St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church Served by the Missionary Society of St. Paul Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston MISIÓN DE LA PARROQUIA: Somos una familia en Cristo con un corazón acogedor llamado a servir. PARISH MISSION STATEMENT: We are one family in Christ with a welcoming heart called to serve. Sacrament of Baptism: Parents requesting baptism for their child must call the parish office two months prior to the desired month of baptism. There are no baptisms during Lent or Advent. Sacrament of Matrimony: Couples interested in marriage at St.. Mary Magdalene must contact the office at least six months prior to their desired wedding date. Anointing of the Sick Please call the parish office if you or a loved one wish to receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. Sacramento del Bautismo: Padres que quieran bautizar a sus hijos deben de llamar a la oficina por lo menos 2 meses antes de la fecha del bautismo. No hay bautizos durante la Cuaresma o el tiempo de Adviento. Sacramento del Matrimonio: Parejas interesadas en casarse en Santa María Magdalena deben contactar a la oficina por lo menos seis meses antes de su fecha preferida de matrimonio. Por favor llamen a la oficina para información. Unción de los Enfermos: Por favor llame la oficina si usted o algún ser querido desea ser ungido. Weekend Mass English: Saturday Vigil: 5:30 P.M. Sunday: 7:30, 9:00, & 11:00 A.M.; 5:00 P.M. (Youth) Español: Sábado (Misa de Víspera): 7:00 P.M. Domingo: 1:00 P.M. Weekday Mass Monday--Friday: 8:30 A.M. (English) Martes: 7:00 P.M. (Misa en Español) 1st Friday Devotion Mass: 8:30 A.M. 1st Saturday Devotion Mass: 8:30 A.M. Reconciliation (Confession) Tuesday: 6:00 P.M.—6:45 P.M. Saturday: 3:30 P.M.—5:00 P.M. Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration 9:00 A.M.—9:00 P.M. (Mon.—Fri.) Pastor: Rev. Felix Ilesanmi Osasona, M.S.P. Parochial Vicar: Rev. Anthony Udoh, M.S.P. Deacons: Nick Caruso & Rene Ramon 527 South Houston Avenue, Humble, TX 77338 † (281) 446-8211 Fax † (281) 446-8213 † www.st-mm.com Office Hours: M-F 8:00 A.M. — 4:30 P.M.
Transcript
St. Mary Magdalene
Catholic Church Served by the Missionary Society of St. Paul
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
MISIÓN DE LA PARROQUIA: Somos una familia en Cristo con un corazón
acogedor llamado a servir.
PARISH MISSION STATEMENT: We are one family in Christ with a welcoming
heart called to serve.
Sacrament of Baptism: Parents requesting baptism for their child must call the parish office two months prior to the desired month of baptism. There are no baptisms during Lent or Advent.
Sacrament of Matrimony: Couples interested in marriage at St.. Mary Magdalene must contact the office at least six months prior to their desired wedding date.
Anointing of the Sick Please call the parish office if you or a loved one wish to receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick.
Sacramento del Bautismo: Padres que quieran bautizar a sus hijos deben de llamar a la oficina por lo menos 2 meses antes de la fecha del bautismo. No hay bautizos durante la Cuaresma o el tiempo de Adviento.
Sacramento del Matrimonio: Parejas interesadas en casarse en Santa María Magdalena deben contactar a la oficina por lo menos seis meses antes de su fecha preferida de matrimonio. Por favor llamen a la oficina para información.
Unción de los Enfermos: Por favor llame la oficina si usted o algún ser querido desea ser ungido.
Peter the Rock Simon Peter made a profound profession of faith in today’s gospel. He professed Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This was after Jesus had asked his disciples who people thought he was. The answers given were close but not good enough. Some said Jesus was John the Baptist, others saw him as Elijah and others saw him as one of the prophets. However, Jesus was more than Elijah, John the Baptist or a prophet. Jesus is the Son of God. He is the Second Person of the Trinity. Peter under the influence of the Holy Spirit was able to make this profession and that changed his life too. Jesus gave him the name Cephas in Aramaic, or Petros in Greek which means rock. It is this apostolic faith that gives the church her purpose and stability. Peter became the first of the apostles and took a great leadership role in the life of the Church. In the Gospels Peter was first in all the lists of the apostles. Paul acknowledged the leadership role of Peter when he wrote after his conversion that he went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days (Galatians 1:18). Even though Paul disagreed with Peter on certain issues, he still respected him as the prime leader of the Christian faithful.
