“A Catholic Community With A Welcoming Heart” 1000 North Way (Hwy 17), P.O. Box 1079, Darien, Ga 31305

Fr. Timothy McKeown, Pastor Fr. Christopher Hassel, Parochial Vicar

MASS SCHEDULE

Saturday Evening: 4:15-4:45 p.m. Reconciliation

5:00 p.m. Mass Sunday Morning:

9:15-9:45 a.m. Reconciliation 10:00 a.m. Mass

Holy Days 7:00 p.m. Mass

CHURCH OFFICE Secretary: Nadine Crosby (912) 437-4750

E-Mail: nativity@darientel.net

Website: www.nativitydarien.us

Nativityofourladydarien

OFFICE HOURS

Monday: 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Closed Holidays

PRIESTS’ OFFICE

Fr. Tim and Fr. Chris have offices at St. Francis Xavier

Church located at 405 Howe St., Brunswick, GA 31520.

The office is open Monday - Friday from 9 am - 4 pm.

The SFX Church Office: (912) 265-3249

(Fr. Tim Ext. 11 and Fr. Chris Ext. 12)

Fr. Chris’ Nativity office hours are

Wednesdays 9 am-noon

If you are interested in purchasing a Georgia Mar-tyrs Rosary, check out the sample order form on the bulletin board. It has the contact information for

the parishioner who is selling them.

THREE YEAR OLDS

THROUGH 8TH GRADE

1121 UNION STREET, BRUNSWICK

Dr. Mermann, Principal tmermann@sfxcs.org

912-265-9470 www.sfxcs.org

Many people generously asked about supporting Nativity during this time. Thank

you! There are two ways you can assist: 1) You may mail your offertory envelopes/

gift to P.O. Box 1079, Darien, GA 31305. 2) You can give online through the Diocese. They will send your offering to Nativity. Go to: https://apps.diosav.org/online-giving. Thanks for your continued support through this time and be assured of our prayers for

you all!

O Lord Jesus Christ, reward the apostolic zeal of Friar Pedro de Corpa and his four companion friars, Blas, Miguel, Antonio and Francisco, who labored for the spir-itual well-being of the native Guale peo-ple of Georgia and gave their lives in wit-ness to the Christian faith. Through their merits and intercession graciously grant

the favor I humbly ask of You, so that, for the glory of Your Name, their heroic sacri-

fice may be officially recognized by the Church. Amen.

DAVIS LOVE FOUNDATION CAR RAFFLE St. Francis Xavier School is selling raffle tick-

ets ($20 cost goes directly to the school) for a new Buick Encore GX. Support the school and possibly win a car! The drawing is November 22. Tickets are available after Mass or in the

church office. Please make checks payable to: Davis Love Foundation.

Annual Catholic Appeal Our 2020 Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) began in January with a great start, a new theme (Sowing the Seeds) and a new name.

When churches began to close in late March, we made the deci-sion to put the ACA on a temporary hold so that our faithful pa-

rishioners did not have to choose between supporting their church and supporting the annual appeal. Now that churches

have reopened and a new normal begins, we must resume sup-port of the annual appeal so that our diocesan programs (Such as Catholic schools, seminarians/vocations, social services) can con-tinue to serve. We have been graced by many seminarians over the years a big chunk of the Appeal goes to support and educate

them, as well as, to Catholic Education like our school. We are very close to our goal for this year. Nativity is at 87% of our tar-get of $8,219 (just $1004 away). Please prayerfully consider giv-

ing if you have not already. You can use the envelopes in the pew or make your gift online at www.diosav.org/aca using a credit or debit card (make sure you select Nativity of Our Lady). Thank you

to all who have supported and are considering supporting.

Weekend Masses in the Church—Mass & Confession times are listed on the front of the bulletin. Church capacity is limited due to social distancing. Please consider the 5pm Mass at Nativity or a daily Mass at St.

Francis Xavier in Brunswick if you want to attend Mass with more room. Live-streamed Events On Facebook - Streamed on St. Francis Xavier’s Facebook page.

