211 Present Street, Missouri City, TX 77489, Phone: 281-969-7236 |Weekly Bulletin Vol. 16 No. 27 July 07, 2013 1st Sunday of period of Kaitha CHURCH SCHEDULE Holy Mass Sunday: 9:00 AM (Malayalam) (No English Mass until Sept 1st, Sunday) Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM Friday: 7:00 PM Novena to St. Joseph, our patron Saint Saturday: 9:00 AM Novena to our Mother of Perpetual Help

Eucharistic Adoration & Night Vigil Every 1st Friday Starting with the Holy Mass @ 7:00 PM Confession Before and after weekday Masses

Charismatic Prayer on Saturdays Adult’s Prayer: at Bl. JP II Home @ 5:00 PM Kids’ Prayer: @ 5:00 PM Prayer : @ 5:00 PM

CCE Classes (No CCE classes until Sept 1st, Sunday) Contact Information Office: 281-969-7236 Vicar: Rev. Fr. Jacob Christy Tel: 281 904 6622 Email: [email protected] Trustees: Augustine Vaniapurackal - 832-692-3456 John Babu - 832-520-9500 Jose Uthirakulath - 832-233-1480 Joy Chencheril - 832-577-6375

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11 Parish Council

Rev. Fr. Jacob Christy (Vicar) 281 904 6622 1. Augustine Vaniapurackal -Trustee & ward member - St. Agnes-Lake Olympia & Lake Shore 832-692-3456 2. John Babu -Trustee 832-520-9500 3. Jose Uthirakulathu -Trustee 832-233-1480 4. Joy Chencheril -Trustee & ward member - St. Sebastian- Alief, Sugar Land, Katy 832-577-6375 5. Lisamma Joseph - Ward member - St. Antony's - Stafford 832-576-2136 6. Sunil Kurian - Ward member - St. Augustine-Sugar Land & Missouri City 281-450-4669 7. Vinoy Kurian - Ward member - St. Elizabeth - Riverstone & Colony Lakes 832-886-2566 8. Biju George-Ward member -St. Mathew-New Territory, Telfair, Sugar Land, Avalon Villages 832-455-9005 9. George Joseph - Ward member - St. George - Sharpstown & Westbury 281-844-0048 10. James Viruthukulangara-Ward member -St. Alphonsa-Sienna, Missouri City North, Alvin 713-530-8026 11. Bobby Joseph - Ward member - St. Thomas – Creek Stone 713-972-2620 12. Roychen Joseph - Ward member - Blessed Chavara-North Shore & Spring 713-478-9573 13. Bose Kurian - Nominated member 832-545-0054 14. Jose Manakalathil - Nominated member 281-731-4570 15. Salby Vincent - Nominated member 281-818-3733 Saint Joseph, 16. Sabeena Roncy - Nominated member 832-475-9962 17. Stacy Ouseph - Nominated member 832-453-5260 our Patron saint, 18. Anoop Kudakasseril - CCE staff member 832-684-5392 19. Geo Thayil - SJYAL member 281-630-8185 Pray for us! 20. Manju Maliekkal - Church Organizations 832-656-6335 21. Rev. Sr. Alphin MSMI - Pastoral Services 832-287-2926 22. Paul Joseph - Pastoral Council member 281-728-3222 23. Jessy Kurian - Pastoral Council member 281-857-6572

