Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Kathy Upcoming Event, Weekly message

Someone once asked Charles Dickens what the best story in the English Language was, and his reply was ‘The Prodigal Son’. Today’s gospel has a message for all of us.

prodigalsonMan cannot live without forgiveness. We all have sometimes or the other “gone astray” and disobeyed God’s commandments. Though we are sinners we hope in the great mercy of God. That is the lesson of today’s Gospel.

We are surrounded by the evils that threatened our very existence. We are also a part of the evil that surrounds us. We multiply our sufferings through indifference and selfishness. At times we feel afraid and we realize our own helplessness. But Jesus says: “have no fear, I have overcome this world.” Thank God, the world is not lacking in people who sow peace, love and goodness; there are people who help us carry the cross, who accept us, who make us realize forgiveness. This gives us hope to begin anew.

 In contrast to the pagan gods our God is full of mercy and compassion. God’s mercy is sung 25 times in the Psalm 196: “The mercy of God is everlasting.” More than all the others, Luke’s gospel stresses mercy. Luke’s gospel can be called as ‘the Gospel of joyful mercy.’ The three parables illustrate it very clearly. – The Lost sheep (Lk 15: 4-7), The Lost coin (Lk 15: 8-10), The Prodigal Son (Lk 15 11:32).  These passages of mercy are highly recommended to us by the Church as resources for the Year of Mercy.

 The lesson we have to learn is simple: God loves us, we is precious to Him. By all means God wants to save man. “Found”, “returned”, “forgiven”, reconciled”: these are catch words of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Picnic – Thank You!

 thankyouMy gratitude to God for experiencing such a fantastic mass and picnic two weeks ago. We really enjoyed the wonderful, worship, food, and fellowship.  Thank you to everyone who helped make the Parish Picnic a success. Thank you to our parish community for your time, attendance and prayers. Without each and every one of you, our picnic would not be the success as it is each year.

 A special thank you to all who donated items to the food table: salads, fruit, baked pies, and desserts.  To those who donated kid’s prizes and music, thank you. Those who arranged the gym – tables and chairs, those who put in time behind the scenes and to the kitchen crew, to ALL who gave time, treasures and prayers especially our Parish Council and all the volunteers who worked so hard to make the day a success.

Thank you!
Fr. Henry

Fun Run/Walk and Spaghetti Dinner – September 18th

  • Reminder to Runners/Walkers – Please note the new packet pick up times
    Runners and Walkers don’t forget to pick up your “packet” on Friday, September 16th  3:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m., Saturday, September 17th 9:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. or Sunday,  September 18th from 10:00 a.m.  – 1:00 p.m. in the School Meeting Room.  At these time we are accepting walk-ins for the race. 
  • Spaghetti Dinner -If you are interested in attending the dinner only, We would appreciate it if you please submit a registration form. However, walk-ins will be Welcome. 
  • Honor Guard Needed – We are looking for active servicemen and women who are serving in the armed forces, reserves or any veterans to participate in the Honor Guard at the Fun Run. Please call Bonnie at 313-532-4394 to participate.
  • Bake Sale – Our 8th graders are sponsoring a bake sale at the Fun Run dinner. If you would like to donate a baked good, they would appreciate it! The monies raised will help with their graduation expenses. You may drop off your goodies at the Gym on Saturday or Sunday morning.

Thank you.

Mercy, Poor at Center of Blessed Teresa’s Canonization—September 4, 2016

Kathy Weekly message
 Mother Teresa  Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 to an ethnic Albanian family in Skopje, in what is now part of Macedonia, Mother Teresa went to India as a Sister of Loreto in 1929. Receiving what she described as a “call within a call,” she began her missionary work with the poor and laid the foundation for what would become the Missionaries of Charity.

Known as the “saint of the gutters,” Mother Teresa was revered for ministering to the sick and the dying in some of the world’s poorest neighborhoods.  Following her death in 1997, St. John Paul II waived the usual five-year waiting period and allowed the opening of the process to declare her sainthood. She was beatified in 2003.

 The date of Mother Teresa’s canonization will coincide with the conclusion of the Year of Mercy pilgrimage for workers and ministers engaged in works of mercy.

Copyright (c) 2016 Catholic News Service.
Reprinted with permission from CNS.
www.catholicnews.com

 Archbishop Vigneron will say Mass for the Canonization of St. Teresa of Calcutta today, September 4th at 11 am at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.

 Mass of Anointing—September 24th

St. Valentine parish is offering an opportunity to receive the “Sacrament of Anointing” during our regular 5:00pm Mass on Saturday – September 24th.

 This is a sacrament appropriate for anyone whose health is seriously impaired by sickness, advanced age, or the danger of death. It should be considered by people who are seriously ill, whether at home, in hospitals or in nursing homes; seriously sick children who are old enough to experience the sacramental benefits; individuals about to undergo surgery when a serious illness is the reason for the having the surgery; elderly people, suffering the maladies of old age; and all individuals who are chronically ill or permanently disabled.

 So, if you see yourself, or a family member, in any of the descriptions above, we encourage you to attend this Mass. All you need do is:

CALL THE PARISH OFFICE AT (313) 532-4394 TO REGISTER YOUR NAME NO LATER THEN WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st.

 Remember, part of God’s plan for each of us is that we should fight strenuously against all sickness and carefully seek the blessings of good health. This special Mass, with the Sacrament of Anointing, provides an opportunity to do just that.

St. Valentine Worship Commission