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Fr.
Charles
Puthota
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From
the Pastor's
Desktop
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A
Message from
Father Charles
Puthota
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October
13,
2024
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Dear
Parishioners of
St.
Elizabeth,
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Word of God, 28th Sunday
in Ordinary Time Year
B: The gospel
portrays a haunting
story of a man who wants
to follow Jesus more
closely but is unable to
because of his
possessions. Then Jesus
goes on to give his
reflections on how our
wealth can prevent us
from being the persons
God calls us to be.
"It's easier for a camel
to go through the eye of
a needle rather than for
a rich man to enter the
Kingdom of God." When we
choose to rely on our
possessions, we might
come to have a false
sense of security about
life; that we could
somehow be happy because
of things we accumulate;
that we do not have to
bother with putting our
trust in and dependence
on God. Jesus gives many
teachings about how to
approach wealth. Wealth
is a servant, a slave,
not our master. We need
to use everything, as
St. Ignatius of Loyola
would say, in so far as
they help us to fulfill
the purpose God has for
each one of us. If
things prevent us from
being truly happy and
internally free, then
they are hindrances.
Life is full of choices;
the ones that may be
helpful for one may not
be meant for someone
else. We have to
honestly before God
choose those that will
bring peace and
happiness to our minds
and hearts.
October, a Month
Dedicated to the
BVM: Some images
of Mary for me are very
striking and have been
spiritually nourishing
and comforting. One is
the way Mary intervenes
and helps the wedding
family at Cana. She
could have stayed on the
sidelines when the party
ran out of wine, but she
gets engaged. She can't
bear to see the family
come to embarrassment.
She approaches Jesus
that he should do
something, but he
hesitates saying his
hour has not yet come.
But Mary persists and
tell the workers "to do
whatever he tells you to
do." Jesus turns water
into wine as the first
"sign" of his
manifestation to the
world. Mary's role here
to me is amazing and
absolutely refreshing.
She helps those in need.
She is always looking
out for us and reaches
out to us. She
constantly approaches
her son entreating him
on our behalf. Praying
the Rosary is one of the
ways we could
emotionally keep in
touch with the Blessed
Mother.
Tuesday, October
15: Feast of St. Teresa
of Avila. St.
Teresa of Ávila
(1515-1582) was a
Spanish mystic,
Carmelite nun, and
reformer of her
religious Order. Known
for her profound
spiritual writings, she
authored "The Interior
Castle" and "The Way of
Perfection," which
explored deep prayer,
union with God, and the
soul's journey toward
spiritual perfection.
Teresa co-founded the
Discalced Carmelites,
emphasizing poverty,
simplicity, and
contemplative prayer.
She experienced mystical
visions and is
recognized for her deep
devotion to Christ. In
1970, she became the
first woman to be named
a Doctor of the Church,
honoring her theological
contributions.
The Prayer of St.
Teresa of Avila:
Nada te turbe, nada te
espante, todo se pasa;
Dios no se muda. La
paciencia todo lo
alcanza; Quien a Dios
tiene, nada le falta;
Solo Dios basta.
Translation: Let nothing
disturb you, nothing
surprise you, all things
pass; God does not
change. Patience wins
everything; whoever
holds onto God lacks
nothing; God alone is
enough.
Friday, October
18: Feast of St. Luke,
Evangelist
St. Luke the
Evangelist is
traditionally recognized
as the author of the
Gospel of Luke
and the Acts of the
Apostles in the New
Testament. He is one of
the four Evangelists and
is often symbolized by
an ox or calf,
reflecting the themes of
sacrifice in his Gospel.
Here are key aspects of
St. Luke's life and
legacy: 1. Background
and Profession: St.
Luke is believed to have
been a Greek physician
from Antioch, a major
city in ancient Syria
(now Turkey). This
background explains the
attention to detail and
healing themes found in
his writings. As a
physician, his writing
style in the Gospel of
Luke is known for its
clarity and precision,
especially when
describing medical
conditions and miracles
of healing. 2. Role
as a Historian and
Writer: Luke's
Gospel is notable
for its emphasis on the
universality of Jesus'
message, highlighting
Christ's compassion for
Gentiles, women, the
poor, and marginalized
people. The Acts of
the Apostles, also
attributed to him,
provides a detailed
history of the early
Christian church,
including the spread of
Christianity through the
Roman Empire and the
missionary journeys of
St. Paul. 3.
