News - August 2020 RSS Feed

The Church continues to celebrate Ordinary Time until the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe in November. Some associate the season with the word “ordinary,” which means normal or nothing unusual. Actually, the term is “a number indicating position in a series or order.” So today we celebrate the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time in the succession of numbers of Sundays of the Year that are not feasts or festive events. Today, the Church continues to hear from the Gospel of Matthew which we will hear until the 33 rd Sunday. In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus tell His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem where He will suffer and be killed and that whoever comes after Him must take up His cross and follow Him. The question for us is: “Are we willing to take up our crosses?”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus poses a question to His disciples. First, He asks “who do people say that the Son of Man is?” The disciples respond with the names of various prophets. Then Jesus asks the disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter responds, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” We hear Jesus asking us today, “Who do you say that I am?” What would be our response?

FRESH FIRE 2020, a gathering for those desiring refreshment and empowerment in the Holy Spirit, has been adapted because of circumstances dictated by the COVID pandemic. It will take place Saturday, August 29, 9:30 am to 12 noon at St. Benilde Church, 1901 Division St., Metairie. The event is sponsored by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of New Orleans (CCRNO). Speakers will be Deacon Larry and Andi Oney, internationally known speakers and authors. The theme for the day is “The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory” and will focus on the call of the Lord to us now. The morning will include praise and worship, preaching and prayer. Music will be provided by Jamie Diliberto and Tongues of Fire. Registration is $25 per person. Special price for youth ages 18-30, $10. Register online at www.ccrno.org no later than Wednesday, August 26, 12:00 noon. On-site registration will be accepted. Masks and distancing will be observed. Visit www.ccrno.org or call CCRNO at 504-828-1368 for more information.

There will be an important meeting for all parents/guardians of students attending our religious education classes (CCD) on Saturday, August 22nd. Elementary grade level parents will meet at 9:30 A.M. in St. Peter Church. High school parents will be at 10:30 A.M. in St. Peter Church.

In this week’s Gospel, we see Jesus moving on to bring God’s message to the people. This time He is in Gentile territory where He encounters a Canaanite woman who begs Him to heal her daughter. One Scripture commentator suggested that Jesus’ unusual silent response to the Canaanite woman was a “silence of love.” What a lovely thought for a reflection today. The Canaanite woman, an outsider, has faith in Jesus, even more than some in the house of Israel. She is rewarded for her faith. Her daughter is healed.

Do we have the courage to place our trust in the Lord? Peter thought that he had courage when Jesus invited him to step out of the boat as it was being tossed on the waves during a violent storm. Peter became frightened and started to sink. He began to doubt himself. He cried out to Jesus and was saved. When the wind picks up and the waters rage around us in the storms of life, we easily begin to doubt. In these moments of weakness, Jesus reaches out to us, providing the grace for us to continue—not through our own abilities, but through the strength of Christ. Courage is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Let us rely on the gift of Courage during our “storms of life,” and know that Jesus reaches out to us to help us.

The Assumption of Mary is on Saturday, August 15th. This year it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. However, there will be a Mass for parishioners at 8:00 AM.