Follow Jesus’ Way

1. Follow Jesus’ Way The Pulse of L.I.F.E.

2. L.I.F.E.is… “Living in Faith Everyday” “Forming Adults to Create Households of Faith”

3. Welcome Back! September 9, 2012 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Cycle B Mark 7: 31-37

4. Where L.I.F.E.has taken us most recently: July… Rabbi Ben Romer led us in the teachings on justice in the Hebrew Scriptures and, thus, in the real life issues surrounding us. Challenges to us all abounded! August… “Serving Life”…a documentary on the hospice program in Angola Prison led us to consider the Church’s teaching position on the death penalty.

5. This month, did you… • Have a favorite insight from a homily? • Bring items to the food cart? • Try preparing for Mass by studying the readings in advance? • Look at one of the L.I.F.E-recommended websites? • Hear something about our faith that enlightened or challenged you?

6. Biblical thoughts we pondered…as we journeyed through Ordinary Time… *August 12…”the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world”…and, in return, what then might WE give for the life of the world? *August 19…both flesh and blood…both bread AND wine…WE are called to the feast and to the fate, are we not? *August 26…in the face of difficult words, the disciples said, “we have come to believe”…and WE? *September 2…Mark is backremindingus that what evil defiles us comes from within, not from without…oh, my!!

7. Feast Days (Aug. 13-Sept. 8) any favorites of yours? Aug. 14 St. Maximillian Kolbe Aug. 15 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Aug. 16 St. Stephen of Hungary Aug. 20 St. Bernard Aug. 21 St. Pius X Aug. 23 St. Rose of Lima

8. Feast Days (Aug.13-Sept. 8) any favorites of yours? Aug. 24 St. Bartholomew Aug. 25 St. Louis Aug. 27 St. Monica Aug. 28 St. Augustine Aug. 29 Passion of John the Baptist Sept. 3 St. Gregory the Great Sept. 5 Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

9. We & the world contemplate and share as the Fall begins… September 3 Labor Day September 11 Patriot Day September 16- Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) 18 September 18 International Day of Peace September 19 POW/MIA Recognition Day September 23 Prison Ministry Sunday September 25- Yom Kippur ( Day of Atonement) 26

10. L.I.F.E(Living in Faith Everyday)What was St. Augustine Parish doing to bring about the reign of God during the last month? • Our Food Pantry… feeding about 60-70 families this month. See the bulletin for special needs and requests!! Where can I find this?? • Collecting and posting names, and praying for those in our church family separated from usby military service or the Peace Corps in areas of conflict and unrest. • Offering funeral receptions for our bereaved. • Operating a seasonal children’s clothing closet.

11. and…“Healthy Bodies and Big Smiles”come weekly… Tuesdays in St. Augustine’s parking lot ….a wonderful sight when the Bon Secours CARE-A-VAN and the VDH Dental ”Smiles” vans pull in! So very many children and adults being given good care…and such a visible sign of our support of their work!!

12. …a new service on Care-a-van Tuesdays!!!!! JAMES HOUSE is now offering, on site, their counseling services in areas of domestic violence and sexual abuse…

13. …and a new service on Mondays! Commonwealth Catholic Charities …has individual and group counseling at St. Augustine on Mondays. Contact Ms. Rodriguez Perez at 804-545-5951

14. …&…Caring for God’s Creation Improved recycling becomes a reality! It’s not easy being Green! Are you & yours part of the effort already? What happened in your life on April 22? Did Earth Day happen?

15. What can you do?????...BEGIN! • Begin…bring your own cup to L.I.F.E.! • Begin to participate in recycling at home. • Begin to buy “green” whenever possible. • Begin to think “green” in all that you do and in all that you teach your children & grandchildren.

16. and…St. Augustine continues… • Providing food for the Men’s Shelter • Offering hospitality at Freedom House • Serving as mentors in local schools & reading to children at the CARE-A-VAN • Buying fair trade products: ooooohhh… coffee and chocolate! • Adopting a highway • Caring for the homebound and hospitalized • Providing prayer shawls for so many in need of comfort • Sponsoring children and the aged within CFCA Please come join others in these ministries!

17. Congo Coffee Project What do we put in here? Panzi Foundation Our“Fair Trade” coffee offering supports a hospital in South Kivu area of the Congo dedicated to the healing of women and the change in societal and political attitudes!

18. …and in the wider community… • We continue in our role as a Red Crossdisaster shelter site. • We continue our involvement with CCHASM…assisting our own parishioners as well as our neighbors. • We continue to pray for the needs of the wider Richmond community, joining many other Christian Churches and Richmond Hill. When?

19. What is St. Augustine all about? Can you see these happening????.... • Fellowship and feeding! • Outreach within and beyond our borders! • Formation for all…ongoing, ongoing, ongoing!

20. Small Group Study • Lent 2010-today: Women began to gather prayerfully to systematically study and share insights on worldwide efforts toward a “more just, verdant and peaceful world.” They have continued to gather with the current study…Half the Sky and Drawing from Wisdom’s Welland will soon be looking at Fall topics and ongoing outreach actions. Contact Dotty Bedard. • Ecumenical Men’s Bible Study: Men of St. Augustine and of St. John Episcopal meet 2x monthly on Saturday mornings (Deacon Eric and Father Jim have attended!...and breakfast is integral). Contact Darren Van Guilder here today for start up date for the Fall. • These men and women join others in on-going small adult communities sharing & pondering our weekly Scripture readings. **Tuesday a.m. group meets after daily Mass and is open to all! Would you like to be part of small groups like this? Men & women, call Eileen!

