For The Bulletin Of In another example of hyperbole, Jesus October 6, 2019 responds by saying that if their faith was the size of a mustard seed (about the size of a sesame seed) they would be able to move trees. Now, nobody, not even Jesus moved trees. Significantly, there are other gospels where the claim is that they could with faith the size of a mustard seed move mountains!

But apparently Luke thought that was hyperbole taken too far. For in this gospel the extent of faith is moving only trees. Mountains are not mentioned. Nevertheless, the point is simply that they have little faith, not even the size of a mustard seed. Jesus continues His lesson with a demonstration of the proper attitude of a servant who does what he is told expecting nothing, not even gratitude, in return. That attitude, striking for us today, is proper for discipleship. THE 27TH SUNDAY IN AUTUMN’S So, the disciples’ query about increasing ORDINARY TIME their faith brings a mild rebuke from Jesus, stating that their faith is smaller than the size of a mustard seed. Even so, they should From Father Robert simply carry out their mission without Philosophers and thinkers debate the expecting even a thank you. meaning of justice and charity: Justice is often considered the doing or giving what is This “tough love” approach to discipleship owed to another, for example, money, labor, may seem at odds with the Jesus that has or some other arrangement. On the other been portrayed in much of the gospel. It’s hand, charity is the gift one gives expecting as though He is sure to put the disciples in nothing in return. A philosophical parlor their place so they turn their attention away game centers around the definition of from their own wants, desires, and requests, charity. Can an act be considered charity if and on to carrying out the mission of Jesus. the doer expects a thank you? Or, does the This is the true call of discipleship, to serve expectation of an expression of gratitude the master rather than oneself. And upon annul the act of charity, which is given offering and competing that service, to have expecting nothing in return? no expectations at all, not even a thank you.

The disciples have a simple request of Jesus This is a tall order. How many of us, upon today: “Increase our faith.” How many of performing an act of kindness, no matter us have made the same request? But what how small, appreciate a word of gratitude. did the disciples mean by it? And what In fact, many of us likely expect that. But would we mean by it? Further, what is the the story we have today presents a different point of the request? standard. It would be good for us to

1 re-evaluate our role in this relationship. We are mere servants, carrying out the wishes of In Psalm 95, we are given the image of our the Lord. When complete, we are happy relationship with God as that of a shepherd simply to have done His bidding. and sheep. Sheep recognize and follow their shepherd by listening to his or her voice. How do you cultivate deep listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd?

St. Paul urges Timothy, “Stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. What are the spiritual practices that help you to keep the flame of faith alive?

Living The Paschal Mystery The disciples implore Jesus, “Increase our Today’s gospel reminds us of the place faith!” If faith is “the realization of what is disciples have before the Lord. Jesus uses hoped for and evidence of things not seen,” an image from the ancient world about what is it that you are hoping for? What servants and a master. Such an image can unseen realities are you convinced of being be problematic today, but it reflects the true? worldview of antiquity. We, as disciples, are advised to do what we are told, follow directions, and carry out what we are obliged to do. Such an image does not leave much room for self-agency, or self- determination, other than to align oneself with the Lord. And this is why the image has some challenges as we bring it to the modern world. And yet, doing the will of the Father is precisely the role of the disciple, the follower. Our task is to discern that will in our world and to carry it out, The Floral Arrangement beneath the expecting nothing in return. We die to our Crucifix today is placed to the Glory of God own wants, needs, and desires, noble as they and In Loving Memory of Georgene might be, such as an increase in faith. Duarte from her mother, Betty, brother, Instead, we follow the direction for us, using Gary, and nephew, Andrew. our gifts, talents, and abilities in such a way that there is not even the expectation of a thank you.

The prophet Habakkuk, living in a time of violence and injustice, cries out to God, “How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen!” In the world today, what are the dire situations that cause you to cry out to God?

