Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

10-16-2022From Fr. Antony's DeskFr. Antony Arockiadoss

Dear Family!

Last Sunday Pope Francis canonized Giovanni Battista Scalabrini and Artemide Zatti. The Pope said, the two saints canonized today remind us of the importance of walking together and being able to give thanks.

Bishop Scalabrini, who founded two Congregations – one male and one female – for the care of immigrants, used to say that in the shared journeying of immigrants we should see not only problems, but also a providential plan. In his words: “Precisely because of the migrations imposed by persecutions, the Church pressed beyond the confines of Jerusalem and of Israel, and became ‘catholic’; thanks to the migrations of our own days, the Church will be an instrument of peace and of communion among peoples.”

“The Salesian Brother Artemide Zatti – with his bicycle - was a living example of gratitude. Cured of tuberculosis, he devoted his entire life to serving others, caring for the infirm with tender love. He was said to have carried on his shoulders the dead body of one of his patients. Filled with gratitude for all that he had received, he wanted to say his own “thank you” by taking upon himself the wounds of others.”

Also October 12, 13 & 14th, the priests of our Diocese gathered with our Bishop on our Annual Priest Convocation. I always cherish these days with our brother priests as it is a great time for catching up with friends and constructive dialogue that promotes parish and prayer life. The last day is devoted to learning from our Bishop the state of our Diocese as a whole.

As for as the Committee news goes, we have introduced the following Committees: 1. Liturgical, 2. Sacramental, 3. Stewardship, 4. Social Justice, 5. Faith Formation and 6. Prayer & Worship. Today I present to you the Special Ministries Committee. It includes the following ministries: Knights of Columbus, Over 50 Group, Scouts, Young and Youth services, Sports & Entertainment Ministry, Columbiettes, Catholic Daughters, and Death Ministry. Deacon Rob Fisher is the Director of this Committee. Next Sunday we will present the last Committee and the next course of action for all these Committees.

In the first reading, we are given one of the best images of prayer and perseverance through Moses. We also see in this reading a good example of the complementarily of prayer and action. God ordains to grant victory to Israel through Moses’ intercession. “Prayer is a cooperation with God’s will for us.” (John Bergsma)

This is a great time to ask ourselves, ‘When and how often do I pray?’ ‘When and how often do I pray other than Mass?’ ‘Do I consider my handwork as prayer?’ Saint Josemaria addressed the students, “An hour of study, for a modern apostle, is an hour of prayer.” How do I connect my prayer life to the way I live? How does my parish prosper through my practice of faith?

Fr. Antony