CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA SEPTEMBER 30/OCTOBER 1, 2017 26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Breviary Week II – p. 111 PRAY FOR: Richard Carlson, Maria Cherney, James DiNardo, Jr., John Dunn, Bill Earnest, Brendan Feely, Pat and Jackie Feeley, Fred Flaschentrager, Robert Garrison, Theresa Hanlin, Pat Hurry, Susan Kayota, Vesta Larkin, Lou Lucente, Alfredo LasMarias, Connie Loschi, Thomas Lyver, Cheryl McLeskey, Debbie Merritt, Maria Oakes, Trisha Rehpelz, Elizabeth Rehpelz, Betty Rehpelz, Rick, Tonya Trimble, Wendy Walters, Ken Watson, Martin White, Ron Wyles, Matthew Yonkovich Some of the names to “pray for” have been in the bulletin for three months and are being removed this weekend. If you need prayers for you or your family members, please contact the Parish Office at 481-5702. These names will be in the bulletin for three months before being removed. “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will.” Mark 11:24 PRAYERLINE REQUESTS: Please call the Parish Office at 481-5702. DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS Sunday, October 1: Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Ez 18:25-28; Ps 25:4-9; Phil 2:1-11 or 2:1-5; Mt 21:28-32 Monday, October 2: The Holy Guardian Angels: Zec 8:1-8; Ps 102:2, 16-23; Mt 18:1-5, 10 Tuesday, October 3: Zec 8:20-23; Ps 87:1-7; Lk 9:51-56 Wednesday, October 4: Saint Francis of Assisi: Neh 2:1-8; Ps 137:1-6; Lk 9:57-62 Thursday, October 5: Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, priest (USA): Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12; Ps 19:8-11; Lk 10:1-12 Friday, October 6: Saint Bruno, priest; Blessed Marie Rose Durocher, virgin (USA): Bar 1:15-22; Ps 79:1-5, 8-9; Lk 10:13-16 Saurday, October 7: Our Lady of the Rosary: Bar 4:5-12, 27-29; Ps 69:33-37; Lk 10:17-24 Sunday, October 8: Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Is 5:1-7; Ps 80:9, 12-16, 19-20; Phil 4:6-9; Mt 21:33-43 PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday-Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday from 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. CALENDAR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1 Children’s Liturgy of the Word Christian Formation K-5/Edge 9:30 a.m. Bible Timeline 9:30 a.m. Liturgical Ensemble 12:30 p.m. Parish 40th Anniversary Picnic 12:30 p.m. LifeTeen 7:00 p.m. MONDAY, OCTOBER 2 The Chosen 6:30 p.m. Bible Timeline 7:00 p.m. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3 Laurel Cove House Church 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Order of the Arrow 7:00 p.m. Cub Scout Webelos Den #406 7:15 p.m. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4 J.O.Y. Club 11:00 a.m. Boy Scouts 6:00 p.m. Family Addiction Support Group 6:30 p.m. Rosary 6:30 p.m. Parish Choir 7:00 p.m. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 Children’s Choir 6:15 p.m. Prison Module Faith Sharing 6:30 p.m. Giving Tree Tag Meeting 7:00 p.m. K of C Rosary 7:00 p.m. Handbell Ringers 2.0 7:15 p.m. K of C Business Meeting 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 Chaplet of Divine Mercy 9:45 a.m. Holy Family Ringers 12:00 p.m. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 Youth Day at Busch Gardens Caring Conversation 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Blessing of the Animals (St. Francis Feast Day) 10:00 a.m. Reconciliation 4:30 p.m. Rosary 5:00 p.m. Wine, Cheese & More (after Mass) Theme: “Wine & Cheese” SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 St. Francis Feast Day Celebration (after the Masses) Children’s Liturgy of the Word Christian Formation K-5/Edge 9:30 a.m. Bible Timeline 9:30 a.m. RCIA 9:30 a.m. Liturgical Ensemble 12:30 p.m. LifeTeen 7:00 p.m. FIRST SATURDAY ROSARY: Please join us next Saturday at 5:00 p.m. to pray the Rosary.
