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Ordinary Time XXVIISunday
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Phone: 251-865-6902P. O. Box 417, Grand Bay, AL 3641 Fax: 251-865-1412
Email: Parish website:
Pastor:
Fr. Anthony Kadavil ()
Secretary:
Rev.Deacon Billy Graham
Parish Council President:
Mr. Steve Sema Jr. ()
Finance Council President:
Mrs. Paula Rials
CCD Coordinator: Mrs. Tiffany Teofilo
Youth Director:Mrs. Karen Day
Sunday school classes (CRE)and Youth programfor the year 2015-16 began on August 16th at 8-45 am. Please send your children and the youth to the programs.
Second collectionthis week will be for the Building fund
Ministers of the Massschedule for October 2015 is on the glass table.
Observe Respect Life Sunday (Oct 4th) by praying the rosary in front of our church parking lot:All the parishioners of good will are requested to participate in the rosary prayer facing highway 188 with prolife banners at 2 pm on October 4th Sunday. The Lady’s Sodality and the Youth group members will lead the prayers.
October head-count of Sunday Mass participants:All our parishes are requested by the archbishop to submit the number of participants in the Saturday Vigil Mass and Sunday Mass in October. This is to plan the pastoral assignments in our parishes and to assess the liturgical life of our parishioners.
The 44thannual Little Sisters of the Poor Lawn Partywill be held at Sacred Heart Residence (1655 McGill Ave.) onSunday, Oct. 18 from10 am – 4 pm. It is going to be an Irish October at the Little Sisters with the Maccrossan School of Irish Dance performing at 12:30 pm followed by local Irish musicians, Mithril, playing at 1:00 pm. All of this entertainment will be coupled with the fabulous food, fun, and games that the Lawn Party is famous for. This is a great Lawn Party not to be missed.
Special thanksGod bless Avis Garret,Jack Wright, Jason Poiroux, and Billy Grahamfor clearing for the third day the backyard and trimming hedges of a senior and sick parishioner. She needsa woman volunteer to bring her to our church for the Saturday vigil Mass.
RCIA program:Every year we offer our RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). This year the classes will start on Sunday October 4th at 8:45 am in the church hall. This is a process of prayer, discernment, fellowship, and learning that leads up to reception of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil. If any of your non Catholic friends or relatives are interested in joining the RCIA course, please contact the parish office @ 251-865-6902, or contact Fr. Tony or Deacon Graham directly
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish 14th Annual Benefit Night (previously Draw-Down) will be held on November 14th, 2015 starting at 6:30 pm. This years’ theme is “Cowboys and Cowgirls” and the tickets are $100.00 each. There will be five drawings for $1000.00 each starting at 8:30 with the final drawing at 10:00 pm for the grand reward of $5,000.00. Please see the information sheets on the glass table in the church hall.
A Box of Joy: The purpose of A Box of Joy project is to give a gift to a child who would otherwise not receive one at Christmas. This year, the children in Guatemala and Haiti will be the recipients. The link below will provide you more information about this program.
A letter was sent to your Parish Catechetical Leader informing them of the project. In our letter, your PCL was asked to meet with you concerning the implementation of this program in your parish. We need to hear back from each parish by September 21 so that materials can be ordered.
America Needs Fatimainvites everyone to join us for the annual A.N.F. Rosary Rally Saturday October 10th, 12 noon to 1 pm at the Visitation Monastery, 2300 Springhill Avenue. Prayer intentions are for the family and marriage, the sanctity of human life, peace, and religious freedom. For more information, contact Sister Mary Anthony (Rally captain), 473-2321, or Toni Sweet, 709-3350.
Pro-life Mass at St. Mary’s Home: Please join us for Mass at St. Mary's Home, 4350 Moffett Road, Mobile, AL 36618, at 10 am every Friday, beginning Friday, September 25th, to pray for our pro-life activities, to pray for our children at St. Mary's Home, and to pray in thanksgiving for St. Mary's Home in our Mobile Archdiocese. After Mass, approximately at 11am, at the abortion mill, Planned Parenthood, 717 Downtowner Loop West, the Holy Rosary will be prayed together for an end to abortion and for the increased awareness of the dignity of every human life. For more info: Mae and Chris Rehm, 251-554-2032.The Holy Rosary is also prayed together at Planned Parenthood on Saturdays at 9am for an end to abortion and for the increased awareness of the dignity of every human life. Please join us.
