August 27, 2017 • Twenty-First Sunday In Ordinary Time

902 East Ninth Street • Hopkinsville, KY 42240

Saints

Peter & Paul C AT H O L I C C H U R C H

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday evening .................................... 5:00 PM Sunday ................................. 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM Misa en Español ............... 2:00 PM, 10:30 PM Monday - Saturday ................................ 8:00 AM Wednesday ......................................... 5:30 PM Thursday MISA EN ESPAÑOL ..................... 5:30 PM

Established 1872

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

We are a Roman Catholic Community of Christians called to be a priestly people, a household of faith, a temple of the Holy Spirit, a beacon of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church shining for Jesus Christ in the heart of Christian County. Rev. Fr. Richard Meredith, Pastor crmeredith@stsppchurch.org Rev. Fr. Basilio Az Cuc, Parochial Vicar bazcuc@stsppchuch.org

Permanent Deacon, Mr. Tim Barnes tdbarnes@stsppchurch.org Permanent Deacon, Dr. Bill Sweet wesweet@stsppchurch.org

PARISH OFFICE PHONE: (270) 885-8522 PARISH FAX: (270) 885-5296 PARISH WEBSITE: www.stsppchurch.org DIOCESAN WEBSITE: www.owensborodiocese.org VATICAN WEBSITE: www.vatican.va OFFICE HOURS: 8 AM - 5 PM Monday – Thursday 8 AM - 12 PM Friday

(Closed Noon -1:00 Monday-Thursday)

SCHOOL TELEPHONE: (270) 886-0172 SCHOOL FAX: (270) 887-9924 SCHOOL WEBSITE: www.stsppschool.org

Tru†h Radio WSPP 93.5 FM (Local Catholic Radio)

Saints Peter and Paul Assistance: 270-886-6027

Saints Peter and Paul Thrift Store: 270-962-7008

MEMBERSHIP IN THE PARISH We give a sincere welcome to all new families moving into our Parish. Please register in the Parish Office as soon as possible. Families who plan to move from our parish

community are asked to inform us.

Bulletin material deadline: Monday at noon in writing or email.

SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY

The Catholic Church teaches that the sexual abuse of any person is a grave moral evil. To report any instance of sexual abuse by any employ-

ee of the Catholic Church please call the Office of the Bishop in Owens-boro at (270) 683-1545. The Safe Environment Program is now avail-able at the Diocesan website www.owensborodiocese.org

† SACRAMENTS † † Reconciliation: Confessions will be heard Saturday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (English and Spanish), Wednesday at 4:30 PM. (ENGLISH and SPANISH). Confessions will be heard any time by appointment.

† Baptism: Baptismal Preparation Class is usually held the first Sun-day of each month. Our next class is scheduled for September 3, 2017 at 4:00 pm. Please call the Parish Office. Registration is re-quired.

† Marriage: Contact the Office six months prior to the desired date.

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Parish Pastoral Council

Robin Bilan, Chair, Education…...……………...rcbilan@hotmail.com Jim Creighton, Administration ……………..creighton.jim@gmail.com Libby Downs, Pastoral Associate ………….ljdowns@stsppchurch.org Norma Folz, Worship ..…………………………nbfolz@gmail.com Gary Harden, Assistant Chair, Family Life……garyharden@gmail.com Fran Marko, Secretary ………………………....franmarko@gmail.com Morgan Murray, Spiritual Life ...morgan.c.murray.1@vanderbilt.com Hilda Linares, Social Concern……………………………………….. Katie Wyatt, Principal …………………...kwyatt@stsppschool.org

PARISH STAFF

Tom Buehrle (twbuehrle@att.net)...............Director Of Stewardship Brenda Chaudoin (bchaudoin@stsppchurch.org)…. Parish Office Mgr. Libby Downs (ljdowns@stsppchurch.org)............Pastoral Associate

