1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

Our Lady Queen of Peace
SUNDAY - Nov. 16
8:30 am - DONNA BRESKE†
by Stan & Kevin Breske
FRANKLIN TOLENTINO†
by M/M Davy Tolentino
HEROINA FARRELL† by Tony & Laura Fidelie
11:00 am - INTENTIONS OF THE PARISH
MONDAY - Nov. 17
8:00am - GUY FIDELIE† by The Fidelie Families
BOB VACKER† by M/M John Horn
Special Intention of Thanksgiving (INT)
by The Yen Family
TUESDAY - Nov. 18
8:00 am - Liturgy of the Hours
WEDNESDAY - Nov. 19
10:00am - ND School Mass
6:15pm - DENNIS and ALI MAREK (INT)
DAKOTA†, HUNTER† and LANDON†
by Deacon Jim & Sue Bindel
THURSDAY - Nov. 20
8:00am - BETTY JANOTA† by M/M John Horn
FRANKLIN TOLENTINO† by Joe Przybylski
EARL CARSON† by Nancy Prigmore
FRIDAY - Nov. 21
8:00 am - ROLAND SIGLER, Sr.†
by Florence Page
KEITH MILLER† by M/M Lewis Findley
VINCE BERARDI† by M/M John Horn
SATURDAY - Nov. 22
6:00 pm - THOMAS BUCAG (INT)
by M/M Feliciano Bucag
VIRGILIO PLAZA† by M/M John Horn
JO BEARDEN (INT)
by M/M Larry Lebow, M/M Jim Brennan,
her grandchildren & great grandchildren
SUNDAY - Nov. 23
8:30 am - JOHN SCHREIBER†
by The Schreiber Family
LAWRENCE HOLUB† and SHIRLEY SHORT†
by M/M John Horn
11:00 am - INTENTIONS OF THE PARISH
33rd Sunday In Ordinary Time
Daily Readings
Mon. - Ti 1:1-9 * Lk 17:1-6
Tue. - Ti 2:1-8, 11-14 * Lk 17:7-10
Wed. - Ti 3:1-7 * Lk 17:11-19
Thu. - Phlm 7-20 * Lk 17:20-25
Fri. - 2 Jn 4-9 8 * k 17:26-37
Sat. - 3 Jn 5-8 * Lk 18:1-8
Sun. (33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time) Prv
31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 * 1 Thes 5:1-6 *
Mt 25:14-30 or 25:14-15, 19-21
Those For Whom We Pray
Parishioners, Family & Friends
Doug Allsison, Nicholas Allison, Vic Allison, Dennis Anderson, Wanda Baltine, Elizabeth “Beth” Bater, Joan & Robert Baumann, Jo
Bearden, Al Belgrado, Dick Belgrado, Shirley Bennet, Tommy & Sheryl Berend, Jeanette Bilbay, Pat Blake*, Anna Bogart, Cyndi
Boone, Glen Borgman, Francisco Borja*, Ed Boulware, Erica Bowers, Rocky Bray, George Brosche, Jo Bybee, Ivy Cadotte, Shirley
Chancelor, Marge Conklin, Joan Cook, Jeff Conrady, Ruth Copeland, Grace Ann Crocker, Mike Crumpton, Joe Cuba, Fr. Chris Davis,
Johnnie & Nellie Deal, Brandi Dickey, Faye Dominy, Mark Dreher, Pauline Eisenbach*, Carol Faustina, Jathan Fields, Johnnie Fields,
Kay Findley, Jerry Fletcher, Mary George, Lola Clyde Greaves, Jeff Gregg, Courtney Shook Gysell, Dustin Hall, Adell Hanvey,
Jarrod Harper, Jean Hoing, Don & Jean Isbell, Ray Jackson, Nelda Jansen, Eve Johnson, Jeremy Johnson, Mike Jozwiak, Jonathan
Kegley, Angela Kemper, Bonnie Kocher, Anita Kortbawi, Casey Lane, Jeff Langen, Marion Lauer, Brandi Lawson, Marife Lee, Fred
Lentz, Art Litteken, Shirley Litteken, Abel Mahesh, Eloise Majewski, Rusty Maley, Ryan Maley, Clara Mathe, Kristi Melsteade, Mike
&Virginia Michonski, Dale Minniear, Kaden Moisant, Carolyn Morath, Clyde Morbitzer, David Musil, Stephen Musil, Dorothy “Dot”
Myers, Irene Myers, Justin Parks, The Parker Family, Geneva Pennartz, Joe Petz, Joe Petz, Jr., Nina Peysen, Michael Pitpit*, Karen
Poirot, Nina Pham, Betty Pond, Trinity Rayne, Aubrey Reaves, Eddie Richardson, Lori Ross, Chuck Ryan, Nelda Schreiber, Charles
Simons, Bette Skurkey, Jeff Smith, Kathy Spyra, Patricia Ste. Marie, Danny Steed, Audrey Stephens, Greg Stevens, Stacey Stowe,
Sister Devota Sweeney, Johanna Sweeney, Yvonne Talbot, Ida Toth, Monica Vu*, Dorothy Ward, Renea Ward, Josie Wheeler, Kinzey
