Saturday October 1st St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday October 2nd
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday October 3rd
6:30 am † James Tobin

Tuesday October 4th St. Francis of Assisi
6:30 am † John Moulder — 3rd Anniversary

Wednesday October 5th
6:30 am † Carmela T. Spina

Thursday October 6th St. Bruno
6:30 am † Patricia Heesen

Friday October 7th Our Lady of the Rosary
6:30 am † Patricia Heesen

Saturday October 8th
8:00 am † William Dehan

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, Michael Boyle Sr., and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased… Nina Ferraro…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

The Great Reversal

       In today’s parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the rich man is enjoying life with fine food, expensive clothes and a beautiful home. Outside his gate is poor, sick Lazarus, hungry and covered with sores. On one level the story is simple – surely the rich man could have offered Lazarus a crust of bread. But at a deeper level, this story isn’t just about the rich helping the poor. It’s much more than that. In the second half of the story, both men die and their roles are reversed. The rich man is shocked to find himself suffering in Hell and Lazarus is delighted to find himself in Heaven, with Abraham.

Jesus was not condemning the rich man for having money and many material goods but rather for being enslaved by them and thus blinded to the suffering of others around him. The fact that the rich man demands that Lazarus serve him by ‘dipping the tip of his finger in water and cooling his tongue’ indicates he is a proud man who considers himself a valuable member of the community who thinks he deserves to be saved. However, in the final judgement, the question the rich man and each of us must answer is: How have you responded to the commandment of love? Simply avoiding evil is not enough. We are expected to bear abundant fruits of love, kindness, mercy, and generosity towards our brothers and sisters in need.

Notice also that in this parable, only the poor man is given a name. It’s Lazarus, and the word Lazarus means “one who God helps.” To have a name is to be valuable and for God to give you a name means that you are really special in His eyes. This indicates that Lazarus loved God and trusted that even though he suffered here on earth, a Heavenly reward awaited him. The rich man was not given a name. A person without a name is a person without a vision, without a purpose, who lacks faith in God and seeks only selfish comfort and pleasure in this life.

Jesus exhorts us: “Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Mt. 25: 13). That’s when we discover that the tables have been turned. That’s when those who had it all are left with nothing, while those with nothing are given the keys to the Kingdom (Lk. 6: 20-26). This is what’s known as The Great Reversal and it horrifies the rich man in today’s parable. His problem is that the rules of this world don’t apply in Heaven. In God’s Kingdom, the lowly are lifted, the hungry are filled, the high and mighty are torn down and the proud are scattered (Lk. 1: 51-54).

Are you prepared for The Great Reversal? If not, there’s no time to waste.

Take a look around: Who is Lazarus waiting at your gate? Who are the poor you’ll see today? They might not be materially poor, but they could be poor in friendship, poor in health, poor in hope, poor in joy…

Reach out to them. Welcome them in.

May God love and bless you!
Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM

Saturday September 24th
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday September 25th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday September 26th Ss. Cosmas & Damian
6:30 am † Marie Brown

Tuesday September 27th St. Vincent de Paul
6:30 am † Robert Beck Jr.

Wednesday September 28th St. Wenceslaus; Ss. Lawrence Ruiz & Companions
6:30 am † Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence J. Tobin

Thursday September 29th Ss. Michael, Gabriel, & Raphael
6:30 am † Andrew Slivjak

Friday September 30th St. Jerome
6:30 am † Claire Mansfield

Saturday October 1st St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus
8:00 am † Joseph Garofalo

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased… Sister Mary Shaun Conroy, IHM; Sister Mary Louise E. Gallagher, IHM…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

+Dear Saint David Parishioners,

        In last week’s Gospel, we had the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son, and this week – the parable of the dishonest steward. What message is Jesus trying to tell us? Perhaps we can reflect on all the times we have been lost in life, and, when we turned back to our merciful God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and were found and brought back into the circle of His love. We never have to worry about losing our way because our merciful and loving God is always on the lookout for us, inviting us back. He knows we are not perfect, but He loves us anyway, just as a loving parent does.

