Bulletin for Oct. 21

Dear friends in Christ,

I extend my thanks to all of you who wished me a happy birthday last Sunday. I received a number of well wishes in person, in cards, and on social media and I thank everyone who reached out to me. And to those of you who heard my “Bob Dylan homily” last weekend (I presided at all but the 5 p.m. Mass on Sunday) and have been asking, yes, I did make it to his concert and enjoyed it very much. And, yes, he did perform “Gotta Serve Somebody,” the song I referenced in my homily. But in true “Bob fashion,” he completely changed all the verses! Fortunately, the chorus “It may be the devil or it may be Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody” stayed the same.

That idea of serving again appears in this week’s Gospel that we hear from St. Mark. In it, James and John, the two brothers, ask Jesus for a place of prominence in the kingdom of God. He reminds them long ago, and us today, that “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.” Just as Jesus, the Son of God, did not come to be served, but to serve, so too must we.

During the last several weeks I have been privileged to witness a beautiful way in which CtR parishioners have responded to the Lord’s command to serve and that is by caring for their aging parents. I’ve made several house visits lately to offer the Sacrament of the Sick (anointing) to those who are elderly and homebound, and also to see a few who are on their final journey home to the Lord as they approach death. I’m always impressed when I see the care and compassion that adult children of these older parishioners are offering for their parents.

Not everyone is in a position to do so, of course, but when it is possible – or when we choose to make it possible – I can think of no greater gift a son or daughter can give to their parents than to care for them in their advanced age. To go into a private home or room in a nursing facility and see such care and compassion up close is really quite moving. I know I saw it firsthand in my own family when my sister cared for our mother on a daily basis in her final years, and I see it time and time again in many of you who are doing the same. God bless you.

Of course, the corollary is always true and I know there are some instances (not many, but some) where the elderly are left to care for themselves and don’t have contact with their family members. Those are always quite sad and heartbreaking to witness. But I also think it gives all of us in the community a chance to be that servant for each other. If you know of an elderly neighbor or friend, be sure and look in on them on a regular basis and see that they have the help they need. Just a simple visit can do wonders for the spirits of the elderly and lift our own spirit at the same time.

As we continue on in the Respect Life of October let us remember that caring for the aged and those who are dying is a beautiful witness to the dignity of human life. If you are caring for someone in your home and they can receive communion, please let us know. Our Ministry to the Sick volunteers, our deacons, and we priests are happy to come visit. Especially for someone who may be near death, if they are able to take Holy Communion one final time (known as viaticum) it would be a beautiful thing. May God continue to pour out His blessings on our elderly, and may God strengthen those who care for them.

In other news, I mentioned last week the series of events upcoming for the 10th anniversary of the dedication of our new church. This week after Mass you’ll find a table in the narthex with additional information about the Saturday, Nov. 17 Family Service Day. Remember that on that day we’ll be sending teams of volunteers into three main areas (groups on campus, groups off campus, and teams at our sister parish of Our Mother of Mercy). It’s a great way for both young and old, individuals and families, to be the hands and feet of Christ for others. This weekend after Mass you can sign-up in advance for your preferred work location (on campus, in the local community, or at Mother of Mercy) so that we can ensure we have enough volunteers at each site. Stop by the table to find out more on how you can help.

While the 10th anniversary weekend is just four weeks away, the 5th annual Chili Cook-Off is coming up even sooner from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10. As mentioned last week, we’ve got a full slate of 28 teams ready to serve up their best version of “Texas Red,” so make plans to join us. As the weather turned cooler this past week I’m hopeful it will remain so for a few more weeks so that we can have a clear chilly night for chili. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for this great fundraiser for our CtR Catholic School. It’s a great evening of fun for the whole family. Individual tickets are available now on the school website, ctrschool.com/chili.

We’ve also have sponsorships available to help underwrite some of our expenses for the evening and help the school in advancing its mission. It’s a great way to promote your local business by getting your name out in front of all our guests. Sponsors will be featured on signage and our promotional materials throughout the event. See the same webpage for more information to be a sponsor. Or if you’d just like to volunteer at the event, we welcome your help as well. It’s a one-night commitment and many hands make for light work for everyone. Plus, it’s just a whole lot of fun. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it!

Lastly, thank you to all who donated in our special second collection last weekend to aid those impacted by the recent hurricanes in Florida and throughout the southeast. More than $9,000 was raised and will be distributed through Catholic Charities to help our brothers and sisters who are continuing to clean-up, recover and rebuild. If you missed the collection but still would like to help, please drop off your donation in the Parish Office and we’ll see that it gets to Catholic Charities.

Peace,
Fr. Sean

P.S.: Due to the Vigil of All Saints on Oct. 31, the Sacrament of the Sick will instead be offered one week earlier at the evening Mass this coming Wednesday, Oct. 24. This is a one-time change due to the conflict on the last Wednesday of the month, which is our usual day of the month for anointing at Mass.