God chose Peter to lead the Church by revealing the person of Jesus to him. The gospels are realistic in their description of Peter. He was the one who confessed that Jesus is Lord but later denied him; he expressed his faith in Christ but also falters in that faith. Jesus appointed him to be the leader of the apostles and also gave him strength to support the rest. Peter was given the key to the kingdom of heaven. The key symbolized the authority to bind and to loose. That authority is to be exercised with love and in service of the kingdom. Today, we are invited to reflect on who Jesus is for us. We are asked to pray for the leaders of the church especially Pope Francis and the Bishops who as successors of Peter and the apostles are called to serve the people under their care.
We need you as a Catechists in our Religious Formation: Our Catholic Christian Education (CCE) for the new school year will start in September. We are still in need of 45 catechists. You can help us in this ministry even though you don't think you are qualified. I came across a blog entry by Deirdre Mundy on the aleteia.org website last year that described what it means to be a catechist. It is titled “Why I am the worst Catechist at my parish, and I am still signing up.” I would like to share it with you all:
This August, I’ll begin my sixth year as a religious education teacher. Ora pro me. So far, I’ve taught second, third, fourth, and sixth grades at two different parishes. I spend my summers reading articles about trends in religious education and asking other catechists for advice. Then, the school year begins, and I spend my Wednesday nights never doing quite as well as I’d hoped I would. I can safely say that I am the worst catechist at my parish. This isn’t false modesty. It’s just that the other catechists are great catechists. They’ve been at it for a long time, they know how to teach and
reach kids, and they know their curricula inside and out.
Meanwhile, I’m still struggling to balance book time and talk time, to keep order when the kids are hungry and hyper after a long school day, and to get the most important parts of the faith across without neglecting the nitty gritty, or the Bible. I noticed that many of the lapsed Catholics of my acquaintance accuse us of never reading
the Bible in religion classes, so each year we work through a New Testament book, one chapter a week. I alternate Luke and Acts, because a lack of teachers means I often have the same kids two
years running.
Often, as a teacher, I am a mess. The kids are too, because with little reinforcement at home they have, over summer, all but forgotten everything beyond Jesus having died and risen, and I don’t know where to start. So, why am I in the classroom, trying to teach Catechism at a table surrounded by squirmy, exhausted kids who don’t want to be there? Why did God call me to teach religion when there are better teachers out there, people who could really set the kids on fire with love for Jesus and mankind? “Shouldn’t someone else be leading this class,” I think, “and leave me to safer, less important tasks like photocopying activity sheets or making
sure that no one floods the bathroom?
But I tend to wonder the same thing about a lot of other places God calls me. Why am I homeschooling seven kids, running clubs and keeping house when I’m mediocre at much of it? Why am I my husband’s wife, when he surely deserved better? Why did God put me at this soccer game trying to comfort this traumatized woman as she cries on my shoulder about a recent miscarriage, when I stink at social skills and freak out at tears? It seems like God keeps calling me to things I’m barely capable of, and often not comfortable
with. Couldn’t he find someone better?
Actually, I think the answer to that last question might be, “No, he couldn’t.” Not because I’m super-wonderful and practically perfect in every way, but because I’m available and willing. Maybe some-one better for the job left the Church when she was 12 and never looked back. Or maybe she keeps saying “no” because “yes” can feel so scary. Maybe God takes who is available and willing. Moses was a murderer with a stutter; Saint Bernadette was the merest creature on earth. Saint Peter wasn’t exactly a calm, cool management type, or a smooth operator, and look where he ended up. On paper, Judas might have had a better CV for the papacy, but he was unwilling to be led away from where he thought he
should go.
