Immaculate of Mary September 20, 2020 PO Box 130, 411 Ware St, Groom TX 79039 Phone & Fax: 806-248-7584 / Cell Phone: 806-316-4146 Parish Email: [email protected] Website: immaculateheartgroomtx.com

Pastor Fr. Arokia Raj Samala Parish Council Chair Jason Eugea Finance Council Chair Rodney Bohr Christian Mothers Pres. Marla Britten RCIA Tabitha Eggemeyer Dir. Religious Education Nicole Kuehler Youth Director Kathleen Barkley Bookkeeper Sherri Wieberg Bulletin [email protected]

25th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - LIFE MEANS...

"For, to me, 'life' means Christ." —Philippians 1:21

What does life mean to you? Some of us would answer: "Life" means family, friends, and work. Life means church on Sunday, Thanksgiving dinners, a new car, or a wedding in the family.

Paul doesn't talk like this. He bluntly asserts: "Life" means Christ. Paul had "come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge" of his Lord Christ (Phil 3:8). For Jesus' sake, he "accounted all else rubbish so that Christ may be" his Wealth (Phil 3:8).

Is Christ a part of your life, or your whole life? Does everything in your life have meaning only insofar as it is God's will? Is Christ it, all of it? Are you looking forward to death so you can be home with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8) and see Him face to face? (1 Cor 13:12; 1 Jn 3:2) Are you attached to the things of the world, or have you counted them all as "rubbish so that Christ may" be your Wealth? (Phil 3:8) Have you chosen the better part, that is, sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to His words? (Lk 10:39, 42)

Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All! You are the Way, the Truth, and the only Reason for living (Jn 14:6).

Prayer: Jesus, I give You all of my life so You can be all of my life. Mass Schedule Pray for Our Sick Saturday...... 5:30pm Brandi Sustaire, John Detten, Emma Sunday...... 8:30am Detten, Celeste Connelly, Shamara Tuesday and Wednesday...... 6:00pm Husemann, Bill Becker, Charleen Weller, Thursday and Friday...... 7:30am Leonard Koetting, Alina Becker, Anna Marie Wink, Matthew Gary Britten, Doris Confession: Britten, Phillip Ollinger, Dee Martinez, Saturday...... 4:30-5:15pm Shane King, JoAnn Britten, Ann McNabb, Sunday...... 7:55-8:15am George “Jiggs” Britten, Cobb Britten, or by appointment Luke Acker, Doug Acker, Sister Louise, Schellon Major, Dianne Ollinger, 1st Wednesday Adoration of the Blessed Tony Moranic, Josh Crooks, Martin Sacrament...... 7:00pm-10:00pm Hermesmeyer, and Joe Winner.

Heavenly Father, we pray that You will Information lay your healing Hands upon all those 25th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - LIFE MEANS... Marriage Preparation: Contact Father Raj at who are sick. least six months in advance. "For, to me, 'life' means Christ." —Philippians 1:21 Baptism: Call the rectory for an appointment.

What does life mean to you? Some of us would answer: "Life" means family, friends, Communion: Anyone unable to come and work. Life means church on Sunday, Thanksgiving dinners, a new car, or a forward for communion, let Father Raj know Family Chalice Program wedding in the family. before Mass. Those ill or homebound, please contact Father Raj to arrange for communion September 20...... Pam & Cassie Ashford to be brought to your home. Paul doesn't talk like this. He bluntly asserts: "Life" means Christ. Paul had "come to September 27...... Mike & Marla Britten October 4...... Adela & Staci Kotara rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge" of his Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 3:8). For Jesus' sake, he "accounted all else rubbish so that Christ may be" his Wealth Mass Intentions (Phil 3:8). Saturday, Sept 19...... 5:30pm Lucille Britten by Clifton & Susan Britten Is Christ a part of your life, or your whole life? Does everything in your life have Sunday, Sept 20...... 8:30am meaning only insofar as it is God's will? Is Christ it, all of it? Are you looking forward Lucille Britten by Clifton & Susan Britten to death so you can be home with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8) and see Him face to face? (1 Cor 13:12; 1 Jn 3:2) Are you attached to the things of the world, or have you Tuesday, Sept 22...... 6:00pm Stewardship Reports No Mass counted them all as "rubbish so that Christ may" be your Wealth? (Phil 3:8) Have you 09/13/2020 Stewardship Report chosen the better part, that is, sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to His words? Wednesday, Sept 23...... 6:00pm Individual $ 1,675.00 (Lk 10:39, 42) Dorothy Gasway by Donnie & Marie Conrad Loose $ 185.94 Thursday, Sept 24...... 7:30am TOTAL $ 1,860.94 Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All! You are the Way, the Truth, and the only Reason for Dorothy Gasway by Donnie & Marie Conrad living (Jn 14:6). 09/13/20 Building Fund Friday, Sept 25...... 7:30am Dorothy Gasway by Donnie & Marie Conrad Individual & TOTAL $ 125.00 Prayer: Jesus, I give You all of my life so You can be all of my life. Liturgical Ministers Announcements Saturday, Sept 19, 2020 at 5:30pm Faith Formation classes will begin Wednesday, Lector: Kay Britten Oct 7. (Please note date correction) Extraor. Com. Minister: Jan Britten Registration forms are located in the foyer of the church. Please fill them out ASAP so we Sunday, Sept 20, 2020 at 8:30am have an accurate count of students. You may Lector: Ron Kuehler email forms to Nicole at [email protected] or leave them in the foyer of the church. Extraor. Com. Minister: Sandie Hickey Information about Diocesan guidelines is included on the forms and will also be Saturday, Sept 26, 2020 at 5:30pm emailed. We will not have School sisters Lector: Jason Eugea teaching classes this year. There will be 2 Extraor. Com. Minister: Kevin Brown large groups that will require a larger space to spread apart. The high school classes will be Sunday, Sept 27, 2020 at 8:30am moved to Sunday mornings following mass. Lector: Marcia Conrad We are in need of teachers and substitutes, if Extraor. Com. Minister: Joannie Kling anyone is interested please call Nicole Kuehler. Saturday, Oct 3, 2020 at 5:30pm Lector: Kay Britten Members of Christian Mothers, we are Extraor. Com. Minister: Jan Britten bringing back Secret Pals, more details to follow soon! Sunday, Oct 4, 2020 at 8:30am Lector: Nick Kuehler Come and join us at the Cross in Groom Extraor. Com. Minister: Michele Bohr for an evening of prayer on Friday, October 2nd at 7:00pm. Saturday, Oct 10, 2020 at 5:30pm Lector: Jason Eugea Extraor. Com. Minister: Kevin Brown