Wilson, Mary Wilson, Dorothy Wolf, David Lloyd Wright, Sr., Diane Wright, Signe Yelland, Adam York, Dan York, Tony Morales*,
Linda Snyder*, Mary Lou Sweeney*, Ronnie Wachsman*, Gary Humpert* & Lucy York. *New this week
Because of space limitations, names will be taken of the prayer list after 3 months.
Please call the church office if you would like the name returned to the list. Thank you for your understanding.
PRAY FOR PRIESTS THIS WEEK
11/17 - Rev. Albert Frances Kanjiranthumkal, HGN 11/20 - Very Rev. Daniel P. Kelley11/22 - Rev. Jim Ngo Hoang Khoi, CMC
11/18 - Rev. John Karanja, SAC
11/21 - Very Rev. Thomas Kennedy
11/23 - Rev. Richard Kirkham
11/19 - Rev. Mathew Kavipurayidam, TOR
Eternal Father, we lift up to You these and all the priests of the world. Sanctify them. Heal and guide them. Mold
them into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus, the Eternal High Priest. May their lives be pleasing to You. In Jesus’
name we pray. Amen.
INTENTIONS OF THE HOLY FATHER - for November
Universal: That all who suffer loneliness may experience the closeness of
God and the support of others.
For Evangelization:That young seminarians and religious may have wise and well-formed mentors.
WEEKLY CONTRIBUTIONS
November 9: ......................................................$10,051.90
Faith Direct
November 4: ......................................................$20,574.07
Campaign for Human Development: .........................$666.00
www.faithdirect.net (church code: TX420)
Thank you for all the generous gifts that you provide for our parish.
Please consider using our secure electronic giving program Faith Direct.
Faith Direct will automatically process any offertory or second collection
donations of your choosing. It is the most convenient way to make sure
that the parish receives your gift regularly. No more checks to write or
envelopes to worry about. You can sign up online at www.faithdirect.net
using our church code: TX420, or by mailing a paper enrollment form
available in the parish office.
SUNDAY - Nov. 16
Blessing of Prayer Shawls/11am Mass
ND Band Pancake Breakfast begins at 8am
6:00pm - CRHP (W)/Church
MONDAY - Nov. 17
3:00pm - Chaplet of Divine Mercy/HFC
6:45pm - Seasons of Hope/CR
TUESDAY - Nov. 18
Intercessory Prayer Group after Liturgy of the Hours/
HFC
9:30am - Prayer Shawl Ministry
3:00pm - Chaplet of Divine Mercy/HFC
7:00pm - Bible Study/PH
WEDNESDAY - Nov. 19
3:00pm - Chaplet of Divine Mercy/HFC
4:00pm - Adoration/HFC
5:30pm - Rosary/HFC
7:00pm - Verso L’Alto/PH
THURSDAY - Nov. 20
3:00pm - Chaplet of Divine Mercy/HFC
7:00pm - R.C.I.A. /NDE Cafeteria
Prayer Shawl Ministry
FRIDAY - Nov. 21
3:00pm - Chaplet of Divine Mercy/HFC
4:00pm - Girl Scouts/NDE Cafe
SATURDAY - Nov. 22
4:00pm - Reconciliation/HFC
SUNDAY - Nov. 23
9:30am - Religious Education Classes (K-6th grade)
6:00pm - CRHP (M)/Church
(SJR-St. Joseph Room; HFC-Holy Family Chapel; PH-Parish Hall; NDE Cafe-Notre Dame Elementary
Cafeteria; NDHS - NDHigh School; CR-Conference Room; WR-Workroom; BR-Brides Room; MR-Music Room)
November 16, 2014
Parish Activities
Please continue to pray for the safety and success for this wonderful project that will help to
grow the needs of our parish family. If you have not made a pledge, we ask that you prayerfully
consider making a commitment. We hope that everyone will participate in this endeavor to build a
space that help to increase the needs of our parish and community.
