St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 4595 Snyder Lane Rohnert Park, CA 94928 (707) 585-3708 Email: [email protected] Website Address: www.st-elizabeth-seton.org The office hours this week are: Tuesday – Friday from 9:00-1:30 p.m.

August 8, 2021 The Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Pastoral Staff Pastor: Rev. Thomas Diaz Office Manager: Chris Giacometti Youth Faith Formation: Jennifer Bedoka, [email protected]

This Coming Week’s Mass Schedule Wearing Masks Weekday Masses: Tuesday 12:15 p.m., Wednesday-Friday 8:15 a.m. Weekend Masses: Saturday: 9 a.m. & 4 p.m., Sunday: 8:30 & 10:30 a.m.

Sacraments and Spirituality Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Monday-Friday 1-3 p.m. Reconciliation: Sunday 9:45-10:15 a.m. in the “Crying Room” and by appointment. Marriage: One-year notice. Please call Fr. Tom to begin preparation. : Two-month notice for a child’s baptism. The next Baptismal Preparation Session will be held Sunday, August 29th at noon. Adult Baptism: Please call the office. Anointing of the Sick: Please contact Fr. Tom for anointing at Mass on Saturday mornings at 9 am. and by appointment.

Organizations Pastoral Council

Please call the office for the following contacts: Giovanna DeSimone, Chairperson Women’s Guild, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Maureen Sheridan Scott, Spiritual Life Men’s Club, and the Filipino-American Society. Peggy Wyman, Social Justice Representative Dave Grundman, Family Life Representative Dianne Foppoli, Finance Representative Patty & Karl Turner, Socials Representative

The church is open daily from 7:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. during the summer months.

Sundays Readings God’s sacrificial love for us. God follows us quietly, gently. Please note that the Scripture readings begin on page How might we respond? To start with, how about 195 of the missalette. Reading I: 1 Kings 19:4-8, receiving the living bread in Communion? Another way Reading II: Ephesians 4:30-5:2, Gospel: John 6:51. could be to pray on the mellowness of God. Also, simply slowing down, stopping the running away and instead letting the Lord find us. God’s kindhearted love, which is Reflection also tough, proves to be quite worth the struggle. Here is how Paul puts it in the Second Reading: Here is Food for You The background: Elijah had just “Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in come from a dangerous showdown with 450 prophets of a love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as god called Baal, in the land ruled by Jezebel. The God of a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.” Israel had easily won this encounter, but Elijah had gone John Foley, SJ ahead and done great violence against the surviving prophets anyway. Queen Jezebel, understandably Discussion Question: God sent help to Elijah in the enraged, sent a message that she would do the same form of an angel. What kind of help do you think God thing to Elijah and more within that same day. would send today? Name some ways you can be the In our First Reading Elijah “hearth cake” for someone in need. was frightened, exhausted and dispirited. He had come back Please pray for those who need our prayers: Gina to find the Israelites being Costa, Benjamin Aguirre, Rose Alcarez,, Phil Buihner, unfaithful to the one true God. Marcella Dorado, Cezaria Gonzalez, Fran Guzman, Kate So he became miserable—in Ingram, Margaret LaFortune, Frank Manhoso, Mica spite of his great triumph. He Miguel, Sheila Montemayor, Philip Murphy, Joseph prayed to God to give Nocifra, Rimon, Ernesta Nevarez Ruiz, Loretta immediate death to his Scobee, Dominique Tarrant, Cesar Datu, and Nikkie. worthless self. As despondent people will sometimes do, he Please pray for the souls of: Judi Krona and Frank went to sleep. He lay himself Aguilar and keep their families in your prayers. under a broom tree (a tall hedge that desert people used Stewardship: Plate and donations 8/3 $3,644.25. to shield themselves from the sun in the day and the wind Please be generous for the Building Maintenance 2nd at night). collection as we might not have enough to do the hall God could have been harsh to Elijah as a result of this outside renovating as lumber prices have doubled. depressed prayer. But instead, a quiet touch from God’s angel awakened the man. The angel whispered, “get up MASS SCHEDULE AND INTENTIONS THIS WEEK and eat.” And, lo and behold, “there at his head was a Saturday, Aug.7 hearth cake and a jug of water.” 4:00 pm. + Laura Medeiros Elijah did eat and drink, but then settled right back to Sunday, Aug. 8 sleep again. The angel whispered tenderly, “Get up and 8:30 am. + Lanny Marlatt eat, else the journey will be too long for you!” Elijah did 10:30 am. Ints. of victims of sexual abuse and social and was strengthened. injustice We are witnessing a mother’s care, giving food to the Tuesday, Aug.10 discouraged child (First Reading). 12:15 pm. Ints. of people of the The other readings too are all about God’s kindness, his Wednesday Aug. 11 goodness even in small things. The Responsorial 8:15 am. Ints. of Tony Scott Psalm invites us to share in it: “Taste and see the Thursday, Aug. 12 goodness of the Lord. … I sought the Lord, and he 8:15 am. +Yolanda Rolando answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Friday, Aug, 13 In the Gospel, Jesus offers nourishment, and this time 8:15 am. +Victor Menezes the provisions are for a very long journey indeed, the one Saturday, Aug. 14 to eternal life. The people listening (called by John “the 9:00 am. + Bob Praus Jews,” but really just “the sensible people”) will not have a 4:00 pm. +Marilyn Rooney bit of it. They argue among themselves, ridiculing his silly Sunday, Aug. 15 offer of miraculous food. They “murmur” that they knew his 8:30 am. Ints. of the people of the parish parents, which made him just a local boy acting crazy. 10:30 am. +Marlene Swanson Jesus ordered them to stop grousing and listen. He made the same comparison that we saw last week, between Mass Intentions: Please phone the office to schedule a manna that came down from heaven in the desert, and Mass intention a month in advance if possible. himself, who was “the living bread that came down from heaven.” Pastor’s Corner Just concentrate on the deliberate kindness of God: Beginning in Sept., the Thursday Mass will be at 12:15 feeding the people, giving them drink, pursuing them pm. followed by Exposition and Benediction at 3 pm. again and again in order to offer the greatest gift of all, Have a blessed week! Events for the Week Junior Youth Group and Senior Youth Group Sun. Aug. 8, 10:30 am. Children’s Liturgy of the Word Our Youth group will explore our faith with God and be 6 pm. Peer Ministry classroom filled with speakers and fun. Mon. Aug. 9, 7-9 pm. Evening Prayer group/church SERVING OPPORTUNITY! Tue. Aug. 10, 5:30-6:30 pm. Social Justice Meeting The children of our parish NEED you to help them classroom encounter the Lord’s love and to encourage families Sun. Aug. 15, 12 noon, Children’s/Youth Faith Formation to pray together and grow together as disciples. Meeting/Hall We continue to need teachers, teacher aides, and other ways to serve. You just need a willingness to open your Faith Formation Ministry heart to our youngest parishioners. Inquiries available at Please email [email protected] with any [email protected] questions. We welcome all children Pre-K through Grade 4 to ALL OUR WELCOME! attend Children’s Liturgy of the Word at our 10:30. am. August 8th at 10:30 am. Mass Mass in person. Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) hall All Parishioners are invited to join Formed! August 8th at 6 pm. It’s Free. Peer Ministry Meeting Go to formed.org/signup

