I should have returned to South Bend the night of the 18th, and so should be here at Mass today. Even though I was only away for two Sundays and a Holy Day of Obligation, it seems like I’ve been gone a long time, at least it does writing this fourth Bulletin before I leave. Maybe two weeks of vacation won’t seem long looking back from Boston.
I want to thank Father Pete Logsdon, CSC, for filling in for me while I was away and I want to thank the parish for welcoming him to St. Augustine’s. I also want to thank you for your generosity to the Holy Cross Missions. I’m sure Father Pete’s talk on the missions moved you to be generous.
As I said: Father Pete and I go back all the way to Moreau Seminary in the early 1960’s. He was a year ahead of me. We both served in the Southern Province and were together for many years both in New Orleans and Mexico. Father Pete is now the Assistant Superior at Holy Cross House at Notre Dame. That is our medical facility, I’m sure he would be available there, if you would like to visit him.
You can start to plan for our Annual Parish Picnic. I have reserved our usual space at St. Patrick’s County Park for Sunday, August 27, 2017. We have the picnic as close to the Feast of St. Augustine as possible. That date is August 28. Guess what? With our picnic this year we will begin our 90th year as a parish, since we were established as a parish in the diocese in 1928. Time really flies when you are having fun.
As today’s missalette tells us: “Inclusion is God’s plan. God’s desire is that all God’s children enter into community with each other and with God.”
This was true in the Old Testament as well as we read in our first reading from the Prophet Isaiah. “Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice about to be revealed…for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
Our psalm continues with: “May the nations be glad and exult, because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide. May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you! May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him.”
In our second reading St. Paul is preaching to the Gentiles as the apostle to the Gentiles in the hope of converting some of his Jewish brothers and sisters to Christ.
Today’s Gospel is a difficult one. Jesus says “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” He even calls the Canaanite woman a dog. But the woman’s persistence seems to open up Jesus’ thinking and he cures her daughter. Some say Jesus did this to teach his disciples, but others say the woman taught Jesus to be more open. Either way, we see that Jesus and his church should be open to all want to follow him. At St. Augustine’s we certainly try to reach out to all.
On Monday, the Church celebrates ST. Pius X. He died in 1914. He undertook liturgical reforms especially communion for children and frequent communion for adults.
On Wednesday, the Church honors St. Rose of Lima. She was the first declared American born saint, having been born in Lima, Peru. St. Martin de Porres, born in Lima as well, was her contemporary. My home parish in Chelsea, MA was St. Rose of Lima Parish.
On Thursday, the Church celebrates St. Bartholomew, Apostle, also known as Nathaniel in John’s Gospel. He is said to have preached the gospel in India and Armenia, where according to tradition he was martyred.
As Deacon Mel mentions in The Youth Corner, we are looking at having an RCIA class starting in the fall and finishing at Easter next year. If there is anyone interested in becoming Catholic or anyone who is Catholic but missed a sacrament along the way, please see me or Deacon Mel and we can plan accordingly.
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.