“The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God. ” 2 Cor 9:10-11

Liturgical Calendar, July 07, 2013 ALTAR SERVERS July 07, Sunday: 1st Sunday of period of Kaitha 1st Reading: Act 5:12-16 ( 5:12-32) The Apostles heal many 2nd Reading: 2Cor 1:8-14 (1 Cor.1:9-16 + 2 Cor. 1:8-14) You be united in the same July 14, Sunday mind and the same purpose Gospel: Lk 14:7-14 (14:1-14) The mentality of the disciples Malayalam Mass @ 9:00 AM July 08, Monday 1st Reading: 8 Mon Col 3:12-17 Rules for Christian living Sam Kurian Gospel: Lk 15:8-10 The parable of lost coin July 09, Tuesday 1st Reading: Eph 3:1-7 The gentiles share in the promise in Christ through the gospel Kurian Pannapara Gospel: Lk 7:1-10 Jesus heals the centurion’s servant July 10, Wednesday 1st Reading: Eph 3:8-13 We have access to God through faith Gospel: Jn 4:39-42 Jesus is the true saviour of the world LECTORS July 11, Thursday 1st Reading: Eph 3:14-21 Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith Gospel: Mk 8:22-26 Jesus cures a blind man at Bethsaida July 14, Sunday July 12, Friday 1st Reading: 2Cor 10:4-18 Paul who builds up the Church Gospel: Lk 12 :4-12 (12:1-12) Exhortation to fearless confession Malayalam Mass @ 9:00 AM July 13, Saturday 1st Reading: Gal 1:11-17 Paul selected from the very womb of his mother Gospel: Mk 1:14-20 Jesus calls the first disciples 1st reading: July 14, Sunday: 2nd Sunday of period of Kaitha Prince Mundanathadathil 1st Reading: Is 4:2-6 (3:16-4:6) Promise of salvation to Jerusalem 2nd reading: Beena Mathew 2nd Reading: 2Cor 3:4-11 (3:4-18) God made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant Gospel: Lk 15:1-7 (15:1-32) There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents No English Mass until Sept 1st, Sunday

Read this bulletin online: www.stjosephhouston.org | Published by: Rev. Fr. Jacob Christy ( Vicar, St Joseph Syro Malabar , Missouri City, TX ) | July 07, 2013 Season of Kaitha This season commences commemorating the twelve apostles of Christ. The seven week long period is called Kaitha. The term ‘Kaitha’ means summer. It is the season of harvest. This season reminds us of the growth of the Church as a result of the missionary activity of the apostles.

The criteria to measure the growth of the Church are the life of witness of the individual Christians. Hence the commemoration of apostles and martyrs who were faithful to the Church is a special feature of this season. It reminds also of our responsibility to follow their life-style.This season reminds us of a total conversion which is effected by the renewal of mind and heart through the obedience of the law.

It can be seen also as a preparation to the season of Elijah-Cross-Moses that points to the second coming of our Lord. It directs us to the need of repentance and conversion. We have to be prepared for the second com- ing of our Lord. May this season help us to renounce our sinful ways and lead a life of holiness.

St. Bendict of Nursia (480 - 547) Feastday: July 11

St. Benedict, the Father of Western monasticism and brother of Scholastica, is considered the patron of speliologists (cave explor- ers). He was born in Nursia, Italy and educated in Rome. He was repelled by the vices of the city and in about the year 500, fled to Enfide, thirty miles away. He decided to live the life of a hermit and settled at the mountainous Subiaco, where he lived in a cave for three years, fed by a monk named Romanus. Despite Benedict's de- sire for solitude, his holiness and austerities became known and he was asked to be their abbot by a community of monks at Vicovaro. He accepted, but when the monks resisted his strict rule and tried to poison him, he returned to Subiaco and became a center of spiritual- ity and learning. He left suddenly, reportedly because of the efforts of a neighboring priest, Florentius, to undermine his work, and in about 525, settled at Monte Cassino. He destroyed a pagan temple to Apollo on its crest, brought the people of the neighboring area back to Christianity, and in about 530 began to build the monastery that was to be the birthplace of Western monas- ticism. Soon disciples again flocked to him as his reputation for holiness, wisdom, and miracles spread far and wide. He organized the monks into a single monastic community and wrote his famous Rule prescribing com- mon sense, a life of moderate asceticism, prayer, study, and work, and community life under one superior. It stressed obedience, stability, zeal, and had the Divine Office as the center of monastic life; it was to affect spiritual and monastic life in the West for centuries to come. While ruling his monks (most of whom, includ- ing Benedict, were not ordained), he counseled rulers and Popes, ministered to the poor and destitute about him, and tried to repair the ravages of the Lombard Totila's invasion. He died at Monte Cassino on March 21 and was named patron protector of Europe by Pope Paul VI in 1964. His feast day is July 11.

