St. Paul Catholic Church and Child Enrichment Center
Transcription
St. Paul Catholic Church and Child Enrichment Center
Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time July 6, 2014 St. Paul Catholic Church and Child Enrichment Center www.StPaulChurch.com 12708 N Dale Mabry Hwy. Tampa, FL 33618 - 813-961-3023 All are Welcome! Most Holy Eucharist Monday to Friday 7:00am, 8:30am and 12:15pm First Friday Mass 7:30pm Second Saturday Mass Anointing of the Sick 8:30am Saturday - 8:30am (Morning Prayer and Benediction 8:10am) Saturday Vigil 5:30pm and 7:30pm (em Português) Sunday - 7:30am, 9:00am, 10:45am, 12:30pm, 2:00pm (en Español) and 5:30pm Reconciliation/Confession Saturdays 10AM and 4PM or by appointment please contact the office 961-3023 24 Hour Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Every Friday 9:00am to Saturday 8:20am Morning Prayer Monday–Saturday 8:10am St. Paul Child Enrichment Center 2-4 years old 961-3023 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:23 www.StPaulChurch.com Growing Together in Christ My Friends, Please join me in welcoming Fr. Bob Romaine, Fr. Matt Gamber, and Fr. Rodrig Kutty to our parish family. We are certainly blessed to have such exceptionally gifted and holy priests as our new parochial vicars. Fr. Bob comes to us from St. Scholastica parish and Fr. Matt served at Jesuit High School. They are both very eager to begin their ministry here at St. Paul. Fr. Rodrig Kutty comes to us from Kerala, India, by way of Rome where he is completing his license in Pastoral Theology. He will be staying with us through the end of the month. They will be available in the narthex after each Mass this weekend. Thank you for making them all feel right at home! As for our search for youth ministers, the Search Committee has narrowed the field of applicants and is now completing the last interviews and reference checks before submitting their recommendations to me. As always, I’m so grateful for your prayers. From Pope Francis: “I have a dogmatic certainty: God is in every person's life. God is in everyone's life. Even if the life of a person has been a disaster, even if it is destroyed by vices, drugs or anything else God is in this person's life. You can - you must try to seek God in every human life.” On another note, we have decided to hold off on building the new “Young Church” and “Kid Zone” (aka cry room and nursery) until after Easter. The concern was that we didn’t want to do major renovation between Advent and Pentecost. The good news is that this gives our Building Committee and Arts & Environment Committee more time to ensure that the end result is something we can all be proud of. At the same time, with the help of the diocesan Forward in Faith campaign, we should be able to acoustically treat the inside of the church so that everyone can hear. Last but not least, I pray that you will enjoy quality time with your family during this Independence Day weekend. May we always realize our dependence upon God as the source of the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Let us remember in prayer all those who serve our country in the military, diplomatic corp, and emergency services so that we can live in freedom and truth. God bless you and God bless America! Have a safe and enjoyable summer! Fr. Bill Swengros Pastor Don’t forget our service men and women!! Please remember in your prayers all those serving our country in the armed forces and emergency services and their families, especially those deployed far from home. “Almighty and eternal God, those who take refuge in you will be glad and forever will shout for joy. Protect these men and women as they discharge their duties. Protect them with the shield of your strength and keep them safe from all evil and harm. May the power of your love enable them to return home in safety, that with all who love them, they may ever praise you for your loving care. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.” 2 Christ Heal Us!! On the second Saturday of every month during the 8:30 morning Mass, we will offer the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. This beautiful Sacrament is for all those who are advanced in age as well as those who suffer from a serious (grave) illness. It is recommended for all those who are scheduled to be admitted to a hospital for surgery later this month to be anointed. This Sacrament can be received as often as needed. Come and experience the healing touch of the Divine Physician! Welcome Celebrations for Father Matthew Gamber and Father Robert Romaine Please join us on this coming weekend Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6, and warmly welcome our newly appointed