To increase or extend your pledge, please use the blue Pledge Increase-Extension cards located
in the Narthex. Thank you to those who have given additional above their pledged amount. If you are
pledging for the first time, please use the white Pledge cards also located in the Narthex.
PLEDGE UPDATE as of: October 27, 2014
GOAL: $3,000,000
AMOUNT PLEDGED: $2,819,896.68 (Includes $825,000 received in Grants)
AMOUNT COLLECTED: $2,230,127.30
# of Families Pledged: 448
All E-Giving will be done through ‘Faith Direct’ our online giving program. Online enrollment forms are
available in the Narthex. Or go directly to www.faithdirect.net to enroll. For the Capital Campaign online
enrollment, use Church Code: TX508. To afford the greatest tax benefits for our parish, Campaign gifts
are processed through the Diocese of Ft. Worth Advancement Corporation.
A Charismatic Prayer Meeting
Sunday afternoons at 4:00
Youth Ministry chapel at Sacred Heart Church
(upstairs in the Pastoral Annex)
call Jack at 696-0741 or Manuel at 322-5958
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Safe Environment Sessions for 2014
Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 7pm - First Time
Saturday, Dec. 6 at 9am - Update
All sessions will be held in the Church office conference at 4040 York St.
Contact the parish office at 940-696-1253 for more information or to sign-up.
All parish volunteers MUST maintain current status to continue in their ministries.
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INTERFAITH MINISTRIES
Hunger and Food Insecurity is a Serious Fact. The Need is dire and year round. Please be generous
with your donation of food.
September Food Donations: 973 pounds
Current Needs: Soup (10 ¾ oz. size), Crackers, Oatmeal, Canned Vegetables (except green beans), Dried
Beans, Jelly, Peanut Butter, Pasta (dry), Rice (small bags), Canned Spaghetti Sauce, Mac & Cheese.
Toiletries: Body Soap, Laundry detergent, deodorant & toothpaste.
Paper Products: Toilet Tissue, Paper Towels, Kleenex, brown paper sacks
Eyeglasses: prescription or reading glass that you don’t need. These items go fast. Place items in the
basket located in the Narthex. Every bit helps families with real needs in Wichita County and Holliday.
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Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan (Kaitlin Viator) LeVasseur
We rejoice with you on your special day. May Christ’s peace, love and joy always enrich your marriage.
Prayer for Peace in Iraq
Lord,
The plight in Iraq is deep and the suffering of Christians is severe and frightening.
Therefore, we ask you Lord, to spare our lives, and to grant us patience,
And courage to continue to our witness of Christian values with trust and hope.
Lord, peace is the foundation of life.
Grant us the peace and stability that will enable us to live with each other
without fear and anxiety, and with dignity and joy.
The Sympathy and Prayers of our parish are with
the Family and Friends of
Vincent Berardi † (brother-in-law of Carolyn
Morath and Nancy Berend)
Perry Gilkerson † (uncle of Keith Wineinger)
Christian Marchon † (son of Marcel Marchon)
Virginia “Ginny” Fortner †
(mother of Patrick Fortner)
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.
