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OCTOBER 4, 2020 • RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY
Saints
902 East 9th Street • Hopkinsville, KY 42240
Peter & Paul C AT H O L I C C H U R C H
AND SCHOOL
Established 1872
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
We are a Roman Catholic Community of Christians called to be a priestly people, a household of faith, a temple of the Holy Spirit, a beacon of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apos-tolic Church shining for Jesus Christ in the heart of Christian County.
Rev. Fr. Richard Meredith, Pastor [email protected]
Rev. Fr. Michael Charles Abiero, Parochial Vicar [email protected]
Permanent Deacon, Mr. Tim Barnes [email protected] Permanent Deacon, Mr. Roberto Cruz [email protected] Permanent Deacon, Mr. Trinidad Soriano Permanent Deacon, Dr. Bill Sweet [email protected] PARISH OFFICE PHONE: (270) 885-8522 PARISH FAX: (270) 885-5296 PARISH WEBSITE: www.stsppchurch.org DIOCESAN WEBSITE: www.owensborodiocese.org VATICAN WEBSITE: www.vatican.va PARISH OFFICE HOURS: 8:00AM-12 NOON • 1:00 PM-4:00 PM MONDAY – FRIDAY
SCHOOL TELEPHONE: (270) 886-0172 SCHOOL FAX: (270) 887-9924 SCHOOL WEBSITE: www.stsppschool.org
Tru†h Radio WSPP 93.5 FM (Local Catholic Radio)
Saints Peter and Paul Assistance: 270-886-6027
Saints Peter and Paul Thrift Store: 270-632-1037 Store Hours Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday- 10:00 am-2:00 pm.
MEMBERSHIP IN THE PARISH We give a sincere welcome to all new families moving into our Parish. Please register with the Parish Office as soon as possible. Families who plan to move from our parish
community are asked to let us know.
MASS SCHEDULE Saturday evening .................................... 5:00 PM Sunday ................................. 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM Misa en Español ............... 2:00 PM, 10:30 PM Monday - Saturday ................................ 8:00 AM Wednesday ......................................... 5:30 PM
Thursday (en Español) - except June Through September
SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY
The Catholic Church teaches that the sexual abuse of any person is a grave moral evil. To report any instance of sexual abuse by anyone
acting in the name of the Catholic Church, (priests, deacon, employee or volunteer), please call the Diocesan Pastoral Assistance Coordina-tor, using the dedicated confidential phone-line (270-852-8380) as well as the Diocesan web site (www.owensborodiocese.org/safe).
† SACRAMENTS † † Reconciliation: Confessions will be heard Saturday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and Wednesday at 4:30 PM. Confessions will be heard by appointment as well.
† Baptism: Baptismal Preparation Class - Our next class will be announced. Please call the Parish Office to register.
† Marriage: Contact the Office six months prior to the desired date.
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Parish Pastoral Council
Lana Bastin, Administration ………………[email protected] Stephanie Blankenberger, Principal [email protected] Jan Buckner, Vice Chair & Family [email protected] Dee Dailey, Chair & Worship..….………[email protected] Libby Downs, Pastoral Associate ………[email protected] Missy Craft, Social Concerns.………[email protected] Fran Marko, Secretary…………………………[email protected] Jeff Lansford, Spiritual Life………………[email protected] Robert Tyree, Education….……………[email protected]
PARISH OFFICE — 270-885-8522 Tom Buehrle, Director Of Stewardship ………………….. [email protected] Brenda Chaudoin, Office Manager…ext 3105…….. [email protected] Libby Downs, Pastoral Associate....ext 3103…........ [email protected] Leigh Ann Johnson, Financial Assistance Coordinator………...270-886-6027 Steve Kinnard, Maintenance Foreman...ext [email protected] Angie Phillip, Sts. Peter and Paul Thrift Store Mgr……………..270-632-1037 Mayra Tirado, Hispanic Ministry Asst...ext 3102…[email protected] Sue Wassmer, Secretary…ext 3100……………[email protected] Dan Wilkinson, Music Director...ext 3104………[email protected]
SCHOOL OFFICE — 270-886-0172
Stephanie Blankenberger, Principal...ext 3213 [email protected] Jennifer Groves, Secretary...ext 3214 [email protected] Nita Felker, Receptionist... ..ext 3230.…[email protected]
MINISTRY TO THE SICK
Please notify the Parish Office upon admission of a family member into any hospital or nursing home. Any parishioner who is ill or infirm may request anointing in an emergency by
calling the Parish Office, 270-885-8522.
PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
This is a devotion whereby members of the parish unite in adopting certain hours of Adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament during the day and throughout the night, seven days a week. (Code required.) There is a regular schedule of ador-ers but all are welcome to stop in for a visit. Parishioners are encouraged to sign up for a scheduled weekly Adoration time. Please contact Bill & Jenny Rush at 270-885-2888, if you are interested in adopting an hour or if you can be a substitute or prayer partner Available hours: Sunday 12am, Monday 2am, Wednesday 2am & Saturday 10 pm. Please help!! A Prayer Partner is needed for Tuesday 9am
School News
OCTOBER 4, 2020 • TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 3
Fall Break: Fall Break at Saints Peter and Paul School be-gan with an early release on Friday, October 2nd and con-tinues thru Friday, October 9th. Please know the School Office will be closed during this time. In addi-tion the Parish Office will be closed from Monday, October 5th thru Fri-day, October 9th. Both the Parish and School offices will re-open on Monday, October 12th with their regular schedules. If you have a pastoral emer-gency, please call the parish office and follow the emergen-cy prompts. Please keep our staff, both parish and school, in your prayers as we strive to serve the needs of Saints Peter and Paul Parish and School with love and care.
Public Square Rosary Campaign: Come and pray the Ro-sary and Divine Mercy Chaplet. As a way to join our pray-ers for the leaders of our communities and country and to
remember the many bless-ings that praying the ro-sary offers, please join us on Saturday, October 10th beginning at 11:45 a.m. at Virginia Park – 9th
Street (walking distance of our parish). Remember, this is a way for us to show people who we are as Catholics and not to be afraid to publicly call upon the power of God. Let us join together – all peoples – to pray for peace in our lives, in our families, in our society. For more information, contact Jenny Rush at 885-2888. Know that in 2018 there were over 21,570 Rosary Rallies held across our nation. So come join us as we celebrate the 103rd Anniversary of the Great Sign at Fatima.
Disciples Response Fund: In early September, all regis-tered members of our parish should have received a letter from Bishop Medley asking for financial support of the Disci-ples Response Fund. One way most parishes in the United States assist in the work of their Diocese is by participation in an Annual Appeal such as the Disciples Response Fund. The good works funded by Disciples Response Fund de-serve our support; things that cannot be done by a parish on its own. Such as the formation of seminarians and the fund-ing of a charitable trust fund where the earnings support health benefits for retired Priests. A percentage of the funds is also set aside to fund an endowment that already reduces parish assessments by more than 5%. If you have not sent in your DRF pledge/payment, we encourage you to prayerfully consider what you can give to the Disciples Response Fund this year. We will distribute pledge cards and hear a message from Bishop Medley at all Masses the weekend of October 17-18. Pledge cards can be returned the next weekend in the collection basket.
St. Francis of Assisi and Blessing of Pets: As a Church, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi on Sun-day, October 4th. So, join us on Sunday, October 4th at 12:00 – Noon, all are invited to bring your loved pet to our annual Saints Pe-ter and Paul Pet Blessings Day. This custom is conducted in remem-brance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures. Fr. Richard will be there to welcome you and bless your beloved pets. Our Christian County/Hopkinsville Humane Society will be pre-sent with treats for our pets.
