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Ordinary Time XXIII Sunday
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Phone: 251-865-6902 P. O. Box 417, Grand Bay, AL 3641 Fax: 251-865-1412 Email: [email protected] Parish website: www.StJohnGrandBay.org
Pastor: Fr. Anthony Kadavil ([email protected])
Secretary: Rev.Deacon Billy Graham
Parish Council President: Mr. Steve Sema Jr. ([email protected])
Finance Council President: Mrs. Paula Rials
CCD Coordinator: Mrs. Tiffany Teofilo Youth Director: Mrs. Karen Day 2
Sunday school classes (CRE) and Youth program for the year 2015-16 began on August 16th at 8-45 am and 11 am respectively.
We cordially welcome Our Sunday school teachers for 2015-16:
Tiffany Teofilo (CCD coordinator), Paulette Cauley, Autumn Bowden, Julia Schmierer, Peggy Delmas, Adele Logan and Karen Diamond
Our Youth group classes began on August 16th under the direction of Mrs. Karen Day. We welcome our dynamic youth director. All the youth of our parish are invited to the youth group program to be held after at 8. 45 am every Sunday.
th Parish and Finance Councils will meet on Wednesday, September 9 at 6:30 and 7:30 respectively. 3
Priests’ Burse Club is this weekend. There will be ladies at the doors of the church after each Mass to sign up new members or to renew memberships. Please support our “Priests’ Burse Club” so that they may support our seminarians. Deacon Graham is out of the office from Thursday, September 3rd, until Thursday, September 10th.
Special thanks to Mr. Avis Garret for trimming the overgrown bushes in the yard of one of our elderly and sick parishioners and for reparing her bush mover. RCIA program: Does somebody you know, want to become Catholic or want to learn about Catholic beliefs? Every year we offer our RCIA group (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) starting in September. This is a process of prayer, discernment, fellowship, and learning that leads up to reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist). RCIA is a chance to discern whether or not the Lord is calling you to take this step, and then to prepare for it. If you’re interested, please contact the parish office @ 251-865-6902, or contact Fr. Tony directly.
Schedules for Ministers of the Mass for the month of September are on the glass table in the church hall. Please take a copy so you will know when you are scheduled. 4
Visit Catholic America : With the support of Archbishop Rodi and priests of our archdiocese, Catholic in America is working to expand its viewership in our area. It’s a weekly, high quality, locally- produced half-hour television broadcast that explains the Catholic Faith, welcoming people and introducing them to the local Catholic parishes in our archdiocese. An outstanding feature is the live Call Center: Catholic in America actually puts people in direct contact with a local priest. Please support Catholic in America by visiting www.CatholicInAmerica.com. See the Catholic In America Program on UTV 44 - WJTC TV, Sundays at 11 a.m. St. Vincent de Paul Society’s “Friends of the Poor Walk” is Saturday September 26 at 8 am. Please see one of the poster on the glass table in the church hall for details. Search Retreat for teens by teens will be held November 13 to 15, 2015. For more information go to archmobyouth.org/search. "Be Prepared" - the apologetics series of the Archdiocese of Mobile - for all adults of the archdiocese sponsored by the Office of Religious Education is available to all persons in the Archdiocese of Mobile. Go to the Archdiocese website, select “Ministries & Office,” then “Department of Education” then “Office of Religious Education” to find out dates, times and locations of classes.
Prayer request for post- surgery recovery: Our parishioners Nina Bohl, Marion Poirier, Andrew Sprinkle, Michelle Cook, Linda Graham, Jay Graham, and Andrea Graham are recovering at home after surgery. Please keep them in your prayers. 5
Get your home blessed: The best thing you can do in this Year of the Family is to invite your pastor to bless your home and consecrate its residents to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, if your home was not blessed in the last four years. It takes only 10 minutes. Please inform me when is the convenient date and time. Fr. Tony
K&C Food Drive to help "Christ-N-Us" ministry: Knights of Columbus Council #15490 of St. John’s has received a request and agreed to support the "Christ-N-Us" ministry, located at the corner Potter Tract and Sager Rd. They house and feed up to twelve souls each night and they are in need to any food donations we can provide. Please donate items which can be cooked and served and show appreciation for the blessings that God has given you by helping to feed the hungry.
