Dear friends in Christ,
This, That & the Other ... “Gimme that!” Every parent has undoubtedly heard that demand from a child at some point. Children can be especially insistent they want something and they may not always be so delicate in how they ask for it, right? (We adults are probably guilty of the same thing from time to time, too!) Our Gospel on this 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time features a “Gimme that” moment. … The apostles make a demand of Jesus: “Increase our faith.” Notice they don’t ask please, either. They are insistent on what they want and when they want it. The irony of course is that we already have been given the gift of faith, and even if it is the size of a mustard seed, it is more than enough. Let us ask the Lord to increase the tiniest bit of faith planted deep within us.
... We’ve moved into the month of October, which is always my favorite month of the year (come on cool front!) and a wonderful time in the life of the Church. October is always designated as Respect Life Month, and this weekend, the first Sunday of the month, is Respect Life Sunday. … Of course we pray for the protection and dignity of human life every day of every month, but this weekend we lift up our hearts in prayer in a special way that we might always work to protect God’s great gift of life. I’m especially happy that we have renewed our efforts at awareness at CtR with our Respect Life Committee. My thanks to Kerry Chu, who chairs this ministry for us, to bring a greater awareness of pro-life events to our community. She has a number of initiatives lined up throughout the month to keep the beauty of this teaching foremost in our minds and hearts.
... On this Respect Life Sunday, you’ll find a beautiful prayer card/bookmark offered as you leave Mass, reminding us to pray for the gift of life. … CtR is also participating in the International 40 Days for Life effort where Christians throughout the world are invited to take part in praying daily from Sept. 26 through Nov. 4. In addition to the 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion in America, please consider volunteering to pray outside of the Planned Parenthood abortion facility at 4600 Gulf Freeway. Various parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston are taking one day throughout the month to silently pray at the facility and our day for CtR is Tuesday, Oct. 22. You can sign up to take one or more hours on that day on the CtR website at www.ctrcc.com/respectlife.
In addition, we will offer another showing of the movie “Unplanned” this Sunday at 2 p.m. In the Auditorium, and on Monday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. we welcome representatives from Elijah Rising to our campus for the monthly meeting of the Respect Life ministry. Elijah Rising is an advocacy group that seeks to eradicate the scourge of human trafficking in our society. Sadly, Houston is an international hub for human traffickers and this is most definitely a pro-life issue that needs our attention and support so that we can help shed a light on the darkness that pervades in so many corners of our community.
... The theme for this year’s Respect Life is “Christ our hope in every season of life” and it speaks to the dignity of the human person at all stages and seasons of life, from natural conception to natural death and from the youngest to the oldest among us. To that end, the Respect Life Ministry has added a new effort this year that I think is genius and a great way for us all to participate. On the weekend of Oct. 26-27 we invite you to bring items for seniors that will be distributed through Catholic Charities and our sister parish, Our Mother of Mercy. ... Many seniors live on a fixed income and even those who are not in a nursing home have supply and food needs that are not always met by their income or by another family member. They can often be forgotten about, but our faith calls us to honor and respect life at all ages: from before birth, in childhood, and in our elderly years. We’ll have boxes set up in the narthex to collect the items for seniors on the last weekend of the month, Oct. 26-27, but be thinking about it now and pick up a few items when you are at the store over the next few weeks. We’ll remind you again as we get closer. … Remember as well that our fall parish blood drive is this Sunday wherein you can “give the gift of life” by donating blood in the Parish Hall after Mass.
... Next Thursday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. our CtR Catholic School is hosting an Open House for all perspective families. If you have been curious of what CtR Catholic School offers, I encourage you to come visit us that evening. Our Principal, Dan Courtney, and all of our teachers will be here that night and will be happy to show you the wonderful academic, extra-curricular, and faith-filled programs our school offers. I encourage parents to come take a look, and please spread the news to your family and friends who may be looking for a Catholic-based education for the children. We’re in our sixth year now at CtR Catholic School and have an enrollment of 406 children in grades Pre-K through 8. With the opening of the Redeemer Activity Center last year and our enrichment classrooms for STREAM, art, and music, we’re able to offer a full array of educational opportunities. It’s a wonderful ministry of our parish and I encourage all parents to consider a Catholic education that truly is second to none.
Finally, remember that our annual Blessing of the Animals, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, takes place this Saturday, Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. Make plans for you and your furry (or slimy, or scaly, or feathery) friends to join us on the driveway between the Church and Parish Life Center. It only takes about 15 minutes or so, but it’s always a fun event. All of God’s creatures, great and small, are invited to attend. ... Lastly, and most importantly, God loves you. See ya’ at Mass!
