Fr. Lara's Lines
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Times
The Blind Man
The story of the blind man is a reminder of our need for
God. Also, the healing of the blind man is an example
of the faith we ought to have in Jesus. This story of
healing echoes the story of many of us whose eyes are
not able to see the presence of God in the world. The
man in the gospel recovered his sight by realizing Jesus
was able to heal him. He came to Jesus asking for
mercy, trusting in God’s willingness to heal him.
“Jesus said to him in reply, ‘What do you want me to do
for you?’ The blind man replied to him, ‘Master, I want to
see.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go your way; your faith has saved
you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed him
on the way.”
We need healing, whether physical, emotional, or
spiritual. Jesus can heal the wounds in our souls; he
can satisfy the deepest desires of our hearts. This
passage from the Gospel of Mark encourages us to
recognize that Jesus can help us. We go to the hospital
when we are sick and call the police when we are in
danger. Our souls and hearts are often sick and in
danger. The only place where we find comfort and
healing is in the presence of Jesus. I invite you to go
to Jesus every time you need healing and peace.
To be healed, we need to have faith in God. Faith is
trusting and accepting God’s plans for us. When the
blind man came to Jesus, he didn’t demand healing but
rather asked for mercy: “Jesus, son of David, have pity
on me.” Jesus can only heal our hearts and souls when
we are open to his mercy. Abandoning ourselves to the
mercy of God is what makes healing possible. Are you
open to God’s mercy? When you come to Jesus with an
open heart, he will dwell within you. When you pray
for healing in your heart and soul, pray with humility.
Let us reflect this week on the story of the blind man,
and what kind of faith and trust we have in Jesus.
All Saints Day
The Feast of All Saints is celebrated on November 1.
We remember all the saints who are now in heaven.
Although imperfect beings, we all hope to share in
God’s kingdom. Thousands of saints have achieved
holiness. We are all called to open our hearts to God’s
mercy and cooperate with God’s graces to be holy.
This feast reminds us of the universal call to holiness. On
this day, we honor all those who lived out their vocations
to be saints. Let us pray to all the saints in heaven that
they might intercede for us before God. The Church
encourages us to learn more about the lives of the saints
and follow after their examples of faith.
Holiness is the perfection of charity. Jesus wants us to
be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. In order
to reach this perfection, we should use the strength given
by Christ through the sacraments. All the saints have
answered the call to holiness favorably. All of them
have given us their wonderful examples for our lives.
The call to holiness is for everyone, in every vocation in
life: We are called to be holy fathers and mothers, sons
and daughters, sisters and brothers. We are called to
be holy at work, at school, and in the community. Every
decision we make, every sacrifice, and every interaction
needs to aim for the perfection of love. All Christians
are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the
perfection of charity.
The Feast of All Saints Day is a holy day of obligation.
It is an opportunity for us to worship together as a
community and to pray for the intercession of all the
saints. We will have a 7:00pm vigil Mass on Thursday,
October 31, and Masses at 9:00am and 7:00pm on
Friday, November 1. Saints are beautiful examples of
the Christian living; they are models for us to follow. As
we celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist, let us pray
to all the saints, especially those dearest to us, such as
patron saints or Confirmation saints.
Halloween
Although Halloween was once a Catholic tradition, it
has become entirely secular in the US. Children look
forward to trick or treating around the neighborhood
dressed in many different costumes but rarely, if ever,
as a saint. Nevertheless, this is a fun activity for them
and an opportunity to enjoy some time with their friends.
Saint Catherine’s school will host Trunk-or-Treat in the
parking lot this Sunday October 27 after the 11:00am
Mass. This is a great opportunity for our children from
Religious Education and the school to enjoy Halloween
together in a safe place. A big thanks to the school
board and school parents for organizing this event.
Ushers/Greeters
Many parishioners help make Sunday Masses a prayerful
and spiritual experience. Ushers, for example, welcome
people as they enter the church, make sure people get
the assistance they need, ensure everyone has a place
to sit, and take up the collection during Mass. They
are an important part of our Sunday services. We are
always looking for people to help us with this ministry.
It is a beautiful way to serve one another. Please
consider volunteering as an usher for one of the Sunday
Masses. If you would like to volunteer, talk to an usher,
a deacon, or me. Let’s build a strong usher/greeter
ministry that can make our parish a welcoming place
for all.
Peace
Fr. Lara
Recognize God in Your Oridinary Moments - By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman
The Safety of Darkness
Leprosy and blindness and deafness — oh, my.
The disabilities cured by Jesus in his public ministry
really are quite something, aren’t they? Vividly
symbolic and rich food for reflection. It just wouldn’t
be the same if Jesus had cured eczema or athlete’s
foot or compulsive nail-biting.