Jennifer Groves (jgroves@stsppschool.org)…… School Secretary Leigh Ann Johnson …………………Parish Assistance Coordinator Steve Kinnard (skinnard@stsppchurch.org)...Maintenance Foreman Katie Wyatt (kwyatt@stsppschool.org)...................School Principal Donna Pfeufer (dgpfeufer@gmail.com)……...Thrift Store Gen. Mgr. Angie Phillips (abphillips2013@gmail.com)……...Thrift Store Mgr. Mayra Tirado (mtirado@stsppchurch.org)...Hispanic Ministry Asst. Sue Wassmer (swassmer@stsppchurch.org)............Parish Secretary Dan Wilkinson (dwilkinson@stsppchurch.org)....Parish Music Director

MINISTRY TO THE SICK Please notify the Parish Office upon admission of a family member into any hospital or nursing home. Any parishioner who is ill or infirm may request anointing by calling the Parish

Office, 270-885-8522.

PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

This is a devotion whereby members of the parish unite in tak-ing hours of Adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament dur-ing the day and throughout the night, seven days a week. (Code required for evenings.) There is a regular schedule of adorers but all are welcome to stop in for a visit. Parishioners are encouraged to sign up for a scheduled weekly Adoration time. Please contact Bill & Jenny Rush at 270-885-2888, if you are interested in adopting an hour or if you can be a sub-stitute or prayer partner. Available hours: 11 pm Mondays, 4 am & 11 pm Tuesdays, 1am Wednesdays, 11 pm Fridays, 3 am, 8 pm & 9 pm Saturdays. We also need a prayer partner for Tues-day 8am and hourly captains for 8am & 9am hours

Diocesan Safe Environment Policy: The safety of our children is the responsibility of every Christian. Anyone aware of the abuse of a person under the age of eighteen is required by law to report this to the proper state authorities: local law enforcement (Hopkinsville City Police – 270-890-1300 or Christian County Sheriff’s Office – 270-887-4135), the local Commonwealth’s Attor-ney (Lynn Pryor – 270-889-6587), or the Kentucky Child Abuse Hotline (toll-free: 1-877-KYSAFE1; 1-877-597-2331). To report to the diocese abuse by church personnel (paid or volunteer) either past or present, please call the Pastoral Assistance Coordinator at this confidential phone line: 270-852-8380. The Diocese of Owensboro’s sexual abuse policy is availa-ble at this parish (e.g. in the back of church, on the parish bulletin board, in the book rack, in the parish office) and also on the diocesan web site (https://owensborodiocese.org/safe ).

Did you Know: Some questions about the singing of the

Lamb of God during Mass has come up. Below are the di-rectives given for this part of the Holy Mass. May it help all of us to learn and appreciate what is taking place during Mass.

The Fraction of the Bread 83. The Priest breaks the Eucharistic Bread, with the assis-tance, if the case requires, of the Deacon or a concele-brant. The gesture of breaking bread done by Christ at the Last Supper, which in apostolic times gave the entire Eucha-ristic Action its name, signifies that the many faithful are made one body (1 Cor 10:17) by receiving Communion from the one Bread of Life, which is Christ, who for the salvation of the world died and rose again. The fraction or breaking of bread is begun after the sign of peace and is carried out with prop-er reverence, and should not be unnecessarily prolonged or accorded exaggerated importance. This rite is reserved to the Priest and the Deacon. The Priest breaks the Bread and puts a piece of the host into the chalice to signify the unity of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the work of salvation, namely, of the Body of Jesus Christ, living and glorious. The supplication Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) is usually sung by the choir or cantor with the congregation replying; or at least recited aloud. This invocation accompanies the fraction of the bread and, for this reason, may be repeated as many times as necessary until the rite has been completed. The final time it concludes with the words grant us peace.

