Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 29, 2021
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LAWS OF LOVE
When someone mentions laws and/or commandments, we usually think of them as burdens that we have to bear to be good citizens or church members. But if you listen carefully to the first reading from Deuteronomy, you get the sense that the laws Moses presented to the people of Israel were gift from God, something to be proud of. Moses gives two reasons for this.
Moses presents the laws as wise and just, so much so that other nations would praise and envy the Israelites for having such laws. No doubt some of the nations around at the time had kings who used the law to keep themselves in power and make them wealthy. As the Jews had no kings at this time, they only had to obey God’s laws. Moses’ command not to add or subtract from the laws was a reminder that they were directly from God, not an interpretation by Moses.
The origin of the laws was the second reason they were revered. They showed how much God cared for his people, that he would guide them in their everyday lives and hear their prayers. Though God is greater than they could comprehend, he is also nearer than we think. Which brings us to Jesus, who shows us the Father and who made the law both simpler and more challenging?
Jesus simplified the laws and commandments by showing us that loving God with all our being and loving our neighbors as ourselves was the basis of all God’s laws. But it is also more difficult because it is no longer enough to simply avoid hurting or cheating others. We are to love one another as Jesus loves us. That means reaching out to those in need, forgiving our enemies, caring for the sick or dying, teaching our children that love is more important than money.
And don’t forget the first part of Jesus’ command: loving God. How often do we even think about Him, thank Him for all we have, or take time to listen to Him? Do we love Jesus so much that we want other people to know him too? Do we thank him for the people who love us? Do we ask his Holy Spirit for the courage to spread the gospel? If we are willing to accept the challenge to love God and neighbor, we will not have to worry about breaking laws.
Tom Schmidt, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
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MASS SCHEDULE
WEEKDAYS
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM
INDOOR & Live-Streamed
WEEKENDS
Sunday Vigil - Saturday 5:00 PM
INDOOR & Live-Streamed
Sunday 8:30 AM
OUTDOORS & IN-CAR
Sunday 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM
INDOOR
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LIVE-STREAM LINKS
(Click Buttons Below)
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Anyone that feels sick, has tested COVID positive, or has been exposed to a person who is COVID positive should stay home and attend the live-stream Mass.
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MASS INTENTIONS
August 28 - September 3
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Saturday 5:00pm - Robert Lawrence † and Antonia Hermano †
Sunday 8:30am - Rosanne Snapp † and James & Vincee Viso †
Sunday 10:00am - Jean Kimmel Rivers
and Maria Fernandez Nulud †
Sunday 11:30am - ICF Deceased †
and Michael Goodman
Monday 8:00am - Bernard Barron †
Tuesday 8:00am - Right to Life
Wednesday 8:00am - Desmond Russell Jr.
Thursday 8:00am - St. Martin of Tours Parishioners
Friday 8:00am - St. Martin of Tours School
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PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE DECEASED:
Carolina De Los Santos, Mark Corpuz, Kathy Coffee, Laura Lozoya Sr., Carlos Mendoza, Dennis Ward, Dale Lewis, Fr. Paul Mensah, Ernesto Poblacion, Katherine Codiga
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PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE SICK:
Robert Saavedra, Ester Tan, Caitlin Phung, Ayaat Rabi, Carolina De Los Santos, Patricia Puentes, Betty Newnan, Monica Kresb-Bach, Michael Cheers, Helena Knapen, Flo Bey
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Please pray with us for our parishioners, family and friends. |
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Prayer Angels Ministry
Prayer is one of the greatest gifts you can give another. If you or someone you know is in need of prayers (sick, deceased, birthday, anniversary...), please email Therese Lehane at tlehane@stmartin.org and let our Prayer Angels pray for you or someone you know. |
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HOLY HOUR
PLEASE JOIN US ON
Thursday, September 2nd at 7:00pm
In the Church or via Zoom for Holy Hour
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THANK YOU FOOD BOX VOLUNTEERS
The third Friday of EVERY month our volunteers help distribute food to those that would like it. And the Monday before, they are busy sorting through the food to determine what they have and what they need. At the peak of COVID they spent time putting together bags of food that would be placed in the trunk of every car that drove through. Every volunteer pitched in and adapted to whatever changes the month had in store. Now we are back to our "Client Choice" model, where we set up a shopping market under the tents outside the church. We have volunteers coordinating and picking up fresh produce, milk, chicken, eggs, etc... It is an amazing group of people and we would like to sincerely thank them for the countless hours spent making this program possible. It would not be possible without you! Thank you!!!
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FAITH FORMATION DATES TO REMEMBER
RCIA:
August 29 (11:30 AM to 1:00 PM ) – Session in the parish office
September 12 (11:30 AM to 1:00 PM) – Session in the parish office
September 19 (11:30 AM to 1:00 PM) – Session in the parish office
September 26 (11:30 AM to 1:00 PM) – Session in the parish office
CCM and First Eucharist Preparation:
September 16 – deadline to register for CCM and First Eucharist Preparation
September 23 – Parent Orientation in the church building
- CCM – 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- First Eucharist (includes those in the CCM program) – 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Confirmation:
October 1 – deadline to register
October 24 – Parent and Student Orientation
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FAITH FORMATION REGISTRATION
Registrations for Catechetical Ministry, First Eucharist, and Youth Confirmation for 2021-2022 are available. You may access the registration forms through our parish website at http://stmartintourschurch.org/. Forms are also available at our parish office. For more information, please contact Lerma in Faith Formation at (408) 294-8953 ext. 321 or at lerma.simpson@dsj.org.
