RETURN TO PUBLIC WORSHIP Reservations required via website at smcglenbrook.org If no internet availability, call 203.324.3434 extension 705 TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - SEPTEMBER 27, WEEKEND MASSES SǑǤǥǢǔǑǩ, 4:00Ǡǝ SǥǞǔǑǩ, 8:00Ǒǝ ǑǞǔ 10:30Ǒǝ WEEKDAY MASS MǟǞǔǑǩ ǤǘǢǟǥǗǘ TǘǥǢǣǔǑǩ, 8:00Ǒǝ SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION SǑǤǥǢǔǑǩ, 3:30-3:45Ǡǝ ǟǢ ǒǩ ǑǠǠǟǙǞǤǝǕǞǤ BAPTISM AND WEDDINGS CǟǞǤǑǓǤ ǤǘǕ PǑǢǙǣǘ OǖǖǙǓǕ ǖǟǢ ǙǞǖǟǢǝǑǤǙǟǞ ǑǞǔ ǣǓǘǕǔǥǜǙǞǗ 358 Glenbrook road · Stamford, ct · 06906-2198 · 203.324.3434 · Www.smcglenbrook.org SAINT MAURICE CHURCH PAGE 2 FIRST EUCHARIST MASS 2020 Christopher Anderson, Elena Cates, Ray Duda, Frank Colandro, Susan Jacobsen, Toni Coe, Gary Livia, Taylor Bova, Gerry Fraioli, Betty Vitti, Rosemary Bella, Sonya Correntee, Mary Caruso, Patrick Battinelli, Julie Salce, Lois Scatton, Carol Kane, Michael Pataky, Daniel Caruso, Anthony Tomczyk, Marge Denicola, Gina Stuart, Adam Godlewski, Mark, Johann Fernando, Sandy Recchia, Kathy L., Mary Palmer, Sylvia Privil, Sandra Coppola, Sal Bonina, Harper Pappas, Mary Montaine, Lucille Tomzick, Steven Congratulations to the young parishioners who celebrated the DiCiccio, Aisha Bonny, Megan Lemoung, Sacrament of Holy Eucharist for the first time on September 26, Brooke Lockwood, Carol Happel, Patti Crowley, 2020. We offer heartfelt prayers and blessings to the children Frank Carreiro, Liam Kelly, Barbara Eilertsen, and their families: Kaili Builes, Victoria McDonald, Joseph Marge Hogan, Miguel Machado, Frank Faugno, Roland Olander, Angelo Vaccarezza, and John McNerney, and Rachel Hogan. McDonald. Congratulations to Bishop-Elect Bob Lombardo! We wish a hearty congratulations to Fr. Bob Lombardo, native Remember the men and son of Saint Maurice Church, on his appointment by Pope women in the Armed Forces Francis as one of the new auxiliary bishops of Chicago on and all who protect us and put Tuesday, September 11, 2020. Links to the press releases can be themselves in harm’s way on found on the main page of our parish website. our behalf; may they be shielded from danger; and for their families and loved ones. In particular, Andrew Anderson, DAILY MASSES Christopher Blasius, Samantha Krom, Christian Weekday Mass will not be offered in the immediate future here Legaspe, Steven Nolan, Dylan Schneider and at Saint Maurice Church. However weekday Mass will continue Nick Carella. to be celebrated privately for the scheduled intentions. For those parishioners who may want to attend weekday Mass, weekday Mass is being offered at Saint Bridget of Ireland Church, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 7:00am and Tuesday, Friday & Saturday at 8:00am. Organ Music for the Weekday Mass is also being offered at Saint Cecilia Church Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time each weekday at 7:30am. Prelude: J.S. Bach—Prelude in A Major, BWV 536 Introit: In nomine Domini PHASE TWO Return to Worship Hymn Tune at the Procession: DOWN AMPNEY With Fr. Fred’s retirement on June 30, and the return to public (Come Down, O Love Divine) worship, Fr. Ed McAuley, as the temporary administrator, will Offertory: Super flumina Babylonis continue to schedule priests to celebrate the weekend Masses. Communion: Memento verbi tui The weekend Mass schedule will remain the same with Postlude: Bach—Prelude & Fugue in B Major, Saturdays at 4:00pm and Sundays at 8:00am and 10:30am. ♭ BWV 560 RESERVATIONS are required in order for you to attend any weekend Mass via the red button link online on the Parish website or by calling the Parish Office. PAGE 3 TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME What prompts you to make the decisions you make? When confronted with a decision, whether one that is more trivial and mundane or one that is more significant and profound, we rely on guidance. That guidance can be the result of impulse and passion or the fruit of the interior voice of conscience. Decisions made on impulse and passion can be misguided and erroneous. Decisions based on conscience, or the moral voice within, will reflect the depth and maturity of our soul work. A more contemplative soul will make more contemplative decisions. A less developed conscience will make decisions based on the individual’s level of development. Conversion and a change of heart are at the core of Jesus’ message precisely because of this reality. We are works in progress. For the person on fire with the Holy Spirit and centered on God, life reflects an ever-deepening awareness and heightened sense of God’s presence and a greater willingness to do God’s will. What is happening internally is validated by what is witnessed externally. The hypocrite is the one who says yes when