Transcript
CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA
HOLY FAMILY CAN ONLY HAVE 3 BOARDS BULLETIN – 4-COLORANYTHING ELSE IN BLACK AND WHITE - PER CATHY
SEPTEMBER 30/OCTOBER 1, 201726TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Breviary Week II – p. 111
PRAY FOR: Richard Carlson, Maria Cherney, James DiNardo, Jr., John Dunn, Bill Earnest, Brendan Feely, Pat and Jackie Feeley, Fred Flaschentrager, Robert Garrison, Theresa Hanlin, Pat Hurry, Susan Kayota, Vesta Larkin, Lou Lucente, Alfredo LasMarias, Connie Loschi, Thomas Lyver, Cheryl McLeskey, Debbie Merritt, Maria Oakes, Trisha Rehpelz, Elizabeth Rehpelz, Betty Rehpelz, Rick, Tonya Trimble, Wendy Walters, Ken Watson, Martin White, Ron Wyles, Matthew Yonkovich
Some of the names to “pray for” have been in the bulletin for three months and are being removed this weekend. If you need prayers for you or your family members, please contact the Parish Office at 481-5702. These names will be in the bulletin for three months before being removed.
“Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will.” Mark 11:24
PRAYERLINE REQUESTS: Please call the Parish Office at 481-5702.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGSSunday, October 1: Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Ez 18:25-28; Ps 25:4-9; Phil 2:1-11 or 2:1-5; Mt 21:28-32Monday, October 2: The Holy Guardian Angels: Zec 8:1-8; Ps 102:2, 16-23; Mt 18:1-5, 10Tuesday, October 3: Zec 8:20-23; Ps 87:1-7; Lk 9:51-56Wednesday, October 4: Saint Francis of Assisi: Neh 2:1-8; Ps 137:1-6; Lk 9:57-62Thursday, October 5: Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, priest
(USA): Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12; Ps 19:8-11; Lk 10:1-12Friday, October 6: Saint Bruno, priest; Blessed Marie Rose
Durocher, virgin (USA): Bar 1:15-22; Ps 79:1-5, 8-9; Lk 10:13-16Saurday, October 7: Our Lady of the Rosary: Bar 4:5-12, 27-29; Ps 69:33-37; Lk 10:17-24Sunday, October 8: Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Is 5:1-7; Ps 80:9, 12-16, 19-20; Phil 4:6-9; Mt 21:33-43
PARISH OFFICE HOURSMonday-Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Friday from 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
CALENDARSUNDAY, OCTOBER 1Children’s Liturgy of the WordChristian Formation K-5/Edge 9:30 a.m.Bible Timeline 9:30 a.m.Liturgical Ensemble 12:30 p.m.Parish 40th Anniversary Picnic 12:30 p.m.LifeTeen 7:00 p.m.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2The Chosen 6:30 p.m.Bible Timeline 7:00 p.m.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3Laurel Cove House Church 7:00 p.m.Boy Scout Order of the Arrow 7:00 p.m.Cub Scout Webelos Den #406 7:15 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4J.O.Y. Club 11:00 a.m.Boy Scouts 6:00 p.m.Family Addiction Support Group 6:30 p.m.Rosary 6:30 p.m.Parish Choir 7:00 p.m.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5Children’s Choir 6:15 p.m.Prison Module Faith Sharing 6:30 p.m.Giving Tree Tag Meeting 7:00 p.m.K of C Rosary 7:00 p.m.Handbell Ringers 2.0 7:15 p.m.K of C Business Meeting 7:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6Chaplet of Divine Mercy 9:45 a.m.Holy Family Ringers 12:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7Youth Day at Busch GardensCaring Conversation 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.Blessing of the Animals (St. Francis Feast Day) 10:00 a.m.Reconciliation 4:30 p.m.Rosary 5:00 p.m.Wine, Cheese & More (after Mass) Theme: “Wine & Cheese”
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8St. Francis Feast Day Celebration (after the Masses)Children’s Liturgy of the WordChristian Formation K-5/Edge 9:30 a.m.Bible Timeline 9:30 a.m.RCIA 9:30 a.m.Liturgical Ensemble 12:30 p.m.LifeTeen 7:00 p.m.
FIRST SATURDAY ROSARY: Please join us next Saturday at 5:00 p.m. to pray the Rosary.
TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OCTOBER 1, 2017
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEKMonday, October 2: Morning PrayerTuesday, October 3: Tom Cusmano by Bill & Mary Ann O’PrandyWednesday, October 4: Fred & Margie LasMarias by Alfredo & Margie LasMariasThursday, October 5: Mary Pat McFadden by James McGreelyFriday, October 6: Conversion of our Country by a ParishionerSaturday, October 7: Alice Odrobina by Gary & Terry McElroy Sunday, October 8: 8:15 a.m.: Juan & Brigida Zepeda by Alfie
Martinez-Coyle; 11:00 a.m.: Holy Family Parishioners
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL: Fr. Eric Ayers, President; Bill Shannon, Chairperson; Todd Solomon, Vice-Chairperson; Beverly Manlove, Secretary; Dick Dietz; “Mike” Jakubec; Joe Kelly; Mike O’Brien; Alex Spear (Youth Representative); Joe Stefonowich; Gwen Stinard. [email protected].
