July 17, 2021
Dear Friends in Christ,
In Sunday’s Gospel Reading from Mark, we learn that even Jesus Christ and his apostles need to step away from their ministry to the people, from time to time. After the apostles tell their teacher stories about preaching and healing people throughout the region, Jesus invites them to rest in a deserted place. Only the people continue approaching them, preventing them from getting anything to eat. When Jesus and the 12 depart in a boat for another quiet place, the people get there first on foot.
Mothers and fathers of young children and worker bees of all ages, does this sound familiar? When the pace of our home and work lives runs on overdrive, we, too find ourselves with little time to eat and fewer hours to sleep. We get run down. And the energy we need to be mindful parents, productive employees and pastoral clergy members gets sapped.
Jesus Christ wielded his God-given power to take pity on the people and continued to teach them. But we – human with every fiber of our being – simply need rest and renewal. That rest does not necessarily have to come from a lengthy vacation. It can be delivered in a weekend retreat, where you unplug from your devices, or daily prayer by yourself or communally. During the virtual parish Rosary, I have heard several members share how much they look forward to praying at 4 pm Monday, Wednesday, and Friday because it gives them inner peace during a stressful day and something to look forward to amid the chaos of life.
Don’t let life slowly wear you down. Get rest and seek renewal through time alone and quiet prayer. And like our mothers told all of us, do not forget to eat a good meal!
Have a blessed and wonderful week! Please pray this week for our Vacation Bible Camp campers and volunteers as they begin a fun week Monday of faith and fun.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. John
Here are the parish events for Saturday, July 17; Sunday, July 18; Monday, July 19; and Tuesday, July 20:
Saturday, July 17:
- Confession from 3:30-4:30 pm in the St. Clare Chapel of the Rectory. Heard by Fr. William Brailsford.
- Mass at 5 pm in church. Celebrated by Fr. Ted Heganuer. Mass Readings.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Hosted by parishioner Donna Ruffin.
Sunday, July 18:
- Morning Prayer at 7:30 am. Hosted by parishioner Jack Price.
- Mass at 8 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. Tom Weinandy. Mass Readings.
- Mass at 9:30 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. Ted Hegnauer. Mass Readings.
- Mass at 11:15 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. Francis Russo. Mass Readings.
- Mass at 5 pm in church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon. Mass Readings.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Hosted by parishioner Donna Ruffin.
Monday, July 19:
- Morning Prayer at 7:30 am. Hosted by parishioner Lois James.
- Mass at 9 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon.
- Virtual parish Rosary at 4 pm. Led by Fr. John Dillon.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Hosted by parishioner Lois James.
Tuesday, July 20:
- Morning Prayer at 7:30 am. Hosted by parishioner Lois James.
- Mass at 9 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon.
- Rosary in Spanish at 6:30 pm. Led by Deacon Will Garcia.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Hosted by parishioner Lois James.
Parish Resources:
The Justice Thought
The Parish Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Racism will provide a brief message each week under the title, “The Justice Thought” that is intended to educate and help us contemplate ways we can combat the sin of racism. This project stems from recommendations made to the committee by participants in the parish-sponsored dialogue, “Four Courageous Conversations on Racism.” Please contact Vincent Price at price93507@aol.com with any comments or suggestions.
What is unconscious bias?
In today’s world, there is more unconscious racial bias than overt actions of racism. About 7 in 10 African Americans say unconscious racial bias has been a major barrier in their lives, posing as much or more of a problem than structured racism and individual discrimination, according to the article “Undefeated” which summarized a poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The poll defined unconscious racism as white people discriminating against Black people without realizing they are doing it. Also known as implicit racism, unconscious bias is an amorphous subject, hard to prove and difficult to measure.
Over the next several weeks, “The Justice Thought” will provide examples of unconscious racial bias on which we will reflect. As we consider these examples of unconscious racial bias, we should remember that we all need personal, ongoing conversion. The pastoral letter from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Open Wide Our Hearts,” stated: If racism is confronted by addressing its causes and the injustice it produces, then healing can occur.
