SAINT WENCESLAUS CHURCH
SEPTEMBER 7, 2008
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
The good news is that our national political
campaign will soon be over. The bad news is
that the next campaign will begin the day
after this one ends. Such is political life in these
times.
Mario Cuomo, the former governor of New York,
once described the process this way: we campaign
in poetry, but we govern in prose. In other words
candidates make inspirational speeches and hold out
lofty promises when they are campaigning, but then
become bogged down in the ordinary give-and-take
of daily duties once elected. The truth is they can’t
possibly accomplish all that they promise – and in
fact, that may be a good thing.
I suppose the conclusion we should take from this is
to balance our hopes with a good dose of realism.
No president of the United States, no candidate for
any office, is going to bring about the
transformation of our nation. The Kingdom of God
is God’s work, and it is a long term project. We
have a right to hope that whoever is elected will be
competent, honorable and compassionate. And we
need to give them a fair chance, making allowance
for human limitations and political realities.
My personal hope is that, no matter who is elected,
we will all lower our voices a bit, stop the blaming
and name calling, and recognize that what unites us
as Americans is far greater than what separates us
by philosophy or political party.
Above all, let us pray for our leaders. Our nation
and our world need a lot of healing. Our leaders are
not supermen but limited human beings who can
govern well only with the consent of the people and,
above all else, only with the help of God.
St. Paul instructs us: that supplications, prayers,
petitions and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,
for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a
quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity (1
Timothy 2:1-2). It seems that our prayer for our
leaders is also a prayer for ourselves, for good
order, peaceful relations and just treatment for all
people. May the Lord guide our elections and our
leaders to bring about these blessings.
-Fr. Peter
“Where two or
three are
gathered
together in my
name, there I am
in the midst of
them.”
-Matthew 18:20
A SPECIAL INVITATION
Next weekend St. Ann’s Church is hosting a revival
led by Grayson Warren Brown. Mr. Brown, a
Catholic layman, is a composer of liturgical music
that is widely used in African-American Catholic
churches as well as other Catholic and Protestant
settings. The revival is to celebrate the 135th
anniversary of St. Ann’s church, our twin sister. Of
particular interest will be the Saturday morning
liturgy workshop from 10:00 to 12:00 and the city
wide celebration concert Sunday afternoon at 4:00.
Anyone interested in joining this special choir for
the day is asked to come to a rehearsal Saturday
evening at 7:00. The program is free of charge, but
a free-will offering will be taken at the concert.
SUNDAY SCHOOL REGISTRATION
Our new season of Sunday School begins next
Sunday with an open house for parents and children
in the lyceum from 9:45 to 10:45. Regular classes
begin September 21. Registration is taking place
outside of church today. Parents are asked to take
responsibility for seeing to the religious education
and sacramental preparation of their children. And,
for your own faith development, consider…
SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
Parents, grandparents, and anyone else are invited
to take part in our Sunday morning bible study from
9:45 to 10:45 in the rectory parlor. While the
children are in Sunday School, learn more about
your faith and share reflections on the Sunday
Scriptures with a group of interested church
members.
SAINT WENCESLAUS CHURCH
A GREAT PICNIC
Our Labor Day picnic at Rocky Point Park was a
grand success by all accounts. The weather was
perfect, the setting excellent, the crowd large and
the mood festive. Thanks to all who came out and
especially to all our faithful workers. A fuller
report – with pictures! – is coming soon.
The winners of the picnic raffle were:
$150 Dolores Soul
$100 Mary Schmuff
$50 Ethel Burris
ST WENCESLAUS FEAST DAY
Fall is always a busy season here. Now that the
picnic is behind us we look toward our parish feast
day on Sunday, September 28. The feast day Mass
will be celebrated at 10:30 (sorry about last week’s
typo) and lunch will follow in the lyceum. Free
luncheon tickets and extra 50/50 tickets are
available in the office. If you did not receive a
mailing from the church about the feast day you
may not be on our mailing list. Please call the office
so we can make sure we have your correct address.
COUNCIL NOMINATIONS
Nominations are now being received for four vacant
seats on the Pastoral Council. Those eligible to be
elected for a two year term on the Council must be
registered members of the parish who are at least 16
years of age. Continuing members of the council
include Dolorosa Clark and Troy Duncan. Edith
Pumphrey serves ex officio as religious education
director. The Constitution also provides for the
pastor to appoint three members to the Council.
There are forms for submitting nominations in the
back of the church. Check with your nominee to
see if she or he is willing to serve. Nominations can
be placed in the collection baskets or brought to the
office. Election of new members to the council will
take place at the Masses on September 21.
AUGUST INCOME
Offertory income for the five Sundays of August
came to $10,403, against a budget of $10,960,
leaving a shortfall for the month of $557.
KEEP ON TEACHING
The annual workshop for catechists will be held
next Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm at St. Joseph
Monastery Church. More information is available in
the back of the church.
MASS INTENTIONS
Sun, Sept 7
Mon, Sept 8
Tues, Sept 9
Wed, Sept 10
Thur, Sept 11
Fri, Sept 12
Sat, Sept 13
8:30
11:15
8 am
7 am
Joseph Beran
For the Parishioners
Frank & Sophie Herold
Srs Methodia & Eliazer, SSND
Anna Steinert
Cecelia Iwanowski
Gift of Hope Convent
Frank Herold
Joyce Troch
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
1st Reading
Numbers 21:4-9
nd
2 Reading
Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel
John 3:13-17
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for all our sick, especially Robert Lloyd and
Ed Aull and for the recently deceased Floyd Jones of the
Gift of Hope community.
HALL RENTAL POLICIES
Some weeks ago we announced that we were developing
new policies for the rental of the church hall. The
Pastoral Council has developed and the Finance Council
has approved the following:
 Registered members of the parish may reserve
the hall for a private party by filling out a
contract and paying a (refundable) $100 security
deposit.
 The archdiocese requires that the renter obtain
an insurance policy, or else pay a $100 waiver to
the archdiocese.
 Scheduled events are not to exceed four hours
and are to end by 10:00 pm. An additional hour
is allowed before and after the event for placing
and removing decorations. (No confetti!)
 A member of the church staff will set up the hall
and be present throughout the event and will
clean the hall afterwards. The rental fee for a
four hour event is $350.
 Only approved parish organizations may use the
kitchen for food preparation and cooking. Others
may use the kitchen for warming, cooling and
serving food only.
 Registered members of the parish may use the
hall for a funeral repast free of charge. For
others the fee is $100.
Call the church office if you wish to see a more
detailed statement of these policies, as well as the
forms for reserving the hall and obtaining an
insurance waiver from the risk management
department of the archdiocese.