AUGUST 27, 2017 • TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 3

The Great Eclipse of 2017

Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ, Papal Astronomer; a nearly cloudless day with a cool breeze; the awe of faith and science; street to street, wall to wall people: whole families, all ages, even nuns, priests, brothers, astrono-mers—a whole kaleidoscope of overwhelmingly friendly people; Press and Media all over the place; whoops and crickets welcome totality and a spectacular corona; Gover-nor Bevin visits Br. Guy at the Hensley farm (Lynne hosted Br. Guy, Prof. Chris & Tina Graney); parishioner with Heim-lich maneuver saves the life of a choking journalist; Catholic News Service interviews three Sts. Peter & Paul School chil-dren and their father; courteous and grateful visitors to the parish relief station (prayers answered); people astounded that we did not charge them for the talk or for the use of the restrooms (I discretely monitored); a job well done by the Eclipse Committee, special mention Jim Creighton; volun-teer security from the HPD; Parish & Piggly Wiggly serve fried chicken and potato salad to the HPD on eclipse day; bustling Knights of Columbus tent/rv city on 9th Street; Kin-nard’s one-man-army support; Pinchos and other delights of the Guadalupe Committee; a school full of properly equipped sun gazers; unique Hopkinsville memorabilia; US Eclipse Stamps; Eclipse projector and maple leaf crescent shadows; plenty of eclipse viewing glasses; lifetime of mem-ories. I am grateful to Saints Peter & Paul Parish and Par-ish Staff for the reception of the idea to host the Vatican Observatory in the person of Brother Guy, the VO Director, and for running with our participation in the community’s celebration of the total solar eclipse of 2017. This is abso-lutely a quality of the Catholic tradition of faith and science, the embrace of the unity of truth, trust in the faithfulness of God our Creator. This is one for the archives. Take a well deserved break but be advised that we will still be in the zone of very good viewing (very near totality) for the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024. Thanks & Blessings. Fr. Richard

This breathtaking picture of the Eclipse was taken by NASA.

Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ, Director of the Vatican Ob-servatory and President of the Vatican Observatory Foun-dation speaking to a packed church on Sunday evening as he shares his presentation of “Faith and Science”.

Brother Guy lead presentations to our Saints Peter and Paul students and stopped to take a picture with our pre-school.

We give thanks to our Knights of Columbus for a reception following the presentation by Brother Guy Consol-magno in the narthex. Donation baskets for the Vatican Ob-servatory Foundation were available on these tables. Be-cause of everyone's generosity, $765.37 is being donated to them.

Saints Peter and Paul Thrift Store Bake Sale: The Saints Peter and Paul Thrift Store will be sponsoring a bake sale

after all Masses this weekend, August 26th and 27th. Anyone wishing to do-nate baked items can drop them off before Mass on either Saturday evening or Sunday morning. Thank you for your support and don’t forget to stop by and pick up a dessert for Sunday’s dinner.

SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY 4

Daily Morning Mass: Please know Fr. Basilio has gone home to Guatemala to see his family and will be away from August 23rd thru September 2nd. Due to this, there is a change in our Daily Morning Mass schedule. As Fr. Richard is away on Tuesday afternoon thru Wednesday afternoon to assist with the care of his mother, there will be NO 8:00 a.m. Mass on:

Wednesday, August 30

There WILL BE Mass on this day at 5:30 p.m. with the Sacrament of Reconciliation offered beginning at 4:30 p.m. Please keep Fr. Basilio in your prayers as he travels.

Thank You Note: We received a “Thank You” note and we wanted to share it with you. Dear Saints Peter and Paul Parish: Thank you to all the parishioners who prepared food and worked on the funeral meal for Thomas "Pat" Wilson. It was amazing. Thank you so much for taking this responsibility off our family at a time of sadness. Thank You Again, The Family of Thomas Patrick “Pat” Wilson.

Thank You: The Guadalupe Com-mittee has been busy the last few days as they sold great food – Pinchos, Nachos, Frutas, Tamales, Elotes and Aguas on North Drive dur-ing the Eclipse Weekend. All monies earned will be used for the upcoming Guadalupe Celebration in December. The Guadalupe Committee and friends want to Thank You for your support and your friendship.

