Announcements

October 13, 2024 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time bulletin - All Saints’ Day & All Souls’ Day coming

Dear People of God,

We are making our way through the month of October. Over the past decade it has become scary not just because of Halloween, but also because of the fire history that we have had. We recognize the continuing need to make appropriate preparations and planning as needed. On the other scary side, we live in a culture that gets carried away with minor aspects of holidays that come to distort the true meaning that the Church intends. The days of Oct 31, Nov 1, and Nov 2 should be a good time of reflection and consideration. Just like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, our culture makes things like Jack-o-lanterns and candy the main attraction. There is nothing wrong with squash, candy, and kids having playful, safe fun. But that is not the meaning of these days. Rather, we should reflect on the last things: death, judgment, Heaven, and hell.

We should all be reminded that we will all one day die. We do not live in this world forever and I wouldn't want to live here forever anyway. I would much prefer to move on to a world in which my Creator was truly the manifest center of all things. I want to be in Heaven. However, we have to recognize that that is not the only possibility. The other place, Hell, does exist and is real. Obviously, we seek to avoid this place by our relationship with Christ Jesus. He wishes us to live in His Paradise which was prepared for us from the beginning. Matthew 25:34 makes clear that this was God's intention for us always. The rest of that parable states that Hell was actually created for the Devil and his "angels." Humans aren't meant to go there, but that does happen according to Jesus. We will be judged by Our Lord after we pass from this world. We believe that He will show us mercy and forgive us our sins, but we seek to reconcile while we are still living. One of the beautiful things about our faith is our ability to know that we are right with God as we confess our sins, do our penance, and amend our life. Thus, let us renew our faith and consider how to make it grow.

Sincerely,
Very Rev. Samuel Moses Brown

October 6, 2024 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time bulletin - Prepare!

Dear People of God,
We come now to the anniversary of the fire in 2017. It was a traumatic and scary time for all of us and we had something we lost, even if we didn't lose our home. We all lost our peace of mind and comfort with the Fall as a season of transition and fun. Instead, we think of disaster and making get out plans. On that note, it's a good reminder for everyone to speak with those in their home about escape routes and what to do in an emergency. Whom should they call? How long before they start to get worried? What constitutes a disaster? And lastly, we should plan on spiritual care. Have we gone to confession lately and would we want this to be the day we meet our Maker?

On a practical note, I do want you all to be aware that we are going to have to remove the large silver maple that sits on the south west corner of the property. It has begun to die. An arborist told me that that species of tree is dangerous in their later years because the trunk hollows out from the center while appearing normal. Eventually, it will collapse and cause serious damage to whatever it hits. It is my intention to replace it with a different species that will not get as big.

Lastly, in this time of the end part of the liturgical year, it is time for us to begin to consider how we want to spend our Advent. We should strive to truly prepare for the coming of the Lord in our life of prayer and fasting. Please begin to ask the Lord what He would like of you during that Holy Season to come.

May God bless you all,
Very Rev. Samuel Moses Brown

September 29, 2024 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time bulletin - Receiving Holy Communion
Dear Father: Has Communion always been distributed on the tongue or was it done differently in the centuries past?

Dear Reader: Communion has been distributed in different ways throughout the Church's history. We cannot be certain how it was done at the Last Supper, but it's likely that the Apostles were laying down on a U shaped couch with a short table that was also U shaped in front of them. Such eating arrangements were common in the Hellenistic world. Jesus would have walked in the middle to bring them the Bread and Wine. We cannot be sure. However, we do know that one of the most ancient liturgies in the Eastern Church actually told the priest to put Communion in the hands of the people. In the early Middle Ages, there were shifts in liturgical praxis. In some places, kneeling to receive Communion on the tongue became the normal practice. There are also some accounts of Communion being put into linen bags and passed around. For obvious reasons, that practice did not continue. Eventually, in the Middle Ages, the practice of kneeling in a line developed as the norm. The priest would simply walk back and forth to distribute Communion.

After Vatican II, many people thought it was a good idea to remove Communion rails for one reason or another. People wonder if there was a decree to remove Communion rails. There was no such decree, however, there never was a decree telling people to have Communion rails either. After the Council, the Church did authorize reception of Communion on the hand again while people stood to receive. This may have given some people the perception that the Church wanted us to remove all altar rails. Today, we are blessed at St. Eugene with a beautiful and sturdy Communion rail that makes receiving Communion on the tongue easy and efficient. However, sometimes people don't really stick out their tongue, they just open their mouth which doesn't make it easy for the priest to administer Communion. Please remember when receiving Communion on the tongue that sticking out the tongue just passed the lower lip is a big help.