priest, Father Matt and Father Bob as they join the St. Paul Parish Family. We will meet them in the narthex of the Church after all Masses. Welcome Father Bob and Father Matt! Be The Light! The community of St. Paul Catholic Church welcomes you to our parish and celebrations of faith. We are a love-filled community of Christian faith working together to continue the works of Jesus Christ and to make his name known and loved. We look forward to sharing with you and together being the light to give glory to our Heavenly Father in everything we do. Welcome , Bienvenidos , Bem-vindos to St. Paul! Learn to pray, learn to live! Would you like to have an intimate and personal relationship with our Lord? Take a step forward, in faith, so you can learn how to communicate with Him. On Wednesday, August 6th we will begin Prayer and Life Workshops, founded by Father Ignacio Larrañaga, OFM, here at St. Paul Parish! In this workshop you will acquire a greater and deeper knowledge of God and the tools to transform your life. We will meet at the Wake Room, from 7:00 to 9:00pm. Please contact Víctor and Ruby García: 713-0993, 713-0783; e-mail: rubytovzona1@gmail.com; itin@verizon.net Faith Formation Summer Series presented by Deacon Greg Kovalesky Part I – Sacraments of Initiation • Eucharist—Sacrament of our Destiny July 8, Session 4 Part II - Sacraments of Healing of the Body of Christ • • Reconciliation (Penance, Confession) – July 15, Session 5 Anointing of the Sick July 29, Session 6 St. Paul Parish Stewardship Fair September 6 and 7 After all Masses Join us as we celebrate the life of the parish, its mission, ministries and diversity. All ministries will be there! "HOME of LOVE" Sister Corazon Salazar from Mary Queen of Heaven Missionaries will be visiting St. Paul the weekend of July 12-13 to offer religious articles made by women and children rescued from prostitution and human trafficking that are undergoing rehabilitation in the center "HOME of LOVE." This will be a big help to their programs that help these women, and prevent children that could be endangered by sending them to school. Give hope! Tuesday, Aug 12 Healing Mass 7:00pm 3 St. Paul Child Enrichment News Is your child this happy & eager when going to school? Excellence in Catholic preschool education for over 30 years Come see what's happening at St.Paul Child Enrichment! School Year 2014-2015 Registration Information Please call us to schedule a tour of the school or for information throughout the summer at 264-3314. We look forward to hearing from you… Please call us to join the fun! “God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners.”– Søren Kierkegaard Infant Baptism ‘I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’ Thank you for taking advantage and participating in the Lighthouse Catholic Media Faith Resource Kiosk. Be sure to check out our new offering of books / CDs. We welcome you! The baptism of a child is a special cause for joy and celebration on the part of the Church, the whole community of faith! Baptism is a birth into the Christian community and is in every way as solemn and important as birth itself. It is an event that needs to be prepared for, and it can serve as a reminder to you about your own faith and what it means to you. If you have any questions or concerns regarding Infant Baptism, please contact the Office at 264-3311. Congratulations! We rejoice with you and your family in welcoming your child into the Body of Christ through the waters of Baptism during the month of June, 2014! Please pray for 30 our newly baptized members of our St. Paul Parish Family: Chiara Maria Patierno, Averie Grace Guerrero, Abigail June Regan, Emmett Ray Regan, Aria Winter Acree, Israel Cyrus Concepcion, Hansel Gabriel Fabian Gonzalez, Giuliana Ainsley Bliss, Audriana Cristina Coto, Lucas Alexander Gavile, Skyler Analiese Hernandez, Amarys Janiah Perez Vega, Jonathan Richard Santiago, Harper Faye Solomon, Lila Marshall Blakeslee, Nathan Alexander Diaz, Kendall Brooke Mavis, Gabriella Audriana Muniz, Oren Heinrich Pulido, Samantha Maria Sanabria, Ivan Raphael Sanabria, Brody Alexander Valdes, Sofia Alcira Dillon Herndon, Belinda Lopez Canseco, Arnaldo Yair Martinez Canseco, Yaneli Martinez Canseco, Guilherme Silva Munhoz, Rey Julian Perez, Abraham Ramirez, Noah Miguel Sanchez Reyes. 