www.sfgw.org

YEAR OF FAITH
AUGUST 2013
True Wealth, True Grit: Faith's Journey Continues
Meditation
Faith has enabled countless Christians to promote action for justice, in order to put into practice the word of the Lord, who came to proclaim deliverance
from oppression and a year of favor for all (see Benedict
XVI, Door of Faith, 13).
In mid-August, we celebrate the Assumption of
Mary, Blessed John Paul II's "Star of the New Evangelization." The Preface for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary extols Mary as the "image of the Church's coming to
perfection." Thankfully, she is also a "sure hope and comfort
to your pilgrim people," for August's Gospels certainly challenge pilgrims on our journey of faith. How different from
Mary's selfless service is the self-absorption of Luke's "rich
fool." Though his fortune is the fruit of honest hard work, the
"fool" mistakenly defines himself and his life's worth only in
terms of his possessions. But Jesus' disciples should have a
different, deeper perspective on life, remembering that one
day their Master will suddenly return. Being vigilant for that
unknown moment will make us diligent in serving Christ as
he comes to us daily in the needs of neighbor and stranger,
whom we must treat reverently as fellow servants of God.
Bearing witness like this is, in Jesus' image, is playing with
fire. We may have to experience the burning anguish of
choosing what is right rather than what is easy, even to the
point of redefining our most personal relationships. This being so, how pointless to wonder, "Who will be saved?" Better
to ask, "Will I complete my faith journey faithfully?"
Mission
Examine honestly and, if necessary, realign my values and priorities, definitions of success and worth, my goals
and relationships.
--Peter Scagnelli, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.
Excerpts from the English translation of the Preface for the Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary (c) 2010, International Committee on English in
the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
Be sure to visit our website
www.sfgw.org
Don’t forget to register
St. Thomas
the Apostle Church
Lexington, MS
Happy Birthday
August 10 - Bobby Acy
August 10 - Carlos Ingram
Happy Anniversary
August 9 - Merrell & Sandra Fischer
Saturday - 4:00 PM: Communion Service for Sunday
TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION
When Pope Pius XII died in 1958, there was the
usual buzz of speculation about likely successors. Cardinal
Agajanian, Patriarch of the Armenians, was highly thought
of as a likely choice. This took many Catholics by surprise,
since he had never celebrated the same liturgy as Pope Pius,
but followed ancient Armenian customs according to the
Eastern Church, which veils the Eucharistic liturgy from
sight by a series of curtains, and in which the priest kneels
while the people stand for Communion.
In the years that followed, the Second Vatican
Council would affirm the dignity and independence of the
Eastern Churches, in complete union with Rome, yet different in patterns of life and worship. We have the same faith,
the same sacraments, and the same pope. Yet everywhere in
the world our separate Churches are combined into families
held together by the ministry of bishops. All of this serves
as warning: If you ever say, "But we've always done it this
way," you are on very thin ice indeed!
--James Field, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.
TODAY’S READINGS
First Reading -- Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
(Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23).
Psalm -- If today you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts (Psalm 90).
Second Reading -- You too will appear with Christ your
life in glory (Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11).
Gospel -- For though one may be rich, one's life does not
consist of possessions (Luke 12:13-21).
The English translation of the Psalm Responses from the Lectionary for
Mass (c) 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the
Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
2613 HWY 82 E Greenwood MS 38930
Parish Office: (662) 453-0623; fax: (662) 453-9060
Rev. Gregory Plata, OFM, Pastor
Br. Craig Wilking, OFM, Director of Development
Br. Steve DuPuis, OFM, Dir. of Mission Building & Grounds
Rev. Adam Szufel, OFM
Ms. Edith Spells, president, Parish Council
Sr. Charlotte LeBoeuf, MSC, Hispanic Ministry
Sr. Mary Beth Kornely, OSF, Parish Secretary
St. Francis of Assisi School: (662) 453-9511
Sr. Mary Ann Tupy OSF, principal
Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
St. Francis of Assisi Convent: (662) 453-1221
E-mail: [email protected]
Mission Statement of St. Francis: The mission of St. Francis of Assisi
Parish is to live as a charitable, harmonious and faith-filled community
as we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people. As partners in
faith, we encourage our members to share their gifts of time, talent and
treasure for service to the Kingdom.
Sunday Mass Schedule
St. Francis of Assisi............. Sunday, 11:00 AM
............. Spanish 1:30 PM
St. Thomas the Apostle............. Saturday 4:00 PM
Sacred Heart of Jesus............. Sunday 11:00 AM
Immaculate Heart of Mary............. Saturday 6:00 PM
............. Sunday
9:00 AM
Please see page 2 for further calendar information.
