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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.

 

Readings:

Numbers 67, 22-27,  The Lord bless you and keep you.

 Psalm 67,  May God bless us in his mercy

 Galatians 4, 4-7,  God sent the spirit of his son into our hearts.

Luke 2, 16-21,   The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God.

 

 

Genevieve, are you the little girl in the red dress who stole the whole show at our Christmas Eve celebration??

 

First reading: God blesses people in countless ways.  Today’s reading from the Book of Numbers is a priestly blessing given first to Moses by words that come to him from the Lord.

Second reading, Galatians 4:4-7: God sent his Son to redeem us so that we can become God’s adopted sons.

 

 

 

Brandon says, "Welcome in, Everybody.  Yep, she is the girl in the red dress."

 

Gospel reading, Matthew 25: 31-46:

John gave me permission to switch gospel readings. What you are missing is a small part of a metaphorical story about Mary, an angel, shepherds and the baby Jesus.

You might recall 15 or 20 years ago that the Liturgy of the Word, for each of the A, B, and C cycles on New Year’s Day, had as its gospel Matthew’s parable of The Last Judgment.  I imagine that its purpose was to encourage parishioners to incorporate some of its teaching into their New Year’s resolutions.

 

 

Alison, you know that the kids all love your home made communion bread and want more than one.

 

But I want you for a moment to think about where we live.  When we go shopping, to work, or to a movie or local restaurant, to Whole Foods or Target, it isn’t really clear to us if there is, for example, an orphan or a widow in our midst who needs our help.  

Simply put, we choose to support with taxes and contributions, governmental agencies and nonprofits, to provide food and drink to the hungry and thirsty and stranger twenty miles south of us. The fact is, whether we realize it or not, we distance ourselves from the needy.

 

 

Clear the way, Folks, here come Mike the Coffee Man.  

 

The meaning to today’s parable is this: When we distance ourselves from the needy, we distance ourselves from God.

I placed myself in the following scenario: I was in one of the poorer parts of South Dallas, around seven in the evening, in front of a drug store where I had gone to pick up some cough medicine.

 

 

Aiden with his grandparents, John & Jean O'Donnell.

 

When I got out of the car and pushed the button to lock all of its doors, I immediately noticed, about two yards from the entrance of the store a stranger, at least to me. He was homeless, for he was wearing too many clothes, unshaven, had dark hair and complexion, and he was finishing the last drink of water that he would get from a small plastic bottle.

 

 

Learning:  Big brother teaching little sister how to work a water fountain.

 

He was looking right at me, and I at him. As I approached him he addressed me in a language I did not know or understand.  Searching his face I sought his eyes and noticed a bit of a smile as he ran his fingers through his hair.  He reached to open the door for me.  What should I do? 

 

Mike ready to share his ideas in his homily.

 

In a split second I heard the question from the unrighteous in today’s parable, ‘When was it that we saw you a stranger and did not welcome you?’

 

 

Offertory, Cheryl, Carrie, & Paul.

 

Would I have responded with a joyful smile?  Would I have embraced him with his perfume of sweat?  Would I have kissed him on his forehead, taking hold of his arm to have him enter with me?  Would I have asked the people in the store if anyone knew his language so that I could find out why he was there and what he needed?  Would I have invited him to my home, offered him the opportunity to take a shower, laid out something for him to wear as I washed his clothes and prepared something for him to eat?   

 

 

Brandon, our Candle Lighter of The Week.

 

Jesus, an itinerant preacher, had a dark complexion and nowhere to rest his head.  Was he present to me here and now? The Lord in our parable was hungry, thirsty, a stranger longing for a visit.   Yes, every encounter we have with another is meant to be a holy encounter.  

 

Our School gorilla (know any other school with a pet gorilla at the door to the cafeteria?) says he is happy to see us back in the cafeteria after being in the gym for Christmas Eve.

 

When we name the other person God, we name ourselves.  We verify our name, the body of Christ in the world.

 

 

 

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?

 

 

Treat of The Week: Sabrina is home from college.  Welcome home, Sabrina.

