SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER PARISH AUGUST 20, 2017
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER IS A CATHOLIC- JESUIT PARISH IGNITED BY THE EUCHARIST
TO PRAY, SERVE, DO JUSTICE, AND LOVE.
Celebrating 125 Years
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The Grace of Missoula Catholic Schools
The school year is about to begin. When you walk on the campuses of Missoula Catholic Schools, you can feel the excitement. As teachers prepare their rooms and students gather supplies, as floors are waxed, and new uniforms spill out of boxes we know the year is beginning. The schools are alive and well as they prepare to host soon-to-be students. It is all a bit intoxicating to be around, to feel the buzz of anticipation, the joy of new beginnings.
I was blessed to pray with the MCS faculty and staff earlier this month. I was touched by their commitment and abiding joy, their anticipation as they prayed for students who will be entrusted to their care. Standing with the faculty and staff, I am humbled by the sacrifices they continue to make. What grace they are called to shepherd! What grace they are summoned to prepare for the service of our community and the world. I was struck by this responsibility, and by the many factors in our culture that labor to destroy such grace. For the daughters and sons of God, true and lasting joy comes in the blossoming of each person’s unique combination of graces: the 5th grader who can spell chrysanthemum, the seventh-grade artist drawing with charcoal for the first time, the musician who likes to code; it comes in the size 12 cross country runner, and the 6’4" sophomore who’d rather be in speech and debate than play basketball.
The purpose of Catholic education is to allow the grace of God to be liberated in the heart of each one of God’s daughters and sons. The mission of Catholic education is not about creating better workers, or better consumers, or even better students, though it does all of these things well; the mission of Catholic education is about formation – drawing forth what God has already created in each young woman and man. It is about fostering a lifetime of curiosity and growth, as unlimited as grace itself. Catholic education is about students coming to know God, and thus know themselves and their abilities more deeply.
Today especially, Missoula Catholic Schools proclaims that God lives not in the broad brush of the ideologue, but in every fiber of the human heart, in every act of discovery by which young women and men become fully who they are. This act of becoming fully who they are is because of the commitment of teachers who will once again be sitting with their pupils and talking, not in grand speeches, but in context and dialogue, on the corner of desks and crouched down on carpets. They will not build grand cities of words and promises, but they are shaping the bricks that will make those cities real—or better cities, more humane cities that have yet to be dreamed. These teachers, underpaid except by the love of their students, are making these bricks for the future the only way you can: one at a time, with care and with craft—the way Jesus built a Church, and the Spirit builds us all. What goes on at St. Joseph’s and Loyola Sacred Heart changes the world, one beautiful child at a time. This year’s theme at Missoula Catholic Schools is "Conscience” - one of our 4 rotating themes for our students. (Compassion, Conscience, Community, Competence.) We are called to open the way of grace by loving all our children, by challenging them and emboldening them, by supporting them and accompanying them in their journey of hope and discovery. May God bless our Catholic Schools today and always.
Pastor
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St. Joseph Preschool and Prekindergarten- Enroll Now!!!Our Early Childhood Program still have a few spots remaining for the upcoming school year! We educate children 2-5 years old as we prepare them for Kindergarten. The curriculum directly aligns with the Montana Early Learning Standards. Catholic religious instruction is also part of your child's learning environment of play, hands-on learning and exploration. If you or someone you know is interested in signing a child up for one of these programs, contact the Director of Early Childhood, Alex Rhoades at [email protected] or call 406-215-2238.
St. Joseph School Enrolling Now Grades PreK- 8th GradeSpots remain for students in grades PreK-8th grade for the 2017-2018 school year! Come join the strong community of St. Joseph Catholic School where students are formed into young men and women of compassion, conscience, competence, and community in the Catholic tradition of school excellence. Contact the Principal, Christina Vierra McGill at [email protected] or call 406-549-1290 for an admissions tour and meeting.
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Items of Note:
Holy Family House News:
A new family has moved into the Holy Family House after the previous tenants, a Grandmother and Grandson received their Section 8 Voucher and moved into permanent housing!
Kasse and Tosha and their three children are from the Democratic Republic of Congo and are thrilled to have the opportunity to live in such an amazing home. We worked in conjunction with the International Rescue Committee to place them.
Please keep them and the Holy Family House in your prayers as we continue working toward helping displaced or homeless families.
Many thanks to Mark and Jeri Tschida for their generosity in providing the house and for all who have contributed in any way!
For more information, please contact Pam in the parish office.
Looking for something? Feeling called to deepen your faith? Longing for a greater sense of purpose?
Be inspired and energized by JustFaith; a program based on Catholic social teaching that focuses on our Gospel call to love and serve others. In com-munity with a small group of others, you’ll share a spiritual journey of faith and compassion that is life-giving.
For more information about JustFaith, contact Pam at [email protected] or 541-6041
JustFaith
You are Invited to Spend the Next Nine Months Falling in Love with Jesus
The Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life Retreat (SEEL) is a nine-month retreat rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. This life-changing time of prayer and reflection is intended for busy people in the midst of their daily lives. Retreatants commit to praying an hour each day, meeting weekly with a spiritual director, and attending monthly group retreat evenings. The retreat begins in September and continues through May. For more information and an application, please go to the Ministries and Commissions tab on the St. Francis Xavier Parish website at http://www.sfxmissoula.org or contact Luke Larson at 406-541-6042 or [email protected]. Come retreat with us!
Thinking about deepening your faith by joining a prayer group for the school year?