Visit Catholic America:With the support of Archbishop Rodi and priests of our archdiocese, Catholic in America is working to expand its viewership in our area. It’s a weekly, high quality, locally-produced half-hour television broadcast that explains the Catholic Faith, welcoming people and introducing them to the local Catholic parishes in our archdiocese. An outstanding feature is the live Call Center: Catholic in America actually puts people in direct contact with a local priest. Please support Catholic in America by visiting See the Catholic In America Program on UTV 44 - WJTC TV, Sundays at 11 a.m.
Search Retreat for teens by teenswill be held November 13 to 15, 2015. For more information go to archmobyouth.org/search.
"Be Prepared"- the apologetics series of the Archdiocese of Mobile - for all adults of the archdiocese sponsored by the Office of Religious Education is available to all persons in the Archdiocese of Mobile. Go to the Archdiocese website, select “Ministries & Office,” then “Department of Education” then “Office of Religious Education” to find out dates, times and locations of classes.
Prayer request for post- surgery recovery:Our parishioners James Cauley, Andrew Sprinkle, Marion Poirier, Carol Roberts, Nina Bohl, Michelle Cook, Linda Graham, Jay Graham, and Andrea Graham are recovering at home after surgery. Please keep them in your prayers.
Get your home blessed:The best thing you can do in this Year of the Family is to invite your pastor to bless your home and consecrate its residents to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, if your home was not blessed in the last four years. It takes only 10 minutes. Please inform me when is the convenient date and time. Fr. Tony
K&C Food Drive to help "Christ-N-Us" ministry:Knights of Columbus Council #15490 of St. John’s has received a request and agreed to support the "Christ-N-Us" ministry, located at the corner Potter Tract and Sager Rd. They house and feed up to twelve souls each night and they are in need to any food donations we can provide. Please donate items which can be cooked and served and show appreciation for the blessings that God has given you by helping to feed the hungry.
Birthdays this week:Oct. 4th; Billy Dixon: 5th; Steve Sema, Jr.: 7th; John VanCleave: 8th; Maria Switzer: 9th; Wesey Dixon: Wedding anniversaries this week: Oct. 5th; Kerry & Michael Ladnier: 7th; Debra & Matt Johnson: 9th; Linda & Deacon Graham.
Holy Mass intentions of the week: Oct 3-9
Sat. the 3rd: ------For the eternal repose of the souls of deceased parishioners
Sun the 4th: ------For the Parish Community
The 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th: ------For the eternal repose of the soul of Steve Sema, Sr. by Deborah Sema
To schedule a meeting or event using parish facilitiesyou must check the calendar or contact the office to be sure the date and room is available. You must have approval from the office for any scheduled events.
Items for Soldiers’ needs:Please don’t forget to bring items for soldiers’ needs: Shaving cream, disposable razors, solid deodorant, bars of soap/body wash, anti-bacteria cleaner, shampoo, tooth paste, dental floss, personal handy-wipes, personal hygiene items for women, foot powder, insect repellent, flea collars (they put them around their ankles), chopstick, athlete’s foot powder/spray, sun block lotion, sun shades, protective safety dust masks, socks, sweat headbands, batteries (AAA, AA, C), DVD movies, cards, writing tablets, paper, pens, envelopes, reading materials, snacks: cookies, gum, crest, life-savers, mints, pudding, crackers, sardines, chicken, tuna, salmon, jerky, peppermints, kool-aid, gatorade, tea/coffee. Put items in the designated box in the Parish Hall
Help us to keep flowers at the altar:The slotted wooden box on the glass table in the Parish Hall will receive donations for flowers. If you wish to give flowers for a specific remembrance or thanksgiving there is a sign-up flower chart on the wall to the left of the front doors.
New CDs:There are new CDs in the CD stack. Each CD costs $ 3. You can have 9 CDs for $ 25. CD on the revised Mass is now available
September 27:$2,494.00
Volunteers
Altar Care-October
Linda & Deacon Billy Graham
Church Cleaning– Sept 19th
Shirley Rasmussen & Melissa kerns
Extraordinary Minister Schedule October 3 & 4, 2015Extraordinary Minister Schedule October 10 & 11, 2015
Mass / Altar Servers
(Green Vestments) / EMCH / Lectors / Ushers
Saturday October 10, 5:00 pm / Jay Graham,
Greg Keffer / Wesey Dixon
Billy Dixon / Andrea Graham
Jay Graham / Steve Cauley, Kevin Cauley
Daryl Kirchoff, Chuck Pierce
Sunday October 11, 10:00 am / Jason Poiroux
Trey Roberts
Ty Teofilo / Charlie Clark
Maria Switzer / Autumn Bowden
Reggie Stewart / Tom Thornton, Avis Garrett
Mike Courtney, Ruth Riddick
Absentees:If you are scheduled to serve at Mass and find that you cannot serve, it is NECESSARY that you arrange for a substitute. Please take your responsibility seriously. If you are interested in serving as an Altar Server, Eucharistic Minister, and Lector or as an Usher, please let Fr. Tony or the Office know of your willingness to serve. We especially need Usher/Greeters for the Saturday Mass.
