Saint Bonaventure Church
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SAINT BONAVENTURE CHURCH 14TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME | JULY 4, 2021 As Christian stewards, our mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people through word, sacrament, service and community life. He was amazed at their lack of faith Page two 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Parish Manager’s update Our summer construction projects corner continue to take shape. The asphalt Pastor's repairs are completed and the resealing Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, and the restriping are scheduled for July 28-30. In bigger news, we finally have Happy Fourth of July! The Declaration of Independence was signed all the approvals from the Diocese and this day in 1776 by the representatives of the United States of from the City to start installation of the America, in General Counsel, “We hold these truths self-evident, secondary safety fence that I talked about that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their back on May 30th. As I mentioned at that Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, time, the fence will replace the plastic red Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” I pray that our country will cones that have separated our students return to these self-evident Rights especially for the sake of the from vehicle traffic. The fence is similar lives of babies in the womb. to the fence we installed around the Hall. Virtually every diocesan school and Today is the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the Gospel virtually every local public school has Reading today, Jesus returned “to his native place.” Up to this this type of safety fence. point, everywhere he went, the people sang his praises. But that did With approvals in hand, we are now not happen in Nazareth. They refused to believe that the kid from working with the fence contractor to Nazareth was anything more than “the carpenter, the son of Mary” schedule his work around the schedule the relative of their neighbors. To them he was not a prophet, not of the asphalt contractor. He has just the messiah, “they took offense at him.” Jesus said, “A prophet is ordered the material he needs for the not without honor except in his native place and among his own project. If all goes well, the posts for the kin and in his own house. ... He was amazed at their lack of faith.” fence will be installed before the asphalt (See Mark 6:1-6) is resealed on July 28-30. After the reseal, the sections of the fence and the gates Up to this point in the Gospel according to Mark, faith has been will be installed. Remember these gates the theme of Jesus’ preaching. Jesus said to the woman who had should all be opened on the weekends been hemorrhaging for twelve years who touched his cloak, but closed during the school day. “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction” (Mark 5:34). To the synagogue official whose By the time you read this article, I should daughter had just died, he said, “Do not be afraid, just have faith” have pricing for most of our remaining (Mark 5:36). parish summer projects. This includes pricing to replace the roof on the convent, Jesus wants us to believe in him. In order to do this, we must let to repair facia board on several buildings, go of our disbelief, our refusal to believe, our “this doesn’t make to repaint the exterior of the hall and sense,” our “unless I touch the wounds I will not believe.” the rectory, and to replace the cracked skylight above the tapestry in our church. No matter what you are going through, no matter what seems to These projects are all dependent on the be getting in the way of putting your faith in Jesus, the Son of God cost of the work and the funds we have who became man, who died upon the Cross and rose from the in our savings and checking account, not dead, ask Jesus to dispel the darkness of unbelief, disbelief, and from money in our Building Fund. refusal to believe. Beg Jesus to give you faith, to strengthen your Thank you, as always, for helping fund weak faith, to purify your foggy faith. the many needs of our parish. As we can afford to do so, I believe in preventative maintenance to protect our parish facilities and to maintain or extend their life span. —Charles Falzon, Parish Manager • It could make schools change their curriculum to falsely teach children that they can change their Religious Liberty sex, and that having same-sex We are Catholics. We are Americans. We are proud to be both. sexual relationships are the only way for some of them to be healthy. • It could close Catholic girls’ schools and boys’ schools or make them co-ed. • It could put parents’ custody over their own children at risk by sending a powerful signal to the state governments that