Just Look at the Cross

Just Look at the Cross The common theme of today's readings is forgiveness. The Gospel is one familiar to us all, and in the second reading Paul highlights his story of receiving God's mercy. But the first reading might cause us to wonder if God was always so forgiving. God and Moses come across like a couple of parents deciding whether they should punish their children. (Notice how the Lord says "your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt" [Exodus 32:7] and Moses says "your own people" in verse 11.) One, the Lord, points out how bad Israel has been. The other, Moses, points out how good God is, in the promise to make them a great nation. The important point is that God relented and forgave the people.

In each case, great sins are forgiven. The people of Israel were guilty of idolatry, worshiping the golden calf. Paul was guilty of blasphemy and persecuting Christians. The prodigal son insulted his father by asking for his inheritance while the man was still alive and then squandered it all. Each was forgiven, not because they deserved it, but because they were loved.

My favorite line in the second reading is "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1Timothy 1:15)--not to find the wealthiest people to build his kingdom, or the nicest, or the holiest; he came to save sinners. The Pharisees and scribes did not get this. They thought God wanted them to avoid sinners and to cast them out of the community. So they were scandalized when Jesus would associate with sinners. That was one of the reasons they wanted to kill Jesus. And yet, when they did just that, Jesus' death on the cross brought forgiveness for us all.

Remember the story in Genesis 18, of Abraham bargaining with God not to destroy Sodom if he could find a few good people? Maybe he should have "reminded" God of that divine mercy instead of hoping to find enough good people to spare the town. Sometimes we can't believe that God would love us so much as to forgive any sin. Just look at the cross if you need a reminder.

Tom Schmidt, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.

WEEKDAYS

Monday - Friday 8:00 AM

In the Church & Online

RECONCILIATION

Saturdays 4:00 PM In the Church

WEEKENDS

Sunday Vigil - Saturday 5:00 PM

In the Church & Online

Sunday 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM & 11:30 AM

In the Church

Online Mass Links: Zoom | Facebook

Mass Intentions

September 10 - September 16

To schedule a Mass intention, please stop by the parish office.

Saturday 5:00 Roger Minder †

Sunday 8:30 Carlos & Maria Ocampo †

Sunday 10:00 Leo Munsayac

Sunday 11:30 St. Martin of Tours Parishioners

Monday 8:00  Daniel Lanahan †

Tuesday 8:00 Souls in Purgatory

Wednesday 8:00 James & Vincee Viso †

Thursday 8:00 Richard Carrillo †

Friday 8:00 Enrique Latoza †

and Monica Krebsbach †

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE DECEASED:

Sr. Joan Derry,

Barbara Sullivan, Lilly Pena, Fonnie Rucker

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE SICK:

Ann Redmond, Flo Bey, Michael Navarro, Tony Jones, Gloria Rojas, Brandi Duval, Helena Knapen

St. Martin of Tours Pancake Breakfast

Welcome Back Social

Sunday, September 11th

Please join us on Sunday, September 11th, 2022, after 8:30 am and 10:00 am Masses for a pancake breakfast.

Pancakes, Sausage, Fruit, Coffee & Juice

Adults $8 (or $15 per couple)

Kids $5

St. Martin of Tours Gym, 200 O'Connor Drive, San Jose    

Hosted by the Scouts from St. Martin of Tours

Thank You to our Lectors!!

Thank you to all those our joined us for lector training on Tuesday, August 30th. We really appreciate your time and commitment to the ministry! A very special thank you to Brian Barry for coordinating the lectors and leading the meeting. We look forward to listening to our lectors at Mass. Thank you!!!

Thank You Tim, Sue & Betty!!

Thank you Tim & Sue Ford and Betty Ford for donating the materials for our beautiful new side tables in the church. Tim & Sue did an amazing job designing and fabricating the table tops. Please take a look at the side tables after church this weekend. Thank you Tim, Sue & Betty for using your time, talents & treasures to beautify our church!! 

EARN MILES AND REWARDS……..

                        Participate in St. Martin of Tours

                        Young Discipleship Passport Program

Children ages TK to 8^th grades who participate in our parish discipleship passport program will have the opportunity to earn miles and rewards for their Mass attendance and discipleship service. Each time passport holders attend Sunday Mass, attend a Mass during a Holy Day of Obligation, perform a community service, or serve as an altar server or lector during Mass, they will receive a stamp on their passport page. For more information on how the stamps earn you rewards, click HERE.

Wine Down Event

Hosted by: St. Martin's Italian Catholic Federation

Friday, September 16th, 2022

from 6:00 - 8:30 PM

Click HERE for more information.