4 Request from Father Bill Help! I am in need of a programmer who can assist me with my marriage data program which uses .NET. Please contact me if you can help at: FrBill@StPaulChurch.com Faith Formation For All! We want to thank all of you for your participation and help during VBS week! The children had an awesome time and the volunteers did a great job! Special Thanks to Theresa Adams for all of her volunteer assistance this week! Also, special thanks to our maintenance and cleaning crew for the quick turn around of the buildings! Please note that lost and found items are at the Front Desk for pick up. Faith Formation Weekly Schedule for the 2014-2015 Sessions: Sundays 10:15-11:30am (following 9:00am Mass), Mondays 4:15-5:30pm, Tuesdays 5:30-6:45pm Weekly sessions have concluded for the summer! We know we will continue to see each and every one of you during the many weekday and weekend Mass opportunities!!! The 2014-2015 formation year is just around the corner. Registration is available online at www.StPaulChurch.com on the Grow in Faith tab. First Communion and Confirmation pictures can be viewed and ordered online at www.VOAdigital.com Please contact the Faith Formation office if you have any questions at 961-3023. On a Lighter Note: Prayer Corner: Grace After Meals We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, O Almighty God, who lives and reigns forever. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. Faith On-Line: iMissal Catholic app. Ever wish you could follow along in Mass and have all the prayers, and responses available. Now you can. Great for those that are new to the faith! Includes audio, videos, daily bible verses, prayers and catholic news. It does not require WIFI/Cellular to access Mass Readings & Missal content! You get access to Mass Readings for any day of the year. Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy? Pg. 6 5 Open to all 7th and 8th grades Summer Break The Rock High School Summer Break St. Tim Youth League—STYL invites all St. Paul’s 7th to 12th graders to attend the following Summer Events! Date Event Time 9‐Jul Kickball & cookout 7p‐9p 16‐Jul Lock in 7p‐8a 7p‐8a 21‐Jul Prepare Mission meal in Parish hall 7‐8:30p 22‐Jul Serve Mission meet there 10:30a‐1p 23‐Jul Northdale Glow Putt Putt* 7‐9p 30‐Jul Beach BibleStudy/bocce Ball* 4‐8:30p 6‐Aug Capture the Cross & Cookout 7‐9p 13‐Aug Indoor Dodgeball 7‐9p Start time: 7:00pm at St. Timothy’s. Permission slip needed for all activities find it at www.StPaulCatholicChurch or St. Paul Faith Formation Office. The Vineyard—Day of Formation for youth leaders, young adult leaders, directors of Religious Education, clergy and deacons. August 9 at 8:30am at Bethany Center. Presentations in English and Spanish. Sponsored by the Diocesan Office of Youth. Save the Dates: July 5-6 Welcome for Fr. Bob and Fr. Matt, August 12 - Healing Mass, August 15 - Feast of the Assumption (Holy Day of Obligation), September 6-7 - Ministry Fair, September 11 7:00pm Blue Mass and World Day of Prayer for Peace Youth Ministry and Young Adults Updates Group: St Paul Young Adults Tampa On a Lighter Note: This ministry is open to building community and faith with other young adults in the Tampa Bay area. Excellent for ages 18 to 32. A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing. Please join us in our upcoming events: • • • 6 Vertical Ventures - Thursday July 10th at 6:30pm Busch Gardens Day on July 19th at 4:00pm Adoration and Dinner afterwards at Mimi's Cafe on July 25th at 6:00pm. We will be meeting in the narthex of the Church. For more information contact Frances at 830-1091 or email: Francesldelisse@gmail.com) St. Paul Parish Vacation Bible School Week 2014 Ask It Basket: “Why do I have to confess my sins to a priest?” In one sense, you certainly don’t. We believe in a loving and merciful God who always hears our prayers. That being said, the first gift Jesus gave his apostles after his resurrection was the capacity to pronounce God’s forgiveness (Jn 20:22-23; see also Mt 16:18-19). The Early Church understood that this gift was given to Christ to the apostles and their successors and encouraged people to seek God’s mercy through His Church. The big question was how often could one go to confession. Frequent private confessions developed over time as the Church understood more about God’s infinite mercy and our chronic need for forgiveness. So why did Jesus give us this Sacrament? I think Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. He knew that we need to share our story and to hear another person tell us that we are loved and forgiven by God. He also knew that all sin has a communal nature and therefore forgiveness needs to be communal as well. Lastly, only God can forgive sins and the priest does so “in personae Christi” or in the person of Christ through his ministerial priesthood. If you have a question, please email FrBill@StPaulChurch.com Adult Faith Formation We are a community which prays! Each week people gather on our campus for prayer. Here are some of our prayer groups, please join us. Weekdays before the 12:15 Mass Tuesdays after the 12:15 Mass Tuesdays at 7:30pm 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7pm Thursdays after the 12:15 Mass Thursdays at 7:30pm Fridays Fridays at 7pm 1st Fridays at 7pm Saturdays after the 8:30am Mass 2nd Saturday during the 8:30am Mass Prayer for Vocations Our Mother of Mercy Legion of Mary (español) La Familia (español) Spiritual Mothers Amor de Jesus Grupo de Oración-español 24 hour Adoration Rosary and Santo Niño Perpetual Novena Sacred Heart Novena Mass Miraculous Medal Novena Anointing of the Sick Great opportunity for Adult Faith Formation! Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus! Next year, March 9-19, 2015, Fr Bill will lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We will be visiting Bethlehem, Nazareth, Caesarea, Mt Carmel, Samaria, Qumran, Jericho, Mt Tabor, Jerusalem ... It will be an awesome experience of God’s grace which will change your life forever. Spaces are limited. For more information, contact Margie at 1-800-644-4659. Faithful Stewards: Couples for Christ is a Catholic ministry intended for the renewal and strengthening of Christian family life. The members have committed themselves to the Lord and to one another so that they may grow in maturity as men and women of God and fulfill their primary vocation of raising up families under the lordship of Jesus Christ and for the service of the Kingdom of God. Couples for Christ CLP/Christian Life Program team together with the participants. 8 Pictured on the left three couples and a handmaid from the Handmaids of the Lord Ministry attending the Christian Life Program during a pray over session done at the Sto Nino Shrine. Preparing for Liturgy How do we prepare to celebrate liturgy? Not only the musicians, lectors, and presider prepare for the celebration. We all do. We prepare as we select our clothes, get our children ready, and begin to move toward the church building. Perhaps you have a routine you follow each Sunday. This is part of what prepares you to join in the celebration. Many people read the Scripture readings for the Sunday so they have had time to think about them in advance. This might be a good idea of something to do as a family, taking time to discuss them. Then you can compare your thoughts with the homily on Sunday. The readings are usually listed in the bulletin each week. Preparación para la Liturgia ¿Cómo nos preparamos para celebrar la Liturgia? No sólo los músicos, los lectores y el sacerdote se preparan para la celebración. Todos nosotros lo hacemos. Nos preparamos desde el momento en que seleccionamos nuestro atuendo, alistamos a nuestros hijos y nos encaminamos al templo. Tal vez todos tenemos una rutina que seguimos cada domingo y ésta es parte de la preparación para integrarse a la celebración. Muchas personas revisan las Sagradas Escrituras para poder tener tiempo de reflexionar sobre las lecturas del domingo con anticipación. Ésta puede convertirse en una actividad familiar, tomándose el tiempo para comentarlas. Entonces, ustedes pueden comparar sus pensamientos con la homilía del domingo. La lista de las lecturas se publica en el boletín cada semana. Liturgical Bits and Bytes © 2010 Resource Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. www.rpinet.com Liturgical Corner Saints of God: This Friday is the Feast of St. Benedict, father of Western monasticism (480-547). Born in Italy in 480 of a wealthy family, he dreamed of going away to public school in Rome. When he arrived, he became so disenchanted with the corrupt lifestyle of pagan Rome. Thirsting for the source of true joy and true love, he decided to live as a hermit in a cave near Subiaco, spending all of his days in prayer and penance. Three years later, a shepherd discovered him and soon he was surrounded by a group of followers. But they did not want such an austere life. He then left for Monte Casino where he wrote his Rule of Life, teaching his followers the need for a simple, humble, balanced life. Let us pray to St. Benedict and his sister St. Scholastica that we will embrace a balanced lifestyle of prayer, work, study, and quality time with those we love. For a treat, why not plan a trip to visit the Benedictine monastery and priory at St. Leo, just north on I-95? The abbey and shrine are beautiful! Welcome to St. Paul Parish! Mr. Arnaldo Acevedo, Ms. Vanessa Diaz, Mr. and Mrs. Jesus Barrios, Ms. Katia Baruque, Mr. and Mrs. Juan Montanez, Ms. Lizabeth Pachano, Mr. and Mrs. Rafael Suarez. Special Request: If anyone could donate a gently used car for Father Matthew Gamber it would be of great help! Please contact Father Bill at FrBill@StPaulChurch.com Legal Consultation Services We have a Legal Consultation and Referral service on Mondays by appt. Please call 961-3023 Counseling Services provided by Dr. Pat Berne at the Parish Office Please call 961-3023 to receive a referral while Dr. Berne is teaching during the summer months. 