Sunday, Oct 11, 2020 at 8:30am Lector: Cliff Britten Extraor. Com. Minister: Susan Britten Birthdays & Anniversaries Church Cleaning for September September 19...... Thomas Moranic September 21...... Tony Britten, Mike Lister, Neysa Friemel, Kathleen Barkley, Jan Bridget Britten, Alexander Britten, Britten, Jessica Britten, Carolyn Brooks, and Coby Eilenberger Karen Brown, Julie Friemel, Melanie September 22...... Tony Moranic September 23...... Janice Koetting Hinson, Barbara Homer, Doris Homer, September 25...... Karen Asher, Keith Barkley, Joannie Kling, Adela Kotara, Staci Brody Clement, and Jackson Connelly Kotara, Laura Kuehler, and Tonda Torres A: Melvin & Sue Wills September, Month of the Seven Sorrows of Mary:

The purpose of the Devotion of the Seven Sorrows is to promote union with the sufferings of Christ through union with the special suffering that Our Lady endured because she was the Mother of God. 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. The Seven Dolors are taken from Scripture events and the devotion has a long history, although it was not officially promulgated by the Church until the early nineteenth century. Before Pius VII's formal approval, the Servite Order had permission in 1668 to celebrate the Feast of the Seven Dolors because the Order was instrumental in popularizing the Seven Sorrows Devotion. In the Middle Ages, concentrated mostly on Christ's Passion; at the side of the Man of Sorrows, however, the faithful always contemplated the Queen of Martyrs. Devotion to the Crucified Christ and to grew side by side. On Calvary there were in a sense two altars, one in the Body of Jesus, and the other in the Immaculate Heart. Christ immolated His flesh, Mary, her heart, her own soul. On September 15, the day following the ancient feast of the Holy Cross, the Church commemorates the compassion of Mary; but it is fitting during the year, especially during Lent, to honor the Sorrows of Mary. Mary is not mentioned in the accounts of Christ's Transfiguration, His entry into Jerusalem, but she is recorded as being present at Calvary. She understood what the Will of God was and was faithful, co-operating with her Son as Co-redemptrix. She had prepared the victim for sacrifice and now she offered Him on the altar of Calvary. The Gospel, John 19:25, says: "Near the Cross of Jesus stood His mother, his mother's sister, Mary, the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene." At Christ's bequest, Mary was proclaimed the universal Mother of mankind from the Cross. Mary had three loves in her Immaculate Heart: God, her Son, and souls. She so loved the world that she gave her only Son. As St. Bernard said, "The sword would not have reached Jesus if it had not pierced Mary's heart." Mary loved souls and on Calvary, after suffering such cruel torments she merited being the mother of all mankind. Mary is the Apostle because she is Co-redemptrix: Behold Mary on Calvary, she suffers and prays; she stands, as one offering sacrifice. St. Ambrose said, "I read that she stood, but I do not read that she wept." When Mary gave us her Son, she gave us everything. Therefore it can very well be said: "Behold this heart which has so greatly loved all people that it has spared nothing for them."