Dear Friends,
September is already here. This is a significant month for us here at SJE as we will begin our Faith Formation Program in full swing starting the 15th September. I urge our dear parents and grandparents to ensure the registration of your children/grandchildren for the Religious Education Program which is redesigned to energize the children in a very positive way to learn about Jesus, the sole focus of our endeavor, in an interesting and lively manner. The entire program for our children from K through 12th grade is divided into 4 categories: 1) SJE KIDS for K thru 4th graders. 2) FAITH FUSION for 5 & 6 graders. 3) EDGE for 7 & 8 graders. 4) LIFE TEEN for 9th thru 12th graders. Needless to say, that this is going to be a great year of learning about Jesus in a FUN way. So please do not wait! Register on line. The clock is ticking!
One other focus we will have this year is to ENGAGE the PARENTS so that they are involved in this effort of knowing Jesus as well. The parents have several options:
1) The parents can attend the 9 a.m. Mass with their children and stay back for the SJE KIDS program and attend a special session held only for the parents. 2) You can bring the children and attend the special session for the parents while the children will be busy with the SJE KIDS sessions. 3) You can bring the children for the SJE KIDS sessions and attend the 11 a.m. Mass. The idea behind all of these planning is for the parents to make good use of the opportunities provided at SJE. I am sure you might find this strange and inconvenient. Dear parents, I urge you to think of the gain it will bring not only for yourselves but to your children. There are many competing programs offered in the society which don’t care anymore about keeping Sundays as a holy day of prayer and family. Fr. George Smiga in one of his reflections points out to this fact when reflecting on the challenges that the parents face saying: “I am short on energy, pressed for time. I have other things to do first.” How can we turn this around? How do we motivate ourselves to work as Christ asks us to do? You might think of this as painful but do not forget the beauty and the good that this action will bring on in the life of your children. Here is a beautiful lesson from Auguste Renoir, one of the greatest painters of all time. For the last 20 years of his life he dealt with crippling arthritis. His hands were so twisted and gnarled that he had to have his paintbrush tied onto his hand in order to use it. Every brush stroke was agony. On one occasion, his friend Henri Matisse asked him, “Auguste, why do you keep torturing yourself in this way? You don’t need the money. Why do you keep painting?” Renoir answered, “The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” Forming our children in Faith is one of our greatest delights in life as Catholics. We have a rich tradition and so many holy people to learn from.
Today we celebrate the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. The scripture passages invite us to reflect of the key virtue of humility. The Book of Sirach points out succinctly what it is: “My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God” (3:17-18). Jesus in his parable continues to pose challenging truths such as: “For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14: 11). We are all prone too easily to take the places of honor at any event wanting to be known and recognized and respected. Honor and pride were highly valued while shame and humility were detested in the first century but Jesus flips the perceptions around. Jesus’ emphasis is on humility is born of a deep desire to please God the Father. Exercising humility here on earth is reflective of our attitude of being humble before God. So, let us consciously look for moments in the coming week to exercise this virtue of humility. Look to our Mother Mary for example of a person whose entire disposition was one of humility: “My soul magnifies the Lord” (Luke 1: 46).
Wishing you a safe and relaxing Labor day! Have a Blessed Week!
Love,
Fr. John