September Mass Counts – September is the Diocesan ap-pointed time to conduct the annual Mass attendance counts in all parishes in the Diocese. At all weekend Masses dur-ing September, our ushers will count every man, woman, and child present at Mass. These Mass counts are sent to the Diocese to determine our parish needs.

Baptismal Class: Our next Baptismal Preparation Class will be held on Sunday, September 3rd at 4:00 p.m. This class is for all first-time parents who wish to have their child baptized in the Catholic Church. Registration is re-quired. Simply call the office to register for this class. We encourage families to attend the class before the birth of their child and godparents are urged to attend as well. St. Stephen’s Cathedral: On Wednesday, September 6th we unite our prayers with St. Stephen’s Cathedral parish-ioners as they celebrate the 91st anniversary of the dedi-cation of their church and our Cathedral. Did you Know? On September 6, 1926, the third St. Stephen Church build-ing was dedicated by Most Reverend John A. Floersh of Louisville, Kentucky. On December 10, 1937, the Diocese of Owensboro was carved out of the Archdiocese of

Sophia Award: We were officially notified by the Dioce-san Office of Stewardship and Development that this year’s winner of the Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Sophia Award

goes to Tony Esposito. We congratu-late Tony and his entire family. Tony has served our parish in many ways – He has served as a Eucharistic Minister for 20 years at Mass and 14 years to our homebound, hospital and nursing facilities, choir member with our Knights of Columbus, has served on our Parish Pastoral Council and Fi-nance Committee, serves as an adorer with our Perpetual Eucharistic Adora-tion ministry since its beginning, is a 4th

Degree Knights of Columbus member where he is involved in the Lenten Fish Fry’s, Thanksgiving and Christmas food drives, Wreaths Across America projects, helped initiate the Knights of Columbus Golf Scramble that is now in its 14th year, and much more. Tony is also involved in our commu-nity here in Hopkinsville. Let us give thanks to Tony Esposito and offer prayers for his family as he will receive the So-phia Award on Sunday, September 10th at 2:00 p.m. at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro.

Update on Byron Macias and Ordination Expense: Below please find a summary of the expenses and contributions to the Ordination celebration for Fr. Byron Macias. You will notice that after all expenses, we were able to make a do-nation to the Claretian Missionaries in the amount of $1,211.55. Thank you for your generosity. Remember if you wish to send a card or note to Fr. Byron his address is: Fr. Byron Macias, CMF; Holy Cross/ Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church; 4541 S Wood St, Chicago, IL 60609.

Byron Macias Ordination Donation/Expense Summary Donations Received: $ 7,768.50

For Vestments: $ 300.00 For Celebrations: $ 7,468.50 Expenses Paid: $ 7,768.50

Vestments: $ 243.29 Ordination Mass Expenses: $ 857.58

Reception: $ 3,067.27 Gift to Fr. Byron: $ 500.00 First Mass Celebrations: $ 684.70 Assessment of Donations to Diocese of Owensboro: $1,204.11 Donation of Excess funds to Claretians: $1,211.55 Balance: $ 0.00 Please note that while we were required by the Diocese to pay Assessment of $1,201.11 on the donations received we also estimate that their expenses were nearly $1,900.00. These include payments to the musicians, multiple trips from Owensboro for planning and the Ordination Mass and as-sistance in paying for the printed programs.