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Sunday of the month, Commitment Weekend, everyone will be invited to come out of the pews in a great procession to the Altar where there will be two baskets: one for your Sunday Tithe/Offering, and one for your personal Commitment Form, indicating your intention to “connect, grow, and serve” or how you will give back to God a portion of your time, your talent, and your financial resources in order to help us build the Kingdom of God here at St. Ignatius of Antioch. Please watch your mail to receive a personal letter from me that will include this year’s Commitment Form. Prayerfully reflect upon it and then complete it in time to participate in Commitment Weekend at Blessing of Animals Today each liturgy on Saturday, October 26th and Come and join your fellow parishioners as Sunday, October 27th. we gather this afternoon in the church at 4:00 p.m. for a simple service in the Spirit of St. Francis of Assisi and then move to the Gathering Plaza for treats. Please be sure to leash or cage your pets where appropriate. Our Director of Music-Organist-Artist-in Residence, Don Pearson, has created a beautiful service and program for this annual observance. All Ministers of Pastoral Care are invited to a gathering on Monday evening, October 28th, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Ministers of Pastoral Care are those who go regularly to our local hospitals, convalescent hospitals, assisted living facilities, care homes, and the home- bound to bring Holy Communion, to pray with our sisters and brothers, bring them the bulletin, and provide spiritual and pastoral care for those who are ill or infirm. In Each year we dedicate the Sundays of addition to Deacon Gary, who coordinates October to a consideration of our Christian Pastoral Care, the Chaplains from both Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure, Sutter-Delta and Kaiser Deer Valley or, “Connecting, Growing, and Serving.” hospitals will be present, along with myself. Beginning today and continuing through the The evening will provide an update on next three weeks, parishioners in various protocols, good practices, a time for ministries will be sharing their experience of questions, and concluding with fellowship. “Connecting, Growing, and Serving” within You will be receiving a Letter of Invitation our faith community. Then, on the last

3 from Deacon Gary and you are asked to …to our counting teams who are here RSVP in order to facilitate our planning. every week to count the weekly collections. …to our volunteers who assisted in the parish office last week: Frances Rojek, Mel Costanza, Maryann Peddicord, Estrella Rusk, Alicia Perez, Bev Iacona, Joe Fanfa and Paul Riofski. …to our St. Vincent de Paul volunteer who transported last week’s donations: Frank Zamora. …to our faithful weekly bulletin assembly team: Beth Enea, Richard Enea, Kathy Augusta, Vince Augusta, and Sherry On behalf of all of us, thank you to the Webb. following who do so much each week to …to our wonderful Parking Lot Security help us with the various needs of the parish: who keeps watch over our vehicles during those who arrive early each Saturday the weekend Liturgies: Don Benson, Steve morning to clean and prepare the church and Rojek and Jose Perez. parish hall for the weekend: Alfred Madoshi, Adaugo Nnaji, Jun Bajet, Carole Miller, Mency Osborne, Jean Rogers, Al Cosce, Angela Bueno, and Rose Salamanca. …to the wonderful team of volunteers who came this last Wednesday to help with our recent mailer, a big thank you: Bernice Campbell, Clem Bushman, Rowena Cayaban, Claudia Gumina, Bobbie

Ocang, Vangie Parrilla, Anne Peck, Nancy Newton, Patricia Britton, Lori Last Saturday, the YMI of East Contra Costa Tapia, Jane Enos, Lorraine Lohmeier and County held their Annual Woman of the Lupe Castillo. Year Event. We gathered in the Cafeteria of …those who clean and maintain the our adopted parochial school of St. Peter bathrooms in both the church and parish Martyr in Pittsburg for a lovely luncheon hall: Steve Rojek, Mary Ewing, Patricia and then the program in which the Woman Britton, and Fr. Robert. of the Year Recognition was given. This ...to Dilcia Aparicio who does such an year’s recipient is from our parish! She has excellent job of washing, ironing, and caring raised thousands of dollars for Cancer for the Sacred Linens. Research through Relay for Life, teacher of …to our Sacristans and Altar Guild who Faith Formation to both Adults and prepare the sanctuary for the celebration of Children, is a member of the Choir and a Eucharist each week: Lead Cantor for weekend liturgies as well as Peter Degl’Innocenti, Pam and Rich weddings and funerals, assists in the office Confetti, Vincent Rodriguez, Harlan as a Receptionist, and has made a difference Young, Monika Kauer, Adora Pesapane, in the wider community as well as in the Nancy Santos and Rose Salamanca. parish. Congratulations to Alicia Perez

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who is the Woman of the Year for 2019! The Plaque with which she was presented was shared with each liturgy last weekend in order to give everyone an opportunity to acknowledge and recognize Alicia for all the wonderful things she has done and participated in. The award is well-deserved and we thank the members of the YMI, and Rob Laxner, President, for selecting Alicia for this honor.