May Our Lord bless you all of your days,
Rev. Samuel Moses Brown

September 22, 2024 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time bulletin - Humility & Helping Hnnd
Dear People of God,

This week we read about Jesus after Peter declares Him to be the Messiah. As I had earlier noted, there are various conflicts that ensue. In this reading, we have a conflict between the disciples about who is the greatest. In Mark, the disciples actually argue about this twice! This is the first time. In one sense, it seems silly because it shouldn't be that big of a deal. Isn't being with Jesus and being His disciple enough? Yet they are human, just like we are, and they invite odd reasons to be angry or difficult with each other. This reading can be a natural reminder for all of us to not ask for things above our station in life and to be humble. We know from other places in Scripture that God wants us to be humble before Him and before our fellow man.

On another note, I'm pleased to tell you that we have had some response from the school's "Adopt-a-Student" drive. I prayed over a gift and decided to fund the cost of one student. Although we can say that such a gift sets one back, we should remember that such a gift sets someone else forward. The gift of a solid Catholic education, especially in the early years, means so much to those who have received it. They are set up for a lifetime of success in the world's eyes and a lifetime of success in what matters to God. The data does show that attending a Catholic grade school leads to stronger practice of the faith, better Church participation overall, and also vocations. The good that we do now for our school will pay us back in the future when those kids are the ones actively living their Catholic faith. I would ask you all to prayerfully consider a gift, even if you cannot fund the cost of a whole student, please consider a smaller gift. The money will be put to good use for a very good cause: our collective future as Church.

God bless you all,
Fr. Samuel Moses Brown

September 15, 2024 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time bulletin - Penitential Rite
Dear Father: Why do we almost always use the Confiteor at the beginning of Mass instead of one of the other options for the Penitential Rite?

Dear Reader: Previous to the Second Vatican Council, there were a set of penitential prayers that the priest said before entering into the sanctuary at Mass. These prayers were said inaudibly, but the congregation was invited to reflect at that time.
After the Council, it was decided to create a public penitential rite in which the people of the congregation audibly participated. This has become known as the Penitential Rite. It was divided into three options: A, B, or C. These three options had been in the previous liturgy. Option C, is the most common in many parishes which includes three invocations of Jesus that are meant to say something about Him and how He relates to us. It is followed by: Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy. However, many parishes prefer Option A which has the prayer "I confess..." also known as the "Confiteor" which is the first word in Latin of that prayer. It gives people a prayer to say that can be used in other contexts and it gives voice to our communal need for forgiveness. In some ways, it is similar to an Act of Contrition.
There is also an option B for the penitential rite that I have very rarely seen used with a congregation, though I do use it when I say a private Mass. The priest says: "Have mercy on us O Lord," then the people: "For we have sinned against you," then the priest again: "Show us, O Lord, your mercy," and lastly the people say: "And grant us your salvation."

May Our Lord bless you all of your days,
Rev. Samuel Moses Brown JCL

September 8, 2024 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time bulletin - Renew our faith

September 1, 2024 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time bulletin - Kneeling during Mass

Special Feature in the bulletin for August 25, 2024 - Why Do We Venerate Relics?

August 18, 2024 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time Bulletin - Sunday is special

August 11, 2024 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time Bulletin - Holy Eucharist => Eternal Life

August 4, 2024 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Signs and Miracles

July 21, 2024 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Bulletin - Ordinary Time

July 14, 2024 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Bulletin - Seek God’s presence

July 7, 2024 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Bulletin - Embrace Jesus

June 30, 2024 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Bulletin - Jesus heals

June 23, 2024 Bulletin 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time Bulletin - Stewardship

June16, 2024 Bulletin - Father’s Day - Special Message: The Head of the Family

May 26, 2024 Trinity Sunday Bulletin - The Mystery of the Trinity

May 19, 2024 Pentecost Bulletin - Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful
Del Pastor: Domingo de Pentecostés

May 12, 2024 Seventh Sunday of Easter - Ascension Bulletin - Follow Him to Eternity

May 5, 2024 Sixth Sunday of Easter Bulletin - Our Relationship with God

April 28, 2024 Fifth Sunday of Easter Bulletin - We are the branches

April 21, 2024 Fourth Sunday of Easter Bulletin - Jesus is Our Shepherd

April 14, 2024 Third Sunday of Easter Bulletin - Resurrection: nice idea or truth?

April 7, 2024 Second Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday - Bulletin - Several titles - 2nd Sunday of Easter

March 31, 2024 Easter Sunday Bulletin - Christ the Lord is Risen!

March 24, 2024 Bulletin - Welcome the Lord… at all times

March 17, 2024 Bulletin - Countdown to the Passion

March 10, 2024 Bulletin - The Light of God

March 3, 2024 Bulletin - Spiritual & Physical maintenance

February 25, 2024 Bulletin - Transfiguration - God’s Ways

February 18, 2024 Bulletin - All About Lent

February 11, 2024 Bulletin - Jesus Heals a leper - Thanking God

February 4, 2024 Bulletin - Jesus is the Messiah - the Healer

January 28, 2024 Bulletin - The Word of God

January 21, 2024 Bulletin — Time of Fulfillment in the Gospel of Mark

January 14, 2024 Bulletin - Ordinary Time/Gospel of Mark

January 7, 2024 Bulletin — Epiphany

Pastor’s Desk