So, here is what God and the Church are left with: the unworthy yet willing. A lot of us who are called to things we’re not especially good at, but we’re game to give it a try, all for Jesus. Fortunately, where our own talents, skills, and energies fail us, grace can fill the gaps, if we let it. I know there are people in my parish, and in every parish, who would be better catechists than I am. When the DRE gets up front to make her annual plea, they’re too afraid to answer God’s call, because they know they’re not the perfect person for the job. But here’s the thing: The perfect person isn’t here. The perfect person will probably never show up. But you are here, and you’re the one God’s calling right now, in all your
imperfection. It’s OK to hold your breath, close your eyes, make the leap and offer
SCHOOL MINISTRIES SCHOOL BOARD Joshua Raab - (281) 446-8535
MINISTERIO HISPANO +
FORMACIÓN DE FE PARA ADULTOS, SACRAMENTOS DE CONFIRMACIÓN Y COMUNIÓN, EL PROCESO DE RICA, PATROCINADORES DE MATRIMONIO, BAUTISMO DE NIÑOS DE 0-6 AÑOS, QUINCEAÑERAS Vickie Cortez - (281) 446-2933
OUTREACH MINISTRIES SOCIAL SERVICES Chris Rubio - (281) 540-1907 PRISON MINISTRY Mary Hernandez - (713) 299-8493 HOSPITAL MINISTRY Margarita Rodriguez - (832) 445-6318 HOMEBOUND MINISTRY Linda Enloe - (281) 389-1820 RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY Teresa O’Brien - (919) 623-5343 ([email protected]) BLOOD DRIVE Rosa Herrera - (281) 687-5823 BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY Madeline Graham - (281) 446-8044 NURSING HOME MINISTRY Humble Health Center, Oakmont & Park Manor, Deerbrook Nursing Home Monica Fontenot - (281) 913-5221 ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE Darril B. - (281) 852-4230 Wayne B. - (281) 777-9217 Florentino V. - (832) 605-1881 Susan G. - (281) 813-0575 PRAYER CHAIN MINISTRY Ron & Ann McCuen - (281) 852-4743 ([email protected]) PRAYER QUILT MINISTRY Jean Chebret - (713) 254-1714 HELPING HANDS MINISTRY Jan Crawford - (281) 852-3508 LITTLE DRESSES FOR AFRICA Dottie Gauthier - (337) 344-2461 HOME AGAIN MINISTRY (FURNITURE BANK/ HOUSEHOLD ITEMS) Carolyn Wise - (713) 898-6611 Lori Scherr - (281) 360-9112 Tammy Broussard - (281) 852-5114 SERENITY SENIORS MINISTRY Paulette Meeks - (281) 446-3122
OTHERS NURSERY Wanda Conley - (281) 446-8211 FALL FESTIVAL COMMITTEE Pauline Brown Chair - (832) 338 - 9657 PASTORAL COUNCIL Jocelyn Waggoner - (281) 435-9208 FINANCE COUNCIL Bert Guempel - (281) 852-1549 SECURITY TEAM John Garza - (832) 875-1377 P.3
Are you new to our parish or have been coming for a while but are not yet registered? We offer
you a warm welcome to St. Mary Magdalene parish. Becoming an active parishioner begins
when you are counted as a parishioner. Please stop by the Welcome Ministry table in the
narthex to register. You can also come by the church office during the week to register.
Accredited by the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department
Joshua Raab, Principal Trish Duhon, Director of Marketing & Communications Tom Walsh, Athletic Director Cathy Brown, Director of Before & After School Program Laura Valladares, Counselor Laura Rocha, Director of Admissions Kelli Pitt, Bookkeeper Donna Mohrman, Nurse Sam McKinney, Secretary
BULLETIN ARTICLES DUE FRIDAY MORNING
Issue for September 3 - due by August 25th. Issue for September 10 - due by September 1.
Wanda Conley, Nursery Coordinator Patricia De Los Santos, Nursery Attendant
Isabel Gonzalez, Nursery Attendant
Alexis Mendoza, Nursery Attendant
Rachel Meza, Nursery Attendant
Samantha Meza, Nursery Attendant
Flowers on the Altar
In Honor of
Julienne A. Rhino Sandoval
Mother of Parishioner
Romelia Barton
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The Second Collection for this weekend is for the Missionary Society of St. Paul
The Missionary Society of St. Paul has a total of 200 priests serving in 18 countries around the world. They have 100 seminarians in Nigeria. They would love to
admit more candidates that are interested in the Priesthood, but do not have enough resources to do so. Your generous giving will assist in the training of more
priests to serve in the Church.
