HOLY COMFORTER CATHOLIC CHURCH SEPTEMBER 7 2014
SAINTS TO REMEMBER Gifts for God Offertory September = $6,485
SEPTEMBER 6 – Blessed Claudio Granzotto Outreach = $110
7 – Blessed Frederic Ozanam 8 – Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR ______9 – St. Peter Claver 10 – St. Thomas of Villanova PARISHIONERS: Winifred Smith, Frank Pologruto, Al Bracuti, Norman 11 – St. Cyprian Bednarcyk, Nicholas Sisman, Mary Ann Williams, Rose Bowker, Tom 12 – Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary O’Rourke, and Hermann Ortmann. 13 – St. John Crysostom 14 – Exaltation of the Holy Cross FRIENDS AND RELATIVES: Josephine Nampijja, Gloria Aberg, Grace Dawn Wicke, Melyssa Dove, Nicole Carpenter, Beth Mauk, Evan MASS INTENTIONS Dotas, Dave Halley, Cullen McQuhae, Bill & Marie Jones, Christine Bentéjac, David Rumpf, Mrs. Jessica Viglietta, Pam D. Goines, Charlie Previtali, Jessica Viglietta, Nicole Shaw, Jean Clayton, Rich Hawkins, Saturday, September 5 Grace R. Salvetti, Kimberly Hasenfus Hulick, Kristin Fagan, Merrilee 5 PM – Joe Leahy Kubart, June Atherton, Natalie Potter, Harper Grace, J. Sloan, Paul Sunday, September 6 Hillard, Dale Evans, Michael Reisinger, Marie Johnston, Suzanne Lank, 8:30 AM – Peter Colo (Marlene Wood) 11 AM – Members of the Parish Stanley Lank, Diane Schmidt, Earl Scheetz, Shirley O’Rourke, Bob Spann, Joan Hall, Deborah Bryant, Xavier Van Bastelaer, Mary Griffin, Saturday, September 12 Makala Thomas, and Sibylle Llewellyn. 8 AM – Gertrude Agnew Tobin (Eileen Foster) 5 PM – Joe Leahy MILITARY: Brian Fagan, Jamie Torbet, Mike Eiermann, David Alvey,
Sunday, September 13 Charles G. Ellison, Eric Emmott, and Matthew Mickiewicz.
8:30 AM – Peter Colo (Marlene Wood) 11 AM – Members of the Parish PARISH NEWS
THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR NEW PARISHIONERS: Stephen & Regina Grammatico, Jim Brown, Helene & Lawrence Gaffney, Mark Floryan & Maya Kumatawa, Robert SUNDAY (9/7) 7 - 7:45 AM Reconciliation & Jean Brandon, Fran & Marshall Slayton, Kay & Patrick Humes, Eileen 8:30 AM –MASS Foster, Rocky & Patricia Murdough, Andre & Charlie Anne Xavier, 9:45 – 10:45 AM: Christian Formation Classes Donald & Helen Dudley, Francis & Marylouise Coolidge, Joseph Kuhn, and Melanie & Jeff Henderson. 11 AM – Children’s MASS
MONDAY (9/8) BAPTISMS: NOON –Monthly MASS for the Sick & Elderly July 27, 2014: Maeve Elizabeth Thomas August 3, 2014: Teddy James Weaver TUESDAY (9/9) 10 AM – NOON: Food Pantry WEDDINGS: NOON – MASS July 12, 2014: Jessica Ward & Brady Drumheller August 2, 2014: Kara Gorski & Edward Reed WEDNESDAY (9/10) August 8, 2014: Meredith Johnson & Sam Dilbert 10 AM – NOON: Food Pantry NOON – MASS UPCOMING WEDDINGS: NOON - AA Meeting September 20, 2014: Emily Buckley & Michael Dolan 6:30 PM - Medjugorie Rosary Prayer Group October 11, 2014: Tona Boyd & Michael Cartwright 7 – 8:30 PM: Choir Practice October 19, 2014: Alessandra Saucino & Jonathan Keephart
THURSDAY (9/11) NEXT WEEK'S READINGS 8 AM– MASS EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS NOON - 1 PM: Soup Kitchen First Reading: Numbers 21:4b-9 FRIDAY (9/12) The Jews were complaining against God and Moses of the tiring journey 8 AM– MASS through the desert. The Lord punished them for such complaints with the bite 10 AM – NOON: Food Pantry of deadly serpents. After hearing the prayers of Moses for his people, the Lord NOON - AA Meeting instructed Moses to cure those who became ill with a bronze serpent mounted to a pole for them to see. SATURDAY (9/13) 8 AM– MASS Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11 3:30 - 4:30 PM: Reconciliation In this letter to the Philippians, Paul tells us how Jesus set aside his form of 5 PM – Vigil Mass equality to God and took on a humble, human form - obedient even unto death. God the Father greatly exalted Jesus because of this. SUNDAY (9/14) 7 - 7:45 AM Reconciliation Gospel Reading: John 3:13-17 8:30 AM –MASS As today’s first reading tells us of Moses raising the bronze serpent in the 9:45 – 10:45 AM: Christian Formation Classes desert for those to be cured, Jesus says, too, that the Son of Man should be lifted up for all to see so the world might be saved and he who believes in him 11 AM –MASS might enjoy eternal life.
