St. Alphonsus Liguori “Rock" Catholic Church 1118 North Grand Blvd. St Louis, MO 63106 314-533-0304 (ph) 314-533-4260 (fax) [email protected] (e-mail) www.stalphonsusrock.org (website) Rev. Stephen Benden, C.Ss.R., Pastor Rev. Rodney Olive, C.Ss.R., Associate Pastor Mission “To Joyfully Preach, Teach, and Live the Word of God” Theme “One Hundred Fifty Years of Standing on the Rock” PASTORAL STAFF Sharon Cooney-Smith, Dir. Religious Education Roberta George, Secretary Deborah Grant, Clerical Support Angela Harris, Bulletin Editor SUPPORT STAFF Bro. Steve Fruge, Pastoral Staff Terrance Gipson, Maintenance Terri Schneider, Dir. Hardin Food Pantry Athletic Office: 314 533-0304 Teen Ministry: 314 533-0304 MUSIC MINISTRY Malcolm Speed Danny duMaine REDEMPTORISTS IN RESIDENCE Rev. Tom Donaldson, C.Ss.R. Rev. Dave Polek, C.Ss.R. Rev. Peter Schavitz, C.Ss.R. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (Call for Appointment) SUNDAY MASSES: 10:00 a.m. DAILY MASSES: Monday 5:30 p.m. (Tu, W. Th & F.) 11:30 a.m. Saturdays: 9:30 a.m. MONDAY: Eucharistic Adoration 5:00 p.m.—5:30 p.m. TUESDAYS: Exposition & Benediction: 10:30 a.m.—11:30 a.m. (1st — Tuesday) followed by our Perpetual Help Novena & Mass SOLEMNITY OF ALL SOULS NOVEMBER 1, 2020 Today we celebrate the feast of All Saints; this is a feast Weekly that occurs every November 1st, so we are privileged to Readings… celebrate this feast on a Sunday with everyone in the church. I hope this doesn’t shock you or cause any undue Sunday: anxiety, but all of us are called to be saints. Being a Rv 7:2-4, 9-14/Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab 5-6 [cf. 6]/1 Jn 3:1-3/Mt 5:1-12a saint may sound like a very tall order, but the reality is that if we plan on going to heaven, we must become a Monday: saint. Becoming a saint can happen in this life or the Wis 3:1-9/Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 [1] Rom 5:5-11 or Rom 6:3-9/Jn 6:37-40 next. All of us, who have offended God, is like a jagged rock in God’s hands. Tuesday: Phil 2:5-11/Ps 22:26b-27, 28-30ab, The more we have sinned, the more jagged our edges are. Heaven is a place 30c, 31-32 [26a]/Lk 14:15-24 where only smooth rocks reside. For us to get to heaven, we must be smooth. Wednesday: Practically speaking, in this life, the way we smooth our edges, caused by sin, Phil 2:12-18/Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14 [1a] Lk 14:25-33 is through prayer, being generous with what we have, and doing good works. The more we apply ourselves to these things, the smoother our souls become, Thursday: and consequently, the quicker we get to see God face to face. Saints are Phil 3:3-8a/Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 [3b] Lk 15:1-10 those who went beyond the normal smoothing process of their souls. They Friday: were willing to sacrifice themselves completely for God and their fellow Phil 3:17—4:1/Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, human being. We are honoring them today. 4cd-5 [1]/Lk 16:1-8 Tomorrow, November 2nd, we celebrate the feast of All Souls. A day we Saturday: remember those who have gone before us who may not yet be in heaven. Phil 4:10-19/Ps 112:1b-2, 5-6, 8a and 9/Lk 16:9-15 These souls are right now engaged in the smoothing process of their souls; as Catholics, we believe that only the very purest of souls enter heaven, so those Sunday: who are not yet ready to meet God face to face must undergo further Wis 6:12-16/Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 [2b]/1 Thes 4:13-18 or 4:13-14 purification. We have no idea how long this process takes, but it is a painful Mt 25:1-13 process that beautifies us and gets us ready for the Eternal Banquet. This month, we have set up at the St. Joseph’s altar pictures of our loved ones who have passed on. This altar is set up specifically in November because of the feast of All Souls. These faithful, our loved ones, need our prayers. Yes, we may remember their lives and how we love them, but we can also make SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES their time in purgatory less painful as we pray and sacrifice for them. Finally, this month of November is Black Catholic History Month. As well Sunday: All Saints as the already glorified and pronounced saints in heaven, we have six Black Daylight Saving Time ends men and women whose cause is in process for canonization. Thomas Wyatt Turner, Sr. Antona Ebo and Fr. Cyprian Davis are not being considered for National Vocation Awareness Week canonization. Monday: The Commemoration of Thomas Wyatt Turner was a founder of the NAACP