Solidarity in Freedom the only kind of people fit to Religious freedom allows the Church, and all religious communities, to be parents are those who give live out their faith in public and to serve the good of all. The United States unquestioning affirmation to LGBT Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB ) invites Catholics to pray, reflect, self-identification. and act to promote religious freedom. • It would force small businesspeople, such as wedding or event vendors and custom What is the Equality Act and why should I care? product makers, to support events The Equality Act (H.R. 5 / S. 393) from accessing needed help in that violate their beliefs or be put is a bill in Congress that supporters loving themselves and their bodies. out of business. claim is necessary to protect people • It would mandate that doctors • It could force some church- who self-identify as LGBT from and counselors perform and owned halls and properties to host discrimination. All people should promote life-altering gender same-sex ceremonies and other be treated with respect, sensitivity, “transitions.” events that violate the venues’ and compassion. In truth, people • It would require even religious faith, and require them to open who identify as LGBT have often organizations to cover gender restrooms to the opposite sex. suffered unjust discrimination. We “transition” procedures in their • It would reinforce efforts to strip Catholics should consider how we employee health insurance plans. can build a more just society for all churches, and religious schools, people. However, the bill would • It would force girls and women hospitals, and other charities of do much more harm than good, to to compete against males in school their federal tax exemptions. Catholics and non-Catholics alike. sports. • It would prohibit free and Here are some examples, both of • It would force girls and women truthful speech by requiring direct effects and of other possible to share locker rooms, gym showers, everyone to use “preferred consequences that some advocates, restrooms, and dorms with males pronouns” and show support for courts, and government agencies who self-identify as girls or women. gender “transition” in workplaces, could create when they interpret • It would force vulnerable, schools, and more. and enforce the Act: sometimes traumatized, girls and The Equality Act attacks religious • It would likely require taxpayers women in shelters or social services freedom by making itself a to fund elective abortions. programs to share sleeping, shower, special exception to the bipartisan and other spaces with men. • It would likely force doctors Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and hospitals to perform abortions. • It would shut down Catholic which has never been done before. foster care and adoption agencies It would, in sum, make people • It would likely require for protecting the children’s rights reject the truth that human beings employers with more than 14 to be in a home with a married are created male and female, with employees to cover abortions in mother and father. the family formed by a married their insurance plans. • It would mandate that schools couple as the first building block • It would restrict people who fully embrace and impose some of society. —usccb.org/committees/ are struggling with their gender— children’s “gender identity” on religious-liberty/stopping-equality- including children and teens— other children. act-key-points-and-steps Page four 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE IN MILITARY SERVICE Capt. Jonathan Acker, USMC Amanda Komp Michael Agunod Daniel Landeros, USMC Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts, Army 1st Sgt. Nicholas Anthony July 12: VIRTUAL COFFEE SPCL Jose Aleman, Army Macklin, USMC w/ Principals LCPL Andrew Ryan Armstrong Mitch Masters, Navy 10:00 am via Zoom Maj. Kristina Bartee, O.D., Army Robert Melton, Navy CPL Joseph Brown, Army SPC Erika Rose Mendoza July 16: PARK DAY Nathan Brown Spcl Forces 10:00 am Sgt. Joseph Brown, Army Pvt. Joseph Merideth, Army Sgt. Xavier Burd, Kevin Patrick Miller, USMC Parkside Estates Park XVIII Airborne Corps LCPL Alex Minsky, USMC 5422 Rivergate Dr SFC Edward Campos, Army PFC Michelle Murphy, Army MCrpl. Ray Burke, Canadian Forces Maj. Patrick Murphy, Army July 30: PARK DAY PFC David Caruana, Army Sgt. Richard Murphy, Army 10:00 am SPCL Erica Lynn Caruana, Army Mathew Michael Nichols, USCG Peter Green Park Ranger Nathan Davidson Maj. Steven Niewiarowski 18751 Seagate Dr Pvt. Nick Detchman, USMC Cdr. Sean O’Connor, Navy Jason Michael Dietrick LCPL Kevin Oliver CPL Gabriel Do, USMC, Afghanistan Sgt. Tommy Parker, USMC Monthly Adoration 3rd Officer Lucas Earley, Erick Pelowitz, Air Force Wednesday, July 7 Merchant Marine PFC Levi Peters, USMC The Blessed Sacrament Col.