In today’s Gospel, is Jesus really praising the dishonesty of the steward? Probably not, but He is teaching us a lesson on ordering our lives properly. If we have material possessions, power, addictions, or other selfish tendencies as our top priorities in life, it will undoubtedly result in trouble. When we allow anything to shift out of balance or priorities become out of sync, we will most likely lose our inner peace. The dishonest steward was crafty, but at what cost? When we order our lives by putting God first, our love for family and others second, and tending to our personal needs third, we will experience the peace, love, and joy of Jesus.

Striving for a well-ordered, balanced life is not easy; it is a lifetime journey. There will be bumps, twists, and sufferings throughout our lives, but we must trust that Jesus is with us every step of the way. Jesus reminds us, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” He has given us the path; let us surrender ourselves to His care and allow Him to lead us and our loved ones to a meaningful and peaceful life.

In Mary’s Immaculate Heart, I am,
Sister Mary

Saturday September 17th St. Robert Bellarmine
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday September 18th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday September 19th St. Januarius
6:30 am † Louis Troisi—17th Anniversary

Tuesday September 20th St. Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang & companions
6:30 am † Harry Bell

Wednesday September 21st St. Matthew
6:30 am † Barbara Sullivan

Thursday September 22nd
6:30 am † John J. Burke

Friday September 23rd St. Pio of Pietrelcina
6:30 am † Michael Lynagh

Saturday September 24th
8:00 am † Alfred Messina

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Paul O’Connell…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Real Treasures

There is a tradition at the Malvern Retreat House on the last day of the Men’s Retreat. The men come together before Mass and share their thoughts and feelings of the weekend.  Sometimes the men will share something from their past and how their relationship with God is growing or how much it has changed since they brought God into their lives.  The stories they share can be very moving. One story I heard at the end of one weekend has stuck with me to this very day.

An elderly man stood up and gingerly walked up to the front where the microphone was.   I did not know this man, but I had seen him at Malvern many times over the years. He always had a big smile on his face and you could tell that he genuinely loved being at Malvern. He always had a warm greeting if you passed him in the halls or on the trails.  He introduced himself and how he has been married to his wife for 60 some years.  He and his wife had been graced with one daughter who they truly looked at as a gift from God.  They raised her in the faith and got her through high school and college.  When she finished college, she moved out on her own and started her life as an adult.  They were so very proud of her.  This is where the story gets sad.  While living on her own, a man broke into her apartment and murdered her.  The man and his wife were devastated.  They had just lost the love and light of their life.  What is different about this story is how they handled their grief.

The man who had committed this horrible crime was arrested.  The man and his wife attended every day of the criminal’s trial, who was found guilty.  They never gave a statement to the press and were silent during the whole process.  It was after the man was sentenced that they finally spoke.  They went to the prison where the man was being held and they told him that they had forgiven him.  They felt something as wonderful and beautiful as their daughter could not carry such a horrible burden to them as revenge or punishment.  He told us that he misses his daughter, but knew in the bottom of his heart that to forgive would bring her closer to him.

We all have a sense of what is right and what is wrong…who deserves punishment and who deserves reward.  What we need to remember is that we are all children of God.  Also, we are all sinners.  God looks at us all in our sinfulness and still calls us His treasure.  His treasure is made up of many coins.  If just one of those coins is lost, God’s treasure is incomplete. He sent His Son to look for those coins.  We are those coins Christ has found and is still looking for.  Once we are found, we need to aid Christ in searching for the other coins and join the Lord in the celebration as each coin is found.

May Jesus live in our hearts forever.
Deacon Chris

Saturday September 10th
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday September 11th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday September 12th Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary
6:30 am † Francis & Eileen Frankenfield

Tuesday September 13th St. John Chrysostom
6:30 am † Marguerite Troisi—19th Anniversary

Wednesday September 14th Triumph of the Holy Cross
6:30 am † Sandra Slacum

Thursday September 15th Our Lady of Sorrows
6:30 am † Alfred Messina

Friday September 16th St. Cornelius
6:30 am † Deceased members of the McMahon and Reilly Families

Saturday September 17th St. Robert Bellarmine
8:00 am † Harry Weckerly, Sr.

