September 23, 2018
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
As Christians we are called to live in peace and harmony with one another. One thing that is very damaging to unity is false ambition, lack of service of others because we are all “looking out for Number One!” Could this be one reason Jesus seeks solitude to instruct the disciples about what awaits them in Jerusalem? Note our Society often encourages us to take care of ourselves first.
There is nothing wrong with being ambitious. Indeed, it is good to be ambitious, to have goals, to want to be good at what one does and to succeed in it. But ambition can get out of hand. It can cause us to lose focus or forget everything else in the pursuit of success in our career.
The First Reading talks about the just one who serves the cause of righteousness, and suffers for it at the hand of the wicked. The ‘righteous’ is one who holds on to his or her faith in God and obeys the commandments. This passage has been seen in Christian tradition as anticipating the hostility suffered by Jesus, the suffering just one.
In the Gospel we have the second prediction of the Passion: one again the disciples do not understand. Instead, motivated by selfish ambition, they get involved in an argument as to which of them is the greatest. This kind of ambition is condemned by Jesus in the Gospel and in the Second Reading by James.
False ambition can involve a desire to rule others. It can create conflicts and division. It damages unity in a community. The best and purest kind of service is that rendered to the most insignificant person in the community.
Collection : The collection for last Sunday, September 16, 2018 was $ 3,200
Second collection : Last Sundays 2nd collection for St. Joseph’s Seminary and Cathedral Prep was $1,149.Last Sunday there was an error in the amount that was raised by the Cuban Community for the Feast of Our Lady of Charity the correct amount was $2,420.00, I apologize to the Cuban Community for the error.
Our 2018 Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal Update
Pledged: $29,183(71% of goal)
Goal: $41,000 (We need $11,817 to reach our goal!)
Families/Parishioners Participating Today: 107 – Our Goal: 194
Join YOUR Parishioners by Making a Pledge TODAY!
Today’s Focus: Using What We Have:
Try as we might to live good and righteous lives, we sometimes lose focus through jealously or envy of others. Better to stay focused on how we can serve others.
Living and Praying with the world:
Giver of all things, you lavish me with gifts beyond my wildest imagining. When my focus is on what others have and I do not, I become blind. Open my eyes to see your wondrous works within me. Help me name those gifts-one by one-and pray, “Thank you, Lord.”
**Parents please be aware that children are to be at the Parish Hall at 9:20 am and that classes start at 9:30 am : NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED INTO THE SCHOOL AFTER 9:30 AM
September 2018:
29th: Religious Education Classes –9:20-11:00 am
October 2018:
6th No Religious Education Instruction~ Forum for Catechists day in Bronx
13th Religious Education Classes –9:20-11:00 am
20th Religious Education Classes –9:20-11:00 am~1st Parent Meeting of First Holy Communion candidates at 11:30 am in the School Cafeteria
27th Religious Education Classes –9:20-11:00 am~1st Parent Meeting of Confirmation candidates at 11:30 am in the School Cafeteria
Mass Schedule for the week of
September 23, 2018 to September 30, 2018
Mass are daily at 8:15 and 12:05 in English and in Spanish on Thursdays at 7:00pm
below are the Special Intentions for this week
Sunday, September 23, 2018:
7:30 am– For the Parishioners
9:00 am-Juaquim Neto Mr. & Mrs. Cesar Cuadra
11:00 am– Ester & Jose Duarte Esther & Eduardo Rodrigues
Monday, September 24, 2018:
8:15 am– Bonny Mathew (L) Bency Mathew
12:05 pm-Gonzalo & Mercedes D. Vidal Family
Tuesday, September 25, 2018:
12:05 pm– In thanksgiving Francisco & Claudia Dougan
Thursday, September 27, 2018:
7:00 pm-Jonathan M. Vega Ferrero Jacqui Ferrero
Saturday, September 22, 2018:
5:00 pm– Rose Kunny Joanne Kunny
7:30 pm– Mercedes Barahona Ivania Guillen
Sunday, September 23, 2018:
7:30 am– For the Parishioners
9:00 am-Juaquim Neto Mr. & Mrs. John DaSilva & Mr. & Mrs.
Anthony Landy
11:00 am– Maria & Antonio Antao Esther & Eduardo Rodrigues