THE OF GERARD MAJELLA

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 5, 2021

REGULAR MASS SCHEDULE

Tuesday 9:00 AM Thursday 9:00 AM Friday Adoration 9:00 am-1:00 pm Saturday 5:30 pm Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 am

CONFESSIONS: Saturday 4:30 pm-5:15 pm Also by Appointment BAPTISMS: Parents should be regis- tered parishioners or active for 6 months prior to baptism. Please call the parish office for more infor- mation. ANOINTING OF THE SICK Anytime by Appointment OFFICE HOURS Monday-Thursday, 9:30 am until 4:30 pm PASTOR: FATHER BRIAN BUFFORD [email protected] Secretary: DIANNE DAVIS Email: [email protected] Administrative Assistant: DIANE RIZZO WESITEwww.saintgerardmajella.net Church Address: 3049 LAFAYETTE ROAD FORT OGLETHORPE, GA 30742 Phone: 706-861-9410 FAX: 706-866-0574 Sacramental Emergency: 706-401-4175 ` From the Pastor’s Desk

The Gospel episode of Jesus healing the deaf man with a speech impediment is one of many such mi- raculous episodes in the Gospel tradition. In our age there is a reemergence of the belief in magic. In fact, some would argue that Jesus used magic to heal people. This, however, is a gross misunderstand- ing of Jesus and the nature of His miracles.

Magic, both ancient and modern, asserts that the natural world contains powers which human beings can access by performing a prescribed ritual correctly down to the last detail. The magician then seeks to utilize these “powers” for his or her own benefit.

With Jesus we see none of this. First of all, Jesus’ power to heal comes directly from God the Father, not nature. Secondly, Jesus’ miracles are always directed towards the benefit of God’s people, not His own. Both the temptation in the desert as well as His crucifixion attest that Jesus does not utilize pow- er for His own advantage. Finally, the miracles Jesus performs are always connected with His preach- ing of the arrival of God’s reign in the world. They are signs of God coming into the world to heal crea- tion. This includes our bodies as well. Redemption is concerned with the entirety of the human per- son.

While we should rightly dismiss the notion of magic, we should not dismiss Jesus’ ongoing work of healing in the world of today. We must face the question: do we really still believe in the healing pow- ers that emanate from Jesus and His message? Do we still believe that the Christian faith heals and that in the Church there must not only be salvation, but healing? Are we not guilty of making Jesus and the power that proceeds from Him irrelevant in our lives?

Peace,

Fr. Brian

23nd SUNDAY IN WEEK AT A GLANCE The Torah – ORDINARY TIME

Israel’s Gospel SATURDAY, SEPT. 4, SUNDAY, STEP. 5, 5:30 pm Fr. Brian’s Bible Study Class is every 11:00 am Thursday at 6:00 pm in the PLC. B. J. HOETTE READER & SERVERS (Judy Hoette) TBD

READERS & SERVERS GREETER: TBD Scott Fisher The Pope’s Prayer Intention for Septem- GREETERS: Don Hayes TUESDAY, SEPT. 7 ber: We pray that we all will make courageous 9:00 am choices for a simple and environmentally sus- Kieron Gleeson tainable lifestyle, rejoicing in our young people READER TBD who are resolutely committed to this. SUNDAY, SEPT. 5, THURSDAY, SEPT. 9, 9:00 am 9:00 am

SERVERS: Nick & Leo Velk READER TBD It is our tradition to offer Intentions for the EX. MIN.: sick, or our deceased members. Please stop Dale Osterling by or call the parish office to sign up for a Mass Intention. READERS TBD

Pray for Our Sick Parishioners Weekly Offerings 8/29Offertory Received $2671 Please keep in your personal prayers the follow- ing members of our parish who are in need of (Online Giving $415) healing: Asher & Michael Barhite, Jude Bendzel, Faye Blevins, Carol Bonito, Annie & Mary Britton, Candace Weekly Offertory Goal $4000 Carne, Mason Cobble, Tracy Congdon, Carol Corkum, Cindy Divine, Henry & Matthew Gaudet, Daniel Hamby, Jean Hawkins, Eli White Henley, Anne Janecjii, Pamela Kanter, Colette Lallier, Laura McClung, Linda Meeks, ST. VINCENT DE PAUL Jane Osterling, Lillian Pierce, John Pitner, Bill & Rose Pugliano, Kathy Samilo, Mary Ann Shanahan, Frances "Cain answered ....Am I my 's keep- Spataro, Ross Vecchio Sr. & Jr. er?" Genesis 4, 9. Of course , we have not just murdered any- one; but the question remains for us to con- UPCOMING EVENTS template.