and the Federation All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) of Colored Catholics Tuesday: St. Martin de Porres, Religious St. Antona was a Sister of Selma and marched across the Edmund Pettis Bridge the week after Bloody Sunday Election Day Fr. Cyprian Davis authored many books and articles most notably The History of Black Catholics The Interracial Committee for the North Deanery of St. Louis has provided us with an opportunity to honor them this month. The insert in the bulletin today provides their name and picture. This committee has provided us a Wednesday: St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop chance to learn more about them on the website posted in the bulletin. There Sunday: will be a prayer service here at the Rock on Nov. 16th to bring us together to nd 32 Sunday in Ordinary Time honor them. Page (2) SOLEMNITY OF ALL SOULS NOVEMBER 1, 2020 Once again, we will remember our departed loved ones by placing their pictures on our Ladders of Remembrance during the month of November. NOTE: Names will remain listed for 2 weeks The Ladders will remain up from Nov. 1st INTENTIONS 10/20/20 Klein, Mary th Bowens, Patricia Luster, Juanita through Nov. 29 2020. Cooney, Lillian & Michael Mozee, Sylvester Dyle, Ayrielle Parran, Rodrick Please place your pictures in the basket near George, Darrion Reedy, Christian Goss, Michael Stamps, Arlecia St. Joseph’s Altar; mark your name and phone number Hearns, Zeysean Valle, Jr., Robert (Bobby) on the reverse of your picture so we can return them to Hinton, Maryann Watkins, Darnell (Chef D) Jackson, Tamica Whitfield, Edna (Mother) you. LeSeuer, JaVaughn SICKNESS 10/27/20 Middleton, Mary Anders, Douglas Please do not enter the ladders space when it is erected Perry, Kameron Atherton, Vertibe – rather, place your picture in the basket and the Arts Pickett, DaShaun Baby Pruitt Reedy, Judy Burton, Talana & Environment team will add it to the space. Reedy, Sid Caprese, Brittany West, Kathleen & Family Chapman, Bonnie st Woolfork, Virgina & Family Attend the All Saints Liturgy on Sunday, Nov. 1 Cooney, Sheonna INTENTIONS 10/27/20 Hart, Edgar 10:00 a.m., TODAY the Ladders of Remembrance Cooney, Sylvia Hood, Rosalind will be blessed and we will have a special Litany for Davis, Angela & Family Howard, Yvonne George, Roberta Latham, Jean all those who went home to Glory since Henderson, Christine Moore, Brenda November 1st, 2019 through October 31st, 2020. Miller, Jr., Antonio Oldani, Shirley White, Evan Remsberg, Cory Sgt. Schnelle, Laverne SICKNESS 10/20/20 Bell, Gilbert Smith, Melba Collins, Tamika Smith, Paulette Collins, Tony Strong, Betty Dye, Margaret Thompson, Mary Ann George, Betty Weaver, Stephen Green, Alonzo Vet, Alphonso Massingale, Bryan Fr. Vinson, Kelly Moore, Joyce Vinson, Tyler SHUT-IN’s Atherton, Andrew McCoy, Carolyn Bohannon, Ida Peters, Mae Brack, Dorothy Thomas, Bernice Clay, Irving Turner, Hortense McCoy, Bernice THE ROSARY PRAYER Join us every Tuesday/Thursday Pray for the repose of the soul of †Vernie Woolfork, mother of Virginia Woolfork at 11 a.m. as we seek Our Holy Mother’s intercession in prayer Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. DIAL-IN NUMBER 978-990-5000 May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. ACCESS CODE 544322# Amen Page (3) SOLEMNITY OF ALL SOULS NOVEMBER 1, 2020 LITURGY NOTES... The Church has designated November as Black Catholic History Month since 1990 when the National Black Clergy Caucus of the United States instigated it. November seemed appropriate because it holds special days for two prominent African Catholics: St. Augustine, whose birthday is Nov. 13, and St Martin de Porres, whose feast day is celebrated on November 3. St. Ignatius of Loyola recognized St. Martin de Porres on the First Sunday of the Month. Did you know? - There are six African American Catholics who are being proposed for Sainthood. They are Thea Bowman (Mississippi), Pierre Toussaint (New York), Henriette DeLille (New Orleans), Mary Elizabeth Lange (Baltimore), Augustin Tolton (Chicago), and Julia Greeley (Denver). There have been 3 African Popes in the Catholic Church: Pope Gelasius I, who was Pope from 1 March 492 to his death in 496. Pope Miltiades, who was Pope of the Catholic Church from 311 to his death in 314. Pope Victor I was the first Bishop of Rome born in the Roman Province of Africa. The dates of his tenure are uncertain. However, one source states he became Pope in 189 and died in 199. Number of African American Catholics -- There are 3 million African American Catholics in the United States.