Today’s first reading speaks of the prophet as a “watchman” for the house of Israel, one who warns God’s people of impending danger or doom. The prophet is to speak God’s word clearly and consistently, helping evildoers to see the error of their ways and change, lest they die. If the prophet fulfills his responsibility, the fate of every person is deter-mined by his or her own choices, and not by any failure on the part of the prophet.

In baptism, we were anointed as members of God’s priestly, prophetic, and royal people. Last Sunday, the apostle Paul called us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice of praise to God; this is the priesthood of all the baptized. Royal means witnessing to the future God intends for us and for all people in his coming reign of holiness, justice, and peace. Prophetic is more difficult. Being prophetic demands that we be faithful to the truth God has revealed, be changed by it ourselves, and then speak it in love, not judgment, to the world around us.

En el bautismo, fuimos ungidos como miembros del pueblo sacerdotal, profético, y real de Dios. El domingo pasado, el apóstol Pablo nos llamó a ofrecer nuestros cuerpos como sacrificio vivo de alabanza a Dios; este es el sacerdocio de todos los bautizados. Real significa dar testimonio del futuro que Dios tiene para nosotros y para todas las personas en su reinado venidero de santidad, justicia, y paz. Profético es más difícil. Ser proféticos exige que seamos fieles a la verdad que Dios ha revelado, que seamos transformados por nosotros mismos, y luego hablarla con amor, no con juicio, al mundo que nos rodea.

Some reminders: 1. In keeping with the Covid-19 protocols of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Holy Communion is to be received only in the hand at this time. 2. Unless you are members of the same family and live together, you are asked to keep social distancing of six feet between yourself and the next person in line. 3. Please sanitize your hands before coming forward to receive the Body of Christ.

This Tuesday, September 8, we remember the birth of our Lady, the mother of the Lord Jesus and a model of faith and discipleship. May Mary’s goodness, generosity, and devotion to fulfilling God’s will in her life be an inspiration to us all!

This Wednesday, September 9, the Church honors the heroic Jesuit, St. Peter Claver, who left his homeland of Spain in 1610 to devote himself to the service of the Gospel in the New World. He landed in the rich port city of Cartagena, Colombia, and immediately encountered the harsh reality of slavery.

Fr. Peter would serve the many thousands of African men, women, and children who were captured and taken across the Atlantic Ocean as slaves. He declared himself to be “the slave of the Negroes forever,” caring for the sick and the dying, bringing them food and medicine and bread, and baptizing them. In an age when many considered them to be an expendable commodity, Peter assured them of their human dignity and of God’s love. He denounced the evil of slavery and became an unstoppable moral force.

We rejoice with the Knights and the Ladies of St. Peter Claver at St. Joseph’s in celebrating his life and ministry at the 12:30pm Mass this Sunday, September 6, and on Wednesday, the feast, at 12:00pm. Special thanks to Lady Antoinette Franklin and Lady Grace Banks.

Presently, we are working on the 2020-2021 calendar for the Sacramental Preparation, Faith Formation, the Rites of Chris-tian Initiation for Children and Adults, Confirmation for Teens and Adults, and First Penance and First Communion. We will abide by the guidelines of the Archdiocese of San Antonio in providing a safe environment for the students and the teachers. Please call Bea at 210-227-0126, ext. 210, if you would like to register your child(ren) in one of these classes. Catechetical Sunday is September 20.

St. Joseph's Church Downtown is open with the usual schedule of weekday and weekend Masses, sacraments, and ministry. Because of increased coronavirus cases locally, social distancing, hand-sanitizing, and the use of a face mask are observed during church services, in order to keep everyone safe and healthy.

Videos of Sunday Mass and other Masses from St. Joseph's are posted on YouTube at the St. Joseph Church Downtown Media page. Special thanks to John Francis Strelchun and his parents for filming and editing these videos so beautifully. Some Masses are also live-streamed.

In a spirit of caring for each other in these difficult days, we encourage you to support efforts to feed our neighbors in need via Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and area food banks.

Thank you for supporting St. Joseph through our parish website (https://stjsa.org/) or Give Central (https://www.givecentral.org/location/935).