Author: Rosemary

Welcome in!

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

A Summer Blessing

May you walk with God
This summer
In whatever you do
Wherever you go

Walking with God means…
Walking with honesty
And with courage,
Walking with love
And respect
And concern for the feelings of others

May you talk to God
This summer
And every day and
In every situation

Talking with God means…
Praying words of praise
For the beauty of creation
Saying prayers of thanks
For friends and good times,
Asking God's help
In all your decisions
Expressing sorrow
When you have failed

May you talk with God
Every day. Amen.

www.jesuitresource.org  Author unknown

 

 

 

Mike doing his magic.

 

Readings:

Wisdom 12, 13, 16-19, There is no God besides you.

Psalm 86,  Lord, you are good and forgiving.

Romans  8, 26-27,  The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness.

Matthew 13, 24-43,   A sower went out to sow.  Three agricultural parables.

 

 

Thanks to the Team

Music,  Ben & Shonda

Readers,    John & Connie & Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel & Homily,  John Cade & Stack

Eucharistic Prayer, John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers, Mike & Richard & Ben

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

 

Download Readings Week 7-19

 

Please Remember these special people:

For Cindy recuperating from a procedure 3 Mondays ago;   For our Bill;  For Carrie Bieda's son;   For Esparzas, Frank & Mary, who lost their son Jim to sepsis;   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;   For Joe Hogan with cancer;  For Loretta's aunt Alicia;    For Sydney;  & For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom;   for Michelle;  

For Jackie's mom;  For a friend, a neighbor, & a doctor, Karen, with brain cancer; For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free.;    For Hue;  For John O'Donnell;    For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini;  for Virginia Mattingly.

 

 

Birthdays:  Reth Robonson

 

 

 

Community Finances, July 19, 2020

Expenses: $  360.00

Outreach   $  100.00   (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

The Hidden Blessings & Graces of COVID-19

I would like to talk this morning about the hidden blessings & graces available to us in this time of the COVID-19.  There are special gifts for us.  There are always opportunities for us to grow and be richer in body, mind, & spirit.  Today we have  extraordinary opportunities to grow into even better and richer people.

For example, take body.  What are you doing today to exercise, to get in better shape and to do it leisurely.  Jackie Johnson just got an airedyne bike for her house.  Rosemary & I have an airedyne  we bought when the J & the gyms were all closed.  I felt bereft when I could not go to work out with my friends at the J at 5:00 in the morning. 

 

 

Ben working his magic with Shonda sharing from home.

 

 

We also have been riding our bikes weekday mornings from Northwood Park at Royal Lane to White Rock Lake on the W. R. Creek Trail.  Granted, it was the way I was mounting my bike that injured the soft tissue around my left recycled hip.  I have learned. 

Did you know there has been a run on bikes & some bike stores were sold out?  In our neighborhood lots of families, parents and kids, ride by every day.  Biking, great exercise.  To say nothing about the people whom we have never seen walking by.  Some come by probably just to witness the devastation of our Tulip Lane corner.  So, what are you doing to improve or maintain your health? 

 

 

Richard consulting from a distance.

 

What about the mental component?  I remember that when I was laid up 10 years ago getting new hips I took up learning French.  Learn Spanish.  Rosemary & I are reading some really good books.  Across our street, Joyce Scott at 90 years & who did not read nor study Spanish, she loves the massive jigsaw puzzles.  Her house was one of the houses totally demolished that famous October 20 night.  But she loved her puzzles and she was mentally totally sharp.

And finally, the spirit.  What are you grateful for?  What is the blessing of today?  Make a list.  I’ve mentioned this before: Rosemary & I before we go to bed mention two or three special gifts of our day.

And you?  How are you growing in body, mind, and spirit during this unique time in our lives?

 

 

 

 

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.

Winston Churchill

Rosemary's Blessing

 

Good Morning!

This is God.

I will be handling all your problems today.

I do not need your help.

So have a good day!

Author Unknown

 

Remembering….

 

Readings:

Isaiah 55, 10-11, Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down.

Psalm 65,  The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest

Romans  8, 18-23,  The sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us,

Matthew 13, 25-30,  A sower went out to sow.

