22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Happy Labor Day!
Pastor’s Notes
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
– John 6:67 – 69
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.”
-John 6:50
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wednesday, August 15th is the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a holy day of obligation. Masses will only be celebrated at St. Ailbe Church at 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Please spread the word!
The Black Catholic Deacons of Chicago are hosting a Sunrise Mass to pray for non-violence in our hearts, families, schools and streets on Saturday, August 25th at Oakwood Beach, 41st St. and Lakeshore Drive, beginning at 6:30 a.m. In the event of heavy rain, the Mass will be moved to Holy Angels Church at 615 East Oakwood Blvd., Chicago, IL. All are invited to participate!
Please bring your own lawn chairs for seating during the Mass.
Pastor’s Note:
Daily Mass will not be celebrated in the St. Ailbe rectory chapel from July 30 through August 2. The priests and two of the deacon couples will be in New Orleans, La., attending the Joint Conference of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, the National Black Catholic Sisters Conference, the National Association of African American Catholic Deacons, and the National Black Catholic Seminarians Association. Daily Mass will resume on Friday, August 3 at its usual time.
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.
-Mark 6:30 – 31
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
When we reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we can understand the concerns of the disciples. They have just heard Jesus say, “The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh,” and “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.”
When Jesus talks about the bread of life, he is speaking about more than sacrifice. “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life,” Jesus wants to lead us into a life of love and generosity and service. This is the life that the apostle Paul describes when he challenges Christians “to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.” The life that really is life is not just sacrifice, but service.
An ancient Roman coin pictures an ox standing beneath an altar and a plow. The alter symbolizes a sacrificial death, while the plow stands for a life of service. Along with these images the caption “Ready for Either.” That makes you think, doesn’t it? Ready for either … what? Ready for either sacrifice or service behind a plow. Such a slogan is appropriate for any Christian who wants to follow the words of Jesus about spirit and life. Spirit speaking Christians should always be prepared for either sacrifice or service.
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Families teach a sense of togetherness and community. It is in the family that we learn that we are dependent on one another and where we learn to work together and live together. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus sends out the 72 disciples in pairs, a sign that we are to work together to serve the mission of the Kingdom of God. Talk about all the ways that your family works together. Talk about the various chores and tasks that family members work on together to accomplish in order to keep the household running smoothly. Discuss ways that your family can work more closely together to support one another and to make the household run more smoothly. Pray for the strength to overcome the temptation to be too individualistic and to recognize the need for working together as a family.
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
On July 4, 1776, the United States of America proclaimed its independence from England by signing the Declaration of Independence. While the signing of the Declaration itself was not completed until August, the Fourth of July holiday is seen as the official anniversary of U.S. independence. Although Philadelphians marked the first anniversary of independence in 1777 with spontaneous celebrations in the streets of Philadelphia, the first recorded use of the name “Independence Day” wasn’t until 1791 and “Independence Day” celebrations only be- came common after the War of 1812. By the 1870’s Independence Day had become the most important secular holiday on the American calendar and has transformed into what is known as the 4th of July.
The Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Graduation Recognition Sunday
The light unto nations is the Jews or the prophet Isaiah, both because of the divine message they give to humanity, not because of their human social efforts. The Jews are the light unto nations in that, by observing the events concerning them, one cannot avoid the conclusion that HaShem is true. Prophet Isaiah, in contrast to the false prophets of peace, the Neville Chamberlains of our day, is the light unto the nations in that, by believing in his message and following his exhortations, one knows what the way to peace is and what only pretends to be such.
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