th Birthdays this week: Sept. 6 ; Kayla Graham, Quenten Smith: 8th; James Medders: 9th; Autumn Bowden: 10th; Theresa DeAngelo: 11th; Linda Graham: Known wedding anniversaries: 6th; Becky and Willie Thompson
Holy Mass intentions of the week: September 5 th to 11th 6
Sat. the 5th: ------For the eternal repose of the soul of Alphonso, brother of Mila Vaughn
Sun. the 6th: ------For the Parish Community
The 7th & 8th: ------For the eternal repose of the soul of Steve Sema, Sr. by Deborah Sema
The 9th & 10th: ------For the eternal repose of the soul of Michael Broson by Kathy Kirchoff
The 11th: ------For the eternal repose of the soul of Mary Rambo by Cynthia Driskell
To schedule a meeting or event using parish facilities you must check the calendar or contact the office to be sure the date and room is available. You must have approval from the office for any scheduled events.
Items for Soldiers’ needs: Please don’t forget to bring items for soldiers’ needs: Shaving cream, disposable razors, solid deodorant, bars of soap/body wash, anti-bacteria cleaner, shampoo, tooth paste, dental floss, personal handy-wipes, personal hygiene items for women, foot powder, insect repellent, flea collars (they put them around their ankles), chopstick, athlete’s foot powder/spray, sun block lotion, sun shades, protective safety dust masks, socks, sweat headbands, batteries (AAA, AA, C), DVD movies, cards, writing tablets, paper, pens, envelopes, reading materials, snacks: cookies, gum, crest, life-savers, mints, pudding, crackers, sardines, chicken, 7 tuna, salmon, jerky, peppermints, kool-aid, gatorade, tea/coffee. Put items in the designated box in the Parish Hall
Help us to keep flowers at the altar: The slotted wooden box on the glass table in the Parish Hall will receive donations for flowers. If you wish to give flowers for a specific remembrance or thanksgiving there is a sign- up flower chart on the wall to the left of the front doors.
New CDs: There are new CDs in the CD stack. Each CD costs $ 3. You can have 9 CDs for $ 25. CD on the revised Mass is now available
August 30: 2181. 00 8
Volunteers
ALTAR CARE- SEPTEMBER
Maria Switzer
CHURCH CLEANING – SEPT 12TH
RUTH PIGORSH
Extraordinary Minister Schedule September 12 & 13, 2015
Altar Servers Mass EMCH Lectors Ushers (Green Vestments)
James Graham Billy Dixon Andrea Graham Saturday Sept 12, Paul Pigorsch, Wayne Jackson, Eugene Jay Graham 5:00 pm Poiroux, Chuck Pierce Wesey Dixon Steve Sema, Jr. Greg Keffer 9
Bryce Baggett Maria Switzer Mark Voss Sunday Sept 13, Ruth Riddick, Mike Courtney, Avis Garrett, Paul Delmas 10:00 am Mike Marchand Carol Roberts Carol Voss Kyle McBride
Absentees: If you are scheduled to serve at Mass and find that you cannot serve, it is NECESSARY that you arrange for a substitute. Please take your responsibility seriously. If you are interested in serving as an Altar Server, Eucharistic Minister, and Lector or as an Usher, please let Fr. Tony or the Office know of your willingness to serve. We especially need Usher/Greeters for the Saturday Mass.