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased… Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Rufe…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Christ asks us through His message in today’s Gospel, “Which master do we serve: the Ego or God?” Jesus always praises the faithful servant who served his master in a theo-drama. I like what Bishop Barron says about the theo-drama. It is written and directed by God on the great stage that is the created universe and according to the prototype that is Christ. We are invited to “act”–to find and play our role in God’s theater, but there is a real temptation to participate in the ego-drama instead. As Bishop Barron points out, the problem is that the vast majority of us think that we are the directors, writers, and above all, stars of our own “ego-dramas,” with other people functioning as either supporting actors or villains.  

The ego-drama is played throughout history. We see this with King David, one of the greatest Kings of all time. He started on the right track following God’s will. He defeated Goliath and united Israel, but then his passions got the best of him. He wanted someone else’s wife, Bathsheba, and he knew by God’s law that he could not have her as long as Uriah, his friend, was still alive. King David also knew that murder was wrong. To get what he wanted, he ordered Uriah to go to the front lines of the war so that his enemies would kill his friend. King David thought that he could trick God. As the old saying goes, he didn’t throw the snowballs, but he sure did make them. God doesn’t miss anything and punished David for his wrongdoing. 

This same drama was played out with King Henry VIII. He no longer wanted to be married to his wife Catherine and wanted another woman to be his wife. He consulted with his advisors that represented the Catholic Church and they told him, no, that it was unlawful to divorce his wife. King Henry VIII did not like the word “no” to his passions. He then used his power and influence to manipulate God’s law to create a new religion, killing anyone who stood in his way. The Catholic Church in England was never the same.

Even this past week, we see the ego-drama versus the theo-drama in the story of Herodias and John the Baptist. On Monday, we celebrated the feast day of the Martyrdom of St John the Baptist. In the Gospel of Mark chapter 6, we hear Herodias was so invested in her ego-drama that she used her manipulation tactics to get John the Baptist’s head on a platter. She manipulates her daughter, Herod, and ultimately Israel to try and stop the Good News of God. She didn’t like John the Baptist’s message and saw him as an obstacle to her anticipated achievements. Like the enemy of our soul, Herodias stopped at nothing to prevent the movement of Herod’s heart towards God’s truth and life. She was vigilant, always looking for opportunities to further her ambition, which caused the death of John the Baptist.

Dramas are part of our lives. We see it in sports, in movies, in books, in the Bible, and we see it within ourselves. We cannot escape it. Which dramas are we participating in? The ego-drama or the theo-drama? King David, a sinner like us all, goes back and forth on which master he wanted to serve, his ego or God. Fortunately, King David repented of his wrongdoing and we today have the Sacraments and confession to repent of times we have followed the wrong master. 

God does not give up on us. He never tires of inviting us back when we fall. One of God’s greatest gifts is that he is always faithful to his promises. No matter how far we think we have fallen from him, He still has a role for us to play to help advance his new creation. To find the role that God has designed for us is a great adventure in itself, even if our part looks small. Sometimes in a lengthy novel, a character who has seemed minor emerges as the hinge around which the entire narrative turns. When we de-center the ego and live in an exciting and unpredictable relationship with God, we realize very clearly that our lives are not about us. That is a liberating discovery.

Saturday September 3^rd St. Gregory the Great
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday September 4^th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday September 5^th
8:00 am † John and Marion Suchanic

Tuesday September 6^th
6:30 am † Teresa Ann Holman

Wednesday September 7^th
6:30 am † Gerald Gausch—36th Anniversary

Thursday September 8^th Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
6:30 am † John Eckert

Friday September 9^th St. Peter Claver
6:30 am † William Dehan

Saturday September 10^th
8:00 am † Deceased Members of the Link & Simpson families

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…

 Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Humility and Selfless Service

      The message of this Sunday’s Gospel is both profound and hopeful. Jesus is proclaiming two inseparable paths to holiness. First, stop chasing after human glory or shallow praise.

Second, go and help people who can’t help you back. In other words, His message is: “Imitate Me,” for “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Humility is living in the truth of who we are before God and who we are in relationship to one another. One who is humble always speaks the truth in love and recognizes that the gifts that God has freely given are meant to be used in selfless, loving service to others. We are called to imitate the genuine humility of Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself, as Paul said, “taking the form of a slave.”