Pilgrimage to TURKEY and GREECE
(visiting the seven churches)
April 18-28, 2015 ($2,799)
Led by Fr. Sojan
Visiting Istanbul, Troy, 7 Churches of Revelation
(Pergamum, Thyatira, Smyrna (Izmir), Sardis,
Laodicea, Philadelphia, Ephesus) Pamukkale,
Corinth, Athens plus an Aegean Sea Cruise (Ports:
Patmos, Crete, Santorini, Piraeus)
Registration forms available in the Narthex, Chapel
entrance and at the church office.
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Prayer Shawl Ministry
Nov. 16 - Blessing of Prayer Shawls at the 11am
Mass
Nov. 18 - Regular meeting at 9:30am.
Nov. 20 - PSM will be wrapping shawls and lap
robes at 7pm.
PSM will NOT meet in December — See you in
2015!!!
If you or someone you know is in need of a prayer
shawl or lap robe, please call the church office.
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Men in Christ
Men of the Parish: Do you have a desire to grow as
a Christian man? Come join the MEN in CHRIST as
we pray, explore Scripture together and support
one another in our Christian walk. Meet us in the
Conference Room each Saturday (except 2nd Saturday
of the month) at 7:30am. Call Jack at 696-0741.
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OLQP Men’s Club
ALL Men of our Parish ages 18 and older are
members and are highly encouraged to attend
monthly meetings.
(First Monday of the month @ 7pm in the Parish
Hall). NO Membership Fees.
Call Mike Carlton, President for more info: 696-9162
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We welcome…
Alexander Alfonso Gomez, Emma Kay Wolf,
Hope Elise Wagoner, Claire Anne Skelton,
Jacob Trinity Sean Whitten, Hope Ann
Glasgow, Trinity Aliyah Rojas, April Caroline
Brost, Jaylee Faye Findley and Ezra Lyndon
into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
by the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.
Our Lady Queen of Peace
33rd Sunday In Ordinary Time
Parish Announcements
FEAST and CELEBRATIONS
November 17
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
To all of the men’s club members, husbands, family, friends and members of
the OLQP Altar Society who worked so hard to make our Annual Turkey Dinner
a success. We could not do it without each and everyone who was so generous
with their time!
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Knights of Columbus Council 1473
Memorial Mass/Dinner
KOC Hall (Turtle Creek Road)
Monday, November 17th
Mass will be celebrated at 6:30pm (Fr. Michael Maloney)
***Roll Call of Deceased Members
ALL Family Members of Deceased Members and ALL Families of the Council and
their guests are invited.
The Council will provide Dinner for everyone immediately following the Mass
This celebration is open to the Entire Catholic Community.
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NOTRE DAME OPEN HOUSE &
BAND PARENTS PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Notre Dame Catholic School invites YOU to consider our own, local, Catholic
school for your child.
Come see the GREAT things happening at YOUR Catholic School!!
AND Eat a great breakfast to benefit the Notre Dame Band Program!!
Sunday, November 16th
Open House from 12 - 3 PM
Pancake Breakfast from 8 AM - 12:30 PM
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Catholic Charities CC101
(Information Sessions)
Wed., November 19 and December 10
Come and Hear about the many services Catholic Charities is providing for the
Northwest Deanery.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church Parish Hall (upstairs in the Parlor)
FREE Lunch!!!
To RSVP call Susan at 940-249-4748 ([email protected])
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St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
1516 Beverly Drive (723-4971)
Special Sale: ALL Toys ½ price off!!!
Games, Tapes, Puzzles, Hard Toys, Stuffed Animals, Baby
Dolls, Barbie Dolls, Porcelain Dolls, Large and Small Toys.
Come see the great selection of items that are available.
Like us on Facebook:
Wichita Falls St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Store.
St. Elizabeth was born in Hungary in 1207, the daughter of Alexander II,
King of Hungary. At the age of four she was sent for education to the court
of the Landgrave of Thuringia, to whose infant son she was betrothed. As
she grew in age, her piety also increased by leaps and bounds. In 1221,
she married Louis of Thuringia and in spite of her position at court began
to lead an austerely simple life, practiced penance, and devoted herself to
works of charity.
