St.Xavier Bulletin: July 2006

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 30th, 2006

St. Xavier Parish Home Page

Sisters and brothers, today the Lord JesUs looks upon his hungry people and feeds them through the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. The Lord Jesus summons us all, to this place where we are fed at the tables of word and Eucharist. With joy we celebrate this Mass, where we are nourished and strengthened to bring Christ to the world.

Last Sunday we listened to the Gospel story of how Jesus was moved with pity for the crowds who were like sheep without a shepard. In today's Gospel, the Lord again looks upon the enormous crowd that had followed him and performs the miracle of the loaves and fishes. As we marvel at the miracle recounted in today's Gospel, let us remember that, as baptized Christians, we are called to feed the hungry. This is one of the ways that we become more and more like Christ, who fed the thousands with what seemed to be so little. Let us be open to the inspiration that come from today's scriptures.

Knights of Columbus News
Knight of the month is Loren Langvardt

K of C Family of the month is James & Stephanie Valent.

We welcome to the Christian Community Gunner Thomas Darnell, son of Travis and Coutney. Gunner was baptized on May 23. May God's blessings be with you always.

Congratulations to Velda Melton who was received into full communion with the church on July 17th and celebrated the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

St. Xavier School News

Parents to make financial arrangements for the 2006-2007 school year, please contact Doneva Sparks at the Parish office at 238-2998.

The St. Xavier's Lunchroom is now taking applications for a cook and other lunchroom help. For more information, please call the school at 238-2841 or the parish office 238-2998.

Booster support, season passes, and ad sales:

School is just around the corner and so are the extracurricular activities of our St. Xavier School JH/HS students. In order to financially support our students' activities, the St. Xavier Activities Committee is now selling season passes, booster support and advertising space in our home games program, the RAM PRIDE. Booster/Season Passes forms are available at each of the church's entrances. You can drop the forms off along with your payment to the school or call Delores Vollenweider at 238-1133 or Chris Robison at 238-6805. Thank you for your support.

The Living Water Ministry Committee will meet on Thursday, August 3rd at 7:00 pm in the RCIA room in Building C. Point of contact concerning this ministry is Imelda McMillin at 238-3402.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 23rd, 2006

St. Xavier Parish Home Page

Brothers and sisters, on this Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Lord Jesus issues the invitation to "come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile." May the celebration of this Mass give us moments of quiet and peace to reflect on the great gifts God bestows on us through the death and resurrection of Christ.
Today's Gospel passage is one of the most moving in all scripture. Jesus looks out on the crowd and is moved with pity for them, for they "were like sheep without a shepard." Apparently sheep are not the brightest of God's creatures and are in constant need of their shepard. One might wonder what the attidude of Christ is today as he gazes on this world of ours. Is he moved to pity because we, too, are like sheep without a shepard? Let us pray that God's word proclaimed this day will inspire us to cling to the Good Shepard and listen to his teachings.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS
Congratulations to the New Sir Knights: Tom Litne, Mark Van Hoessen and Rich Teidel for completing the 4th Degree Exemplification held in Olathe, KS, on June 17th, 2006. Also, a commendable "thank you" goes out to Brother Knights; Don Printy, Tom Grelk, Bill Semanko, Al Cardimone Jr. and Kurt Leistner for their support and sponsorship.

K of C hosted an appreciation hamberger/hot dog feed for the Catholic Youth Mission Group on July 18, 2006 at the Outlet Park at Milford Lake.

Annual Flush Picnic and Bazaar
Wed., July 26, 2006, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Chicken Dinner, also Country Crafts. Come early - Stay late.

MISSIONARY SUNDAY

Our Missionary speaker is, Msgr. William Carr, representing the Mary Mother of God Mission Society. Reviving the Catholic Church in Eastern Russia.

