st. francis of assisi catholic church whitesboro, texas

st. francis of assisi catholic church whitesboro, texas

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH
WHITESBORO, TEXAS
“WE HAVE COME TO BELIEVE AND ARE CONVINCED
THAT YOU ARE THE HOLY ONE OF GOD”
by Fr. Jeremy Myers
John 6:60-69
Today the gospel offers us the final installment of the “Bread
of Life Discourse” that occurs in Chapter 6 of St. John’s
Gospel. We have heard in past weeks the Lord Jesus refer
to himself as the bread of life. He has invited his listeners to
partake of his divine life so that they might find life here
below and life in eternity with him and his Father. As we also
heard, many of his listeners take Jesus to task. Some argue
with him, telling him it is impossible to partake of what he
claims. Still others, as we hear today, simply break away
from him and return to their former way of life. It is Simon
Peter who speaks for the Twelve when he stands tall and
professes his faith in the Lord Jesus and in his words. “We
have come to believe and are convinced that you are the
Holy One of God.” It is a beautiful and a profound profession
of faith—one that we hope we can make with our words and
with our actions. Dr. Tom Catena who works in South Sudan
certainly makes that profession of faith every day in his work
with the people of that region of the world. The Nuba
Mountain Valley in South Sudan, as many of us know from
news reports, is a war zone. Sudanese government forces
bomb the region every day as part of a scorched-earth
strategy to defeat the armed rebellions based there. More
than a half-million civilians live in the Nuba. Their refuge is
the 435 bed Mother of Mercy Hospital where Dr. Catena is
the only doctor. He is on call 24/7. Besides delivering babies
and removing appendixes, Dr. Catena also removes
shrapnel from bodies and amputates the damaged limbs of
children. “Dr. Tom,” as he is called, does all of it without
electricity, without running water, without a telephone and
without an x-ray machine. Consider also that he is always
under the constant threat of bombing. The hospital is
surrounded by foxholes in which patients and staff hide when
military aircraft approach. Dr. Tom is a volunteer with the
Catholic Medical Mission Board and he continues his
exhausting work despite the fact that most world leaders and
humanitarians have abandoned the people of the Nuba
Mountains. What drives him, he says, is his Catholic faith.
“I’ve been given benefits from the day I was born,” he
explains. “A loving family, a great education. So I see it as an
obligation—as a Christian and as a human being—to help.”
The people of the Nuba Valley—Christian and Muslim—pray
that Dr. Tom never dies. One Muslim tribal chief offers this
tribute, “He is Jesus Christ,” explaining that like Jesus Dr.
Tom heals the sick, makes the blind see, and helps the lame
walk. Dr. Tom has served in Africa for the past 15 years. He
established Mother of Mercy Hospital in 2007. He says he
prefers to work in a Catholic mission hospital because he
believes it provides “the spiritual foundation which gives the
work its meaning.” In spite of the hardships, he says he is
“exactly where he wants to be.” Like St. Peter, Dr. Tom
makes real his faith in the Lord Jesus by his words and—
more importantly—by his actions. He answers clearly the
question that the Lord Jesus asks his disciples in the gospel
today, “Do you also want to leave?” Dr. Tom’s answer is a
resounding “No.” His example both edifies and astounds
those of us with a less clear answer to the Lord.
AUGUST 23, 2015
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY
IN ORDINARY TIME (B)
Many people say they
are
afraid
of
commitment.
The
thought of “roads not
taken” nags at them. It
should be obvious that
fear
of
commitment
leaves life “on hold.”
Nothing
meaningful
happens. We pray that
God will replace our
halting steps with a
decisive pace which
communicates
our
freedom to love.
DOMINGO VEINTIUNO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO (B)
Muchas personas dicen que tienen miedo a
comprometerse. El pensamiento de "caminos no
tomados" los fastidia. Debería ser evidente que el
miedo al compromiso deja vida "en espera." Nada
significativo ocurre. Pedimos a Dios que cambie
nuestros pasos vacilantes con un decisivo paso que
comunica nuestra libertad para amar.
Please join us for coffee and fellowship after Mass
today in the Parish Hall.
Por favor únase a nosotros para el café y compañerismo
después de Misa hoy en el Salón Parroquial.
STEWARDSHIP FOR AUGUST 16, 2015
$1,886.00
Thanks for your support.
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may
be food in my house, and try me in this, says the Lord of
hosts: Shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to
pour down blessing upon you without measure?”