Remember the sick brothers and sisters in your prayers:Mike Middleton, Mildred Smith,James Cauley, Susas Halliday, Carla Felps Kyser, Tina Rascoe, Mary Thornton;Kenny Kirchoff,Andrew Sprinkle, Micky Porier, Coraif Brassel, Pat klein,Wendy Guidry, Dana ferrell, Betty Carolyn Willard, Judy Courtney,Fountain, ,Gabby DeGeer;Charlee May Knowles, Nonie Crow Reed, James Cauley, Nina Bohl, ,Linda Graham, Fritz Poter, Becky Thompson, Michael Cook, James Albritton, Andrea Graham, Gloria White, JayGraham, Joe Smith,Addie Thompson, Kayla Perry,Kristlyn Postle, Victoria Fontenot, Tiffany Fontenot,John Ramsay, Voncille Hulcher, Helen Powers, Raymond Lyons, Valerie Wallace, Holin Saucer, Peggy Hock, T. J. Stovall, Lucine Bryant, Mary Lou Ledford, Gavin Middleton, Laurie Middleton, Jerry Wayne Davis, Joyce Rudberg, Jennifer Patronas, Connie Stringfellow, Josh Ellis, Beth Gibson, Fr. Russell Biven, Cheryl Humphrey Thompson, Jay Stallone, Emma Barber, Ali Ray, Gerald Brannan, Hanner Gassaway, Rylyn Kuntz, Joe Ecker, B. J. Broussard, Clair Waite, Avery Collier, Julia Raleigh, Steven Butler, Sarah Butler, Chris Sassano, Tammy Asch, Mary Rambo, Delaine Pigorsch, Joel Rivera, Alice Bedwell, Susan Taylor, Wayne Seymour, Miss Pink Pridgen, Kim Pridgen, Clyde Shores, Glen Haab, Haley Holder, Lakeshia Johnson, Gary Sherman, Elizabeth Schmidt, John Atchison, Johnny Hill, Jared Hoken, Diana Abrams, Hinleigh Hall, Ryan Keith Malone, Linda Graham, Dave Matern, Virginia Gable, Andrew Taylor, Diane Watts, Daniel Dorriety, Tiffany Fontenot, Harrand Broussard, Katie Nielsen, Richard Arnold, Louis Poiroux, Homer Campbell, Jimmy Marchand, Arlene Wissman, Becky Thompson, Sally Thompson, Peggie Huber, Dale Thompson, Jane Thompson, Andy Thompson, Callie Massey, Angela Heardon, Rita George, Edgar Broussard, Lillian Broussard, Robert Broussard, Jerry Blair, Michael Stairs, Amanda Illingsworth, Ray Bribsey, Dorothy Barnes, Jared Horn and for all those serving in the Armed Forces.
Pray for the deceased dear onesof the parish:Pray for the eternal repose of the deceased members of the parish:Voncille Hulcher, Mary Nicholas Rambo, Paul Delmas, Cody Driskell, Evelyn Robison, Jean Mitchell, Veretta Tulos, Jim Kimble, Lynn Poirier, Phillip Marchand, Sue Kirchoff, Mary Sanders, Margaret Jackson, Catherine Schnadelbach, Darlene Alexander, Patrick Marchand, Steve Sema, Sr., Mary Marchand and Sis Marchand. Former pastors: Rev. Monsignor Hugh Maguire and Fr. Strejeski. Other priests and deacons and Sisters: Rev. Msg. Joseph Jennings, Rev. Andrew J. Stauter, Rev. Walter Menig, Rev. William Gorman, Deacon John Cretaro, Deacon Holscomb Pryor, Sr. Maria Bernarda Kadavil and other deceased relatives and friends. Pray for our former parishioners serving in the Armed Forces:Travis Wilson, SPC Jackson Triston, Jr., Captain Will Hurd, Bryant Bailey & Zachery Bailey and Athena Ladnier undergoing training in the U. S. Navy.
