26th Sunday in Ordinary Time September 28, 2014 SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SCHOOL AND SAINT GERARD MISSION Photo Provided By Mark Steighner A Redemptorist Parish Since 1926 Redemptorists Sacred Heart Masses: St. Gerard Mission Masses: Serving our Parish: Saturday Vigil: 4:00pm Saturday Vigil: 4:30pm Fr. John F. Murray, C.Ss.R. Sunday: 7, 9 & 11:30am Sunday: 10:00am Fr. Edward Gray, C.Ss.R. Weekdays: 7 & 11am Wednesdays: 9:00am Fr. Francis Nelson, C.Ss.R. Saturdays: 7:00am Holy Days: 9:00am Fr. George Rosario, C.Ss.R. Holy Day Vigil: 7:00pm Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet Deacon Darrell Cevasco, C.Ss.R. Holy Day: 7:00 &11:00am and Marian Prayer Rosary:Mon.- Fri. at 10:30am Priest Prayers: Mondays -9:30am Permanent Deacons Mon.-Sat after 7 am Mass Serving Sacred Heart Reconciliation: Reconciliation half hr. before Mass Parish: Saturday 3:00—3:45 pm Deacon Tom Murray, st Thursday before 1 Fri. 4—5 pm Sacred Heart School: St. Gerard’s Community Adoration of Blessed Sacrament Principal: Mrs. Leigh Svajko Deacon Steve Cooley, Friday 7:30am -4:00 pm Phone: 386-428-4732 Sacred Heart Community Divine Mercy Devotions Fri.4:00 pm Sacred Heart Catholic Church: Phone, 386-428-6426 / Location, 998 Fr. Donlan Dr., New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 Please visit our website: www.sacredheartcatholic.com for Information on Redemptorists & Our Parish History Email:[email protected] St. Gerard Mission: Location, 3171 S. Ridgewood Ave. Edgewater, FL 32141 September 28, 2014 Dear Friends, Life can seem sad, especially when we see so many of our friends and loved ones moving on from this world to their eternal reward. In faith we believe in everlasting life, yet we find it so hard to let go, we want to be with those we love… now… to see… to touch… to never let go. In our parish, in our families, we have been blessed with so many good and holy people. Indeed, it can be a very difficult time when a family member is called home to God. Yet this can also be a great opportunity for experiencing God’s grace. During these challenging times, we call upon our faith, and begin reflecting on the many experiences of our loved one’s life. We begin to see with eyes of faith how important this person’s life was in this world and continues to be in the world to come. This weekend I went to visit two former parishioners, Lu Hunter and her daughter Kelly. They are presently living close to family members in Ocala. Kelly with her mom at her side celebrated her 49th birthday. We had a wonderful pizza party followed by 10 frames of bowling. Lu and Kelly Hunter were part of our worshipping community at Sacred Heart for many years. Although they are miles away, they are still part of our family. I still experience Kelly as a sister, and Lu as our mother. As St. Paul reminds GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING us, nothing can separate us from the Love of God, in Christ Jesus our Week of Sept. 21, 2014 Lord: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor Stewardship Income Last Week $8,403.00 angels, nor principalities, nor present things,* nor Online Giving Last Week: $715.00 future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth,* nor Sister Diocese $1,258.00 any other creature will be able to separate us from the Total Offertory Income Last Week: $10,376.00 love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” So my friends let us rejoice, “Nothing can separate us from Income Same Week Last Year $6,896.0 the Love of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, neither death nor life.” Although we may be separated physically from our loved 2nd Collection: $915.00 ones, we have a bond that will never be broken…the love we have Sister Diocese: $3,123.00 for one another in Jesus Christ our Lord, will always keep us Total Offertory Same Week Last Year: $10,934.00 together! Total Stewardship Income Increase: -$558.00 God bless you and may Mary our Mother watch over you and protect you always. Attendance Last Week: 884 Attendance Same Week Last Year: 890 Your brother in Christ, Next Special Collection: Oct. 19 Propagation of the Faith Fr. John Francis Murray, C.Ss.R (World Mission Sunday) WEEKLY REFLECTIONS FROM OUR PASTOR OUR PASTOR FROM REFLECTIONS WEEKLY Our Catholic Appeal - 2014 Thank you for your generosity. Sacred Heart Community Total Registered Households 937 Target Pledged Amount Paid to Date $98,768.00 $90,365.00 $77,853.59 Stewardship Quote God has promised to return the gifts that are returned to Him. It is a never ending circle. We receive gifts from God, we return them with increase. Not to be outdone, God