October 12 is celebrated in North America under three different names. In the US it is still officially Columbus Day, even though the Native Americans and maybe the Vikings and the Irish Saint Brandon "discovered America" before Columbus arrived. In Mexico the day is celebrated as Dia de la Raza or Day of the Race, which commemorates the joining of the Indigenous Peoples and the Europeans. In Canada the day is now Thanksgiving Day. Have a good holiday.
The Bishop's Appeal letters have arrived and some pledges are coming in by mail to the parish. I will begin our report on this next week. Our goal is $11,000.00. If you return the card the bishop mailed to you to the parish in the envelope provided, I will get the pledges and money to the Bishop. If you give on line, please remember to mention St. Augustine so we get credit. As usual if we go over, the overage comes back to the parish. If we don't make the goal they gave us, the parish has to pay the diocese the underage. Please be as generous as you can in these troubled times.
I sincerely thank all of you who continue to send in tithes to the parish. Even with the Covid 19 cases going up in our area, we still have Sunday Masses at 8:15 and 10:30 AM. We have about 15 at each Mass, all masked and socially distanced. We can still have a few more with safety, however, if you feel ill, please stay home. The 8:15 is without music. La Donna usually sings a few songs from a safe distance with Steve on piano and the rest of us clapping, but not singing along at the 10:30. I miss seeing you at "coffee &". Cheryl has been filming the 10:30 and has put it on line. Thank you Cheryl.
Our readings today talk about the Messianic Banquet to come.In the first reading the Prophet Isaiah paints a wonderful picture in words of this Banquet. The whole mountain of the Lord will be filled with celebration with rich food and fine wines God will destroy the differences between peoples. Death will be no more and tears will be wiped away. "Let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us." Our Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 23, where the Lord leads us to green pastures and spreads the table before us. "Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life."
In today's Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the wedding feast. Here he spends more time talking about those who choose not to come and does so to try to convince the sinner to turn back to God. All are finally invited, but some still refuse to go to the feast. Let us make sure that we are open to God's invitation to follow Jesus home to the Messianic Banquet.Let us echo St. Paul's words from our second reading: "I can do all things in him who strengthens me. To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen."