cherished • chosen • sent
I. Deacon & Doctor Dirck and Chona Curry: As was mentioned in our bulletin last week, the Curry’s will be moving back to Illinois soon. In the name of the Cathedral parish, I want to express deep gratitude to Dirck and Chona for their unselfish service to our St. Stephen faith community, not to mention the most generous service to our community at large. You will be sorely missed. I am heart sick to see you go. Much peace! More later.
II. Tri-Parish Mission, November 5-7: Father Tom McCarthy, from the Archdiocese of Chicago, will be leading our Mission on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, November 5-7—his focus will be, “What Does it Mean to be Catholic Today?” St. Stephen Cathedral will host our brothers and sisters from Blessed Mother and Sts. Joseph & Paul parishes on Wednesday, November 7. Thanks to Brenda Clark and James Wells, our parish representatives on this tri-parish team. We will be calling on you. SAVE THE DATE!
III. Anointing of the Sick: “Illness and suffering have always been among the greatest problems confronted in human life. In illness we experience our powerlessness, our limitations, and our finitude. Every illness can make us glimpse death. Illness can lead to anguish, self-absorption, sometimes even despair and revolt against God. Or it can also make a person more mature, helping him discern in his life, what is not essential so that he can turn toward that which is very essential” (# 1500-1501 Catechism of the Catholic Church). This Sacrament of the Sick will be celebrated at the noon Mass on Friday, October 12, followed by a lite lunch.
IV. Fall Work Day: will be Saturday, October 13, 8:00am-12:00noon. What a wonderful opportunity we have to spruce up our campus for ourselves and our visitors. Even if you can give only one or two hours, please share in the common effort to beautify our Cathedral grounds. We normally accomplish lots of tasks on these workdays!
V. Scripture Sunday is October 14 and this year the theme is: “The Psalms: Prayer Book of the Bible.”In the coming year we are asked to focus upon studying, praying, and reflecting upon those 150 Psalms, which are timeless because they express all the emotions and struggles of someone in a community making their way through life. The Psalms come out of the human experience, and therefore one does not need a lot of historical background to appreciate them. The Psalms are not “sugar-coated” but are the response of ordinary people pouring their hearts out to God. What do you know about the Psalms? Do you appreciate the diversity of the Psalms? Bring your Bibles to Church on Scripture Sunday!
VI. New Parishioner Welcome: Save the Date—Thursday, November 1st, 6:30 p.m., in the rectory. All our newly registered parishioners who have not yet attended a reception will receive a personal invitation in the next week. We are blessed to have you in our parish!
“If we love one another, God remains in us. . .”