returns them back to us. The more we give away, the more we are blessed. This is not the reason stewards give; it is the result of giving. - Author Unknown Sacred Heart Catholic Church and School and St. Gerard Mission __________________________________________________________ 2 Saint of the Week The Pope’s Corner Feast of Sts. Michael, Martyrs' legacy and Gabriel, and Raphael, coexistence key themes Archangels, ofAlbania visit Sept. 29 The brief, but very intense 11 hour journey to Albania has The liturgy celebrates the feast of been focused on two main themes: the witness of the these three archangels who are martyrs and the importance of peaceful co-existence, venerated in the tradition of the Vatican Radio correspondent Christopher Wells reports Church. Michael (Who is like the following: God?) was the archangel who fought against Satan and Looking to the martyrs of Albania’s atheistic communist all his evil angels, defending all the friends of God. He regime means looking to the past – but not to a dead past. is the protector of all humanity from the snares of the The witness of Albania’s Church of Silence speaks loudly, devil. Gabriel (Strength of God) announced to bearing witness to the nation’s traditions of faith, the firm Zachariah the forthcoming birth of John the Baptist, rock upon which the future can be built. and to Mary, the birth of Jesus. His greeting to the It is a future that can be built around the mutual coexistence that has characterized Albania since the fall of Virgin, "Hail, full of grace," is one of the most familiar communism. More than simply living in the same place, and frequent prayers of the Christian people. Raphael living together in peace and harmony involves mutual (Medicine of God) is the archangel who took care of respect for the person of the other – a respect for the AND TEACHINGS— BELIEFS Tobias on his journey. dignity of the human person that must be rooted in faith in God, the Creator of all. The Catechism of the The Albanian people clearly have a strong sense of the Catholic Church past, especially the tragic history of the recent past. Albanian Catholics are rightly proud of their martyrs, who, "The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings relying on God, stood firm in their Faith. that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels" is a truth Their hopes for the future, awakened in the transition of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the toward democracy, have yet to be achieved. One can sense unanimity of Tradition." the concern for the future, the fear that the promise of a Angels are pure, created spirits. The name angel new springtime for Albania might not live up to means servant or messenger of God. Angels are expectations. But if they are worried about the future, they celestial or heavenly beings, on a higher order than are not discouraged. One can sense the optimism in human beings. Angels have no bodies and do not everyone you meet. depend on matter for their existence or activity. They Pope Francis came to Albania to support and encourage are distinct from saints, which men can become. this “young people.” He reminded them that the future Angels have intellect and will, and are immortal. They cannot be built on the empty promises of individualism are a vast multitude, but each is an individual person. and selfishness. It must be built on mutual love and Archangels are one of the nine choirs of angels listed in respect, which must ultimately rest on the message of salvation of Jesus Christ. the Bible. In ascending order, the choirs or classes are: 1)Angels, 2)Archangels, 3)Principalities, 4)Powers, 5)Virtues, That is the great message of encouragement and hope – a hope that will never disappoint – that Pope Francis has 6)Dominations, 7)Thrones, 8)Cherubim, 9)Seraphim. brought to the people of Albania. (Vatican Radio, 9-22-14) This Week’s Scripture Meditation: Which son did the Father’s will Jesus encourages us to think - to think about the consequences of our choices, especially in the choices and decisions that will count not just for now but for eternity as well. The choices we make now will affect and shape our future, both our future on earth as well as in the life of the age to come. Jesus tells a simple story of two imperfect sons to illustrate the way of God's kingdom. The father amply provided for his sons food, lodging, and everything they needed. Everything the father had belonged to them as well. The father also rewarded his sons with excellent work in his own vineyard. He expected them to show him gratitude, loyalty, and honor by doing their fair share of the daily work.