July 24, 2021
Dear Friends in Christ,
In Sunday’s Gospel reading, we switch gears and hear from the Gospel of John the familiar story of Jesus Christ multiplying the five barley loaves and two fish for a crowd of 5,000 people. After Christ blesses the food and gives thanks, the offerings are enough to satiate every person present, plus filling 12 baskets of leftovers. We learn from Loyola Press’ Sunday Connection that this miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish foreshadows Jesus’ sharing of his Body and Blood at the Last Supper. Thus, this Gospel Reading focuses on two major themes: nourishment and transformation.
Through both his multiplication of the loaves and fish and his gift of the Eucharist at the Passover meal, Jesus Christ showed that he nourishes his people, giving them, in fact, more than enough to eat. In his Body and Blood, Jesus offers himself to us, so that we may be transformed. In receiving him, we are fed and are then called to feed – or serve – others.
This Gospel reading is particularly fitting this weekend, as we celebrate on July 25 the first World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, which was established by Pope Francis in May. Grandparents play a vital role in the spiritual formation of their grandchildren and younger generations, demonstrating how they can live their Catholic faith and accompanying them with wisdom. As we celebrate this newly established feast day in our church, let us also pray to Jesus Christ’s grandparents, Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who celebrate their feast day on Monday, July 26. Watch the archdiocesan livestreamed Mass celebrating World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly to be celebrated by Cardinal Wilton Gregory at 10 am Sunday and read a prayer commemorating the feast day.
Have a blessed and wonderful week!
Yours in Christ,
Fr. John
Here are the parish events for Saturday, July 24; Sunday, July 25; Monday, July 26; and Tuesday, July 27:
Saturday, July 24:
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Hosted by parishioner Donna Ruffin.
Sunday, July 25:
- Morning Prayer at 7:30 am. Hosted by parishioner Lois James.
- Mass at 8 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. Ted Hegnauer. Mass Readings.
- Mass at 9:30 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon. Mass Readings.
- Mass at 11:15 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon. Mass Readings.
- Mass at 5 pm in church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon. Mass Readings.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Hosted by parishioner Donna Ruffin.
Monday, July 26:
- Morning Prayer at 7:30 am. Hosted by parishioner Barnaby Walsh.
- Mass at 9 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon.
- Virtual parish Rosary at 4 pm. Led by Fr. John Dillon.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Hosted by parishioner Barnaby Walsh.
Tuesday, July 27:
- Morning Prayer at 7:30 am. Hosted by parishioner Barnaby Walsh.
- Mass at 9 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon.
- Rosary in Spanish at 6:30 pm. Led by Deacon Will Garcia.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Hosted by parishioner Barnaby Walsh.
Parish Resources:
The Justice Thought
The Parish Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Racism will provide a brief message each week under the title, “The Justice Thought” that is intended to educate and help us contemplate ways we can combat the sin of racism. This project stems from recommendations made to the committee by participants in the parish-sponsored dialogue, “Four Courageous Conversations on Racism.” Please contact Vincent Price at price93507@aol.com with any comments or suggestions.
Who Are Your Three Best Friends?
Picture your three closest friends, excluding your family. Are they the same race as you or diverse? A CNN/Kaiser Foundation poll recently found that despite the millennial reputation for inclusiveness, young white Americans do not have especially multicultural friend groups. Who do you invite to your home? With whom do you socialize? With whom do you sit at church? With whom do you discuss racism?
Though it seems benign, failing to get to know people of other races as fellow human beings is a sign of racism. The pastoral letter from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Open Wide Our Hearts,” states this type of behavior can be viewed as wrong in God’s eyes because “we are meant to love God with our whole being, which then overflows into love for our neighbor.” Thus, if we want to be faithful disciples of Jesus on our journey, we should take seriously this call to love our neighbor.
