October 31, 2017 is the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It was the day in 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to a church in the university town of Wittenburg in Germany. Having written about the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans for four consecutive Sundays in our church bulletin, and knowing that Martin Luther considered it the most important work in the Bible, I wanted to know more about Luther. I went to Barnes and Noble bookstore in Yonkers and bought a book (2016) entitled “Martin Luther, Renegade and Prophet”, by Lyndal Roper. I don’t know how critics will evaluate the book but I loved it. I realized how little I know about Luther. The author shows us one of the most dynamic figures in European history who was also deeply flawed and full of contradictions.

            I couldn’t help comparing him in some way to Paul in the Letter to the Romans. Both found the Law (for Paul it was Jewish laws, for Luther it was monastic laws) as oppressive and not liberating. And both had experiences of being saved by the grace of God. In my opinion, both seemed to have what we today call a bipolar personality (deep depression at times and then exhilarating highs). “Good works can not save you. Only God’s grace can”. This lead Luther to reject all the intermediaries between God and the individual. That meant rejecting the Catholic Church, especially Popes (who he called the Anti-Christs), but also relics, and especially indulgencies but also even Mary as our intercessor in heaven. You found God in the Bible. Anything not in the Bible was rejected e.g. only two of the seven sacraments, Baptism and the Eucharist, passed the test.

            His life story is fascinating. He was an Augustinian monk, a professor, a translator of the Bible (from Greek to German), a husband to a former nun and father of four children, and an especially effective writer. He defended his case before the Charles V and would have been burnt at the stake as a heretic if some of the princes of Germany had not protected him. As influential as he was, he had an ugly side to him. When German peasants rose up against the nobility (Peasants’ War), Luther urges the aristocracy to slaughter them. He was a ferocious anti Semite.

            Why was he so influential? The Guttenburg printing press had recently been invented so his writings were almost immediately available all over Europe. But most important of all, the Catholic Church needed to be reformed. Luther died in 1546 at the age of sixty-two. The Catholic reformation did take place, 1545-1563 (Council of Trent) but it was too late for most of Europe.

Collection : the collection for last Sunday, September 17, 2017 was $3,405.00

The second collection this Sunday, September 24, 2017 is our monthly collection in to aid with our Church Property Insurance.

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Every now and then our Sunday celebration reminds us more than usual of God’s lavish and generous love. So today let us pray in gratitude for God whose generosity is so compelling.

 1st Reading: Isaiah 55:6-9-the ways and thoughts of God are above our own.

Psalm 145: “The Lord is near to all who call upon him”.

2nd Reading: Phiiippians1:20c-24-Saint Paul rejoices that to live is Christ and to die is to gain.

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16a– “The last will be first and he first will be last”.

Parish Membership: All adult Catholics should be registered. We want to know and serve you and hope that you will become an active member of our parish community. Please notify the rectory of any changes in address, or if you are leaving the Parish. It is necessary to be a registered member of our parish for a minimum of 3 months in order for us to testify to your ability to be a sponsor for Baptism/Confirmation, witness to a Catholic marriage, or provide recommendation for a position at work or character reference.

 

Classes are held on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 11:00 am.

September 2017:

30th: Religious Education Instructions 9:30 to 11:00am

October 2017:

7th: Religious Education Instructions 9:30 to 11:00am~ 1st Meeting Holy Communion 11:30am School Cafeteria

14th: NO Religious Education Instructions today

21st: Religious Education Instructions 9:30 to 11:00am

28th: Religious Education Instructions 9:30 to 11:00 am~1st Meeting Confirmation 11:30 am School Cafeteria

Our 169th  Anniversary  Dinner Dance will be on Saturday,          November 11, 2017  from 8:00 pm to 1:00am –Journal adds are now available for subscription as are tickets . So please stop by the Rectory Office to pick up your tickets and or add subscription form.

Weekday parking :  If you are coming into the church during the week please park on the upper level of the parking lot next to the Parish Hall-Since work has started on the Stained Glass Windows in the Chapel.

7:30 for the Parishioners                    

9:00 Oscar Flores Chavez                                        Rosa Flores    

11:00 Gary A. Vetrano                                              Liz Areizaga & Family

12:05 M S David 50th Anv.                                       Mr. & Mrs. Michael Anthony            

12:05 In Thanksgiving                                               Claudia & Francisco Dougan

12:05 Richard & Kathleen Mangan                           Carmel Mangan

12:05 Mathew Joseph & Family (L)

7:00 Anna Echararria                                                Delores Dia

12:05 Fr. Lorenzo Ato & Family (L)                          Joan Murphy

5:00  Rose Kunny                                                     Joanne Kunny

7:30 Hector Elmio Minaya                                         Maria Valerio

7:30 for the Parishioners                    

9:00 Pedro Marian Hernadez                                    Wife and Children     

11:00 Antonio Antao                                                  Esther & Eduardo Rodrigues