 

Download Reading Week 7-12

 

Thanks to the Team

Music,  Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Mary & Sandra & Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel & Homily, Deacon Mike

Eucharistic Prayer, John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers, Mike & Richard & Tom

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

 

Please Remember these special people:

For Cindy who faced a procedure Monday morning;   For our Bill;  For Carrie Bieda's son;   For Esparzas, Frank & Mary, who lost their son Jim to sepsis;   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;   For Joe Hogan with cancer;  For Loretta's aunt Alicia;    For Sydney;  & For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom;   for Michelle;  

For Jackie's mom;  For a friend, a neighbor, & a doctor, Karen, with brain cancer; For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free.;    For Hue;  For John O'Donnell;    For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini;  for Virginia Mattingly.

 

 

Magicians at work, Tom, Richard, & Mike.

 

Homily for July 12: The name given by the artist to the picture behind me today is Rhapsody. It has always hung on the wall in front of me, and I’ve enjoyed seeing it every day.  It could have been called Rapture, or a Taste of Paradise.

The picture moved me then and it still does now. I purchased it at a special evening auction given by the marriage partner of Richard Delong a few months after Richard’s death. The proceeds from the auction of Richard’s Art Collection was then given by his marriage partner toward continued research of the Human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS.

The two woman in the picture are in ecstasy, euphoria, elation.  If you could look at it closely, you would see that they are part the celebration of our sacred liturgy.

 

 

Are Ben & Shonda not The Best!

 

 

In our first reading from today’s liturgy, Isaiah the Prophet gives us a wonderful teaching from God to us his children: You will be filled with joy and led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Today’s words from our liturgy continue with a psalm of gratitude to God who prepares us for an expectation of a fruitful harvest of Words.

The second reading is the eager expectation from the Letter to the Romans revealing to us that those who have welcomed and are living to Good News, are the children of God, who have joyfully received the Holy Spirit.

Our gospel reading seeks for us to bear fruit; 100, or 60, or 30 times greater than what was sown for us in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

 

 

Birthdays:  John Schanot & Caroline Grattifiori

Anniversaries:   Ron & Marilyn Ackerman, 57th

 

 

A temporary Altar while adjustments are made.

 

Community Finances, July 12, 2020

Expenses: $810.00 

Outreach   $425.00,   (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.

Winston Churchill

 

Rosemary's Blessing

Lord,

May we never take our freedom for granted

and help us to strive so that this same freedom

may be experienced by everyone in our country,

especially the poor and the oppressed,

and eventually by all humankind.

Andrew Greeley   A Book of Irish American Blessings and Prayers  

 

 

Thanks to the Team

Music,  Ben & Shonda

Readers,  John & Mary Jane & Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel & Homily, John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer, John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers, Mike & Richard

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

 

 

 

Download Readings Week 14

 

 

Please Remember these special people:

For Cindy facing a procedure Monday morning;   For our Bill;  For Esparzas, Frank & Mary, who lost their son Jim to sepsis;   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;   For Joe Hogan with cancer;  For Loretta's aunt Alicia;    For Sydney;  & For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom;   for Michelle;  

For Jackie's mom;  For a friend, a neighbor, & a doctor, Karen, with brain cancer; For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free.;    For Hue;  For John O'Donnell;    For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini;  for Virginia Mattingly

 

 

 

Richard & Mike, this Sunday's producers.

 

 

Birthdays:  Brent, 64; Paul Bieda, 59, Kim, Carol Eshelbrenner

Anniversaries:   Jan & Sir Charlie, 58th

 

 

Sir Bieda, Is this what happens when you retire??

 

 

Community Finances, July 5, 2020

Expenses: $500.00 

Outreach   $100.00   (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.  Winston Churchill

 

 

John Cade's excellent homily

 

Homily: I want to thank Stack for making known to us the beauty and power of a Biblical verse in today’s Responsorial Psalm, “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.” I now know that this same description of who God is, is also repeated in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in other Psalms.   

• In Exodus Ch 34 we hear that when Moses received the 10 commandments the Lord came down over Mt. Sinai in a cloud and said, The Lord the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness.”
• In the Book of Numbers Ch 14, when the Israelites didn’t obey God’s commandments and just grumbled about life being difficult, God wanted to wipe them out, start all over and make Moses the head of an even greater nation. But Moses cried out quoting God with what he said about himself on Mt. Sinai, that ‘The Lord is slow to anger and rich in kindness.” 
• At least three psalms repeat this description of God.

Psalm 86 says, “You, O Lord, are merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness.”

Today’s Psalm 103 says, “Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.”

Psalm 145 says, “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.”

