OUR FATHER IN FAITH
The Letter to the Hebrews today sings a hymn of praise to Abraham and to his faith, upon which are founded the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Abraham is called “father” in faith by more people on earth than anybody else, numerous as the sands of the seashore or the stars of the heavens. Hebrews tells us it was this foundational faith that led Abraham to obey God's call when he heard it, though he was called to journey to a land he did not know and told he would father a mighty race through a marriage he thought was barren. But Abraham's faith, the author of Hebrews tells us, was his realization of what he hoped for, and the evidence of what he could not see. How often are we, in simple daily events of our own Christian vocation, called to an unfamiliar place or told we are to do something we do not believe we can? How fortunate we are to have Father Abraham as our guide and example!
© Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.
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Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help and our shield. —Psalm 33:20
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SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday: Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday: Ss. Pontian and Hippolytus
Tuesday: St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe
Wednesday: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thursday: St. Stephen of Hungary
Saturday: St. Jane Frances de Chantal;
Blessed Virgin Mary
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READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: Dt 10:12-22; Mt 17:22-27
Tuesday: Dt 31:1-8; Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
Wednesday: Vigil: 1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2;
1 Cor 15:54b-57; Lk 11:27-28
Day: Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab;
1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56
Thursday: Jos 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17; Mt 18:21 — 19:1
Friday: Jos 24:1-13; Mt 19:3-12
Saturday: Jos 24:14-29; Mt 19:13-15
Sunday: Jer 38:4-6, 8-10; Ps 40; Heb 12:1-4;
Lk 12:49-53
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TODAY'S READINGS
First Reading — When you punished our adversaries, you glorified us whom you had summoned (Wisdom 18:6-9).
Psalm — Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own (Psalm 33).
Second Reading — By faith Abraham sojourned in the promised land (Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 [1-2, 8-12]).
Gospel — Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32-48 [35-40]).
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Grief Support Group
On the first Wednesday of each month Immaculate Conception Parish offers an ongoing Grief Support Group. If you or someone you know has suffered a loss, please join us.
Join us for the next meeting Wednesday, September 5, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Ministry House.
Communicate. Appreciate. Validate. —J. Edward. It is a good message—take time for the people who are still with us. What greater gift can we give to our loved ones who have died than to even more deeply value those who are living.
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Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Adoration takes place the last Friday of each month from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ending with a blessing. Parishioners are encouraged to take time out of their busy day to spend quiet time in the presence of the Lord.
Please sign up for a time slot that you are available to assure that there is adequate coverage each hour. A sign-up sheet is kept on the podium next to the candle stand.
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Parish Cookbooks
Parish Cookbooks are available! If you would like to purchase a copy, they will be for sale at the Sunday Social each week or you may call the rectory at 973-827-9575.
The cost is $10.00 and they make great gifts!
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Ministry to the Homebound
If you are unable to come to Church or know of someone who is homebound and would like to receive Communion, please call Janice at the Rectory at 973-827-9575 and arrangements will be made to visit the home. Janice is in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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RCIA
Anyone who has not been baptized and would like to receive the sacraments of initiation during the Easter Vigil Mass or even if you are baptized but not in the Catholic Church and would like to come into “Full Communion with the Catholic Church” you are welcomed to begin your spiritual journey with our Christian community. Call the Rectory at 973-827-9575.
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Weekend Retreat for Separated or Divorced
A weekend retreat for separated or divorced will be given on September 14, 15, 16, 2007 in Newton by a Franciscan retreat team. For further information, call Fr. Tom Kelly, OFM at 973-985-9736 or Deacon Milt at 973-271-5097.
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Sunday Social
Stop by the Lyceum after the 10:30 a.m. Mass to enjoy a light breakfast with Fr. Bogie and fellow parishioners.
Deepest thanks to our Sunday Social Group for the all time and prep work they give for the enjoyment of our parish community.
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SOUPer Sunday Food Drive
Our SOUPer Sunday Food Drive is held on the last Sunday of each month. Non-perishables and food store script cards are collected for the Food Pantry at Partnership for Social Services Family Center. Any contribution you can offer is so very much appreciated!
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Children's Liturgy of the Word
Children's Liturgy will not be conducted during the months of July and August.
Ministers are needed to teach Children's Liturgy. Children's Liturgy is offered at the Saturday, 5:00 p.m. Mass, and at the Sunday 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. Masses. If you have interest in becoming a minister for Children's Liturgy please contact Cynthia at 827-9575. Thank you. Have a wonderful summer!
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Prayer Shawl Ministry
Meetings will be suspended for the summer months but will resume in September! Please continue to knit or crochet. Completed shawls may be brought to the rectory at any time. Wishing you all a happy, safe and relaxing summer!
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Sussex County Community College
Catholic Campus Ministry Club
Catholic Campus Ministry Club is open to people of all faiths—come join us for prayer and reflection time. Visit us on campus Thursday, September 27th at the “Meet the Clubs” gathering and picnic. Meeting dates will be posted on our bulletin board in Bldg. D and on the flyers around campus. Plan to join us for prayer, reflective time and social and outreach activities. Call Carol Bezak for further information at 973-875-4521.
www.catholicministryclub.com
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Host Families Needed
Pope John XXIII High School is looking for families to host several international students for the 2007-2008 academic year. Available students come from Germany, Vietnam, Turkey or South Korea.
For more information , please call Sharon Smith at the Pope John Guidance Office at 973-729-6125 ext. 227.
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Please remember to pray for our parishioners and friends who are ill:
In Nursing Homes: Ceil Williams, Pauline Trofimuk, Anna Elekes, Betty Swetz, and Frank Kalafut.
At Home: Loraine Schenker, Maria Woppel, Betty Garnis, Diane Sidoli, Robert Zeuner, Evelyn Caljean, Danielle Dionisio, Thomas Dionisio, Jr., Steven “Itchy” Novak, Flo Yurchak, Ethel Segarra, Mary Carmody, Lisa Stine and Kath Sciascia.
 
