Last weekend our readings focused upon how to keep our jars filled with oil to prepare to receive our King. At the 5 PM and 9 AM Masses, I asked folks to do a simple exercise to keep the oil jar filled by noticing a new person at church, asking his/her name and showing him/her that he/she is known by you and Christ through the question “How can I pray for you?” and then taking the time to pray with the other person. It was absolutely beautiful to see people praying with each other in the church, in the Gathering Space and in the Martha and Mary Fellowship Hall.
In case you missed the “steps to pray with another a person,” here are the four things to remember: YOU (address God), WHO (name what God has done in the past), DO (state your prayer intention), THROUGH Christ our Lord (how we always pray). This would sound like:
Lord God (YOU), who sent Your Son to save us (WHO), be with N’s child who is struggling with a life decision (DO), through Christ our Lord. (THROUGH).
Happy Thanksgiving! As you prepare your homes, especially the kitchen, to celebrate this most time with family and friends, I pray that you will be drawn into the beauty of the heavenly banquet where Christ Himself is the meal. May your time remembering days past and thanking God for the many blessings of today bring you into deeper in communion with Him who loves you beyond all telling.
We will celebrate Mass at 9 AM on Thanksgiving Day. I will be with friends in Minnesota–taking advantage of the opportunity to celebrate in new ways. My family gathers in the summer as the holidays are difficult with work and travel schedules.
Thank you to all who helped support Thanksgiving meals for local families in need. Your generosity and support for our parish’s outreach makes it possible for others to celebrate with family and friends.
The News and Updates from Saint Pius Church for this week:
Thank you for your support of Christians in the Holy Land last weekend with your purchases of the Olive Wood products. Please keep praying for our brothers and sisters who daily live in terror because of their faith in Jesus Christ. If you missed the sale, our friends Imad and Sophia will return to the area at Saint Francis on November 25 and 26.
It’s time to start thinking about Advent.
- Additional Masses: during Advent we will be offering Masses during the week at 8:15 AM as normal, and we will add a 6:15 PM Mass on Tuesday and Wednesday during Advent as well as a 12:30 PM Mass on Friday, December 15 and 22 (Friday, December 8 is a holy day with it’s own schedule). We will need lectors and sacristans to sign up for the additional Masses.
- Additional opportunities for Reconciliation: during Advent we will be offering Confessions on Friday morning at 9:00 AM and on Saturday morning at 8:30 AM. Additionally, we will have a communal service on Sunday, December 10 at 4:00 PM as well as individual confessions on Monday, December 18 at 6:00 PM.
Getting All Set for Sunday
You can find the readings for this Sunday here.
Jesus tells the story about a man entrusting his riches with his servants. A “talent” was worth an entire year’s worth of wages. One talent would be beyond most people’s capacity or imagination, and yet the servants are given great responsibility. God entrusts us not only with money or possessions, but He gives us the greatest treasures–His Son. What are we doing with the responsibility of faith?
November 17, 2023