Respect Life Sunday: October is annually observed by the Catholic Church of the USA as “Respect Life Month”. We
are called to cherish, defend and protect the most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and every point in between. The essence of our identity is that we are created in His image and likeness and loved by God. Nothing can diminish the priceless worth of any human life. Every
person is cherished. Every person is created for eternal union with God and He continually invites us to embrace a loving relationship with Him. Each person is chosen. We are called to be messengers of God’s love, treating one another as cherished and chosen by Him. In doing so, we help build a culture that respects all human life. Every per-son is sent. Let us embrace our daily mission to help others encounter God’s transforming, life-giving love.
Blessing of a Child in the Womb: The "Rite for the Bless-ing of a Child in the Womb" was crafted to support par-ents awaiting the birth of their child, to encourage parish prayers for – and recognition of -- the precious gift of the child in the womb, and to foster respect for human life with-in society.
“God, author of all life, bless, we pray, this unborn child;
give constant protection and grant a healthy birth
that is the sign of our rebirth one day into the eternal rejoicing of heaven…” ~ excerpt from the Prayer of Blessing
We will offer the Blessing of a Child in the Womb at all Masses this weekend.
Life Chain: On Sunday, October 4th from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. please come and join us from Saints Peter and Paul by “Standing Up for Life.” Participants will pray and display posters with Pro-Life messages as part of LIFE CHAIN 2020 which will be taking place in over 1,550 cities and towns across the USA and Canada. You will be standing to pray for an end to abortion and for the babies, women and men who are victims of abortion. Posters will be available that day. Contact Jenny or Bill Rush for more information.
SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY 4
Sympathy: We pray for our parishioner, Elizabeth Irene Szabo who passed away on Monday, September 21st at Western State Hospital at the age of 87. Elizabeth was born in Vienna, Austria, on July 10, 1933, the daughter of the late Francis J. and Hilda Schanzer Harvey. At the age of 5 she was part of the Kindertransport Rescue and brought by ship to England. There she was adopted and spent the next 7 years with the very warm and loving
Ticehurst family. These were some of her happiest memories. Her family immigrated to Brooklyn, New York and from there she settled down in Louisville, Kentucky. Experi-encing domestic abuse, mental illness and, being a Holocaust survivor she still managed to raise 6 children and, run a household. Her
dedication to her family, joy of music, drawing and connec-tion to the Catholic faith saw her through to the end. In ad-dition to her parents, Elizabeth was preceded in death by her son, Joseph Szabo, her daughter, Lisa Szabo Woods; her brother, Peter Harvey. Survivors include her daughters, Linda Szabo, of Chicago, IL, Lora Szabo of Hyden, KY, Hil-da Szabo Moore, of Nixa, MO, Helen Szabo of Chicago,IL; her brother, Stephen Harvey of Columbus, OH; and her two grandchildren. Her family says, “We will be forever in-spired by her survival skills and warm smile.” Graveside services were held on Tuesday, September 29th at Hawkins Cemetery here in Christian County. As a parish we offer our prayers for the Szabo family as we pray to God “May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.”
First Communion Certificates: If your child received their First Holy Communion this past August, their certificates and banners are available to be picked up after all Masses in the sacristy.
Confirmation Pictures: If your young person received the Sacrament of Confirmation this past August, your certificates and pictures are available in the sacristy after all Masses.
Relay for Life: This year the 28th Annual Christian County Relay for Life event has gone through many planning chang-es due to Covid. The date is now finalized and your Saints Peter and Paul Team will be set up on Saturday, October 24th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Justice Center for a “Drive Thru” event. Come and support your parish team. We will have t-shirts, car decals, and bracelets available as well as friendly faces who Hope for a Cure of Cancer. We are also beginning our Team Sign-ups for 2020-2021. If you would like to join us as a member of our Saints Peter and Paul Relay for Life Team, contact Bob Hilgartner ([email protected]) or Libby Downs ([email protected])
October Breast Cancer Aware-ness
In 2020, an estimated 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 48,530 new cases of noninvasive (in situ) breast cancer.
64% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a local-ized stage (there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the breast), for which the 5-year survival rate is 99%.
This year, an estimated 42,170 women will die from breast cancer in the U.S.
Although rare, men get breast cancer too. In 2020, an estimated 2,620 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year in the U.S. and approximately 520 will die.