Deadlines for the Faith Formation Registrations:
Children's Catechetical Ministry - September 16, 2021
First Eucharist - September 16, 2021
Youth Confirmation - October 1, 2021
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PARISH COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Web Link for the Parish Community Calendar:
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STEWARDSHIP & DEVELOPMENT |
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Parish Office Hours
Monday -Thursday 10 AM to 5 PM
If you or a loved one is in need of Sacramental care, such as anointing of the sick, last rites, confession, Fr. Gener & Fr. Saju are available. Please contact them directly. Staff Directory
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We thank you for your continued support during these challenging times! Please be as generous as you can as we reach to meet our budget. If you would like to make a secure one-time donation and/or setup regular online donations, please use the GIVE NOW button. Thank you again!! |
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VOLUNTEERING
PEOPLE MINISTERING TO PEOPLE
Thank you to all those that have been able to continue ministering to others during these unique times. Many of you have reached out and are ready to provide your support and return to your ministries.
As we can safely begin our ministries, we need your help. Please take five minutes to complete our online Volunteer Request Form that will list what ministries you are interested in, provide us with your current contact information, and an emergency contact.
We are so excited that our community can continue doing what we do best -- “People Ministering to People.”
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SIGN UPS FOR LECTORS, USHERS AND
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
Lectors proclaim the living Word of God at Mass. Ushers/Greeters are men, women & youth greeting the people at church, seating them, helping with the collection, and helping keep the church safe and in order. If you are able to help, please click HERE, from your computer, to sign up. |
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FAITH FORMATION & SPIRITUALITY |
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Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
The RCIA Process for the 2021-2022 Faith Formation Year has begun. We meet in the parish office at 11:30 AM. The next session is August Sunday, August 29. Anyone who is thinking about becoming Catholic, or if you would like to complete your sacraments of initiation, you are welcome to join us on our first session on August 22 to see if you would like to join the RCIA this year.
For more information, please contact Lerma Simpson at the parish office. lerma.simpson@dsj.org; (408) 294-8953 ext. 321
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A Closer Look Inside A Catholic Home….. |
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Holy Cards
The Church is bigger than our families, our parishes, our diocese, or our country. The Church is universal, and it even lives across time and space. Friends of Jesus who lived, died, and are now in heaven are part of the Church, too – that’s the Communion of Saints.
There are many saints in heaven, more than we can count. We celebrate the saints known and unknown on the Feast of All Saints on November 1. There are women, men, and children who have been canonized, officially recognized as saints. We call upon these saints in prayer.
One way we remember saints and keep them in our daily lives is through holy cards and other pictures. A holy card has an image of a saint on one side and a prayer or saying on the other. We can take a holy card anywhere with us. We can keep it in our purse or wallet. We can slip it in a prayer book or Bible. We can keep a holy card next to our bed or even tape it to our wall or mirror! Wherever we take them, holy cards remind us that we are not alone. We are part of the Body of Christ, and wherever we go, these friends of Jesus can come with us, supporting us with their prayers.
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August 29, 2021 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 • James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27 • Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
“This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me…” — Mark 7:6
Have you ever tasted 100% pure chocolate? It looks luscious and sweet but because it has no sugar in it, it tastes bitter and dry. It’s not at all like milk chocolate found in the candy we love so much. Can you think of other things that look good on the outside but are quite different on the inside? Sadly, sometimes people seem charming and smart by the things they say and do but inside they are bitter and selfish. In today’s Gospel, Jesus confronts some church leaders who see themselves as more important than Jesus’ followers. These scribes and Pharisees judge Jesus’ disciples by a set of man-made rules while ignoring the commandments given by God himself. They are using these rules to put the disciples down and criticize Jesus, their leader. When people bully and degrade others, it should be a warning sign to us not to follow their example. To be a follower of Jesus, we must love like he does.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to be good on the inside and out.
Action: Do you know someone in your community who is being judged unfairly because of their looks, language, or culture? Make a point this week to reach out to that person.
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CHILDREN'S SUNDAY BULLETIN & ACTIVITIES
Web Link for this week - Children's Sunday Bulletin & Activities:
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AROUND THE DIOCESE & COMMUNITY |
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September 10th at 11:30am
Rosary & Faith Talk
Presented by: Guadalupe Hope Society
Rev. Matthias Lambrecht, O.C.D. of Mount Saint Joseph Carmelite Monastery, will lead us in a rosary for the unborn and share a faith talk on The Brown Scapular. This event will be In-Person and virtual on Zoom.
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Saturday, September 18th 9:00am - 2:00pm (Initial Gathering)
Faith & Racial Healing Series
Location: St. Thomas of Canterbury
Several parishes within the Diocese of San José have come together to offer a program that provides such a space. A product of JustFaith Ministries, this program explores the concept/construct of race through the lens of the Christian tradition.
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Stay up to date with Diocesan wide news, events, and stories as well as news from the USCCB and the Vatican. Read the Bishop’s messages, see what our children are doing in school, and learn about upcoming community events. Follow the Diocese of San Jose on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Vimeo. Social Media Posts: Facebook | Instagram
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RENTAL ASSISTANCE & RESOURCES
Now Available! Rent Assistance Programs and Resources: Two programs for Rent Assistance now available! Low-income Santa Clara County residents who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic can receive assistance with rent payments. Visit bit.ly/dsjhh21 to view details on available programs. Post these flyers in your community.
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DSJ YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH
Diocese of San Jose Year of St. Joseph Webpage
We hope that through using these resources you will grow in love and devotion St. Joseph as the guardian and protector of God’s people, the Church. May Saint Joseph and the Holy Family intercede for us in this work of rededicating ourselves to the mission of Jesus Christ. www.dsj.org/yearofstjoseph
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