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St.

1012 E. 47th St. • , IL 60653 (773) 624.3695 [email protected]

The Catholic Church in Kenwood

Mission Statement: The mission To which God is calling St. Ambrose Church membership is to build a community of faith, healing and love (trust), so that others recognize the presence of God in us, and want to be a part of what we are.

Mass Schedule: Sunday - 10:30 am 1:00 pm Ghanaian Saturday - 4:00 pm Monday—Friday: 8:00 am Confessions: Sat. 3:15 - 3:45 pm Sun. 9:45 - 10:15 am Parish Goals: To fulfill this mission, we the Catholic Faithful of St. Ambrose Parish will strive to effect the following goals: 1. To nurture the spiritual growth of the Parish through a dynamic celebration of the Eucharist. 2. To be a welcoming community 3. To fulfill the sacramental, spiritual and physical needs of the people of God

through our various ministries. Website: WWW.AMBROSE47.COM

JULY 12, 2015 FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

CATHOLIC CONVERSATIONS ON THE SCRIPTURES Archdiocese of Miami - Ministry of Christian Formation July 12, 2015 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel reading Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Brief commentary: Like last week, the first reading and the gospel emphasize the prophetic mission. Like , the prophets experienced a profound and restless call to speak out against the injustices of their times. Amos, ‘a shepherd and harvester of sycamore trees’ was called from the southern kingdom of Judah and then sent to prophecy to the elite rulers of the northern kingdom of Israel, who were largely unconcerned for their impoverished population. As the ‘conscience of Israel’ prophets denounced apathy and indifference toward God and toward neighbor, and announced what God wanted. Because of this Amos was expelled from the city of Bethel by a priest of the sanctuary there. In the gospels we find a Jesus who calls his disciples and likewise sends them on prophetic mission that included healing, liberating people from oppression, and preaching his message of the good news of the kingdom. They are not to depend on their resources, their goods, even their own strength, but rather on God’s providence and grace. With authenticity of austerity they are to approach the people of the land, meeting them ‘where they’re at’, attending to their needs, and listening to their hardships. They are to ‘preach repentance’, the graced invitation to turn away from sin and start afresh. Indeed, they are to rouse hope in them that God was doing something new in their lives. Yet, Jesus, knowing how the prophets were often unwelcomed – and knowing from his own experience how difficult it is for people to hear the prophetic word of truth – also prepared them for rejection. Christians are therefore not to be afraid of, or deterred by, rejection. When they are opposed, Christians are to simply continue undeterred remembering that both Jesus and the prophets were similarly scorned: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mt 5:11-12). Those who plot evil in the world know that it often takes many tries before their message and their schemes take hold. Similarly, Christians must be, in the words of Jesus, “innocent as doves and as shrewd as serpents,” remembering that, “the sons of darkness are more persistent than the sons of light.” Christians know that they often plant the seeds of faith, hope and love, and that they may not always see the fruit, but that God can give its yield in the future. Christians similarly must not be afraid of ‘speaking truth to power’ although it may be intimidating. Power, office and privilege often have their way of isolating those in power from the suffering of the people, and thereby lose touch. Prophets believe in the ability of the indifferent – those only concerned with self-reservation, those in power who are timid in responding to the suffering and oppressions in our world, as well as the oppressors – to change. Prophets are people who believe great things and so they can ‘drive out the demons’ that oppress and destroy our world. As prophetic apostles of Jesus Christ, Christians must not cease to speak out on (and act on the) behalf of the suffering and on the behalf of the graced and liberating message of the Gospel, knowing that it alone can truly transform our world. The Church and her members must be true to this Gospel and therefore be prophetic and missionary.

Today’s reading offers significant messages: * Like the prophets, Jesus called his disciples and then sent them out on mission to preach and to act. The Church and her members are essentially prophetic. * The mission of Jesus’ disciples/apostles is to do those things that make a difference in people’s lives, just as Jesus did. We are to do this undeterred by rejection. There is no place for timidity among the people of God. * The world urgently needs an impassioned Church and Christians to urgently and actively concern itself for justice and compassion.

