Pastor’s Letter & September 19 Bulletin

Pastor’s Letter & September 19 Bulletin

17 Sep 2021 | Posted by: chadmin

The September 19 bulletin is now available online. 

Dear friend,

This weekend we read one of those Gospel passages that has significance to every day and age. The first sin, the sin of Adam and Eve, was one of pride. Adam and Eve were tempted to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. By eating of that tree, Satan tempted Adam and Eve to think they would know what God knows. The temptation was to grasp after something they didn’t already possess. The temptation was to see themselves as incomplete in the way God made them. The temptation was to want more than they were naturally given. The apostles receive the same type of temptation in the Gospel passage this weekend. The Apostles argued about who was the greatest.  Of course, by “greatest” they meant abilities, talents, and God-given natural gifts. Jesus immediately challenges them on this false thinking. A successful life is not one of doing or being what the world defines as the best, it is in doing the best one can with one’s own gifts and talents. Sometimes our best might attract attention or lead to worldly recognition, but if one seeks that as an end in itself, it loses all beauty and eternal significance. And so Jesus says, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Use your gifts and talents at the service of one another, and not to be recognized or appreciated by one another. This is a hard life lesson but one that everyone should pray with. If we seek recognition for anything, it is the wrong type of recognition. One is always called to do the good because it is the good thing to do and not because of any personal honor.

The Diocese of Peoria has launched the Annual Diocesan Appeal.  Our Bishop’s have released a video that can be viewed at www.cdop.or/ada2021. If you are a registered parishioner, you received a mailing for the Diocese about the ADA. You will receive a letter from me along with an ADA pledge card. You can fill out the pledge card and return in the self-addressed envelope or fulfill a pledge. Thank you for helping St. Philomena Parish fulfill our parish responsibility to help fund Diocesan ministry.

The Sacraments of the Church are the ordinary means by which we believe God helps us through this life. The day-to-day sustenance of God’s gift of grace comes through the sacraments. The Rite of Christians Initiation of Adults is the ordinary way for adults to join the Church and receive the Sacraments. The classes meet on Tuesday nights at 6:30pm in the Banquet Room. If you are, or if you know anyone interested in receiving the sacraments, please contact us to register or with any questions. You can email the parish office at parish@stphils.com. The RCIA class is for those who are not Baptized that would like to receive Baptism, for Baptized Christians that want to become Catholic, and for Baptized Catholics who have not received Confirmation. Please feel free to reach out to us if you are interested.

God bless,

Father David