NEW EVANGELIZATION TEAM (NET): Kathy Staskin, Chairperson; Mike DeJaeger; Andy Koch; Shannan LePage; Elizabeth Panchik; Tom Rumely; Dean Schleicher; Cate Sleigh; Steve Winter; Fr. Eric Ayers. NET email: [email protected].
BULLETIN: The deadline for bulletin notices is Mondays at 9:30 a.m. Please submit to Carla, the Parish Secretary. Any inserts will need to be digital as everything is emailed to the publishing company.
COLUMBARIUM: There are Columbarium niches available. The cost is $2,000.00 for a double niche. Contact Terry McElroy at 481-5702.
LOW-GLUTEN COMMUNION HOSTS: For those who require special dietary restrictions, we now have low-gluten communion hosts (approved by the USCCB). Please contact Alfie in the Parish Office for further instructions on how to receive low-gluten hosts at communion each weekend.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Help is needed on the K-5 Catechist Team, on the Christian Formation Nursery Team, and on the Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) Team.
Please prayerfully consider sharing your gifts and your love of the Catholic faith with the elementary youth of our parish.
A background check and VIRTUS training is required. For more information, or to volunteer, contact Tiffany in the parish office or [email protected].
WEEKLY OFFERTORYBudget 2017/2018 is $1,124,294.00. This includes Schools Parish Sharing Assessment of $100,868.00.
September 23/24 Collection $15,640.57
Holy Family Day SchoolThe School year is off to a terrific start at Holy Family Day School!
We have heard stories from the Bible about Creation and Noah’s Ark during Chapel Time. Our music classes have started and the hall boards are filled with new art work. If you would like your child to be part of Church of the HolyFamily’s school, please call 481-1180 to schedule a tour.
Special Thank-yous to Jacki Friedsam, Emily Kerr, and Kathy Dowdy for helping with the start of school!!
Holy Family Day School is partnering with Yankee Candles to help you get started on your Christmas shopping! Please visit www.yankeecandlefundraising.com and enter our Group Number 990056705 in the “Start Shopping” box. You can shop in the online catalog and exclusives to help us reach our goal. Our sale is from September 25 to October 16 and orders will be delivered in 3-4 weeks to the school office. Thank you for your support!
The next General Meeting will be Thursday, October 19
Program: Zeiders American Dream Theater
General Meeting: 10:00Sibel Galindez, the community liaison from Zeiders American Dream Theater, will be speaking with us. ZADT is the newest not-for-profit professional theater in Hampton Roads, located in Virginia Beach’s Town Center across from the Sandler Center next to McCormick & Schmick’s. She will share Zeiders’ mission of focusing on new plays & musicals, and their fall & winter season including such titles as Moonshiner, the Musical, and Holidivas, a Holiday Cabaret!
Golden Seniors HARDBOILED Egg MinistryOctober 5, October 19, November 2, November 16Please bring eggs before noon on Thursday. (for Brother Charles to pick up)
Save the Date – Christmas LuncheonSave the Date: Our Third Annual Christmas Luncheon is set for Thursday, December 14, with Lynn Cherry’s wonderful Catering, Door Prizes, and “Frank Sings Frank.” Watch for more information in coming Bulletins and signage in the Commons.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWSCouncil 10804
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS and FAKE HISTORY(Excerpts from the above titled article
by Gerald Korson, editor, writer, and consultant,in the September 2017 issue of Columbia Magazine)
“Driven in large part by political correctness and partisan academics and activists, it has become fashionable in recent years to criticize Christopher Columbus and the holiday named in his honor. A closer look, however, reveals the famed explorer to be a man of faith and courage, not a monster.
Many of Columbus’ modern critics rely on a warped and politicized reading of history, and it is not the first time the explorer has endured such attacks. When a resurgence of anti-Catholic bigotry erupted in early 20th century America, Columbus was a favorite target then as well.
Beginning in the 1840’s, waves of Europeans swelled the ranks of Catholics in the United States, and along with that came an increasingly anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant backlash. Catholics were subject to discrimination, slander, ridicule, anti-Catholic propaganda and sometimes mob violence.