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Please continue to keep all those serving in the military in your thoughts and prayers especially:
Dan Greene, Jamison Micke, Stephen Saski, Jr., Christopher Faber, SFC Morgan McHose, LCPL William Mathes, LCPL Ernest Mathes, Karen Hassler, Tom Oroho, and SSG Mary Lynch.
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MARION PILGRIMAGE TO THE BASILICA
OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Bishop Arthur Serratelli has designated Saturday, September 29, 2007 as the day for our MARIAN PILGRIMAGE to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. We unite with our Bishop in honoring our Blessed Mother, in this largest Catholic church in the America's and the 7th largest in the world.
Bishop Serratelli will celebrate a Liturgy of Thanksgiving; there will be time to visit the many Marian and ethnic shrines. Relax and enjoy a spiritual trip of coming together as a Diocese with our Bishop expressing love and honor for our Blessed Mother.
The price for a 1-day bus pilgrimage is $35, leaving designated parish pick-up areas between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m., returning at about 10:30 p.m. which includes a rest stop each way.
An overnight pilgrimage is also available lodging at the beautiful Hilton Homewood Suites Hotel in downtown Washington. Tour includes dinner Saturday night at Philips Restaurant on the Potomac River and a full buffet breakfast on Sunday at the hotel. A Latin Mass on Sunday at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington. A guided tour of Washington to include an overview of the Capitol Building, Jefferson and Lincoln Monuments, Vietnam, Korean and World War II Memorials. Tour of Arlington Cemetery by tram-ride around the cemetery. Box lunch. 5:00 p.m. depart for home from Arlington Cemetery.
Eight parishioners are planning to attend this event! We are hoping to reach the goal of 24 or half a bus load. Consider making this wonderful trip with fellow parishioners! Call Cynthia at the Rectory 973-827-9575 for information or registration.
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OR BIOGRAPHY?
For the most part we prefer to write our own storyline. Surprises tend to be too unsettling. Being the author of our own life assures us of controlling the ending lest our comedy become a tragedy.
 
INSIDE THE READINGS
Jesus imparts two critical lessons to his followers in today's Gospel. Since the Father has given the kingdom to the disciples, Jesus wants their hearts to be with the kingdom, their treasure, and not with possessions. In a loving way he calls them "little flock" (12:32) and urges using possessions as alms.
The other important teaching of Jesus is the absolute necessity of preparing for his second coming, for the eschatological judgment. The fact of that coming, the parousia, is definite, but the time is uncertain. Therefore, says Christ, be watchful; be faithful!
"You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come" (Luke 12:40). "Son of Man" is the title Jesus uses most frequently for himself, and others never used it. He applies it during his public ministry: "Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation" (Luke 11:30); in his suffering: "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised" (Luke 9:22); and in his glorious return at the end of time, as in 12:40 above.
Jesus makes it clear that watchfulness for the Second Coming applies to all, but especially to the leaders of the Christian communities. Should such a leader use the delay in the parousia to misuse his power, the master "will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful" (12:46). This is a warning to all Christians to be faithful throughout this period until the Second Coming.
Vigilance similar to that of the faithful servants will be rewarded. Jesus even says that the master "will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them" (12:37). Service, therefore, becomes the sign of true authority, the example for all Christian leaders. "I am among you as the one who serves" (22:27).
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THOUGHTS FOR ACTION
Jesus tells us to be watchful because we do not know how the events of our life are going to unfold. Growth and change are always the result of conflict, of clashing visions that force adaptation. This is not to say that God writes tragedies and suffering into the script, but only that God uses all the unfolding twists and turns of the plot to bring the story to a divine conclusion.
 
Excerpted and edited from LIVING THE WORD for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time commentary by Msgr. Ralph Kuehner and Rev. Joseph Juknialis, 8 2007 by J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. 8/12/07
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