Her husband was himself much inclined to religion and highly esteemed her
virtue, encouraging her in her exemplary life. They had three children when
tragedy struck - Louis was killed while fighting with the Crusaders. After
his death, Elizabeth left the court, made arrangements for the care of her
children, and in 1228, renounced the world, becoming a tertiary of St.
Francis. She built the Franciscan hospital at Marburg and devoted herself
to the care of the sick until her death at the age of 24 in 1231.
St. Elizabeth is the patron saint of bakers, countesses, death of children,
falsely accused, the homeless, nursing services, tertiaries, widows, and
young brides. Her symbols are alms, flowers, bread, the poor, and a pitcher.
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November 21 Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary’s presentation was celebrated in Jerusalem in the sixth century. A
church was built there in honor of this mystery. The Eastern Church was
more interested in the feast, but it does appear in the West in the 11th
century. Although the feast at times disappeared from the calendar, in the
16th century it became a feast of the universal Church.
As with Mary’s birth, we read of Mary’s presentation in the temple only in
apocryphal literature. In what is recognized as an unhistorical account, the
Protoevangelium of James tells us that Anna and Joachim offered Mary to
God in the Temple when she was three years old. This was to carry out a
promise made to God when Anna was still childless.
Though it cannot be proven historically, Mary’s presentation has an
important theological purpose. It continues the impact of the feasts of the
Immaculate Conception (December 8) and of the birth of Mary (September
8). It emphasizes that the holiness conferred on Mary from the beginning of
her life on earth continued through her early childhood and beyond.
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November 22
Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
(patron of Church music, musicians and of the blind)
A Roman virgin who beseeched the angels and saints to protect her
virginity. She believed an angel watched over her and once baptized, her
husband believed also. With his brother, they buried the martyrs slain by
Turcius Almachius.
It is written that as the musicians played at her wedding she “sang in
her heart to the Lord”. Her feast day is celebrated in the Roman Catholic,
Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. She is one of
seven women, excluding the Blessed Virgin, commemorated by name in the
Canon of the Mass.
Her preaching had converted 400 people. She was arrested and sentenced
to death. She was buried by Pope Urban and his deacons.
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November 23 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
A solemnity that commemorates Our Father’s promise to his peoples
of a king who will triumph over their enemies. Jesus is our King. In
Baptism and Confirmation, we are brought under his kingship.
November 16, 2014
Adult Formation
Registration forms and calendar available
online at www.olqpwf.org (Please
note that a Form A for 14/15 must be
completed for this school year if not yet
completed through our summer activities
since June of 2014. Form A will be kept on file until it expires in May of
2015 so that you only have to fill it out once per year per child. Form B
must be filled out additionally for each event youth participate in thought
the year.)
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Discovery (Middle School Ministry) Sunday Mornings 9:30am-10:45
Nov. 16th - No Discovery
Nov. 23rd - Parish Hall
Nov. 30th - No Discovery Happy Thanksgiving!
Dec. 7th - Parish Hall
Dec. 14th - Parish Hall
Dec. 21st - Parish Hall (Christmas Party: White Elephant gift exchange)
Verso L’alto (High School Ministry) Wednesday’s 7pm-9pm
Nov. 19th - Parish Hall
Nov. 26th - No Verso L’alto Happy Thanks Giving
Dec. 3rd - Parish Hall
Dec. 10th - Parish Hall
Dec. 17th - Parish Hall (Christmas Party: White Elephant gift exchange)
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New OLQP Catholic Youth t-shirts available in the office!
Suggested Donation: $15 per t-shirt
At World Youth Day in Brazil last year, Pope Francis urged
youth to go back to their Diocese and Churches and “make a
mess.” We cannot stay complacent in our faith. Pope Francis is not calling
us to cause trouble by going against the Church and her teachings, but
instead to roll up our sleeves. Roll up our sleeves and RADICALLY LIVE THE
GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. Christ was radical in his time, He went against
popular opinion and what everyone else was doing. All of us as Baptized
Catholics are called to radically live just as Jesus Christ lived; this is what
Pope Francis is proclaiming when he challenges our youth to “make a
mess.” Don’t miss the opportunity for your youth and yourself to proclaim
and show how you choose to radically live the Gospel of Jesus Christ with
our Pope Francis Sent Me “I’m here to make a mess” t-shirt!