Malachi 3:10
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
MASS INTENTION FOR AUGUST 30, 2015
Intentions of Bulletin Sponsors by Trinity Publications
LITURGICAL ASSIGNMENTS FOR AUGUST 30, 2015
Lector
Rebekah Urban Servers
Eucharistic Ministers
Anita Morales
Mike Maberry Ushers
Sharon Kirkpatrick
Taylor Gonzales
Austin Sotelo
Tony Morrell
Bob Ruda
Karol Ruda
Gift Bearers
Minister to the Homebound
Ray Rumley Family
Larry Sandmann
Casey Balak is pictured with Fr. Jeremy following Mass
last Sunday. Casey, who will be attending Texas National
Guard training for three months at Fort Leonard Wood in
Missouri, received a special blessing for strength and
well-being as he faces many new challenges in the
months ahead.
We want to wish a happy birthday to all in our parish family
celebrating a birthday this week, especially Benjamin Aguirre
today, August 23rd; Alejandro Aguirre on August 24th; Katelyn
Reed on August 25th; Shayna Gonzales and Allison Ruda on
August 26th; and Rosendo Chaves, Stephanie Hoenig, and
Janet McCorkle on August 29th.
We want to wish a happy anniversary to all couples
celebrating a wedding anniversary this week, especially
William & Sharon Hoenig on August 27th and George &
Sheila Kleinert and Larry & Chris Turner on August 29th.
Are you in need or use of a piano? St.
Mary’s in Sherman has a surplus piano
that needs a new home. If interested,
please call 903-893-5148.
¿Estás en necesidad o uso de un piano?
Santa Maria en Sherman tiene un piano
excedente que necesita un nuevo hogar.
Si está interesado, por favor llamar al 903-893-5148.
Safe Environment training for all volunteers has been
scheduled. A training session for all NEW volunteers will be
next Sunday, August 30th, at 4 p.m. in the Parish Center at
St. Mary’s in Sherman. A training session for all
RETURNING volunteers who have previously completed
Safe Environment and only need to update their training will
be on Sunday, September 13th at 11 a.m. at St. Francis of
Assisi Catholic Church. Returning volunteers may attend or
can update their training by visiting https://www.cathdal.org/
pages/Update_Training. Choose one of the training modules,
complete both the self-test and training certificate and turn
them in at the office in Sherman. Remember, all volunteers
are required to update their training every twelve months.
Una sesión de formación para todos los nuevos voluntarios
será el próximo domingo, 30 agosto, a las 4 p.m. en el centro
parroquial de Santa María en Sherman. Una sesión de
formación para los voluntarios que previamente hayan
completado ambiente seguro y sólo tendrá que actualizar su
formación será el domingo, 13 septiembre a las 11 a.m. de la
iglesia católica de San Francisco de Asís. Los voluntarios de
regreso pueden asistir o pueden actualizar su formación
visitando
https://www.cathdal.org/pages/Update-training.
Elija uno de los módulos de formación, completar el
certificado de prueba y capacitación y entréguelos a la
oficina de Sherman. Recuerde, todos los voluntarios están
obligados a actualizar su formación cada doce meses.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults will be held at St.
Mary’s Parish in Sherman on Tuesday evenings beginning
September 8th. Anyone interested in joining the Catholic
Church or wanting to learn more about the Catholic Church is
encouraged to attend. Each Tuesday a light meal will be
served at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation will follow from 7 - 8
p.m. Please call the Parish Office at 903-893-5148 if you
have any questions or would like to register.
El Rito de la Iniciación Cristiana para Adultos se sostendrá
en la Parroquia de Santa María en Sherman los lunes a las 7
por la tarde comenzando el 7 de septiembre. Cualquier
persona interesada en unirse a la Iglesia Católica o que
quieran aprender más acerca de la Iglesia Católica es
alentar a que asistan. Por favor, llame a la oficina parroquial
al 903-893-5148 si tiene alguna pregunta o desea registrar.
Our Adult Faith Formation Program plans to offer a small
group meeting and discussion on Pope Francis’ recent
encyclical “Laudato Si.” This encyclical is a beautiful
statement on the grandeur of creation and a plea for our
careful stewardship of this world that God has entrusted to
us. Referring often to St. Francis of Assisi and his love of
creation, the Holy Father writes, “Francis asked that part of
the friary garden always be left untouched, so that wild
flowers and herbs could grow there, and those who saw
them could raise their minds to God, the Creator of such
beauty. Rather than a problem to be solved, the world is a
joyful mystery to be contemplated with gladness and praise.”
With similar words and examples, the Holy Father invites all
of us to see our world as “a beautiful mother who opens her
arms to embrace us.” If you are interested in joining this
discussion group, please let Margaret Pack know so that we
can provide sufficient copies of the encyclical and study
guides for everyone.