Read, Reflect, and Be Renewed by the Word of God Going to movies these days can be an immersion in blood. It might be surprising to listen to the three readings that all have to do not just with shedding blood, but sprinkling it on people as Moses did out in the desert and presenting Jesus as the great high priest who goes into the sanctuary bearing his own blood, which will “cleanse our consciences from dead works” (Hebrews 9:14) so we can worship the living God. And then there is the more familiar reading of Mark’s account of the Last Supper, when Jesus tells his disciples to drink his blood. Perhaps we have gotten used to hearing these words since they are spoken at every Mass. But if you stop and think about it, they are rather shocking. In the biblical world, blood is sacred, blood is life. From the beginning, animals were offered in sacrifice. But with the offering of the body and blood of Christ, a new relationship has been entered into with our God. Through Jesus’ gift of his body and blood, salvation was won for us and is present to us when we gather in his name to praise the Father. Living God’s Word Lord Jesus, in Baptism we were washed in the blood of the Lamb; at every Communion, we eat your Body and drink your Blood. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we continue to live with your life, sharing in your divinity as you have shared in our humanity. For this we give you praise and thanks. THANKSGIVING The word “thanksgiving” most often calls to our mind the holiday in November. But as early as the middle of the second century, Justin Martyr referred to the blessed bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper as “food we call ‘thanksgiving’ ” (in Greek eucharistia). The Thanksgiving we celebrate in the autumn is at times marked by a sort of proud societal self-congratulation and the consumption of food until we sink into an inert stupor. The “thanksgiving” that we call our Eucharist is just the opposite: we are led to it by an acknowledgment of our own failings; we remember our humble place in the scheme of things by giving praise to God alone. While the food of Christ’s body and blood fills our spiritual hungers, it also creates in us a greater hunger. We are not sent to our spiritual sofas to let the Lord’s Supper settle; we are sent to be living signs of that thanksgiving for the world by looking out for the poor and powerless, feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, speaking out against the self-righteous. In short, the hunger created by our doing in remembrance of Christ must lead us to living in remembrance of him. The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ June 7, 2015 Mass Intentions Corpus Christi Sunday 8:00 AM Jack Hale / Skippy Peterson 10:30 AM Living & Deceased of St. Joseph Monday 8:00 AM Chip Slattery / Marcella Albee Tuesday 8:00 AM Mary Slattery / Marcella Albee Wednesday 8:00 AM Special Intention / Fortunati Thursday 8:00 AM Darlene Hasselback / Ernie Hasselback Friday – Most Sacred Heart of Jesus 8:00 AM Barbara Kuntz / Family Saturday – Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary 5:00 PM Special Intention / Fortunati Sunday 8:00 AM Richard Sutton / Skippy Peterson 10:30 AM Living & Deceased of St. Joseph Parish Please contact the secretary for Mass intentions for a deceased loved one or for a special intention. Office Hours: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM ATTENDANCE LAST WEEKEND 8 AM = 63 10:30 AM = 70 Total = 197 STEWARDSHIP Offertory gift for May 31 = $1,700.15 Maintenance = $25.00 SVdP Solicitations ~ $222.00 ~ Many thanks! 5 PM = 64 PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK Kindly pray for our parish family and all those who are journeying in a special way with Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Stanley Armit, Larry Bovat, Paul Bruechner, Patricia Caudill, Pat Clemens, Keith Connealy, Patricia Cote, Joyce Drury, Ed Dubin, Ed & Eleanor Feeney, Harry Fletcher, Jo Flynn, Ed & Marlene Fuller, Ted Geraets, Antonieta Geronilla, Susan Henderson, Rita Hernandez, Dot Holman, Kendra Hough, Jaivi Howell, Alida Jarrett, Margie Kings, Joe Lacoy, Cece LaManna, Marian Lami & her mother, Germaine LaPlante, Mary Link, Bill & AnneMarie Mann, Monk Manning, Fr. Howard Moussier OSB, Anna Marie Murphy, Peg Malone, Bob & Margaret Nail, Maureen Newhouse, Mary Ann Palmer, Vera Patterson, Marsha Porter, Sr. M. D. Richardson, Babe Rohan, Ruth Sas, Jack Slevin, Chad Smith, Jason Soulon & family, Megan Toohey, Art Trienen, Rick Van Norden, Arloa Whitehurst, Bootsie Williams, Lucas Williams ~ Prayer Requests ~ Terry Danson – (251-961-2165) or [email protected] If you are ill or know someone who is ill, due to have surgery, or in the hospital and would like a visit from the pastor, please call the rectory. ~ Welcome to Our New Pastor! ~ This