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 Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Welcome to our Masses this weekend for the
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time! It is good to be together
again. We especially welcome all of our new families who may be
joining us for the first time! Welcome!
Today we are taking up our monthly,
end-of-the-month, collection for our HELP Committee and
Shepherd’s Gate Food Pantry. Our HELP Committee and Shepherd’s
Gate Food Pantry are now serving more people than ever before.
We’ve seen some truly amazing things and we know that some of
those whom we have helped, have experienced some real miracles.
It is very interesting that in our current economic climate,
we’ve actually seen our monthly HELP collections go up in the
last twelve months. We are most grateful to everyone who shares
what they can, with those who are in need. Our Parish Family
has always taken very seriously Jesus challenge to take care of
the poor and those in need. It is really nice to know, that
even when things are tight for all of us financially, that there
is still a concern for those in our midst who are need. Thank
you for your generosity and concern!
We have a special obligation to take care
of each other as brothers and sisters. Jesus’ command to “Love
one another, as I have loved you.” has got to be more than just
words. It means taking the time to get to know those in our
community, to be aware of each others concerns and needs, and
that when someone does need help, any kind of help or support,
that we care enough to do something about it. Sometimes caring
also means being brave enough to say something, or asking if
everything is alright, or checking in to see if there’s anything
that you can do to help out. Catholic Christians are good and
have many gifts and talents, but I’ve yet to meet any Catholic
Christian that can read minds. Sometimes we really do need to
speak up or let somebody know, when somebody needs some help.
When it comes to love and compassion, Catholic Christians can’t
be quiet. We need to speak up. We need to get involved. We
need to help out in whatever way that we can.
On Monday evening, August 10th,
at 7:00 PM in the Parish Narthex, St. Maria Goretti will once
again be kicking-off our Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
(RCIA) with the opening session of the Pre-Catechumenate. These
next two weeks are also our time for speaking up and inviting
our non-Catholic brothers and sisters to come and join us in the
Church. St. Maria Goretti has one of the very best RCIA
processes anywhere in Central Indiana. I’d put our formation
program up against any other program, anywhere in the country,
and I’d be very confident that what we are offering to our new
brothers and sisters in RCIA is some of the very best. We take
RCIA very seriously at St. Maria Goretti. If you or someone
that you know, is thinking about joining the Catholic Church, or
maybe you’d just like more information on the Catholic Faith,
now is the time for you to consider joining us in RCIA this
year. It all starts with the Pre-Catechumenate which will run
on Monday evenings, through August and September. Again, we
can’t be too quiet or bashful. Catholics are extremely
respectful of the fact that every individual must come to the
Faith on their own. Every year in RCIA, I hear how amazed the
new candidates are that their Catholic spouses, friends, and
neighbors, weren’t more forceful in pushing them towards the
Catholic Faith. Out of respect, we don’t push. Pushing doesn’t
work. But sometimes all of us Catholics can be way too laid
back, not even inviting others to join the Church. There’s a
big difference between an invitation and “pushing” our Faith on
others. We are not to push. But the Gospel itself gives us the
responsibility to invite all of our non-Catholic brothers and
sisters to come and join us in the Church. Who could you invite
this year? Who should you be talking to, before August 10th?
Also, have you ever thought about being a sponsor for RCIA?
Each year, the Parish supplies several individuals to our
Catechumens and Candidates, to walk with them through the RCIA
formation process. It is one of the neatest experiences of our
Faith lives! If you’d like to be considered as an RCIA sponsor
for this coming year, please contact Jeanne Derksen at
773-0020. It is a great honor to walk with someone through the
RCIA experience. Think and pray about it.
These are great days! The summer is
flying by. Enjoy every minute of it with those you
love!
In Christ,
Fr. Kevin
For fast-acting relief try slowing down.
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