14th Sunday in Ordinary time -Year A
Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ,
This weekend, our nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Unlike most nations, the United States was not founded primarily on a shared ethnicity, language, or culture. Instead, our founders built a political community out of diverse peoples united by a shared vision of liberty. That vision echoes something deep in the Christian mystery revealed in today’s Gospel. Jesus returns to His hometown. The people see only what is familiar: the carpenter, the son of Mary, one of their own. As Mark tells us, “They took offense at him. Jesus said, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.’” Their narrow vision blinds them. Jesus has come to inaugurate a new communion that transcends geography, bloodlines, and culture. He has come to unite all people in Himself. At its best, America’s national unity reflects this possibility, which fully subsists only in the Catholic Church. Our unity is not based on ancestry or tribe, but on a shared commitment to higher ideals. For this reason, we can love our country with gratitude while situating patriotism within the broader horizon of faith. Rooted in Christ, we are less vulnerable to the unholy tribalism that threatens civic life and faith. This weekend, let us thank God for our nation and pray that we also live as citizens of Heaven in Jesus Christ. — Father John Muir
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I had read an article about a dispute over decorations for Independence Day. It would seem there is a house that goes all out in decorating for each of the holidays and some neighbors feel it is way too much or as they put it the house “screams at them”. I believe it is all a matter of opinion for I know I tend to go all out for Christmas, and some might think it is too much. However, whether you decorate a lot or do not decorate at all on any given holiday does not really matter, what matters is that we do not get lost in the decorations and forget what the holiday is all about whether it be a religious holiday like Christmas or a secular holiday like Independence Day. This week we are celebrating Independence Day so let us remember it is about our country, it is about those who died so that we could live free, and it is about the blessing of living in a country where we are free to express our opinions, free to celebrate our faith, free to decorate or not to decorate. Let us remember that our freedom includes the freedom to pray, so amongst the BBQs, the fireworks or whatever we do to celebrate let us take the time out to Thank God in prayer that we can take the time out to Thank God in prayer and that it is never taken away from us.
God Bless you and God Bless the U.S.A.!
God Bless you and have a wonderful week, Fr. Michael
Blessing for the Summer
Praise God!
Pour Your mercy upon this season, Lord! As the days fill with sun, fill our hearts with the fire of Your love. As we gather to share story and song, campfires and connection, be with us. Bless our work, our rest, and our play in Your goodness. Amen.
SCRIPTURAL REFLECTIONS ON STEWARDSHIP
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
When we think of being good stewards, we may think that God is asking too much of us when He calls us to generously share our time, talent and treasure. However, we must remember that we are not “owners” of anything, we are merely “stewards” of the gifts God has given us. All He is asking is that we give back a small portion, in gratitude, of what He has already given to us.
PRAYER REQUESTS
That God will relieve their suffering and restore them to health.
Please pray for: Kellie Salata, Kelly Chinchar, Jessica, Daniel Breslin, Stanley, Joseph Marrone, Anthony, Michael, Joseph, Jessica Esopo, Steve, Audra, Bernadette, James Weiss, Baby Ford, Rosemary Malangone, Elizabeth Malangone, Sue West, Colleen Emery, Richard, Joan Russo, Christina Martin, Mornia Evans, Valerie Valverde, Diana McGuckin, Cheryl Prinjinski, Stephen West, Bryan Westfall, Cathy Bruno, Anne Trainor.
PRACTICING CATHOLIC
RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS
By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman
The Smallness of Great Faith
My children attend Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) for their faith formation. Because of its Montessori basis, CGS atriums, which are something like classrooms, contain lots of objects made from real materials — authentic glass, wood, and ceramic. This is a polite way of saying there are lots of breakable things in there. So when my four-year-old entered the atrium on her first day of CGS, my whole body tensed, wondering what she would shatter first. I had to restrain myself from crying out, “Don’t touch anything!” She spotted the prayer table — the low, wooden stand which holds an open Bible, candles, a vase with flowers and a statue of the Good Shepherd. It’s the centerpiece of every atrium. She knelt before the table. She made the sign of the cross. And she sat there, still and silent. I stopped dead in my tracks. How had she known to come here? And where did she learn to make the sign of the cross? (Obviously we’ve tried to teach her, but she does it wrong every time!) And why was she sitting there so quietly, so expectantly, in front of a book she can’t read? A thought came to me so clearly: Well, Colleen, you can read that book. But can you understand it? It is so easy for us to forget that great faith does not require great intelligence. It does not require great knowledge of the world and its workings. Great faith does not require the believer to possess any answers. Great faith only requires the believer to know his own smallness.
