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Ordinary Time XXXSunday
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.
Glider chair raffle tickets for the Lady’s Sodality Fund raising: Kindly take your tickets enclosed in the envelope bearing your name, when you leave the church after the Mass. Please bring to the church or rectory all the items you plan to donate for the November Bazaar.
November 2 is All Souls Day. Please write the names of the deceased members of your family in the All Sous Day envelope and bring it to the church next week. We will keep them on the altar through the entire year and pray for the eternal repose of their souls. Contributions for Holy Mass intentions may be enclosed.
K of C Food Drive:The Grand Knight of Council #15490 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church wishes to express the sincere gratitude of the council for the support for the food drive from the Parish. It has been truly amazing. Your contributions go directly to impacting the lives of people in our community that for whatever reason have lost everything and are now homeless. These folks are women, children, men, the elderly, and the disabled. The Christ-N-Us Ministry acts as a stop gap to help these people until either their situation improves through employment are they can transition to government assistance. The Knights deliver what they have collected around once a month. Even though it is the Knights delivering the food when asked where the food is coming from, We proudly tell them it is from St John the Baptist Catholic Church. The people that are residents as well as the staff are always extremely appreciative every time a delivery is made. Please continue to support this worthy effort.
K of C Boston Butt Sales:The Knights of Columbus will be selling Smoked Boston Butts for the Iron Bowl. The cost will be $30 per Butt. Each Butt will be approximately 7 Lbs prior to cooking. The butts will be sold Pre-order only and will be on sale through Nov 15th. A Knight will be available after each Mass in the church hall through Nov 15th to take your order or contact any Knight between now and Nov 15th. The proceeds will go into the K of C General Fund to provide assistance as needed.
K of C Olive Wood Crosses:The Knights of Columbus have a box on the glass table in the church hall. It contains Olive Wood Crosses that were crafted by Christians in the holy land. The asking price is $10 each. The proceeds will be used support our Christian brothers and sisters being persecuted to the point of extinction in the Middle East. They continue to be an inspiration as they remain true to their faith and bear witness to the love of God and neighbor. The Knights asked that you purchase one and place it where you can see it and let it be a daily reminder of our solidarity with these suffering brothers and sisters. Thank you for your support.
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.
Ministers of the Massschedule for November 2015 is on the glass table.
RCIA program:began on Oct first Sunday at 8-45 am. If any of your non-Catholic friends or relatives is interested in joining the RCIA course, please contact the parish office @ 251-865-6902, or contact Fr. Tony or Deacon Graham directly
Prayer request for post- surgery recovery:Our parishioners James Cauley, Virginia Gable, 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.
Prayers are requestedfor Reverend Paul McQuillen, S.S.E., Pastor of St. Jude Parish, Montgomery, who had intestinal surgery on Friday. Father McQuillen is currently in Baptist East Hospital in Montgomery and it is expected that his recovery will take 4-6 weeks. Please keep Father McQuillen in your prayers.
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.
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.
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 24th; Veronica Stewart: 26th; Kathy Sema: 27th; Anna Bowden: 28th; Martha Grubbs, Chain Smith: 29th; Doris Sema: Wedding anniversaries this week: Oct 27th; Amanda & Jonathan Oliver
Holy Mass intentions of the week: Oct 24-30
Sat. the 24th: ------For the eternal repose of the souls of deceased parishioners
Sun the 25th: ------For the Parish Community
The 26th & 27th: ------For the eternal repose of the soul of Cody Driskell by Cynthia Driskell
The 28th, 29th & 30th: ------For the intentions of Father McCormick
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
October 11:Regular:$2279.00
Volunteers
Altar Care-October
Linda & Deacon Billy Graham
Church Cleaning– October 24
Kathy & Steve Sema
Extraordinary Minister Schedule October 24 & 25, 2015Mass / Altar Servers
(Green Cincture) / EMCH / Lectors / Ushers
Saturday October 24, 5:00 pm / Jay Graham
Greg Keffer
James Graham / Daryl Kirchoff
Andrea Graham / Andrea Graham
Jay Graham / Chuck Pierce, Kevin Cauley
Paul Pigorsch, Steve Cauley
Sunday October 25, 10:00 am / Kyle McBride
Bryce Baggett
Trey Roberts / Reggie Stewart
Jason Poiroux / John McBride
Michelle Cook / Ruth Riddick, Daryl Kirchoff
Mike Marchand, Mike Courtney
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:Kenny Kirchoff, Mickey Poirier, Brennan Griffin, Andrew Sprinkle, James Cauley; Coraif Brasell, Addie Thompson; Mary Helen Allen, Mildred Smith, Mike Middleton, , Susas Halliday, Carla Felps Kyser, Tina Rascoe, Mary Thornton, Andrew Sprinkle, Coraif Brasell, Addie Thompson; Carolyn Willard, Judy Courtney, Wendi Guidry, Gabby DeGeer, Dana Ferrell, Nonie Crow Reed, Charlee May Knowles, Nina Bohl, , Fritz Porter, Linda Graham, Michelle Cook, James Albritton, Andrea Graham, Gloria White, Jay Graham, Joe Smith, , Kayla Perry, Victoria Fontenot, Tiffany Fontenot, Helen Powers, Frances Bosarge, Mary Lou Ledford, Gavin Middleton, Laurie Middleton, Jerry Wayne Davis, Amanda, Ida Clark, Joyce Rudberg, Jennifer Patronas, Connie Stringfellow, Josh Ellis, Beth Gibson, Father Russell Biven, Cheryl Humphrey Thompson, Jay Stallone, Emma Barber, Ali Ray, Caryn Sutoff, 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, 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, Dave Matern, Virginia Gable, Andrew Taylor, Diane Watts, Daniel Dorriety, 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.