1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. It is estimated that in 2020, approximately 30% of all new women cancer diagnoses will be breast cancer.
There are over 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
On average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. www.nationalbreastcancer.org Parish Council News: We would like to thank the two members who have completed their terms on the Parish Pas-toral Council, Morgan Murray and Hilda Gonzalez, for their service to the parish. The two new members who have re-placed them are Jeff Lansford and Missy Craft. Welcome Jeff and Missy. Dee Dailey was selected as Chairperson for the coming year and Jan Buckner as Vice-chairperson. See the inside front cover of the bulletin for names, emails and responsibilities of your parish council. Get Well Cards: We need your HELP! Please help us bring joys to some of our homebound folks and those who are experiencing difficult times. All are Hopkinsville addresses unless otherwise stated. Thank you for your assistance. 1. Patsy Whitmer, 401 Cardinal Drive, Apt. B 2. Dottie Gernon, 401 Cardinal Drive, Apt. 4a 3. Winnie Wilson, 3165 Cadiz Road 4. Ruby Carsone, 201 Millbrooke Drive
Let us not forget the loved ones of our deployed military personnel.
Pray without ceasing.
OCTOBER 4, 2020 • TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 5
Saints Peter and Paul Parish Religious Education
PSR – Pre-School thru 5th Grade: Classes begin next Sun-day, October 11th beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the parish office building and in the Office Annex Building. Parents Remember:
Drop off is between 8:45 a.m. and 8:55 a.m.
Enter the parish parking lot off 9th Street and proceed forward between the parish office building and the An-nex building (former Thrift Store) as we will take your children’s temperature and complete forms before leav-ing the vehicle and then parents are to exit the parking lot off 7th Street.
Pick up is at 10:15 again using directions as Drop off.
October Schedule – Sundays, 9:00-10:15 a.m.: October 4: No Class – Teachers Meeting October 11: Class October 18: Class October 25: Class
Mass Intentions
Readings for the week of October 4, 2020 Sunday: Is 5:1-7/Ps 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19- 20/Phil 4:6-9/Mt 21:33-43 Monday: Gal 1:6-12/Ps 111:1b-2, 7-8, 9 and 10c/ Lk 10:25-37 Tuesday: Gal 1:13-24/Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c- 15/Lk 10:38-42 Wednesday: Gal 2:1-2, 7-14/Ps 117:1bc, 2/Lk 11:1-4 Thursday: Gal 3:1-5/Lk 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75/ Lk 11:5-13 Friday: Gal 3:7-14/Ps 111:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6/ Lk 11:15-26 Saturday: Gal 3:22-29/Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7/ Lk 11:27-28 Next Sunday: Is 25:6-10a/Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6/ Phil 4:12-14, 19-20/Mt 22:1-14 or 22:1-10 LPI ©
Mon, Oct 5 ST. MARIA FAUSTINA
8:00 am † MICHAEL THORNTON
Tue, Oct 6
ST. BRUNO & BLESSED MARIE ROSE
DUROCHER
8:00 am † RICHARD & LACY KRANZ
Wed, Oct 7 OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
8:00 am NO MASS
5:30 pm JOSEPH TOBER
Thu, Oct 8
8:00 am PRESTON RODGERS
5:30 pm Spanish NO MASS
Fri, Oct 9 ST. DENIS & ST. JOHN LEONARDI
8:00 am MARY ANN KEEL
Sat, Oct 10
8:00 am †
GEORGE & LOUISE MCSHANE
BROCKMAN
5:00 pm KIM BATTAH
Sun, Oct 11
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN
ORDINARY TIME
8:00 am † GEORGE & VICTORIA SPURR
10:30 am † PEDRO & OLGA MONTEJOS
2:00 pm Spanish † MARIA ANGEL MURIO
10:30 pm Spanish FOR ALL PEOPLE
† Indicates Requiem Mass
SANCTUARY LAMP
IN MEMORY OF RICHARD & LACY KRANZ
ADORATION CHAPEL CANDLES GREGORY V. JONES FAMILY
Sun: PSR Teachers Mtg.-9am, Church Pet Blessing - 12:00-Noon; Mary’s Garden Right To Life-‘Life Chain’, 2:30-4pm-Outside Parish Holy Hour-4 pm, Church Mon: Fall Break-Offices Closed To Oct 12 Tue: Prayer Book Mtg. 7pm, HFR Wed: No Rosary Makers Choir Practices-Spanish 5:30 pm, English 6:30 pm MS/HS-6:30 pm, College Care Packages Thu: Worship Comm. Noon, HFR Knights-6:30 pm, OA RCIA Sessions-6:30 pm, Church
Calendar October 4-10
Baptismal Class: If you are interested in having your child Baptized in the Catholic Church, please contact Libby Downs in the parish of-fice. The church asks first-time parents to attend a Baptismal Preparation class. Registration is required. Please call the office if you wish to schedule a class. We encourage families to attend the class before the birth of their child and godparents are urged to attend as well.