21. WINGS is coming Sept. 12! “Women in God’s Spirit” …a ministry of encouragement & enrichment for women of all ages who seek to deepen their faith and grow in their relationship with God and one another …groups will meet weekly during the school year & have 3 different seasons, focusing on three areas of spiritual growth: 1) Catholic teachings; 2) Scripture; 3) Spiritual witness talks.

22. More St. Augustine Formation Events… • Daytime Learning Opportunities Tuesday: Bible study after daily Mass in Room PC 1-2 Wednesday: WINGS 9:45a.m.-11:30 a.m. in Room PC 1-2 (in the Fall) Thursday: Women’s Scripture Group in individual homes Saturday: Men’s Breakfast Study Group (every other week) • Evening Learning Opportunities Tuesdays (2nd and 4th): “EveryWoman”…for every woman and about every woman! (reading/issues study group resuming the Fall in PC 1-2) Outreach activities are a part of this group’s focus!

23. Upcoming St. A’s Events **Wednesdays are WINGS days ! 9:45a.m.-11:30a.m. Registration: Register now on the St. Augustine website **YES: Youth Exploring Scripture…Call Angy Corrigan for information!!! (**every other Wed. evening at homes of parishioners) September 12 WINGS begin 9:45a.m. September Landscaping Day September 15 Rite of Full Reception for David Peck and Rite of 5:30 Mass Adult Confirmation for Desiri Walker with Reception to follow in the Commons September 16 New Parishioner Welcoming/Orientation and Poor Box Breakfast after 9a.m. mass September 18 Holy Hour 7p.m. September 23 Men’s Shelter 6p.m.

24. Good Stuff coming in October! • October 9 Bishop Donald Trautman “Celebrating the Legacy Vatican II” @St. Edward Church • October 11 Year of Faith begins • October 13 Chris Corrigan ordained! • October 20 “Graced by God” Conference here! • October 20-21 Bethlehem crafts @ all Masses

25. Fun Area-wide Opportunities Oct. 6 International Food Festival at the Cathedral Oct. 16 Notre Dame Glee Club at St. Mary’s Church Nov. Al Hallatt’s ordination Nov. 11 Men’s Retreat Day for the entire diocese

26. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month At St. Augustine, look for a focus on local, national and international issues: • Awareness silhouettes from James House • Information on “Half the Sky”, the PBS special, airing locally on Oct.1 and 2 at 9p.m on WCVE (see flyer today) • Fact/awareness sheets on violence against women here and abroad

27. Website of the Month www.halftheskymovement.org

28. AND WHERE WILL L.I.F.E. TAKE US THIS MONTH?

29. We are in Mark (Year B) Who is Mark? • Wrote around the year 70 CE…the earliest to bring the story of the Jesus into narrative form…the Jesus who is the servant of all! • Hoped to strengthen the faith of his community. (Scholars believe that he wrote for the Church of Rome) • Hoped also to teach them what discipleship means…and what it may cost. His writings have a sense of urgency! • His is the shortest Gospel with no infancy narrative and, originally, no post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus.

30. Father Mike and Mark Hoggard ask of us… • Remember that the Lectionary has a specific purpose in its arrangement of readings. BUT,…this often causes readings to be heard “out of context.” • During this “Year of Mark” (Year B), we are challenged to gradually read Mark …chapter by chapter, verse by verse, immersing ourselves in its revelation of Jesus’ character & mission. • P.S. Father Mike says: Read Job!

31. …and why was John back almost all month? *This wonderful time (summertime in the midst of Mark’s Gospel and Cycle B of the Lectionary) brought us into the Scripture readings known as the “Bread of Life Discourses.” *Again, John helps us understand Christ’s true nature…true God and true man!

32. …and today???? “Back to School Specials” Vignettes addressing YOUR questions!!

33. Words of the Month *Theology in the ordinary days of our community *Celibacy of the Ordained Priesthood *Confession/Reconciliation/Penance Qs *Scripture/Bible in Mass *Papal Infallibility

34. A Warm WELCOME! To everyone newly registered in L.I.F.E. and to all guests today

35. …and, today, for whom shall we pray?

36. …and, always, prayer for those journeying toward full initiation into the Catholic Faith! Desiri Walker: Confirmation on September 15, 2012 David Peck: Full Reception in to the Catholic Church on September 15, 2012

37. An invitation… If you, or someone you know, has questions about becoming Catholic, please consider a time of thoughtful inquiry, of welcomed questions, of discerning conversation… Call Eileen Brown 275-7962, ext. 1113

38. …need Adult Confirmation? If you are a Catholic adult who has never been confirmed and would like to prepare for this sacrament of initiation, please contact: Eileen Brown at the Parish Office 275-7962, Ext. 1113 Call Eileen also if you are in need of a CATHOLIC BIBLE!

39. Where will L.I.F.E. take us in October? Our SAINTS (with humor and truth!) **Bring a friend to a “Slice of L.I.F.E.”

40. To Adults with Youth in L.I.F.E. • A reminder : the handout “Disciples at Home” is to be used in the coming week to be a source of good “faith-dialoguing” with your children in grades 7 through 12. • A reminder : youth/children/adults are not to be texting or using cell phones during L.I.F.E. Do have that discussion!!

41. Reminder for all in L.I.F.E. Each July: Remember to assist the staff by returning your yearly invoices for L.I.F.E. promptly!! Postcard reminders sent…children will get books after fees are paid!