A few weeks ago my homily spoke of feeding "the poor of the world." I spoke of experts who say that there is enough food available so that everyone in the world would have a sufficient amount of food to eat every day. Unfortunately, we know that there are factors which prevent this from happening. As efforts continue to make it more and more possible for everyone to be fed with nobody dying from malnutrition, most of us can do something to feed the hungry (as Jesus calls us to do through the parable of the Last Judgment in Matthew 25).
On the international level, I would encourage contributions to Catholic Relief Services (CRS). It is feeding starving people and providing tools and opportunities for people to be fed through their own continuing efforts. On the local level, we have the opportunity to feed the hungry through the Jackson House in Hot Springs. PLEASE join some of your fellow parishioners who either bring nonperishable food items to church on the weekend for Jackson House or put money in the wooden box marked Jackson House in the narthex. The potential for a significant amount of food and monetary contributions is great given the fact that on average, we have 850-900 people coming into this church for Mass every weekend. If everyone just gave a little bit on a regular basis, the number of people fed through the Jackson House would be significant. I pray that more of you (hopefully MANY more of you) will answer the call of Jesus to feed the hungry.
On the international level, I would encourage contributions to Catholic Relief Services (CRS). It is feeding starving people and providing tools and opportunities for people to be fed through their own continuing efforts. On the local level, we have the opportunity to feed the hungry through the Jackson House in Hot Springs. PLEASE join some of your fellow parishioners who either bring nonperishable food items to church on the weekend for Jackson House or put money in the wooden box marked Jackson House in the narthex. The potential for a significant amount of food and monetary contributions is great given the fact that on average, we have 850-900 people coming into this church for Mass every weekend. If everyone just gave a little bit on a regular basis, the number of people fed through the Jackson House would be significant. I pray that more of you (hopefully MANY more of you) will answer the call of Jesus to feed the hungry.
I am writing this column from Orlando, Florida where I am participating in the 132nd Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus in my role as state chaplain. One of the great blessings of this convention is the opportunity to witness the larger Church through the bishops, priests, and brother Knights-and their wives (and families) who are here from all over the United Sates and 13 countries. It strengthens my Catholic faith to be with so many people whose faith lives include working with others who promote the tenants of the Knights of Columbus: charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. We recognize the humble roots of this 1.8 million Catholic lay organization in the mind try of it's founder, a humble, dedicated parish priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, who has been declared Venerable by the Church; and hopefully, one day soon, a saint.
I invite all of you to come to Mass this Tuesday, August 12, which is the anniversary of Father McGivney's birth in Connecticut more than 100 years ago. After Mass, our local Knights' Council will offer some food and drink in the Lower Hall and then (for those who can stay) a one-hour documentary on the life and ministry of Father McGivney. I have seen it and can attest to it's effort to portray what this priest overcame to start the Knights of Columbus in little St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut. It affirms the parable of the sower and the harvest that continues to happen and grow because of the faith and efforts of Father McGivney and the earliest members of the Knights of Columbus. PLEASE join us on Tuesday.
I invite all of you to come to Mass this Tuesday, August 12, which is the anniversary of Father McGivney's birth in Connecticut more than 100 years ago. After Mass, our local Knights' Council will offer some food and drink in the Lower Hall and then (for those who can stay) a one-hour documentary on the life and ministry of Father McGivney. I have seen it and can attest to it's effort to portray what this priest overcame to start the Knights of Columbus in little St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut. It affirms the parable of the sower and the harvest that continues to happen and grow because of the faith and efforts of Father McGivney and the earliest members of the Knights of Columbus. PLEASE join us on Tuesday.
The summer time is a welcomed break time, not only for most students, but also for church education programs. During this break, plans are made for the coming school year in the hopes that people will get involved in growing their faith and in their knowledge of the faith.
In the Fall, beginning the week of September 29, we will offer the Oremus eight-week program which has helped many people, including some of our parishioners, to grow in their prayer life. After that, we will offer a four-week scripture study class in the Advent season on the infancy narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Attending will help us be prepared to celebrate Christmas in a new way, or at least from a new perspective. In addition to these offerings, we will hope that people will present themselves to learn more about the Catholic faith and what it means to be Catholic; and, if it be God's will, make a commitment to God and the Church to receive sacraments of initiation to live as Catholics for the rest of their lives.
Please ponder who you might know that you, and we, can invite to join us in finding out if God is calling them to this way of life. If you already know of someone, you can pass his/her name on to either Deacon Larry (922-3283) or Deacon John (226-5506).
It is not too early to think about and pray about God's ongoing invitation to grow. Please pray that you, and others, will say "yes" to what is offered here in the Fall (besides Mass, of course), and find the Lord working in new and deeper ways in all of our lives.
In the Fall, beginning the week of September 29, we will offer the Oremus eight-week program which has helped many people, including some of our parishioners, to grow in their prayer life. After that, we will offer a four-week scripture study class in the Advent season on the infancy narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Attending will help us be prepared to celebrate Christmas in a new way, or at least from a new perspective. In addition to these offerings, we will hope that people will present themselves to learn more about the Catholic faith and what it means to be Catholic; and, if it be God's will, make a commitment to God and the Church to receive sacraments of initiation to live as Catholics for the rest of their lives.
Please ponder who you might know that you, and we, can invite to join us in finding out if God is calling them to this way of life. If you already know of someone, you can pass his/her name on to either Deacon Larry (922-3283) or Deacon John (226-5506).
It is not too early to think about and pray about God's ongoing invitation to grow. Please pray that you, and others, will say "yes" to what is offered here in the Fall (besides Mass, of course), and find the Lord working in new and deeper ways in all of our lives.