I hope everyone has been enjoying the fine weather we have been having. It gives us all a chance to enjoy nature at its finest. Soon we will even see her in all her fall glory with leaves of many colors. Remember to thank God for this great gift.
By now most of you should have received a letter from Bishop Rhoades announcing the 35th Annual Bishop's Appeal. I got mine a couple of days ago. The overall goal for the diocese is $5,099,965.00. The goal for our parish is $9,327.84. In your letter from the Bishop there are instructions on how to pledge and how to pay your pledge. This includes a pledge card and and envelope addressed to St. Augustine. Several have already arrived at the parish. I deposit them in our account and then send the pledge cards and a check for what came in from us to the diocese. Next Sunday, September 26, 2021 we will have the annual video from the bishop with sign ups and explanations of the drive. Please be generous.
In last Sunday's Gospel, Jesus began to teach his disciples about his coming death. He continues that theme in today's Gospel. "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise." They didn't understand him and so they pursued their own theme: Who is the greatest among the disciples? a very human conversation! So, Jesus tells them who is the greatest: "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." That is not what most expect if they are the greatest, Jesus, the Suffering Servant, asks us to be servants to one another.
Our first reading from the Book of Wisdom is bothersome because it tells us there are people who are not very nice. They seem to know they are doing wrong but still want to do it and not only that they plot against the just one and plan on killing him. As we know that is what happened to Jesus. But he fooled them by rising from the dead. In our second reading, St. James discusses this conflict between right and wrong. He talks to all as sinners and shows us how to change from sinner to saint. We do it with wisdom, God's grace. "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity." The sinner can become a saint. Just look at our patron, St. Augustine.
We continue to have our Sunday Masses at 8:15 and 10:30 AM. We continue to put our 10:30 on our website later in the day. The Good Shepherd Program has started at levels 1 and 2, between Masses. Children's Church runs during the 10:30 and Sacramental Preparation Classes are at 9:30 AM. The Soup Kitchen is open MWF from 11 AM - 12:30 PM. The Rental Assistance Program is also during the Soup Kitchen hours. This is a federal program that will run until the end of the month. This is administered by St. Vincent de Paul. You can see if you qualify by calling them at 574-234-6000. Our local St. Vincent de Paul still brings aid to the needy. The Friday afternoon discussion group continues on zoom every other Friday at 4 PM. You can contact Cheryl Ashe for info on this.
I have put a sheet in the foyer with our income and expenses for 2020-2021. Even with the pandemic, we did well. Thanks to your generosity we are still ahead of the game with some money in the diocesan bank.
I will once again say if you have not been vaccinated for Covid-19, please get vaccinated. If you are ill, please stay home. At Mass, you can wear a mask if you are vaccinated and feel safer doing so. We ask those not vaccinated to please wear a mask. As Pope Francis says it is an act of love to protect yourself and your neighbor.