AUGUST 27, 2017 • TWENTIY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH AUGUST 28-SEPTEMBER 3

Readings for the Week of August 27, 2017 Sunday: Is 22:19-23/Ps 138:1-3, 6, 8/Rom 11:33-36/ Mt 16:13-20 Monday: 1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10/Ps 149:1b-6a, 9b/ Mt 23:13-22 Tuesday: 1 Thes 2:1-8/Ps 139:1-6/Mk 6:17-29 Wednesday: 1 Thes 2:9-13/Ps 139:7-12ab/Mt 23:27-32 Thursday: 1 Thes 3:7-13/Ps 90:3-5a, 12-14, 17/ Mt 24:42-51 Friday: 1 Thes 4:1-8/Ps 97:1, 2b, 5-6, 10-12/

Mt 25:1-13 Saturday: 1 Thes 4:9-11/Ps 98:1, 7-9/Mt 25:14-30 Next Sunday: Jer 20:7-9/Ps 63:2-6, 8-9/Rom 12:1-2/ Mt 16:21-27

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Louisville; two weeks later, news came from Rome that Reverend Francis R. Cotton, then chan-cellor of Louisville, had been named the first Bishop of the Diocese of Ow-ensboro. On January 18, 1937, Saint Stephen church was designated as the Cathedral of the new diocese. The in-stallation of Bishop Cotton was held on March 8, 1938. Then came Bishop

Henry J. Soenneker on May 9, 1961, Bishop John Jeremiah McRaith on December 15, 1982 and our Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Owensboro Bishop William Francis Medley, installed on February 10, 2010.

Benediction: Come join us for Benediction on Friday, Sep-tember 1st (First Friday) at 1:45 p.m. in the Church. We celebrate Benediction with our school children. Come and pray with us, come and sing and give praise to God. Bene-diction is also offered on “First Saturdays” at the conclusion of the 8:00 a.m. Mass.

First Saturdays: Come and join us as we pray the rosary on First Saturdays after the 8:00 a.m. morning Mass as this Rosary is offered for the Unborn. All are welcome.

Silver Streaks: Our Silver Streaks will have an “Event Plan-ning meeting” for the coming year THIS Tuesday, August 29th at 10:00 a.m. in the Office Annex. After the meeting all are invited to join them for lunch at a local restaurant. If you are 50 years old or over, please plan to join us for this meeting and for our monthly outings. WE NEED YOU! For more information, call Julia Borders at 886-6061.

Offer Your Intentions with Candles: Six candles surround the Blessed Sacrament in our Saints Peter and Paul Perpetu-al Adoration Chapel, each burning for 6 days. Request your own personal intentions for their duration by contacting the Parish Office at 270-885-8522. The suggested donation is $15.00.

Mon: Parish Council Mtg.-OA, 6:00 pm Tue: Silver Streaks Planning Mtg.-OA, 10 am Guadalupe Comm.-OA, 6 pm Wed: Rosary Makers-HFR, 8:45 am Choir-6:30 pm MS/HS Youth Parent Meeting-Gym, 6:30 pm Fri: Education Council Mtg.-OA, 11:30 am

Stewardship News…….In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds the Romans — and us — that all things come from God: “For from Him and through Him and for Him all things are.” Good stewards understand that all is gift and share generously the gifts of time, talent, and treasure with which they’ve been blessed.

Budget News Weekly Parish Collection ................................................. $12,383.04 Weekly Parish Budget Needs ......................................... $17,005.00 Diocesan Assess. ‘17/’18 (Due:$63,662.00) Paid…….$9,792.00

Special Collection Assumption (Past Due Bills)………..$1,691.00 Vatican Observatory Donation ……………...………...$765.37 Weekly Capital Improvement Donations ............................ $135.00 Capital Improvement Fund Balance ............................... $19,380.95 Weekly A Legacy of Faith Fund Pledge Payments…...$1,684.00 A Legacy of Faith Fund Balance ...................................... $31,377.52 Diocesan Construction Loan to date ........................ $2,731,380.61 Stained Glass Window Donation .................................................... $0 Stained Glass Window Fund Balance ........................ $388,206.99