In today’s parable, the criticism Jesus is making is that everyone around Him seems to be after only one thing: human glory, the shallow and fleeting praise of others. In his Gospel, John is clear that this is what blinds people from recognizing Jesus. “They preferred human praise to the glory of God,” the apostle says. So what Jesus is telling His hosts is that they’re spiritually blind, blinded by their pride and their own pathetic finagling for the flimsy praise of others.

Jesus doesn’t stop there. What’s the virtue, He asks, in inviting only those you know to your social gatherings—family and friends, those whom you want to impress or get something from?

Why not invite the “poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind”? Jesus tells them they’d be blessed if they invited such people “because of their inability to repay” them.

Obviously, we should identify with the Pharisees ourselves and reflect on this parable as a personal invitation to humbly imitate Christ more fervently. Pray for the grace to do all for the glory of God and not for human praise. Use your God given gifts to serve those who can’t repay you. Join the St. Vincent De Paul Society who help the needy in our parish and the surrounding area. Volunteer to share your time and talent in a particular parish ministry or parish organization. Are you hosting a Labor Day gathering? Reach out and invite an elderly neighbor who lives alone or someone who is lonely. Today Jesus gives us practical advice on how to live our lives in humility and selfless service. Will you heed His call?

May God love and bless you!
Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM

Saturday August 27^th St. Monica
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday August 28^th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday August 29^th The Beheading of St. John the Baptist
8:00 am † Mary and David Eisenhart

Tuesday August 30^th
8:00 am † James Burke

Wednesday August 31^st
8:00 am † Margaret M. Graham

Thursday September 1^st
8:00 am † Mary Suzanne Moffa

Friday September 2^nd
8:00 am † Deceased Members of the Holy Name Society

Saturday September 3^rd St. Gregory the Great
8:00 am † Pat Kensey

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Mike Dunn, Robert Jacoby, Cosimo Fiorino, Gerard “Gerry” Costello, Margaret Kreiger…

 Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Saturday August 20^th St. Bernard of Clairvaux
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners 

Sunday August 21^st 
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday August 22^nd Queenship of Blessed Virgin Mary
8:00 am † Ann Sauter 

Tuesday August 23^rd  St. Rose of Lima
8:00 am † Joseph G Nemetz II 

Wednesday August 24^th St. Bartholomew the Apostle
8:00 am † Kathleen Lentini

Thursday August 25^th St. Louis & St. Joseph of Calasanz
8:00 am † Joy Burns 

Friday August 26^th
8:00 am † American Soldiers killed in Kabul Airport

Saturday August 27^th St. Monica
8:00 am † Federico Valenzo Martinez 

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Magdalena Baumeister, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Mike Dunn, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, John, Susan & Danielle Guarracino, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased… Sister M. Barbara Troutman, IHM and Sister Marie Peter Conboy, IHM…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Treasures

I am sitting down writing this reflection just after finishing my morning prayer on the Feast Day of St. Lawrence, a martyr of the early Church. It reminds that being a Christian has never been easy. Our faith has been under attack from its very beginning when Christ gave it to us. Christ’s words from the Gospel today are prophetic. His own journey to do the work of His Father in Heaven came with a high cost, yet He did it willingly. Are we willing to do the same even when our faith can be under attack even from within our own families? Are we afraid or hesitant to even address some of the issues of today because they may cause strife at home?

It is at home within our own families that is the very best place where our faith can be taught and strengthened. We need to be prepared to defend, protect, and teach our faith from the home first and foremost. We need to be able to talk about the issues of today. Our families need to know why the Church has issues with abortion, homosexuality, same sex marriage, gender identification, cohabitation, and many other issues our children and families must deal with. Some of these have become so mainstream and accepted in our current society our families believe that these are the norms.

It is at this level that Jesus is speaking to us today. He knows the important role families will play in His mission. We need to be able to pick up this cross even when carrying it may be at home. We must be prepared with the facts and knowledge of church teaching but most of all we need to have love and kindness in our hearts. We also must be prepared to be rejected, even by our own families.

