November 4th -10th is National Vocation Awareness Week. During this week, I ask that you pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, in his message for the 2018 World Day of Vocations, emphasized that it is at the loving initiative of God, and by His personal encounter with each of us, that one is called. He says, “Even amid these troubled times, the mystery of the Incarnation reminds us that God continually comes to encounter us. He is God-with-us, who walks along the often dusty paths of our lives. He knows our anxious and longing for love and He calls us to joy. In the diversity and the uniqueness of each and every vocation, personal and ecclesial, there is a need to listen, discern and live this word that calls to us from on high, and while enabling us to develop our talents, makes us instruments of salvation in the world and guides us to full happiness.”
Every Sunday we are invited to follow Jesus. No matter what our limitation or impediments may be, Jesus calls us to follow Him. Sometimes even when we don’t realize it, we are being called. In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus cure Bartimaeus, the blind man who begged at the side of the road; but, Jesus also calls Bartimaeus as well. After receiving the gift of sight, Bartimaeus responds to Jesus’ call and follows Him. May our own faith and determination give us sight as well, that we may also know and follow God in our daily lives.
Today is WORLD MISSION SUNDAY. The theme this year is “Together with young people, let us bring the Gospel to all.” In his 2018 message, Pope Francis reminds us that “we are not in this world by our own choice,” and hence there is “an initiative that precedes us and makes us exist.” Pope Francis says, “each one of us is called to reflect on the fact that ‘I am a mission on this Earth,’ which is why we are here in this world.” By our prayers and financial support, mission priests, religious Sisters and Brothers as well as lay catechists are Christ’s witnesses to a world so in need of His healing love and peace.
“All things are possible for God.” Jesus follows a series of challenging pronouncements with this line—some of the most consoling words that He utters in the Gospels. As we celebrate Mass today, recall the times that you have had to rely on God because you didn’tknow if you could manage on your own. For us humans beings on our own, it may well be impossible, but for God, all things are possible.
Please consider bringing 1 can/donation each week to Mass to be placed in the Food Box. Donations will be used for food baskets and the Ministry of Care. If enough parishioners participate we can make a delivery of donations from St. Peter’s Church every month. If you prefer to leave your can good item at the doors of church, someone from the committee will place it in the food wagon for you. Hunger knows no season and it doesn’t take a vacation. Thank you for helping us fight it.
Today is Respect Life Sunday. The theme this year is Every Life: Cherished, Chosen, Sent. All life, everyone’s life is a gift from God—a gift given out of love by our Creator. All life is precious in God’s eyes. If all life is precious, all life is worthy of our love. Pope Francis said, “All of us must care for life, cherish life, with tenderness, warmth…to give life is to open our heart , and to care for life is to give oneself in tenderness and warmth for others, to have concern in my heart for others. Caring for life from the beginning to the end. What a simple thing, what a beautiful thing…So, go forth and don’t be discouraged. Care for life. It’s worth it.”