It was within this hostile climate that Father Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882. He and the founding Knights chose as the Order’s patron, Christopher Columbus ~ one of the few Catholics considered a hero of American history. Father McGivney believed the explorer represented both Catholicism and patriotism at the very root of America’s heritage, thereby symbolizing that faithful Catholics also can be solid American citizens.
Carol Delaney, a former professor at Stanford and Brown universities, in her book Columbus and the Quest for Jerusalem, made many observations regarding Columbus. Among them were, “Columbus found the native people to be very intelligent and gave strict instructions to the settlers to “treat the native people with respect.” Also, according to Delaney, Columbus “fervently believed it was the duty of every Christian to try to save the souls of non-Christians.”
The Knights of Columbus continues to defend its patron from unfair attacks, urging that he continue to receive official recognition as a man of faith and bravery.” We invite all of the men in our Parish to join our Council and
help us make a difference!
Grand Knight: Charles KlineChaplain: Father Eric Ayers
Membership: Todd Solomon (496-5733)
CHURCH SANCTUARY LIGHTING WORK TEAM: We are asking for a FEW GOOD MEN (hope this doesn’t sound Sexist) to support changing light bulbs in the Church Sanctuary. We will meet on an “as needed basis,” no more than twice a month. For a limited time only, I am authorized to pay you DOUBLE what I am currently getting as a Volunteer! Please sign up – we need help from our church community. To sign up or for additional information, contact Joe Stefonowich at (757) 617-0250.
Weekly Wisdom
The Early World Part I
To get a better understanding of Genesis early world development of creation requires you to read the New Testament John: Chapter 1:1-5 verses to understand that all creation from the beginning of time and space was accomplished through the word, and the word eventually is made flesh (incarnate) in Jesus the Christ billions of years later. This sets the entire Bible from beginning to end a story of God’s love for us through Jesus His Son before time was even created.
The story of salvation in the early readings of Genesis confirms that man was made in God’s image but the telling of that image is from Genesis 1:26. The mystery of the Holy Trinity is foretold in this very verse as our image includes the three persons in one God.
That image and likeness tells us that four things from the Bible that constitute God’s image and likeness are: Intellect (reasoning); Free will (ability of act; governed by the intellect); Capacity to love (John Paul II, the Trinity is a family); and Dominion over animals and earth (name; till and keep this earthly environment as steward of life’s creations). These are in fact the foundation of humanity that we still are struggling with today. As you can see the glue for the four attributes is LOVE. Without love as Paul has said, we have nothing. God didn’t share his only begotten son to repay a debt of sin; but instead to show us how much He loves us. That sharing manifests in the love between the Father and Son which is the Holy Spirit that is central to the Catholic Church today.
The story of Adam and Eve in the Garden is not just a children’s tale. It is not the literal kind of history we are familiar with today, but neither is it myth; it is a kind of history that focuses on truth and meaning. The biblical Creation narrative is loaded with truths that help us know God and ourselves, truths that help us understand why we are here and how to make choices and trust God even when this is difficult. Peace to all this week as we continue our journey into the Bible timeline.
Women’s Faith Sharing and Fellowship Circles are ongoing and meet at various times during the month. For more information, contact Marie Sexton at (757) 718-4147.Have a blessed week, Your AFF Team
40 DAYS FOR LIFE: COME PRAY WITH US! 40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and a peaceful vigil to end abortion. Holy Family parishioners will be praying at Planned Parenthood (515 Newtown Road) from 11:00 a.m. until noon every Thursday, starting September 28 until November 3. You can meet us at the church at 10:30 a.m. or drive yourself and park on Lake Edward Drive. Come pray with us or join with other parishes if another time is more convenient. Times are from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. For more information or to let us know you’re coming, contact Mary Sorrentino at [email protected] or 757-481-0766.
TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OCTOBER 1, 2017
NEEDED: Bibles and Christian books (paperback books only) for the Virginia Beach Jail. Donated books can be left in the shopping cart at the entrance to the Church.