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** We are in need of 5 more adults to serve Verso L’alto as Faith
Coaches (small group leaders). For more information please see www.
olqpwf.org/how-to-help or contact Greg
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Keep up with what’s going on at www.olqpwf.org/youth
“The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things.
But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.”
— Saint Gregory the Great
Bulletin News: To assure requests for space within our bulletin meet the deadline, submit
items by NOON on the Monday prior to the published weekend (or the Friday before if
Monday is a holiday). Items MUST have proper approval for publication.
FREE MASS TIMES APP - for when you’re away! The Catholic Directory iPhone App is FREE
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The Rite of Christian Initiation
R.C.I.A Inquirer Classes meet on Thursdays at
7pm in the NDES Cafeteria
All are Welcome (even if you are already
Catholic) to the Inquiry Sessions to learn
more about the Catholic Faith. Call Deacon
Jim at 696-1253 if you are interested.
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Worldwide Marriage
Encounter
“When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond
pearls. Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an
unfailing prize.” Do we value the prize we have in our
spouse enough to take time to enjoy it? The next Worldwide Marriage
Encounter Weekend is on January 23-25, 2015. Dates fill fast. To apply
visit our website at: http://www.dfwme.org/apply. For more information
e-mail [email protected] or call 469-444-0904. Para mas informacion de
Encuentro Matrimonial en Espanol, escriba a [email protected] o visite
http://www.seccion15.org/
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Natural Family Planning Classes
Did you know that…
Natural Family Planning allows both spouses to
take responsibility for the gift of fertility?
The Couple to Couple League is offering NFP
classes at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in
Wichita Falls, Texas. This is a 3-part class, and
the next class series will take place on Sundays
from 1:30- 4:30pm in the Berend Room. If you would like to sign up for this
class or any other upcoming classes, please go to www.ccli.org and fill out
the online registration form. If you have any questions, you may contact
Lauren Morath at (940)544-2515 [email protected].
Kid’s Corner
First Reconciliation is
Monday, November 24 at 7:00 p.m.
in the church
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Religious Education (K-6th Grade)
Sunday’s 9:30-10:45am at ND elementary school
Registration Form and calendar online at www.olqpwf.org
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This week, on Wednesday, we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Rose
Philippine Duchesne. If you want an example of someone who is BRAVE,
here she is. She was born in France and became a nun when she was 19. She
dreamed of going to American and her dream came true in 1818. She sailed on
the ocean for 11 weeks and landed in New Orleans. She set up a school and later
went to Kansas to have a mission among the native Americans. Life there was
very rough. She was a great pioneer! She was quite elderly by then and could
only pray. The people gave her a name in their own language which meant: “the
Woman Who Prays Always. Would you like to be known as the Child Who Prays
Always? How great that would be!
WHEN IN DOUBT...CHECK US OUT • olqpwf.org
OLQP Catholic Church, Wichita Falls, Tx
Our Lady Queen of Peace
33rd Sunday In Ordinary Time
Community News
Counseling Services
Working in partnership with Sacred Heart and Our Lady Queen of Peace, Catholic
Charities Fort Worth provides counseling services at Sacred Heart Monday
through Friday from 5:30pm to 7:30pm to assist individuals and families:
-Through the challenges of raising a child
-Resolving marital conflict
-Coping with depression, anxiety, and the stresses of daily life
Let us help you find hope and healing.
Contact the Clinical Counseling program with Catholic Charities at 432-4131629 (temporary number) or speak to your parish office for more details.
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The St. Joseph Health Care Trust assists individuals who are medically
uninsured/underinsured and who meet eligibility criterion. This includes
assistance with prescriptions, dental services, physician visits, and other
services. For more information please call Stella at (940) 552-0347. (This
program is administered through Catholic Charities, Diocese of Fort Worth.)
