Thanksgiving is this Thursday. Be sure to give thanks to God all his blessings.
As we near the end of the year, we have to make our lists again for “Coffee &”, Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Hoy Communion. Please see Jeri Smith, if you would like to be added to the “Coffee &” list. We really do need more people to participate.
With the Lector and Holy Communion Lists, please see Father Len. If you are on the list and want to stay on, no problem. If you are on the list and want off, please see me. If you would like to become a Lector or Holy Communion Minister, please see me. The new lists for January – June will be coming out in the middle of December.
The month of November is the month of All Souls. If you haven’t already done so, I urge you to put a list of your dearly departed in the basket by the altar. This gives you a chance to recall them by name and to have their names by the altar for the month. November is also Black Catholic History Month. Look it up online and read a little Black Catholic History each day. There is also a lot of Black Catholic History listed in our Josephite Parish Calendar.
The Annual Bishop’s Appeal is supposed to end today. However, we are extending it due to a short fall in pledges. We still need $5,571.00 to make our goal. If we don’t, we will have to find the money in our parish funds. Please consider a pledge, if you haven’t already made one. We have 130 families in the parish. 30 have pledged, that means 100 have not. I still have plenty of pledge cards. As usual you can give on line, make sure you mention St. Augustine’s to give the parish credit. You can also drop your pledge card in the collection or give it to Father Len.
As we near the end of the Liturgical Year, our readings talk about the end times. In our first reading The Prophet Daniel starts with “It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time.” However, he continues “But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.” God will save his people.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gets even more specific: “the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” He too tells us that God, the Son of Man, will come on the clouds to save his people. No matter how bad things get, Jesus will be there at our side to save us.
Our second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus is always there to intercede for us even at the end of time.
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.