Twenty -Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 16 September 2018

Transcripción

1 Twenty -Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 16 September 2018 Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. ~ Mark 8: 34 St. Michael Catholic Church & School Gastonia, North Carolina

2 Sunday, September 16 Twenty-Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time This Week at St. Michael Sacred Liturgy 7:30 AM Holy Mass For the People 10:00 AM Holy Mass Joyce Wanige 12:00 PM Holy Mass (Spanish) Priest Intention Meetings & Events 8:45 AM Donuts & Dogma: PC/K 8:45 AM FF English: School/C-Hall 10:00AM FF Spanish: All bldgs. 2:00 PM Spanish Dance Practice: Gym 7:00 PM SAA: C-Hall Monday, September 17 St. Robert Bellarmine 7:00 AM Holy Mass - George Maier 7:45 AM Lauds 2:30 PM Regnum Christi: HFR 3:00 PM Children s Choir Practice: Ch 5:00 PM Amor por la Vida: C-Hall 6:30 PM K/C 4th Degree: PC/K 7:00 PM Fraternus/Fidelis: Ch/Gym/MC 7:00 PM Spanish Mission Meeting: C-Hall Tuesday, September 18 No Holy Mass No Lauds 6:30 PM Emmaus Groups: PC/C-Hall 7:00 PM Financial Peace: SMCS Media Center 7:00 PM Schola Practice: Ch Wednesday, September 19 St. Januarius Thursday, September 20 Sts. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Paul Chŏng Ha-sang & Comps. 5:00 PM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 5:00-5:45 PM Confessions 5:30 PM Holy Rosary and Benediction 6:15 PM Holy Mass Bogdan Milewski 7:00 AM Holy Mass For the Souls in Purgatory 7:30 AM Lauds 6:30 PM Spanish Youth Group: Gym 7:00 PM Adult Choir Practice: Ch 7:00 PM CSS (Gospel of Luke): PC/K 5:30 AM TMIY: PC/K 6:30 PM Finance Council: Church Office 6:30 PM RCIA: HFR 6:30 PM Little Flowers: SMCS 7:00 PM Span.Committee Mtg: C-Hall 7:00 PM VIRTUS Training (Tentative): PC Friday, September 21 St. Matthew Saturday, September 22 7:45 AM Lauds 8:15 AM Holy Mass Lori Tortorich 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 3:00 PM Divine Mercy Chaplet 6:00 PM Missa Cantata - Liliana Wenger 8:00 AM Lauds & Miraculous Medal Novena 8:15 AM Holy Mass - Joseph Peter Schumacher 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM Confessions 4:30 PM Holy Rosary 5:00 PM Holy Mass Larry Carpenter 9:30 AM CSS (Revelation): HFR 5:30 PM Legion of Mary: HFR 6:30 PM Spanish Youth Group: C-Hall 7:00 PM Spanish Choir Practice: Ch 8:00 AM SMCS Yard Sale 8:30 AM Span.Marriage Preparation: C-Hall 2:00 PM Cursillo: HFR 8:00 PM AA Meeting: C-Hall Sunday, September 23 Twenty-Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time 7:30 AM Holy Mass For the People 10:00 AM Holy Mass St. Michael Catholic School 12:00 PM Holy Mass (Spanish) Priest Intention 8:45 AM Donuts & Dogma: PC/K 8:45 AM FF English: School/C-Hall 10:00 AM FF Spanish: All bldgs. 2:00 PM Spanish Dance Practice: Gym 7:00 PM SAA: C-Hall

3 Please Remember in your Prayers Parish Members & Friends: Fr. James Ebright, Fr. George Kloster, Sister Mary Olivia Shirley, Sr. Josepha Whi y, Anna Ashworth, Janet Atherton, Joe Bell, Barbara Berg, Janice Black, Frank Boothe, Burton & Beth Bradley, Jeffrey Brown, Robert Carothers, Eneida Ceballos, Hilario Chegue, Steven Cherry, Chuck Deal, Antonia Delgado García, Gail Driscoll, Be y Dow, Glenda Downey, Elizabeth Eddie, Logan Escandón, Pete & Rebecca Files, Shannon Frazer, Lynne Freeman, Kathy Geoffroy, Penny Godwin, Jean Goebel, Aleyda Gómez, Fred Halek, Lynn Hamm, Gwen Hart, Calvin Hebert, Dorothy Henley, Kevin Hornbeck, Beverly Hornbeck, Eric Hunter, Connie Hu er, Buddy James, Robin Johnson, Briceida Juya, Kay Landry, Maureen Lupton, Pat Lauzon, Olivia Levesque, Cookie Lynn, Georgia Mannering, Antonia Marin, Josefina Mar nez, Rita Mascarenhas, Sadie Messer, Micheli Family, Andrew Milewski, Heather Monteleagre, Sarah Monteleone, Marion Moore, Wayne Moore, John Moore, Jack Neerincx, Sarah O Keefe, Gerald Orazem, Hernán Ortega, Mary Packard, Charles Pasour, David Peace, Henry Phillips, Terry Purvis, Ivo Raimundo, Penny Ramsey, Gladys Rodriguez, Sue Ruocco, K.S., Bill Saluke, Jo Santoro, Marie Seager, Gemma Servin Vega, Maureen Setlock, Jim Sneska, Pat Splawn, Bob Stauss, Michael Stone, McKenzie Reese Tapper, Mr. Tater, Alice Thornburg, Maerene Thomas, Tinsdale Family, Emperatriz Vidal, Jacqueline Wood, Paul & Marion Yager For all in service to our country: Stefan Zapata, Derrick Dobbins, Ma hew Barker, Kevin Haskins, Stephanie Miller, Kevin Tiddy, Jeffrey Kaldah For the repose of the soul of: Carolyn Henderson Our lady of La Salette, Pray for us! Saturday, Greeters: Lectors: Gi s: EMHC: Sunday, Greeters: Lectors: Gi s: Sunday, Greeters: Lectors: EMHC: SERVERS OF THE SACRED LITURGY September 22 5:00 PM Mass Rosemarie Weisenhorn Laure a Boccio, Be e Shirley John Murawski Jeff Templeton September 23 7:30 AM Mass Ellen Roberts LeeAnn MacMillan, Bill Melton Elisa Ogle September 23 10:00 AM Mass Jane Sheppard Russ Stevens, Randy Stevens Mark Ruocco Highlights September ~ November 2018 Location: St. Michael Catholic Church Campus, Unless Otherwise Noted FOR A FULL LIST OF EVENTS, VISIT OUR PARISH CALENDAR: Friday, Sept. 21 at 6 PM Missa Cantata Saturday, Sept. 22 SMCS Booster Club Yard Sale Sunday, September 23 -Catechetical Sunday Sunday, October 7 at 2 PM Life Chain Wednesday, October 17 - Day of Reflection: Hickory Thursday, October 18 - MIRAVIA banquet Saturday, October 20 - Catholic Writers Guild-Greensboro Thursday, October 25 - Red Mass: St. Peter s (Charlotte) Friday - Sunday, Oct Rachel s Vineyard Retreat Saturday, November 3 Mothering with Grace St. Ann Catholic Church (Charlotte) Sunday, November 4th at 2:30 PM Couples Anniversary Mass: St. John Neumann Friday, Nov 9 to Sunday, Nov 11 World Wide Marriage Encounter (Atlantic Beach) In Loving Memory of Eunice Cherry by Melissa & Joe Deaton Prayer for our Priests Eternal Father, we lift up to you our priests and all the priests of the world. Sanctify them; heal and guide them; mold them into the likeness and holiness of your Son, Jesus, the Eternal High Priest. May their lives be pleasing to You. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. READINGS FOR THE WEEK 9/17 9/23 Monday: 1 Cor 11:17-26, 33; Ps 40:7-10, 17; Lk 7:1-10 Tuesday: 1 Cor 12:12-14, 27-31a; Ps 100:1-5; Lk 7:11-17 Wednesday: 1 Cor 12:31 13:13; Ps 33:2-5, 12, 22; Lk 7:31-35 Thursday: 1 Cor 15:1-11; Ps 118:1b-2, 16ab-17, 28; Lk 7:36-50 Friday: Eph 4:1-7, 11-13; Ps 19:2-5; Mt 9:9-13 Saturday: 1 Cor 15:35-37, 42-49; Ps 56:10c-14; Lk 8:4-15 Sunday: Wis 2:12, 17-20; Ps 54:3-8; Jas 3:16 4:3; Mk 9:30-37