9 Filipino Community We welcome all our brothers and sisters from the Philippines and all over the world who are visiting us and we hope you would make of St. Paul Parish your spiritual home. Please visit our Santo Niño Shrine adjacent to the church and join us for our Perpetual Novena to the Santo Niño Devotion and Rosary to our Blessed Mother every Friday at 7:00pm. For more information contact Susan and Ed Bilbao at 503-6460. Comunidade Portuguesa Bem-vindos a todos aqueles que nos visitam pela primeira vez, damos-lhe as mais cordiais boas-vindas a St. Paul. Gostaríamos, se você se registrar em nossa paróquia e que faria a este o seu lar espiritual. Para encontrar mais informações sobre a Comunidade Portuguesa na nossa paróquia queira obter um boletim em português na entrada da igreja.Que a paz de Cristo esteja com você. Comunidad Hispana Bienvenidos Todos! A aquellos que nos visitan por primera vez les damos la mas cordial bienvenida a St. Paul. Mucho nos gustaría que se registraran en nuestra parroquia y hagan de este su Ntra. Sra. de hogar espiritual. Para encontrar mas información sobre los Chiquinquira, ministerios en nuestra parroquia por favor revise el boletín en Colombia Español que esta a su disposición a la entrada de la Iglesia. “There are three classes of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, those who have no idea what's happening.” -Anonymous Week at a Glance Monday, July 7 SVDP Food Distribution 9:00am-12:00pm Spanish Prayer Group Choir 7:00pm Tuesday, July 8 Sacraments Series 10:00am Padres y Madres Orantes 7:00pm Legion of Mary 7:30pm MDS 7:30pm Respect Life 7:30pm Wednesday, July 9 AA Meeting 8:30pm Thursday, July 10 InBetween Jobs 8:30am SVDP Food Distribution 9:00am-12:00pm Amor de Jesus Spanish Prayer Group 7:00pm Friday, July 11 Mantle of Mary 9:00am Rosary and Perpetual Novena led by the Filipino Community 7:30pm Divorced and Separated Group 7:30pm Ultreya 8:00pm 10 Mass Intentions for the Week of July 6 Sunday, July 6 2014– 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time 7:30am Jaroslaw Paul Miernik + 9:00am Pacifique Nguyen– B-AN + 10:45am St. Paul Parishioners (int.) 12:30pm Irene Arborn + 2:00pm Luis R. Suarez + 5:30pm Anita Gonzalez + Monday, July 7, 2014 7:00am Jacob Joseph Novak + 8:30am Randy Buchs + 12:15pm Alice Changstrom + Tuesday, July 8, 2014 7:00am Sr. Theresa Betz (int.) 8:30am Marilyn Turcott + 12:15pm Allan and Marilyn Navarro (int.) Wednesday, July 9. 2014 7:00am Dr. Thomas Holbrook + 8:30pm Consecrated Life and Priestly Vocations (int.) 12:15pm Dr. Enrique Ballestas + Thursday, July 10, 2014 7:00am Michael and Mike Hingson + 8:30am Ruby Martinelli + 12:15pm Mark Denome + Friday, July 11, 2014– First Friday 7:00am Manuel Rodriguez + 8:30pm Marilyn Turcott 12:15pm Frank Diaz + Saturday, July 12, 2014 8:30am Aquiles Grisales + 5:30pm Alberta Gallagher + 7:30pm Portuguese Community of St. Paul (int.) Sunday, July 13, 2014—15th Sunday of Ordinary Time 7:30am Marianne Sincell (int.) 9:00am Alisa Lay + 10:45am Sr. Marie Paul + 12:30pm St. Paul Parishioners (int.) 2:00pm Jose Andujar + 5:30pm Yvonne Gibbons + Readings for the Week of July 6 Sunday: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: 13:1-9 Zec 9:9-10 / Rom 8:9, 11-12 / Mt 11:25-30 Hos 2:16, 17b-18, 21-22 / Mt 9:18-26 Hos 8:4-7, 11-13 / Mt 9:32-38 Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 / Mt 10:1-7 Hos 11:1-4, 8c-9 / Mt 10:7-15 Hos 14:2-10 / Mt 10:16-23 Is 6:1-8 / Mt 10:24-33 Is 55:10-11 / Rom 8:18-23 /Mt 13:1-23 or Deo Gratias! Thank you to those who helped with the Farewell Celebrations for Father Tim and Father Glenn and for all of you who came to say thank you and wish them farewell. God Bless! Faith in Action: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” - Matthew 11:30 When we think of being good stewards, we may think that God is asking too much of us when He calls us to generously share our time, talent and treasure. However, we must remember that we are not “owners” of anything, we are merely “stewards” of the gifts God has given us. All He is asking is that we give back a small portion of what He has already given to us. Reflections on Scripture by Jack Conroy, Ph.D. I. Zechariah 9:9-10 The King of Peace Thus says the Lord: Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, Humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; The warrior's bow will be banished, and he will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. Reflection: This reading is part of the Second Part of Zechariah, probably written sometime in the late Fourth Century, probably after Alexander the Great's conquest. The central theme is a King of Peace, one who enters Jerusalem not on a horse (a symbol of aggression) but on a donkey (a symbol of peacefulness). The prophecy of a universal peace may have been inspired by the Alexandrian conquest, but it was applied by Christians to the peace that is available through Christ and His church. We read that the King is "humble," which translates the Hebrew ani, which also means "poor." It is this image that was captured in the Synoptic Gospel's allusion to this reading when describing how Jesus entered Jerusalem. II. Romans 8:9, 11-13 More Definition of "Life." Brothers and Sisters: You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 11 If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that 12 Consequently, dwells in you. brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Reflection: We read last week about St. Paul's understanding of the Eucharist, which is an expression of our participation in Christ’s Body and Blood. Here we see for St. Paul the consequence of Life in the Spirit. He has a Hellenistic, dichotomous view of humans, being composed of body (which is the source of evil) and spirit (which comes from God.) Such a perspective can also be seen in the writings of Philo of Alexandria. And "justification," or the establishing of the correct relationship with God, comes only through the Spirit. For St. Paul, the Spirit (which is of God) both raised Jesus from the dead, and raised us from spiritual death through baptism. Further, it is this Spirit which will give life not only to our souls, but to our very bodies. Hence, our resurrection at the End of Time is assured, because of Jesus' resurrection in time. III. Matthew 11:25-30 Another Prayer of Jesus At that time Jesus exclaimed:, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. 28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." Reflection: Here we read another Prayer of Jesus. It follows a Jewish pattern of prayer where we "confess, praise or bless" God, which means that we affirm that only He is truly "Blessed." Listen for this form in the as the priest begins the Liturgy of the Eucharist and presents the gifts: "Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation..." We also see here one of those places in the Synoptic Gospels where the tradition known by John appears. For we read in John 3:35 that the Father entrusts all thing and in 10:15 that only the Son knows Father. We finally read of Jesus' invitation to assume his "yoke." We know that a "yoke" harnessed two animals to work together, and this images works; but there is another image, that the Hebrew Scriptures used. Sirach 51:26 uses the image of "yoke" for "Wisdom." There, the Sage invites the student to "put your neck under the yoke, and let your souls receive instruction." Here, Jesus invites us to learn from Him, as the source of Wisdom. Being "meek and humble of heart," he expresses that he is the model that he previously described in the Beatitudes. We still look for "Life." Perhaps it is expressed here in adopting the Wisdom that we find in the Person of Jesus. 11 Thank you for your generous support of our Holy Father’s work in the Peter’s Pence Collection. Our contributions will be combined with those from our brothers and sisters around the world to help the Holy Father provide essential relief to people in need. Your generosity is an act of solidarity with the universal Church, answering the call to become a witness of charity. May God bless you. What Exactly is Stewardship? Whether it is a family member, a member of my parish, or just someone who asks me what I do, and I invariably say “stewardship,” one question is often posed: “So, what exactly is stewardship?” Of course, books have been written; sermons have been given; conferences have been held; and prayers have been offered to seek answers. Nevertheless, the idea of stewardship boils down to one simple fact — that is, everything we are and everything we have and everything we accomplish are achieved only through the grace of God. In other words, all comes from God and we are merely the caretakers, the stewards of all these gifts. When we are called to lives of stewardship, it is quite simply God asking us what we are doing with the gifts we have been granted and given. At times we may become “somewhat full of ourselves,” and think it is ourselves who have succeeded, but if we meditate for even a short period of time on who and what we are, we must come to an understanding, assuming we are faithful