Mary Mother of God Societu is located in St. Paul, MN. Their purpose is to provide spiritual and material support for the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Vladivostok and the Far East of Russia. Vladivostok is located in the southeastern most corner of Russia where it borders communist China, North Korea and the Sea of Japan. It is a city of nearly a million people and the home base of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet. The Cathedral, Most Holy Mother of God, in Vladivostok is the mother church for the region and was started by the Polish community in the area. Bishop Karol Slivosky, Fr. Gregory Jurkevich and the last 5 parishioners killed for praying the rosary all were Polish and are sainthood prospects. Two American priests, Fr. Myron Effing, CJD, and Fr. Daniel Maurer, CJD, arrived in Vladicostok in 1992 to help re-establish the Church beginning with fewer than 10 baptized Catholics in the city. By 2005 there is a flourishing parish with over 600 active Catholics. With the discovery of other Catholics over 20 parishes have been reopened or established in many other cities and towns in the Russian Far East. Many social programs have been established to bring aid to the atheistic society.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 16th, 2006

St. Xavier Parish Home Page

Our loving God has gathered us together in this holy place to hear the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation. Here we listen to the call to be ambassadors of reconciliation and peace to a world hungering for justice. As this Mass begins let us ask God for strength along our journey of discipleship.
Today we hear three stories about people being chosen by God: Amos the prophet, the Twelve, and all those who are baptized into Christ - - which means us! Perhaps today's scriptures are calling us to remember the call that was issued by God at the moment of our baptism. Listen to the words of Saint Paul in today's second reading to discover just what that call entails. Peace and justice seem so elusive in our time. May today's word of God inspire us to respond to God's call to bring the gospel of salvation to those we meet in our everyday lives.

Missed last weeks bulletin, sorry icemen get busy this time of year. Pray for my father and I as the weather continues to be extremely hot. Also, pray for all those who the heat dramatically affects them. May they find refuge from the heat and comfort in knowing that Jesus suffered far more pain for them.

(From the week of July 9th):
We welcome to the Christian Community Mikayla Elizabeth (Davis) Swarthout and Brooklyn Salzman who were baptised last weekend. May God's love and blessings be with you always.

We congratulate Jeong Moon and Jody Avery who were married on July 8th. May your love for each other continue to grow every day as Christ is present with you.

ARE YOU WILLING TO BE AN RCIA SPONSOR?
Each year we need to seek out persons who would be willing to sponsor those who are interested in becoming Catholic.
What does a sponsor do?
A sponsor is a person who is willing to be friend, witness, guide for the catechumen. Some of the ways to do that is to participate in the sessions with the person you are sponsoring. Invite them to Suday liturgies. Phone them. Introduce them to members of the parish. Encourage and affirm their growth in faith. Listen to them. Pray for them.
Catholics who attend the sessions as sponsors or just for their own renewal find that they learn much, grow in their love for Christ and His Church and receive more that they give. It is a commitment of time from September through May to attend the sessions weekly but most people are surprised to find it goes very fast.
If you have any interest or feel called in any way to serve in that capacity, please call Sr. Mary Jo at 238-2998 or 3429, or Kurt and Sandy Leistner at 210-5006.

MEETINGS THIS WEEK
Wednesday, July 19th
5:00 pm Finance Council
7:00 pm School Council

Thursday 20th
7:00 pm Parish Council
Please pick up materials in the Sacristy so you may be prepared for the meeting.

On the weekend of July 22-23, 2006, we will have a representative from the Mary Mother of God Mission Society, Msgr. William Car, speaking about the mission in the Far East of Russia.

In the early part of this century, the Russian Far East boasted a thriving Roman Catholic population. Many Russians, Poles, Lithuanians, and other groups inhabited the area and had built schools, hospitals, and beautiful churches. Then the Russian revolution swept into the region. After the revolution of 1917, Siberia became a showplace of the new Communist era, a land without churches and without God. Under Stalin, all Catholic churches were confiscated, and many were turned into the most degrading uses imaginable. Catholics were murdered by the thousands and their bodies dumped into mass graves. Cemeteries were turned into amusement parks.

Our two American priests, Fr. Myon Effing, CJD, and Fr. Daniel Maurere, CJD, arrived in Vladivostok in 1992 to help re-establish the Church in this region. They currently pastor seven Catholic parishes in an area covering thousands of squase miles. Now that the foundations have been laid, additional priests and sisters are joining the work, and parishes are growing and multiplying.

For the latest news on activies of the mission, visit the website at www.vladmission.org.

Circle I will meet Thursday July 20th, at 8:30 am at Bev Robinson home.

Link of the Month: Sacred Space