The Pastor’s Corner – July 22, 2018

In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus say: “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” The apostles had been out among the crowd that was following them and had been so busy that “they had no opportunity even to eat.” Jesus calls them to come and step away from their busy lives. He had done the same himself, going to deserted places for time to pray and be renewed. He knew that their ability to be good shepherds depended on their relationship with the Father and the way that they managed their time and energy. We need to have the same balance in our lives no matter what our responsibilities. I hope that during this summer you will have time to relax and be refreshed. Whether you go on a trip or stay here locally, build in time to enjoy this time of the year.

The course on the Psalms this week will feature Fr. Timothy Shreenan speaking on how the Psalms have inspired artists and musicians over the centuries. His presentation on Wednesday, July 25, will include examples of beautiful illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The presentation will be given at 12 Noon and repeated at 6:15 PM. On Thursday there will be a Solemn Celebration of Vespers in the church, showing how the Psalms are part of our worship. Vespers or Evening Prayer is said or sung every day by those who pray the Liturgy of the Hours. It is a beautiful way to end this series on the Psalms.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

 

Evangelii Gaudium: Chapter 5, Spirit-Filled Evangelizers

“It is impossible to persevere in a fervent evangelization unless we are convinced from personal experience that it is not the same thing to have known Jesus as not to have known him, not the same to walk with him as to walk blindly, not the same to hear his word as not to know it, and not the same thing to contemplate him, to worship him, to find our peace in him, as not to. It is not the same thing to try to build the world with his Gospel as to try to do so by our own lights.

We know well that with Jesus life becomes richer and that with him it is easier to find meaning in everything. This is why we evangelize. A true missionary, who never ceases to be a disciple, knows that Jesus walks with him, speaks to him, breathes with him, works with him. He senses Jesus alive with him in the midst of the missionary enterprise. Unless we see him present at the heart of our missionary commitment, our enthusiasm soon wanes and we are no longer sure of what it is that we are handing on; we lack vigor and passion.”

 

Summer time and the giving is easy…

You might know the song verse refered to in the title of this post, “Summertime and the livin’ is easy…”

Well… it’s summer time and we want to make your giving easy too.  If you haven’t done so already, please sign up for online giving.  It’s the way we live, it’s how we pay our bill, it’s what we do.

In the Christian tradition, giving alms always included our financial support for the Church in addition to our offerings to care for those in need.  And the fact is the Church of St. Francis of Assisi needs your help.  Our collections still fall short of our budgetary needs.

We ask everyone to commit ONE HOUR of their weekly salary for the support of the Church.  That’s a 2.5% tithe.  Please do your part to keep our parish going strong.

You can make your donations weekly or monthly.  You can use a credit card, debit card or your bank account.  You can change your donation schedule at any time and you can print out your own summaries for tax purposes.

Sign up today HERE.

 

PS… if you don’t know the song… listen to a great version sung by Ella Fitzgerald here.

 

The Pastor’s Corner – July 15, 2018

In today’s Gospel, we hear that Jesus instructed the disciples “to take nothing on the journey but a walking stick – no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.”

This was quite a radical way for these first disciples to carry out their mission, but isn’t this how Jesus himself moved from town to town? He wanted to show them that it may appear that they have nothing, but what they carry with them is the important factor – their dependence on God. The reception that people in the towns would give them when they heard the “good news” of Jesus Christ would supply all of their other needs. This was a daring venture for those who were new to following Jesus, but we hear later what they did accomplish: they drove out demons, anointed the sick and cured them. All of this with so little, yet they brought with them what mattered.

This is the second week in the series on The Psalms. The presentations on July 18 and 19 will be: The Psalms: Prayer Book of the Christian Church. At Mass we pray a psalm after the first reading. Many people pray the Liturgy of the Hours or a brief form of it, and a number of psalms are included during these times of prayer. Fr. Bill Beaudin will show how the psalms have been included in the life of the church since its beginning. He will also talk about how we can use them as part of our personal prayer life. Two sessions are offered, at 12 noon and 6:15 PM.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M

Evangelii Gaudium: Chapter 5, Spirit-Filled Evangelizers

“The missionary is convinced that through the working of theHoly Spirit, there already existsin individuals and peoples an expectation, even if an unconscious one, of knowing the truth about God, about man and about how we are to be set free from sin and death. The missionary’s enthusiasm in proclaiming Christ comes from the conviction that he is responding to that expectation.