Monday, August 28 St. Augustine

8:00 AM † BENNIE & LAURA DYMEK

Tuesday, August 29 The Passion of St. John The Baptist

8:00 AM † JUANITA LERMA

Wednesday, August 30

8:00 AM NO AM MASS

5:30 PM † PHIL CARSONE

Thursday, August 31

8:00 AM † PETER NGUYEN

5:30 PM Spanish † SANDY MUELLER

Friday, September 1

8:00 AM ASHTON SPURR

Saturday, September 2

8:00 AM † EILEEN MCSHANE WOODS

5:00 PM † RYAN STINE

Sunday, September 3 22nd Sunday In Ordinary Time

8:00 AM † GEORGE & VICTORIA SPURR

10:30 AM TIM & VICKY BARNES

2:00 PM Spanish FOR ALL PARISHIONERS

10:30 PM Spanish † JESUS FLORES

† Indicates Requiem Mass

SANCTUARY LAMP JIMMY COOK

ADORATION CHAPEL CANDLES

SPPS TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AIDES AND STAFF

©Liturgical Publications Inc

Baptism: We welcome through the waters of Baptism Samantha Cruz De Jesus, the daughter of Jose Leonardo

Cruz Garcia and Elpidia De Jesus Salas who was baptized on Satur-day, August 12th here at Saints Peter and Paul by Fr. Basilio. Congratulations!

SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY 6

In Need of Prayers… Bradford Heights –Melnora Altshuler, Han-nelore Vanderklok Covington Convalescent–Pat Chesnut, Karen Logsdon, Teresa Mathieu Western State Nursing Facility- Arnold Borders, Debbie Dickerson, Ellen Jones Christian Health Center- Lillian Cotthoff, Norma Downs, Barbara Holubecki, Eleanor Rogers Friendship House- Christine Mills Others.. Clarence & Helen Allard, Trudy Anhalt, Diane Bailey, Jean Baker, Garrett Blue, Norma Boyd, Madison Boren, Marie Chandler, Alice Chuhralya, Sam Chesnut, Mary Curtsinger, Katie Holmes Dillingham, Bonita Fitzger-ald, Terry Flanders & Family, Connie Fowler, Martha Fowler, , Ron & Janice Godot, Scott & Stacey Godot, Jim Gorman, Beth Han-cock, Debbie Harden, Mary Jean Hester, Jason & Monica Jefcoat & Family, Carol Johnson, Anita Jones, Jacob & Lindsay Jones & Family, Joe Kukral, Larry Lytle, Margie Meredith, Carlo & Lucia Mereu, Joe Mezzoni Sr., Elizabeth Miller, Mary Ann Moore, Eric Moran, Juan Nicanor, Bill Nichol, Theresa Pazin, Larry Puckett, Emi-ly Thomas Pyle, Diana Quarles, Martha Reed, Lynn Reeves, Bran-don & Tara Rush Family, Emma & Gabriela Schiller, Kristian Shouse, Sharon Smith, Mike & Marilyn Stocker, Georgiann Svestka, Ken Swicicki, Jerry & Bernie Thomas, Rose Ann Tobin, Ron Todd, David Turner, Helen Winstead, James Wittschack

Grandparents Day: Marian McQuade of Oak Hill, West Virginia has been recognized nationally by the United States Senate – in particu-lar by Senators Jennings Randolph and Robert Byrd – and by President Jimmy Carter, as the founder of Na-

tional Grandparents Day. McQuade made it her goal to educate the youth in the community] about the important con-tributions seniors have made throughout history. She also urged the youth to "adopt" a grandparent, not just for one day a year, but rather for a lifetime. In 1973, Senator Jennings Randolph (D-WV) introduced a resolution to the senate to make Grandparents' Day a na-tional holiday. West Virginia's Governor Arch Moore had proclaimed an annual Grandparents' Day for the state, at the urging of Marian McQuade. When Senator Randolph's resolution in the U.S. Senate died in committee, Marian McQuade organized supporters and began contacting gov-ernors, senators, and congressmen in all fifty states. She urged each state to proclaim their own Grandparents' Day. Within three years, she had received Grandparents' Day proclamations from forty-three states. She sent copies of the proclamations to Senator Randolph. In February 1977, Senator Randolph, with the con-currence of many other senators, introduced a joint resolu-tion to the senate requesting the president to "issue annually a proclamation designating the first Sunday of September after Labor Day of each year as 'National Grandparents' Day'." Congress passed the legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents' Day and, on August 3, 1978, then-President Jimmy Carter signed