Thank you for your generosity.
Stewardship of Our Treasures Week of August 20, 2017
PLEASE NO WAX CANDLES
Please do not use wax candles in the Mary Grotto.
This is a fire hazard and the wax melts in the Texas
heat. Approved candles may be purchased for a small fee at
the Parish Office during regular business hours.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Mass Intentions for the Week
Saturday Aug 26 5:30 pm 7:00 pm
People of STMM Luis Arthuro Infante † Aron Manuel Miranda †
Sunday Aug 27 7:30 am 9:00 am 11:00 am 1:00 pm
5:00 pm
Emma Slayton (SPI) Manual Robles † Mike Flynn (SPI) Estella Treviño (SPI) Renato Rinosa † Souls in Purgatory Beatrice & Brent Mitchell † Conchita Murray † Julienne A. Sandoval †
Monday Aug 28 8:30 am
Maria Teresa Jaime † Eduardo Hefferan †
Tuesday Aug 29 8:30 am 7:00 pm
Charles R. Robillard Pacifico Conde † Carlos Ruiz † Tobias Ybarra
Wednesday Aug 30 8:30 am Theresa Vines (SPI) Amparo Recto Wong †
Thursday Aug 31 8:30 am Rene Gonzales † Paulino Quiroz, Jr. †
Friday Sep 1 8:30 am Philip John Baumann (SPI) Souls in Purgatory
Roy Domengeaux † Karen Wilde † Sidney & Effie Thibodeaux † John Perrodin Charlotte Smith † Mike Valdez † People of STMM Jane Ortego † George & Tim Tiblier (SPI)
To reserve a Mass, please stop by the Parish office and reserve the date and time for your intention.
Sunday August 27
7:30 am - CH Mass 9:00 am - CH Mass 11:00 am - CH Mass 12:30 pm - FLC ACTS *M* Retreat WC 1:00 pm - CH Mass (Sp) 5:00 pm - CH Mass 6:30 pm - YR HS Youth Night
Monday August 28
8:30 am - CH Mass 6:30 pm - FLC Fall Festival Com. Mtg. 7:00 pm - MGH FTCM
Tuesday August 29
8:30 am - CH Mass 6:00 pm - CH Confessions 7:00 pm - CH Mass (Sp) 7:00 pm - 214 RCIA 7:00 pm - 215 RCIA 7:00 pm - 216 RCIA 7:00 pm - SJH Curso Matrimonial 7:00 pm - FLC Asamblea Grupo de Oración
Wednesday August 30
8:30 am - CH Mass
Thursday August 31
8:30 am - CH Mass 6:00 pm - YR MS Youth Night 7:00 pm - SMH Grupo de Oración/ Crecimiento
Friday September 1
8:30 am - CH Mass
Saturday
September 2
8:30 am - CH 1st Saturday Mass 9:30 am - SMH Clases para Bautismos 11:00 am - SJH ACTS *F* (Sp) Meeting 11:00 am - CH Baptisms (En) 3:30 pm - CH Confessions 5:30 pm - CH Mass 7:00 pm - CH Mass (Sp)
Sunday
September 3
7:30 am - CH Mass 8:30 am - FLC KC Country Breakfast 9:00 am - CH Mass 11:00 am - CH Mass 1:00 pm - CH Mass (Sp) 5:00 pm - CH Mass 6:30 pm - FLC HS Youth Night
Weekly Announcements
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Fall Festival 2017!
Save the date!
Sunday, October 22, 2017.
Silent Auction Item Donations Too!
Donations for the Silent Auction are a
great way to help with the Festival! Big
items, trips, weekend get a-ways,
sporting event tickets and activities, gift
cards for restaurants, family activities
and store gift cards etc.
Other ways to help with the fun:
Volunteer (sign ups on the website
and later in the courtyard after Mass)
Sponsorship (forms online)
Merchandise (forms online) Canned drinks (12 oz. size name brand)
As we look forward to another Stewardship event for our
annual renewal and recruitment of volunteers, hopefully you
have taken the time to read and reflect on the information in each week’s bulletin. See how we, as God’s stewards,
are called to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. You are asked to pray
and discern your skills and talents, so that you will be ready
for the opportunity to volunteer by making a commitment to
serve in one of our many ministries here at St. Mary
Magdalene. We have a choice of over 90 parish ministries
that serve our parish and our community!