Please be sure to mark your calendars for a Last week we learned of the sudden, and very special liturgy on Saturday, November unexpected death of William Cardinal 16, at 10:30 a.m. when the Catholic Levada, first cousin of Fr. Mangini and his Daughters of the Americas come to our sister, Karen. We were blessed to have parish for their Annual Memorial Liturgy for Cardinal Levada with us last year during Deceased Members. Our Music Ministry, Winter’s Ordinary Time when he came to under the direction of Don Pearson, our parish to preside and preach and in Director of Music/Organist/Artist-in- doing so, made it an historic event: the first Residence, along with our Parish Choir and time that a Cardinal had come to East Contra Cantors will support our sung prayer for this Costa County. I want to share with you one diocesan-wide celebration. Catholic of the many tributes that have been written Daughters will be coming from all of the in his memory: various Courts throughout our diocese with their Officers participating in the Procession as well as participating in all of the Cardinal William Levada strove to ministries of the Liturgy. I hope you will honor all the church's teachings join us in welcoming them to St. Ignatius of Sep 27, 2019 Antioch. by Michael Sean Winters

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Cardinal William J. Levada, the former health care benefits to those living in of and of domestic partnerships, the precursor to gay Portland, Oregon, and the retired prefect for marriage. Levada wanted to find a way to the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine honor two teachings of the Church that of the Faith, died in Sept. 26, 2019, at were, suddenly, at odds: Our long-time age 83. He is is pictured in a Dec. 20, 2011, advocacy for universal health care and our photo. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) belief that marriage is uniquely that friendship formed by a man and a woman. Cardinal William Levada died peacefully The "Levada Solution" allowed employees this week in Rome. He was 83 years old. I to designate anyone who was legally remember the day in 2005 when Pope domiciled with the employee to share their Benedict XVI announced he was naming benefits: a gay partner or an aging aunt or an then-Archbishop Levada of San Francisco to unemployed cousin. It was brilliant. lead the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). "I didn't see that one Can you imagine this article explaining his coming," was the universal reaction. solution – which appeared in First Things no less – being issued by today's U.S. bishops' The new pope had been a renowned conference? Or from the pens of the two academic theologian before his surprise who currently sit where Levada appointment as Archbishop of Freising and had, in San Francisco and Portland, Munich in 1977. Since 1981, he had Oregon? Today, the culture warrior bishops presided over the CDF for 24 years and he can't or won't even allow themselves to use knew its challenges, especially as it became the word "gay" as Levada did. The idea that the office through which clergy sex abuse we should look for workable solutions and cases were handled. If anyone knew what not grandstand has gone out of favor with was needed in the post, it was him, and he many U.S. bishops. had chosen Levada, who had helped Ratzinger acclimate to the CDF all those I asked Bishop Robert McElroy, who was a many years before. As the shock wore off, vicar general* under Levada, for his the appointment made more and more sense. thoughts about the now departed cardinal. "I As prefect, Levada earned a reputation for witnessed three anchors in Cardinal managing well the far flung responsibilities Levada's service as a priest and bishop, all of the office. of which are much needed in our day," The more I learned about Levada, the more I McElroy told me in an email. "The first was admired him. It was not always so. I recall a continual devotion to the coherent hearing him called "Darth Levada" when he articulation of Catholic faith and the was appointed to San Francisco. Certainly, development of a real-world catechetics he was seen, and was, more conservative capable of bringing that faith into the hearts than his predecessor Archbishop John R. and minds of believers. The second was his Quinn. But, the nickname was unfair: He unswervingly nonjudgmental disposition was not a culture warrior. toward the human failures that lie within each one of us. And the third was a natural In 1997, Levada worked out a compromise graciousness and optimism that could bridge after the San Francisco City Council enacted barriers of ideology at key moments. So an ordinance requiring all agencies that many of us from the Cardinal's days in San contract with the city government to extend

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Francisco have lost a friend, a mentor and a experience he counseled and offered me true pastor." unwavering support."

Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe also collaborated with Levada in San Francisco. "For me, Cardinal Levada was a man with a big heart. He loved people and enjoyed many friendships," Wester wrote in an email. "He was never shy about expressing his point of view but he also listened attentively to others and gave everyone a fair hearing." Wester recalled Levada's lifelong friend and successor, Archbishop George Niederauer, who died in 2017: "I can only imagine the conversation between Archbishop Niederauer and him at their reunion." Pope Francis uses incense as he leads the rite of commendation during the funeral In 2013, I was finally looking forward to Mass of U.S. Cardinal William J. Levada in meeting Levada. We were both going to San St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Sept. 27, Juan, Puerto Rico, to celebrate the 25th 2019. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) anniversary of Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez's ordination as a bishop. The Levada's support was well placed. We now celebration was especially important know that the visitation was instigated by because of the controversy that had the Apostolic Delegate at the time, surrounded Gonzalez when the Apostolic Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, who was Delegate convinced Rome to initiate an later convicted by a church court of sexually apostolic visitation of the archdiocese, and abusing children and defrocked. In a classic false allegations of covering up sex abuse case of projection, he had accused Gonzalez were leveled at Gonzalez. Rome had of what he himself had done. demanded his resignation. When I arrived in San Juan for Gonzalez's "When I celebrated my 25th anniversary as a anniversary celebration, he invited me to a bishop, Cardinal Levada travelled from lively lunch with Levada, who was an Rome to be present for the anniversary accomplished conversationalist. After, I Eucharist, a luncheon with the priests and went for a swim and was not in the ocean for another gathering with the bishops, my five minutes when a voice called out: "Hello family and friends," Gonzalez told me by Michael Sean. We meet again." It was email from Madrid where he was scheduled Levada in his swim trunks wading into the to preside at a wedding. "His fraternal warm ocean water. I thought how surreal support was especially notable at a crucial this was: Bill Levada was to be my moment during my episcopacy." Gonzalez swimming partner. Who would have thunk added that "when the Apostolic Visitation it? We again discussed a variety of issues. took place in the Archbishopric of San Juan His mind was as sharp as a tack and his de Puerto Rico, from his [Levada's] Roman sense of humor was ever at the ready. Rarely in life have I met someone who was easier to like, and to like so quickly.

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I saw him last November at the U.S. seasoned churchman whose wise counsel the bishops' meeting. He was sitting in the bishops need. His death has made me very lounge having a drink with Archbishop sad. Requiescat in pace. Wester. I said hello and he not only recalled our swims in San Juan, but also some of the [Michael Sean Winters covers the nexus of topics we had discussed. I was looking religion and politics for NCR.] forward to seeing him in Baltimore again this November.

His life was not without controversy. He got blamed for the doctrinal assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), even though that plot was hatched at the USCCB and Levada resisted undertaking it. His decision to name Bishop Peter Sartain as the prelate to work with the women religious on the issues identified was a sure way to lower the temperature and find conclusions that were acceptable to all concerned.

It is a measure of how much damage was done to the American episcopate while Cardinals and Raymond Burke sat on the that "Darth Levada" would probably be too liberal — I had almost written "too conciliatory" — to win an election in today's USCCB. It is noteworthy that Pope Francis removed Rigali and Burke from that Congregation and left Levada on it until he turned 80. Of course, Pope Francis would have remembered and appreciated the cardinal's judicious participation at the Latin American meeting in Aparecida in 2007.

Cardinal Levada's respect for people, his desire to honor all the church's teachings and find practical solutions when they seemed to conflict, his personal warmth and keen intellect, his loyalty to the successor of Peter, these were the characteristics of the man I got to know briefly while swimming in the ocean together at the Caribe Hilton. His death has robbed the U.S. church of a

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