Website: http://sfgw.org
Needed: e-mails
Men’s Group Meet Today
Monday, August 5
Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major
7:00 AM
Mass at IHM
Tuesday, August 6
Transfiguration of the Lord
7:00 AM
Mass at IHM
Wednesday, August 7
St. Sixtus II & Companions; St. Cajetan
6:15 AM
Men’s Prayer Group at IHM
10:00 AM
Prayer Chain
1:00 - 5:00 PM IHM - Eucharistic Adoration
5:15 PM
IHM - Mass
Thursday, August 8
St. Dominic
7:00 AM
Mass at IHM
6:00 PM
Choir Practice
First Day of School at St. Francis with dismissal at 2:00
Friday, August 9
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
7:00 AM
Communion Service at IHM
Saturday, August 10
St. Lawrence
11:00 AM - Noon - Sacrament of Reconciliation-SF
4:00 PM
Communion Service at St. Thomas
6:00 PM
Mass at IHM
Sunday, August 11
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
9:00 AM
Mass at IHM
10:30 AM
Rosary at St. Francis
11:00 AM
Comm. Serv. at Sacred Heart, Winona
11:00 AM
St. Francis Parish Mass
1:30 PM
Spanish Mass at St. Francis
The Men’s Group will meet today after Mass.
Faith Formation Registration
Starting today, August 4th, Registration for Family Faith Formation will
take place after the 11:00 AM Mass and
the 1:30 PM Spanish Mass. All children
who are not attending St. Francis School
are required to attend the Faith Formation
classes which are held each Wednesday
evening beginning at 6:15 PM on September 4, 2013 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Center.
Prayer Chain
The Prayer Chain will meet this Wednesday, August
7 at 10:00 AM in the Fr. Nathaniel Conference Room. All
are welcome to come and join together in prayer for the many
needs we have.
Choir Practice
There will be Choir Practice on Thursday at 6:00 PM
for our Choir Members.
The Feast of the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of
Obligation, is on Thursday, August 15.
Masses are scheduled as follows:
Wednesday, August 14
6:00 PM - IHM
Thursday, August 15
7:00 AM - St. Thomas, Lexington
9:00 AM - St. Francis
6:00 PM - Sacred Heart, Winona
(There will be no 5:15 PM Mass
on Wednesday & no 7 AM Mass on
Thursday at IHM.)
Pro Life Corner
11:00 AM Sunday, August 4, 2013
is for the intentions of St. Francis of
Assisi Parish Members
Asbestos is a killer. It’s been estimated that in the last 100
years 300,000 lives have been lost, and in the next twenty years an
estimated 150,000 will die, due to its effects. Shocking? Yes! That
many babies die every 4 months due to surgical abortion. That’s
every 4 months, not 100 years. Now that is shocking!
We would like to send our college students our
bulletin each week. If your son or daughter attends college, please send us their e-mail address by e-mailing
the parish at [email protected] or by calling the
parish office, 453-0623.
Thinking more about being Catholic?
Have you been considering
becoming Catholic and want to learn
more about our Catholic faith? Now
is the time to start praying to the Holy
Spirit for guidance.
We will be announcing sessions when you can
come and listen to the stories of others and their journey to
the Catholic Faith.
for St. Francis
August 5 - 9, 2013
Monday
- 8:30-3:00 Faculty and staff in-service
Tuesday - Work day for the teachers
Wednesday - 9:00-2:00 Parents & students invited
to visit school & to drop off supplies
Thursday - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
- 2:00 PM Dismiss
Friday
- 3:00 PM Dismissal
St. Francis of Assisi
Offerings for the week of July 28, 2013
Envelopes & Checks ............................... $ 255.00
Basket Collection......................................$ 207.68
Spanish Collection....................................$ 227.00
Maintenance Collection............................ $ 154.00
Total Income................................................. $ 843.68
$ 2,200
is the amount needed each week
from parishioner offerings to meet daily expenses.
Other Deposit
Votive Candles for July...............................$ 19.60
Thank you for your generosity!
Second Collections in August
August 25 - Maintenance Collection
The Effects of Prayer
No Ones Enemy
Whoever prays much by night, that person's face is fair by
day.
--Islamic saying
May I be no one's enemy, and may I be the friend of that which
is eternal and abides.
--St. Eusebius of Vercelli
The mortgage is paid
off. So are the loans that were
taken out for college tuition
and children's weddings. The
second home that was once a
far-off dream is now so close
that it seems safe to dig out
the real estate magazines. And
then . . . a daughter or son can
no longer take care of a child.
BARNS FILLED WITH RICHES
It's time to start over, this time
as grandparents in the parents' role. Thousands of older
adults face this situation today, becoming temporary or
permanent guardians of their
grandchildren.
Vanity of vanities.
The years of toil with sights
set on a great reward now belong to someone else: food,
clothing, braces, summer
camps, and school tuition.
But, as one grandmother said
of her 13-year-old granddaughter, Megan, "It has all
been worth it. She brings such
joy. What would I do without
her?"
And so the barns
filled with "riches" are again
taken down and new and true
riches are discovered. Once
again a new self is found in
Christ, and the storehouse is
filled with life that is truly
pleasing to God.
Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.