Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Some more rich writings by St. Paul to the Thessalonians: Tuesday, September 10th, 2019

Listen to the homily here.

"I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake": Monday, September 9th, 2019, St. Peter Claver

Listen to the homily here.

Wisdom: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Do you remember the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
·      Isaiah 11:2: “And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.”
·      Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord
·      And today our readings look into some thoughts of wisdom
Let’s start with Jesus’ teaching
·      Two parables, one with tower, another with a battle
o   Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion? 
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him
…”
o   That takes wisdom
Then lets listen again from our first reading, the book of Wisdom in the wisdom books
·      “…who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom
 and sent your holy spirit from on high?   And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight
.”
Finally, seek wisdom in two types
·      Naturally like Jesus taught about that tower
o   Or those who have learned and experienced within your job, your parenthood, your coaching
·      And the Holy Spirit gifts bring us into our journey with God
o   To discern the wisdom to follow God, evangelize to grow God’s Kingdom and especially to use spiritual wisdom to learn how to share the Good News, meaning that speaking about God is different with each person
Proverbs 4:7: “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”


Parish Bulletin Article: "School Team": 9-8-19

This weekend I wanted to share all of our employees who will be working with our team at St. Thomas Aquinas Saints School.  This summer we added a few new employees and as our school begins our team growing with excellence, communication and service for your children—praise God!
·     Principal Mr. Jerry Hilfer
·     Office Manager: Mrs. Heather McBride, who will be working on Monday-Friday, 7:45am-3:45pm.  Heather has already shown how we can grow with our communication with our parents, parishioners, and community members.
·     Pre-School Substitution: Mrs. Tammy Jo Weyrachwill be leading your students this first semester.  As she has been serving in the PreSchool in the last few years, we are grateful for her leadership to teach the classes both in the morning and afternoon sessions.
·     Mrs. Tanya Beckerwill also be assisting Tammy during this first semester.
·     Pre-School Teacher: Ms. Jenesa Casareto will begin her first assignment as our PreSchool Teacher as the second semester starts in January.
·     Kindergarten: Mrs. Marnie Kostiukwill continue to teach our kindergarten students.
·     First/Second Grades: Ms. Jane Piercewill continue to teach our first and second-grade students.
·     Third/Fourth Grades: Mrs. Joan Ecklundwill continue to teach our third and fourth-grade students.
·     Fifth/Sixth Grades: Mrs. Patti Refslandwill now be adding our sixth-grade class for the first time in several years!  She will also be teaching our fifth-grade students.
·     Music: Mr. John Faithwill continue to teach your children with music, singing, and instruments.
·     Physical Education: Mrs. Hailey Silverswill be the first teacher in many years to both teach and lead your students with health and exercise.
We are all excited to serve you and your family!
Go St. Thomas Aquinas Saints!
God Bless,

FB

Some Questions for our Students: Thursday, September 5th, 2019, School Mass!

Listen to the homily here.

Mercy, mercy, mercy: For us and giving mercy for others: Wednesday, September 4th, 2019

Listen to the homily here.

"Stay alert and sober": Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019, St. Gregory the Great

Listen to the homily here.

Labor Day for our Country, our Catholicism and our Mothers: Monday, September 2nd, 2019

Listen to he homily here.

Labor Day Weekend and Blessing for our Students and Teachers: 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

What a perfect snippet from the book of Sirach as we prepare for our school year starting on Tuesday!
·     My child, conduct your affairs with humility,and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.Humble yourself the more, the greater you are,and you will find favor with God.”
·     Humility
o  How often in our society and craziness for the opposite of humility but popular, prideful, cutting other people down
·     Giver of gifts, rather than wanting your own stuff
o  Time, talent, and treasure
o  In your age it probably feels like the world is judging you…instead, look out of yourself to the people in your lives, not to judge them, but to see the goodness of them, even if they are mean
·     Humble yourself the more
o  Not for the crowds, not for the achievements, not for stuff, but God!
o  And you will find favor with God!”
Blessing for all of our students, teachers, administrators



Passion as St. John the Baptist was killed before Jesus was killed: Thursday, August 29th, 2019, Passion of St. John the Baptist

Listen to the homily here.

St. Augustine: Read Confessions of his autobiography: Wednesday, August 28th, 2019, St. Augustine

Listen to the homily here.

Pray through St. Monica for our family, children and others: Tuesday, August 27th, St. Monica

Listen to the homily here.

Discipline from God to Invite all Nations: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Isaiah: “I know their works and their thoughts,
and I come to gather nations of every language;
they shall come and see my glory
.”
·     God’s mission is for the world: all nations, all cultures, all people
·     God knows our works and our thoughts
·     He knows our good, our disjointedness or our bad
o   To do God’s will is to first follow our lives

Psalm 117: “Praise the LORD all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!  For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever
.”

Hebrews: “So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. 
Make straight paths for your feet,
that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed
.”
·     Discipline
·     During the good times and the bad times
Finally, look not to yourself, myself…but look for the sheep, the fish, the suffering
God’s will be done as we are one person to support as much as we can for His Kingdom


Parish Bulletin Article: "Our Family and our Team": 8-25-19

Our family and a team.
Over the last several years, my experience has been growth, joyfulness, and prayerfulness both at our parishes and school.
At the same time, our family and our team can always grow!
For instance, each of you has talents and charisms.  Thus, how can you offer these gifts that God has given you to provide support for our family and our team?
As I have shared before some “needs” or “wants” I would like to offer a few ideas as following:
·     We can always invite, communicate and welcome our brothers and sisters who haven’t been to Mass for a while;
·     We can still do the same for the poor, the homeless and those on the fringes of society;
·     Change, whether at our parishes’ groups, buildings, Mass, etc. as well as our school to continue to grow!  While changes may be challenging, sometimes changes take place.  One quick change that already occurred: I began living in a large rectory, and we changed that by selling and buying a smaller rectory. This concluded with a win for our community (which now serves individuals who can live in a peaceful place and be served by nurses, social workers, and counselors), our parish and my opportunity to walk to work!  One of the crucial changes is passing on the baton to invite and share other parishioners and/or parents at our school.  We can always need new supporters at our parishioners and school.
Please continue to share the ways that you can serve to help our family and our team to grow.  Show your witness with joyfulness as that spiritual gift can encourage our family and team together.  Finally, offer your prayers for God’s will to be done.
Amen!

God Bless!