Monday & Tuesday at Noon, Wednesday at 7 pm, Thursday & Friday at 8 am. Saturdays at 5 pm and Sundays at 11 am. Evening Prayers/Rosary: Sun-Tues—7 pm

Thomas Bridgwood, Dody Sheppard, Lou Casebonne, James Karwacki, Lorraine Karwacki, Jack Salay, Linda Moore, Clare Moore, Cori Kusik, Meg Wallace, Caryn Pinto, Patricia Kusik, Star Purcell, Dionne Pierce, M.J. Hogan, Courtney Cobb, Michele Meyers, Wayne Doke, Carol Whitson, Carla Mucha, Michael Higgins, Brigett Conlin, Ann Doherty, Glenford John, Rosa Marie Santos, Maria Bourget, Bob Walczak, Bruce Lowie, Scarlett Bosque, Randy Morris, Bill Reale, Timmy Tindall, Theresa Morgan, Susan Maggio, Elizabeth O’Connor, Dawne Spangler, Berend Tober, Carla Damron, Mary Joiner, Nuris Copeland, Jack Lawless, Les Thomas, Sr, Jean Akers, Sheri Carter, Gail Dednarczyk, Randy Crosby, Bobbie Loganbill, Eileen Singleton, Patrick Mitchell, Cecilia Laime, Elizabeth Carlson, Willie Strange, Connie Smith, Durrell Hall, Thomas Bridgwood, Tony Fogarty, Tony Gonzalez, Mary Lou Forsythe, Ruby Key Also, for all of our loved ones serving our Military and for all sick from COVID-19 and all medical personnel, essential workers, and the first responders during this time.

Nativity News

Sat. October 3 SI Gloria Whatley

Sun. October 4 † John Asselta

Father’s Reflection

Prayer Requests

Mass Intentions

~ 27th Sunday in ordinary time ~ ~ welcome to nativity of our lady church ~ October 4, 2020 ~

At this time, please take the bulletin with you. For safety do not leave in the pew or return when you leave. At this time, please take the bulletin with you. For safety do not leave in the pew or return when you leave.

September 26 & 27 Offertory: $937

Welcome visitors and new parishioners. If you are a new parishioner,

please call the office to register.

We are currently accepting nominations for Parish Council. If you are interested or know of someone in-terested in being a part of the parish council, please

let Fathers or Nadine in the office know.

Remember the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is lifted until November 22. If you are sick or at risk

please feel free to stay home as it is recommended for your safety.

October: Respect Life Month

October

Reading 1 IS 5:1-7 Let me now sing of my friend, my friend's song concerning his vineyard. My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; he spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press. Then he looked for the crop of grapes, but what it yielded was wild grapes. Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Ju-dah, judge between me and my vineyard: What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done? Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? Now, I will let you know what I mean to do with my vineyard: take away its hedge, give it to grazing, break through its wall, let it be trampled! Yes, I will make it a ruin: it shall not be pruned or hoed, but overgrown with thorns and briers; I will command the clouds not to send rain upon it. The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Ju-dah are his cherished plant; he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hark, the outcry! Responsorial Psalm PS 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20 R. (Is 5:7a) The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel. Reading 2 PHIL 4:6-9 Brothers and sisters: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all un-derstanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is hon-orable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you. Gospel MT 21:33-43 Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a jour-ney. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will re-spect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ CONT—>>>

Each October, the Church in the United States cele-brates Respect Life Month, with October 4, 2020

designated as Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from con-ception through natural death. Let us spend the month of October reflecting more deeply on the

dignity of every human life.

In the image and likeness of God! Respect life. It's a phrase we often hear within the Church. We may ask, why?