Catholics, that it is God who has given us the abilities, the health, the strength, the courage, the intelligence, the support, and the time for us to realize anything. Welcoming Ministry Now Forming A great ministry for couples and families to do together Contact Gary Hays at 352.817.4087 or Grh1echo@aol.com Pope Francis’ Words of Encouragement Weep not for what you have lost, fight for what you have. Weep not for what is dead, fight for what was born in you. Weep not for the one who abandoned you, fight for who is with you. Weep not for those who hate you, fight for those who want you. Weep not for your past, fight for your present struggle. Weep not for your suffering, fight for your happiness. With things that are happening to us, we begin to learn that nothing is impossible to solve, just move forward. Many times, we have referred to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ pastoral letter, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response. On the first page of that letter is this statement: Like to plan parties for 50 to 1000 people? “Stewardship is an expression of discipleship, with the power to change how we understand and live out our lives. Disciples who practice stewardship recognize God as the origin of life, the giver of freedom, the source of all they have and are and will be.” Ed Laughlin Ministry Weekly Offertory Sunday, June 29, 2014 Offertory Attendance Envelopes Online giving: $ 24,122.00 2,790 833 $14,349.00 Thank you for your Generosity! 12 Call Nancy at 961-3023 or e-mail jnkissane@stpaulchurch.com Lots of upcoming events already planned for 2014-2015 It has never been easier to give. Go to the St. Paul website at: www.StPaulChurch.com for more information. St. Paul Women’s Retreat with Father Phillip Scott September 26 to September 28th St. Paul Men’s Retreat with Father Phillip Scott October 31st to November 2nd More Information to Follow Saint Vincent De Paul: As SVDPS members respond to a request of food, utility or rental assistance we are always mindful that our first responsibility is the spreading of the kingdom of Christ everywhere for the glory of God. Without your financial gifts we could not function and this two fold process could not be implemented. Respect Life Ministry "America first proclaimed its independence on the basis of selfevident moral truths. America will remain a beacon of freedom for the world as long as it stands by those moral truths which are the very heart of its historical experience. And so America: If you want peace, work for justice. If you want justice, defend life. If you want life, embrace the truth, the truth revealed by God." - Pope John Paul II, St. Louis, Missouri, January 1999 Divorced & Separated Support Group Provides caring support for both women and men experiencing separation or divorce. We meet every Friday night at 7:30 in the Parish Center All are welcome! Outreach Ministries and Community Events ULTREYA en S. Paul El Movimiento Cursillos de Cristiandad se reúne los segundos y cuartos Viernes del mes, a las 8:00pm. Próxima reunion es el 11 de Julio. Para más información llamar a Nilda Vega, al (646)338-8515 Ministerio de Padres y Madres Orantes Hora Santa—Martes, Julio 8 a las 7:00pm en la capilla Evangelizacion –Martes, Julio 22 a las 7:30pm en Family Center 3 St. Paul Active Retired Seniors - SPARS will be meeting for lunch on Wednesday, July 16th at Red Lobster at 1:00pm Call Frances at 960-1165 to RSVP ¿Te gustaría descubrir el verdadero sentido de la vida?.......¿El arte de ser feliz, aprender a sufrir menos?.........¿Cómo lograr una transformación según el modelo de Cristo Jesús?....... Para esto, con gran gozo queremos invitarte a vivir un Taller de Oración y Vida del Padre Ignacio Larrañaga. Comenzando el Miércoles 6 de agosto 2014 a las 7:00pm de la noche, en el Salón F y H del centro Parroquial de St. Paul. Jesús te está llamando, no lo olvides! Para más información llamar a: Belkys Santos. Teléfono: 813-727-8958 Hundreds of Child Advocates Urgently Needed Over 2500 children in Hillsborough County have found themselves in need of a caring person to stand up and be their “voice” in the courtroom and to advocate for them in the child welfare system. As a child advocate, the Guardian ad Litem visits the child/children every month, becomes familiar with the circumstances regarding the family and makes recommendations to the court to help ensure the child/children remain in a safe and stable environment. Guardians receive ongoing assistance to help them make a positive difference in the lives of the children. The average time needed is twelve to fifteen hours each month. To learn more contact us at 307-3325 or visit www.galtampa.org 13