Association with St.
Paul: St. Luke was a
close companion of St.
Paul, accompanying him
on many of his
missionary journeys.
Paul refers to Luke as
"the beloved physician"
in Colossians
4:14 and mentions
him as being present
during his final
imprisonment in 2
Timothy 4:11. Luke's
writings in Acts
are considered valuable
for understanding the
early Christian
community and Paul's
work. 4. Unique
Themes in Luke's
Gospel: Infancy
Narratives: The
Gospel of Luke contains
detailed accounts of the
birth and early life of
Jesus, including the
Annunciation,
Visitation, and the
nativity story.
Parables: Some of
the most famous
parables, such as the
Good Samaritan
and the Prodigal
Son, are found only
in Luke's Gospel.
Focus on Prayer and
the Holy Spirit:
Luke emphasizes prayer
and the workings of the
Holy Spirit throughout
both his Gospel and
Acts. 5.
Patronage: St.
Luke is the patron saint
of physicians, surgeons,
artists, and butchers,
given his background as
a healer and his
detailed, compassionate
portrayal of human
suffering and healing in
his writings.
Humor of St.
Teresa of Avila:
St. Teresa of
Ávila, alongside
her deep spirituality,
had a great sense of
humor, which shines
through in some amusing
stories: 1.Teresa and
the Donkey: Once, while
traveling in poor
weather, her cart
overturned, leaving her
in the mud. Frustrated,
she prayed, "Lord, if
this is how you treat
your friends, no wonder
you have so few!" It
shows her candid
relationship with God.
2. Playful Teasing:
Teresa loved to laugh.
When she was once served
a lavish meal at a
convent, she joked,
"There is a time for
penance and a time for
partridge," reminding
her fellow nuns that
balance is important. 3.
A Little Mischief:
Teresa would at times
pretend to be drowsy
during long sermons. She
had a playful streak,
blending deep
spirituality with
lightheartedness. 4. At
the beginning of her
autobiography, she says,
"Having virtuous and
God-fearing parents
would have been enough
for me to be good if I
were not so wicked." 5.
She didn't have time for
false piety. She once
said, "From silly
devotions and sour-faced
saints, good Lord,
deliver us." 6. She
wrote: "A sad nun is a
bad nun
I am more
afraid of one unhappy
sister that a crowd of
evil spirits
What
would happen if we hid
what little sense of
humor we had? Let each
of us humbly use this to
cheer others."
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Your
Friend and
Pastor,
Father
Charles
Puthota.
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Further
Listening
Sessions
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Toward
the Synodal Meetings in October
2024
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In
preparation for the second
session of the Synod in October
2024, the Vatican has asked all
dioceses all over the world,
including in the United States,
to hold listening sessions on the
following two questions:
- "Where
have I seen or experienced
successes -- and distresses --
within the Church's
structure(s)/organization/leadership/life
that encourage or hinder the
mission?"
- "How
can the structures and
organization of the Church
help all the baptized to
respond to the call to
proclaim the Gospel and to
live as a community of love
and mercy in Christ?
Deadline
to submit the answers to the
U.S. Bishops' Conference is
April 8. These reports will be
synthesized regionally and
nationally--- and the final
report will be sent to the
Vatican Synodal Office by May
15, 2024.
The
Vatican's guidance that shaped
the above questions incorporates
four questions:
- "How
can we enhance the
differentiated
co-responsibility in the
mission of all the members of
the People of God?";
- "What
ways of relating, structures,
processes of discernment and
decision-making with regard to
mission make it possible to
recognize, shape, and promote
co-responsibility?";
- "What
ministries and participatory
bodies can be renewed or
introduced to better express
this co-responsibility?" and,
- "How
can these relations be
creatively articulated in
order to find 'a dynamic
balance between the dimension
of the Church as a whole and
its local roots?'
