Tomorrow the Church honors Saint Peter Claver, S.J. He was a Catalonia Jesuit who served in the Colombian mission in Cartagena in the 1600’s. For 38 years he devoted himself to caring for African slaves, baptizing over 300,000. He called himself “the slave of the slaves forever”. He is the patron of Colombia and of all missions to black people. The Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver take their name from him. St. Peter Claver, pray for us.
A big thank you goes out to all those who have helped getting the basement ready for the Catechesis of the Good Shepard. Keep up the good work.
Congratulations to Kristen Brugh and Tyler Walker who were married in the Church on Friday evening. May God bless you in your life together.
Our Annual Parish Picnic was a great success. I want to thank all who attended and especially those who worked so hard to make it a success. We can give credit to St. Augustine for the great weather we had. What a beautiful day! And a great time was had by all. Special thanks go out to Marian Newbill and her crew for getting it all together!
Our first reading today from the Book of Wisdom, tells us something we already know. God is a lot greater than we are. It also gives us a little philosophy telling us that we are limited in what are minds can do. “For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.” However, it concludes that God helps us by giving us wisdom and the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds.
In our second reading, Saint Paul tries to enlighten the mind of Philemon about his slave Onesimus. He asks Philemon to welcome him back as a brother in Christ.
Today’s Gospel is rather difficult. Jesus tells the crowds what it takes to follow him. He tells them to give up everything and that’s a lot even for a very poor person. Jesus is in reality telling the crowds and us that everything we have comes from God and should lead us back to him. He even tells us there will be crosses to carry. That’s why he mentions mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and children, too. Sometimes they can be the cross we have to carry. Yet, if we love God above all and see the things we have as gifts from him, we will love him more than the things in our lives.
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated on Saturday. This commemorates St. Helena finding the cross upon which Jesus was crucified
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.
Good News
It was announced in the Vatican that Pope Francis accepted - the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Augustine Tolton, Diocesan Priest; born in Brush Creek (United States of America) on April 1, 1854 and died in Chicago (United States of America) on July 9, 1897. This means that Father Tolton now can be called Venerable. The next step is Beatification. For this a miracle approved by the Vatican is needed. So, keep those prayers coming!