At the 8:15 Mass this morning Isaiah and Lucy Garvey will make their First Holy Communion. Congratulation to Lucy and Isaiah and the whole family!
Some of you may notice something new in the church. Look around and see if you can see it. OK, John Houk has been working on the kneelers during the week. Thanks John.
Just a reminder to participate in the 31st Annual Bishop’s Appeal! Your pledge and payment are important to the work of the diocese. If you couldn’t sign a pledge card today, please pray over your pledge this week. If you have already made a pledge, thank you!
I have been informed that after a great deal of work our web-site is up and running. Check it out and tell others about it. The address is on the front page of the Bulletin.
School has started, so drive more carefully.
As I’m sure we have all heard President Trump has ended the DACA program with a six month leeway. That means that if congress does nothing about it, 800,000 young people brought here as small children can be deported from the only country they remember and grew up in. Let us pray for a quick and finally solution that these 800,000 American children can stay here where they grew up.
We are about to begin our 90th year as a parish. We are looking for more history of the parish as well as ideas on how to celebrate this great anniversary. Why not spend a little time looking at the pictures of the priest and deacons who have served here? Maybe you will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit to contribute a great idea or two for this coming year.
The theme in today’s readings is God’s mercy. In our first reading today we hear from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah: “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call him while he is near. Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts; let him turn to the Lord for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving.” God is always waiting for us to do better and turn to him.
Jesus says the same thing in today’s Gospel when he gives us the parable of the landowner offering work to all he sees, from early morning until late afternoon. And he treats all the workers the same. The concluding line is always interesting: “Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” God loves us all and his mercy is everlasting, if we just seek him out.
In our second reading, Saint Paul talks about his faith in life after death. “I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.” Paul knows that when he dies he will be with Jesus face to face. He also knows that the early church needs him alive and preaching the Good News. He sees Jesus in the church and the brothers and sisters to whom he preaches. We need to do the same. One day God will call us from this life to himself. So, we have to live close to God every day.
On Wednesday, the Church celebrates Saint Vincent de Paul, who died in Paris in 1600. St. Vincent renewed the clergy and defended the poor and the abandoned. He founded the Congregation of the Missions (The Vincentians) and with St. Louise de Marillac the Daughters of Charity. He is the patron of charities, of hospitals and prisons. The St. Vincent de Paul Society is named in his honor.
On Friday, the church honors Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels. All three appear in scripture as God’s messengers. Do you know where?
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.