4 FRATERNUS A Brotherhood of Disciples Mentoring boys into virtuous Catholic men. Join us every Monday night at 7 pm at St.Michael s Gym/Media Center for games, food, catechesis, and brotherhood! For boys 6 th -12 th grade. For more information, contact Andrew Torres at andrewptorres@abbey.bac.edu or visit fraternusbrothers.org. DID YOU KNOW? There are behavioral warning signs of child abusers Training and education help adults recognize grooming techniques that are precursors to abuse. Some abusers isolate a potential victim by giving him or her undue attention or lavish gifts. Another common grooming technique is to allow young people to participate in activities which their parents or guardians would not approve, such as watching pornography, drinking, alcohol, using drugs, and excessive touching, which includes wrestling and tickling. It is also critical to be wary of age-inappropriate relationships seen, for example, in the adult who is more comfortable with children than fellow adults. St. Thomas More Society Red Mass The Annual St. Thomas More Society Red Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at St. Peter s Catholic Church at 12:10 p.m. (507 S. Tryon St., Charlo e, NC 28202). Abbot Placid Solari, OSB, will be the main celebrant. The Red Mass is celebrated annually in many large ci es throughout the country, typically in conjunc on with the opening of the new session of the United States Supreme Court. All are invited to a end. Although details are pending, there will be a lunch and CLE immediately following the Mass at Parker Poe (401 S. Tryon Street, Suite 3000 next to St. Peter s) with the Honorable Robert J. Conrad, Jr. giving a talk en tled, Speaking Truth to Power: Lessons for Lawyers from the lives of Thomas More and John Fisher. If you are interested in a ending the lunch and talk, please Michael Hoefling (mhoefling@jahlaw.com) and Ma hew Orso (MOrso@mcguirewoods.com) by October 4. Is This Your Year? Couples married 25 or 50 years this year will be honored at an Anniversary Mass on Sunday, November 4, 2018, at St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte. Mass begins at 2:30 PM and will be followed by a reception. Simply call St. Michael s parish office to be included. ESL / First Genera on College Student Applica on Workshop Calling all ESL and first genera on college students to a end a College Applica on Workshop on Friday, October 26, from 4:00 7:00 pm, in the Ministry Center, Room D, St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlo e If you are interested in learning more about MiraVia - please visit their website If you are interested in attending the Fundraising Banquet, please contact Phyllis Mueller, or by prmueller@stmichaelsgastonia.org by September 28. The workshop will focus on higher educa on ins tu ons, the applica on process, financial aid and grant opportuni- es, bachelor and associate degrees, trade and voca onal programs. Registra on required. Sign up on Light dinner will be served. Presented by LAWA - La n Americans Working for Achievement.

