MESSAGE FROM FATHER BOB

September 20, 2020   25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Message from Father Bob –

          TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME  - “IT’S NOT FAIR!  BUT WHAT’S FAIR?”

                Today’s parable from Matthew about the workers in the vineyard is notoriously difficult for listeners.  Some question the landowner’s statement that he can do whatever he likes with his money.  Others say it is not fair to give the same daily wage to all no matter how few hours they work.  The owner’s generosity to the latecomers does not sit well with most people. 

                However, what Jesus is teaching us is that God’s generosity is more than we can possible fathom.  God’s gift of salvation to all goes beyond the limits of our humanity; it is divine.  As Isaiah says in the first reading:  “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thought above your thoughts.”  So who wants to try to stop God from being generous – even if it seems unfair to us?

NEXT WEEK – STEWARDSHIP AWARENESS SUNDAY – IN ALL CATHOLIC PARISHES

                Each year at this time, we are called upon to reflect on the Christian virtue of Stewardship.  Stewardship is first and foremost a spiritual message.  It is the way that Catholics are called to live out our faith. The basic truth of stewardship is recognizing everything we are and everything we have is a gift from our generous loving God.  Our proper response to receiving God’s gifts is to gratefully and generously share these gifts back without expecting anything in return.  How well am I doing in sharing the gifts of my precious time, my considerable talent, and my hard-earned treasure?

                Soon you will be receiving a mailing from St. Bernadette Parish to help you reflect on the status of “good stewardship” in your life, and also for you to read - the annual financial report from Greg Meier, the leader of our Financial Council, on the financial status of the parish.  The mailing will include a Stewardship Covenant Card for you to reflect on prayerfully and then fill it out and return it to the Parish Office or in the Sunday collection.

GREAT NEWS ON OUR RECENT A.C.A. PROGRESS REPORT –

                WE MADE OUR PARISH GOAL AGAIN!

                Our 2020 Parish Goal was $21,470, and our parish members pledged $22,050.    This total came from 121 parishioners (out of 300).  There were 12 new donors; 48 increased their pledge; 51 kept it the same; and 12 decreased.  The average gift was $182.

Thank you to Jan Sorth and Pam Brown for chairing the campaign for several years now.  And a huge message of gratitude to those who contributed generously to this Annual Catholic Appeal to support so many of the pastoral activities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

MORE HUGE DISASTERS IN THE U.S. – ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BE GENEROUS!

                Our new archbishop, Most Rev. Mitchell Rozanski, is encouraging Catholics from the Archdiocese to contribute to a collection for the victims of Hurricane Laura in Louisiana and Texas and for the victims of the record-setting wildfires in the West Coast.  These funds will become a part of the American Bishops Emergency Disaster Fund and will be used to support the work of Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Relief Services that includes water, food, shelter, and medical care, along with long-term rebuilding and recovery efforts in these disaster areas.   There are special envelopes provided on the tables at the church exits – that you can return next weekend, Sept. 29-30^th, in the collection, or mail it to the Parish Office.

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  For a video tutorial visit the St. Bernadette Youtube channel or click the link below:

https://youtu.be/am3MpURk_L4

STARTING THIS WEEK PRINTED WORDS OF THE HYMNS AT MASS

Since it looks like it will be a long while before we can get back to using Missalettes and Hymnals because of Covid19, we will start providing a printed, throwaway sheet with just the words of the Entrance Hymn and theRecessional  Hymn.  Just pick up the sheet at the church entrances, and then after Mass throw it right in the trash can as you leave church. We cannot reuse any music sheet.

Bulletins Available! Something New!!

There will be a plastic box with the most recent Sun- day bulletins inside fixed to a post by the rectory steps leading up to the parish office. If you cannot come to the church or get them online, here's your chance to keep up with the news of the parish. Please alert all those still quarantining so they can come  by  to  get one. New bulletins will be available each week after  the 10:30am Mass on Sunday. Those of you not coming back to Mass yet are not forgotten and we look for- ward to the day when it is safe for everyone to    re- turn.  In the meantime, we hold each other in prayer and keep in touch!

You can click on the link for this on our Parish Website, or type this link in:

      https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGfj7nDgJ4vAnL31_c-5Tlg