For our shared or personal reflection: * How have I heard the call to speak and act prophetically? Am I doing so on behalf of the current struggles in our world, such as for Christians in Iraq, Syria and Africa who are victims of genocide? * How am I involved in the Church’s prophetic mission in the world? * What rejections have I faced as a Christian and how can I deal with fear and with future rejection? Suggested readings: Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 857-60, 2471-72 PASTORAL STAFF: Fr. John Owusu, CSSp—Pastor All visitors please remember to sign the guest Parish Staffed by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit book in the back of the church. We want to (Spiritans) stay in contact with you. COLLECTION REPORT Fiscal year- July 1, 2015 thru June 30, 2016 Please remember in your prayers: Date This week Year to date Operating Budget Quinton & Alfreda Bowles, Brazier, James Brazier, 07/05 $3,369.65 $3,369.65 $298,389 Esperanza Carr, Willie B. Clay, Anthony Clark, Stephanie Dixon, Peggy Duke, Florence Evans, Frederick Our weekly collection goal is $5,500. Gibson, Bettie Green, Kelly Robin Hill, Willa Mae Holliman, Nellie Ivy, Majorbelle James, Jan Johnson, Joyce Jones, Pamela Jones, Denise Lawson, Anastacia Mebane, STEWARDSHIP: Maria Jossey Owen, Minnette Penman, Alonzo Studstill, Sun. 7/05 Collection: $ 2,739.65 Renee Trotter, Euphrasia Ann Mutinda, Joanne Wallace, Electronic Giving $ 630.00 Alvera Washington and all who have asked us to pray for Landscaping $ 1,050.00 them. Mardi Gras Ad Book $ 150.00 Brother Gerard Jordan will become a Sharing $ 32.00 deacon and canon Aug. 29th in Haiti $ 10.00 Pennsylvania & ordained a priest on Peter’s Pence $ 43.00 Dec. 26th. Anyone interested in attending, Thanks!! contact Antoinette Thomas. He will celebrate his first Mass at a Chicago parish.

Happy Birthday: Guy Summers July 12 "He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but Wayman Jones July 13 a walking stick-no food, no sack, no money in their Curtis Smith July 16 belts." Jesus gave the Twelve Apostles a remarkable mission. He sent them out two by two to preach repentance, to cast out evil spirits, and to heal the sick. And he made them do it in a spirit of complete dependence upon God. They were not allowed to take anything along that would have given them material comfort or security. These men--who did not even have the witness of other apostles or to Inspire or give them courage, and who had not yet beheld the Resurrection of the Lord--stepped out into TOLTON CAUSE FOR the world with literally nothing but their faith in this man named Jesus. And look what happened! "The Twelve The Tolton Ambassadors of Chicago will host a drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil prayer breakfast in July to support the cause for many who were sick and cured them." canonization for Father Augustus Tolton.

The apostles' trust in God's power to work these The Ambassadors' inaugural fundraising event will - miracles through their hands began with trust in God's be from 9 11 a.m. July 25, 2015 at power to provide for their own needs. Because they The Garden Chalet, 11000 S. Ridgeland Ave., didn't have food, shelter, or money, every time they Worth, IL. Bishop N. Perry will offer the received food or shelter or had their needs met, the invocation. apostles were able to see that God was at work in their

midst. This experience bolstered their faith and The ticket price is $25 per person. Money raised encouraged them in their mission. will help defray the costs associated with the can- onization process. If you cannot attend consider When we find ourselves questioning whether we really buying a ticket for someone else, have the "power" to do what God wants us to do, then buying raffle tickets or making a donation.. For we ought to step back and try to depend a little more information about this event or to purchase a tick- directly upon God's providence. Tithing is one way to et, contact Antionette Thomas or accomplish this. When we set aside a portion of our

Steve Dei. income for the sake of others, we make an act of trust

in God's power to provide for us. Surrendering this Please share news about this event with friends element of care for ourselves allows God to meet our and neighbors. needs himself. And when he does, our faith will flourish too.

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