Weekly Reflections, Announcements, News & Thoughts

World Mission Sunday 2019 EXTRAORDINARY MISSIONARY MONTH Society for the Propagation of the Faith: Be Baptized and Sent—on Mission in the World!

Today, World Mission Sunday, in this Extraordinary Missionary Month, we are called to personal encounter with Jesus Christ alive in the Church, and to offer, through this Eucharistic celebration, our prayers and our generous financial support, through the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, to continue the mission of Jesus. Today we are “sent” out to witness to Mission in the world through our prayers and personal sacrifices for our brothers and sisters around the world. As little as…

-> $25 helps support a catechist for a month in remote Latin America -> $75 provides for the work of religious Sisters caring for orphaned children in Africa -> $100 assists poor children in boarding schools in Asia

As always, your prayers are your most treasured gift to the Missions. Your prayers and financial help, offered today, WORLD MISSION SUNDAY, support mission priests, religious Sisters and Brothers, and lay catechists who are Christ’s witnesses to a world so in need of His healing, love, and peace.

PLEASE RETURN YOUR WORLD MISSION SUNDAY OFFERING IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED…in the regular collection or to the parish office as is convenient to you. THANK YOU AND MAY GOD ABUNDANTLY BLESS YOUR SACRIFICES…

OCTOBER IS RESPECT LIFE MONTH

The month of October has been designated Respect Life Month as we reaffirm our commitment to live and proclaim the Gospel of Life. Let us pray that our world will transform our culture of death into a culture of life where every human life is sacred and deserving of protection. Please make this effort a daily commitment in prayer and deed.

Pro-Life Means… Womb to Tomb, the unborn and the elderly, the poor and the outcast, the innocent and the guilty, the productive and the unproductive, the man and the woman, the believer and non-believer, the saint and the sinner. October is filled with opportunities to live and proclaim the Gospel of Life

All Souls Day Novena : Begins Saturday Nov 2nd. Remember Your Deceased Loved Ones During Nine Days of Special Masses

In just a few weeks, we will begin a special period of nine days when we will pray for our beloved dead. You are invited to enroll your loved ones in these masses by using the envelopes located in the vestibule of the church and returning them as soon as possible to be included in the novena. The names of our beloved dead will be placed upon the altar for these special nine days. May all our beloved dead rest in peace.

Preserving Our Past, Building Our Future Capital Campaign Update

Have you ever told a joke and nobody laughs. It is the most awkward moment. You just want to press the rewind button and not do it. Well, that has happened to me on various occasions. It happens at weddings because of a joke I use to introduce my homily. I talk about the three rings of marriage…engagement ring, wedding ring, suffering. Some people laugh and some don’t. I even get moments of complete silence. But, the reason I tell the joke is to talk about a real aspect of love that the world never speaks about and that is how painful love can be and should be.

Well, I have changed my homily at weddings. I no longer tell that joke. I ask a question of the bride and groom…one by one…are you passionately in love with this woman? Are you passionately in love with this man? They always say yes. Then, I talk about what passion means. It is not about intensity. It is about pain. Passion from the Passion of Christ…Good Friday…Passion means suffering…Pain as an aspect of love.

Well, I wanted to begin this column with a joke but I decided instead to make a statement…Thank you for being passionate about your Catholic faith. I see the fruit of that every day here at Mary, Star of the Sea Church. Being Catholic is more than just a baptism, more than a parish registration form, more than Sunday mass attendance. It is a committed response to the mission of the church founded by Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the sacrifices made that have built this Church and supported the ministries that have touched so many lives over many years.

Let me be clear…this commitment can be difficult and painful. But, the results are amazing. I look at the fruits of our recent capital campaign as an example.

I arrived at the tail end of our Preserving Our Past, Building Our Future Campaign. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS RESPONSE TO THIS EFFORT. Many projects have been completed (roofs, bathrooms, new air conditioning systems, etc.). These are essential projects in meeting the needs of present and future generations. PLEASE ACCEPT OUR DEEP GRATITUDE.

We also know that much needs to be done. Over 1.8 million was pledged to this effort and just over 1 million was realized. As the Campaign draws down, we humbly ask those who are able to fulfill their pledges to do so. We also ask our benefactors, who are able, to consider adding to their fulfilled commitments. All that we receive will support ongoing projects in enhancing the ministries of prayer and service here at Mary, Star of the Sea Parish. Thank you for your passion…thank you for your commitment…may God abundantly bless your sacrifices. –Fr. Pat

The Eucharist in Scripture: A Six Week Bible Study by Scott Hahn, led by Fr. Pat

Monday Evenings 6:30-8:00pm. October 14,21,28 Nov 4,11,18 in the Parish Office Conference Room

The Eucharist in Scripture is part of Promise & Fulfillment, a series of dynamic video presentations by Dr. Scott Hahn, founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

Promise & Fulfillment is designed to help ordinary Catholics grow in their knowledge of the riches of the Catholic faith. With his hearers, Dr. Hahn reads the Bible from the heart of the Church, considering the providential relationship of the Old and the New Testaments.

In The Eucharist in Scripture, discover God’s plan as it is expressed through the Bible and the Mass. This six-lesson study, presented by Dr. Scott Hahn, will unlock the meaning of covenant, sacrifice, and sacrament as understood in the Bible, from Genesis through Revelation.

Built around three of Dr. Hahn’s foundational talks: “The Lamb’s Supper,” “The Fourth Cup,” and “Consuming the Word,” The Eucharist in Scripture examines the biblical foundations of the Eucharist and explores the Church’s liturgy as the original context for the books of the Bible.

There is no fee for attending. Please contact the parish office if you would like to attend so we can be prepared. Also, if you would like to purchase the accompanying workbook ($25), please notify the parish office so we can order an advanced copy for you.

SAVE THE DATE…SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY JANUARY 5, 2020

I am very pleased to announce that Dr. Scott Walker Hahn will be doing a presentation at our parish, Mary, Star of the Sea Church, on Sunday January 5th in the evening (Epiphany Weekend). It will be a ticketed event and more information will be forthcoming soon. PLEASE SAVE THE DATE and plan to join us.

Have a blessed and holy week! In Christ’s love, Fr. Pat