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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
19,
2025
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Dear
Parishioners of
St.
Elizabeth,
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World
Mission Sunday this
Sunday, October
19: This is an
annual celebration in
the Catholic Church
dedicated to renewing
the Church's commitment
to mission, particularly
in places where Christ
is little known, where
the Church is young, or
where communities face
persecution or hardship.
The theme for 2025, as
chosen by Pope Francis
(who passed away on
April 21, 2025), is
"Missionaries of Hope
Among All Peoples."
In his message, the Pope
emphasized that hope
lies at the heart of
Christian mission. He
called all baptized
persons to become
"messengers and builders
of hope," especially in
a world where many
experience despair,
isolation, poverty, or
injustice.
On
this day, Catholics
across the globe unite
in prayer, reflection,
and a special collection
(Holy Father's
Universal Solidarity
Fund) to support
missionary efforts. The
funds raised go entirely
to support over 1,100
mission territories in
parts of Asia, Africa,
the Pacific Islands,
Latin America, and
Europe - helping to
build churches, train
clergy and catechists,
support pastoral
formation, and provide
essential services in
communities in need. In
2025's Jubilee Year
context, the celebration
is an invitation for
every believer and
community to share in
Christ's mission,
especially through
closeness, solidarity,
and concrete acts of
generosity and hope.
Five Concrete
Things to Do in Light of
World Mission
Sunday: 1.
Pray daily for
missionaries-especially
those serving in
difficult or dangerous
places. 2. Support
the Pontifical Mission
Societies through
the annual collection or
monthly giving, helping
build churches, schools,
and clinics in mission
territories. 3. Learn
about global
missions by reading
stories of missionaries
and reflecting on how
the Gospel is lived in
diverse cultures. 4.
Witness to faith
locally-by kindness,
forgiveness, and
integrity in daily life,
becoming "missionaries
of hope" in workplaces
and families. 5.
Encourage
vocations to
priesthood, religious
life, and lay mission
service, reminding
others that all baptized
are called to share
Christ's love.
Word of God: 29th
Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Year C:
Theme: Persistent
Prayer: The readings
remind us of the power
and necessity of
persistent prayer. In
the first reading, Moses
keeps his hands raised
in prayer as Israel
battles Amalek. When his
hands grow weary, Aaron
and Hur support
him-showing that prayer
is not a solitary act
but a community effort
sustained by faith and
love. In the Gospel,
Jesus tells the parable
of the persistent widow
who refuses to give up
until the unjust judge
grants her justice.
Through her
perseverance, Jesus
teaches us that faith
must be tenacious and
prayer must be constant.
God is not like the
unjust judge; he listens
with compassion and
mercy. Yet Jesus asks a
sobering question: "When
the Son of Man comes,
will he find faith on
earth?" Our persistence
in prayer reveals the
depth of our trust in
God's goodness, even
when answers are
delayed.
In our busy, anxious
world, we are invited to
pray with faith and
perseverance-for
justice, for peace, for
healing, and for
conversion. Let us
support one another, as
Moses was supported, and
never lose heart,
knowing that prayer
changes us and draws us
ever closer to the heart
of God who always hears
his people.
From the
Compendium of
the Catechism of the
Catholic
Church:
Why must the Church
proclaim the Gospel to
the whole world? The
Church must do so
because Christ has given
the command: "Go
therefore and make
disciples of all
nations, baptizing them
in the name of the
Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit"
(Matthew 28:19). This
missionary mandate of
the Lord has its origin
in the eternal love of
God who has sent his Son
and the Holy Spirit
because "he desires all
men to be saved and to
come to the knowledge of
the truth" (1
Timothy 2:4).
Feast of Saint
John Paul II, Wednesday,
Ocotber 22:
Saint John Paul II
(1920-2005), born Karol
Józef Wojty?a in
Wadowice, Poland, was
one of the most
influential popes of the
20th century. Ordained a
priest in 1946, he
became Archbishop of
Kraków and was
appointed cardinal in
1967. Elected pope in
1978, he was the first
non-Italian pope in over
450 years. His papacy
emphasized human
dignity, the sanctity of
life, and the universal
call to holiness. He
played a crucial role in
the fall of communism in
Eastern Europe,
especially in his native
Poland. John Paul II
tirelessly traveled the
world, visiting 129
countries to bring
Christ's message of
hope. He wrote
extensively on faith,
reason, and the family,
inspiring millions.
Despite suffering from
Parkinson's disease, he
remained steadfast in
prayer and witness.
Canonized in 2014, he is
remembered as a
missionary pope,
philosopher, and saint
of courage and
compassion.
Pope Leo XIV's
First Apostolic
Exhortation: It
is entitled Dilexi
Te ("I Have
Loved You"), signed
October 4, 2025 by the
Holy Father and
published on October 9,
places the poor at the
center of the Gospel. It
takes up draft work
begun under Pope Francis
and completed by Pope
Leo builds upon the
theme of divine love to
call Christians to
solidarity, justice, and
service. It warns that
one cannot serve God and
money, urging the Church
to cast off
self-interest and be a
"church for the
poor."
A Wisdom
Story: A monk
asked his master, "What
must I do to find
peace?" The master
pointed to a river and
said, "See how it flows?
It doesn't fight the
rocks; it flows around
them." The monk
understood: peace is not
the absence of
obstacles, but the grace
to flow through
them.
Religious
Humor: 1. The
Ten Commandments were
given to us in tablet
form, and by following
their direction, we
could save a lot of
other tablets from being
used. 2. An
African-American
preacher began his
sermon by saying,
"Brethren and sisters,
here you is coming to
pray for rain. I'd like
to ask you just one
question --- where is
yo'
umbrellas?"
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