22nd Sunday in Ordinary time -Year A
Do you know what it is like to be thrilled by the power of Christian faith one moment and then utterly fail in it the next? I do. That is Peter in today’s Gospel. After last week’s bold confession, he now hears Jesus speak of suffering and death, and something in him recoils. He takes Jesus aside and tries to correct him. Jesus responds with the shocking rebuke, “Get behind me, Satan.” Peter is the mirror of every disciple. We love Jesus until He contradicts the script we have written for our lives. Peter does not reject Jesus. He rejects a suffering Jesus. So do we, whenever we avoid a hard responsibility, resist a demanding relationship, or cling to comfort instead of choosing love. We want a Lord who supports our plans, not one who overturns them. Yet Jesus does not discard Peter. He redirects him. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” In effect, Jesus says, stop trying to lead me. Let me lead you. Discipleship does not begin with heroism or clarity but with surrender. It means trusting that God’s path to life often passes through places we would never choose. Peter is all of us. We move from insight to confusion, from confidence to correction. That is why we should have hope. Jesus patiently teaches us again and again. Trust me. Get behind me. Follow me. When we stop fighting the crosses that come and start carrying them with Him, we discover a freedom deeper than comfort and a love stronger than fear. — Father John Muir
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I just wanted to update you all regarding my mom and my health. Let me first just thank you all for your prayers and well wishes, it is greatly appreciated and is still needed. My mom, as most of you know, was diagnosed with cancer in June. She started chemotherapy and it will continue until at least late October or early November at which time they will do more tests to see how well it worked and what the next steps will be, whether that be more chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or, God willing, the cancer will be gone and nothing more will be needed. As to my health, they did find a growth in my colon which was removed as well as some unusual cells in my throat which were also removed. Both were biopsied and it all came back as being benign. There is no cancer. Thank God for that fact. However, I do continue to have some health issues which are now classified as a mystery for to date the doctors cannot figure out what is causing the issues based on all tests to date being negative. It just might be a cross I have to carry and carry it I will with God’s help. Thank you all again for your prayers and keep them coming and know that you all are in my prayers daily.
God Bless you and have a wonderful week, Fr. Michael
SCRIPTURAL REFLECTIONS ON STEWARDSHIP
“Or who has given the Lord anything that he may be repaid?”
St. Paul reminds us of a central fact of stewardship. We cannot give God anything – He already owns it all. God made everything, including us. Since we are made in His image, we too, are called to be generous. How we use our God-given gifts becomes our gift back to Him. Gratitude for all we have been given opens our hearts to joyful generosity! And, through our generosity, we just may be the answer to someone’s else’s prayer.
Blessing for the Summer
Praise God!
Pour Your mercy upon this season, Lord! As the days fill with sun, fill our hearts with the fire of Your love. As we gather to share story and song, campfires and connection, be with us. Bless our work, our rest, and our play in Your goodness. Amen.
PRAYER FOR EVERYDAY AND EVERYBODY
Prayer for Vocations
Dear God,
Give us the courage and strength to answer when You call! Give us clarity and trust to hear Your soft invitations. Give us the love to respond, and the bravery to take the steps that will bring us ever closer to You. Amen.
PRACTICING CATHOLIC
RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman
Only Peter Has the Answer
“What do you think of the Pope?” After the election of Pope Leo XIV in 2025, all my non-Catholic friends texted me this question. The result of the papal conclave was dominating the news cycle, and everyone was curious about this man who would now be so prominent on the world stage, making me temporarily popular with people who apparently need more (and better) Catholics in their lives. In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus entrust Peter and his heirs with the stewardship of the kingdom here on earth, creating an unbroken line of authority which stretches through the millennia all the way to our current Pope — whoever he is at the time you are reading this. I don’t know if you like the Pope. The same goes for your local bishop and your pastor. If a friend texted you, “What do you think of him?” I have no idea how you would respond. All I know is this: it doesn’t really matter. What really matters is what we would say if a friend texted us the same question about Jesus Christ: “What do you think of Him, and why?” In today’s Gospel, Jesus doesn’t ask His disciples to take an IQ test. He doesn’t try to find out which one is the nicest, the hardest worker, the most humble, or even the holiest. He asks a very simple question: “Who do you say that I am?” Peter has the answer. I am not Catholic because I like the Pope. I am not Catholic because the human representatives of the Church have anything to offer me (they often do, but this is beside the point). I am Catholic because only Peter has the answer.
PRAYER REQUESTS
That God will relieve their suffering and restore them to health. Please pray for: Kellie Salata, Kelly Chinchar, Jessica, Daniel Breslin, Stanley, Joseph Marrone, Anthony, Michael, Joseph, Jessica Esopo, Steve, Audra, Bernadette, James Weiss, Baby Ford, Rosemary Malangone, Elizabeth Malangone, Sue West, Colleen Emery, Richard, Joan Russo, Christina Martin, Mornia Evans, Valerie Valverde, Diana McGuckin, Cheryl Prinjinski, Stephen West, Bryan Westfall, Cathy Bruno, Anne Trainor.
Holy Name Medical Center is looking for Eucharistic Ministers, volunteers, who are willing to help out in giving out Holy Communion to their patients. If you are interested, you can email them at pokafor@holyname.org or call their office at 201-833-3243 or stop by their Pastoral Care Office, behind the chapel, lobby/ground floor at Holy Name Medical Center.
Please consider sponsoring our Bread & Wine, Altar Flowers, and the oil for the Sanctuary Lamp.
Opportunities for Parish Support
There are several ways you can help support our parish and honor loved ones at the same time. As you may have noticed on the first Sunday of every month in our bulletin, we thank the donors of our Altar Gifts. You can donate the Bread & Wine, Altar Flowers, or the Sanctuary Lamp in a two-week block for $50 in someone’s memory. We have blocks open for this year. We also need to purchase a new Easter candle each year (the tall candle on the altar) for $300-$400 which can also be donated in someone’s memory. You do not have to fund the entire amount, anything you wish to donate towards the purchase of our Easter candle is appreciated. We also have masses available for your intentions. If you wish to honor someone in any of these ways, please call the rectory.
Prayer for our Nation
God our Father, giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for your glory and dwell among your people. Send your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing your will. Through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, patroness of our land, grant us the courage to reject the “culture of death.” Lead us into a new millennium of life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Praying the ROSARY
The Rosary is a meditation, a time to recall and think about the life of Jesus as seen and experienced by Mary. As the model of faith, Mary’s life sets a pattern that we strive to follow: saying ‘yes’ to God’s will in our lives and sharing His love and message with others. The Mysteries of the Rosary form a mini lesson of faith, using the highlights and significant moments of the life of Jesus. Like paging through a family scrapbook, we see in brief the events of salvation history that are the core of our belief and the hope of our eternal life.
WE NEED BULLETIN ADVERTISERS!!
We would like to thank all the advertisers who have supported us throughout the past year. Our parish benefits greatly from the ads you see in the bulletin. The revenue pays for the printing which is an important means of communication for the parish. If we do not have enough advertisers, the cost of our bulletin goes up. We thank the local businesses that advertise with us especially in these tough economic times. We have some spaces on the back of our bulletin that need filling so if you would like to advertise your business as well as benefit your church, please contact John Patrick Publishing at 1-800-333-3166.
Please support our advertisers at the back cover of bulletin.
