SAINT JOHN VIANNEY JULY 21, 2013 Catholic Church In the Peace of Christ Dear friends in Christ: Last week in this letter, we raised the question of What is Marriage? This is in light of the recent Supreme Court decision on DOMA (The Defense of Marriage Act) and the growing confusion and debate on the nature and definition of marriage. What is essentially happening is that the definition of marriage is being changed to accommodate same-sex unions. It is argued that “same-sex marriage” is necessary because denial of marriage to persons with a homosexual orientation is unfair and an infringement of their civil rights. It is further argued that the tax laws, inheritance laws and other property/rights issues are unfair and unjust to homosexual persons in a committed relationship because the government is denying the same benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy under the law. It should be admitted that the inequality of these laws is present in some instances to homosexual couples, but it must be noted that the same laws are also are unfair to other persons as well. Think of other committed and exclusive relationships (siblings, parent/child, friends, concubinage, palimony, polyamory). Changing the definition of marriage does not change or remedy the injustice of the law or tax code. Notice here that the argument’s assumption is that fairness must equal sameness. There is also an implicit assumption that sameness is morally good in every instance. This is not so. A parent/child relationship and an incestuous parent/child relationship are not the same morally or legally. Palimony, concubinage and marriage can all be committed, emotional, sexual relationships between two heterosexual couples but they are not morally or legally the same. Some argue as well that our legal system should not be concerned with morality, that we would all be better off not having the “culture wars” over abortion and “same sex marriage” and all of the other hot button issues (immigration, capital punishment, Affordable Health Care Act, war, terrorism). The assumption here is that morality is relative and there is no absolute moral truth. (What is true “moral” for me is true “moral” for me and what is true “moral” for you is true “moral” for you!) Remember Pope Benedict’s famous condemnation on the dictatorship of relativism. Of course, laws should and do enshrine and codify morality. Unfortunately, laws can also codify, protect and give license to immorality (Jim Crow, Roe v. Wade, Nuremburg Laws). Just because something is legal does not make it automatically just, moral, right or good. These distinctions are often nuanced and evade the simplistic generalizations that we enjoy throwing around. With the issue of marriage there are political, legal, social, philosophical, moral and religious dimensions. Slogan-ism and over simplification can deny and distort the fullness of the reality and generally lead to more confusion than clarity. The current issue of the definition of “marriage” is in a real way symptomatic of many other challenges that we face in contemporary society and as individuals. The issues and their consequences are both societal and personal. Failure to understand this correctly has implications and ramifications in many other areas, big and small. We cannot put our heads in the sand and wish for it all to go away. Nor can we just capitulate and say, “Oh well, the times are changing!” Worse yet is tacit approval and the nonchalant judgment of “What’s the big deal?” Actions have consequences. Therefore, as Catholics, we must begin to study this issue so that we can add intelligently to the public debate and in so doing be a leaven to the world. In pace Christi, Saint john Vianney Catholic Church Archdiocese of Galveston — Houston 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail Houston, TX 77079 Tel.: 281-497-1500 Fax: 281-584-2024 www.stjohnvianney.org _______________________________ PARISH CLERGY Rev. R. Troy Gately Pastor Rev. Charles J. Talar Rev. Daniel L. Warden Priests in Residence Deacons Dale Steffes Al Vacek Fred Kossegi Randy Graham ______________________________ PASTORAL STAFF Adult Formation Yvonne Gill Youth Formation Daniel Marcantel Music Ministry Michael Madrid Pastoral Care/ Spiritual Life Louis Provenzano Parish Life/ Activity Center Richard Fairly Social Service Ministries Deborah Montez Business Office C.J. Pete Prados
Transcript
SAINT JOHN VIANNEY JULY 21, 2013
Catholic Church
In the Peace of Christ
Dear friends in Christ:
Last week in this letter, we raised the question of What is Marriage? This is in light of
the recent Supreme Court decision on DOMA (The Defense of Marriage Act) and the growing
confusion and debate on the nature and definition of marriage. What is essentially
happening is that the definition of marriage is being changed to accommodate same-sex
unions. It is argued that “same-sex marriage” is necessary because denial of marriage to
persons with a homosexual orientation is unfair and an infringement of their civil rights. It is
further argued that the tax laws, inheritance laws and other property/rights issues are unfair
and unjust to homosexual persons in a committed relationship because the government is
denying the same benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy under the law. It should be
admitted that the inequality of these laws is present in some instances to homosexual
couples, but it must be noted that the same laws are also are unfair to other persons as well.