 

Observations on Isaiah 35

What:  The passage is another from Isaiah 1, (Chapters 1-39)

Our selection:  Another beautiful passage about a bright future.

 

 

Sez Tori, "Yes, Welcome Home, Sabrina."

 

Then the Eyes of the Blind will be opened

I would like to talk this morning about how once in a while, of course, only once in a while, I can be so blind to other people.  This is an old story, but it is right on.

One mild afternoon afternoon I was sitting on a bench in front of Baskin & Robbins on the corner of Preston & Royal, just near our house.   In front of me were two handicapped parking spots, both empty.

 

 

"Welcome home from me, too, Sabrina."
 

 

Suddenly a guy in, say, his early 20’s pulls into one of the parking spots, gets out of his car, and walks into Baskin & Robbins.  I am thinking, ‘Hey, this guys is cheating. There is nothing wrong with him and he has no handicapped sticker in his car window.’  I’m thinking, ‘Why did I not give him my opinion while he walked by me?  I will give it to him whenever he comes out.’

I wait probably about five minute, when suddenly the door opens.  The man emerges holding the right arm of a little old lady who was barely able to walk.

 

 

Is that really you, Leo?

 

Thank God ‘the eyes of the blind will be opened’ before something stupid is said.  Classic judging the book by the cover, one of my favorite activities.

Want to know of another place where my eyes are opened every year?  The Love for the Kids picnic in Flower Mound.

 

 

Love for the Kids picnic, entertainers

 

Again this year we had about 20 volunteers from our home community.  1000 kids with their teachers and sponsors.  There was all the usual activity, horseback riding, bounce units, face painting, people dressed as super heroes. 

When the kids walk in they are given a bag of goodies.  When they return to their school busses, they find a special gift in their seat.

 

 

Bill, the horse whisperer and the kid whisperer, helping the kids ride the horses.

 

They get lunch, put together by a bunch of our people.  People are floating around with bags of popcorn in baskets to give to the kids.  Kids who needed or wanted a coat, they could get one.  Bike helmets were being given away, good helmets.

I go to give the gift of my time to these kids, but the kids gift me even more.  But it is the great number of volunteers that touch my spirit.

 

 

So, the question obviously is: who is cuter, the white guy or the pink pig?  

 

That guy outside of Baskin & Robbins, the kids, and the volunteers open my eyes to the good around me.

How are you blind & how are your eyes opened?

 

Hey, John & Connie, I think those cookies are supposed to be for the kids' lunches, not you guys.

 

Not only were the kids given jackets & coats if they were needed, but bike helmets were given and fitted to the kids' heads.  These were good helmets, like Specialized.

 

 

 

"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.

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

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & John Cade. 

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

 

Our Community Welcome Team

 

Readings:

Isaiah, 2, 1-5,  They shall beat their swords into plow shares. (a beautiful reading)

 Psalm 122,  Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

 Romans 13, 11-14,  Our salvation is nearer now.

 Matthew 24, 37-44,   Stay awake, for you do not know on  which day your Lord will come.

 

Our Special Blessing, Bethany.

 

Community Activities:  

ROMEO MEET: Friday, December 2, 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

 

Wake up, Leo, Look at what you are missing.                      

 

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.   

You may come by car or by DART.  More on this later.

 

 

 

Buddy taking care  of the flowers.

 

What is going on in Our Catholic World

1. Nothing this week

 

Georgie taking care of Buddy.

 

True? 

Men who have pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They’ve experienced pain and bought jewelry.

Rita Rudner, Comedian

 

The Team at work. 

 

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

 

 

Peace and Happy Thanksgiving.

 

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.

 

Readings:

2 Samuel  5, 1-3,  They anointed David king of Israel.

 Psalm 122,  Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

 Colossians 1, 12-20,  Let us give thanks to the Father.

 Luke, 22, 35-43,   If you are king of the Jews, save yourself.

Special Advent reflection by Deacon Mike:   Download Bible Study by Deacon Mike.10-20-16docx

 

"Hi," says the beautiful Victoria, "Welcome in."

 

History of the Christ the King Feast: date, author, reason it was declared

Date: Not during the early church, not during the time when Constantine made Christianity the religion of the Empire, not during the time of Luther & the Reformation, not during the time of Pius IX with the Italian Resorgiamento & his Infallibility statement (1870), but in 1925.  Fairly Recently.

 

 

And not to be outdone in hospitality, this cute little girl likewise says,  "Hi, Everybody."

 

Author: Pius XI, pope 1922-39

Reason(s): at least 2 factors–The Times and Modernism/Secularism

1. The Times:
   1.  End of WW I and build up to WW II   
   2.  Mussolini & Hitler: the same year Pius XI became pope, Mussolini became prime minister.  By 1925 he had become a dictator.  The feast was to counter the dictatorship.
2. Modernism & Secularism:
   1.  Modernism.  Despite being scholarly and pro-scientific methods, Pius XI was suspicious of biblical scholarship which questioned, for example, biblical inerrancy, the nature of bible miracles, the virgin birth, the resurrection, the atonement theory that God demanded his son suffer & die for a single sin by a human.
   2.  Secularism coming out of the Enlightenment said that all people were equal, people should have a say in government as in democracy, and backed the separation of church/state, like proposed by Jefferson. 

Sources: Living with Christ, Nov., 2009; Wikipedia

 

 

Even Kevin says, "I may not be a cute little girl, but I still say, 'Welcome!'"

 

Observations on Samuel:

What: This is a 4 book series, 1 & 2 Samuel & 1 & 2 Kings.  The first two are all about Samuel, the last of the Judges of the tribe, and about Saul and David, the first two kings.

Author: Numerous authors.  Some say even Saul put together some of the parts that pertain to him.

When written: Over a period of even centuries.  However, it seems to have come together in the present form around the Babylonian Captivity, 555 before Christ.

Our selection: David is anointed king.

Sources: Jerusalem Bible, Good News Bible. 

 

 

Guess who has herself a nice letter jacket!  Congratulations Kara and Hi, James.

 

Thanksgiving

When Christ the King Sunday rolls around every year I am always tempted to tell good old stories about my childhood growing up in Christ the King parish here in Dallas.  Suffice it to say Christ the King was one reason why I became a Jesuit instead of a diocesan priest.

Instead of Christ the King, therefore, I would prefer to focus on my most favorite topic, Thanksgiving from my perspective.  Of course, when I ran my idea by Rosemary, I got a “Thanksgiving again. You just talked about it and you will wear everybody out.”  The problem: I don’t think I can ever focus on thanksgiving enough.  And that holds for all of us. 

 

Offertory, The Ekes, Marlene, Mabel, Bill, and Cindy.

 

So, hang on Everybody, I want to talk about four special blessing that have given me life and joy this year.  I pass on the Big 4 you know about, the Jesuit experience, East Africa, Marriage, and our community.  Instead, this year it is biking, backpacking, learning, and priesthood.

Because of biking, which in turn I can do because of my two new hips, I have this summer ridden 500 miles across Iowa, ridden 100 miles the last Saturday in August in the Hotter ‘N Hell out of Wichita Falls, circled White Rock Lake with Rosemary  dozens of times, and made some dear friends at the Jewish Community Center where I put in a strenuous workout every week day. 

 

"Nothing like Grandma's hugs," says Victoria.

 

Backpacking this past September took us to Idaho and the 7 Devils region, 7 of us, 7 nights, and a great time. 

As a spinoff of this I have also been blessed by our Friday Romeos luncheon at Jason’s Deli.

 

Muy Buenos Dias and Bienvenidos, Senora Alisia et Senor Jose.

 

From the first day I entered the Jesuits we were vaccinated with the idea that we never stop learning.  French has been my learning this year and for the last 6 years, since I got my new hips in ’10.  Because of this I have had the opportunity to get to know some really special people in L’Alliance Francaise, the office of which is, you will never guess, at the corner of Central and Royal Lane. 