• The Prophet Joel Ch 2, says, “Gracious and merciful is God, slow to anger, rich in kindness.”
• Finally, the funny little story of the Prophet Jonah. He was told by God to go to Nineveh and preach to the people that they better repent or in 40 days they would be destroyed. In Ch 4 Jonah says to God that the very reason he didn’t want to preach destruction to Nineveh and tried to run away, was because, “I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and rich in kindness.”

 

Mike checking out the production.

 

My household of three persons are, for the most part, keeping the quarantine, so there aren’t as many opportunities to see God show up in person through the mercy and kindness of others, though I see plenty of it on the news.  Here’s five instances I saw this verse, this definition of God, show up in others, all just this week:

• I was struck again by the graciousness and kindness of our Mass team. The tech squad, e.g., brings some of their own computers, and other electronic stuff I wouldn’t understand, and patch it all together to ‘make community happen’ through this online Mass.
• I went to get about a twice-a-month treat for me and Mama (what I call Kalliopi)—original chicken from KFC. I order the smallest bucket they have, 8 pieces which covers the protein part of two meals.  When I got to the window, the guy says, I have a recommendation—when you want the 8 piece, order the 10 piece special; and it costs less.  He did not have to tell me this little secret. 
• Our AC guy came to perform a semi-annual check-up on our AC system. When he tested the unit’s cold air production he found it wanting and said he thought we’d need a pound of Freon @ $200/lb. But he stayed longer watching the gauge, and eventually said with a smile, “Well, waiting later, now it’s reading okay, so no added Freon is needed.”  He did not have to extend the time of his check-up.
• Joey brought us some of the bulk vegetables she gets from an organic farm near Austin every week. She did not have to drive across town to bring us such a treat.
• Finally, when Joey came, Leo was with her wearing a t-shirt that said on the front in big print, “A little kindness can change the world.” Hello!?  That inspired to recall how often others show up—in so many ways—wearing that Bible verse definition of God: The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.

When was the last time you saw this verse show up in another person, or in yourself?

 

 

 

 

Rosemary' Blessing

May the Spirit within us

       Be a source of healing and consolation.

May the Spirit within us

       Strengthen us when we feel weak,

       Warm us when we are cold-hearted,

       Bend us when we are stubborn,

       Move us when we are uncaring,

       Guide us in the way of love.

May we allow the Spirit within

       To empower us in all we do.

Michael Morewood

 

 

Buddy reads our Summer Blessing

 

Thanks to the Team

Music,  Ben

Readers,  Denni & Tom & Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel, John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer, John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers, Mike & Ben & Becky & Tom & Richard

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

 

Denni reads from 2 Kings.

 

Please Remember these special people:

For Richard's dad who just passed recently;   For Carrie Bieda's brother, who also just passed recently;  For our Bill;  For Esparzas, Frank & Mary, who lost their son Jim to sepsis;   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;   For Joe Hogan with cancer;  For Loretta's aunt Alicia;    For Sydney;  & For Sir Charlie;  Shonda's mom;   for Michelle;  

For Jackie's mom;  For a friend, a neighbor, & a doctor, Karen, with brain cancer; For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free.;    For Hue;  For John O'Donnell;    For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini;  for Virginia Mattingly

 

 

Tom reads from Romans.

 

Birthdays:  None this week

Anniversaries:  

 

Download Readings Week 12

 

 

The Art of Zooming, thanks to Mike & Ben & Tom & Richard & Becky.

 

Community Finances, June 28, 2020

Expenses: $ 500.00

Outreach:  $ 200.00  (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Tom monitoring our process.

 

Homily,  from a story Grace gave me:

It so happened that on this particular morning the drive through lane at this particular McDonald's was endless.  It seemed to go on forever.  Trouble was they had what this person wanted.  Plus nothing else would move as fast.

So the person gets on line and the line is moving pretty quickly.  Before you know it, the person is at the first window, the girl waiting for the order.   Trouble was, the order included 3 or 4 other people at home.  It was taking a little extra time to get the order straight.

Suddenly from the car next in line the horn starts blowing.  Hands behind the window are saying,  'Get moving,  Hurry up,  Get out of the way!

'Patience', the person thinks, 'Take the high road.'  'The person is just having a bad morning.' 

 

John reading from home.

 

Finally the first person moves on to the pay & collect window.  Both orders are sitting in the window, one big one & one smaller.