Please Pray for our Deployed Soldiers & Families: Jeremy Chuhralya, Ace Crawford,

Richelle Goodin, Bryan Yoder

LAY MINISTERS SEPTEMBER 2/3

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Saturday, 5:00 pm Altar Servers ............................... Piper Davis, Lena Jo Davis Cross Bearer .............................................. Suzanna Sargeant Commentator .................................................. Imelda Gorman Lectors: .............................. Tommy Winters, Donna Pfeufer Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers: ................... Earl Combs, ......................... Regina Combs, Arsha Battah, Vicky Barnes Choir Loft ...................... Tony Esposito, JoAshley Hall Ushers ................................................ Joe Mezzoni, Todd Hall .................................... Laura Waldron, Doyle Shelton Vocational Cross .............................................. Carol Johnson

Sunday, 8:00 am Altar Servers ................................. Kylee Spurr, Josh Groves Cross Bearer .......................................................... Lucy Wilkins Commentator .................................................. LaDonna Downs Lectors ......................................... Robert Hill, Libbie Rutland Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers: ................... Lana Bastin, ............................ Terri Means, Lori Gardner, Dan Gardner Choir Loft .......................................... Frank Raber, Bob Stites Ushers .................................... Richard Dymek, Rocky Spader .................................................. Dirk Downs, Dillon Folz Vocational Cross ......................................... Robert Hill Family

Sunday 10:30 am Altar Servers ...........................Vy Nguyen, Athena Wagner Cross Bearer ..................................................... Thieng Nguyen Commentator ......................................................... Vicki Luckey Lectors ....................................... Dee Dailey, Karla Wagner Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers: ........... Joyce Wiedmer, ......................... Don McCowan, Nathan Tillman, Kelly King Choir Loft ........................... Vicky Barnes, Jennifer Hanks Ushers ..............................................Bill Harkins, Billy Garnett ................................................. James Long, Kelly King Vocational Cross .................................. Steve Kinnard Family

2:00 PM MISA EN ESPAÑOL Comentarista: ...…….......……..............Angeles Hernández 1-2 Lectura:…...................Tomasa Montiel, Evelia Ocampo Ministro E:……….………...Ana Ethridge, Juanita Montejo Hospitalidad:………..…..Tomas Macario, Miguel Magaña Monaguillos: …….……..……Irvin Juárez, Michelle Salas

the proclamation. The statute cites the day's purpose: "...to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help chil-dren become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer". Therefore this year we will cele-brate Grandparents Day on Sunday, September 10th. Plan right now to do something special for or with your grandparents – living or deceased. They are the backbone

of our families so don’t forget to thank them!