FUN-TASTIC AUCTION: The Third Annual Fun-Tastic Auction will be on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Please mark your calendar. We are planning for another Fun-tastic Auction and will be asking for your support again. The Auction Committee
2017-2018 BAPTISM CLASSES AND DATESClass: Thursday, October 19 and 26 – 6:30 p.m. (one hour each evening)Baptism Date: Saturday, November 4 – 5:30 p.m. Mass
Class: Thursday, January 25 and February 1, 2018 –6:30 p.m. (one hour each evening)Baptism Date: Sunday, February 11 – 11:00 a.m. Mass
Class: Thursday, May 3 and 10, 2018 – 6:30 p.m. (one hour each evening)Baptism Date: Saturday, May 12 – 5:30 p.m. Mass
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION SCHEDULE: Holy Family – Holy Family has Eucharistic Adoration on the third
Thursday of the month. See below for schedule of other Virginia Beach Churches. The next Adoration at Holy Family will be on October 19, from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
St. Nicholas – Tuesdays – 10:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.St. John the Apostle – Thursdays – 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.Star of the Sea – 1st Thursday of the month after the 8:00 a.m.
Mass with Benediction at 3:00 p.m.St. Luke – Monday and Tuesday, 6:00 p.m. to midnight; Wednesday
6:00 p.m. through Saturday Morning, 6:45a.m. BenedictionHoly Spirit – 1st Thursday of the Month, 5:00 to 6:15 p.m. followed
by daily MassSt. Gregory – Fridays after 8:30 a.m. Mass until 5:00 p.m.Ascension – 1st Friday 9:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.St. Matthew – 24 hours/day Perpetual Adoration
CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC PRAYER MEETINGS are held every first and third Sundays at New Creation Renewal Center, 1600 Elbow Road, Chesapeake, at 3:30 p.m. The prayer meeting is open to all. Come join your brothers and sisters for praise and worship, a time to hear the Lord speak, intercessory prayer, and a short teaching. There are prayer teams available afterwards for anyone desiring individual prayer. For more information, call Ron or Terry Hughes at (757) 587-1352. The prayer meeting is sponsored by New Creation Community, a Catholic, charismatic fellowship of members from various parishes in the area. New Creation Community belongs to the Catholic Fraternity recognized by the Vatican. www.ncccharismaticcommunity.org.
Music NotesAll music practices are beginning! Now is the time to give Music
Ministry a whirl and see how music can improve your life and the worship life of our parish.
SchedulesHigh School & Middle School Singers & Instrumentalists! Join
Teen Singers & Ensemble today: Come to the Music Room #134 on Sunday, October 1 and 8 after Mass. Music-making goes on until 1:30 p.m. We’re getting ready to play and sing at the 11:00 a.m. Mass on October 15.
Holy Family Children’s Choir: 1st-5th grade every Thursday 6:15-7:00 p.m. in Music Room 134. Music reading, singing, and a little ringing!
Holy Family Ringers Schedule: 12:00 Noon rehearsals make this an easy fit for those with free weekdays. Contact Sylvia at 481-5702, ext. 116.
NEW! RINGERS 2.0 – HANDBELLS on THURSDAY at 7:15 p.m. – intergenerational – parents, grandparents, kids, for instance. NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. We’re starting from scratch. Email [email protected] for more info.
Parish Choir Schedule: Adult choir also open to high school choral students who enjoy singing SATB music. Rehearsals Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Choir begins October 11 – sign up now!Music Ministry Information: New members to all choirs and
ensemble may join. For descriptions of music ops, visit our webpage at http://holyfamilyvb.org/music-ministry.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY NURSERY:The Nursery has reopened during Sunday Masses and will be “staffed” with volunteers September through June. All parents are welcome to use the nursery for children ages 6 months through 4 years old. Please contact Kathy Staskin at [email protected] or leave a message at the Parish Office if you have any questions.
LOST AND FOUND: Please stop by the Welcome Office and check the Lost and Found. Unclaimed items will be donated after October 8.
PARISH PHOTO DIRECTORY: Please don’t delay in scheduling your photo shoot for our upcoming parish directory! Follow the “Directory Block” on our parish website. There are lots of time slots but only 20 specific dates. This is the 40th Anniversary of the beginning of Church of the Holy Family’s congregation so be a part of the ongoing story of faith, community, and welcome. It won’t be complete without you!If you need help, call the parish office and your request will be passed on to a directory planner for a quick reply. For easy reference, here are the available times:
• October 9-13, Monday-Friday, 2:00-9:00 p.m.• October 14-15, Saturday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.• November 20-22, Monday-Wednesday, 2:00-9:00 p.m. (no Thanksgiving, November 23)• November 24, Friday, 2:00-9:00 p.m.• November 25-26, Saturday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.• December 4-8, Monday-Friday, 2:00-9:00 p.m.• December 9-10, Saturday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA
PRAYERS FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THE MILITARY: Every Friday, we say the Patriotic Rosary after morning Mass. Everyone is welcome. If you have a family member in the military and would like us to pray for them by name, please email Mary Sorrentino at [email protected] with their name, and branch of service. Please remember that we still have military members in harm’s way and keep them in your daily prayers.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS events for the weekend of November 4 and 5 at the Tidewater Volleyball Association on Dean Drive in Virginia Beach. The event runs all day both days. For more information, email Greg Hayes at [email protected].