Immigration Consultations in Wichita Falls
This opportunity allows you to have an immigration consultation with
an immigration attorney or a Board of Immigration Appeals accredited
representative without traveling outside of Wichita Falls. Our professionals will
serve you via video from our main office in Fort Worth. You will be speaking
privately and confidentially with an authorized person qualified to evaluate your
situation and give immigration legal advice.
Location: Sacred Heart Catholic Church (1504 Tenth Street, Wichita Falls)
Open by appointment: Thursdays and Saturdays
Schedule an appointment: 817.289.2801
Cost of the consultation: $30
November 16, 2014
Growing in Faith
Dear Padre!
How long should Mass be?
How long Mass is supposed to last? My sister leaves after an hour even
if the priest is still talking. Shouldn’t she stay until it’s over?
There’s no rule about how long Mass should last, but it’s inappropriate
to arrive late or leave before the final blessing or the end of the recessional
song. People should leave early only if they get sick or if they’re doctors,
police officers, and fire fighters called away for an emergency.
Weekend activities should be scheduled around Mass. Saturday night
Masses were designed for people who work Sundays and for parishes
with too few priests to accommodate everyone on Sunday—they weren’t
designed to make it easier to get a good tee time on Sunday morning.
It’s also important to remember that local customs and traditions affect
the length of Mass. When I worked as a missionary in Brazil, Sunday Mass
could go on for nearly three hours. When I celebrated Mass in Scotland, the
pastor said I had to be done in a half hour.
Most areas have more than one church.
Encourage your sister to either grow accustomed to the tradition of the
parish she attends or look for another church. As a rule, I don’t think it’s
good to “shop around” for Mass, but if your sister is that bothered by the
length of the Mass at her current church, it might be better for her to go
elsewhere.
FR. PATRICK KEYES, CSsR
[email protected]
GOOD NEWS!
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)
Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 / 1 Thes 5:1-6 Mt 25:14-30 or 25:14-15, 19-21
“Stay awake.” My siblings and I used to huddle in our rooms on Christmas
night, determined to stay up for Christmas dawn. We’d inevitably fall asleep,
awakening around dawn to find the presents already around the tree and Jesus
in the manger.
“Stay awake,” we would say again on New Year’s Eve. This got a little easier
as we got older and beat on pots and pans to celebrate the New Year. Special
occasions call for special wakefulness. We anticipate, we watch, we try to
glimpse the first signs of the holiday, birthday, or first day of vacation. These
are important to us, and we don’t want to miss them.
“Stay alert,” Paul says to us. “Prepare for the Master’s return,” Jesus says
to us. At the end of the Church year, everything is about watchfulness. We
reflect on the end times, when Christ will return in glory to judge the living and
the dead and draw all creation to himself.
What happens in the end? We show God what we’ve done with his many
gifts. We behave as children of light and refuse to fall asleep (a metaphor for
turning away from God) so we’ll be found waiting when Christ comes again. We
keep the faith, knowing our hope is in the Lord.
When we were children, the temptation to fall asleep was great; we didn’t
always make it to the first minutes of celebration.
As adults in faith, the stakes are much higher. If we fall asleep here, we may
miss the party altogether.
Let’s encourage one another while we still have time.
Mary Katharine Deeley [email protected]
Mark 13:33-37 Be watchful, be alert: This gospel is from the first Sunday of Advent. We are preparing to celebrate the birth of Our Lord, his first coming.
Christmas is a time of joy, for Jesus came to us in human form to redeem us from our sins.
But Advent is a time for us to prepare when Jesus comes again. In the Creed we say, “…he will come again to judge the living and the dead.” We don’t know
when this will happen. It could be tomorrow; it will certainly be when we die. Jesus’ message is to be watchful and alert for his coming.
To be watchful involves getting our individual lives in order. Christ gave us the sacraments so we can do this, especially the Sacrament of Penance. Being in a
state of grace means we are prepared to meet Jesus.
However, this preparation involves each of us gathering the harvest. It means each of us being a missionary in our lives so everyone may come to know and
love the Lord when they come face to face with God.