Saint Francis Parish is again offering CHALLENGE
A DAILY MEDITATION PROGRAM September 2017 - May 2018
Two classes will be offered this year. A 7:00 PM evening class for those who work during the day and a 1:15 PM for those who can meet during the day both will start Thursday September 14th meeting in the dinning room in the Parish Center.
Each participant will receive a helpful prayer book that contains the daily meditations that take about 10 minutes each day. Each prayer group will meet once a week for one hour for the purpose of faith sharing and support. The Challenge program is a wonderful introduction to the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius.
For Questions or more information call Marion Daley at 406 829-3462 or 531-1685.
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St. Francis Xavier Parish will often use parishioner likeness in print, video, website or in social media sites for the purpose of sharing our church community with others.
Are you interested in finding out more about St. Francis Xavier and the Catholic Church?
Whether you are baptized in another denomination, have never been baptized and are exploring Christianity for the first time, or are a former Catholic pondering a return to the Church, we are happy to talk with you, answer questions, and explore the many possibilities.
Find out more—by calling Fr. Rich Perry, S.J. , Fr. Matt Holland, S.J. or Fr. Joseph Carver, SJ.
SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER ~~ MISSOULA, MONTANA420 West Pine Street, Missoula MT, 59802
542-0321, sfxmissoula.org
AUGUST 20, 2017 TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY
OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Thursday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Friday (closed in Summer) e-mail: [email protected].
Phone: 406- 542-0321 Fax: 406-327-8537
Weekend LiturgiesSaturday ~~~ 5 p.m.Sunday ~~ 8 am, 10 am, and 6 p.m.Weekday LiturgiesMonday - Friday ~~ 8 am Confession -Saturday ~~ 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. or by appointmentEucharistic AdorationWednesdays & First Fridays ~ 8:30 am - 3:00pm
Prayers
Thank you for your generous giving!
on Facebook at St. Francis Xavier Church ,
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on Instagram at sfxmissoula.
Follow all the events, news, and photos of life here at St. Francis Xavier.
Remember to add our parish App to your phone and stay connected!
May --- Tim Durnin and Marion Olsen
receive His healing and consolation.
For information on Jesuit vocations BeAJesuit.org
Collections for Sunday, August 20, 2017
Envelopes $7900.00 Loose: $1512.49
Feast of the Assumption $133.00 Family Promise $90.00 Building Maintenance $25.00
Please Note:
Please be advised the resurfacing of Pine street in front of the church & parish office is scheduled to begin the early part of the week . (The 21st, 22nd, & 23rd of August)
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Mass StipendSuggested Mass stipend is $20 tax deductible
“... only the intangible value of prayer...”
August 20, 2017
1st Annual Missoula Catholic Schools Golf Tournament
Saturday, September 23rd ROCK CREEK CATTLE COMPANY
Missoula Catholic Schools is pleased to invite you to join us at the beautiful private Rock Creek Cattle Company course for our 1st Annual MCS Companions Golf Tournament. This event will be limited to 18 four person teams. Your entry fee ($500/individual, $2,000/team) includes golf, carts, caddy, lunch on the course, a Swag Bag (MCS Rock Creek Golf Shirt, Rock Creek Hat and a sleeve of golf balls), and a hosted post tournament dinner and drinks at Rock Creek Cattle Company's Cat-tleman's Club.
Proceeds will benefit Missoula Catholic Schools. This event has limited space and will fill up fast. To register call Deb Jones at 541.2858 or go online www.mcsmt.org
Mass Scriptures for the Month of August, 2017
Saturday 8/19 Josh. 24:14-29 Ps. 16 Matt. 19:13-15 Sunday 8/20 Isa. 56:1, 6-7 Twentieth Sunday in Ord. Ps. 67 Rom. 11:13-15, 29-32 Matt. 15:21-28 Monday 8/21 Judg. 2:11-19 St. Pius X Ps. 106 Matt. 19:16-22 Tuesday 8/22 Judg. 6:11-24a The Queenship of the Ps. 85 Blessed Virgin Mary Matt. 19:23-30 Wednesday 8/23 Judg. 9:6-15 Ps. 21 Matt. 20:1-16 Thursday 8/24 Rev. 21:9b-14 St. Bartholomew Ps. 145 John 1:45-51 Friday 8/25 Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22 Ps. 146 Matt. 22:34-40 Saturday 8/26 Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17 Ps. 128 Matt. 23:1-12
Mass Intentions for the Month of August, 2017 Saturday 8/19 Marsha & Bruno Friia*
Sunday 8/20 Trisha Hagen Brittni & Adam Hertz* For the People* Monday 8/21 Marta Bethune* Tuesday 8/22 Rose Kohout Wednesday 8/23 Tim Hubbard Thursday 8/24 Janice Lopach Friday 8/25 Margaret Houldson Saturday 8/26 For the People*
Sunday 8/27 Tim Burger Vern Welter Janice Lopach Monday 8/28 Elisa Becerra Tuesday 8/29 John Noonan Wednesday 8/30 Linda Cronk Thursday 8/31 Kathleen Apple
Family Promise
We are looking for another volunteer to join our coordinator team for Family Promise. It would involve helping to organize volunteers before and during our rotation weeks which occur 5 times per year. If you are interested, please call Pam in the parish office.
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You never know who you might run into ...
Kevin Clark, S.J. Jerry Graham, S.J. Matthew Kunkle, S.J. Drew Maddock, S.J. Mark McGregor, S.J. Chris Weekly, S.J. John Whitney, S.J.
Join us as we
Extend the Table--- September 16th 2017 from 5 - 9 pm
Come get reacquainted!