SIN
Question:
A member of my parish was recently arrested for a white-collar crime. I don’t approve of what he did, but he is a great neighbor and a nice person. How should I treat someone like him?
Answer:
There is a litany of expressions that fit this situation: Everyone makes mistakes. Hate the sin, love the sinner. Judge not, lest you be judged. All of these proverbs and sayings highlight the fact that we are here to help each other on the way to salvation. Our hope and goal is that everyone grows in grace, drawing closer to God and to the promise of eternal life. Part of that process is our struggle, collectively and individually, with sin. And that is the ugly part. Sin is not nice, pretty, or inviting when laid out for all to see. Nor is it easy for the person caught in the spotlight. Kindness and support are not the same thing as approval. We recognize that good people can do bad things and, in their struggle, they need the help of others. Our kindness is often the flicker of hope that allows someone to face the consequences of sin while focusing on the promise of redemption. Your desire to help and support your neighbor is the response of grace to sin, and the same response of Jesus to us.
Holy Name Medical Center is looking for Eucharistic Ministers, volunteers, who are willing to help out in giving out Holy Communion to their patients. If you are interested, you can email them at pokafor@holyname.org or call their office at 201-833-3243 or stop by their Pastoral Care Office, behind the chapel, lobby/ground floor at Holy Name Medical Center.
The gift of Bread & Wine for the month of June has been given by Mr. & Mrs. Phil Iacono. The first two weeks are in memory of Angelina & Sebastian Falato and the second two weeks are in memory of Carmela & Salvatore Iacono.
The gift of Altar Flowers for the month of June has been given in memory of Charles Sylvestri by Linda J. Sylvestri.
The gift of the Sanctuary Lamp for the second two weeks of June has been given in memory of the Deceased Members of the Catral & Camacho Families by Paz & Federico Camacho.
Please consider sponsoring our Bread & Wine, Altar Flowers, and the oil for the Sanctuary Lamp.
Opportunities for Parish Support
There are several ways you can help support our parish and honor loved ones at the same time. As you may have noticed on the first Sunday of every month in our bulletin, we thank the donors of our Altar Gifts. You can donate the Bread & Wine, Altar Flowers, or the Sanctuary Lamp in a two-week block for $50 in someone’s memory. We have blocks open for this year. We also need to purchase a new Easter candle each year (the tall candle on the altar) for $300-$400 which can also be donated in someone’s memory. You do not have to fund the entire amount, anything you wish to donate towards the purchase of our Easter candle is appreciated. We also have masses available for your intentions. If you wish to honor someone in any of these ways, please call the rectory.
Prayer for our Nation
God our Father, giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for your glory and dwell among your people. Send your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing your will. Through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, patroness of our land, grant us the courage to reject the “culture of death.” Lead us into a new millennium of life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Praying the ROSARY
The Rosary is a meditation, a time to recall and think about the life of Jesus as seen and experienced by Mary. As the model of faith, Mary’s life sets a pattern that we strive to follow: saying ‘yes’ to God’s will in our lives and sharing His love and message with others. The Mysteries of the Rosary form a mini lesson of faith, using the highlights and significant moments of the life of Jesus. Like paging through a family scrapbook, we see in brief the events of salvation history that are the core of our belief and the hope of our eternal life.
WE NEED BULLETIN ADVERTISERS!!
We would like to thank all the advertisers who have supported us throughout the past year. Our parish benefits greatly from the ads you see in the bulletin. The revenue pays for the printing which is an important means of communication for the parish. If we do not have enough advertisers, the cost of our bulletin goes up. We thank the local businesses that advertise with us especially in these tough economic times. We have some spaces on the back of our bulletin that need filling so if you would like to advertise your business as well as benefit your church, please contact John Patrick Publishing at 1-800-333-3166.
Please support our advertisers at the back cover of bulletin.
