Fr. Donald Henke, Pastor

Fr. Donald Henke, Pastor August 26 - 27, 2017 636.583.2806 Saturday: 5:00 p.m. Web: www.stjosephneier.com Sunday: 8:00 & 10:00 am Email: [email protected] Confessions: Chris: [email protected] Saturday 4:00 pm to 4:40 pm Rich’s Cell: 636.283.8332

From your Pastor

Rather than time healing all wounds, it seems as if the divisions separating our fellow citizens have only been exacerbated. Going beyond anger, I think, rage and outright hatred has become the common response to present and past injustices, real or perceived. Msgr. Charles Pope, in a recent article, began with the words: “These are indeed contentious times —so contentious that we cannot seem to have honest debates or disagreements; we just yell at one another. On college campuses, students shout down speakers with differing views and accuse them of hate. Demonstrations both on campuses and elsewhere often devolve into a kind of mob violence, which has included vandalism, setting cars afire, breaking windows, looting, and even murder.”1 Writing similarly on the toxic atmosphere in which we currently live, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia wrote: “The reason the Church names anger as one of the seven “deadly” sins is because it’s simultaneously so poisonous, so delicious, and so addictive. Anger congeals quite comfortably into hatred. In C.S, Lewis’s novel The Great Divorce, the damned cling jealously to their anger (among other sins) because it’s so reassuring; so satisfying and self-justifying. The point is, people easily begin to like being angry. Wrath feels good, especially when the ugliness of the habit can be dressed in a struggle against real or perceived evils. Christians aren’t the first to notice this terrible truth. The great Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca, writing in the First Century A.D., put it this way: “[Anger] is the most hideous and frenzied of all the emotions. The others have something quiet and placid in them, whereas anger is all excitement and impulse. Raving with a desire that is utterly inhuman for instruments of pain and reparations in blood, careless of itself so long as it harms the other, it rushes onto the very spear points, greedy for vengeance that draws down the avenger with it.”2

1 Msgr. Charles Pope, “The Oppressiveness of Our Times,” Community in Mission, August 23, 2017 2 Archbishop Charles Chaput, “The Epidemic and It’s Cure,” August 24, 2017 While it is difficult to always know exactly what to do or how to live in the midst of such civil unrest and angst, the Christian response to injustice and evil is not what we’ve been seeing on the news every evening since the beginning of November. Every Christian is invited, first of all, to review his or her own conscience and to determine whether or not we respond to people, even those with whom we disagree, with a Christ-like patience and mercy. Second, we are all asked to remember the importance of prayer for our own benefit and for the good of our neighbor. Everyone should be willing to offer up prayers for the healing of our country and for the gift of wisdom and strength to be bestowed upon those in positions of leadership. As members of the Church, we are called to be a light to the nations by our acknowledging of the dignity of each person as well as by our calm, patience, kindness and understanding.

Have a blessed week!

PSR Registration and Class will take place on Sunday, September 10th at 8:50 am in the Parish Center. Cost $40.00 per family due at time of registration. Thank you!

ATTENTION! We are looking for someone with good penmanship who would be interested in coming to the rectory to enter names of all our deceased going back to 1821 into a leather bound book “The Book of the Names of the Dead”. This book will be displayed in church on All Souls Day, November 2nd and remain there the entire month of November. Please call the rectory or talk to Fr. Don, if interested. Thank you!

IMPORTANT…if you are unable to be present at your appointed time…Please get a substitute. Thank you!

RCIA Classes will be starting in September. If you, or you know someone interested in becoming Catholic contact Fr. Don or the parish office at 636-583-2806.

Neighboring Activities Saturday, August 26th Summer Festival at St. Anthony, Sullivan, 12 – 10 pm Saturday, Sept. 9th Dinner Auction at St. Ann’s, Clover Bottom, 6 pm Call 636.239.3222

St. Francis Borgia Regional High School Annual Magazine Drive

Please support the St. Francis Borgia Regional High School Magazine Drive. It will begin on August 22, 2017 and end on September 12, 2017 for student incentives; however, you can place an order online anytime during the entire school year. Simply log on to gaschoolstore.com, enter the SFBRHS account #2684322 and click on “Shop now”. You will be prompted to include the name of the student to whom credit should be given. When you order or renew your magazines, 48% of the subscription price stays with St. Francis Borgia Regional High School. The magazine distributor WILL NOT ACCEPT coupons or special discounts. Call 636-239-7871 ext. 122 to place an order, or contact any St. Francis Borgia Regional High School student.

St. Joseph Events

ZUMBA THIS MONDAY, AUGUST 28th. See you at 7 pm! Cost $5 per class

Calling all parishioners! Homecoming 2016 is right around the corner and the planning team would like to remind you of a few final details:  Parking: Please park in the parishioner parking lot next to the cemetery.

 Dining Room: Please bring 4 pies per family and fresh tomatoes or peppers

 Country Store: Baked goods, jams, apple butter, garden produce are welcome!

 Fancy Stand: Handmade or re-purposed crafts- For questions, Call Erica Sterling at 636-584-4297

 If you are unable to work your shift, please contact your booth chair immediately and help them find a replacement for you. Thank you for all of your hard work!!

DINNER AUCTION UPDATE: Thanks for your donation(s) both this year and in the past. You will note that we have had the Hall repainted, resealed/restriped the parking lot and installed a new dumpster corral with proceeds from last year’s Dinner.

If it is your intention to make a donation this year, the Committee requests that you fill out a donation form for each item to be donated…now… even though the item will not be delivered or picked up until the Sunday before the Dinner Auction which will be October 28th this year. Extra blank forms are available in the back of Church.

You can turn in the donation form(s) to any Committee member or drop it in the Box provided in the rear of Church. This will enable us to get all the information entered into the computer early and make our lives a little easier. Our next meeting will be September 6th. All are welcome to attend. Again thank you.