Remember the sick brothers and sisters in your prayers: Kenny Kirchoff, ; Andrew Sprinkle, Carolyn Willard, Judy Courtney, Pat klein, Wendy Guidry, Dana ferrell, Betty
Fountain, ,Gabby DeGeer; Charlee May Knowles, Nonie Crow Reed, James Cauley, Nina Bohl, , Linda Graham, Fritz Poter, Micky Porier, Becky Thompson, Michael Cook, James Albritton, Andrea Graham,
Gloria White, Jay Graham, Joe Smith, Addie Thompson, Kayla Perry, Kristlyn Postle, Victoria Fontenot, Tiffany Fontenot, John Ramsay, Voncille Hulcher, Helen Powers, Raymond Lyons, Valerie Wallace, Holin Saucer, Peggy Hock, T. J. Stovall, Lucine Bryant, Mary Lou Ledford, Gavin Middleton, Laurie Middleton, Jerry Wayne Davis, Joyce Rudberg, Jennifer Patronas, Connie Stringfellow, Josh Ellis, Beth 10
Gibson, Fr. Russell Biven, Cheryl Humphrey Thompson, Jay Stallone, Emma Barber, Ali Ray, Gerald Brannan, Hanner Gassaway, Rylyn Kuntz, Joe Ecker, B. J. Broussard, Clair Waite, Avery Collier, Julia Raleigh, Steven Butler, Sarah Butler, Chris Sassano, Tammy Asch, Mary Rambo, Delaine Pigorsch, Joel Rivera, Alice Bedwell, Susan Taylor, Wayne Seymour, Miss Pink Pridgen, Kim Pridgen, Clyde Shores, Glen Haab, Haley Holder, Lakeshia Johnson, Gary Sherman, Elizabeth Schmidt, John Atchison, Johnny Hill, Jared Hoken, Diana Abrams, Hinleigh Hall, Ryan Keith Malone, Linda Graham, Dave Matern, Virginia Gable, Andrew Taylor, Diane Watts, Daniel Dorriety, Tiffany Fontenot, Harrand Broussard, Katie Nielsen, Richard Arnold, Louis Poiroux, Homer Campbell, Jimmy Marchand, Arlene Wissman, Becky Thompson, Sally Thompson, Peggie Huber, Dale Thompson, Jane Thompson, Andy Thompson, Callie Massey, Angela Heardon, Rita George, Edgar Broussard, Lillian Broussard, Robert Broussard, Jerry Blair, Michael Stairs, Amanda Illingsworth, Ray Bribsey, Dorothy Barnes, Jared Horn and for all those serving in the Armed Forces.
Pray for the deceased dear ones of the parish: Pray for the eternal repose of the deceased members of the parish: Voncille Hulcher, Mary Nicholas Rambo, Paul Delmas, Cody Driskell, Evelyn Robison, Jean Mitchell, Veretta Tulos, Jim Kimble, Lynn Poirier, Phillip Marchand, Sue Kirchoff, Mary Sanders, Margaret Jackson, Catherine Schnadelbach, Darlene Alexander, Patrick Marchand, Steve Sema, Sr., Mary Marchand and Sis Marchand. 11
Former pastors: Rev. Monsignor Hugh Maguire and Fr. Strejeski. Other priests and deacons and Sisters: Rev. Msg. Joseph Jennings, Rev. Andrew J. Stauter, Rev. Walter Menig, Rev. William Gorman, Deacon John Cretaro, Sr. Maria Bernarda Kadavil and other deceased relatives and friends. Pray for our former parishioners serving in the Armed Forces: Travis Wilson, SPC Jackson Triston, Jr., Captain Will Hurd, Bryant Bailey & Zachery Bailey and Athena Ladnier undergoing training in the U. S. Navy. .
SYNOPSIS OF O.T. XXIII SUNDAY ( SEPT 6TH) HOMILY– Mt 7: 31-37
Video homily by Fr. Bill Grimm: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=NpnLzKXOZwY&feature=player_embedded
http:// en.radiovaticana . va /news/Features/asia-liturgical-reflections
Introduction: The central theme of today’s readings is an invitation to us to become humble instruments of healing in Jesus’ hands by giving 12 voice to the voiceless and caring love to the needy and the marginalized in our society. The readings also invite us to open our ears to hear the word of God and to let our tongues be loosened by the Holy Spirit to convey the Good News of God’s love and salvation to others.
Scripture lessons: The first reading (Is 35:4-7), reminds us that God's eyes are constantly focused on the helpless. God especially cares for "the frightened, the blind, the deaf, the lame, the mute," and He encourages the powerless to "be strong and fearless."
This is why, in today’s second reading (James 2:1-5), the apostle gives us some basic and challenging principles of social justice. He exhorts Christians to show no partiality based on external appearance and to practice God’s “preferential option” for the poor. He warns the faithful against scorning or shaming the poor while showing special consideration to the rich. Today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 146), sings of a God who gives sight to the blind, raises up those who are bowed down and welcomes strangers.
Today’s Gospel describes how Jesus, by healing a deaf and mute man, fulfilled Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy, "The eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped." The ailments listed by Isaiah are symbolic of our interior illnesses: blindness to the needs of our neighbor, unwillingness to hear God’s voice and the inability to speak words of praise and gratitude. Through this miracle story, Mark also reminds us that no one can be a follower of the Lord without reaching out to the helpless (“preferential option for the poor”). 13
Life messages: 1) we need to help Jesus to heal the deaf and the mute today. Jesus desires to give us his healing touch in order to loosen our tongues so that he may speak to the spiritually hungry through us. He invites us to give him our hearts so that he may touch the lives of people in our day through us, just as he touched the lives of millions through saintly souls like Francis of Assisi, Damien of Molokai, Vincent de Paul and Blessed Mother Teresa. Jesus’ compassionate touch will help us to hear the cries of the poor and the sick. It will teach us to show kindness, mercy and consideration to others. His healing touch will also help us convey peace and hope to those around us.
