September 7, 2008
Dear Parishioners,“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.” St. Paul gives us this instruction in today’s second ready from Romans. How do we really love? We love by fulfilling God’s laws which define who we are as His children. We are in His family; we are “watchmen” for each other as we read in the first reading from Ezekiel. We are called to encourage each other to consistent and integral Christian life with fraternal correction as our Lord instructs us n the Gospel. How do we remain good watchman able to love each other with fraternal correction? We focus on the first goal of life: the salvation of our souls and the salvation of the souls around us. Truth always unites; error always divides. We truly love by first remaining in the firm bond of prayer with each other at Mass and in our homes. The most important task of a parent is to teach a child to pray. Nothing can be more effective to the building of a close friendship with the Lord than to learn how to pray in truth. And nothing can be more effective in teaching prayer than for parents to be models of prayer in the home. When a child regularly sees a mom and dad pray individually and lead prayers with the family a memory which can never be erased in the mind of a child. Regular, planned, daily prayer as a family and as individuals is the base of our religion.
Today Fr. Fernandez quotes John Paul II on family prayer in Familiaris Consortio.
“…prayer has for its own object family life itself…: Joys and sorrows, hopes and disappointments, births and birthday celebrations, wedding anniversaries of parents, departures, separations and homecomings, important and far-reaching decisions, the death of those who are dear to us, etc. – all of these mark occasions for God’s loving intervention in the family’s history. They should be seen as suitable moments for thanksgiving for petition, for trusting abandonment of the family into the hands of their common Father in heaven. The dignity and responsibility of the Christian family as the domestic Church can be achieved only with God’s unceasing aid, which will surely be granted if it is humbly and trustingly petitioned for in prayer.”
Today we welcome Fr. Greg Serwa, S.A.C., a Pallottine Father from Milwaukee. I know you will give him a hearty St. Michael welcome. The Second Collection today will go to help in the mission work of the Pallottine Order: Society of the Catholic Apostolate. The Pallottines were founded by St. Vincent Pallotti who said:
“ God wants us to co-operate as much as possible in the salvation of others. This is the motive of God's infinite love. Please be as generous as you are able. Remember the first collection will be for the Ordinary Tithe and the Capital Campaign. Thanks for your good stewardship.
Speaking of Stewardship, we will have our Stewardship Fair next Sunday. After each Mass, you will be able to stop by to see displays of all the areas of stewardship available to you in our Parish. Thanks to all who are helping with our Stewardship Committee.
Our Parish Council will meet this Monday at 7:00 PM. All Prayerfully Selected members, Commission chairs, and Committee chairs are asked to be with us for this first meeting. Please pray for the continue blessings on our Parish.
We have placed a financial report for July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008 in the bulletin board for everyone to see. We all want to thank the Finance Council for its work on all our financial matters. As we build our financial stability, we are able to do even more at building the Kingdom.
This Thursday, September 11 is the anniversary of the attack upon our Country. Please remember to pray for all the souls who died that day as well as for their families and also for peace in our country and the world. It is always good to go extra to Holy Mass to do this and to thank God for our own blessings. I was very edified on Labor Day by people who were at Holy Mass to thank God for their jobs and the work with which their children have been blessed.
Finally, be sure to plan to be with us for the Eucharistic Congress on October 3 and 4 at the Charlotte Convention Center. Remember that there will NOT BE A 5:00 PM MASS ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4. Bishop Jugis invites everyone to be with him for the Closing Mass of the Eucharistic Congress.
May God bless you and may our Lady keep you in her care.
With my prayers,
Father Arnsparger.