Budget News September 27, 2020
Contributing Households
Envelopes 61 $7,101
Online Donations/EFT 11 $1,120
Loose collection Cash $390
Loose collection Checks 19 $6,910
Weekly Total 91 $15,521
Weekly Parish Budget Needs $18,614
2019/20 Diocesan Assessment Past Due $34,154
2020/21 Diocesan Assessment due 6/2021 $67,352
Parent Meeting For First Reconciliation/First Confession
Sunday, October 25, 2020 11:30 a.m. in the Church
This meeting is for parents who will have children re-ceiving the Sacrament of First Reconciliation/First Con-fession this year. No make-up session will be offered.
SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY 6
Middle and High School Youth Minis-try – Our Middle and High School Youth programs begin this Wednesday, October 7th – Yes, during Fall Break at 6:30 p.m. Confirmation Class will be held and the remaining classes will assist with preparing our College Care Packages. Parents/Youth Driving Remember:
Drop off is between 6:10 p.m. and 6:25 p.m.
Enter the parish parking lot off 9th Street and proceed to the portico behind the Church (between the Church and Office Building) as we will take your youth’s tem-perature and complete before leaving the vehicle and then, parents are to exit the parking lot between Mere-dith Hall and the Maintenance Building onto 7th Street.
Pick up is at 8:00 p.m. again using directions as Drop off.
October Class Schedule: October 7: Class October 21: Class October 14: Class October 28: Class College Student Care Packages: If you are planning to assist with our College Care Packages, remember all dona-tions need to be here before 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7th. Items Needed: Hot cocoa packets Snack crackers Gum/Mints Small chip packages Breakfast bars Popcorn packs Little Debbie snacks Chapstick/Cough drops Trail mix Tissues – small packs Lotion – travel size Individual hand sanitizers
Please Pray for our Deployed Military & Families
Ryan Harrison, Trey Johnston & Quin Perry
LAY MINISTERS OCTOBER 10 / 11 - 28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Saturday, 5:00 pm Altar Servers .......................................................... Sherry Viall Cross Bearer ................................................................................ Commentator ........................................................... Robert Hill Lectors .................................................................. Robert Hill Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers: ................ Tony Esposito Choir Loft ................................................................................. Ushers ........................................................ Ken Tiell, Julie Tiell ........................................................ Pat Puckett, Bobbi Goulet
Sunday, 8:00 am
Altar Servers .................... Elizabeth Stevens, Aaron Stevens Cross Bearer ................................................................................ Commentator ...................................................... Jim Creighton Lectors ................................... Jim Creighton, Chris Stevens Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers: ................. Ann Williams Choir Loft ................................................. Marcy Stevens Ushers .............................................. Chuck Spurr, Dirk Downs ............................................................. Gary Harden, Bill Rush
Sunday, 10:30 am
Altar Servers ................................ Jon Allard, Mason Malone Cross Bearer ................................................................................ Commentator .................................................... Russell Malone Lectors ................................ Russell Malone, Leigh Malone Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers: ...................... Kelly King Choir Loft ........................................... Michael Anderson Ushers ....................................... Pat Covington, Chris Thomas .............................................. Bruce Wilcox, Steve Greenwell
Domingo 2:00 pm Comentarista: ........................................................Lupita Rosas 1-2 Lectura: ............................Lupita Rosas, Evelia Ocampo Ministro E: ..............................................................Lupita Rosas Hospitalidad: ......................Chano Vieyra, Pedro Rodríguez Monaguillos: ................................................................................