Why respect life? The bishops of the United States have declared October Respect Life month. This gives us good opportunity to pause think of the dignity of each hu-man life. Why do humans have dignity? The answer is that each and every human being is created by God in the image and likeness of God. Rich or poor, sick or healthy, famous or infamous every human being is due respect because God has cre-ated them. Although we were formed from the dust of the earth we are a sign of the presence of God; we are a trace of the glory of God. We share in the life of God. Apart from God there is no life. Who cannot sense the power and creating presence of God at the birth of each new baby? When we read the account of creation in Genesis it is clear that the author is showing that humans are the crowning touch of God. But how is it that we are in the image and likeness of God? Is it because we look like Him? It is because we are creat-ed with an immortal soul and a free will. Our souls are going to live forever. Our time on this earth may come to an end but we live forever. Humans have s special dignity because we have reason and free will. We have the ability to discern good and evil and to attain to truth and freedom. We are free beings, so free we can even choose to disobey our Creator. What else is life then, other than following God and living in His holy will? Je-sus said, "I am the way and the truth, and the life" (JN 14:6). He tells us, "I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (JN 10:10). He tells us, "He who fol-lows me will have the light of life" (JN 8:12). It becomes readily apparent then, that in order to respect life we must first respect God. If we don't respect God we will not respect life. If our society does not respect God then our society will have no respect for human life. Where God's plan for abundant life begins to unravel is from sin. "When God is not acknowledged as God the profound meaning of man is destroyed and com-munion between people is compromised" (EV 36). Notice sin always ruptures our relationship with BOTH God and others. We also see our value in the Crucifixion. Our dignity lies in the fact that we are created by God and we were saved by the death of Jesus. Think how much one hu-man soul means to God if He would send His only Son to die for just one of us. This is why we respect life. God loves us so much that he sent his Son to die for us! When we hear the words, “This is my body which will be given up for you” we should think of the dignity of every person that Jesus died for. That person you sit next to in the pew, the person you pass on the highway or in the grocery line is loved by the Heavenly Father in a way we will never imagine. It becomes readily apparent then, that in order to respect life we must first respect God. If we don't respect God we will not respect life. If our society does not respect God then our society will have no respect for human life. What kind of commentary on our view of children is the fact that we have 4,000 abortions a day in the USA? We lost 3,000 people in a single day on Septem-ber 11 and yet day after day 4,000 of our most defenseless citizens are not given the opportunity to experience life. Aren't you glad that your parents were pro-life, that they gave you the opportunity to experience life in this world and in the world to come? The conception of a child is a holy moment. It is where earth and heaven meet. A soul comes into existence that was not there a moment before. A soul that will live for all eternity. A soul that is conceived tomorrow will still be very much alive 10,000 years from now. How powerful is that? How holy is that? Let us stand firm against euthanasia. To prematurely end someone's life is to take on the role of God. Each person, no matter how old or infirm is a human being full of dignity. May we always treat them as such. When we see the dignity of the hu-man person it should affect our entire ethic of life: from an infant in the womb to the elderly woman in the nursing home. How do we form our opinion in regard to abortion, euthanasia, stem cell re-search, cloning, contraception, the death penalty and other life issues? We remem-ber the dignity of each human person. We remember that when they were conceived earth and heaven came together. We remember that they will live for all eternity. As the United States of America how do we stand before our heavenly Father? CONT.—->>>

Our heavenly Father delights in each one of us. May we recognize the wonder of each human life and develop and live a true ethos of life. Mother Teresa often encour-aged us to do "something beautiful for God." There are so many things we can do to promote respect for life and to teach our children to do the same. It begins with love of God, proceeds through our loving families and goes out to the whole world. We must be people of prayer. Let us pray that we might see every life with the tender love that Jesus sees. God is our common Father and we are all brothers and sisters. May we respect the life of every brother and sister, no matter how young or old, no matter how weak or strong may we see God in that per-son. We close with the words of Saint John Paul II, "…Respect, protect, love and serve life, every human life! Only in this direction will you find justice, development, true freedom, peace and happiness” (EV 5). -Fr. Tim McKeown

They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those ten-ants when he comes?" They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."

October is also the month of the Rosary. We will pray a Rosary each Sunday in

October at 9:30 am in the church. All are welcome to join.

2020 BUDGET (7/1/2020-6/30/2021) $89,050.00 As of the end of September Offering to Date (Fiscal YTD) $25,928.70 Budget to Date (Fiscal YTD) $22,262.50 NET $3,666.20