Read this bulletin online: www.stjosephhouston.org | Published by: Rev. Fr. Jacob Christy ( Vicar, St Joseph Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Missouri City, TX ) | July 07, 2013 PARISH CALENDAR IMPORTANT DATES & EVENTS TO REMEMBER July 31, August 1 &2 Vacation Bible School September Sept 21st, Saturday Onam Celebration - Onasadhya and Cultural Program at St. Thomas Orthodox Hall October October 5th, Saturday Church Picnic at Kitty Hollow Park, Missouri City. October 20th, Sunday 10th Year Anniversary Celebration of our Parish. November November 3rd, Sunday Church Bazar POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR JULY 2013 The Pope's general intention is: “That in Brazil may encourage all young Chris- tians to become disciples and missionaries of the Gospel.” His missionary intention is: “That throughout Asia doors may open to messengers of the Gospel.” ***** VBS - 2013 *****

JUL 31– AUG 2

Vacation Bible School on July 31, August 1 &2 Registration started; Reg. Fee: $40/Child Admission from KG to children going to 6th grade

Read this bulletin online: www.stjosephhouston.org | Published by: Rev. Fr. Jacob Christy ( Vicar, St Joseph Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Missouri City, TX ) | July 07, 2013 The WORD OF GOD of Peace and Comfort

Luke 10:19 “Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.” Matthew 7:12 “Do to others whatever you would have them do to Rom 10:15 you. This is the law and the prophets.”

“And how can people preach unless they Mark 10:45 are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are “For the Son of Man did not come to be the feet of those who bring [the] good news!” served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Luke 2:14 1 Peter 4:13 “Glory to God in the highest “But rejoice to the extent that you share in and on earth peace to those on whom the sufferings of Christ, his favor rests.” so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly.” Saintly Wisdom Saint Alphonsa (19 August 1910 – 28 July 1946) 1. I had aspired zealously to become a saint. I felt that burning desire after reading the autobiography of St. Little Teresa of Lisieux 2. Practice your austerity in strict secrecy; it will fortify your spirit. 3. I desired to be ever faithful to Jesus. I would rather die than break this promise. 4. It is my beloved Spiritual Instructors who guided me to the threshold of Knowledge and enabled me to experience it, by training me to prepare and use each of them in the apt time. 5. By nature, I am affectionate; it seems that my whole heart is full of love. 6. I have love towards everyone. It is impossible for me to hate anyone. 7. My only desire is to love my Lord to perfection. 8. My Jesus is sufficient for me. I don't want anything else. 9. How great is the joy experienced when everything is offered in the Sacred Heart of Jesus! 10. I will rejoice in whatever comes through the hands of my Jesus. 11. It is my strong faith that nothing shall ever happen to me without the knowledge of my Jesus. 12. I have completely abandoned myself to Jesus. Let Him do with me as He wills.

Read this bulletin online: www.stjosephhouston.org | Published by: Rev. Fr. Jacob Christy ( Vicar, St Joseph Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Missouri City, TX ) | July 07, 2013 SAINT OF THE WEEK : St. John Gaulbert, Abbot ; Feast Day: July 12th Saint John Gaulbert, Abbot - Feast day is July 12th. The city of Florence gave to the world Saint John Gaulbert. Although he enjoyed the benefits of an early Christian education, his youthful heart was soon attracted to the vanities of the world. A painful incident was the means God made use of, to open his eyes. Hugo, his only brother, had been murdered and St. John had resolved to avenge his death. On a certain Good Friday he met his enemy in a place where there was no es- cape for the latter. St. John drew his sword and would have killed his adversary on the spot, but the latter threw himself on his knees begging him by the passion of Jesus Christ to spare his life. St. John was touched at the words, embraced his enemy, entered a church and prayed with many tears for the pardon of his sins. He now entered the Order of St. Benedict, in which he made such great progress in virtue that after the death of the Abbot, the monks wished to impose this dignity upon him, but the Saint ab- solutely refused to accept it. Sometime later, he left the monastery with one companion in quest of greater solitude. Having visited the hermitage of Camaldoli, he finally settled at Valle Ombrosa in FEAST DAYS Tuscany. Together with two hermits whom he found there, he and his companions July 07,Sun: Bl. Ralph Milner built a small monastery, observing the primitive rule of St. Benedict. Thus was laid July 08,Mon: St. Grimbald the foundation of the Order of Vallombrosa. The humility of the saint was such that July 09,Tue: St. Veronica Giuliani he would never be promoted, even to Minor Orders. His charity for the poor caused July 10,Wed: Bl. Emmanuel Ruiz him to make a rule that no indigent person should be sent away without an alms. He July 11,Thu: St. Benedict of Nursia founded several monasteries, reformed others, and succeeded in eradicating the vice July 12,Fri: St. John Gaulbert, Abbot of simony from the part of the country where he lived. He died on July 12, 1073, at July 13,Sat: St. Henry about 80 years of age.