they really mean no. From the start, they had no desire to do the virtuous act but wanted to outwardly appear as if they did. Where are you on the road of integrity? Honesty is all that is required. God is good with that. It is okay to struggle with our decisions and wrestle with ourselves. Consciences on the path to maturity and greater depth are not always going to know what action is immediately best. We may, at first, say no to what we know is right and, after prayerful reflection and thought, come around to doing it. Conversion happens when our no changes to yes, regardless of how sinful or out of sync we may be at the time. God is anxious to welcome us to Himself. But we cannot embrace Him unless we want to. Learning to orient our gift of free will to what is of divine origin, right, and best is a discipline we must always tweak and perfect. EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP—RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS I can remember times when I received a gift that I would not have chosen for myself. At those times I certainly thought to myself that “it was the thought that counts.” I was happy that the gift-giver thought of me at all. Then there have been times when my children have not given me a gift and then chose to tell me all about what they were going to give me. They would then follow it up by saying, “it was the thought that really counts.” Really!?! I don’t think so. I could think of sending my wife on a cruise, but that is not in any way the same as going on the cruise. I think there are times when all of us think we are more generous than we are, simply because we were thinking about being generous. This way of thinking can be dangerous. Jesus teaches us to say what we mean and mean what we say. The intentionality of our actions is important, but intentionality without action is meaningless. How we act and what we give serves as evidence of our intentions and indicates where our heart truly lies. If we fool ourselves into thinking we are someone we are not, it can become difficult to see the truth. We need to look for the fruit in our lives. We need to make sure our desires and thoughts are moving us to act. You know that other saying about intentions, don’t you? Don’t pave the road to a place no one wants to end up with your intentions. Instead, let your intentions and actions lead others to another place where Jesus can be found. FAITH FORMATION PAGE 4 Looking Ahead to Faith Formation 2020-2021 A summary of the 2020-2021 program and a family registration has been be mailed to all families. Please return the registration forms as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Sandra Kluun at [email protected] or 203-324-3434 ext. 707. Sunday Reading and Backgrounds: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel Matthew 21:28-32 In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable to a group of religious leaders. He wants them to figure out which one of the sons did his father's will. Was it the one who said yes but never showed up? Or was it the one who said no but later repented and carried out the father's wishes? Through this parable, Jesus is making it clear that sinners who repent are entering the Kingdom before the priests and elders who did not repent and believe. For reflection and discussion Sometimes people can deceive us by smooth talk. But God is never deceived. Like Jesus, we can make our lives a "yes" to God the Father in word and deed. Have you ever said "yes" to someone and then not done what you agreed to do? Did you ever say "no" to someone who asked you (like a parent or teacher) but then regretted it and changed your mind? What do you think of this? (from Sadlier) Meet Saint Maurice—Feast Day September 22 According to the hagiographical material, Maurice was an Egyptian, born in AD 250 in Thebes, an ancient city in Upper Egypt that was the capital of the New Kingdom of Egypt (1575-1069 BC). He was brought up in the region of Thebes (Luxor). Maurice became a soldier in the Roman army. He was gradually promoted until he became the commander of the Theban legion, thus leading approximately a thousand men. He was an acknowledged Christian at a time when early Christianity was considered to be a threat to the Roman Empire. Yet, he moved easily within the pagan society of his day. The legion, entirely composed of Christians, had been called from Thebes in Egypt to Gaul to assist Emperor Maximian in defeating a revolt by the peasant rebels. The Theban Legion was dispatched with orders to clear the Great Saint Bernard Pass across the Alps. Before going into battle, they were instructed to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods and pay homage to the emperor.