Serving St. Elizabeth Church & Our Lady of Lourdes Church

CATHOLIC CENTER 207 E. Walnut, Robinson, IL 62454 Sunday, August 25, 2019 Phone Number: (618) 544-7526 Fax Number: (618) 544-9327 Twenty~First Sunday in E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.crawfordcountycatholics.com Join us on Facebook! Search for “Crawford County Catholics” Ordinary Time

Reverend Father James A. Flach, Pastor

PASTORAL STAFF Office Manager: Halena Estep Director of Religious Education: Courtney Ferris Custodial Care: Lori Davis, Our Lady of Lourdes Music Director: Chris Jansen, St. Elizabeth

OFFICE HOURS Monday Thursday from 8:00 am~5:00 pm Closed for lunch: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

MASS SCHEDULE Daily Mass at St. Elizabeth: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday~7:30 am Tuesday~12:00 pm The Narrow Door; Salvation & Rejection. Luke 13:22~30 Saturday Vigil at St. Elizabeth 4:30 pm Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes 9:00 am Sunday Mass at St. Elizabeth 7:30 and 10:30 am He passed through towns & villages, ______teaching as he went & making his way to

ANOINTING OF THE SICK Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will Parishioners who are seriously or critically ill or having surgery, please only a few people be saved?” He answered contact Father Flach. them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to BAPTISMS Please contact Fr. Flach for registration and information. enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen & locked

R.C.I.A. the door, then will you stand outside The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is an ongoing formation knocking & saying, ‘Lord, open the door for process for adults who are interested in becoming a Catholic and would like to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and/or First us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not Eucharist. Call the Parish Center for additional information. know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate & drank in your company & you SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE If you are considering marriage, please contact Father Flach no taught in our streets. Then He will say to later than 6 months prior to the proposed wedding date and the you, ‘I do not know where you are from. diocesan and parish guidelines will be explained. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE Saturdays at St. Elizabeth 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm or by appointment. Luke 13:22~27

Mass Intentions Parish School of Religion Aug. 24 4:30 pm Special Intentions PSR CLASS DATES: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, Aug. 25 7:30 am For all parishioners by Fr. Flach 2019 FROM 6:30 PM TO 7:30 PM. PSR CLASS DATES: 9:00 am Val Pescatore by Carol Ryan SEPTEMBER 4, 11, 18, 25, 2019 FROM 6:30 PM TO 7:30 PM.

10:30 am Henry Chapman by Carol Wong 8th & 9th Grade Confirmation Class Dates

Aug. 26 7:30 am Special Intentions CONFIRMATION CLASS DATES Aug. 27 12:00 pm Karlene Frese by Pete Frese Aug. 25, Sept. 8, Sept. 15, Sept. 22 & Sept. 29, 2019 from 5:30— 7:00 pm. Aug. 28 7:30 am Bev Turkal by Janet Jenkins Aug. 29 7:30 am Special Intentions September Meetings Aug. 30 7:30 am 66th Wedding Anniversary Marilu Fehrenbacher PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING: The Pastoral by Albert Fehrenbacher Family Council of St. Elizabeth Parish & Our Lady of Lourdes Parish will meet on TUES. SEPT. 3, 2019 at 6:00 pm in Our Lady of Lourdes Church. FINANCE COUNCIL MEETING: The Finance Council Aug. 31 4:30 pm Terry Free by Karen Free of St. Elizabeth Parish will meet on TUES. SEPT. 10, 2019 at 6:00 Sept. 1 7:30 am Erica Adams pm in St. Elizabeth Parish Center. 9:00 am For all parishioners by Fr. Flach 10:30 am Phil Burger from Ellen Rees First Friday of the Month Mass

The FIRST FRIDAY MASS for SEPT. will be celebrated on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 at 5:00 pm in OLOL’s Church. Ministry Schedule PARENT MEETING