ST. FRANCIS FEAST DAY CELEBRATION: Our parish will celebrate the Earth and St. Francis Feast day next weekend. On Saturday, October 7, there will be the Blessing of the Animals ritual at 11:00 a.m., during which poop bags will be handed out to those who attend. After the liturgies on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, in the Family Room, there will be a video on oyster farming and exhibits by First Landing State Park and Lynnhaven River Now. The opportunity to have important documents shredded will be available from October 7 to October 13 (there is a limit of 2 bank boxes and you are asked to contribute 2 canned goods for each box).
“BEFRIENDING OCEAN LIFE AND BLESSING ALL GOD’S CREATION:” A program in celebration of St. Francis and the Earth is being held at St. Nicholas Catholic Church’s Family Room, on Little Neck Road, on Thursday, October 5, from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. Mark Swingle, the Director of Research and Conservation at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center will present on the effects of seismic testing and offshore drilling on marine life. This event is free and open to the public.
THE CHOSEN MINISTRY is a ministry dedicated to ministering to persons (middle school to adults of any age) who experience disabilities. We learn that we are all “chosen” to serve God and God loves all of us just as we are. We have Holy Family The Chosen Ministry gatherings the first three Mondays of the month from 6:30-8:00 p.m. during the school year. Our next meeting is Monday, October 2, at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Susie Stefonowich at 342-8540 or [email protected].
FOR HEALING AFTER ABORTION, a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat, sponsored by Church of the Epiphany, will be held October 13-15. This retreat is for women and men who have known regret, sorrow, guilt, or shame from abortion. The healing weekend combines living scripture meditations, spiritual exercises, and discussions in a guided process that leads to the heart of God’s love and compassion. If you would like to learn more about this retreat, you can contact Maggie Carlson at 804-432-2589 or Marty Montgomery-Jennings at 804-704-0429, or email [email protected]. Visit our website at www.rachelsvineyard.org. All inquiries, registration and participation are strictly confidential.
Comment from a retreat participant: “The Rachel’s Vineyard weekend has done for me what all the self-help books could not. I needed the Divine Healer Himself!”
MINISTRIES IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE: Are you available on Sunday mornings around Mass times? Do you like to meet people? If so, we have several vacancies on our Doughnut Hospitality Teams. If you are so moved to lend your time and talent to this ministry once a month, please contact Glenn in the Church Office for details, or send an email to [email protected].
“CREATION CARE CORNER”When the topic of climate change comes up, we tend to think
of how the earth and the air are impacted. Yet, it is the ocean and water bodies that have borne the brunt of climate change. They absorb 90% of the heat we humans add to the atmosphere with the pollution from our transportation, agricultural, and industrial activities. The ocean is vital for the protection it gives us from even more extreme temperatures than we have already experienced by its currents redistributing heat from the hottest regions to the coldest ones.
One practice that contributes to the heating of our oceans is fertilizer runoff from industrial, agricultural operations and, in a lesser degree, from the overuse of fertilizer in our yards. This process poisons our marine ecosystems. It does so by fueling the rapid, unnatural growth of marine plants that lie flat on oceans’ surfaces, obstructing the sunlight from feeding plant life on the ocean floor, which boosts the population of “decomposer” organisms who feed on dead plants. These organisms consume oxygen, causing other marine life to asphyxiate and die. The familiar dead zones where no marine life can survive are then formed. Human life is also endangered, because half of the oxygen in our atmosphere comes from the ocean!
Something to think about: are we making ocean friendly choices when we are preparing our lawns and buying our food from grocery stores that deal with farms, which over fertilize or lack measures to prevent fertilizer run off?
These facts were taken from the newsletter of Unanima International, who recommends Dr. Sylvia Earle, American oceanographer, diver, and conservationist). Go to http://bit.ly/VYNiAZ for further information on Dr. Earle’s talk.
“Underground water sources in many places are threatened by the pollution produced in certain mining, farming, and industrial activities. It is not only a question of industrial waste. Detergents and chemical products continue to pour into our rivers, lakes, and seas.”