St. Lawrence was brought before his persecutors and told that in order to save his life he was to bring all the treasure of the church to the Emperor. Three days later He showed up with all the poor, handicap, and misfortunate Christians he could find and presented them to the Emperor. These were the real treasure of the Church. St. Lawrence gave his life for those treasures. Our families are that same treasure.

May Jesus live in our hearts forever.
Deacon Chris

Saturday August 13th Ss. Pontian & Hippolytus
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday August 14th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday August 15th Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8:00 am † Josephine Gallo

Tuesday August 16th St. Stephen of Hungary
8:00 am † Jean Grzwacz

Wednesday August 17th
8:00 am † Dorothy Ross

Thursday August 18th
8:00 am † Patrick Sussman

Friday August 19th St. John Eudes
8:00 am † Bill & Dina Eagan

Saturday August 20th St. Bernard of Clairvaux
8:00 am † Michael Gannon

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Magdalena Baumeister, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Mike Dunn, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, John, Susan & Danielle Guarracino, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…  

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Dear Friends,

Let me begin by thanking you for the warm reception that I have received since coming to St. David, now more than a month ago. I feel very much at home here and I hope to be of some assistance to Father Windle as he leads us all in the way of grace.

Be prepared always! Jesus tells his disciples, and us by extension, that the Son of Man will come like a thief in the night. This is our challenge now. Are we prepared for the day when our time here on earth comes to an end? Gloomy words for a summer’s day to say the least, but we must always live our lives anticipating the coming of the Lord.

Jesus also reminds the disciples—and us—that the more they are entrusted with, the more will be demanded of them. We have probably realized this principle when it comes to expectations at work, at school, and even at home. What are our responsibilities as a faith-filled Catholic? What is demanded of us? We are entrusted in Baptism with our faith. This precious gift may have been handed down to us by our parents or another family member or even by a close friend. The question now remains, what are we doing with that gift? Are we living out our faith in joyful expectation, or are we just getting by?

We spend so much time waiting: waiting in a doctor’s office, waiting for a show to begin, waiting for a loved one to arrive. Each wait asks of us patience. It is a mistake to think that we wait for Jesus in the same way as we wait for everything else in our lives. Jesus is always present to us as we wait. Jesus is here beside us as we wait.

The reading today reminds us that we must always be aware of God’s presence in our lives and of our obligation to respond to the gifts that God has given to us. The prayer after the Our Father in Mass reminds us that “we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” May this be our prayer today and always.

God Bless you,
Monsignor Kennedy

Saturday August 6th Transfiguration of the Lord
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday August 7th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday August 8th St. Dominic
8:00 am † Sandra DeLaurentis

Tuesday August 9th St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
8:00 am † Dottie Noderer

Wednesday August 10th St. Lawrence
8:00 am † James McAnulty

Thursday August 11th St. Clare
8:00 am † Bill Malizia

Friday August 12th St. Jane Frances de Chantal
8:00 am † Deceased members of the McMahon & Reilly Families

Saturday August 13th Ss. Pontian & Hippolytus
8:00 am † Patricia Kensey

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Magdalena Baumeister, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Mike Dunn, Kay Kenney, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Rich Toward God

             “Take care! Be on guard against all kinds of greed,” Jesus warns in this Sunday’s Gospel. Greed can manifest itself in a thousand different ways. It might be collecting books, shoes, or any other tangible thing. It might be amassing money, land, or other wealth. Greed can also be about time, attention, approval, love, knowledge, power, control, being right, being in charge, or countless other things. Ultimately, greed is not about any of these goods, but is a condition of the heart. It is really just a way of dealing with our own feelings of deficit and emptiness. It’s not so much about having enough but about being enough. We attempt to use material goods or other people to fill the hole inside us. The antidote to greed is not necessarily in cleaning out the closet or sharing our material resources, though in some cases that may be a necessary starting point. Greed signals to us that we are living in poverty toward God. The antidote to greed is to be rich toward God.