5 Around our Parish & Diocese All are invited to a Missa Cantata on Friday, September 21 at 6 PM to celebrate the Feast of St. Matthew Are you or a loved one seeking healing from the effects of a past abor on? Rachel s Vineyard Weekend Retreat creates a healing environment of prayer and forgiveness. The retreat works to reconnect individuals to themselves, their friends and family and to realize God s ever-present love. There is an upcoming retreat in our diocese October Please contact: Jackie Childers: /Jackie.Childers1@gmail.com CATHOLIC CHARITIES DAY OF REFLECTION How can silence and imagina on improve your prayer life? Come find out Wednesday, October 17, from 9:45 AM - 3 PM. Father Patrick Cahill will be the presenter at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory. The program includes lunch and will conclude with Holy Mass. Deadline for registra on is October 8th. Cost is $18/person. Please contact Sandra Breakfield: or sabreakfield@charlo ediocese.org NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP) Catholic Chari es of the Diocese of Charlo e is offering FREE NFP courses throughout the Diocese, through November 10. Included are such topics as: health, rela onal and spiritual benefits, effec veness of NFP methods, health risks of contracep ves, and Church teaching on marital sexuality. Course loca ons include, Charlo e, Hickory and Arden. To RSVP or for more informa on, please contact: Batrice Adcock, MSN, at (704) or bnadcock@charlo ediocese.org FAITH FORMATION for All Ages Class Time Cost PreK-12 th Grade Faith Forma on Sundays 8:45-9:45am $30 per student Children/Teens RCIC Sundays 8:45-9:45am Included in FF Fee 6th-12 th Grade Youth Group Monthly Events and more $25 per youth Adult Ed Luke: The Gospel of Mercy Wednesdays 7-8:30pm $55 per student Adult Ed Revela on Fridays 9:30-11am $55 per student Adult Ed Donuts and Dogma Sundays 8:45-9:45am No Fee Adult Ed RCIA Thursdays 6:30-8pm $40 per student 7 th Grade Confirma on I 1 st Wednesdays 7-8:30pm $25 per student 8 th Grade Confirma on II 2nd Mondays 7-8pm $25 per student For full schedules, to register, or for more informa on, contact Theresa Webster: tmwebster@stmichaelsgastonia.org

6 Prayer to Our Lady of Good Remedy O Mother of the Divine Redeemer, who under the title of our Lady of Good Remedy comes to the aid of all who call upon thee, extend thy maternal protection to us. We depend on thee, Dear Mother, as helpless and needy children depend on a tender and caring mother. Thrift Store Needs We s ll need fall and winter clothing and footwear for adults and children, as well as blankets and warm bedding. For addi onal informa on please contact Amy Prui at or Thank you for your generosity! Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. Take time for your marriage by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend on Nov 9-11, 2018 in Atlantic Beach, NC and Mar 1-3, 2019 in Hickory, NC. For more information visit our website at: or contact us at applications@ncmarriagediscovery.org or You may give electronically at Prayerfully consider giving at least one hour's wage per week to the Lord. BULLETIN DEADLINE: All material for publica on in SMCC Sunday Bulle n must be submi ed to Lisse e Westover, Parish Secretary at secretary@stmichaelsgastonia.org in editable form, no later than 12 Noon, Thursday, ten (10) days prior to publica on. Contact informa on, i.e., name, and/or phone number must also be included. Thank you for your coopera on! Sharing our talents arises from the fact that God has given each of us the ability and gifts to do certain things well, and we are to develop those talents for the good of others.

7 Pastor PARISH DIRECTORY 708 St. Michael s Lane Gastonia, NC In Residence Hispanic Priest (Ext. 112) Deacon Rev. Fr. Lucas Rossi LCRossi@stmichaelsgastonia.org Rev. Fr. James Ebright jaebright@charlottediocese.org Rev. Fr Jose Antonio Juya jjajuya@yahoo.com Rev. Mr. John Weisenhorn yourdeak@gmail.com Deacon / Facilities Manager Rev. Mr. Tim Mueller (Ext. 104) tmueller@stmichaelsgastonia.org Pastoral Care Sr. Carolyn Mary Coll, RSM mercy1827.9@gmail.com Administrative Assistant Mrs. Phyllis Mueller (Ext. 129) prmueller@stmichaelsgastonia.org Parish Secretary / Communications Ms. Lissette Westover secretary@stmichaelsgastonia.org Religious Education (English) Mrs. Theresa Webster (Ext. 114) tmwebster@stmichaelsgastonia.org Choirs Adult Mrs. Toni Keating tmkeating@stmichaelsgastonia.org Children Mrs. Kristen Levine tklehome@bellsouth.ne Schola Ms. Kristy Brown kristylynnbrown@gmail.com St Michael Thrift Store 1111 S. York Street Gastonia, NC Phone: Tuesday Friday:10 5:30 Saturday:10 4 Thrift Store Manager Ms. Amy Pruitt appruitt@stmichaelsgastonia.org St. Michael Catholic School 704 St Michael s Lane Gastonia, NC Phone: School Principal (Ext. 118) Mrs. Sheila Levesque salevesque@stmichaelsgastonia.org DIRECTORIO DE MINISTERIOS 708 St. Michael s Lane Gastonia, NC Vicaría de Gastonia - Ministerio Hispano Padre Jose Antonio Juya Bendición o Presentación de Niños: Betty Villegas Catequesis para Niños, Jóvenes & Adultos Mireya Rico Luzmar Go mez Charla para el Sacramento del Matrimonio Marıá y Dioney Consejería Espiritual - Jueves y Viernes Llame al Padre Jose al Coordinadora Comité Pastoral Hispano Reina Granadino Coordinador General de Liturgia John Herrera Julio Garcıá Graciela Lo pez Decoración para Celebraciones/Artículos Religiosos Nora Hospitalidad: Ariel y Diana Salazar Lectores: Luzmar Go mez / Ministros Extraordinarios de la Sagrada Comunión Julio Garcıá Graciela Lo pez Ministerio de Jóvenes Ivonne Segura Ministerio del Coro (incluyendo bodas/quinceañeras) Fa tima Brens Rolando Espinoza Ministerio Misionero Graciela Lo pez Alicia Alvare Misa para Difuntos Primeros viernes durante Misa de sanacio n Ano tese con Betty Villegas Monaguillos: Mireya Rico Ofrendas: Ariel y Diana Salazar Preparación Pre-Matrimonial: Marıá Luna Preparación Pre- Bautismal: Graciela Lo pez Quinceañeras: Luzmar Go mez Visita a enfermos: He ctor y Alicia Alvare Padre Jose

8 Around our Parish, Diocese & School SMCS Booster Club Fall Yard Sale Saturday, Sept. 22 8AM - 12 PM St. Michael s Gym Are you de-cluttering, cleaning your attic or garage, or do you have too much furniture or toys that no one plays with anymore? Bring it all to St. Michael Catholic School for the SMCS Booster Club Fall Yard Sale. Drop donations off at the school office or call Greg Davidowitz at to schedule drop off for larger items. Are you a writer? The NC Chapter of the Catholic Writers Guild will meet at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Simmons Parish Center, 2208 North Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27408, at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 20, Please come! Lunch will be served, so come with an appe te! You do not need to be a published author to join our group; just a Catholic, with an interest in wri ng, is all that is required! Kelly J. Henson will present Dots and Dashes: How Punctua on Saves Lives. For more info, contact Ginny Lieto, at ginny@virginialieto.com. All parishioners of St. Michael Catholic Church are invited to a Knights of Columbus Social, Saturday, October 20th, following the 5 PM Mass. Sign-up sheets are available in the Narthex. A national pro-life prayer and witness event St. Michael Catholic Church Event Info Sunday, October 7, :00 3:00 PM (arrive early) St. Michael s location: North and south sidewalks of E. Garrison Blvd: Peachtree St. to Grier Middle School Parking: Gastonia Public Library, 1555 E. Garrison Blvd., (in back & on both sides) If crossing E. Garrison Blvd, please cross at the stoplight at Churchill Dr. More Info: (704) or vpmooney@aol.com Signs provided along the sidewalks Bring your Rosary Job Opportunity The Diocesan Office of Development has an opening for a full- me Catholic Chari es Director of Development. The candidate must have an undergraduate degree and a minimum of five years experience in fundraising (extensive fundraising experience may be subs tuted for a completed undergraduate degree). A knowledge of Blackbaud Raiser s Edge or other fundraising database so ware is also preferred. Responsibili es include crea ng and execu ng the annual development plan for Catholic Chari es; engaging, retaining, nurturing and recognizing current donors; iden fying and cul va ng new donors. Please submit cover le er and resume by October 3, 2018 to Jim Kelley, Office of Development, jkkelley@charlo ediocese.org.

