Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Family,
Last week I started the Twitch with, “What a week we have in store!” I think that’s the way it turned out. Although I’m writing this letter on Sept 22, I know already how much excitement and enthusiasm Pope Francis is generating.

Last Sunday, after hearing the Mission Appeal request for Amor en Acciónfrom Tery Gonzales and Monica Lauzurique, you contributed $2722 and we are still counting. There were 310 souls in our holy house last weekend and I’m just very proud of you. I can’t help but wonder if Pope Francis and his
sense of mission wasn’t inhabiting our air. Did his dedication to mission and the poor influence your wonderful and generous response?

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Twenty-fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
What a week we have in store! On Tuesday Pope Francis comes from Cuba. How fitting that the two countries he was instrumental in bringing together after 55 years are joined by his visit.

Dear Family,
On Thursday at 5:45 p.m. we will gather at St. Sebastian to celebrate A Mass for Peace. There will NOT be an 8:00 a.m. Mass in the Morning on Thursday so that as many of us as possible can gather Thursday Evening. After Mass, with a little luck, we will move to the Parish Center and celebrate Evening Prayer with Pope Francis in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York. We will be praying not only for peace, but for the Holy Father himself, that the Lord will give him strength and wisdom to continue his mission as peace-maker.

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Twenty-fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Dear Family, 
Last Sunday’s “Parish Picnic” blessed us.  Conceived and produced by the members of our Pastoral Council we just had a good time. 

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Twenty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time
Dear Family, 
So why is it we all take off on Labor Day?  It’s supposed to be the day when we honor people who labor hard for a living.  After a lot of hard work a day off, with pay, doesn’t seem too big a deal, does it.  The history of the labor movement in this country says otherwise, and a lot of folk my age  can remember the many labor-management  battles over the years.  As I was still chewing on the “Do justice” theme of last week’s readings, I thought about how long justice was coming for many workers.  Fifty-five years ago, my dad worked for Rodi Boat Company here in Lauderdale for a fraction of the salaries that John Rodi was paying  his workers in his Chicago boat yard.  The  difference was a union.  Union was a dirty word in Flor- ida in those days. 

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