Our parish is very special and we depend entirely on the
generosity of our parishioners for the complete support of our
parish. Our multitude of caring stewards has accomplished so
much for the parish and community around us. For this we
are most grateful.
Making a commitment to a ministry is more than signing
your name on a paper; it is a covenant with God to serve Him
through the parish in a spirit of love and sharing. It is
following through and being available when called to serve, it
is making the time to call, to visit, to pray, to cook, to attend a
meeting or whatever else may be needed in that ministry.
This is how St. Mary Magdalene Parish has flourished for
over 100 years, because our stewards honor their
commitments to use their gifts to serve the Lord.
This year, on September 9th and 10th, if you are already a
volunteer, you may want to recommit to your present
ministry, seek an additional one or choose a different one. If
you are not presently volunteering, please make a commitment to serve in at least one ministry for a year.
Please visit the tables in the Family Life Center where you
will have the opportunity to commit your gifts to an
appropriate ministry or to try something new in other areas.
Volunteering in ministry, you will experience firsthand,
through your service, how wonderful life is at St. Mary
Magdalene and at the same time be a beautiful example to
your family as well as others.
Little Dresses for Africa
The Little Dresses for Africa
Project will host two upcoming
Sew-ins in the month of September.
Tuesday, September 12 from 9 am - 3 pm
Monday, September 18 from 6 pm - 9 pm
In St. Joseph’s Hall
Sewers need to bring their sewing machines.
Helpers are needed to cut fabric for dresses and
shorts to prepare packets. All fabric, patterns,
and notions are provided.
Young at Heart 50+ Three Dimensional Visions Tour and
Demo Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017
Three Dimensional Visions is located in Tomball, Texas and offers a 1.5 hours narrated demo and studio tour of their facility. In addition, there is a showroom and gallery on the property. Join Young at Heart for this morning tour and demonstration followed by lunch at a local area restaurant
Bus arrives: 8:30 a.m. Bus departs: 9:00 a.m. Bus will return to STMM: approx. 3:00 p.m.
Cost of the trip is $17.00 per person…covering your ticket to the tour and demonstration and a donation to Harris County Precinct 4 Senior Adult Program. Lunch is on your own.
If you would like to join us for this morning of fun and entertainment, please contact Linda Slade at 281-852-1278. Deadline for reservations and payments is Wednesday, Sept. 6th. There are 24 seats available for this trip. As always this trip is booked on a First Come, First served basis.
When your reservation has been confirmed with Linda, please drop off your payment – cash or a check made payable to St. Mary Magdalene at the parish office. Place the check in an envelope clearly marked: Young at Heart, Three Dimensional Visions Tour. Remember the bus may be cold, be sure to bring a sweater or lap cover. Mark your calendar for our next Precinct 4 trip on Wednesday, October 11
th.
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Weekly Announcements
The Office of Family Life Ministry congratulates all
couples discerning the call to Married Life. At
St. Mary Magdalene, we offer a comprehensive
program which consists of attending an initial
meeting with one of our clergy, attending four
mandatory preparation sessions, meeting with a
sponsor couple, and completing the FOCCUS.
Once completed, we hope that you’ll feel ready for a
wonderful life together, joined by God in the
Sacrament of Marriage.
For information/details contact:
Chris Rubio at (281) 446-8211.
Marriage Preparation Sessions:
Session 1: September 6
Session 2: September 13
Session 3: September 20
Session 4: September 27
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Share the Faith Table The Share the Faith Table has been
rescheduled. If you would like to make a
donation please drop it by the parish office.
NORTHEAST CATHOLIC SINGLES
A MINISTRY FOR SINGLES AGES 40 and Older.
Our next gathering will be on Wednesday, August 30 at 7:00 p.m.
Join us at Spring Creek BBQ, 5613 East FM 1960 In Atascocita.
For more info contact Elizabeth Shields at: 281-441-2552 or [email protected]
subscribe to us on Flocknotes at St. Mary Magdalene’s website.
