TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

PARISH

August 14, 2011 • Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

TRANSFIGURATION

CELEBRATES 100 YEARS!

1911-2011

CENTENNIAL PONTIFICAL MASS

AUGUST 7, 2011 AT 11:00 AM

"Fr. Al's Pondering . . ." “Las Reflexiones del Padre Al…”

Central to Israel’s experience from an early date was a sense of being called by God to become in a special way His people. The covenant God entered with His chosen people emphasized the exclusive commitment that Israel was to make in return. In the name of that commitment various prophets at different mes in biblical history insisted on the separa on that ought to exist be-tween Jews and others. It was thought in certain circumstances to be the only way in which they could maintain the purity of their religious lives.

From the me of the Old Testament prophets down to our own, history has recorded and is keeping record of the many epi-sodes of religious intolerance, division, hatred and violence. The killings in Northern Ireland, the Middle East, in Southeast Asia, in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, and in the United States are only the latest in a long-series of man ha ng his fellow man in the name of God. But this is man’s work and not God’s. The God of the Bible is a God of love who desires to draw all peoples to Himself. He is a God who seeks to tear down the divisions which separate peoples and to heal the wounds which divide. Jesus came as the one sent to reconcile us to one another and to the Father.

The apostle Paul is the one chosen by the Lord to proclaim the good news of salva on to all the world. The Apostle to the Gen les writes to the Romans that the Jews are the chosen people of God. They have a special place in salva on history. However, their spe-cial place does not exclude others from being part of the new cov-enant inaugurated by Jesus. Likewise, no Gen le is to show hatred or contempt for the Jews who do not accept Jesus. Both an -semi sm and a narrow view of the covenant are wrong. God wants all people to be saved.

In our Gospel reading Jesus, though He comes first for the Jews as the chosen people, does heal the daughter of the Canaanite woman. Why? In the words of Jesus, “Woman, you have great faith! Your wish will come to pass.” The woman, a Gen le, by her faith won the favor of Jesus. He shows that God’s healing love is for all people who place their faith in Him.

Jesus’ rather lavish praise for the faith of the woman made it easier for the apostles and others to respond posi vely when Gen-

les began to welcome their message. The incident seemed to warrant a spreading of the gospel beyond the confines of Judaism.

Do we think we are superior than others? What are those bar-riers we have erected to keep others out? What fears keep us from welcoming the stranger and the person who is different? In what ways have we set boundaries and highlighted what divides while ignoring what unites? There is only one thing which moves us be-yond the boundaries of fear – Love. We can only live at peace and in security when we learn to forgive and accept each other as God’s precious gi . Keep in mind these s rring words of St. Paul: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph 4:35).

Racism is a serious problem in our society. Hatred for immi-grants, many of whom are fellow Catholics, has given meaning to that strange word, “xenophobia.” Let us remember that ours is universal (Catholic), world-wide Church, which embraces every-one. Every Catholic church is a house of prayer for all peoples – who believe in the Lord. May we live in harmony and peace with all in the name of the Lord.

Desde una fecha temprana fue central a la experiencia de Israel la sensación de ser llamado por Dios para de una manera especial conver rse en Su pueblo. El pacto que Dios hizo con Su pueblo escogido destacó el compromiso exclusivo que Israel iba a hacer a cambio. En el nombre de ese compromiso varios profetas en diferentes momentos de la historia bíblica insis eron en la separación que debe exis r entre los Judios y otros. Se pensó en determinadas circunstancias que era la única manera en que podrían mantener la pureza de su vida religiosa. Desde la época de los profetas del An guo Testamento hasta nuestra propia historia, se ha grabado y se está registrando los muchos episodios de intolerancia religiosa, la división, el odio y la violencia. Los asesinatos en el Norte de Irlanda, el Medio Oriente, en el sudeste asiá co, en el Reino Unido y otras partes de Europa, y en los Estados Unidos son sólo lo úl mo de una larga serie en que el hombre odia a su prójimo en el nombre de Dios. Pero esto es obra del hombre y no de Dios. El Dios de la Biblia es un Dios de amor que desea atraer a todos los pueblos a Sí Mismo. Él es un Dios que busca derribar las divisiones que separan a los pueblos y sanar las heridas que dividen. Jesús vino como el enviado para reconciliarnos unos con otros y con el Padre. El apóstol Pablo es el elegido por el Señor para anunciar la buena no cia de salvación a todo el mundo. El Apóstol de los gen les, escribe a los Romanos que los judíos son el pueblo elegido de Dios. Ellos enen un lugar especial en la historia de la salvación. Sin embargo, su lugar especial no excluye a otros de ser parte de la nueva alianza inaugurada por Jesús. Del mismo modo, ningún gen l debe mostrar odio o desprecio hacia los judíos que no aceptan a Jesús. Tanto el an semi smo y una visión estrecha de la alianza son incorrectas. Dios quiere que todos sean salvos. En nuestra lectura del Evangelio, Jesús viene primero por los judíos, como el pueblo elegido, pero cura a la hija de la mujer cananea. ¿Por qué? En las palabras de Jesús: “¡Mujer, grande es tu fe! Su deseo se cumplirá." La mujer, una gen l, por su fe ganó el favor de Jesús. El muestra que el amor cura vo de Dios es para todas las personas que depositan su fe en Él. El elogio de Jesús a la fe de la mujer hizo más fácil que los apóstoles y otros responderán posi vamente cuando los gen les comenzaron a recibir su mensaje. El incidente parece jus ficar una expansión del evangelio más allá de los confines del judaísmo. ¿Pensamos que somos superiores a otros? ¿Cuáles son esas barreras erigidas para mantener otros fuera? ¿Qué temores nos impiden darle la bienvenida a un extraño y a la persona que es diferente? ¿De qué manera hemos formado barreras y destacado lo que nos divide en lo lugar de lo que nos une? Sólo hay una cosa que nos lleva más allá de las barreras del miedo - el Amor. Sólo podemos vivir en paz y con seguridad cuando aprendemos a perdonar y aceptar al otro como un don precioso de Dios. Tenga en cuenta estas palabras conmovedoras de San Pablo: "Ser benignos unos con otros, misericordiosos, perdonándonos unos a otros, como Dios los perdonó en Cristo" (Ef 4:35). El racismo es un problema grave en nuestra sociedad. El odio a los inmigrantes, muchos de los cuales son católicos, ha dado sen do a esa palabra extraña, "la xenofobia." Recordemos que lo nuestra es universal (Católica), en todo el mundo está la Iglesia, que abraza a todos. Cada iglesia Católica es una casa de oración para todos los pueblos - que creen en el Señor. Que vivamos en armonía y en paz con todos en el nombre del Señor.

