The Transfiguration of the Lord, August 6, 2023

Ezekiel 17: It shall put forth branches and bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar.  Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, every winged thing in the shade of its boughs.

2 Corinthians 5: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,  so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

Mark 4: It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.  But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”

 

Barbara Wittek heard from her friend whose grandson, Ford we have been praying for.  She asks for even more prayers for Ford.

 

Acts of the Apostles 10:  While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.

1 John 4:  Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.

John 15:  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.

 

Jeremiah 33: That's when Judah will be secure and Jerusalem live in safety.

1 Thessalonians 3:  And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you.

Luke 21:  And then – then! – they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style – a glorious welcome!

 

 

 

Another Reminder for the 1st Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2024

Readings:

Isaiah 49, 3, 5 &6,  I will make you a light to the nations.

 Psalm 40,  Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.

 1 Corinthians 1, 1- 3,  Grace to you and peace.

 John 1, 29-34,   John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him.

 

 

Hi, Everybody, Welcome in.

 

Isaiah reminders—

 Author: This is Isaiah #2, the composer of chapters 40-55.

 Date:  Ca. 555 before Christ.  The Jewish people of Jerusalem are in the Babylonian Captivity.

 Today’s Message: Hope and promise of a better time with emphasis on 1. being a Servant of the Lord, and 2. being a Light to the Nations.

 

 

"Come on in, Folks," sez Zoe.  

 

A Light to the Nations

So, Rosemary says to me, “Hey, we are getting tired of hearing you talk about the Jewish Community Center.  I was running past her my ideas about a homily for this morning.  Therefore, I request your tolerance.  One more time.

I went to this Center initially just to work out a bit, and especially to see how I liked spin classes.   Four houses down from our house lives a youngish  Jewish couple who have two kids now in college and a white dog, named Patty.  Guess with whom Aviana likes to visit. 

 

 

The excellent Candle Man of The Week, Ben.

 

The couple, Bud and Barbra, knew I did a lot of biking and kept encouraging me to visit the J, which is 10 minutes from our house.  When I discovered I could get in free with my United Health card, Silver Sneakers, I started going. 

For the first six months I found the exercise good but there was little camaraderie among the riders.  People came and went without as much as a word.  The next six months I began to learn names and started greeting everyone and talking.  Today there is a lot of camaraderie.

 

 

What a treat, Folks, Buddy is still awake.

 

So it happened one morning while walking to the room where the bikes are that I began to talk with a guy I knew and liked named Mike, a guy in his early 50’s, very personable, smiling all the time, and Jewish.

I had been reading some fictional works on the Holocaust.  So I feel comfortable enough to ask Mike about himself.  “Where is your family from, Mike?”  “From Poland,” he responds.  “Wow,” I think, “the Holocaust was horrible in Poland.  Like Auschwitz is near Warsaw and Warsaw was the scene of the Warsaw Uprising.” 

 

 

I see you Ben, and I cannot say that a little mouse did not swipe your cupcake last week.  Be nice to me and we'll see what might happen.  Even Carol is watching you from behind you..

 

So I ask, “Mike, how was your family effected by the Holocaust?”  “We lost over 80 members of our extended family.”   I cannot believe what I am hearing.  I am struck dumb.  I am choked up.  I feel like I am walking on holy ground, next to a Jewish saint.  A bright light.

There is also a little lady named Haya in our group.  I found out her birthday, got the class to sing to her one morning, and gave her one of those little Belvita cookie packages.  I asked the lady who rides next to me how old she though Haya is.  She says in her 80’s.  So I ask her. 

We are exactly the same age, 76.

 

 

 

Offertory team: Sir Charlie (who released him from time out!) & Jan, Bernadette & Gil. 

 

I am stunned and really curious.  How different was her life than mine?  She speaks with an obvious European accent.  So I invite her to lunch with me and Rosemary.  I am betting that her first 18 years were a lot different than mine spent growing up in University Park .

We go to the Corner Bakery at Preston-Forest.  She says she was born in a small Polish town in 1940, the year after the Nazis had invaded and occupied Poland.  Her father and his two brothers had a business.  Her father, however, must have had a premonition about how bad it might get.

 

 

Here they come, Folks, let's start the celebration, Olivia and Shonda.

 

He took the family first to the Russian zone of Poland, and then managed to escape to Marseilles, France, on the Mediterranean.  From there they went to Israel when it was still a British holding.  Finally, they escaped to New York, where she grew up.  Her two uncles and all the extended family disappeared.

Again I am stunned and humbled to be in the presence of this person. 

 

 

Our Best Man, Cowboy Cole. 

 

I think all of us here and certainly myself, we hope to be light to others, like Isaiah promises.  Often it is the light of others that touches me.   Mike and Haya humble me, sensitize me,  and focus a whole new light on my own life, how blessed I am and have been.

Who is a light for you? 

And for whom are you a light?

 

Cowboy Cole, Take these Pagans out into the wilderness from whence they come and leave them.  No more love for you two.

 

 

 

"Welcome in, Everybody," say Alison & John

 

Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made.

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & Stack. 

Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075 

 

 

"Wow," say Zoe & Tori, "Lots of good treats today," like chocolate chip cookies from Jason's.