Place on Your Calendar Please know at the Sunday, November 1st – All Saints Day – 10:30 a.m. Mass we will have the “Calling of the Names” of those who have died from Saints Peter and Paul Parish in the last year. After all names have been called from the parish, parishioners are invited to come forth and light a candle for their deceased loved ones. At the end of the service, all may take these candles home and continue to light them and pray for their loved ones during the month of November. Remember, you are invited to bring pictures of your deceased loved ones as we prepare special tables for them during this service. Please let Libby know if you are planning on bringing a picture. Mass Count: Each parish in the Diocese of Owensboro participates in the annual Mass count. The weekly average weekend Mass attendance for September 1-30 was 431 for all 5 Masses. This represents 32 percent of registered parishioners attending Mass during this time of pandemic (last year 53%). Thank you for your faithful attendance. Let us keep in prayer all inactive Catholics.
In Need of Prayers… Carriage Way Assisted Living- Albert Weakly Western State Nursing Facility- Debbie Dickerson, Ellen Jones Christian Health Center- Lillian Cotthoff, Norma Downs, Bar-bara Holubecki Morningside of Hopkinsville- Thelma Budias Cov-ington’s Nursing Facility- Eleanor Rogers, Others.. Helen Allard, Bob Arnold, Dick & Jackie Arnold, Dennis & Sabrina Baker, Mike Beck, Sherry Beck, Holly Bivins, Sue Boguskie, Ruth Britt, Helen Brown, Judy Brummett, Teresa Burnside, Sherry Calhoun, Pam Carrico, Sam Chesnut, Norma Folz, Martha Fowler, Nancy Free-man, Ron & Janice Godot, Jim Gorman, Bill Hancock, William Hancock, Bill Henney, Heather Jeffries, Carol Johnson, Greg Jones, Olivia Jones, Tony Jones, Charlie Keel, Jane Lucas, Kathy Lytle, June Mahoney, WP Meredith III, John & Cheryl Mezzoni, Joe Mezzoni Sr., Jim Milazzo, Andy & Carol Moran, Pam Oliver, Cecelia Omundson, Teresa Pazin, Maddox Pepper, Emily Pyle, Kaleigh Rainey, Evelyn Raney, Martha Reed, Jayden Rosman, Tara & Dylan Rush, Jerry Russell, Al Rutland, Janet Rutland, Mary Jean Schowe, Ryan Semrau, Tony Simning & Family, Mary Cathe-rine Smith, Rocky Spader, Mike & Marilyn Stocker, Georgiann Svestka, Mary Swicicki, Jerry Thomas, Fr. Mario Tizziana, Ron Todd, Erin Valenti, Clyde Wallace, Charles Watzek, Carolyn Wilson, Helen Winstead, Pamela Mezzoni Wofford, Arthur Zara-gozo & Family.
