Parish Update – Friday, July 23

Happy Friday, one and all! Our summer journey continues, and while it appears the rains of the past few weeks have subsided, the heat is definitely on. Stay safe and hydrated out there. … We’ve had a few air conditioner repairs made in our chapel and I think we’ve got the temperature control dialed in at the main church, too, so we’ll try to keep you comfortable when praying. If not, well, as my mother would say, offer it up!

On this 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time our gospel comes from John 6, and we’ll read from it for four of the next five weeks. (The only interruption will be for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sunday, Aug. 15.) Given that it is going to be resounding in our ears frequently, I would encourage you to take time to read the entire chapter now, and keep it bookmarked in your bible. Come back to it frequently over the next month and let it be a source of reflection in your personal prayer life.

John 6 is the longest single chapter in the New Testament and so it is good to take one’s time with it. This Sunday we will hear the first 15 verses of the chapter and it includes the well-known miracle story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. The entirety of John 6 is referred to as the “Bread of Life discourse” (or teaching). Time and again we will hear Jesus return to this theme that he himself is the true bread that has come down from heaven. We would do well then to ask ourselves what are we feeding ourselves on? If it is anything less than that one and same bread of Jesus, we will never be satiated.

Here’s what is happening around CtR this week

• We invite you to please join us for Mass this weekend, either in person or via our livestream on Sunday at 9 a.m. on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. You can find the link to the livestream at www.ctrcc.com/live-stream, and in addition, you’ll find there both a worship aid and a link to the Scripture readings to follow along with Mass. And you can make your weekly offertory contribution online at www.ctrcc.com/donate. … If you’d like to join us in person for Mass, we welcome you on Saturday at 5 p.m., or Sunday at 7, 9, and 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

• With the uptick in positive Covid cases and hospitalizations in Harris County I ask us all to be vigilant in protecting ourselves and others. Our policy on masks continues to be, at the directive of Cardinal DiNardo, that those not fully vaccinated should wear one out of charity for others. They are encouraged for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, but not required. And of course if you’ve tested positive you should refrain from attending Mass until your doctor has cleared you. … We will host another opportunity to receive the vaccination (this time the Pfizer version) on Saturday, July 31 in our Parish Hall. We’ll have more information next week on it, but please do not delay. There are many places throughout the city where one can receive the vaccination free of charge. The Church fully encourages those who are eligible to receive the vaccination.

• We are already looking ahead to the fall and the start of our Religious Education school year. Classes don’t begin until Sunday, Sept. 19 but the all important registration period is open now. Registration for children entering Pre-K 3 through 6th grade is conducted on-line at our parish website of www.ctrcc.com/re. … Remember as well that it is first-come, first-served for available days and times. We also offer home-based catechesis for those families who need more flexibility in timing. … And if you have a 7th or 8th grader or high school student, you will register through the Youth Ministry department. Rise is the program for junior high and Encounter is the program for high school students. Registration information for both can be found at www.ctryouth.com.

When you are registering your child for RE classes you can also sign up yourself to be a catechist or aide. We are in great need of a number of catechists to teach our children, from the littlest ones in the early grades on through middle school and high school. It’s a wonderful way to get involved in the life of the parish and to live out the call of Stewardship of your time and talent. We’ll train you and give you all the support you need. There is no greater gift than to pass on the faith to a child, so please consider joining this important ministry of CtR. The RE staff is happy to answer your questions and get you involved.

• I would be remiss if I didn’t also remind you that our CtR Catholic School is preparing for its new year and we are still accepting applications for new students in grades pre-K3 through 8th grade. From 175 kids seven years ago we’ve grown to almost 400 this year so you can see the word is out on the impact we are making as more and more families join us. It’s a blessing to our parish community to have a school and I invite all parishioners with school-aged children to consider a Catholic education for your child. Our school website at www.ctrschool.com has all the details. You’re invited to stop by for a personal tour to see all that it has to offer. … And if you are a teacher, we would still like to add an additional middle school science instructor to our team this year. Contact the office for more information.

• Also, don’t forget about our wonderful Genesis Early Childhood Program for our youngest learners, aged 18 months through 4 years old. It offers either a two- or three-day-a-week program to provide flexibility for families. Genesis is also happy to give you a tour of its facilities and tell you about the wonderful ways it is helping young children grow in knowledge and faith. We’ve got just a handful of openings left in Genesis for this coming year so stop by soon to learn more.

• All this talk about education reminds me that our annual Operation Backpack for school supplies is happening now through Aug. 1. Bring them to mass or drop them off in the parish office during the week and we’ll distribute them through Cypress Assistance Ministries (CAM) and also our sister parish, Our Mother of Mercy, in Houston’s Fifth Ward. Thanks to those who have already done so, and special thanks to those of you who used our Amazon Wish list on our website and had items sent to the office. We appreciate it. Say a prayer of gratitude, too, for the Amazon van driver who has had to haul in a record number of boxes this week!

• If you are watching the Olympics the next few weeks look for CtR’s own Erica Ogwumike, who is competing for Nigeria in women’s basketball. She’s a recent Rice graduate and was drafted by the WNBA, but chose to enter medical school and just finished her first year of studies. It’s a bummer that an international competition technicality prevented her sisters, Nneka and Chiney, who both play for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA, from joining her on the Nigerian team, but we’ll be following her nonetheless. Congrats on being an Olympian, Erica! … And if watching Olympic basketball has you thinking you should work on your own game, you are in luck. Our CtR gym is once again now open for open play for adults every Sunday from 1-3 p.m. Fair warning: I might come over one day and rain down some 3s, so be on the lookout!

Sts. Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose feast day is Monday, pray for us!

Peace, Fr. Sean