HOLY COMFORTER CATHOLIC CHURCH SEPTEMBER 7 2014
NEWS FROM HAITI JUSTICE & PEACE Anne Knasel (STA): [email protected] Ginny Zeller (HC): [email protected] www.saltadere.org PANTRY: Have you noticed how the price of groceries seems to go up each week? Unfortunately the salaries of minimum-wage part-time
NEWS FROM HAITI: Patrick Eugene, a graduate of St. Michel School and workers does not keep pace with these increases. YOU can help! subsequently of James Madison University now resident in Haiti, Donate a few staple food items to our pantry each week. Canned attended our last meeting and reported on his efforts to bring soups, vegetables, and fruits are welcome. So are simple toilet articles computers and solar power to Haiti. Father Ilric, pastor of St. Michel, such as shampoo, tooth paste, and deodorant. If everyone in the is still planning an October visit. School is scheduled to begin parish were to add just one item to the shopping basket each week, September 8. Your support of St. Michel School and the chapel we'd help a lot of people. schools is very important. Mesi anpil.
SPONSORSHIP FAIR: Stay tuned for news about this upcoming event. Student Sponsorships are our main source for support of the schools of our twin parish. If your e-mail or other sponsor information has changed, please notify us at [email protected]. Our sponsorship e-newsletter is our best way to keep you informed.
BI-PARISH HAITI COMMITTEE: The committee’s next meeting is September 14. All are welcome. To learn about the Bi-parish committee, you can e-mail Anne Knasel or Ginny Zeller or visit the website. Contact us to join our email update list.
CHARLOTTESVILLE CATHOLIC SCHOOL www.cvillecatholic.org (434) 964-0400
ANGEL OF THE WEEK: Thank you to Mrs. Grant, one of our wonderful Pre-K teaching assistants for all of your help these past weeks!
UPCOMING EVENTS: Saturday, September 27th: 13th Annual Charlottesville Catholic School 5K and Kids’ Fun Run! All are welcome to participate in ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF INTEREST
this fun event hosted at the school! Check out our website for more information and to register today (family discounts are VOCATIONS CHALICE PRAYER PROGRAM: Don’t forget to sign up on the calendar that is on the credenza! This is such a beautiful way to pray only available online!) www.cvillecatholic.org/5K for priestly vocations. Thank you! th th Monday, October 13 : 12 Annual Gene Corrigan Golf MEDJUGORJE ROSARY PRAYER GROUP: Our Blessed Mother's message of Tournament: Glenmore Country Club; registration is now open August 2, 2014 -- "Dear children, the reason that I am with you, my online at: www.cvillecatholic.org/golf2014 mission, is to help you for 'good' to win, even though this does not OPEN POSITIONS: CCS has a few open positions. This is a unique seem possible to you now. I know that you do not understand many professional opportunity to work in a vibrant, faith-based community! things as I also did not understand everything, everything that my Son SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS: CCS welcomes applications from teachers to explained to me while He was growing up alongside me - but I become a part of our substitute pool. Wonderful children, flexible believed Him and followed Him. I ask this of you also, to believe me hours, and a great working environment are a guarantee! and to follow me. However, my children, to follow me means to love AFTER-CARE ASSISTANTS: We need additional staff for the after care my Son above everything, to love Him in every person without making team–those with experience and who enjoy working with differences." Come pray with us every Wednesday at 6:30 PM in the elementary/middle school children. First aid certification is preferred. Chapel. Renew and refresh your love for God in this warm and inviting To apply for employment, please download an application from the small prayer group. Diocese of Richmond and submit it with your resume, three letters of MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND: It takes much effort just to make reference, and letter of interest by mail to CCS, 1205 Pen Park Road, ends meet in our world today. Do you wish you could talk about 22901; by fax to (434)964-1373; or by email to Mike Riley at something besides all the stresses in your life? A Worldwide Marriage [email protected]. For more information about the positions Encounter Weekend gives you the time & tools to revitalize romance, or the school, please visit our website. deepen communication, and nourish the spirituality in your marriage. The next weekend is Oct 10-12 in Norfolk. For more info or to apply, visit our website at www.renewmarriage-vasouth.org or contact us at [email protected] or 757-483-3209.