2) We need to allow Jesus to heal our spiritual deafness and muteness. We may find it hard to speak to God in prayer and harder still to hear Him speaking to us through the Bible and through the Church. Hence, let us imitate the dumb man in the gospel by seeking out Jesus, following him away from the crowd, and spending more of our time in coming to know him intimately as we study Holy Scripture and experience him directly in our lives in personal prayer.
(Visit our parish website: http://stjohngrandbay.org/ for the full text of the homily). 14
Question of the week: Why do we celebrate Labor Day? The first Labor Day was observed on September 5, 1882, to celebrate the social and economic achievements of American workers and to give them a day off on the last day of the summer. Today, Labor Day unofficially signals the beginning of a new "school" year of work and study and the end of the lazy days of summer. 1) It is a day to acknowledge the dignity of labor and workers. a) The Bible presents God as working six days in the creation of the world and commanding Adam to work. b) Jesus, God’s Son, was a professional carpenter. c) Most of his apostles were fishermen and Paul was a tent-maker. d) In his inaugural speech in the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus expressed his preferential option for the poor – the working class and those who cannot work. 2) The Church teaches the nobility of work and the necessity of just wages. In the encyclical Laborem Exercens, the Holy Father John Paul II instructs us that all of us are called to work together for a just society and a just economy which allow us all to share God’s blessings. He reminds us that governments should see that the greed of a minority does not make the life of the majority miserable. He advises labor unions to fight for social and economic justice, better wages and better working conditions. 3) It is an appropriate time to acknowledge and bless the temporal and spiritual work that our parishioners do for their families and for the parish community. It is also a day to remind ourselves that our workplace 15 gives us an opportunity to practice what we believe and that it is a place where we can display a level of integrity that matches our Faith.
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Pope’s new encyclical: Our Common Home: https://laudatosi.com/watch
The Pope's Intentions for August 2015: Universal: That volunteers may give themselves generously to the service of the needy. Evangelization: Outreach to the Marginalized. That setting aside our very selves we may learn to be neighbors to those who find themselves on the margins of human life and society. Pope Francis tweets:
Lord, help us always to be more generous and closer to poor families.
A Christian who is too attached to riches has lost his way.
Reading the Gospel each day helps us to overcome our selfishness and to follow Jesus our Teacher with dedication.
When we experience the merciful love of the Father, we are more able to share this joy with our neighbor.
Mary’s life shows that God accomplishes great deeds through those who are the most humble.
Mary is full of grace. She is a sure refuge for us in times of temptation.
The encounter with Christ can completely change our life.
We are all sinners. Let us be transformed by God’s mercy.
We learn many virtues in our Christian families. Above all, we learn to love, asking nothing in return.
Visit our website: http://stjohngrandbay.org/ for Sunday Homilies, 166 - Questions & Answers and 56 - Faith Formation Lessons, introduction to Bible books. 16
All are welcome t o St. John’s with open hearts, open minds and open doors.
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Grand Bay celebrates God’s presence, grows in God’s grace, welcomes all people and reaches out with God’s love. We try to be to be a vibrant community of faith where all people feel they belong.
No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church, No matter what your current family or marital situation, No matter what your past or present religious situation, No matter your personal history, age, background, race, etc., No matter what your own self- image or esteem, you are invited, welcomed, accepted, loved and respected at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Grand Bay!
We come together as a parish family to draw our life from the Eucharist and other sacraments.
As believers we participate fully, consciously and actively in the liturgy of the Church and seek to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and action.
We commit ourselves to worship, education, stewardship and service as we extend our hand to others in need and to those who wish to join the church. 17
By the grace of God, after the example of Jesus Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we dedicate ourselves to accomplish our mission within and beyond our community.
Photos of the great pastors who guided the destiny of our parish 18
Please visit St. John the Baptist Catholic parish website:
http://stjohngrandbay.org/ for the full text of the
Sunday homily, Sunday bulletin, 56 Adult Faith Formation Lessons and Question of the Week (1-169).