OCTOBER 4, 2020 • TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 7
Pastor’s Greeting, STOLEN FRUIT, SEIZING THE VINEYARD The last week of Jesus’ earthly life, spent in Jerusalem, is intense not only for the events of the last three days and the climax of his mission but also for the chal-lenge of conversion with which he confronts God’s people. The Liturgy of the Eucharist, similarly, not only invites a mystical participation in these climactic events of salvation, it also confronts all who present themselves to participate in the opportunity and necessity of conversion. The parables of the vineyard told in Jerusalem still confront us with this opportunity and necessity. “Let us kill the heir and seize the inheritance (Mt. 21.38).” The serpent’s temptation in Paradise offers the master pattern of all temptations: “You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is evil (Gen. 3.4-5).” The fruit may be had by casting God from his throne. By usurping divinity one may become a god and have the spoils of a plundered god. No wonder that Christ names Satan a liar, a thief, and a murderer. Fallen humanity is faced by this temptation on a regular basis. Through repeated covenants God had been proving his providence in caring for deceived humanity, proving the devil and the sinner wrong in the deception of replacing God. The fruits of earth when stolen prove to be poisonous. God forbids the doing (the experiencing/knowing) of evil because it destroys and kills. To know what is good by hav-ing deprived oneself of it through doing evil is a cross we would have been spared had we obeyed God. Maturity in goodness through obedience to God would have allowed an understanding of evil from a position of light and fullness rather than loss. Humanity was already like God through creation and original grace, but like God on God’s terms. The serpent offered a counterfeit divinity, an attractive lie through the idolization of self. Rather than child-like trust and service in Paradise, humanity was made a fool, lured by the illusion of reigning as gods in hell. “Let us kill the heir and seize the inheritance (Mt. 21.38).” This is even more clearly the temptation of Cain in the slaying of his brother Abel. It is a variation on the re-sentment of Joseph’s ten brothers, all sons of Jacob, as they throw him in the cistern and then sell him into slavery. Every temptation is a corollary on this theme. And what is God’s ultimate response in seeking our cure, determined to make the vineyard fruitful? The Father, the owner, did indeed send the heir, the Son. To seize the realm as if we could accomplish our own divinity, usurp the throne, and reign as gods, humanity did indeed carry out the plot. And so the question: “What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” Is the answer of the elders and the chief priests accurate in re-flecting God’s intentions? “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper time.” Well, Jesus’ response in Jerusalem does admit that God will take his kingdom from the hands of those who usurp it. He says
nothing, however, about killing the wicked tenants by wretched deaths. The poisons of the forbidden fruits have blinded them and corrupted them in their understanding of God. The Son of God willingly gives himself up to death to conquer the lie about God and the inbuilt human likeness to God. The kingdom is taken from our hands because of sin so that through the redemption brought by the willing death of the Heir, we might be restored to the inheritance we oth-erwise have tried to steal. The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world dies the death we have caused, so that by surrender to his Cross and Resurrection we might be raised from death and restored as heirs in the Son and Heir. Only the Tempter has an interest in wretched deaths. It has been Satan’s goal for humanity and the consequence of our fall from the start. It is the perspective of all who abide in the illusion of the lie. It is not the intention of God. The Eucharist and the conversion offered in it offer in Christ the restoration of the Kingdom and an eternal communion in God’s own life and love. Fr Richard
Father Michael J. McGivney’s Beatification The Father of the Knights of Columbus:
On Saturday, October 31, 2020 Father Michael J. McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus will be one step closer to Saint-hood as he is beatified through a special Mass in the Connecticut birthplace of the Knights of Columbus. As pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, this dedicat-ed parish priest gathered men together in the basement of his Church to help save widows and children from destitution and defend the Catho-lic faith. Today these men we call Knights are over two mil-lion strong and are dedicated to serving Jesus Christ and their communities at home and around the world. Won’t you consider becoming a Knight today?
A NOVENA FOR CANONIZATION & A CALL TO ALL CATHOLIC MEN
Catholic Men from around the world will join together on the feast of St. John Paul II and begin praying a special Novena from October 22 through October 30. The inten-tion of the Novena will be for Fr. McGivney’s canonization and for more Catholic men to join in the Knight’s fraternal mission to help carry the Cross of Christ out in the world. The Knights invite you to join our Order by speaking with a brother Knight or by signing up online today at: www.kofc.org/joinus.
Knights of Columbus - Columbus Coin Give-Away: The Knights of Columbus will be giving away two coins: an 1892 half dollar coin commemorating the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Columbus and a 1992 half dollar coin commem-orating the 500th anniversary of his voyage. Entry forms are available in the narthex and may be returned either by mail or by being placed in the offering basket. There is no cost to enter, although donations will be accepted. We ask that there be only one entry per person.