Think of other committed and exclusive relationships (siblings, parent/child, friends,
concubinage, palimony, polyamory). Changing the definition of marriage does not change or
remedy the injustice of the law or tax code. Notice here that the argument’s assumption is
that fairness must equal sameness. There is also an implicit assumption that sameness is
morally good in every instance. This is not so. A parent/child relationship and an incestuous
parent/child relationship are not the same morally or legally. Palimony, concubinage and
marriage can all be committed, emotional, sexual relationships between two heterosexual
couples but they are not morally or legally the same.
Some argue as well that our legal system should not be concerned with morality,
that we would all be better off not having the “culture wars” over abortion and “same sex
marriage” and all of the other hot button issues (immigration, capital punishment,
Affordable Health Care Act, war, terrorism). The assumption here is that morality is relative
and there is no absolute moral truth. (What is true “moral” for me is true “moral” for me and
what is true “moral” for you is true “moral” for you!) Remember Pope Benedict’s famous
condemnation on the dictatorship of relativism. Of course, laws should and do enshrine and
codify morality. Unfortunately, laws can also codify, protect and give license to immorality
(Jim Crow, Roe v. Wade, Nuremburg Laws). Just because something is legal does not make it
automatically just, moral, right or good.
These distinctions are often nuanced and evade the simplistic generalizations that we
enjoy throwing around. With the issue of marriage there are political, legal, social,
philosophical, moral and religious dimensions. Slogan-ism and over simplification can deny
and distort the fullness of the reality and generally lead to more confusion than clarity. The
current issue of the definition of “marriage” is in a real way symptomatic of many other
challenges that we face in contemporary society and as individuals. The issues and their
consequences are both societal and personal. Failure to understand this correctly has
implications and ramifications in many other areas, big and small. We cannot put our heads
in the sand and wish for it all to go away. Nor can we just capitulate and say, “Oh well, the
times are changing!” Worse yet is tacit approval and the nonchalant judgment of “What’s
the big deal?” Actions have consequences. Therefore, as Catholics, we must begin to study
this issue so that we can add intelligently to the public debate and in so doing be a leaven to
the world.
In pace Christi,
Saint john Vianney
Catholic Church
Archdiocese of Galveston — Houston
625 Nottingham Oaks Trail Houston, TX 77079
Tel.: 281-497-1500
Fax: 281-584-2024 www.stjohnvianney.org
_______________________________
PARISH CLERGY
Rev. R. Troy Gately Pastor
Rev. Charles J. Talar
Rev. Daniel L.
Warden
Priests in Residence
Deacons Dale Steffes
Al Vacek
Fred Kossegi
Randy Graham
______________________________
PASTORAL STAFF
Adult Formation
Yvonne Gill
Youth Formation Daniel Marcantel
Music Ministry
Michael Madrid
Pastoral Care/
Spiritual Life
Louis Provenzano
Parish Life/
Activity Center
Richard Fairly
Social Service
Ministries
Deborah Montez
Business Office
C.J. Pete Prados
16th Sunday in ordinary time
MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday Vigil
5:30 p.m.
Sunday
8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m.,
11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m.,
5:30 p.m.
Spanish: 2:00 p.m.,
7:00 p.m.
Weekdays
Monday - Friday
9:00 a.m.
Tuesday & Thursday
7:00 p.m.
NOVENA & ROSARY
Our Lady of
Perpetual Help
Wednesdays 6:30 p.m.
Novena of the
Sacred Heart
1st Fridays following
9:00 a.m. Mass
Divine Mercy Chaplet
and
Rosary after 9:00 a.m.
daily Mass
__________________
CONFESSIONS
Saturday
10:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m.
Sunday
6:45 p.m. (Spanish)
___________________
BAPTISMS Classes offered monthly.