9 Quien pierda su vida por mí y por el Evangelio, la salvará. Marcos 8, Reflexión Cuenta una leyenda que, en una ocasión, una mujer budista acudió al templo con su hijo muerto. Su niño era una criaturita de seis años. Lo llevaba en brazos y, con lágrimas en los ojos, le gritaba a la imagen de Buda pidiendo que lo curase. Y el Buda le dijo que se lo podría traer de nuevo a la vida si ella le llevaba unas semillas de mostaza. Pero con una condición: debían ser semillas recogidas en la casa de alguna persona que no estuviera sufriendo ningún dolor desde el año anterior. La mujer dio un salto de júbilo y salió corriendo a buscar lo que se le pedía. Fue de casa en casa hasta que recorrió casi toda la Tailandia. Al poco tiempo volvió a Buda con las manos vacías. Pero esta vez ya no pidió la curación de su hijo. Había comprendido que no hay ningún hombre sin sufrimiento en esta tierra. A cuántas personas conoces tú, amigo lector, que no sufran algo en la vida? A veces nos puede dar la impresión de que fulanito o menganito no tienen problemas ni sufrimientos... Parece que todo les sonríe y les salen las cosas como ellos las habían planeado!: tienen dinero, gozan de comodidades, buena fama, de una posición económica y social afortunada, amistades, etc., etc., etc.. Diríamos que son personas con bastante "suerte" o que el "destino" les ha favorecido. Pero, en el fondo, yo creo que esos juicios son demasiado ligeros y no tienen ningún fundamento de verdad. Además de que, al hablar así, están demostrando una fe no muy grande en la Divina Providencia. También aquí se cumple el refrán de que "el jardín del vecino siempre parece más verde"... Yo diría, más bien, que mucha gente "aparenta" ser feliz, como la historia de Garrik de la semana pasada. La recuerdas? Son máscaras de felicidad! Y no digo yo que no existan personas verdaderamente felices. Por supuesto que las hay. Y muchas, gracias a Dios! Pero lo que quiero subrayar ahora es que todos, absolutamente todos en esta tierra, tenemos que sufrir. Y de hecho, sufrimos. Quién no ha tenido, en efecto, una enfermedad, un dolor, un accidente? o una pena personal muy honda por motivos económicos, familiares o espirituales? Y quién no ha sufrido alguna vez el dolor por un problema de un hijo, una enfermedad del esposo, de la esposa o de los propios padres; o la muerte de un ser querido? Y, además, cuántos sufrimientos morales invaden, a veces de improviso, la casa de nuestra alma: pesares, tristezas, depresiones, fracasos, angustias, tribulaciones por tantísimos motivos! La listas de posibilidades es casi infinita... discípulos. Y sólo existe un Cristo: el Crucificado y el Resucitado por nuestra salvación. El evangelio de hoy, con su mensaje eterno, nos confirma esta enseñanza. Después de la confesión de Pedro en Cesarea de Filipo, nos cuenta san Marcos que Jesús comenzó a instruir a sus apóstoles: "El Hijo del hombre les dijo tiene que padecer mucho, ser condenado por los sumos sacerdotes y por los ancianos del pueblo, ser ejecutado y resucitar a los tres días". El sabía muy bien que ése era el camino de nuestra redención. Más aún, pudiendo haber escogido otros caminos diferentes para salvarnos, quiso escoger precisamente éste. Por qué? Es un misterio. Pero, al menos, estamos seguros de que el camino de la cruz es el más conveniente para nuestra salvación porque fue el que eligió nuestro Redentor. Cuando Pedro quiso apartar al Señor de esta senda pues, al igual que nosotros, no entendía por qué su Maestro tenía que sufrir se llevó la gran "reprimenda" de su vida: " Apártate de mi vista, Satanás! le dijo el Señor a su apóstol predilecto porque tú piensas como los hombres y no como Dios". Es decir, que sólo podemos entender el lenguaje de la cruz por medio de la fe, que nos coloca en el punto de vista de Dios. Y, al final de este evangelio, nuestro Señor añade: "El que quiera venirse conmigo, que se niegue a sí mismo, que cargue con su cruz