August 15th at 12 pm. in the hall Faith Formation Meeting The Social Committee, in the month of August, is running the 50/50 raffle and tickets are ($1 each or 6 for August 18th at 6 pm. in the hall $5). Your support will be used to offset costs for the picnic Faith Formation Meeting and future planned social events. In addition, we will Registration rates have gone up $25.00 per child. have another raffle opportunity for $5 a ticket that will Drop-in registration is available on Tuesdays in August, include a Customized Four-Course Dinner for Six at your from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Registration forms can be home or the Turner’s home. The winning ticket will set the dropped off during church office hours. date and design the menu with Chef Karl. Please help support this fundraiser.

Our prayer group, Christ the King, People of Praise of St. Elizabeth Seton, meets every Monday night. How does the Holy Spirit work in your life? This prayer time Faith Formation for ages 3-6 years old is available to does have charismatic elements in it (tongues, , help nurture children in their relationship with God. etc.) but do not be intimidated by it as not everyone prays Please join us on your child’s faith journey while they in this fashion. Just be open to it. develop, explore, and strengthen their own faith. 7:00 - 7:30 pm: Gathering and Rosary 7:30- 9 pm: Praise and Worship/ Intercessory Prayer/ Prayer Ministry

Save the Dates

Learning and Growing in Faith SPIRITUAL LIFE COMMITTEE Faith Formation for 1st Grade through 5th Grade is September 1st 10 am. SES Book Club/lg. available for Sacramental Prep and gives your children classroom/bring your book: a chance to learn more about their faith through prayer, “Father Brown and the Ten Commandments” by G.K. song, and service. Chesterton September 10th 6:30 pm. Family Movie Night/ classroom “Joseph of Nazareth - The Story of the Man Closest to Christ”

