Page Two 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time October 23, 2016 Calendar 23 24 7p Virtus Training, Cabrini Hall 25 26 8:30a Coffee Hour, Sunburst Room 3:45p RE Elementary, Lower School 7p Choir Practices, Music Room and Church 27 28 6:30a Altar Society, Church 8:30a Lively Seniors, HCH 6:30p Adoration with Benediction, Church 29 6:30p Trunk or Treat Halloween Dance, HCH 7:30p ROCCC, Sunburst Room We pray for our sick parishioners that they may know the healing of Christ. Maria Justo Jane Walsh Sandra Smith Teresita Blazon Betty Pollack
St. Francis Xavier God Listens to the Prayer of the Faithful Page Three A woman s husband dies. He has $20,000 left to his name. After the events are paid for including the funeral home, cemetery and all, she tells her friend that there is no money left. The friend asks, How can that be? You told me you had $20,000 a few days before he died. How could you be broke? The widow replied, Well the funeral cost $6,000, and of course the donation to church $500, organ, music and wake $500, food and other things $500 and the rest went to the memorial stone. The friend said, $12500 for a memorial stone? How big is it? The widow replied, Three carats. The readings this Sunday speak about humility. What is humility? The word comes from the Latin humus, which means earth or dust. Humility means we are grounded, down to earth. What does humility mean to God? It is clear. First it is recognizing the fact that we are dust and unto dust. In other words, we are recognizing our human limitations. Second, even though we are dust God calls us through a humble life to greatness, through conversion to him and to others. God s definition is neither exaggerated nor minimized. How do we live God s definition? We start with prayer. Real prayer helps us see clearly what is, not what we think ought to be, not what we want, but what actually is. Fr. Richard Rohr says in his book, Everything Belongs, prayer is not one of ten thousand things, it is that by which we see ten thousand things. Today we hear the story about two people going to pray in the temple. One was a Pharisee, a practicing Jew, and the other a tax collector, a public sinner. The Pharisee was a good man, who came to the temple to say all the things he did to others and the way he lived before God and man. He tried to compare himself with the other man. The tax collector was a public sinner. He came to the temple to share his life and he went back justified. When we pray we stop telling God how good or bad we are. Instead, we listen to God s whispering in our lives. God calls us to conversion and transformation. God calls us to himself, For the son of God became man so that we can become God. How do we practice humility? First, we pray. We listen to God as He speaks to us today through the parable. Second, try to accept the fact that I am not a finished product. Once we accept what needs changing, we can start transforming. Third, learn to say sorry. No one is perfect. An apology can bring miracles. Fourth, always say thank you. Express gratitude in life. Finally, return to the source, the source of all blessings. Acknowledge our dependence in God. Readings for the week of October 23, 2016 Sunday: Sir 35:12-14,16-18/Ps 34:2-3,17-19,23/ 2 Tm 4:6-8,16-18/Lk 18:9-14 Monday: Eph 4:32 5:8/Ps 1:1-4,6/Lk 13:10-17 Tuesday: Eph 5:21-33/Ps 128:1-5/Lk 13:18-21 Wednesday: Eph 6:1-9/Ps 145:10-14/Lk 13:22-30 Thursday: Eph 6:10-20/Ps 144:1-2,9-10/Lk 13:31-35 Friday: Eph 2:19-22/Ps 19:2-5/Lk 6:12-16 Saturday: Phil 1:18-26/Ps 42:2-3,5/Lk 14:1,7-11 Your Fr. Benny Mass Intention October 23, 2016-October 30, 2016 Sunday: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: People of St. Francis Xavier Jim Burry Adolfo George Daniel Gonzalez Betty Matias Marguerite Boylan People of St. Francis Xavier
Page Four 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time October 23, 2016
St. Francis Xavier Page Five Pulpit Announcement on Proposition 62 This election season, the California bishops have chosen Proposition 62 as their top priority. A yes vote for Prop 62 will abolish the death penalty in California and in its place give a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Pope St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis have all stated that there is no need for the death penalty in our community. Now is the time for our state to join the growing number of states who have abolished capital punishment. We ask you to prayerfully consider joining the efforts to end the death penalty.
Page Six 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time October 23, 2016 DIRECTORY OF MINISTRIES Annulments Deacon Jaime Baptism Bereavement Ministry (Funerals) Children's Liturgy of the Word Confirmation Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick (818)767-5630 First Eucharist (Grades 1 & 2) Marriages Pastoral Ministry to the Sick (818)767-0407 Quinceñera R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) Reconciliation by Appointment Peace & Justice Ministries (818)504-4428 DID YOU KNOW? Healthy suspicion can protect those who are vulnerable to abuse When it comes to fighting against abuse, prevention is the first step. For adults who work with kids, it s important to recognize the signs of those who could be vulnerable to predators or abuse. Using healthy suspicion can help prevent access to these kids as well. For a copy of the VIRTUS article Awareness and Education Empower Adults to Better Protect Minors, email jvienna@laarchdiocese.org or call 213-637-7227. Interested in engaging in the spirituality of Justice call Food Pantry Environmental Stewardship Advocacy Formation & Leadership Program Community Outreach