Now you have three choices.  1.  Pay for your order & get out of the way.  2.  Pay for your order and for the small order belonging to the person honking the horn.   Wave and depart.  3.  Pay for both orders and take both orders, which will force the person behind to have to go all the way to the end of the line and start  over again.  That will teach her to honk at older people!

Which is the better way and which would you do? 

Want to know which choice Rosemary would make?!

 

 

  

Rosemary' Blessing

Loving God, through the gift of our fathers,

you reveal your wisdom, love and care.

 

Continue to bless and guide these holy men

you have given to us in our lives.

 

Support them in their call

to lead holy lives of faithfulness, respect and integrity.

 

May their witness of faith and love

shine from them and on their children and families

giving hope and encouragement to all.

 

Bless them for all the ways they lift their children to achieve their dreams.

Bless them for their sacrifice, their forgiveness and their guidance.

 

Bless grandfathers, uncles, brothers, cousins, teachers and coaches

who have shown us love and support.

 

For those fathers who have lost a child or spouse,

give them your loving touch of healing

consoling them with your gentle care.

 

For those fathers who have gone before us,

bring them to your eternal banquet of joy and peace;

bring them the fullness of union with you

and communion with us as we remember their love for us. Amen.

 

Sister Jean Amore CSJ, Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead,N.Y.  Adapted from Fr. John Thomas Lane, SSS

 

 

Part of

The Cheese Team, Becky & Tom

 

 

Thanks to the Team

Music, Shonda & Ben

Readers, Rob & Beth & Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel, Deacon Mike

Eucharistic Prayer, John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers, Mike & Ben & Becky & Tom

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

The Music Team, Ben & Shonda

 

Please Remember these special people:

For Richard's dad who just passed;   For Carrie Bieda's brother, who also just passed the end of this week;  For Bill;  For Esparzas, Frank & Mary, who lost their son Jim to sepsis;   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;   For Joe Hogan with cancer;  For Loretta's aunt Alicia;    For Sydney;  & For Sir Charlie;  Shonda's mom;   for Michelle;  

For a friend, a neighbor, & a doctor, Karen, with brain cancer; For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free.;    For Hue;  For John O'Donnell;    For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini;  Virginia Mattingly

 

 

 

Where is everybody??

 

From last Weeks:

Birthdays:  Shonda (last Week), Deacon Mike ordained '78, Bill Ekes, Alison DeGenova;  Bernadette, Ben's wife, Camile, Harper 9 

Anniversaries:  Sandra  & Chuck,  59th,  Barb & Warren 41st,  Rick Urbanczik, 45th & Rick, 68 

 

 

Download Readings Week 12

 

 

The Master Technician, Mike.

 

Deacon Mike's Homily

There was a rich merchant who had three sons.  The two older ones cared only for themselves. The younger son, however, cared little about the things of the world; instead he cared for his father’s workers with kindness and wisdom.  One spring day, the merchant told his three sons to meet him at the wharf; it was time for them to take over his business. The two older sons immediately ran ahead and began fighting with each other for the newest of his father’s three boats.  

The youngest son had prepared himself for this day. He knew the ones who worked well with one another; and the ones he trusted to help him read the weather, the maps, and the stories about other kingdoms. They were ready; and after bringing barrels of food on board they set sail.

One of their maps showed that they would come upon some small islands four weeks out on the direction they had chosen. When they encountered them they stopped at one whose sand looked to be pure white. Stopping there they realized that it wasn’t sand at all. It was salt.  Having extra bags that could be used for ballast they decided to take some of it home with them. A month or so later they came upon a fairly large kingdom; and they were greeted by its king.  He wished them well and fed them; but he told them that he wasn’t interested in trading for his father’s goods.

Undaunted, the younger son, after having eaten their food, paid a visit to the king’s kitchens, where he discreetly sprinkled salt, to the meat, onto the soup, over the tomatoes and into the bland custard. That night the king was amazed at the flavor of his food. Calling his chefs before him, he excitedly asked about the new technique they were using. The response was that the young man from the boat had sprinkled something called salt onto the king’s food.  The next afternoon, the merchant’s youngest son set sail for home with his crew filled with joy.  The ship was now laden with one bag of gold for every sack of salt he had left for the king.

With humility, kindness and love we too are to become the Christ by sharing the salt and light of the gospel, the treasure of the Church, to as many as we can.

 

 

The Mass continues

 

Community Finances, June 21, 2020

Expenses: $290.00

Outreach:  $XXX  (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks, Folks, for doing what you can.