Unless a Grain of Wheat
Did you know there is a patron saint of cooks and comedians, and he is the same person? Today we celebrate the feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon, and Martyr. St. Lawrence is also the patron saint of children and the poor. A few days ago, we celebrated the feast of St. Pope Sixtus II, who was martyred a few days before St. Lawrence. Emperor Valerian would spare St. Lawrence's life since he was the treasurer for Pope Sixtus II. The Emperor gave Lawrence a couple of days to bring him all the kingdom's gold and silver. Lawrence gathered all the poor, sick, and lame and brought them to the Emperor. He told the Emperor that these were the genuine gold and silver of the kingdom. As a result, the Emperor ordered that Lawrence be killed. Lawrence would be grilled alive! Lawrence joked with his executioners as they were setting up. And it is said that he told them as they were grilling him, "You can turn me over; I'm done on this side!" As a result of this humble saint's witness, many people came to believe in Jesus!
The gospel for today's feast is from St. John 12: 24-26.
Amen, amen I say to you
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Tertullian said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church," not just in Lawrence's lifetime but before and today. Martyr means "witness." And St. Lawrence became a seed and witness of the church the day he was martyred.
This scripture passage brought to mind the song "Unless A Grain of Wheat" by Bernadette Farrell. The video clip I included was a live performance from a parish on Holy Thursday. I love the connection between Jesus, the ultimate grain of wheat who died for all of us, and that some of us are also called grains of wheat which may have to die for the faith.
Like last week's feast of St. John Vianney, patron saint of priests, the feast of St. Lawrence, patron of deacons, is our opportunity to pray for all deacons. So today, I ask that you pray for all deacons. St. Lawrence, pray for us!
Parish Office Closing
The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, August 15, in observance of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. If you have an emergency that requires immediate assistance, please call the Parish Office at (920) 336-4033, and our answering service will refer your call to the staff person who is available.
Awesome Acts of August Food Drive
Join the OLOL Young Adult Ministry in kicking off our Awesome Acts of August month of service. We will be hosting a month-long food drive to benefit the De Pere Christian Outreach Food Drive. Donations can be brought to the Our Lady of Lourdes Church and placed in our north entrance.
Items that are needed:
-August 14: Cereal
-August 21: Peanut Butter, Jelly/Jam, and other condiments
-August 28: Manwich, Pasta, and Canned Tomato Products
**Other items are always welcome!!**
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
RCIA is the process designed for those who have never been baptized, baptized in another faith, or baptized Catholic with little or no catechesis and who are in need of the other sacraments. The process begins the first week of October and sacraments will be received at the Easter Vigil on April 8.
If you or someone you know falls into one of these categories and would like to explore the RCIA process, there will be an informational meeting about RCIA on Wednesday, September 21, at 6 p.m. in the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Office conference room. Sessions will begin on Wednesday, October 5, and take place from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Classes are held the first three Wednesdays of most months. A more detailed schedule will be given the night of the informational meeting. If you have questions, please contact Deacon Mike Vander Bloomen at deaconmike@lourdesdepere.org or call the Parish Office at 920-336-4033.
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Family
1307 Lourdes Avenue
De Pere, WI 54115
(920) 336-4033
Email: parish@lourdesdepere.org