Drama Ministry
Recruiting New Members
In preparation for future dramatic productions and
illustrating key events of the bible, which have drawn
us closer to Jesus and strengthened our faith. We are
looking for new members to join us! Look for our
table at the Festival of Ministries, September 9 & 10!
We need men and women, no experience needed, of
all ages and abilities. Areas of interest include
speaking parts, non speaking parts (extras), support
crews to develop staging, costumes and props, stage
hands to move scenery and props during
performance, people to assist with lighting and
sound, producers to supervise the overall production,
and directors to coach actors in their lines and
positions on stage.
JOIN US FOR SOME FUN! Contact Jemma Redman for more info at 718-640-7037 or
When you choose St. Mary Magdalene for your children,
you surround them with a community that shares your
faith and your values. Here your children will learn to shine
- with a light that they will carry with them into the world.
The faculty and staff of SMMCS would like to wish all students throughout
our community a happy, blessed and safe return to school.
Mother’s Day Out has been postponed. Details to come soon.
Stay updated with the bulletin as more information becomes available!
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@ St. Mary Magdalene
Youth Ministry News
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“Youth Night”:
We will hold a “Back-to-School Bash” for
all our high school youth this Sunday,
August 27h from 6:30 - 8:00pm in the Youth Room, which is located in the St. Paul Center. Bring a snack and a friend. Come celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of another school year. There is no middle school youth activities this week (August 31)… more details coming next week
Parents who did not register their student(s) for CCE / Formation classes can contact the Formation Office
{281-446-2933} beginning Wednesday, August 30th to
see what availability we have remaining for our three CCE sessions… please note that space is limited at this
point. This window will remain open until Friday,
September 8th; after that, all parents will have to wait
until “Late” CCE registrations begin on October 1st
during CCE session times, however absences will
accrue until students are assigned and attend their
classes. Please note that payment of CCE tuition is expected at the time of registration; we accept cash, or checks only on October 1st. If you need financial assistance for tuition, please contact Fr. Felix Osasona, MSP prior to registration; he can be reached by phone at 281-446-8211, or by email at [email protected].
Looking for Catechists: In three weeks, we will start our “school year” CCE programs and we still need adult catechists to staff our classrooms. Maybe you are asking, “What is a catechist anyway?” In simple terms, a catechist is someone who shares their faith… it doesn't require you to be a profes-sional teacher, and you don’t have to be the brightest or most knowledgeable person. We just need you to love your Catholic faith and have the desire to share it with our children and youth!
We have three CCE sessions each week, which run between September - April on Sunday afternoons (3:00pm - 4:30pm) ; Tuesday nights (6:00pm - 7:30pm) ; or Wednesday nights (6:00pm - 7:30pm) in the St. Paul Center.
There are three catechist trainings scheduled for
Sunday, September 10 (3pm) , Tuesday, September 12
(6pm) , and Wednesday, September 13 (6pm)… you
only need to attend ONE! Classes begin the week of September 17. All classes are lead by a pair of catechists, so you’ll never be alone in class and we strive to place new catechists with experienced ones! Want to change the future? Then teach our kids today! We still
need 40 more adults to fully staff our three sessions Please contact Mike Smith for more details.
2018 Confirmation CLASS: All parents of 2018 candidates are reminded to turn in
copies of their student’s Baptism and First
Communion certificates at the CCE Office no later than September 1st… you still have time to continue working on your Confirmation service projects; service forms are not due until the end of February 2018. Don’t forget to register for CCE / Formation classes… you need two years in order to qualify for sacrament preparation (Confirmation)!
Text Message Reminders: We offer text message reminders, which can be sent straight to your cellphone / mobile device. Simply enter 81010 in
the “To:” field, and send the following message to register for specific messages for our programs… you can also download the Remind app from your cell app store.
2018 Confirmation candidates / parents: @conf2018
2018 Confirmation TEAM (plans and runs the program): @smmconteam
High School Youth Ministry: @stmmHS Middle School Youth Ministry: @stmmJR
2016 - 2017 Sacrament Preparation (parents / students preparing for Reconciliation & Eucharist): @smmsacprep
2018 Confirmation Team: The first planning meeting for our Confirmation Team
is scheduled for Monday, September 11th from 7pm -
9pm in St. Mary’s Hall. This group is open to con-firmed high school youth, young adults, and adults to discuss, plan, and implement our high school Confirmation program! Come on by and see what amazing things are on the horizon. Please contact Mike Smith for more details.