Pope Francis reminds us that although material goods are necessary, they are only a means of living honestly and sharing with those most in need. Today Jesus invites us to reflect on the truth that riches can chain the heart and distract it from the eternal treasure that awaits us in Heaven. Saint Paul also reminds us of this in the second reading this Sunday: “Seek the things that are above … turn your thoughts to the things above, not of things on Earth” (Colossians 3: 1-2). We are urged to look for things that have eternal value: justice, solidarity, hospitality, fraternity, and peace, all of which constitute the genuine dignity of the human person. To overcome greed, we must live our lives according to the Gospel: to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbor as Jesus loved him, that is in service and self-giving.

In order to be rich toward God, we must trust Him and strive to live as disciples of the Lord, who constantly manifest love and compassion, solidarity and selfless service to those in need. Our attitude and behavior must be modeled on that of Christ. Saint Ignatius of Loyola expresses it beautifully in his prayer: “Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me.” Daily prayer and frequent reception of the sacraments, especially the Most Holy Eucharist in which we receive the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus Himself, will conquer our greed and transform us to be Rich Toward God!

May God love and bless you!
Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM

Saturday July 30th St. Peter Chrysologus
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday July 31st
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday August 1st St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
8:00 am † John Kenney

Tuesday August 2nd St. Eusebius of Vercelli; St. Peter Julian Eymard
8:00 am † Sabina R. Callahan

Wednesday August 3rd
8:00 am † Michael James Molloy

Thursday August 4th St. John Vianney
8:00 am † Marilyn Monroe

Friday August 5th Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major
8:00 am † Thomas Dugan

Saturday August 6th Transfiguration of the Lord
8:00 am † Jean Lombardi

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Magdalena Baumeister, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Mike Dunn, Kay Kenney, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Gloria Smith & Brian Bell…

 Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

+Dear Saint David Parishioners,
             In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples ask Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” The disciples posed this question because they often observed Jesus going off to commune with His Father. It makes me think that if Jesus needed time to unite with His Father to know His will, then how much more do I, and all of us, need prayer time? Throughout the Gospels we read that Jesus prayed regularly, such as, before choosing His apostles, at the Wedding Feast of Cana, when He multiplied the loaves and fishes, before raising Lazarus from the dead, at the Last Supper, in the Garden of Gethsemane…to mention but a few times. The key point is that prayer was an essential and consistent practice in Jesus’ life.

What is so profound in the “Our Father” prayer is that Jesus tells us that His Father is our Father too. Jesus explains that when we pray, we must acknowledge God’s greatness and holiness – simply put – God is God, and we are not. We then pray that His Kingdom will be recognized by all, and that God’s will be done. We realize that God’s will is done in Heaven, and we pray for the graces we need (our daily bread) to fulfill the mission He has assigned to us individually in this life, in order that we may one day be united with Him forever in Heaven. Furthermore, as fallible people, we beg God’s forgiveness for our sins, and we are then expected to extend that mercy to others. Finally, Jesus teaches that we must pray that we are not engulfed by the snares of the devil. The devil is extremely deceitful and will try all sorts of tricks and lies to prevent us from having a personal relationship with our God. Therefore, we pray for the protection of Saint Michael the Archangel after every Mass.

While I was on pilgrimage to the Holy Land on the occasion of my 25th IHM Jubilee, we visited the Church of Pater Noster, or Church of All Nations. This church is built on the traditional site where Jesus is said to have prayed following the Last Supper. The church takes its name from the numerous nations who donated mosaics of the Our Father in their native language. These international mosaics, I believe, reinforce Saint Augustine’s famous quote, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in God.” May we accept Jesus’ invitation to share our love and lives with our Father and never to hesitate to pray to Him always.

In Mary’s Immaculate Heart, I am,
Sister Mary

Saturday July 23rd St. Birgitta
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday July 24th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday July 25th St. James
8:00 am † Mary Rombola

Tuesday July 26th Ss. Joachim & Anne
8:00 am † Carmela Jannetti

Wednesday July 27th
8:00 am † Edward Duross

Thursday July 28th
8:00 am † The Serianni Family

Friday July 29th St. Martha
8:00 am † Eileen Delzingaro

Saturday July 30th St. Peter Chrysologus
8:00 am † Marie and Frank Wilton

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Magdalena Baumeister, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Mike Dunn, Kay Kenney, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…

 Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.