I am still reflecting on the beatification of Blessed Stanley Rother, a priest/martyr who died for the Lord and for the flock he shepherd in Guatemala on July 28, 1981.  Bishop Taylor, who did much work that furthered the cause of Blessed Stanley's beatification commented to me that he never thought he would live long enough to see the day of his beatification as we now pray for his canonization.  I believe we can thank Saint, Pope John Paul II who, during his Pontificate changed somewhat the process of getting someone declared by the Church to be blessed and some, declared a saint.  This gives us not only saintly people of the past, and some long past to venerate, to ask for their intercession and to seek to emulate, but it also gives us role models and intercessors who lived in our time and who show us how to live as a faith-filled disciple of Christ in the time and circumstances in which we live.  Blessed Stanley Rother was a missionary to a region of the world that needed such a Christ-like person of love, hope and charity.  The fact is, however, that we can be blessed to be touched by people close by (like Marilyn Burke who I spoke of in my homily last weekend), who give of themselves for the sake of others every day, who help us to grow in our own credible witness to Christ to people we encounter in the place we live.  It is a great sign of faith whenever we ask for the intercession of holy people like Blessed Stanley Rother and people who we know seek to be in union with God in prayer and in action.  It is humbling, and a blessing when people ask us to intercede for them, for their loved ones, and for other needs.  Experiencing a beatification or canonization also serves to turn our minds, hearts and hopefully our actions to the things of heaven where we believe that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, and where we hope to be one day with all the saints in glory.

At the point of my composing this pastor's column, I have received no direction from Bishop Taylor on taking up a collection to support relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Irma.  I will therefore encourage all of us to make a donation to Catholic Charities USA for this purpose.  You can either google Catholic Charities USA and donate online, call 1-800-919-9338 to donate, or send your donation to 2050 Ballenger Ave., Suite 400, Alexandria, VA. 22314.  It is good to know that 100% of our donations will go to relief efforts.

While there are many in our parish who give so generously in times of emergency and in other normal times, I must say that the number of fundraisers (which have wonderful food and sometimes entertainment) have been happening close together since we hit September.  I am concerned that some, or all of them, will not do as good as they otherwise could, because of their close proximity to one another.  I am not asking (or begging) you to attend all of these, though that would be nice, but try to support as many as you can afford, as much time and effort goes into putting these together and making them go.  Consider inviting your non-parishioner friends to join you at some, or all, of the fundraisers you attend. Coming up this Friday is the Men's Club "Chicken Bake" which has two seatings (5:00 and 6:30 p.m.) and includes a delicious meal and the offering of my homemade ice cream.  Then, the following Saturday, October 7, the Knights of Columbus are having an "Oktoberfest" which will include a delicious German meal catered by "Home Plate" and entertainment by our own Bill Lamoureux and some singing buddies.  Your consideration of participating in one or both of these events is VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.  Remember, in both of these instances, you are getting something for yourself and giving something to people in-need through charities that benefit from the proceeds from these events. Given time restraints, the tickets for the "Oktoberfest" will only be made available before and after Masses next weekend, September 30 and October 1.

What is your favorite Bible passage?  What is you favorite prayer?  Sometimes you can use the same answer for both questions.  I believe I can with the 63rd Psalm in the Old Testament.  Throughout the year, this Psalm is prayed not only once every four weeks in Morning Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours but also on many special feast days in the church's calendar and in the Octaves of Christmas and Easter.  I believe it can be a very intimate communication with God, and I find it especially endearing when I am in our Perpetual Adoration chapel for prayer.  I hope you will look it up or cut it out from this blulletin and begin saying it in your prayer time.  I truly believe you will be blessed by it.

"O God you are my God, for you I long.
For you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you, like a dry weary land
without water.
So  gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life.
My lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life
In your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled with a banquet
My mouth shall praise with joy.

On my bed I remember you
On you I muse through the night
For you have been my help.
In the shadow of your wings I rejoice
Your right hand holds me fast."


May God bless us by this and other prayers that lift
our minds and hearts to him.  Amen