On Sunday, September 29, the Catholic Church celebrates the 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time. In this week’s Gospel reading from Mark (Mark 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48), the disciple John tells Jesus that someone else is using His name to help another by driving out demons and that they tried to stop the man since he was not part of their group. Jesus instructs John to allow it, proclaiming, “There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.” God’s love is not for a few very important, privileged people. Jesus brings God’s love to all people. The life and love we have from God is for everyone.
This weekend, the church also celebrates Priesthood Sunday. There are two types of Catholic priests Diocesan Priests and Religious Priests. Diocesan priests serve in parishes and schools assigned to them by their local bishop. They take a vow of chastity and obedience but not a vow of poverty. They are allowed to own property and a vehicle and live independently. Religious priests choose a religious community or an order based on charism, lifestyle, and mission. They take a vow of poverty alongside their vows of chastity and obedience and only “own” things communally. Some examples of the many religious orders are Dominican, Jesuit, and Carmelite. All parishioners are encouraged to take a moment to thank Fr. Freddie for answering God’s call to his priestly vocation and for all that he does to shepherd our faith community.
During our Faith Formation classes this Sunday, the children will continue to explore Christ’s message in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus tells his disciples that God’s love is not reserved just for them or for any “in” group. Everyone belongs in the embrace of God’s love. Jesus wants his followers to be ready to accept others, work with them, learn from them, and appreciate the gifts they have to share. Adults and high school students will dive deeper into what it means to live our Catholic faith more confidently with Symbolon, a 16-episode series, guided by the Creed, exploring everything from the sacraments to inspiring saintly stories.
Mark your calendars for some exciting Events in October. In observance of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Fr. Freddie will be celebrating the Blessing of the Pets on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 10:00. Bring your pets and gather in the St. John Vianney parking lot. Our Parish Council will be hosting Trunk or Treat on Sunday, October 27, from 3:00-5:00 pm.