September 11/12, 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Gathering: All Is Ready
Responsorial Psalm: Be Merciful, O Lord
Gospel Acclamation: Halle, Halle, Halle
Gospel Canticle: I Am With You
Preparation: Only This I Want
Choir Anthem: The Lord Is Near
Holy: Community Mass
Memorial: Community Mass
Concluding: Community Mass
Lamb of God: Community Mass
Communion: As Grains of Wheat
Sending Forth: Though the Mountains May Fall

September 18/19, 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Gathering: Sing a New Church
Responsorial Psalm: I Will Praise Your Name
Gospel Acclamation: Halle, Halle, Halle
Gospel Canticle: Love Be With You
Preparation: The Harvest of Justice
Choir Anthem: Choir Day Off
Holy: Community Mass
Memorial: Community Mass
Concluding: Community Mass
Lamb of God: Community Mass
Communion: Lord, When You Came By the Seashore
Sending Forth: We Are Called

September 25/26, 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Gathering: All Are Welcome
Responsorial Psalm: Let the Word Make a Home In Your Heart
Gospel Acclamation: Halle, Halle, Halle
Gospel Canticle: Word of Christ
Preparation: I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
Choir Anthem: Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Holy: Community Mass
Memorial: Community Mass
Concluding: Community Mass
Lamb of God: Community Mass
Communion: Here At This Table
Sending Forth: Take the Word of God

 Thank you to the parish members who shared a meal with us and to the presenters who brought the beautiful displays to the Pot Luck dinner on Tuesday, March 31st. The food was delicious, the company congenial and the presentations informative and attractive. See? It’s easy being Green! And economical, too!

Non-Catholic Christians have difficulty understanding the significance we place on Mary. In fact, some even accuse Catholics of making Mary an idol to worship. Of course as Catholics we know we only worship the one true God. However, we also believe that praying to through Mary is a good thing to do. Mary has a very special relationship with Jesus. Due to that relationship, she is able to make requests. If you look at the first miracle Jesus performed at the wedding in Cana, it was at the insistence of Mary that Jesus turned water into wine.

Mary is an example of a woman called by God. Some people refer to Mary as the second Eve for she was conceived without the stain of original sin. In this way, she is for each of us, a reminder of what God intended for all people. Mary was faithful even in her lack of understanding as seen in Luke 1:26-38. She fully trusted God as she said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” This statement of faith clears the way for the Son of God to be born of a human woman. It is in her giving birth to Jesus that she becomes our spiritual mother. Mary was a disciple of Jesus following Him even to the cross. In Acts 1:14 Mary is listed as having been with the other disciples in Jerusalem before Pentecost.

Mary is special for many reasons, but for me, the most important reason is she said “YES” to God. In her willingness to serve God unconditionally, by her strength to stay by her Son during His passion, and from her ability to show herself in the world in times of trouble, she continues to be an example of how to live. May she continue to be an intercessor for the faithful as we continue to follow in the ways of her son, Jesus Christ.

This article was inspired after a Theology on Tap session with Archbishop Dolan on Thursday, July 17 which was held at Derry Hegarty’s Pub, 5328 West Bluemound Road