 

Readings:

Isaiah, 35, 1-6, 10,  Then will the eyes of the blind be opened

 Psalm 146,  Lord, come and save us.

 James 5, 7-10,  Welcome one another as Christ welcomed you.

 Matthew 11, 2-11,   Are you the one who is to come?

 

Happy Birthday, Grace.

 

Happy 6th special anniversary and happy birthday to Fred.

 

Community Activities:  

ROMEO MEET: Friday, December 9, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.  Welcome all wakos,  you will fit right in.  

JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together), December 9; 12:30

ADVENT PLANS:   Download Advent 2016    This Sunday, food drive

 

Happy 41st, Tom & Denni.

 

Happy 30th, John & Connie.

   

Christmas at the Dallas Symphony

This year we are going to the Meyerson on Friday, December 16th at 7:30 pm.   We will have seats in the Orchestra section at approximately $45.00 per person.  Please let Rosemary (rosemary.mcginn@sbcglobal.net) know as soon as possible if you are interested in going.  

Something new and special this year.  We will meet before the 7:30 concert at the condo of Beth & Rob at 2111 Marilla on the corner with S. Pearl across the street from the Dallas Farmers’ Market.   

 Here are instructions on how to arrive at Robinson’s, including how to arrive via DART.  Note also that you may leave your car at Robinsons and take the free DART shuttle to the Meyerson (saving you $10 parking).        Download DART to Robinsons'

 

 

 

Happy 4th, Meredith and Brent.

 

What is going on in Our Catholic World

1. 4 Cardinals may get stripped of their pink outfits, The Tablet, November 13, 222 words,    Download 4 CARDINALS FIRED 12-8-16
2. A wake up call to American bishops, Commonweal, November 22, 190 words,   Download BISHOPS GET WAKE UP 12-8-16
3. Irish priests burning out, National Catholic Reporter, December 1, 700 words,    Download Irish priests burning out 12-8-16

 

 

 

Offertory, Mike and Geri, Teresa and Tom 

 

True? 

Six Facts of Life

1. Don't educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy, so when they grow up they will know the value of things, not the price.
2. Best wise words: "Eat your food as your medicines. Otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food."
3. The one who loves you will never leave you because, even if there are 100 reasons to give up, he or she will find one reason to hold on.
4. There is a big difference between a human being and being human. Only a few folks really understand that.
5. You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when you die. In between, you have to manage!
6. If you just want to walk fast, walk alone; but, if you want to walk far, walk together!

KC

 

 

My special helper.

 

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

 

 

I think I feel a stalker.

 

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.

Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.

 

Can we find a volunteer to shake the hand of Sir Charlie?

 

Advent Peace.

Zephaniah 3,   Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!  Sing joyfully, O Israel!

Isaiah 12,  Cry out with joy and gladness;

Philippians 4,   …Rejoice in the Lord always.

Luke 3,   I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming.

 

 

Thanks……

Music,    Ben 

Readers,    Mike & Geri, & Buddy, our candle blesser 

Gospel,     John Cade

Homily,  John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,      Hue, Richard & Mike 

Final Blessing, Rosemary

Norwegian Fiord

 

Readings:  Download 12-12-21 – Readings – Advent 3

Homily:  Download 12-12-21 – Homily – Advent 3

 

Gdansk

 

Remember these special people:

For John Stack having a hard time right now with a bad back;  For Laura Chollick;  For Sandra who has been diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma;   For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine;   For Esparza's new great grandson  & Frank;  For all the medical personnel struggling to treat the tsunami of sick people, in particular, locally, Cindy's staff at Presby, Dallas, and at Frisco Presby, the mother of Harper and Betsy, Kendle, working in labor & delivery, and for Hue & Linda's daughter, Doctor Rosemary Beavers;   For Mary & Dave Hall's g-daughter Allison Keller working at St. Lukes, The Woodlands,   For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody &  Leo & all of Shonda's dear family; For Ursuline Sr. Mary Troy,

 

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.; For Meredith, cancer free & John Schanot;    For John O'Donnell & Jean;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Dee, and for her daughters, Lisa & Lauren  ;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini, plus John's daughter, Joey, with cancer; from Barbara, a little baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation & a nephew; for David McKeon's brother, Hugh; For Beth's friends & brother;   for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

Sunset in the Baltics

 

 

 

Birthdays:  Loretta Williams 12/12,  Tom Good 12/14,  Allen Stryker 12/17, Ben Porter 12/18

Anniversaries:  

                                                        

Dubrovnik

 

Community Finances,   

Expenses: $  430.00

Outreach: $  325.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

Rosemary's Blessing:  

May an abundance of gratitude burst forth in our minds and hearts as we remember all the blessings in our life

May we slow our hurried pace these days so we can be aware of, and enjoy, what we can too easily take for granted

May we always be open, willing and ready to share our blessings with others and never forget the God who loves us lavishly and unconditionally

And  may we remember that our thanksgiving is incomplete until we pay it forward by doing for others what they cannot do for themselves

Amen.

 

From a prayer by Sr. Jean Amore CSJ,  Sacred Heart Academy,  Hempstead, N.Y.