MASS BOOK 2011 The Mass Inten on Book for this year 2011 s ll has lots of openings. Please take your request to the Rectory Office to obtain the dates of our choice.

Remember in Your Prayers

Ted Yabuta, Lucia Valencia, Lisa Soriano, Arlene Tungol, Cole e Mikrut, Ellen Aquino, Grace Ravara, Corazon del Rosario, Lilia Dayandante, Eileen Bingham, Lorraine Mikrut, Myrna Ordiales, Lorraine Hetland, Elipido & Feliz Tomenbang, Mi-guel Pacheco, Praxedes Mante, Pat Ziga, Flordeli-za Gandia, Sandra Cajas, Antonio Mar nez, Tere-sa Andrade, Analisa Tumang, Jackie Brunn.

Liturgical Schedule August 20– 21, 2011

Saturday, August 20 5:00pm Lectors: J. Ho, A. Saenz Eucharistic Ministers: A. Malate Altar Services: H. Bargoya Sunday, August 21 8:30 am Lectors: M. Dever, M. Aguja Eucharistic Ministers: B. Dever Altar Servers: Mk. Aguja 10:30 am Lectors: J. Banda, R. Quevedo, J. Adan, M. Garcia Eucharistic Ministers: C. Garcia, R. Villatorio, D. Garcia Altar Servers: J. Marin, A. Garcia, A. Nicholas. J. Lazaro 12:30 pm Lectors: M. Yraola , E. Velasquez Eucharistic Ministers: B. Yraola Altar Servers: L. Pahati, A.Perez

Stewardship of Treasury (July 31 , 2011)

Total Weekly Collec on $ 2,826 Weekly Budgeted Amount 2,800 Deficit vs Goal this Week +26 Fiscal Year to Date $ 13,926 Budget Year to Date 14, 000 Actual vs Budget -2,900 Many thanks to those of you who have contrib-uted to Transfigura on’s collec on this past week. Your gi s are essen al to our ministry, and we are grateful.

Masses of the Week August 15-21, 2011

Monday, August 15 8:15 am-+Julita C. Martinez (Palafox Family) Tuesday, August 16 8:15 am–+Manolet Loring (Family) Wednesday, August 17 8:15 am–Special Int. Maribeth Martinez Bettarelli (Family) Thursday, August 18 8:15am–Special Int. Larry Pahati (Birthday) (Family) +Oscar Leuterio (Ronel Leuterio) Friday, August 19 8:15 am– Special Int. Francisco Causing (Family) Saturday, August 20 8:15 am– +Charlotte Banczkowski (Family) 2:00 pm– Wedding Diana Sanchez & Diego Lucero 5:00 pm– For All the Parishioners +Stanley Mikrut (Marie Peterson) Sunday, August 21 8:30 am– +Domingo Marcelo (Cely Diaz) +Vic Washington (Cely Diaz) 11:00 am–+Andres Marin (Familia) 12:30 pm- +Evangelina Reyes (Anniversary) (Vi Ballita & Family) +Ramon Bautista (Anniversary) (Vi Ballita & Family)

To all of you who shared your talents

and planned with us,

To all of you who shared your me and worked with us,

To all of you who shared your treasure with us,

To all of you who just prayed for us, and

To all of you who came to celebrate with us,

Thank you very much.

May God bless you and your families today

and for the rest of your lives!

Fr. Al Salera

Pastor

CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS Transfigura on Church #192 2609 W. Carmen Avenue Chicago, IL 60625 TELEPHONE 773 561-7953 CONTACT PERSON Fr. Alfredo Salera SOFTWARE Publisher 2010 Adobe Acrobat 9.0 Windows 7 PRINTER HP Officejet 6500 TRANSMISSION TIME Wednesday 9:30 SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION August 14, 2011 NUMBER OF PAGES SENT 1 THROUGH 4 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS