SAINT WENCESLAUS CHURCH
OCTOBER 5, 2008
TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
The next in our series of teachings from the U. S.
RESPECT LIFE
Bishops Conference leading up to the November
SUNDAY
elections concerns the pivotal issue of abortion.
The following are excerpts from Diedre McQuade
of the Bishops’ Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities:
Abortion is the most widespread direct attack on
innocent human life in the United States. Today,
nearly one in four pregnancies ends violently in
abortion. As a pre-eminent threat to human dignity
with far reaching social and political consequences,
abortion warrants sober consideration as we head
to the polls this fall.
Far from being simply the sole choice of a mother,
the question of having an abortion involves matters
of justice and compassion for all involved: For
unborn children and their mothers, but also their
fathers, siblings, and grandparents, and the
character of our society. Over 35 years have passed
since Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court
decision that legalized abortion for almost any
reason throughout the nine months of pregnancy.
Approximately 48 million defenseless lives have
been lost. Countless women regret their abortions,
many men grieve lost fatherhood, and others
involved often suffer in silence.
The U.S. Catholic bishops are unequivocal in their
defense of human life from its earliest stages to
natural death. They state that abortion is
intrinsically evil, which means that it is always
opposed to the authentic good of persons and is
never justified by circumstances. The bishops state:
we promote a culture of life by supporting laws and
programs that encourage childbirth and adoption
over abortion and by addressing poverty, providing
health care, and offering other assistance to
pregnant women, children, and families.
Abortion is a pivotal issue as we approach the
upcoming state and federal elections. Longerrange, we await the day when U.S. law protects
human life from conception to natural death,
parents welcome children whether “planned” or
“unplanned, and the wounds of abortion have
healed.” A culture where abortion is unthinkable is
one in which all lives will be honored.
(For the complete text go to
www.faithfulcitizenship.org/media/article/mcquade)
Today is Respect Life
Sunday, a day to turn our
attention to the most basic
human
right
and
the
foundational gift of God, the
gift of life. Contrary to what
one sometimes hears, we
are not a “one issue” church.
Our opposition to abortion is
one obvious expression of
our pro-life stance, but so
too is our defense of the lives of the terminally ill
and the convicted criminal. Bishop Martin Holley,
auxiliary of Washington, DC writes: “In my opinion
the abortion challenge in the African-American
community is deeply interwoven with many other
concerns. The Black family constantly strives for
social justice in confronting racism, poverty,
violence, a lack of education, high unemployment,
substance abuse, incarceration, AIDS, teen
pregnancy, a lack of affordable housing, and many
other needs, especially in urban areas. This
endless and seamless garment of social concerns
often tends to push the primary moral issue of
abortion onto the back burner, when in reality it
clearly must be at the heart and center of our
discussion on the survival of African American
people….Abortion remains the number one
destroyer of the Black family.”
(The full text of Bishop Holley’s remarks is available in
the back of the church.)
A JOYOUS FEAST DAY
Last Sunday’s celebration of St. Wenceslaus Day
brought back large numbers of our members who
live “beyond the boundaries.” It was a fitting tribute
to Marie Livingston whom we honored for her 33
year service as church secretary. Thanks to Fr.
David Pivonka, TOR for a memorable message and
to the music ministry and the auxiliary for all the
extra effort that made the day so special.
Congratulations to Janice Martin (Roh) of
Kingsville who won the 50/50 drawing. Her
winnings amounted to $1,275.
FALL INVESTMENT CLUB
Today is the first of ten weekly drawings in the Fall
Investment Club. It’s not too late to get your tickets
into the barrel!
SAINT WENCESLAUS CHURCH
WELCOME, BROTHER AUGUSTINE
MASS INTENTIONS
Brother Augustine Lieb, TOR from our Franciscan
House of Studies in Washington is volunteering his
services with our youth group and Confirmation
class this year. Brother Augustine took his first
vows as a Franciscan this summer. Before joining
the community he spent ten years as a religion
teacher in a Catholic high school and a parish youth
minister. Brother Augustine joins a long list of
friars who have served our parishes of St.
Wenceslaus and St. Ann.
Sun, Oct 5
PICNIC PHOTOS
1st Reading
2nd Reading
Gospel
Check the web site www.stwen.org for a great
collection of pictures from our Labor Day picnic.
Click on “Bulletin Archives” and you will see the
link for the picnic photos. Thanks to Fred Shoat for
providing this photo display.
BULL AND OYSTER ROAST
With the picnic, the feast day and the races already
behind us the next big event will be our Bull and
Oyster Roast on Saturday, November 8 from 6:00 to
10:00 pm at Heritage Parkville. Tickets are $40.
WHY CATHOLIC? NEW SEASON
Both “cradle Catholics” who have been part of the
church for a lifetime and those who have joined us
along the way have expressed some doubt and
confusion about church teaching and practice. We
live in turbulent times and the Sunday School
classes of our youth are not sufficient to see us
through the many challenges of adulthood. We
invite back all who have taken part in the first two
years of Why Catholic? but we especially urge
newcomers to join the process this year. Use the
flyer in today’s bulletin to join the group of your
choice.
SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
Go deeper into the Sunday
Scriptures by coming to the Sunday
Morning Bible Study from 9:45 to
10:45 in the rectory parlor. Study
guides called “Sunday by Sunday”
offer insight into the Word of God and guidance for
deeper reflection and discussion. For parents of
children in Sunday School this is an ideal place to
spend an hour on your own faith development while
your children are receiving their instruction.
Mon, Oct 6
Tues, Oct 7
Wed, Oct 8
Thur, Oct 9
8:30
11:15
8 am
7 am
Fri, Oct 10
Sat, Oct 11
Raymond Base, Sr.
For the Parishioners
James Curran
T. Dennis Gould
Bob Redman
Mary Jane Famulari
Gift of Hope Convent
Fanny & John Greer
Frank & Sophie Herold
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
Isaiah 25:6-10
Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Matthew 21:1-14
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for all our sick, especially Marie Troch
and Robert Lloyd and all our faithful departed.
OUTSIDE THE PARISH…
VOTER REGISTRATION. The deadline to
register for this year’s national and state elections is
October 14. Voter registration forms are available
in the back of the church.
GUEST LECTURE. Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI,
author of “The Holy Longing,” will speak at the
Bicentennial Celebration of Mother Seton’s arrival
in Baltimore October 11 at 1:00 pm at St. Mary’s
Spiritual Center, 600 N. Paca St.
THE
ANNUAL
ARCHDIOCESAN
INSTITUTE, previously held at Seton Keough
High School, will take place at Archbishop
Spalding High School in Severn on Saturday,
October 11. More information is available on the
church bulletin board.
BLACK CATHOLIC HISTORY BUS TOUR.
The Office of African American Catholic Ministries
is sponsoring a bus tour to historic St. Mary’s
County, Maryland on Saturday, November 15.
Tour guides include Ms Agnes Kane Cullum and
Sr. Reginald Gerdes, OSP. Cost is $35 which
includes the bus trip and a “down home style”
country meal at the Seaside View Restaurant. Call
410-625-8472 to reserve a place.
SEPTEMBER OFFERTORY INCOME
Offertory income for the four Sundays of
September amounted to $8,253, compared to our
budget of $8,769, leaving a shortfall of $516 for the
month.