St. Catholic Church 2414 Seventeenth Street, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501 Telephone (228) 864-2272 Fax (228) 864-2273 Email: [email protected]

Staff: Rev. Joseph Uko, Pastor Deacon Allen, Pastoral Associate Sr. Mary Kealy, PBVM, Pastoral Associate Teri Patton, Parish Secretary

Masses: Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m. First Saturday Devotion: 9:00 a.m. Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 a.m., 6:00 p.m. Daily Mass: Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. Spanish Mass: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Holy Days: 6:00 p.m., Vigil, 7:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. Confession: Saturday 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. and anytime on request

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time July 26, 2015

COMING ATTRACTIONS Today's inaugurates a five-week departure from the into the . The account of the feeding of the multitude is the introduction to what is known as the "Bread of Life" discourse, which we will hear during the coming month. We can get so carried away with the stupendous recounted today that it's easy to over- look how artfully the evangelist John introduces the discourse. Like the people of Israel and Moses, passes through the waters and then ascends a mountain. The ascent of the mountain (as in Matthew's introduction to the discourse we know as the "") is particularly important. It is the trumpet blast announcing that something tremendous is about to happen; something central and crucial to the is about to be handed on. Unlike Moses on Sinai, the mountains that Jesus ascends to teach and work wonders are never named in the , for it was important to the early church not to sacralize places, but to keep their faith in Jesus alone. And so it is that the crowds come to him today looking for physical healing and for the nourishment of their spirits and bodies.

BREAD OF EARTH AND HEAVEN Jesus knew, as the evangelist shows in the account this week, that there is not much point in speaking to people about the Bread of Heaven when their stomachs are grumbling for the bread of earth. For Jesus there was none of the Greeks' separation of the human person into body and spirit, each entity with its different needs. He knew people were created in love, flesh and soul, by his Father in heaven. Once again, the ministry of Jesus signals for us the intimate connection of the church's ministry to people as both embodied and spiritual beings. Feeding the multitude is a pragmatic way to help his listeners focus on the teaching of his presence as the new manna sent from heaven. And for us today, that manna, the Bread of Life, becomes our strength and sustenance, so we are fortified to go forth in the name of , to be nourish- ment for the bodies and spirits of all those we encounter each day. Copyright (c) 2005, World Library Publications. All rights reserved. Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time July 26, 2015