Saturday, August 31 ~ Sunday, September 1, 2019 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 at 6:00 pm in St. Sat. August 31, 2019 4:30 pm St. Elizabeth Elizabeth Parish Center REQUIRED PARENT MEETING for LECTOR: Celeste White ALL SECOND & THIRD GRADE PARENTS regarding reception of the SACRAMENTS OF RECONCILIATION, USHERS: Ken & Carol Bergbower CONFIRMATION & HOLY EUCHARIST. COMMUNION MIN: Kayla Blank, Susan Goodwine SERVERS: Abby Mullins Pro-Life Speaker GIFTS: Ken & Carol Bergbower The Pastoral Council would like to invite everyone to Sun. September 1, 2019 7:30 am St. Elizabeth come and listen to a Pro-life speaker on September 8th in the Parish Center after the 10:30 Mass. Before the talk everyone is LECTOR: Janet Jenkins invited for pizza in the parish hall directly followed by the talk. USHERS: Dave Holscher, Tom Huss Please feel free to invite a friend. This will be a great opportunity COMMUNION MIN: Jim & Shari Eckert for everyone to learn about the 's pro-life stance. Monica's talk will cover a brief introduction to the theology of the SERVERS: Nathaniel Arkenberg body as well as discuss the Trinitarian love of God and how it is GIFTS: Chad Arkenberg Family reflected in the human body, marriage, and the family. The main focus of the talk will be how our culture of death tries to undercut Sun. September 1, 2019 9:00 am Our Lady of Lourdes God's creative plan through contraception and in particular LECTOR: Taylor Blank through abortion and euthanasia. The Good News is that the USHERS: Jerry & Sarah Ping Catholic Church has the answers and the medicine to help souls heal and have life abundantly. Monica has been on both sides of COMMUNION MIN: Wilmer Wilson, Donna Keller the fence and her talk offers a very eye-opening view of what the SERVERS: Jared Hermann culture of death is all about. Monica personally found healing and GIFTS: Jerry & Sarah Ping peace after studying why the Catholic Church teaches as she does. The Catholic Churches message is very beautiful and we should be Sun. September 1, 2019 10:30 am St. Elizabeth sharing it for love of souls! Monica Siefker hails from LECTOR: Courtney Ferris Bloomington, Indiana, and is a wife and mother of six. Monica has been involved with the pro-life movement at local and USHERS: Jacob & Jessica Blankenbeker Archdiocesan levels for over 20 years. She is a former member of COMMUNION MIN: Phyllis Inboden, Roselene Quick the Archdiocese of Indianapolis Pro-Life Speakers Bureau. Monica SERVERS: Evan Ferris, Joe Quick is currently the Bloomington coordinator for 40 Days for Life and Sidewalk Advocates for Life, both of which involve being out on the GIFTS: Clark Myers Family sidewalks in front of abortion facilities, giving women a sign of hope by September Collection Counters: Janet Hill, Ellen Rees, Chris Tylka offering loving, life-affirming alternatives to abortion. She also co-hosts a weekly radio show called Pro-Life 2 The Max which airs on the local Catholic radio, as well as a weekly live broadcast of a one-hour prayer Please remember to attend weekly Mass vigil in front of the Bloomington Planned Parenthood. Sunday, August 25, 2019 ~ Twenty~First Sunday in Ordinary Time The Precepts of the Roman Catholic Church ~ From The Pastor ~ Wide Roads & Narrow Doors The Indispensable Foundation