MEN’S CURSILLO RETREAT WEEKEND OCTOBER 16-19, 2014 AT CAMP OVERLOOK: Catholic men, mark your calendars. For information and downloadable applications, call Rob & Ann Michel at 978-3954 or visit valleycursillo.com. Applications must be received by October 3, 2014.
HOLY COMFORTER CATHOLIC CHURCH SEPTEMBER 7 2014
FROM THE PASTOR THE TREASURE IN THE CROSS
This month of September is usually devoted to the Sorrows of Mary. The purpose of that devotion is to promote union with the sufferings of Christ through union with the special suffering that Our Lady endured because she was His Mother. By uniting ourselves with both the Passion of Christ and His holy Mother, we enter into Jesus' Heart and honor Him greatly; He is more honored because we have so honored His Mother. In the gospel we learn: “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene” (19: 25). It was at that cross where the new life of the Church was born (Blood and Water) that Mary stood showing us the greatest Treasure that we have in the cross.
On the second Sunday in September, we will celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Looking forward to this has compelled me to write this article, The Treasure in the Cross. I can say no one can approach and touch the Cross of Jesus without leaving something of himself or herself there and without bringing something of the Cross of Jesus into his or her own life. I have three questions that I hope will echo in your hearts this month as you walk beside Jesus: What do you intend to leave at the cross? What can you get from the cross? Finally, what does this Cross teach us?
Tertullian, in his De Corona (3:2), written around AD 211, says that Christians seldom do anything significant without making the sign of the cross. And tracing the sign of the cross on persons and things as a sign of blessing is a very old Christian custom. What is the significance of the sign of the cross? The Cross is the personal mark of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We mark it on ourselves as a sign that we belong to Him as noted in the book of Revelation: “… the servants of God are sealed or marked on their foreheads as a sign that they are His (Rev. 14:1).
According to an ancient Roman tradition, while fleeing the city during the persecutions of Nero, Sai nt Peter saw Jesus who was travelling in the opposite direction, carrying the cross, toward the city, and asked him in amazement: “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus’ response was: “I am going to Rome to be crucified again.” At that moment, Peter understood that he had to follow the Lord with courage, to the very end. But he also realized that h e would never be alone on the journey; Jesus, who had loved him even unto death, would always be with him. Jesus, with his Cross, walks with us and takes upon himself our fears, our problems, and our sufferings, even those which are deepest and most painful. With the Cross, Jesus unites himself to the silence of the victims of violence, those who can no longer cry out, especially the innocent and the defenseless. With the Cross, he is united to families in trouble, and those who mourn the tragic loss of their loved ones. On the Cross, Jesus is united with every person who suffers from hunger in a world which, on the other hand, permits itself the luxury of throwing away tons of food every day. On the Cross, Jesus is united to the many mothers and fathers who suffer as they see their children become victims of drug abuse. On the Cross, Jesus is united with those who are persecuted for their religion, for their beliefs or simply for the color of their skin. On the Cross, Jesus is united with so many young people who have lost faith in political institutions, because they see in them only selfishness and corruption. He unites himself with those young people who have lost faith in the Church and even in God because of the counter-witness of Christians and ministers of the Gospel. How our inconsistencies make Jesus suffer! The Cross of Christ bears the suffering and the sin of mankind, including my own. Jesus accepts all this with open arms, bearing on his shoulders our crosses and saying to us: “Have courage! You do not carry your cross alone! I carry it with you. I have overcome death and I have come to give you hope, to give you life” (Jn 3:16). Now what has the Cross given to those who have gazed upon it and to those who have touched it? What has the Cross left in each one of us? You see, it gives us a treasure that no one else can give - the certainty of the faithful love which God has for us. A love so great that it enters into our sin and forgives it, enters into our suffering and gives us the strength to bear it. It is a love which enters into death to conquer it and to save us. The Cross of Christ contains all the love of God; there we find his immeasurable mercy. TO BE CONTINUED