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. XXIXSUNDAY (Oct 25th) HOMILY–Mk 10: 46 - 52
Video homily by Fr. Bill Grimm:
Introduction: The central theme of today’s readings is the overflowing mercy and kindness of a loving, healing and forgiving God for His children.
Scripture lessons: The first reading tells us how a forgiving and compassionate God has been healing the spiritual blindness of His Chosen People by subjecting them to captivity in Babylon and now will liberate them, bringing them back to their homeland. The Jerusalem journey of Jesus in the company of the lame and the blindconnects the first reading to today's Gospel.The healing of the blind Bartimaeus in today’s Gospel is also seen as the fulfillment of the joyful prophecy of Jeremiah about the return of the exiled Jews from Babylonto their homeland. Today’s second reading, taken from Hebrews 5, presents Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for sins and as the true High Priest of the New Testament. It also gives us the assurance that our High Priest, Jesus, is sympathetic to us because he has shared our human nature. Today’s Gospel explains how Jesus shows the mercy and compassion of his Heavenly Father by healing the blind Bartimaeus. Just as the blind and the lame were God’s concern in the first reading, Jesus is concerned with the blind beggar, Bartimaeusof Jericho. On hearing that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, Bartimaeus loudly expressed his trusting faith in the healing power of Jesus by shouting his request, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me."When Jesus invited him to come near, Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak (symbolizing perhaps the baptismal divesting). His meeting with Jesus gave Bartimaeus the gift of spiritual as well as physical sight, and he became a disciple of Jesus.
Life messages:1) Instead ofremaining in spiritual blindness, let us pray for spiritual sight. Each one of us suffers from spiritualblindness. Hence, we need the light of the Holy Spirit to enlighten us. Anger, hatred, prejudice, jealousy, evil habits, etc., make us spiritually blind, and they prevent us from seeing the goodness in our neighbors and God’s presence in them. We are blinded by greed when we are never satisfied with what we have and incur debts to buy luxury items. Hence,let us pray to have a clear vision of Christian values and
priorities in our lives and to acknowledge the presence of God dwelling in ourselves and in our neighbors. A clear spiritual vision enables us to see the goodness in others, to express our appreciation for all that they have been doing for us, and to refrain from criticizing their performance.
2) We need to "cry out" to Jesus, as Bartimaeus did.Like Bartimaeus, we must seek Jesus with trust in his goodness and mercy. Sometimesour fears, anger and habitual sinsprevent us from approaching God in prayer. At times,weeven become angrywith Godwhen He seems slow inanswering our prayers. In these desperate moments, let us approach Jesus in prayer with trusting faith, as Bartimaeus did, and listen carefully to the voice of Jesus asking us :"What do you want me to do for you?” Let us tell Him all our heart’s intentions and needs.
What is Stewardship Awareness Sunday?Stewardship Awareness Sunday is observed to help parishioners realize that we are all called by the teachings of the Gospel to be stewards. Stewardship should be a total way of life. Stewardship calls us to put God first in our lives, recognize the many blessings we have received, thank God daily, learn to get our priorities in order, and to recognize the difference between what we really need and what we want. Both the Old and New Testament are rich with stewardship messages. "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me in this, says the LORD of hosts: Shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessing upon you without measure?" (Malachi 3:10) Confer also Genesis 14:18-20; Genesis 28:22 and 1 Peter 4:10-11:As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace.“ More than half of Our Lord’s parables have a stewardship theme. If we are going to teach the Gospel, we must teach stewardship. Our Catholic parishes, schools, ministries and organizations exist primarily because of the good stewardship and generosity of our Catholic people. A return to stewardship often increases the number of parishioners who are involved in parish activities and ministries, usually increasing the number of parish ministries. A return to stewardship often increases the financial gifts that parishioners pledge to the parish. Parishes that teach and encourage stewardship are typically stronger parishes. When you recognize and encourage gifts of time and talent, you help parishioners improve their faith life and they tend to become more active in the parish. When you recognize and encourage gifts of treasure, parishioners become more generous. Research across the country repeatedly shows that parishioners are most receptive to the stewardship message in the Fall because it is a time when parishioners are most inclined to be in their own parishes and hear more gospel messages on stewardship.