Spiritual Reflection : prayer requires courage, tenacity: Pope Francis (2013-07-01 Vatican Radio) We must pray with courage to the Lord, and with tenacity just as Abraham did. That’s what Pope Francis said to the faithful gathered for early morning Mass in the chapel of the Vatican guest house Santa Marta Monday. The Pope reiterated that praying is also “negotiating with the Lord,” even coming “out of left field” as Jesus teaches us. In his homily, Pope Francis referred to Abraham’s courage and tenacity in appealing to the Lord to spare the city of Sodom from destruction. Pope Francis drew from the First Reading, observing that “Abraham is a courageous man and prays with courage.” Abraham, he said, “finds the strength to speak face to face with the Lord and attempts to defend that city.” And he does it with tenacity. In the Bible therefore, the Pope said, we can see that “prayer must be courageous.” “When we speak of courage we always think of apostolic courage – going out to preach the Gospel, these sort of things…But there’s also (the kind of) courage (demonstrated) before the Lord. That sense of paralysis before the Lord: going courageous before the Lord to request things. It makes you laugh a bit; this is funny because Abraham speaks with the Lord in a special way, with this courage, and one doesn’ t know: is this a man who prays or is this a‘phoenician deal’ because he’s bartering the price, down, down…And he’s tenacious: from fifty he’s succeeded in lowering the price down to ten. He knew that it wasn’t possible. Only that it was right…. But with that courage, with that tenacity, he went ahead.” Sometimes, the Pope said, one goes to the Lord “to ask something for someone;” one asks for a favor and then goes away. “But that,” he warned, “is not prayer,” because if “you want the Lord to bestow a grace, you have to go with courage and do what Abraham did, with that sort of tenacity.” The Pope recalled that Jesus himself tells us that we must pray as the widow with the judge, like the man who goes in the middle of the night to knock on his friend’s door. With tenacity. In fact, he observed, Jesus himself praised the woman who tenaciously begged for the healing of her daughter. Tenacity, said the Pope, even though it’s tiring, is really “tiresome.” But this, he added, “is the attitude of prayer.” Saint Teresa, he recalled, “speaks of prayer as negotiating with the Lord” and this “is possible only when there’s familiarity with the Lord.” It is tiring, it’s true, he repeated, but “this is prayer, this is receiving a grace from God.” The Pope stressed here the same sort of reasoning that Abraham uses in his prayer: “take up the arguments, the motivations of Jesus’ own heart.” “To convince the Lord with the Lord’s own virtues! That is beautiful! Abraham’s appeal goes to the heart of the Lord and Jesus teaches us the same: ‘the Father knows things. The Father – don’t worry – sends rain down on the just and the sinners, the sun for the just and for the sinners.’ With that argumentation, Abraham forges ahead. I will stop here: praying is negotiating with the Lord, even becoming inappropriate with the Lord. Praying is praising the Lord in the beautiful things he shares and telling him that he bestow these beautiful things on us. And (appealing to him) who is so merciful, so good, to help us!” Pope Francis then urged everyone to spend no more than five minutes each day to read Psalm 102: ‘Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name.Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills.He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion.’ “Pray all of this psalm and with this we learn the things we must say to the Lord when we request a grace. ‘You who are Merciful and forgiv- ing, grant me this grace:’ just as Abraham did and as Moses did. We forge ahead in prayer, courageous, and with these motivations which come right from the heart of God himself.”

Read this bulletin online: www.stjosephhouston.org | Published by: Rev. Fr. Jacob Christy ( Vicar, St Joseph Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Missouri City, TX ) | July 07, 2013 Rexband is the first Catholic band from the Indian subcontinent to be invited to the World Youth Day performance in 2002 at Toronto. From then, they have been consistently invit- ed for the later World Youth days in 2005 at Cologne, in 2008 at and in 2011 held at Madrid. It was established in the late 1980s and early 1990s by a group of young musi- cians who experienced a life-changing encounter with Jesus through the Jesus Youth movement. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) REXBAND invites you to Experience a life changing Encounter with JESUS our LORD!!

“The righteous cry out, the LORD hears and he rescues them from all their afflictions.” PS 34:18

Read this bulletin online: www.stjosephhouston.org | Published by: Rev. Fr. Jacob Christy ( Vicar, St Joseph Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Missouri City, TX ) | July 07, 2013