HOLY COMFORTER CATHOLIC CHURCH SEPTEMBER 7 2014
Formation Notes Dear Friends, creation of new programs for the I recently stumbled upon a very wonderful book by development of formation materials to deepen Rebecca Solnit: Men Explain Things To Me. The book, an understanding of the Church’s doctrine of which began as an essay of the same title, investigates the faith, Ms. Solnit’s experiences with “mansplaining”: the review and guidance in the application of process by which (some) men explain things to women liturgical norms and texts, and that they think they don’t already know (although they review of the LCWR’s links to affiliated probably do). She tells a great story in which, after a organizations. formal dinner, a gentleman took her aside for a chat. “I hear you’ve written a couple of books,” he said. The sisters were calm but determined in their response. “What are they about?” They steadfastly and clearly articulated their positions, wrote extensively on each of the concerns, provided all Writers, men and women alike, hate being asked “what information requested, and met with the bishops when have you written about” almost as much as they hate asked. They have even presented their case to Pope “what are you working on?” Responses to these Francis in Rome. questions are never satisfactory and always seem to suggest an inanity inherent in your ideas. The statements and documents that emerged before and during the LCWR annual assembly last month in Solnit (who had at that point written more than “a Nashville make their commitment clear. As Sr. Joan couple” of books on a wide variety of topics) politely Chittister noted, “The issue is whether or not women answered that her latest project was a book on religious can manage their own organizations and still th Muybridge and his effect on 20 century notions of be faithful Catholics. The Vatican’s answer to those time. “Ah,” he said knowingly. “Then you must have questions is no. For the last 45 years, however, LCWR’s heard about the very important Muybridge book that answer to those same questions has been a clear and came out this year.” She was at first worried she had persistent yes.” Sr. Mary Lou Kownacki quoted St. overlooked an important research point. But as he Catherine of Siena: “We’ve had enough of exhortations droned on, explaining the book to her, she realized he to be silent. Cry out with a thousand tongues. I see the was talking about the one she had written. world is rotten because of silence.”
I have a feeling that “mansplaining” is a concept not Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, professor of theology at unfamiliar to members of the Leadership Council of Fordham University, was awarded the LCWR Women Religious (LCWR). In the last few years, they Outstanding Leadership Award. A sister of St. Joseph, have had a lot of things explained to them by men, in her recent book Quest for the Living God had been particular the US Conference of Catholic Bishops condemned by the USCCB as inconsistent with official (USCCB): the appropriate role of women in the Church, doctrine. She has called their criticisms theologically the correct interpretation of Catholic doctrine, whom flawed. they should invite to speak at their conferences, among other things. In her address to the conference, Dr. Johnson said this to her fellow religious: “Your willingness to stay at the As a little background, with which I am sure you are table and offer meaningful, honest dialogue is a familiar, the LCWR represents some 80% of women powerful witness.” Indeed, themes of witness and religious (51,600 nuns) in the United States. In April commitment threaded the entire conference. 2012, the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) called for a reform of the LCWR. They Pope Francis has stayed above the fray on this issue named Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle to oversee for the most part, although he has stated support of the process, with Bishop Leonard Blair and Bishop the USCCB. He is in something of a hard place. He is Thomas John Paprocki assisting him in the process. committed to an enhanced role for the Episcopacy – the Church’s Bishops – yet (according to those close to The CDF mandated that the doctrinal assessment of him) is sympathetic in spirit to the LCWR. There is the LCWR include the following: definitely more to come as this engagement unfolds. revision of LCWR Statutes, to review LCWR We keep the participants in our prayers. plans and programs, including General Many blessings on your week! Assemblies and publications, Dawn assurance that the LCWR’s mission is in 434.295.6559 accord with Church teachings and discipline, [email protected]