Dear Parishioners:
---Part of the roof on the whole complex of the Church needs to be replaced as you can see coming to Church today; so, please put on a “facemask” for your safety. This roof project will take several weeks to complete. Please be safe and patient throughout this period.
---A BIG THANK YOU for the Faith Formation Team from the Parish who helped coordinate the Celebration with the big help of the Knights of Columbus for cooking all the food, the entertainment from the SOLO Group and the true constant help of countless volunteers from our parish had pitched in … in honor of Maria Murphree, our retired Faith Formation Director and Youth Minister for St. Gabriel Parish for about 30 years last Sunday, September 25th after the 11 AM Mass. THANK YOU … THANK YOU and … THANK YOU.
---October is the month of Respect for Life, as a people of faith, we value the “gift of Life – from conception to natural death” and we continue joining with our Church to pray for this gift of Life and the “Freedom to choose Life” and “Religious Freedom” with a Novena (9 days) in this effort.
---October is also the Month of the Rosary – The Feast of Our Lady of Rosary. There are opportunities to pray the Rosary before each Mass on the weekend; come early before Mass and join with other parishioners to pray this beautiful traditional prayer for Life and Peace.
---Let us consider today’s Old Testament and Gospel readings to gain some insights into the precious gift of faith.
The words of the prophet Habakkuk in today’s first reading have been taken as the prophet's complaint against the internal evils of Judah. In Habakkuk, the Lord answers this complaint by indicating the Chaldean empire as his instrument for punishing his people for these sins.
However, Habakkuk's cry is not in vain. The Lord speaks to him: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it - that is all that Habakkuk gets -- and most of the time it is all that we get -- wait patiently for the vision." It seems woefully insufficient.This is why our faith must be a living, growing, developing part of us.
The sayings of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel, continue his response to the apostles' request to increase their faith, and remind them that Christian disciples can make no claim on God's graciousness; in fulfilling the exacting demands of discipleship, they are only doing their duty.
So, questioning our faith and even the object of it is a daily, healthy exercise! Faith cannot be shelved until we need it, for then we will discover that it has grown weak and meaningless from disuse and will not sustain us.
---What a wonderful sight to see at the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adult (R.C.I.A.)” group these past few weeks. There are new members exploring the Catholic Faith, returning members from last year to complete their journey of Initiation Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) and a very committed and competent Team Members leading.
If you know of anyone among your friends or in your family or maybe yourself want to explore the Catholic Faith or deepening your own faith in willing to be sponsor to accompany someone in their journey of Faith, please come and join our R.C.I.A. on every Tuesday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Community Room.
Christ’s Peace,
Fr. Phuong Hoang