At the 10:30 AM Mass today we will add a new member to the Church. We will baptize Xavier Andrew Fernandez. Congratulations to Xavier and his parents, Manny and Anne Kathryn and their family. We started preparing for this baptism over a year ago just before the Covid - 19 virus hit us. Having it this Sunday offers a ray of hope to all of us. Let us continue to pray for an end to this pandemic.
Next Sunday has been declared by Pope Francis as a Sunday to honor Grandparents and the Elderly. Monday, the 26th of July is the Memorial of Saints Anne and Joachim, the parents of Mary and so the Grandparents of Jesus. Grandparents usually play a big role in our families. This is especially true today when so many grandparents actually raise their grandchildren. Do something nice for your grandparents this week, at least a little prayer and do something nice for all the elders in your family.
In our readings today the word "shepherd" jumps out at us. In our first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, God talks about replacing the bad shepherds with good ones. "Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture, says the Lord." "I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble." We know that the Shepherd is Jesus from our Gospel: "When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things." He still teaches us many things today, especially through his church. If you sometimes get discouraged by the press' stories about the Church, just remember they often talk about controversy to make headlines. We have a big church worldwide with people from many cultures and philosophies. There have always been discussions on the right way to do things, after all we the church are human beings with many ideas. In our second reading, St. Paul talks about the division between Pagans and Jews. He points out that Jesus came to preach to all of us: "through him we both [all] have access in one Spirit to the Father." Pray for unity in the Church.
We continue to have our 8:15 and 10:30 AM Masses on Sunday. If you are fully vaccinated you need not wear a mask. If you are not, please wear a mask. If you are more comfortable wearing a mask, that is fine, too. The Soup Kitchen is open MWF from 11 AM - 12:30 PM.