Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 8, 2024 Column Father De Celles
MARY’S BIRTHDAY. Today, September 8, is the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, Mary’s birthday. Of course we don’t celebrate this liturgically today, because it’s Sunday, “The Lord’s Day,” but that does not mean we can’t celebrate it otherwise. So have a piece of cake, or maybe a piece of blueberry pie (I hear that’s Mary’s favorite).
On my Mom’s birthday all her children used to try to spend time with her. Today, spend time with your Blessed Mom, Mary. Of course by praying to her and with her (a family Rosary would be a great idea!), but also by recognizing her presence with you, and thinking, “what should I being doing in this particular situation, knowing the Blessed Mother is here with me. How should I be acting?
Also, give her a birthday gift. Maybe a prayer, a Rosary, an act of kindness to someone, going out of your way to avoid temptation and sin… Make this a beautiful day for our Blessed Mother.
Daily Family Rosary. Maybe you could attend our Daily Family Rosary today or sometime this week. Last year we started to pray this Rosary in our church every day, Monday to Friday at 6:30pm, and Weekends after the 9am Mass. I’ve been very happy with the turnout, at least 10 people every day, sometimes 20 or more!
All are invited to attend, but we need A FAMILY to volunteer to lead the rosary every day. By “family” I mean a blood or legal family (husband and wife, 2 brothers, etc.), not a parish group or committee. It can be as few as 2 members of a family or as many as you like, and may volunteer for more than one evening if they want to.
Can’t your family take at least ONE DAY A MONTH to lead this Rosary? Think of Our Blessed Mother, and think of the good it would do your family.
New “Year” Begins. Summer is over and the new school year begins, which means that the parish gets much busier as activities that were recessed for the summer are starting up again. Here are some that are beginning this week:
Liturgically. Beginning last Wednesday, September 4, the following Mass and Confession times are added back to our regular schedule:
• Every Wednesday evening: 7pm Mass (after Benediction);
• Every Sunday morning: Confessions ½ hour before 9 and 11am Masses, i.e., 8:30 to 9am, 10:30 to 11am.
Religious Education (CCD). CCD begins this evening, September 8. Parents, don’t forget to bring your kids this evening, or on Monday or Tuesday, whichever day you’ve signed up for. If you haven’t registered yet, it’s not too late: registration forms in the narthex, go to the parish website or call the RE office ASAP.
American Heritage Girls and Trail Life (Boys). We are very happy to have both of these Christian oriented scouting groups in our parish. If you are interested in signing up see the bulletin below or our parish website.
Choir. Our wonderful choir will be returning to sing at Mass next week. We can always use new members and Elisabeth Turco, our Music Director Extraordinaire, is excellent at coaching experienced singers. For more information contact Elisabeth at music@straymonds.org or call 703-506-4644.
Want to Become a Catholic or Receive Confirmation? Our new RCIA class begins this Monday, September 9, at 7:00 to 8:15 pm in the Parish Office Classroom (Maurer Room). Those seeking information to understand and/or to enter the Catholic Church, and baptized Catholics seeking additional sacraments are welcomed. See below for more information.
New Adult Bible Study. Our Adult Bible Study start up again this Tuesday, September 10, with Dominic Casella, PhD-candidate at CUA. Classes will be on Tuesdays, with a morning session from 9:30 to 10:30am and an evening session 7:00 to 8:00pm in the Parish Hall. The topic: the Gospel of John. You can find more details on the parish website.
Distinguished Speaker Series. For the 14th year in a row Fr. Tad Pacholczyk kicks off our speakers for the year next Saturday, September 14. His topic is very pertinent given the issues of the upcoming election: “Beginning of Life Issues: In Vitro Fertilization, Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Human Embryos.” His conference will begin after the 9am Mass at 9:45 a.m. and conclude at about Noon.
Fr. Tad’s holds a doctorate in Neuroscience from Yale University, and did his theological studies in Rome. He now serves as Senior Ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. All are invited!
Missionary Appeal. Next Sunday (and Saturday Vigil), September 14/15, Fr. Sabas Banshirahe, a priest of the African Diocese of Kigoma in Tanzania, will be preaching at all Masses and making a mission appeal. The second collection at all those Masses will support the Church in Kigoma. Please give generously.
I’d like to share some information that Fr. Banshirahe has sent me about his diocese:
The Catholic Diocese of Kigoma is one of 35 dioceses in Tanzania. It is located in the rural western part of Tanzania in East Africa. The diocese has a population of 2.2 million of whom 509,000 are Catholics. Rt. Rev. Joseph R Mlola, the ordinary of the diocese has 66 diocesan priests, about 20 religious priests, religious nuns and brothers and 620 catechists who minister in parishes, outstations, and special ministries throughout the diocese.
The Diocese of Kigoma is very poor due to the low income of her people who earn their livelihood through traditional agriculture, which is un-mechanized, small-scale, and relying on weather. Bad weather leads to many people not having food to sustain families throughout the year. Poor earning of our people affects their ability to support the various ministries in the diocese.
The Diocese of Kigoma makes mission appeal this year to support:
• Ministry to Orphans: This ministry comprises 1000 orphan children in two orphanages. Our orphan children have been left behind after the deaths of their parents due to HIV pandemic and many other tropical deceases. The diocese is trying to provide these children with their educational, spiritual, medical and nutritional needs.
• Ministry to the Refugees: This ministry comprises 300,000 refugees in three refugee camps located in the Diocese. The refugees in our diocese are running away from their home countries due to existing civil wars. This population arrives in the camps wounded in so many ways and has lost almost everything with many of their families dead and displaced. The Diocese needs to minister to them. Your generosity to our ministries will make great difference to the lives of these suffering sisters and brothers.
• Ministry to the Seminarian Formation: This ministry comprises of 95 college level seminarians who study in different collage years for our diocese. Covering educational expenses for our seminarians is a challenge. Most of our seminarians come from very financially humble families who are struggling to make ends meet. The diocese needs to find means to provide these young men with financial aid so that they may remain in formation.
September 11, 2001. Lest we forget….Never forget. God bless America, and all her warriors and others who protect our freedoms. May the Lord bless and protect us, and save us from our foes, within and without.
Oremus pro invicem. Fr. De Celles