This, That & the Other ... “Gimme that!” Every parent has undoubtedly heard that demand from a child at some point. Children can be especially insistent they want something and they may not always be so delicate in how they ask for it, right? (We adults are probably guilty of the same thing from time to time, too!) Our Gospel on this 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time features a “Gimme that” moment. … The apostles make a demand of Jesus: “Increase our faith.” Notice they don’t ask please, either. They are insistent on what they want and when they want it. The irony of course is that we already have been given the gift of faith, and even if it is the size of a mustard seed, it is more than enough. Let us ask the Lord to increase the tiniest bit of faith planted deep within us.
... We’ve moved into the month of October, which is always my favorite month of the year (come on cool front!) and a wonderful time in the life of the Church. October is always designated as Respect Life Month, and this weekend, the first Sunday of the month, is Respect Life Sunday. … Of course we pray for the protection and dignity of human life every day of every month, but this weekend we lift up our hearts in prayer in a special way that we might always work to protect God’s great gift of life. I’m especially happy that we have renewed our efforts at awareness at CtR with our Respect Life Committee. My thanks to Kerry Chu, who chairs this ministry for us, to bring a greater awareness of pro-life events to our community. She has a number of initiatives lined up throughout the month to keep the beauty of this teaching foremost in our minds and hearts.
... On this Respect Life Sunday, you’ll find a beautiful prayer card/bookmark offered as you leave Mass, reminding us to pray for the gift of life. … CtR is also participating in the International 40 Days for Life effort where Christians throughout the world are invited to take part in praying daily from Sept. 26 through Nov. 4. In addition to the 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion in America, please consider volunteering to pray outside of the Planned Parenthood abortion facility at 4600 Gulf Freeway. Various parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston are taking one day throughout the month to silently pray at the facility and our day for CtR is Tuesday, Oct. 22. You can sign up to take one or more hours on that day on the CtR website at www.ctrcc.com/respectlife.
In addition, we will offer another showing of the movie “Unplanned” this Sunday at 2 p.m. In the Auditorium, and on Monday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. we welcome representatives from Elijah Rising to our campus for the monthly meeting of the Respect Life ministry. Elijah Rising is an advocacy group that seeks to eradicate the scourge of human trafficking in our society. Sadly, Houston is an international hub for human traffickers and this is most definitely a pro-life issue that needs our attention and support so that we can help shed a light on the darkness that pervades in so many corners of our community.
... The theme for this year’s Respect Life is “Christ our hope in every season of life” and it speaks to the dignity of the human person at all stages and seasons of life, from natural conception to natural death and from the youngest to the oldest among us. To that end, the Respect Life Ministry has added a new effort this year that I think is genius and a great way for us all to participate. On the weekend of Oct. 26-27 we invite you to bring items for seniors that will be distributed through Catholic Charities and our sister parish, Our Mother of Mercy. ... Many seniors live on a fixed income and even those who are not in a nursing home have supply and food needs that are not always met by their income or by another family member. They can often be forgotten about, but our faith calls us to honor and respect life at all ages: from before birth, in childhood, and in our elderly years. We’ll have boxes set up in the narthex to collect the items for seniors on the last weekend of the month, Oct. 26-27, but be thinking about it now and pick up a few items when you are at the store over the next few weeks. We’ll remind you again as we get closer. … Remember as well that our fall parish blood drive is this Sunday wherein you can “give the gift of life” by donating blood in the Parish Hall after Mass.
... Next Thursday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. our CtR Catholic School is hosting an Open House for all perspective families. If you have been curious of what CtR Catholic School offers, I encourage you to come visit us that evening. Our Principal, Dan Courtney, and all of our teachers will be here that night and will be happy to show you the wonderful academic, extra-curricular, and faith-filled programs our school offers. I encourage parents to come take a look, and please spread the news to your family and friends who may be looking for a Catholic-based education for the children. We’re in our sixth year now at CtR Catholic School and have an enrollment of 406 children in grades Pre-K through 8. With the opening of the Redeemer Activity Center last year and our enrichment classrooms for STREAM, art, and music, we’re able to offer a full array of educational opportunities. It’s a wonderful ministry of our parish and I encourage all parents to consider a Catholic education that truly is second to none.
Finally, remember that our annual Blessing of the Animals, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, takes place this Saturday, Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. Make plans for you and your furry (or slimy, or scaly, or feathery) friends to join us on the driveway between the Church and Parish Life Center. It only takes about 15 minutes or so, but it’s always a fun event. All of God’s creatures, great and small, are invited to attend. ... Lastly, and most importantly, God loves you. See ya’ at Mass!
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