Friday, September 16th

Food Box Distribution

under the tents from 4-5PM

(Volunteers meet behind the Bailey House at 3PM)

Friday, September 16th 

Wine Down Social Event

Please join us in the Gym from 6-8:30PM

click HERE for more information

Monday, September 19th 

Scripture Study

in the Bailey House at 6:30PM

All are welcome!!! Contact Todd Tomilitz at newbeing@pacbell.net or 408-218-0572 with any questions.

Wednesday, September 21st

Parent Orientation for CCM

in the Church from 4-5:00PM

Volunteers Needed

We are looking for volunteers to help in the following ministries. Please stop by the parish office or contact Maria Moore at maria.moore@dsj.org for more information. Thank you!!

Liturgical Ministers

Ushers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Choir & Environment

Pastoral Care Programs

Befrienders, Food Box, Farm Workers’ Families, Coat Drive, Giving Tree, Welcoming Committee

Faith Formation

Catechists for CLOW & CCM

St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP)

Phone monitors, home visitors, Data Entry, Computer programmers

Parish Office

Office related assistance, such as, greeting visitors, answering phones, updating and maintaining contact lists

Dates to Remember...

Children’s Catechetical Ministry (CCM) and First Eucharist

September 15: Registration deadline

Click HERE for CCM registration

Click HERE for First Eucharist registration

September 21: Parent orientation in the church

4:00 PM to 5:00 PM (CCM & first year of First Eucharist preparation through the CCM process)

6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (First Eucharist)

September 28: 

4:00 PM – 4:45 PM Virtual Virtus safety session for students who are not attending our parish school

Youth Confirmation

September 29: Registration deadline

Click HERE for Youth Confirmation registration

Adult Confirmation

September 25: 11:30 AM session in the parish office

Order of Christian Initiation (formerly RCIA)

September 11: 12:15 PM session

Adults – parish office

Youth – Bailey House

September 18, 25: 11:30 AM session

Adults – parish office

Youth – Bailey House

Catholic IQ...

A self-assessment for your fun and enlightenment.

1. Rosaries, medals, scapulars, and holy water are all

a) sacramentals

b) pastorals

c) liturgies

d) sacristies

2. The bread used for Holy Communion is usually unleavened to remind us of

a) the unleavened bread the Jews ate in the haste of their escape from Egypt

b) the manna they ate while they wandered in the desert

c) the purity of Christ

d) all of these

3. Christians are still persecuted and killed for believing in Jesus.

True / False

4. At the beginning of Mass, altar servers usually candles and ________up the center aisle in the procession.

a) An altar cloth

b) a crucifix

c) bells

d) the chalice

5. We believe that our bodies are the “temple of the Holy_______.”

a) Spirit

b) Heart

c) Goodness

d) Intentions

Answers CLICK HERE

Family Reflection

September 11, 2022 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Exodus 32:7-11; 13-14 • 1 Timothy 1:12-17 • Luke 15:1-32

“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?” -Luke 15:4

What is your most treasured possession? If you had to trade it or sell it to be able to help someone in your family, would you do it? Jesus is telling us in this verse that each of us is important enough to him that he would trade everything – even his own life – to keep us safe from harm. He is like a Good Shepherd who goes searching for us, even before we call for help. He knows the danger we are in, and he wants to save us. What a good and loving God we have!

PRAYER: Jesus, I often forget to call on you when I am in trouble. Help me to remember that you are always there for me, waiting for me to find you.

FAMILY REFLECTION: Is there something you have that you could give to someone who has less than you?

Children's Sunday Bulletin & Activities

Web Link for this week - Children's Sunday Bulletin & Activities:

CLICK HERE

SYNOD

Full Report from the Diocese of San Jose

Sisters and Brothers in Christ, please use the below link to access the final report of the contributions of the Diocese of San José to the Synod of Bishops on Synodality. This final report was compiled from some 200 pages of notes from listening sessions held in the Spring of 2022 across our Diocese – in universities, Catholic high schools, Catholic elementary schools, parishes, and various Catholic organizations and groups as well as 1,500 responses to an online survey. 

World Youth Day 2023

Registration OPEN for WYD2023 Lisbon pilgrimage! Join the Diocese of San Jose Delegation. Complete your registration and deposit at www.dsj.org/wyed2023 View the preliminary itinerary and learn more about this pilgrimage. The delegation will gather with young people, from all over the world, and Pope Francis celebrating youth, an expression of the universal Church and intense moments of evangelization for the youth of the world. Share image in social media. 

Married Couples

Worldwide Marriage Encounter



Looking for a romantic get-away? Whether you’ve been married just a few years or over 50 years, Worldwide Marriage Encounter is one of the best and most affordable marriage enrichments available anywhere. Take the time you need for each other and give yourselves the marriage you deserve and God desires for all couples to have. The next local experience is November 4-6 at St. Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista. For more information or to register visit wwme.org. For questions, call Ken & Claranne Schirle at 408-782-1413.