The reading from Isaiah appears to The laws of the Catholic Church are intended to help resemble the itinerant world of today. us grow in holiness, not constrict us. Immigrants are on the move in every What are the Five Precepts of the Church? If you asked a direction in what appears a disarrayed group of Catholics that question; immediately someone would scene. However, a closer look reveals say, “Oh, but there are six” or “there are seven. The Catechism that Yahweh has caused this. Yahweh of the Catholic Church (1997 edition) identifies five precepts in wants all nations to worship in paragraphs 2041-2043. In brief, each says we shall. Jerusalem. There Jews and gentiles 1...attend Mass on Sundays & on Holy Days of Obligation & rest alike will see the visible manifestation from unnecessary labor. 2...confess our sins at least annually. of God's glory — namely, witnessing 3...take Holy Communion at least during the Easter season. his presence in his Temple. Once his 4...observe the Church-designated days of fasting & abstinence. glory is seen, these gentiles will be sent 5...help support the Church. While other issues, specifically to evangelize non-Jews in other regarding marriage laws & evangelization, were included in the nations. "I will set a sign among them; past, those subject are not included as precepts in the current from them I will send fugitives ... to Catechism. The absence doesn’t negate the importance of the distant coastlands that have never marriage laws & evangelization responsibilities. It simply heard of my fame." Is Yahweh means they are addressed elsewhere. Meaning-the word introducing an open-door policy of precept comes from the Latin praeceptum meaning “to conversion? Has salvation suddenly become that relaxed? God command”-so the Church precepts are often referred to as always has intimated that he wanted his created world to be Church Commandments. Other names include guidelines, diverse. He encouraged hospitality and kindness to strangers. While expectation, rules & obligations. These established precepts words of friendliness and cordiality weave in and out of Jewish and, along with The Ten Commandments are among the basic later, Christian tradition, they do not seem to be vigorously applied. obligations for all Catholics. God, who gave Moses The Ten This is true then and still exists today among modern Christians. Commandments, also inspired the precepts of the Catholic Strangers do not easily become neighbors. The practice is either Church. Church precepts are akin to minimum membership limited or just not embraced. In Luke's reading, Jesus adds requirements. They are a summary of many laws, & discipline and boundaries to his free gift of salvation. He maintains purposefully failing to comply is considered grave sin. These that discipleship does give his followers certain freedoms, but it also basic rules are intended to set us on the narrow path to eternal demands that they make concentrated efforts to help neighbors and life & help us grow in holiness. The Catechism (CCC2041) tells strangers alike. Jesus encourages his disciples to be self-giving and us, “The obligatory character of these positive laws is meant to selfless. He speaks about going the extra mile and sharing one's gifts guarantee to the faithful...the very necessary minimum in the with poorer neighbors. Again, "love God and love your neighbor as spirt of prayer & moral effort, in the growth in love of God & yourself" is never far from his lips and heart. In fact, Jesus reminds neighbor.” his disciples that how they measure others is how his Father will PRACTICED BY CHRISTIANS FOR CENTURIES judge them. Saying, "Lord, Lord is not enough." The Lord Jesus The notion that the Church has established a list of obligations expects deeds to be done in his name accompanying these words. for its members goes back at least to the time of John the Baptist. Jesus holds up two images: the narrow gate and the locked door. When he began announcing to the people that the Messiah would The narrow gate refers to qualifications for entrance, and the soon arrive, those listening asked him, “What then should we locked door refers to tardiness and indifference in responding. This do?" (Luke 3:10). We still ask that question, and the Church connects with the absolute need to be ready when Jesus returns. points to the precepts as starting point. The precepts are not Failure in any of these areas will be reason for exclusion when Jesus negotiable, not duties we can avoid. If we sincerely believe the comes again. Jesus is saying today that there is room for everyone, Catholic Church is guided by the Holy Spirit, then faithfully and but be aware that the door will not admit all. Jesus wants consciously following its disciplines is second nature. The earliest genuineness and sincerity of the Spirit to be the believer's breath. Christians had rules about Church membership that they followed: keeping the Sabbath holy, receiving the Body and Spiritual Reading for the Twenty~First Sunday in Ordinary Time Blood of Christ in holy Communion, confessing their sins, fasting & abstaining, helping those in need and seeking ways to support The first means of attaining virtue, which seems the most the fledgling Church. Their teachers were the apostles, and the easy, and is in reality the most difficult, is to will it; but with a rules they advocated are in a book called the , also sincere, entire, efficacious, and constant will. And, oh how rare is known as The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, a compilation of this good will! We imagine we will a thing, but in truth and reality early Christian writings. Those early followers of Christ, like we do not will it at all. We may have desires, longings, purposes, faithful Catholics today, looked to the precepts as guideposts wishes; but that is not having a strong and determined will. We pointing them on the way to increasing holiness. They realized wish to be devout, but in our own way up to a certain point, and they would be responsible to God for their behavior in this provided it does not cost us too much. We wish, and we are fleeting life and looked for ways to prepare. James Cardinal contented with wishing. We do not carry our wishes into practice; we Gibbons, in his