y me siga". Enseñanza contundente, clarísima, ineludible. Si somos cristianos, hemos de seguir a Cristo abrazando con fe y con amor nuestra propia cruz. Entonces, por qué nos extrañamos cuando ésta se presenta en nuestra vida? Hemos de pedirle a nuestro Señor, más bien, la generosidad, la fortaleza y el amor necesarios para ser cristianos de verdad, siguiéndolo por el mismo camino que va recorriendo El, delante de nosotros. Diálogo con Cristo Señor, quiero que seas todo para mí. Moldea mi corazón al tuyo para que pueda valorar y experimentar todos los acontecimientos desde tu perspectiva. Ayúdame a amarte sobre todas las cosas para estar listo para seguirte en los momentos de dificultad; cuando se necesite un sacrificio personal o renuncia, sosténme para poder seguir tu camino. Y lo curioso es que, cuando nos sobreviene cualquier dolor, casi nunca estamos preparados. Siempre nos coge de sorpresa, a pesar de que el sufrimiento es algo tan común en todos los mortales. Es más, diría yo sin temor a equivocarme que el dolor es un elemento esencial en la vida de todo ser humano; y con mayor razón de todo cristiano. De todo ser humano porque nadie vive, de hecho, sin él; y de todo cristiano porque la cruz es el signo de su identidad. Cuál es, si no, lo primero que una madre cristiana enseña a su niño pequeño? A hacer la señal de la cruz. Y es este signo, en efecto, lo primero que hacemos todos cuando iniciamos una oración y, tal vez, hasta llevamos una cruz colgada en nuestro pecho. Somos cristianos porque seguimos a Cristo y somos sus

10 PARISH INFORMATION SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM If you are interested in having your child baptized, please contact the church office at SACRAMENT OF HOLY MATRIMONY All weddings are celebrated inside the Church on Saturday at 10 AM or 12 PM. Please contact the church office at for more information. MARRIAGE TRIBUNAL ADVOCATE Please contact Donna Snyder at or at SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING OF THE SICK Please call the church office ( ) to set a time before serious surgery or any time in an emergency. HOLY COMMUNION AT HOME Please contact Sr. Carolyn Mary Coll at or mercy1827.9@gmail.com FAITH FORMATION & SACRAMENTS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS Contact the Director of Religious Education Theresa Webster at ext 114 or tmwebster@stmichaelsgastonia.org RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA) Anyone interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith or who wishes to become Catholic should contact the Director of Religious Education Theresa Webster at ext. 114 or tmwebster@stmichaelsgastonia.org DEVOTIONS Wednesday: 5:00 PM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 5:30 PM Holy Rosary and Benediction First Fridays: 10 PM Thursday 7:45 AM Friday: Nocturnal Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Every Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM All Day Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 PM Saturdays: 8:00 AM Lauds & Miraculous Medal Novena Fridays of Lent: 6 PM Stations of the Cross PARISH PASTORAL & FINANCE COUNCIL MEMBERS Pastoral Council Steve Cherry Juan García Reina Granadino John Keating Maureen O Keefe Dacia Beaver John Guglielmetti Dawn Nielson Kevin Spalding scherry@mrdacpa.com gaston.instructor@gmail.com reinaigranadino@hotmail.com keatingusa@gmail.com Finance Council mokeefe31@gmail.com dacia333@hotmail.com gccgolfer7@gmail.com dnielson1@bellsouth.net kevin@bzcoach.com ST. MICHAEL S PARISH APP Download the app by texting the word app to 88202, or by clicking the QR Code below (you have to have a QR scanner app on your smartphone in order to scan the QR Code), or you can also download the app to your phone by visiting the App Store or Google Play! ATTENTION NEWCOMERS Have you completed a parish registration form? Do you have any questions? Please feel free to ask one of our Greeters!