Every year we plan our Parish Picnic as close to the Feast of St. Augustine as possible. Plan ahead and mark your calendar for Sunday, August 25, 2019 at the Berta Pavilion in St. Patrick’s Park from 12:30 – 6 PM.
In our first reading today, the Book of Wisdom tells us that as slaves in Egypt, the Jewish people were praying and offering sacrifice, asking God for freedom. They trusted that God would hear them and free them.
Our second reading continues this theme of trust in God. Abraham and Sarah were immigrants in a foreign land, sent there by God with a promise of a better life and that they would be the mother and father of many generations. Both were old but both had trust in God’s promise.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says: “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” Jesus says this in the context of trusting in him. “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Jesus is the Sacred Heart who loves us beyond all telling and asks us to do the same. Love God above everything and love your neighbor as yourself. We can only do this if we trust in God.
On Thursday evening at 6 PM we will have the Mass of the Assumption of Mary. Come in honor of Mary our Blessed Mother.
On Wednesday the Church honors St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr. He was known for his devotion to Mary before he was martyred in Auschwitz by lethal injection. The Nazis were going to execute a father of a family but Kolbe took his place and was killed instead.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the world. Let us also pray for vocations to the church. Let us pray for the sick of the parish. Let us pray that all will come to respect life. Let us pray for one another and for the canonization of Father Tolton. Let us also pray for those who are victims of sexual abuse and mass shootings.
A Father Tolton Prayer:Father in Heaven, Father Tolton’s suffering service sheds light upon our sorrows; we see them through the prism of your Son’s passion and death. If it be your Will, O God, glorify your servant Father Tolton, by granting the favor I now request through his intercession (mention your request) so that all may know the goodness of this priest whose memory looms large in the Church he loved. Complete what you have begun in us that we might work for the fulfillment of your kingdom. Not to us the glory, but glory to you O God, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are our God, living and reigning forever and ever. Amen.
Good News
It was announced in the Vatican that Pope Francis accepted - the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Augustine Tolton, Diocesan Priest; born in Brush Creek (United States of America) on April 1, 1854 and died in Chicago (United States of America) on July 9, 1897. This means that Father Tolton now can be called Venerable. The next step is Beatification. For this a miracle approved by the Vatican is needed. So, keep those prayers coming!