"
.............................................(Source:
America Magazine and
NCR)
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The
Synod on Synodality
October 2021 to October
2024
Theme:
Communion, Participation,
Mission: The Synod on Synodality
is a three-year process of
listening and dialogue that began
with a solemn opening in Rome on
October 9 and 10, 2021. The
synodal process will conclude in
2024. Each individual diocese in
the whole world has gone through
a process of preparation for the
Synod. The Synod is both an event
and a process in which the whole
People of God are called to walk
to gather together toward what
the Holy Spirit helps it to
discern as being the Lord's will
for his Church. Pope Francis has
invited the entire Church to
reflect on a theme that is
decisive for its life and
mission: "It is precisely this
path of synodality which God
expects of the Church of the
third millennium. This journey,
which follows in the wake of the
Church's "renewal" proposed by
the Second Vatican Council, is
both a gift and a task: by
journeying together and
reflecting together on the path
that has been made, the Church
will be able to learn through Her
experience which processes can
help Her to live communion, to
achieve participation, and to
open Herself to mission." The
16th Ordinary General Assembly of
the Synod of Bishops will be held
in two sessions. The first one
from October 4 to 29, 2023. The
second session will be in October
2024.
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What
is a synod? A synod in the
Catholic Church is both an event
and a process where clergy,
religious, and laity gather to
discern important matters of the
faith. It is a journey of search
rooted in the Holy Spirit. Synods
are transformative events that
lead to renewal in the life of
the Church. The current synod is
called Synod on
Synodality. Its a
synod that would explore the very
processes of synod and examine
how as the People of God we are
journeying together. Pope Francis
says: Synodality is the way
of being the Church today
according to the will of God, in
a dynamic of discerning and
listening together to the voice
of the Holy Spirit. You
might want to be informed more
about this Synod by going online
and doing your own research.
Do check out the Synod
website
https://www.synod.va/en.html
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MASS
SCHEDULE
as of
November 23,
2023
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Saturday:
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..
4:30
p.m.
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...
Sunday:
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..
8:30
a.m. & 10:30
a.m.
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Monday
thru Saturday:
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..
8:30
a.m.
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Holy
Days:
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..
8:30
a.m. & 6:00
p.m.
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Confessions:
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..4:00
p.m. on Saturdays before the 4:30
Vigil Mass
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10:00
a.m. on Sundays before the 10:30
a.m. Mass
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PARISH SACRAMENTAL
CELEBRATIONS
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SACRAMENT
OF
BAPTISM
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SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
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High
School Students
should call the
Religious
Education
Office for more
information.
Adult
confirmation is
available on an
individual
basis.
-.Details
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SACRAMENT
OF THE
ANOINTING OF
THE
SICK
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Call
the Parish
Office in case
of serious
illness and
before surgery
and hospital
care. -
Details
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SACRAMENT
OF
EUCHARIST
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Our
Eucharistic
Ministers are
available to
bring the
Eucharist to
the sick or
homebound.
Contact the
Parish Office.
-
Details
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SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
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Saturday
3:30pm to
4:15pm or by
appointment. -
Details
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SACRAMENT
OF
MARRIAGE
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There
is a six month
period of
preparation for
the celebration
of this
Sacrament.
Contact the
Parish Office
to make
arrangements. -
Details
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Faith
Formation
- Cantwell
Hall
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Saturday
9:00am to
11:00am. -
Details
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Parish
Office:
(415)
468-0820
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Benediction
and Our Lady of
Perpetual Help
Novena:
Wednesdays
after the 8:30am
Mass.
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Legion
of Mary
Meeting
5:00pm Monday in the
Church.
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1000
Hail Mary's
Third
Saturday after the
8:30am Mass until
3:30pm.
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Over
50
Group
Thursdays at 12:00pm in
Cantwell Hall.
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Rev.
Charles Puthota, Ph. D.,
Pastor
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Sandy
Mehrwein,
Parish
Secretary
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Patricia
Spiteri,
Pastoral
Coordinator
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Laurrie
Digneo,
Coordinator
of Faith
Formation
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