The Country Store will offer sweets, breads, jellies, preserves,
pickles, and an assortment of homemade foods. Along with these items we would like to have handmade aprons, oven mitts, tea towels, napkins, table runners, novelty items such as salt and pepper shakers, creamers, sugar bowls, cake plates, gift baskets, etc.
DONATIONS OF ALL THINGS PERTAINING TO THE KITCHEN WOULD BE APPRECIATED!! If in doubt call 281-852-2555, otherwise bring to office marked “Country Kitchen”.
Pedro la Piedra Simón Pedro hizo una profunda profesión de fe en el evangelio de hoy. Él profesó a Jesús como "el Cristo, el Hijo del Dios viviente". Esto fue después de que Jesús les preguntó a sus discípulos que la gente pensaba que era. Las respuestas dadas eran cercanas, pero no lo suficientemente buenas. Algunos dijeron que Jesús era Juan el Bautista, otros lo vieron como Elías y otros lo vieron como uno de los profetas. Sin embargo, Jesús era más que Elías, Juan el Bautista o un profeta. Jesús es el Hijo de Dios. Él es la segunda persona de la Trinidad. Pedro bajo la influencia del Espíritu Santo fue capaz de hacer esta profesión y eso también cambió su vida. Jesús le dio el nombre de Cefas en arameo, o Petro en griego que significa roca. Es esta fe apostólica la que da a la iglesia su propósito y estabilidad. Pedro se convirtió en el primer apóstol y tomó un gran papel de liderazgo en la vida de la Iglesia. En los Evangelios, Pedro fue el primero en todas las listas de los apóstoles. Pablo reconoció el papel de liderazgo de Pedro cuando escribió después de su conversión que subió a Jerusalén para visitar a Cefas y permaneció con él durante quince días (Gálatas 1:18). A pesar de que Pablo estaba en desacuerdo con Pedro en ciertos asuntos, todavía lo respetaba como el principal líder de los fieles
cristianos.
Dios escogió a Pedro para dirigir la Iglesia revelándole la persona de Jesús. Los evangelios son realistas en su descripción de Pedro. Él fue el que confesó que Jesús es el Señor, pero luego lo negó; Expresó su fe en Cristo, pero también vacila en esa fe. Jesús lo nombró para ser el líder de los apóstoles y también le dio fuerzas para apoyar al resto. A Pedro se le dio la llave del reino de los cielos. La llave simbolizaba la autoridad de atar y soltar. Esa autoridad debe ser ejercida con amor y en servicio del reino. Hoy, estamos invitados a reflexionar sobre quién es Jesús para nosotros. Se nos pide que oremos por los líderes de la iglesia especialmente el Papa Francisco y los Obispos que como sucesores de Pedro y los apóstoles están llamados a servir a las
personas bajo su cuidado.
Te necesitamos como Catequista en nuestra Formación Religiosa: Nuestra Educación Cristiana Católica (CCE) para el nuevo año escolar que comenzará en septiembre. Todavía necesitamos 45 catequistas. Usted puede ayudarnos en este ministerio, aunque usted no piense que usted es calificado. Me encontré con una entrada de blog de Deirdre Mundy en el sitio web aleteia.org el año pasado que describía lo que significa ser catequista. Se titula "Por qué soy el peor Catequista de mi parroquia, y todavía estoy inscribiéndome". Me gustaría compartirlo con
todos ustedes:
Este agosto, comenzaré mi sexto año como profesora de educación religiosa. Ora por mí. Hasta ahora, he enseñado segundo, tercero, cuarto y sexto grados en dos diferentes parroquias. Paso mis veranos leyendo artículos sobre tendencias en educación religiosa y pidiendo consejo a otros catequistas. Entonces, el año escolar comienza, y yo paso mis noches de miércoles nunca haciéndolo absolutamente tan bien como había esperado que lo haría. Puedo decir con seguridad que soy la peor catequista de mi parroquia. Esto no es falsa modestia. Es que los otros catequistas son grandes catequistas. Han estado en ello durante mucho tiempo, saben cómo enseñar y llegar a los niños, y
conocen sus planes de estudio por dentro y por fuera.