Week’s Schedule Sunday 2:00 PM Monday Wednesday Wednesday Benedictine Oblate Holy Hour for vocations – Church Followed by fellowship – IM Hall 8:30 AM Rosary Cenacle – IM Hall 9:00 AM Adult Faith Formation Bible Study 10;30 AM Choir Practice - church ~ Our Congratulations to ~ Robert and Jennifer Edwards on the Baptism of their daughter, Grace Trinity, at our 10:30 AM Mass last Sunday. We welcome Fr. Saleth Mariadoss of the Missionary Order of “Heralds of Good News” as we bid fond farewell to Fr. Joseph. Help us welcome Fr. Mariadoss in IM Hall on June 14 after the 10:30 AM Mass with a “Pot Luck” luncheon. Please bring your favorite dish to share. Coffee and tea will be provided. Please check the bulletin board for the letter from Faustin N. Weber, principal of our future new St. Michael Catholic High School. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Our sympathy to Elaine Scott and Anna Marie Murphy, and also their families, on the passing of their brother, Brother Joseph Weiss, O.S.B., whose Requiem Mass was at St. Bernard Abbey, Cullman, AL, on June 1, with interment at the Abbey Cemetery. May his soul rest in peace. A Memorial Mass will be offered at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, Foley, AL, on June 10 at 5:30 PM followed by dinner and a celebration of Brother Joe’s life at St. Margaret’s Parish Hall for family and friends. CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES FOOD PANTRY ~ JUNE is our month to provide nonperishable food items for CSS pantry. Bring items to IM Hall and put in container in the classroom. *ATT E NT IO N * The Altar Society is collecting materials for a “Crazy Quilt” Fundraiser Raffle. For more information, call Sr. Thérèse at 251-979-6515. Altar Society Fundraiser ~ Our June Bakeless Bake Sale is in progress. Your support, which helps us with sanctuary needs, parish projects and also our other ministries, is very much appreciated. “CATHOLICS RETURNING HOME” ~ Most of us know of someone in our circle of family and friends who has left the Church. Here at St. Joseph, we have a special program to help non-practicing Catholics return to the Church. For more information, call our church office at 251-962-2049 or email [email protected]. Inquiries are confidential. It has been said that the Church breathes with two lungs, East and West. Some of our family treasures are in the East, and it is interesting to consider how liturgical families developed around differing customs. Centuries before Christ, after the young girl was given to her husband by her father, the spouses were crowned. Christians retained that custom, keeping the wedding in the home, and sometimes inviting a visiting priest or bishop to put the crowns on their heads. By the fourth century, the crowns were seen not as royal crowns, but as the crowns of victory worn by martyrs. The crowns have nothing to do with being “king and queen for a day,” but rather speak of the sacrifice of love poured out fully. There are no vows exchanged at all, but the crowning is followed by a joyful dance by the priest and couple around the Gospel book. Unlike Roman law, which saw the wedding rites as optional, Eastern practice did not recognize a marriage that had not been blessed. The Old Country Philosopher Sez - Bob Nail You only have one life and it’s short indeed Next to Eternity, if God’s word you will heed. BALDWIN COUNTY BASH – July 10–12 for all 9th–12th Graders will be held at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 370 S. Section St., Fairhope, AL. Registration forms are available in the office and must be returned no later than June 10. Check on facebook.com/baldwincountybash or contact Todd Sylvester at 251-648-5616 for more information. if God’s you’llAdvertisers heed. ~ Support Ourword Bulletin ~ Check out the special discounts! Take your bulletin with you and let our advertisers know you appreciate them. SAINT BENEDICT CATHOLIC SCHOOL 12786 Illinois Street, Elberta, AL 36530 www.saintbenedict.net Visit us on the Web! www.saint-josephs.org First Friday Memorial Mass Association Our Loved Ones – Bob & Margaret Nail Living & Deceased Kaiser, Klein & Murphy Families Living & Deceased Scott & Weiss Families Living & Deceased Bush, Alvarez & McAleer Families Living & Deceased Mullek & McCandless Families Living & Deceased Patton & Norton Families Living & Deceased Shields & Self Families Living & Deceased Kottsick & Krueger Families James E. Link Bob House Joseph LaManna Anita Warriner The Holy Souls in Purgatory Living & Deceased Allard & Palmer Families Living & Deceased Chubb & Burns Families Living & Deceased Fehn Family Living & Deceased Lacoy & Clancy Families Living & Deceased Kearns & Paterson Families Living & Deceased Altar Society For the Baptized Who Do Not Practice Their Faith
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