The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season. — Psalm 145:15

C.C.D. (Grades K-12) ...... Sundays, 9:00-10:15 A.M. The Annual Parish Drawdown and Silent Auction is Knights of Columbus...... 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 7:00 P.M. scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. K C Ladies Auxiliary...... 3rd Tuesday, 6:30 P.M. in Presentation Hall. R.C.I.A...... Tuesdays, 6:30 P.M. This drawdown is to assist our parish with the rising cost St. Vincent de Paul...... 2nd Wednesday, 9:00 A.M. of insurance and maintenance of our buildings and other Young At Heart...... 4th Thursday, 12 Noon parish projects. The success of the drawdown and silent FEEDING THE WORLD auction depends on everyone’s participation. Tickets are With today’s two accounts of feeding and the $100 for a chance to win $10,000. If you are unable to psalm response about the Lord’s hand feeding us, it is easy purchase a whole ticket, you may share with someone for to gloss over the marvelous hymn in Ephesians. It is built $50 or three people for $25. We encourage every adult around the most potent biblical numbers: one, three, and parishioner to actively participate by purchasing a draw- seven. The core of it is the word “one” expressed seven down ticket and donating items for the silent auction. times. Three of these describe the church: one body, one Silent auction items can be dropped off at the parish of- Spirit, one hope; the next three are the foundations of the fice Monday-Friday from 10am-5pm. church: one Lord [Jesus], one faith, one baptism. All of Study these are bound up together in the one Father of all. While The provides us more than a history we might feel daunted by the prospect of duplicating the of the First Christians - it is the story about the Early wonders worked by and Jesus in the feeding of mul- Church with the Holy Spirit as the protagonist. Christ did titudes, Ephesians gives us a more realistic way to live and not leave His Apostles alone - He sent the Holy Spirit to “feed” others as the church: by living in humility and gen- guide, instruct and equip them. Enrich and deepen your tleness, by acting with patience, bearing with each other in faith as you learn how the Apostles continued Christ’s love, and always seeking and striving to preserve unity mission on earth through the Power of the Holy Spirit. through peace. Who among us cannot increase the way we Join us for Acts: The Spread of the Kingdom, beginning “feed” the church and the world by living this way? We are September 14 at 1:00pm and also September 17 at always called upon to “feed” the world in the literal sense; 6:00pm. The cost of the study material is $30. There is a but our mission as church tells us that others are also fed sign up sheet on the back table. by the way we live and act each moment of each day. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Welcome to St. John the Evangelist GOD’S WORD TODAY Catholic Church! “Where can we buy enough food for them to If you are new to the parish and have not yet eat?” This question, posed by the Lord to registered, please call 864-2272. Philip, signaled the beginning of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, Happy birthday wishes– Dana Wittmann recounted in today’s Gospel. In the last few celebrates July 25; Cindy Lou Serpa celebrates years the world has witnessed catastrophic natural disas- July 29; Jacob Bryant celebrates July 31. ters. The destruction that they wrought left us all stunned, wondering how we could help, even in some small way. May God Bless them with many more Happy Birthdays! Today’s Gospel reminds us that when even our small ef- forts at helping people are multiplied, a miracle of com- Hurricane Prayer fort and healing is the result. As we listen to God’s word O Heavenly Father, all the elements of nature obey your and share in the miracle of the Eucharist, let us open our command. Calm the storms that threaten us and turn our hearts to those in need, doing whatever we can to help fear into praise of your goodness. Protect us from hurri- alleviate the suffering of many. canes and disasters of nature. We pray through Jesus From Saint Margaret Sunday Missal, copyright © J. S. Paluch Company Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Please Remember in Your Prayers READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Ex 32:15-24, 30-34; Ps 106:19-23; William Allen Jessi Hebert Doris Ransom Mt 13:31-35 Brian Bacuzzi Mary Hickman Taylor Rayburn Tuesday: Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28; Ps 103:6-13; Peter Bacuzzi Bethanie Jones Gary Reeves Mt 13:36-43 Theresa Barlow Margaret Jowers Chris Richards Wednesday: Ex 34:29-35; Ps 99:5-7, 9; Jn 11:19-27 or Lk David Bell Mary Kealy Chris Robinson 10:38-42 Mary Anne Bishop Kemberly Lacap Sharon Rogers Thursday: Ex 40:16-21, 34-38; Ps 84:3-6a, 8a, 11; Irene Bosarge Gary Lacy Ken Saxon Mt 13:47-53 Pablo Cabasa Chuck Lepowsky Austin Seymour Friday: Lv 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37; Carol Campbell Joann Liner Don Seymour Ps 81:3-6, 10-11ab; Mt 13:54-58 Gayle Clark Carol Loften Gary Seymour Saturday: Lv 25:1, 8-17; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8; Mt 14:1-12 Buddy Cospelich Walter Lolley Emerson Stringer Sunday: Ex 16:2-4, 12-15; Ps 78:3-4, 23-25, 54; Rhonda Cospelich S. J. Marengo Herman Strock Eph 4:17, 20-24; Jn 6:24-35 Socorro Crabbe Betty McGuire Kenny Taylor Kevin Crane Mike Mensi Lisa Thompson Gerald Cuevas Dot Miller Marvin Thompson MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Jennifer Davis Rhonda Mires Bennye Turner Saturday: +Jenny Lizana Deanne Fasold Margaret Moran Becky Truxillo Sunday: 8:00am– People of the Parish Lynn Foster Karen Nelson Felecia Vann 10:30am– +Jenny Lizana; Nicole Gilbert Nichols Ronald Wade +Richard Beede Lorraine Goad Trey Patterson Kathleen Walker 6:00pm– +Bea Miller Betty Godo Janie Paul Lee Wetzel Monday: +Matthew & Thelma Serpa Tom Goode Masella Phillips Winkey Williams Tuesday: +Frank Rosskopf Anna Grice Jay Poolson Addie Wittmann Wednesday: +Mackie Fayard Thursday: Special Intention of Victor Mavar Friday: +Mildred Prejean Prayer is the door through which all God’s Graces comes to us -St. Theresa of Avila Collection: July 18-19 Identifiable: $4165 Unidentifiable: $903 ACH: $1500 The second collection at all Masses this weekend is for Church Hospitality: $489 Catholic School Support. Thank you for your generosity!