Blind Bartimaeus, sitting by the side of the road,
in particular captures my imagination. Because I
have a confession to make, sometimes, I like to sit
in the darkness, even though I know it isn’t very
good for me. It’s just easier, isn’t it? You don’t
have to care about or fix the problems you can’t
see. No one expects you to rush to someone’s aid
if you don’t see their injuries. The darkness is a
good place to be, if you don’t feel very brave
or very smart or very able.
And when Jesus passes you by, if your whole
world is darkness, it’s easy enough to pretend
you just didn’t notice him at all.
But Bartimaeus chose not to stay in his darkness.
More than that, he cried out to be released from
it, even when everyone around him told him to
shut up. He was so persistent that he caught the
notice of Jesus, and when he heard those words
—“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you!”—
what did he do? He didn’t stammer and run
away. He had courage. He got up.
It takes courage to ask for what you need to
follow Christ. Because if you ask for it, you’ll get
it. And then begins the terrifying, wonderful journey
of discipleship—testifying to what you have seen.
Life in the light, no longer sitting by the side of
the road but on the road, journeying toward the
greatest destination of all.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks
us.
Do we have the courage to answer him?
©LPi
The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of October
For a Shared Mission
Let us pray that the Church continue to sustain a synodal
lifestyle in every way, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the
participation, communion, and mission shared by priests, religious
and laity.
Honor Our Military
Please take time to give thanks for those who have served and
are serving in our military and to pray for the safety of those who
may currently be in harm’s way. In a special way, we thank and
pray for these parishioners and relatives of parishioners.
Dear God,
We pray in gratitude for all of those who have defended
peace, virtue, and justice with honor. We pray especially
for those who have suffered in mind and body from the
ravages of war. May Your peace reign in our hearts
and in our world. Amen.
He Who Sacrificed His Life
†JOHN A. STONIS, Grandson of John & Dorthy Stonis
†CHRISTOPHER ZIMNY
Those Still Serving
JAY MARTIN, Nephew of Becky and Tom Brennan
JESSICA CAMERON, Niece of the Cameron Family
JOHN PODCZASKI, Grandson of Genevieve Podczaski
STEVEN TUMBARELLO, Son of Sylvia & Vince Tumbarello
CRAIG BEHRENDT, Grand-nephew of Sister Mary Helen
DANIEL BELZER, Nephew of Dave & Bev Belzer
MICHAEL KELLY, Nephew of Kevin and Kathy Kelly
MATTHEW NEUBAUER, Nephew of Dan & Judy Neubauer
EUGENE WALL, Nephew of Suzanne Lessner
NAILL SWIDER, Grand-nephew of Alice Swider
BRYAN DUFF, Son of Julie Duff
RYAN BLOCHBERGER, Nephew of Mae Grady
TIMOTHY DWORKIN, Grandson of Barbara Bouska
ALEXIS GONZALES, Great-niece of Eden & Lyle Gonzales-Nemzin
JACK MAHON, JR., Son of Jack, Sr. & Eileen Mahon
MICHAEL FOLEY
JOHN FOLEY
PETER MULLER
DANIEL FRAYNA
JOSEPH GULLO
SANG HOON LEE
ANTHONY PALMERO
MORRIS COREY MCMAHON, Son of Chris & Julie McMahon
RYAN FONTILLAS
MICHAEL T. HEHN, Grandson of John & Dorthy Stonis
To add or remove someone, please send the person’s name and relationship (optional) to bulletin@stcatherinelaboure.com
Please Pray for Ukraine
For our sisters and brothers involved in or
affected by the war and devastation in Ukraine--
the deceased, the injured, the frightened, the
displaced, the fighters, the protesters, the leaders.
May God give them solace, healing, comfort, and
hearts and minds directed toward peace.
Donations can be made here:
Knights of Columbus: https://www.kofc.org/secure/en/donate/ukraine.html
Caritas: https://www.caritas.org/
Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Philidelphia: https://ukrarcheparchy.us
"May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war" - Pope Francis
Neighbors of other Faiths
The Golden Rule
Excerpted from charterforcompassion.org/the-golden-rule-in-seven-major-religions
We may speak of great differences in
religious beliefs and forms of worship
around the world. Called by an endless
number of names, all, however, recognize and worship a Supreme
Being. And all religions, somewhere in their sacred literature,
expound the fundamental philosophy of the Golden Rule.
Buddhism: Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.
~ Buddha, Undanavarga 5:18
Christianity: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that all men
should do to you, do ye even so to them.
~ Matthew 7:12
Confucianism: What you do not want done to yourself, do not do
to others.
~ Confucius, Analects 15:23
Hinduism: Good people proceed while considering what is best
for others is best for themselves.
~ Hitopadesa
Islamism: No one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother
what he loves for himself.
~ Mohammed, Traditions
Judaism: And thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
~ Leviticus 19:18
Zoroastrianism: Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do
unto others.
~ Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29