August 11, 2019 – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

From the Parochial Vicar – Fr. Sinoj Pynadath HGN

When God finds us: Our Faith exhorts us to prepare to meet God. We are asked to be ready any time to meet Him. The Gospel praises the one who is ready. How do we want God to find us? 

We would like God to find us with our works completed. Most of us have very many undone—we have half done things in our lives at this moment; some of them postponed; some of them not even given a thought. May the words of Jesus on the Cross challenge us: “It is accomplished!”

We want our God to find us at peace with all. We don’t want to pass from this world in bitterness with our brothers or sisters. Ephesians 4:26 teaches not to let the sun go down on our anger. We don’t know the time of the last sundown of our life. We also would like God to find us at peace with Him. It gives us a great comfort when we know that we are going to sleep in the arms of a loving and merciful God. For that we need to reconcile with Him. Now is the time!

I.  The Solemnity of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15 is a Holy Day of obligation. We will have Masses at the Cathedral at 7 AM and 12 Noon. At Blessed Sacrament Chapel there will be a Vigil Mass on 14th at 6 PM. Please make use of the opportunity and find time to join for any Mass in the neighborhood.

II.  Hearty Congratulations to our Pastor Fr. Jerry Riney on completing 44 years as a Priest! May he continue to be a “Blessing” to us and for that let us continue to support him with our prayers and care!

III.  Dedication Anniversary Raffle Tickets are now available. Let us all participate with eagerness to support our parish activities by purchasing and selling raffle tickets. I hope all of you are thinking of choosing from the variety of ways to participate in the Dedication Anniversary Celebrations.

IV.  Thanks from the Superior: The Provincial Superior of St. Paul Province of Heralds of Good News, to which I belong, made his canonical visit last week. He appreciated very much the welcome and hospitality he experienced from Fr. Jerry and the cathedral parish and the diocese at large. In his name I request you to pray for all the missionary endeavors of the Province.

V.  Holiness, passion and deep desire:  These are the traits of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe. He wanted to bring everyone to Jesus Christ through Mary, our Blessed Mother. Mary appeared to Maximilian when he was 12 years old. Millions of Catholics around the world and people of other faiths are aware of this saint’s sacrifice. In late July 1941, at the Auschwitz concentration camp, Maximilian, in a great act of love, offered his life for the life of a Polish Jew, Sergeant Francis Gajowniczek, who was married, with a family. He was placed with 9 other men and were sentenced to starve to death. As the last survivor, he was given poison. He was martyred on August 14, the vigil of the feast of the Assumption of Mary. And he was cremated on August 15, the actual feast of her Assumption. He had a deep love for our Heavenly Mother so it’s no coincidence that his death coincided with key Marian dates. Saint Maximilian, bring us to Jesus through Mary; pray for us!