October 15, 2019
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More on "Take the Next Step"

Carissimi:
Last weekend at all the Masses I kicked off our annual stewardship initiative by focusing on the joy of giving—financial and otherwise—when the motive is gratitude, paying it forward, passing on what has been entrusted to us, making possible for others what others made possible for us.

We’ve made a short video all about it. If you haven't seen it, you can view it by clicking here .

So many lives are being changed for the better by all that happens here and all that you take from here to share with others—especially the poor, the vulnerable, those on the margins of our society—especially our children, who are learning here what it means to be a person of faith, a responsible citizen, a decent, caring human being.

If you are a registered and active parishioner, you have received a flier in the mail explaining what Take the Next Ste p means. (If you didn’t get one, we just happen to have them in the pews.)

Here is an opportunity to step up. If you haven’t registered in the parish, you can go to our website and let us know you are with us.

If you give occasionally, consider becoming a regular giver by signing up for Faith Direct on the website or asking for envelopes or using VENMO .

If you are already a faithful contributor, please consider increasing your offertory or Historic Trust contribution as you are able.

Thanks, as always, for your patience with me and your unfailing generosity.
Reflections...
Who Is My Neighbor?
The opposite of loving your neighbor is being indifferent to them.

by Jim Wallis

November 2019

A YOUNG LAWYER asks Jesus what he must do “to inherit eternal life.” To which Jesus gives a simple answer: Love God and love your neighbor. There you have it, says Jesus. But the inquisitor asks Jesus a follow-up question: “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25–37). It’s clear from the context that this lawyer was seeking to diminish or limit the scope of who counted as his neighbor. The tone isn’t one of expanding the reach of loving his neighbor but of restricting it. Jesus answers with the exemplary story of the Good Samaritan in a way that upends expectations and gets to the heart of the question. The lesson of Jesus’ parable is much deeper than the traditional understanding of the Good Samaritan—that Jesus is simply commending the act of reaching out to another in need, as the Samaritan does, as opposed to the priest and Levite in Jesus’ story who famously passed by the man because they were too busy or preoccupied or afraid of being late to an important religious meeting.

But what Jesus is trying to teach us here goes much deeper than simple compassion and service to the needy. The Samaritans were not “good,” as far as the Judeans of Jesus’ day were concerned. They were a despised mixed race, considered half-breeds and foreigners by the Jews. They usually provoked disgust, not admiration. But Jesus chooses the hated “other” as his example of who our neighbor is. Jesus then describes the Samaritan taking actions that show us what it means to be a neighbor as the Samaritan reaches out to someone who was an “other” to him with practical assistance, self-sacrifice, and risk on the dangerous highway of the Jericho Road.

Martin Luther King Jr., in the final sermon of his life, the day before he was assassinated, talked about the dangers of the Jericho Road: “It’s a winding, meandering road. It’s really conducive for ambushing,” King said. “And so the first question that ... the Levite asked was, ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But then the Good Samaritan came by and he reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’” READ MORE
Worship with Offerings, Liturgy and Prayers for Others
POOR BOX 
This weekend's Poor Box support goes to the
Ignatian Spirituality Project .
MASS MUSIC   
Attached is the listing for the music selections at next Sunday's 10:30 Mass.
THE DAILY EXAMEN
Spiritual and Faith opportunities to deepen
your relationship with Christ.

In the Area...
Upcoming Events


Tuesday, October 15 - 6:45 PM
Women of the New Testament
Click here for complete information.
Sunday, October 27 - 9:45 AM
Respect For Life
Click here for complete information.


Tuesday, October 29 - 7 PM
Embracing God's Gifts
Click here for complete information.
In the Media
Actor Sir Anthony Hopkins Turns from Alcoholism & Atheism, Becomes A Christian
Sir  Anthony Hopkins  is one of the most well-known actors of our time. For years, he was a well-known atheist, too. But all of that changed when a woman at an AA meeting challenged his disbelief with one, simple question. That was the beginning of the inspiring Anthony Hopkins testimony!

BY MEL JOHNSON

No matter how successful someone may seem from the outside, we all have our own internal struggles. During the earlier years of Anthony Hopkins’ career, he found himself in his own battle with alcoholism.

Anthony’s addiction started “innocently.” He adopted a worldly mindset and  drank because  “that's what you do in theater, you drink."

But as is the case too often, the social pastime soon took over his life. By 1975, Anthony’s drinking had spiraled out of control.

"I was hell-bent on destruction," the award-winning actor  recalled . "It was like being possessed by a demon, an addiction, and I couldn't stop. And there are millions of people around like that.”

But it’s in our weakest moments that God’s strength works best!

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” ~  Psalm 34:18

Anthony Hopkins Testimony Of God’s Saving Grace

Sir Anthony Hopkins realized he needed help. So, he turned to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Up until then, Anthony Hopkins had been an atheist. But during an AA meeting, a woman asked him a simple question.

"Why don't you just trust in God?"
It’s not something Anthony had ever tried. But as desperate as he was, he thought, “Well, why not?” Deciding to believe and trust in God was the moment everything changed for the desperate actor. READ MORE