Please contact the
Parish Office
MARRIAGE Please contact the Parish
Office at least eight
months prior to desired
date
ANOINTING OF THE
SICK/COMMUNION
TO THE SICK AND
HOMEBOUND Please contact the Parish Office
___________________
OFFICE HOURS
Monday – Friday
Mass IntentionsMass IntentionsMass IntentionsMass Intentions
Monday, July 22, 2013
9:00 a.m. † Tom Schilling
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
9:00 a.m. † Richard Zeh
7:00 p.m. † Lam Nguyen
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
9:00 a.m. † P. Almaraz/HP Aprile Families
Thursday, July 25, 2013
9:00 a.m. † J. B Platz
7:00 p.m. † Oscar Luis Rivera Neme
Friday, July 26, 2013
9:00 a.m. † D. Izzo & B. Londa Families
Saturday, July 27, 2013
5:30 p.m. † Otilia Partidas
Sunday, July 28, 2013
8:00 a.m. † George Passarello
9:30 a.m. Missa Pro Populo
11:00 a.m. † J. R. Petro
12:30 p.m. † Jack Boehringer
2:00 p.m. † Gilberto Molina
5:30 p.m. † William Hall
7:00 p.m. † Rammi Naiiseh
Other Remembrances
† James Murnane, Ursuline H. Smith, S. Bockholt,
†Irene Agnes Huebner, †Luke Nnadozie Asumunu
This Weeks Scripture Readings
Monday Ex 14:5-18; Ps 15; Jn 20:1-2, 11-18
Tuesday Ex 14:21—15:1; Ex 15,
Mt 12:46-50
Wednesday Ex 16:1-5, 9-15; Ps 78; Mt 13:1-9
Thursday 2 Cor 4:7-15; Ps 126; Mt 20:20-28
Friday Ex 20:1-17; Ps 19; Mt 13:18-23
Saturday Ex 24:3-8; Ps 50; Mt 13:24-30
Sunday Gn 18:20-32; Ps 138; Col 2:12-14;
Lk 11:1-13
WELCOME
Our newest parishioners to
St. John Vianney Family
Elena Alvarez, David and Tricia Cole,
Christopher and Mireya Colville,
Jeanne Marie Garcia, Rafael and Claudia Garcia,
Bernard and Virginia Pankrantz
16th
Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings speak of hospitality.
Abraham, who cheerfully did for his guests all
that desert hospitality required, was
rewarded with his heart’s desire — a son.
Martha also busied herself with all the details
of hospitality, but grudgingly and with
complaint. Am I a cheerful or a grudging
giver?
Don’t Put It Off Any Longer!! Married but not in the Catholic Church?
Come and See! If you’ve ever thought about becoming a Catholic
this meeting is for you! Learn more about The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Informational Meeting
Thursday, 1 August 7:00 p.m. in the Audio Visual Room
Catholic? Thinking about it? Maybe… what do I do next?
RCIA ? What is that?
16th Sunday in ordinary time
Parish life
SJV Night at the Astros GameSJV Night at the Astros GameSJV Night at the Astros GameSJV Night at the Astros Game Monday, August 5, 7:10 pmMonday, August 5, 7:10 pmMonday, August 5, 7:10 pmMonday, August 5, 7:10 pm
for the 2013for the 2013for the 2013for the 2013----2014 school year is now open!2014 school year is now open!2014 school year is now open!2014 school year is now open!
We are now registering Pre-K thru High School for
next year’s CCE program.
Placement for specific class days
and times is first come, first served. So, register today!
Registration forms are available
in the CCE/Youth Formation Office and on the parish
website, www.stjohnvianney.org
Please Note: Registration for CCE is NOT
registration for Sacrament Preparation.
See below
Sacrament Preparation
Registration for Sacrament Preparation for
2013-2014 has begun! This includes First
Reconciliation, Communion,
Confirmation, and RCIC.
Registration forms for Sacrament Preparation are
available in the CCE/Youth Formation Office ONLY
Sacrament Preparation is a separate program from CCE.
Please come by the CCE/Youth Office for more info,
preparation requirements, and registration forms.
Youth formation
The Best of Eastern Canada! Space is still available
Featuring multiFeaturing multiFeaturing multiFeaturing multi----cultural food and entertainment.cultural food and entertainment.cultural food and entertainment.cultural food and entertainment. Saturday, September 7Saturday, September 7Saturday, September 7Saturday, September 7
6:30 p.m.6:30 p.m.6:30 p.m.6:30 p.m.
Save the date!Save the date!Save the date!Save the date!Save the date!Save the date!Save the date!Save the date!
We appreciate all of your help in keeping our food pantry well stocked. You may bring items such as canned goods, staple
products, and household products. We are always in need of the following products: peanut butter, sugar, flour, and tuna. Please check expiration dates—we cannot distribute expired
food.
We also accept cash and checks as pantry donations.