book, The Faith of Our Fathers, writes: "If a are discouraged as soon as it is necessary to put our hand to the work, to citizen is bound to obey the laws of his country, though these overcome obstacles or set them aside, to fight against our faults.. .. We wish laws may not in all respects be comfortable to strict justice; if a today perhaps; we begin bravely, but alas! our energies are soon relaxed.. child is bound by natural and divine law to obey his mother, Everything depends upon perseverance. Let us ask God to grant us this though she may sometimes err in her judgments, how much good will, let us ask him for it every day; and let us try to merit, by our more strictly are not we obliged to be docile to the teachings of fidelity to the grace of today, to obtain it again on the next day. the Catholic Church, Our Mother, whose admonitions are always just, whose precepts immutable!" The Precepts of the Roman Catholic Church Spiritual Reflections for the Twenty~First Sunday In Ordinary Time The Indispensable Foundation. The laws of the Catholic Church are Perhaps the most horrifying scenario imaginable is to intended to help us grow in holiness, stand outside knocking on a locked door only to hear the Lord not constrict us. respond, 'I do not know where you are from." Through the Five Precepts mouth of the Prophet Isaiah, the Lord assures us: l come to gather nations of every language." But some resist that Precept One: "You shall attend Mass invitation. In order to join God's gathering, we must "enter on Sundays and on holy days of through the narrow gate,"— which does not mean our own obligation and rest from servile labor. personal efforts or burdensome obligations, but saying yes to the " These words echo the Third relationship Christ wants to have with us. The Letter to the Commandment, which obligates us to Hebrews says that "God treats you as sons." When we change keep Sunday holy. The Lord gives us and conform our life to our calling to be God's children, then six days to attend to our own needs, but those who are last will be first. We will recline with them at the he reserves the seventh day for himself. table in the Kingdom of God. We keep Sunday holy not only through Mass participation but by contemplating on his mysteries, Weekly Offerings spending time with our family, and resting from all unnecessary work. St. Elizabeth Church According to CCC 2181, we "commit a grave sin" if we Week ending Sunday, August 18, 2019 deliberately neglect Mass attendance. Catholics have few valid Envelopes $2,086.00 excuses for missing Sunday Mass. Being sick or caring for Loose $445.00 someone who is sick are among those excuses. Of course, there are Building Fund $30.00 common-sense reasons such as severe weather or lack of Assumption of Mary $100.00 transportation. God and our Church are not unreasonable when circumstances are such that, despite our best efforts, we just can't 4 @ $380.00 attend any of the weekend Masses. It is through a purposeful Deposit: $3,041.00 disregard or conscious decision to avoid Mass without good cause Our Lady Of Lourdes Church that violates the precept. The same criteria apply to the holy days Week ending Sunday, August 11, 2019 of obligation. In the United States, there are six holy days: the Envelopes $615.00 of Mary, Mother of God; Ascension; Assumption; All Loose $183.00 Saints; Immaculate Conception; & Christmas. We are expected to Building Fund $10.00 attend Mass on these most holy days Precept Two: ' 'You shall Deposit: $808.00 confess your sins at least once a year." Catholics are obliged to individually confess their grave sins to a priest at least annually any time before receiving Communion (Code of Law 989). Give Central The Church has long encouraged the faithful to regularly participate in the sacrament of reconciliation and receive God's Give Central can be accessed on the Church Website. saving grace. Precept Three: "You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during Prayer Requests the Easter season." There was a time when Catholics rarely received Communion, and Church councils eventually established Please remember the following in your prayers: the once-a-year requirement. Canon 920.1 reinforces this Ared Allen (Linda Allen), Tucker Babbs (Wilmer Wilson), Karla requirement. Like going to confession, the Church encourages us, Birkofer, Sara Casburn (Linda Allen), Scott Chapman, Judy if we are in the state of grace, to receive Communion on a Eckert, Eileen Fabris (Kathleen Pescatore), Kay Pescatore, Terry frequent, even daily basis. Precept Four: "You shall observe the Free (Ruth Beckes), Anthony O’Dell (Jane Bohman), Josh, days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church." Well- Angela & Madison Rose Stumborg, Nolan Stewart (Linda known are the obligatory fasting and abstinence days associated Stewart), Lee Webster (Bob & Kourtney Coffman), Charlita with Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and the Fridays of Lent. What Wilson, Kathy Wright (Sharon Skaggs) & the men & women in is less known, even neglected, is the requirement for Catholics to the armed forces. perform a self-imposed penance every Friday. In accordance with Canon 1253, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have made optional the centuries-old requirement to abstain from meat on Daily Mass Readings Fridays, as long as we do some other act of penance through which Mon. Aug. 26, 2019 1 Thes. 1:1-5, 8B-10 we remember the suffering of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Precept Gospel Mt. 23:13-22 Five: "You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church." Tues. Aug. 27, 2019 1 Thes. 2:1-8 Quite simply the contributions of the faithful, according their Gospel Mt. 23:23-26 ability, go far in ensuring the financial welfare and success of the Wed. Aug. 28, 2019 1 Thes. 2:9-13 Church. This includes our parish, our and the Holy Father. Gospel Mt. 23:27-32 Canon 222.1 spells precept out: "The Christian faithful are obligated to Thurs. Aug. 29, 2019 1 Thes. 3:7-13 assist with the needs of Church so that the Church has what is necessary Gospel Mk. 6:17-29 for divine worship, for the work of the apostolic and charitable works, Fri. Aug. 30, 2019 1 Thes. 4:1-8 and for the worthy support of the minister. Gospel Mt. 25:1-13