsted presiding. Bishop Patrick Zurek of Amarillo, Texas, will be the keynote speaker. Beginning at 12 Noon priests will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confessions). Be part of the annual celebration on honoring Our Lady in the Month of the Holy Rosary. Admission is free. Discount parking $5 at SE corner of Jefferson and 3rd St. courtesy of Phoenix Sun or Light Rail stop at 3rd St. and Jefferson. For more information, call Danny Haywood at 602-469-0758, visit www.azrosary.net or e-mail azrosary@yahoo.com. SCHOOL NEWS
Mass Intentions & Celebrants (OCTOBER 15TH-OCTOBER 21ST) MONDAY, OCTOBER 15TH 6:30AM +TO MARY, CO-REDEMPTRIX-FR. CHUCK TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16TH 6:30AM +TO MARY, CO-REDEMPTRIX-FR. JC WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17TH 6:30AM +TO MARY, CO-REDEMPTRIX-FR. JC 8:30AM +ROSA FAVOR SO-FR. CHUCK THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18TH 6:30AM +ARACELI GUEVARA-FR. CHUCK FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19TH 6:30AM BABE & DAVID SOLAR, SP. INT.-FR. CHUCK SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20TH 8:00AM JOSEPHINE & JIM BONANNO-FR. CHUCK 4:00PM FOR THE PARISHIONERS-FR. JC SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21ST 7:30AM +DR. ROBERT J. RANUCCI-FR. CHUCK 9:00AM +CONNIE HEENEY-FR. JOACHIM 11:00AM +MARIE & ALBERT FLEMING-FR. PAUL 5:00PM JOSEPHINE & JIM BONANNO, SP. INT. -FR. CHUCK The Priest scheduled to celebrate the Mass IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ~Readings ~ Week of October 14, 2018 Sunday Wis 7:7-11; Ps 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17; Heb 4:12-13; Mk 10:17-30 or 10:17-27 Monday Gal 4:22-24, 26-27, 31 5:1; Ps 113:1b-2, 3-4, 5a & 6-7; Lk 11:29-32 Tuesday Gal 5:1-6; Ps 119:41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48; Lk 11:37-41 Wednesday Gal 5:18-25; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 & 6; Lk 11:42-46 Thursday 2 Tm 4:10-17b; Ps 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18; Lk 10:1-9 Friday Eph 1:11-14; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13; Lk 12:1-7 Saturday Eph 1:15-23; Ps 8:2-3ab, 4-5, 6-7; Lk 12:8-12 Sunday Is 53:10-11; Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; Heb 4:14-16; Mk 10:35-45 or 10:42-45 Sunday 9:00AM RCIA (Convent Upper Rm) 10:30AM 2nd Grade Reconciliation Mtg. (Fr. Feeney Hall) RE Classes (School Classrooms) 1:00PM Infant Baptisms (Church) 6:00PM Life Teen (Life Rm/Msgr. McMahon Gym) Monday 1:45PM Bunco (Fr. Feeney Hall) 5:30PM Youth Choir Rehearsal (Church) 6:00PM Grief Recovery Method (Parish Conference Rm) 6:30PM SET Foundation (Fr. Feeney Hall) Tuesday 4:00PM SVDP Mtg. (Convent Conference Rm) 6:00PM Cub Scout Pack 147 Mtg. (Msgr. McMahon Gym) New Journey Grief Group (Parish Conference Rm) 7:00PM Boy Scout Troop 147 Mtg. (PJP Rm) Wednesday 9:30AM Centering Prayer (Convent Chapel) 1:00PM Divine Mercy Retreat (Convent Upper Rm) 4:00PM Life Teen (Life Rm) 5:00PM Reconciliation (Church) 6:00PM Adult Choir Rehearsal (Church) 6:30PM Divine Mercy Retreat (Convent Upper Rm) Rosary (Convent Chapel) Thursday 9:00AM Adoration (Convent Chapel) 10:00AM Joanne Haugen Funeral (Church) 7:30PM Praise & Worship (Church) Friday 6:30PM Communion & Liberation Group (Convent Upper Rm) Covenant of Love (Fr. Feeney Hall) Saturday 9:00AM Reconciliation (Church) 6:00PM STCS Auction (School Campus) 8:00PM Al Anon (Classroom 16) Alcoholics Anonymous (Classroom 17)