Confirmation Class September 11th 10:30-12:00 pm. Start of 33 Day th th Consecration to St. Joseph/classroom & bring your book. Classes are available for grades 6 through 12 Grade. Youth will meet each week in combination of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church 40th Anniversary Confirmation classes and youth group. We will share Picnic. Join us in a celebration picnic our Catholic faith and serve our local parish and for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church 40th community. Anniversary at Alicia Park on September 12. Mass will begin at noon and the picnic will run from 1:00-3:00PM. Tickets will sell for $5/person or $15/family beginning this weekend. Volunteers are welcomed to assist us with the picnic in kitchen prep, set-up, as well as in the clean-up. You can sign-up at the table. Thank you, in advance, for helping to make this a great celebration event!

shared - coming to the altar to receive the Body of our Lord Jesus - is a deep and profound mystery. It is at the same time deeply personal, because it is between each of us and Jesus, and also communal - we do this together, becoming the Body of Christ as we receive the Body of Christ. Exactly what happens is impossible to describe in words, but it is something to be savored and “sat with.” The Great Silence gives us that opportunity to sit still with Jesus and with one another; quietly reflecting upon what has just happened, upon what the Lord has done for us before we move on to the next thing.

Preparing the altar for the Holy Mass : In this month of August, the Holy Father “Chef school or no chef school…I have told you a hundred reflects on the situation of the Church, its vocation and its times, “We are serving Holy Communion and not brunch.” identity, and calls us to renew it “by discerning God’s will in our daily life,” and “embarking on a transformation Questions guided by the Holy Spirit.” Why do we fast before Holy Communion? “Our own reform as persons is that transformation,” the A person who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is Pope said. This allows the “Holy Spirit, the gift of God in to abstain for at least one hour before Holy Communion our hearts, to remind us what Jesus taught and helps us from any food and drink, except for water and medicine. to put into practice.” The fast before receiving Holy Communion creates Evangelization and a more missionary option a physical hunger and thirst for the Lord, which in turn Pope Francis begins with the specific vocation of the augments the spiritual hunger and thirst we ought to have. Church, which is to evangelize. The Holy Father dreams In the Old Testament, fasting prepared individuals to of an even more missionary option: "one that goes out to receive the action of God and to be placed in His meet others without proselytism and transforms its presence. structures for the evangelization of today’s world.” Why does the priest wash his hands during Mass? He emphasizes that he is not talking about proselytism A priest washes his hands as a sign of his spiritual but rather a reform of the Church through “a reform of cleansing and preparation to wash away his impurities ourselves, without prefabricated ideas, without ideological before handling the consecrated Eucharist which is holy prejudices and rigidity.” and sacred. To make progress in this regard, Pope Francis invites all to move forward based on spiritual experience: “an Why does the priest put a small piece of the sacred experience of prayer, an experience of charity and an Host into the chalice after the Lamb of God? experience of service.” During Mass in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, Reforming the Church the action of placing a small particle of the host into the “Let us remember that the Church always has chalice has roots in the Early Church and a custom that difficulties,” the Pope said, explaining that the Church was meant to signify unity with the pope and local bishop. goes through crises because she is alive; not like the dead Participation in the same Holy Sacrifice was regarded as who do not go through crises. a sign and pledge of ecclesiastical Communion; mutually In a statement accompanying the Pope’s prayer to prove and maintain this, Popes and bishops sent to intention, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which other bishops, or priests too, parts of Consecrated Hosts, prepares “The Pope Video” each month, explains that in which the recipients dropped into the chalice and the recent letter Pope Francis wrote to Cardinal Reinhard consumed. Then the Pope on Sundays and feast-days Marx, in which he refused his offer of resignation. The sent to those priests who had charge of Divine service at Holy Father acknowledged the crisis in the Church the churches within the city, the Eucharist, as a brought about by abuse cases, emphasizing the need for symbol of communion with the ecclesiastical Head, and as reform. “A reform... does not consist in words but in a sign that they were empowered to celebrate. attitudes that have the courage to face the crisis, to It was a visible and concrete reminder that they were assume reality whatever the consequences may be. And united to the pope and bishops each time they celebrated every reform begins with oneself. The reform in the the Mass. …This custom existed in until about the Church was made by men and women who were not ninth century and now we have it returned today in afraid to enter into crisis and let themselves be reformed symbolism of our unity. by the Lord,” the Pope said. Why do we have a silence after Holy Communion? The Holy Father invites all to The Great Silence comes after everyone has received pray for the Church, “that she may receive from the Holy communion and before the Final Prayer. It is just a few Spirit the grace and strength to reform herself in the light moments of absolute quiet and stillness. The idea behind of the Gospel.” it is really quite wonderful. What we have all just done and