Enthusiasm for evangelization is based on this conviction. We have a treasure of life and love which cannot deceive, and a message which cannot mislead or disappoint. It penetrates to the depths of our hearts, sustaining and ennobling us. It is a truth which is never out of date because it reaches that part of us which nothing else can reach. Our infinite sadness can only be cured by an infinite love.”

The Pastor’s Corner – July 8, 2018

Today we hear St. Paul say: “That I might not become too elated… a thorn in the flesh was given to me… to keep me from being too elated.” There have been many theories about the meaning of the “thorn in the flesh.” Was this an illness or a disability or depression or a constant temptation he had to deal with? Does it refer to a person or those who opposed him?

He is showing his humanness here and it is easy to identify with his “torn in the flesh” because we can have many “thorns” in our lives. Paul is not defeated by this, but shows how this allows himself to be open to the power of Christ to dwell within him. This is a helpful passage from St. Paul when we are dealing with something that might be a real “pain.”

Take a look at the advertisement for the workshop on the Psalms that begins this week. This program will be presented over the course of three weeks and will conclude with Solemn Vespers on Thursday, July 26. The Psalms are an important part of our worship both at Mass and at the Liturgy of the Hours. They are also beautiful prayers that can enhance anyone’s prayer life. Understanding their history and theology can help us appreciate why these prayers from our Hebrew roots have had such a significant role in the church over the years. Sign up now!

Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

Evangelii Gaudium – Chapter 5, Spirit-Filled Evangelizers

“Jesus’ whole life, his way of dealing with the poor, his actions, his integrity, his simple daily acts of generosity, and finally his complete self-giving, is precious and reveals the mystery of his divine life.

Whenever we encounter this anew, we become convinced that it is exactly what others need, even though they may not recognize it: ‘What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.’

Sometimes we lose our enthusiasm for mission because we forget that the Gospel responds to our deepest needs, since we were created for what the Gospel offers us: friendship with Jesus and love of our brothers and sisters. If we succeed in expressing adequately and with beauty the essential content of the Gospel, surely this message will speak to the deepest yearnings of people’s hearts. ‘The missionary is convinced that , through the working of the Spirit, there already exists in individuals and people an expectation, even if an unconscious one, of knowing the truth about God, about man, and about how we are to be set free from sin and death.”

 

Help the Children!

Nearly 2,000 children have been separated from their parents in the past several weeks at the U.S.-Mexico border. Help aleviate this humanitarian crisis!

The Franciscan Friars at Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, Texas are asking us to help them help these children by donating to the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley office which is providing humanitarian assistance during this crucial time.

Go to their website to make a donation: catholiccharitiesrgv.org.

 

The Pastor’s Corner – July 1, 2018

Today’s Gospel is a story of healing. Jesus encountered a crowd of people after he “had crossed… in the boat to the other side.” First a synagogue official came forward and pleaded with Jesus to lay his hands on his daughter who is at the point of death. As Jesus moves on, a woman who had suffered with hemorrhages for twelve years approaches Jesus. She touches his clothing with the hope of being cured. Jesus responds by telling her that her faith has saved her. He finally gets to the house of the synagogue official and people are weeping and wailing. This doesn’t stop Jesus. He goes into the room where the young girl is and takes her hand and tells here to “arise.” She gets up immediately. What a day for Jesus! What a day for this woman and this young girl!

Wednesday, July 4, is Independence Day. We have one Mass at 11:30 and the Parish Offices are closed for the day. This is a day to thank God for the bravery of our ancestors who worked to make us a country free from control by another country. It is our responsibility to appreciate this gift of freedom and to work to preserve it. Although the holiday is in the middle of the week, I hope that you will have some leisure time to enjoy it.

Happy 4th of July!

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

© St. Francis of Assisi 2018. All Rights Reserved.
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