The 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, Saint We had a busy August and anticipate our re- Vincent De Paul members will meet in the quests for help to continue at a steady pace. PLC at 7:00 pm. If you can help us maintain a steady income (outflow) we would be very grateful. God Join the Rosary Crusade on Saturdays, at bless you for your kindness and awareness of 4:00 pm, in Church to pray together for all of your "brother". our intentions. Please call Donna Shipley at 423-718-6951 to Tuesday, September 7 at 7:00 pm, the Finance Join. Council will be meeting again. HELP LINE (678)892-6163 Wednesday, September 8 at 7:00 pm, Knights of Columbus Meeting.

Sunday, September 12, after the 9:00 & 11:00 Lillian Pierce wants to thank everyone for all masses, the Knights of Columbus Pancake the prayers for her daughter, Pamela Kanter. Breakfast. Charity: Coats for Kids She is now receiving Occupational and Physi- cal Therapy at a local hospital rehab. Please keep remembering Pamela in your prayers. It is very much appreciated by both Lillian ONLINE GIVING IS HERE! and Pam. God bless you all. Forget your envelope? Use Online giving to keep up on your offertory even when you are out of town. Go to the Link on our church web- Knights of Columbus site saintgerardmajella.net, News and Anyone 18 or older and a practicing Catholic can then you will see the OnLine Giving Click. become a Knight. If you are interested, please This will be for offertory only. Use your enve- contact Grand Knight, Allan Corkum at lopes for the other funds. Your support through- 860-965-5345. out the year helps sustain our church, whether you are attending weekly service at the church or worshipping at home. Your vital support can THE SEPTEMBER still happen regardless of where you are. If you “Word Among Us” have any problems with getting online, please MASS READINGS & DAILY MEDI- contact the church office. Thanks. TATIONS is in the Vestibule. Please take one and leave a $1.00. CPR FRIENDS & FAMILY CLASS - Thursday, September 23rd, 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the PLC. This is a basic CPR Class open to all members of St. Gerard. Class space is limited. Student manuals will be provided as well as an attendance card. Drinks and snacks provided. Contact Sharon Klein, R.N., at 706-264-2040, or the church office. Please notify by September 15th if you want to attend. You could save someone’s life!

Religious Education Classes for students in grades K-12 will begin on Sunday, Septem- ber 12th. Classes are 10:00-10:45 am in the PLC. Call or Text Teri Hughes at 423-322-9042 for any questions for students in grades K-5, and Troy Peco at 706-996-4441 with questions for grades 6-12. We hope to see you all soon!

R.C.I.A.: Interested in joining the Catholic Church or learning in-depth what the church teaches? RCIA is starting up on Wednesday nights at 7PM beginning on September 8th and continuing through Pentecost. We are open to both baptized and unbaptized adults, as well as, adults interested in becoming their Godparents and/or confirmations sponsors, and people willing to pray for them throughout their journey or anyone who wants to ac- company us on the way. Call or Text John at 423 503-8768 or stop by the first meeting.

"In the present international situation, I appeal to all - individuals, families, and communities - to pray the rosary for peace, even daily, so that the world will be preserved from the dreadful scourge of terrorism."

St. John Paul II

Join the Rosary Crusade on Saturdays at 4:00 pm, in Church.

What does IHS mean? We often see the letters “IHS” emblazoned on various objects in our churches & homes. What do these letters stand for? IHS is a Christogram, that is, it’s an abbreviation for the Holy Name of Jesus. In the early centuries of the Church, writers would contract the Holy Name by using the first two letters or the first and last letters. I (iota) and H (eta) are the first two letters of the name Jesus in Greek. In the Christogram “IHS,” the third letter, S (sigma), has been added.

The IHS Christogram is inscribed on the frontispieces of altars, church doors, paschal candles, books, medals and more. It is often portrayed as the center of a burning sun, with glorious rays bursting forth from it.

Who is responsible for bringing the IHS into the center of Catholic devotional life? For this task, Our Lord em- ployed that great apostle of His Holy Name, St. Bernardine of Siena. Bernardine was a Franciscan priest who, commissioned as a preacher, traveled all over and became famous for his wonderful sermons. At that time in Italy, conflicts among rival families and factions in cities were common. Bernardine employed the IHS symbol as a way to calm sectarian strife, encouraging his listeners to replace the factional symbols on their homes, churches, and buildings with IHS.

Bernardine’s enemies tried to use his fervent devotion to the Holy Name (and use of the IHS tablets) as material against him. The pope then became so convinced of Bernardine’s innocence that he asked him to preach in ! St. Bernardine’s devotion to the Holy Name and his promotion of the IHS Christogram played a major role in re- viving the Faith in 15th-century Italy.