AUGUST 27, 2017 • TWENTIY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 7

Pastor’s Greeting: When Jesus asked the Twelve who they thought him to be, I suspect it was an awk-ward moment. By the grace of God, liter-ally, Simon Peter correctly identifies Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Verbally. What he says is true, but he has no idea what that identity means. In fact, when Jesus tells the Twelve what it means they are repulsed by what they learn. “May God forbid! No way!” To be the Christ is to be the Lamb of God who is killed, who accepts death to take and bear away the sins of the world and by rising redeems and makes a new crea-tion. This means that any who would be disciples of this Christ will necessarily share his fate and destiny. Staring with fear and revulsion at the Cross, no one follows Jesus of Nazareth. Seeing through faith the victory of Divine Love and Mercy in Jesus Crucified and Risen, one cries “Alleluia!” and moved by his love follows him with unshakable hope. A person who identifies as Christian but actually rejects the Cross in his or her own life has the language but not the reality that goes with it. This is why Jesus commands the Twelve not to speak of his being the Christ, the Son of the Living God. While their words would be true, their uncon-verted lives would deny it. To be a Christian is to live self-sacrificing love, faithfully. To live a self-pursuing life and to identify as Christian is to live a lie about Jesus. It is false witness. I know well that my witness and yours are complex insofar as we represent Jesus Christ. All of us, because of our sins, give a mixed witness. It is good to confess this in public and to ask pardon of God and of each other. Mercy and humility go a long way toward repairing our witness to Jesus, as we tell who he is (and is to us personally) to the world around us. I believe that when you and I pray the Lord is say-ing to us, “Here I am.” “I am with you.” “Yoke up with me in this.” But he also is asking us as we speak in prayer to him, “Who do you believe me to be?” “Who do you say that I am in this?” My prayer, whether I am conscious of it or not, does answer those questions. My behaviors certainly do. May God have mercy on me a sinner, for as I answer who Christ is to me, I also hear who I am to him. This dynamic comes to sharp focus in the Sacra-ments, especially in relationship to the Eucharist and to Mar-riage. In the Eucharist you and I who take Communion re-ceive the Crucified and Risen Christ within ourselves, desir-ing to replicate in ourselves the very dying and rising of Jesus, living this out in our own self-sacrificing love as we follow him. In Marriage the rule is this: “Spouses, love each other as Christ loves the Church and gives himself up for her.” This means to sacrifice oneself utterly for the other and to welcome the other’s utterly self-sacrificing gift. Is this what you aim at in your marriage? Couples considering or planning marriage, is this what you are contemplating? Spouses, is this how you began the marriage that you have? Is this the context you experience in daily life? As a Church we have not done well in speaking this truth and in helping our members grow toward Christ and

Marriage in him. Where there is grace, however, an imper-fect love can ignite into the gift which Christ offers to hus-bands and wives whose union is in him and is grounded in the mystery of his Cross and Resurrection. It is the same Divine Love which enables an imperfect contrition in the Sac-rament of Penance to ignite into true repentance and con-version of life. The New Evangelization for which the Catholic bish-ops are calling does require the fruitful grace of genuinely self-sacrificing priests and religious (not fake, self-pursuing imposters). But these at most will only be support staff to the true, new evangelizers, namely men and women who are truly married in Jesus Christ, who live his Cross and Resur-rection and tell the world what joy this is for them and for their children. When they say who Jesus is, the world will pay attention. Fr. Richard What is a Blue Mass? The first Blue Mass was celebrated on September 29, 1934 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in

Washington, DC by Rev. Thomas Dade, who had founded the Catho-lic Police and Firemen's Society. On that day, 1,100 police officers and firemen dressed in blue uniforms processed into St. Patrick's to honor the fallen members of their ranks. The Blue Mass began to spread to other cities in the northeastern Unit-

ed States from that day on. Following the events of 9/11, the Blue Mass began to be celebrated in cities from coast to coast to honor the many law enforcement officers, firefight-ers, and emergency medical personnel who gave their lives so that others might live. It is estimated that 25,000 people were saved on 9/11 as a result of their courage.

The Blue Mass allows us to remember not only the heroes of 9/11 but also the heroes in our own community, the women and men who put themselves in harm's way daily to serve, protect and defend us. Here at Saints Peter and Paul, we too would like to honor and recognize the extraordinary dedication of the public servants who quietly exemplify the noble virtues of our faith. Last year we held our first Blue Mass and we would like to continue this tradition again this year. There-fore, this year we will offer our Blue Mass for all police of-fice, firefighters, first responders and emergency medical technicians on Monday, September 11th at 8:00 a.m. along with all our school children. The Mass will include a blessing of these community servants and will continue with a recep-tion in the narthex. All are invited to attend the Mass to pray and show appreciation for those who serve and pro-tect the public.