Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Readings for Sunday, October 26, 2007

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
Sir 35:12-14, 16-18

The LORD is a God of justice,
who knows no favorites.
Though not unduly partial toward the weak,
yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.
The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan,
nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint.
The one who serves God willingly is heard;
his petition reaches the heavens.
The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds;
it does not rest till it reaches its goal,
nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,
judges justly and affirms the right,
and the Lord will not delay.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23

R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Reading II
2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18

Beloved:I am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,
but everyone deserted me.
May it not be held against them!
But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel
Lk 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
"Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity--
greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.'
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."


Don't forget... Mass Sunday at 8:00 P.M. in Circuit Riders in Bothwell Chapel

Friday, October 19, 2007

Happy Fall Break

I just wanted to wish everyone a safe and relaxing fall break!
Please take some time to take care of yourself...
Peace, erin


Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Readings for Sunday, October 21, 2007

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
Ex 17:8-13

In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel.
Moses, therefore, said to Joshua,
"Pick out certain men,and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle.
I will be standing on top of the hill
with the staff of God in my hand."
So Joshua did as Moses told him:
he engaged Amalek in battle
after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur.
As long as Moses kept his hands raised up,
Israel had the better of the fight,
but when he let his hands rest,
Amalek had the better of the fight.
Moses’ hands, however, grew tired;
so they put a rock in place for him to sit on.
Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands,
one on one side and one on the other,
so that his hands remained steady till sunset.
And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people
with the edge of the sword.


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R. (cf. 2) Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
I lift up my eyes toward the mountains;
whence shall help come to me?
My help is from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
May he not suffer your foot to slip;
may he slumber not who guards you:
indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps,
the guardian of Israel.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade;
he is beside you at your right hand.
The sun shall not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD will guard you from all evil;
he will guard your life.
The LORD will guard your coming and your going,
both now and forever.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.


Reading II
2 Tm 3:14-4:2

Beloved:
Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed,
because you know from whom you learned it,
and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures,
which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is inspired by God
and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction,
and for training in righteousness,
so that one who belongs to God may be competent,
equipped for every good work.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
who will judge the living and the dead,
and by his appearing and his kingly power:
proclaim the word;
be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient;
convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.


Gospel
Lk 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, "There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.'
For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,
because this widow keeps bothering me
I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.'"
The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them?
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Friday, October 12, 2007

In Rememberance...


Please take a moment to remember Fr John Venegoni - he passed away this week at the age of 62.



Rev. John Louis Venegoni, 62, of Belleville, Ill., formerly of Pinckneyville, Ill., and Herrin, Ill., born April 4, 1945, in Herrin, Ill., died Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007, at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. Father Venegoni was ordained a priest on June 3, 1995, by the Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory.


He served at St. Peter's Cathedral, Belleville, Ill., and St. Bruno Parish, Pinckneyville, Ill., before being named pastor of St. Teresa Parish and St. Luke Parish in Belleville, Ill. Father John also served as dean of the South Deanery of the Diocese of Belleville and as vicar for deacons.


He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben L. and Minnie M., nee Sartore, Venegoni. He is survived by numerous cousins, other relatives, and friends.Memorials may be made either to the School Endowment Funds for St. Bruno Parish, Pinckneyville, Ill., St. Teresa Parish, Belleville, Ill., or Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Herrin, Ill., or to the Father John Venegoni Charitable Trust Fund. Condolences may be expressed online at http://www.rennerfh.com/.


The Rite of Christian Burial will begin with the Reception of the Body at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007, at St. Teresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church, Belleville, Ill., by the Very Rev. John T. Myler, with visitation following until 5 p.m.


A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007, at St. Teresa Catholic Church with the Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton presiding, Monsignor James A. Buerster as Principal Celebrant, and fellow priests concelebrating.


Visitation will also be held from 8 to 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 15, 2007, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Herrin, Ill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 15, 2007, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Herrin, Ill., with the Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton as Principal Celebrant, the Rev. Monsignor Kenneth J. Schaefer as homilist, and fellow priests concelebrating. Interment will be in San Carlo Catholic Cemetery, Herrin, Ill.


GEORGE RENNER & SONS FUNERAL HOME, Belleville, Ill.

Published in the Belleville News-Democrat from 10/12/2007 - 10/13/2007.



"Every time a member of the community of faith dies we are reminded to live our lives of faith each day with the awareness that it could be our last day. We are strengthened by the words of Christ Himself, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (Jn. 11:25-26) Please remember Father Venegoni in your prayers." (Fr. Kenneth York - Chancellor)


Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon him.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace

Amen.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Readings for Sunday, October 14, 2007

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
2 Kgs 5:14-17

Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times
at the word of Elisha, the man of God.
His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child,
and he was clean of his leprosy.

Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God.
On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said,
"Now I know that there is no God in all the earth
except in Israel.
Please accept a gift from your servant. "

Elisha replied, "As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it;"
and despite Naaman's urging, he still refused.
Naaman said: "If you will not accept,
please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth,
for I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice
to any other god except to the LORD."


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

R. (cf. 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:i
n the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands:
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.


Reading II
2 Tm 2:8-13

Beloved:Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:
such is my gospel, for which I am suffering,
even to the point of chains, like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen,
so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
together with eternal glory.
This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.


Gospel
Lk 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"
And when he saw them, he said,
"Go show yourselves to the priests."
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
"Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"
Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you."

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Let's talk about sex...

Sorry for the title!


As someone in the "church biz" (thank you Fr. Dominic...) I get lots of questions on sex... What "is" sex?, how far can I go before the Church considers it "sex"?, am I going to hell for having sex?


There is no easy answer! In Catholic moral tradition we often have to look at the 'grey area' -


This makes it so important to develop your spirituality, you conscience, and your prayer life! If you ever need to talk, please stop by, email, call, leave an anonymous note and I will help you look for the answers.


In the meanwhile - here is a great article from Busted Halo.

*IMPORTANT* The internet can be a wonderful tool for learning about your faith. However, don't believe everything you read! Not everyone that tells you "this is Roman Catholic teaching" is giving you the correct information... If something doesn't sound right or you would like to know more about it - please ask! That why I'm here!

The websites to the right - the Vatican, the Diocese, and the USCCB are great starts on your search...


Can anyone name the group that put out the song "Let's talk about sex?" pictured?