Mientras tanto, todavía estoy luchando para equilibrar el tiempo del libro y el tiempo de conversación, para mantener el orden cuando los niños están hambrientos e inquietos después de un largo día escolar, y para impartirles las partes más importantes de la fe sin hacer negligencias de descuidar los fundamentos básicos bíblicos. Me di cuenta de que
muchos de los católicos que conozco que han abandonado su fe nos acusan de no leer la Biblia en las clases de religión, por lo que cada año trabajamos a través de un libro del Nuevo Testamento, un capítulo a la semana. Yo alterno Lucas y Hechos, porque la falta de maestros
significa que a menudo tengo los mismos niños dos años consecutivos.
A menudo, como profesora, soy un desastre. Los niños también lo son, porque con poco refuerzo que en casa tienen durante el verano, casi olvidan todo más allá de que Jesús murió y resucitó, y luego no sé por dónde empezar. Entonces, ¿por qué estoy en el salón de clase, tratando de enseñar Catecismo en una mesa rodeada de chicos agotados que no quieren estar allí? ¿Por qué Dios me llamó para enseñar la religión cuando hay maestros mejores ahí afuera, personas que realmente podrían incendiar a los niños con el amor a Jesús y a la humanidad? "¿No debería alguien más dirigir esta clase, y entonces yo poder dedicarme a tareas más seguras y menos importantes como fotocopiar hojas de actividades o asegurarse de que nadie inunde el
baño?
Pero tienden a preguntarme lo mismo de muchos otros lugares en donde también Dios me ha llamado. ¿Por qué estoy educando en casa a siete niños, corriendo clubes y manteniendo una casa cuando estoy mediocre en gran parte de todo esto? ¿Por qué soy la esposa de mi esposo, cuando seguramente se merecía algo mejor? ¿Por qué Dios me puso en este partido de fútbol tratando de consolar a esta mujer traumatizada mientras ella llora en mi hombro sobre un reciente aborto involuntario, cuando soy malísima con las habilidades sociales y me asusto con sus lágrimas? Parece que Dios sigue llamándome a cosas de las que apenas soy capaz, y a menudo no me siento cómoda. ¿No
podría encontrar a alguien mejor?
En realidad, creo que la respuesta a esa última pregunta podría ser: "No, no podría encontrarla." No porque soy súper maravillosa y prácticamente perfecta en todos los sentidos, sino porque estoy disponible y dispuesta. Tal vez alguien mejor para el trabajo dejó la Iglesia cuando tenía 12 años y quiso volver. O tal vez ella sigue diciendo "no" porque decir que "sí" puede parecer tan aterrador. Tal vez Dios toma a quien está disponible y dispuesto. Moisés era un asesino con un tartamudeo; Santa Bernadette era la criatura más sencilla de la tierra. San Pedro no era exactamente un tipo de temperamento tranquilo, fresco, o un trabajador calmado, y mira donde terminó. En el papel, Judas podría haber tenido un mejor currículo para el papado, pero no estaba dispuesto a ser llevado lejos de donde él pensaba que debería ir. Así que, aquí está con lo que Dios y la Iglesia se quedan: El indigno pero dispuesto. Muchos de nosotros somos llamados a cosas en las que no somos especialmente buenos, pero estamos dispuestos a probarlo, todo por Jesús. Afortunadamente, donde nuestros propios talentos, habilidades y energías nos fallan, la gracia puede llenar las lagunas, si lo permitimos. Sé que hay personas en mi parroquia, y en cada parroquia, que serían mejores catequistas que yo. Cuando el coordina-dor se pone al frente para hacer su solicitud de catequistas anual, todos tienen demasiado miedo para responder a la llamada de Dios, porque saben que no son la persona perfecta para el trabajo. Pero aquí está la cosa: La persona perfecta no está aquí. La persona perfecta proba-blemente nunca aparecerá. Pero tú si estás aquí, y tú eres la única llamada por Dios ahora, en toda tu imperfección. Está bien contener la respiración, cerrar los ojos, dar el salto y ofrecerse a ayudar. Su gracia compensará tus faltas.