SYNOPSIS OF O.T. XXVIISUNDAY (Oct 4th) HOMILY–Mk 10: 2-16
Video homily by Fr. Bill Grimm:
Introduction: Today’s Scripture readings are about the bond of love that marriage creates between a man and a woman, a bond that God wishes to be permanent.These readings challenge the spouses to practice the fidelity of their ever-faithful God, honoring their holy covenant commitment before Him.
Scripture lessons:The first reading from Genesis explains God’s original planconcerning sex and marriage. It teaches us that God made man and woman for each other. Hence, in marriagethey are no longertwo butone, united by an unbreakable bond. The reading also describes the institution of marriage and shows that monogamy was God'sintention from the very beginning. The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 90), expands the marital theme of the first reading and the Gospel to include the children born of the union. Since the children enrich the lives of their parents, the Psalmist prays: “May you see your children’s children.”The second reading, taken from the Letter to theHebrews, reminds us that Jesus became one of us, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. As one of us, he “tasted death for everyone.” He was not only the Sacrifice, but also the High Priest. We are now his brothers and sisters, bonded with him, and through him bonded with God. Thus, Christ becamethe brother andSaviorof all people –the good and thebad, the divorced,gays,lesbians -- everyone.Jesus’ prohibition of divorce can be a source of suffering for those who face difficult married lives. Paul suggests that we have to accept pain as Jesus did, as the suffering we should endure on the way to glory.
Today’s Gospel gives Christ’s explicit teaching on marriage and divorce, the Divine origin of marriage, the sacredness of family life and the indissolubility of marriage. These are difficult messages to preach in a society that embraces co-habitation andignores both the escalating divorce statistics and the dangerous consequences of divorce.The Gospel teaches that family life is sacred, that husband and wife are partners with equal rights and that the destruction ofthe family by divorce will resultin the destruction ofsociety.
Life messages:1) The spouses need to work hard to create a good marriage: Marriage demands that they should become the right persons for each another. Marriage is a union based on committed sharing and forgiving, sacrificial agape-love. It requires a lot of mutual adjustments, generosity and good will to forgive and ask for forgiveness, sincere cooperation in training children and raising them as practising Catholic Christians and daily strength from God obtained through personal and family prayers and punctual participation in the parish liturgy.
2) We need to reach out with Christian sympathy to the divorced and problem families. The parish community needs to accept them with respect, compassion, sensitivity, love and support, sharing the depth oftheirpain from a failed marriage. The Churchcannot sanctionremarriage unless the previous marriage was declared annulled by the diocesan marriage tribunal.“They should be encouraged to listen to the Word of God, to attend the Sacrifice of the Mass, to persevere in prayer, to bring up their children in the Christian faith”(CCC #1651).
Why Aramaic- speaking writers wrote the New Testament in Greek?The question is asked why Aramaic speaking Mathew, Mark, Luke and John wrote the gospels in Greek. The simple answer is that the gospel writers (evangelists) who composed the gospels in the names of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were different people who gathered information about the message and deeds of Jesus from eye witnesses and their preaching at the end of the first century and put them into the common popular language of the majority of the pagan convers who spoke Greek and the Greek speaking Jewish converts who used the Septuagint Greek translation of the Jewish Hebrew Bible (Rev. Dr. Raymond Brown). Paul was a Jew of the diaspora, and diaspora Jews used Greek in their everyday lives, with many of them unfamiliar with the Aramaic (or Hebrew) of Palestinian Jews. Aramaic was the primary language of the land, Greek was the language of business, education, and for communication with foreigners (because it was a wide-spread language), and Hebrew was the religious language of the Jews and was primarily reserved for prayers, religious teaching, and communication with other Jews. At the end of the first century, Greek was the third major language spoken in Palestine. Jesus, who was reared in 'Galilee, of the Gentiles,' lived only three or four miles from the thriving Greek city of Sepphoris and probably knew basic spoken Greek. Two of Jesus' disciples were even known by their Greek names: Andrew and Philip. In addition, there are several incidents in Jesus' ministry when he spoke to people who knew neither Aramaic nor Hebrew. Probably Jesus spoke Greek during the following occasions: the visit to Tyre, Sidon and the Decapolis (Mark 7:31ff), the conversation with the Syro-Phoenician woman (Mark 7:24-30).