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25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 19, 2021

Dear friends,

The White Mass celebrated last Sunday offered an opportunity to pray for the protection of healthcare workers during these unprecedented times. So many of our own have chosen this vocation to be the hands of the healing presence of Christ, and we are grateful for their service. This Sunday, we thank and pray for the first responders of our community.

Please do not forget the significance of next Sunday, 26 September 2021, when Bishop John Noonan will join with us in celebrating our successes as a parish community. We have much to be thankful for, blessed by our Lord who continues to delight in doing good for us. Come, rejoice, and let us celebrate together!

This 25th Sunday, Cycle B, invites us to reflect once again on the necessity of carrying our crosses in order to follow Jesus. We are reminded of the call to renounce ourselves in the service of others. Let us pray for the grace to humble ourselves in following the Master, Jesus Christ.

I am extremely delighted to announce that Misty Huff, our Business Manager, has been awarded the Spirit of Holy Cross Award by the Congregation of Holy Cross for both her unwavering commitment to our parish and exemplification of the charism of Holy Cross in her ministry. Fr. Bill Lies, C.S.C., the Provincial Superior, made the announcement at a press release in South Bend, IN on 15 September, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, the patronal feast of the Congregation of Holy Cross. Please join me in congratulating Misty. We will celebrate this auspicious occasion at a later date.

Let us continue our reflection on the Eucharist found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

ARTICLE 3:  THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST

V. THE SACRAMENTAL SACRIFICE THANKSGIVING, MEMORIAL, PRESENCE

The sacrificial memorial of Christ and of his Body, the Church

1369 The whole Church is united with the offering and intercession of Christ. Since he has the ministry of Peter in the Church, the Pope is associated with every celebration of the Eucharist, wherein he is named as the sign and servant of the unity of the universal Church. The bishop of the place is always responsible for the Eucharist, even when a priest presides; the bishop's name is mentioned to signify his presidency over the particular Church, in the midst of his presbyterium and with the assistance of deacons. The community intercedes also for all ministers who, for it and with it, offer the Eucharistic sacrifice:

Let only that Eucharist be regarded as legitimate, which is celebrated under [the presidency of] the bishop or him to whom he has entrusted it (St. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Smyrn. 8:1;SCh 10,138).

Through the ministry of priests the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful is completed in union with the sacrifice of Christ the only Mediator, which in the Eucharist is offered through the priests' hands in the name of the whole Church in an unbloody and sacramental manner until the Lord himself comes (PO 2 & 4).

1370 To the offering of Christ are united not only the members still here on earth, but also those already in the glory of heaven. In communion with and commemorating the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, the Church offers the Eucharistic sacrifice. In the Eucharist the Church is as it were at the foot of the cross with Mary, united with the offering and intercession of Christ.

1371 The Eucharistic sacrifice is also offered for the faithful departed who "have died in Christ but are not yet wholly purified" (Council of Trent (1562): DS 1743), so that they may be able to enter into the light and peace of Christ:

Put this body anywhere! Don't trouble yourselves about it! I simply ask you to remember me at the Lord's altar wherever you are (St. Monica, before her death, to her sons, St. Augustine and his brother; Conf. 9,11,27:PL 32,775).

Then, we pray [in the anaphora] for the holy fathers and bishops who have fallen asleep, and in general for all who have fallen asleep before us, in the belief that it is a great benefit to the souls on whose behalf the supplication is offered, while the holy and tremendous Victim is present.   By offering to God our supplications for those who have fallen asleep, if they have sinned, we...... offer Christ sacrificed for the sins of all, and so render favorable, for them and for us, the God who loves man (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catech. myst. 5,9,10:PG 33,1116-1117).

 Be Blessed!

With love, Fr. John