The final blessing is the privilege of continuing to act as a priest.  Just recently I have been part of two superb weddings, Lisa Anderlick, the daughter of John and Karen, and Scott Simari, the son of John and Michelle.

 

What do you think, Buddy, am I doing a good job?  You are awake anyway.

 

Besides weddings, I have had the enormous privilege of walking with some people on their last walk.  John’s mother, Pat.  Jerry Gleason. Curtis Ekes. And Mike Miller.

These are some of my blessing for 2016.  What are yours?

 

Says Zoe, "Leo, may I go for a ride in your car?"

 

I heard a nice idea for sitting around the Thanksgiving table.  Each person is invited to thank one other person at the table and to give thanks to or for one person not at the table. 

 

The Best, Mary, Bethany, and Ray.

Readings:

Malachi  3, 19-20,  There will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.

 Psalm 98,  The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

 2 Thessalonians 3, 7-12,  See what love the father has bestowed on us.

 Luke, 21, 5-19,   When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified.

Some Sundays the selection of readings are beautiful and touching. Some Sundays they are not.  Such are our readings today as we come to the end of the church readings for this year.

 

Who is this little girl in John's arms welcoming everybody?

 

Observations on Malachi:

What:  The very last book of the O.T.  A little book, only 4 short chapters.  

When:  After the return of the Israelites from the Babylonian Captivity, therefore, the 5th century before Christ, i.e., ca 499 and before.

Message: because of laxity and corruption Malachi is warning the people that they will get punished again.  Such is our reading today. 

 

 

Getting ready: you put your left arm in, Buddy, you put your right arm down, and you shake it all around.

 

 

Thanksgiving I

With the approach of Thanksgiving, my favorite feast of all, I would like to talk about what I am grateful for on two occasions, this Sunday and next Sunday. 

I want to talk today about what I am grateful for because it has been a rough, almost depressing week for me.  Tuesday night, of course, was where it began.  As the evening progressed I began to tell which way the wind was blowing. 

 

 

Got it, show time.

 

As you know, by 9:00 I was ready to go to bed, but I was also tempted to stay up.  Temptation.  So as not to get wound up, I told Rosemary I was going to be as normal and would check in the morning.  I went to bed consciously focusing on my blessings, and in the morning, despite the news, I continued.  This focus really helped me to maintain perspective and hope for the future. 

Want to know what the blessings were?  Here are the big four.

 

 

Our Candle Man of The week, Buddy.

 

First, I was grateful for the relationship Rosemary & I have.  Rosemary does not come to bed with me at 9:00, but she and Aviana are all snuggled in when I get up at 4:00.  The gift of their presence on a cold morning is almost enough to make me change my mind about getting up. 

The second blessing takes place when I get up.  After doing some pushups and crunches at home, I head to the Jewish Community Center where I join 10 – 20 others doing spin class and then I work out in the gym for 15 minutes.  In the winter I take a  shower.   I love the exercise and I love the congeniality.  I know a bunch of  people by name and even know a bunch of birthdays in my spin class.  Guess what I do on their birthdays. 

 

 

Congratulations to Cody and our dear Shonda (marriage).

 

Connected with the exercise at the J, I love the gift of White Rock Lake and my ability to be able to ride around it.  Thursday or Friday The Lake was flat as glass, just beautiful.   

Third blessing, you people, our community.  Every Sunday I head home with Rosemary and sometimes Aviana on a high.  The high continues through the afternoon when I am sorting through all the pictures for about 30 that I plug into the blog.

 

 

Hey, Leo, I am jealous of your glasses.

 

 Fourth blessing.  Thursday morning I was privileged to visit a guy’s mother who was just on the edge of moving to the other side.   She was in one of the retirement homes on Plano Parkway.  I went in.  She was lying on her back in bed.  Her eyes were open but she was oblivious.  Occasionally she had like muscle spasms where she would kind of ball up. 

I blessed her and then leaned down and caressed her cheek.  I put my left hand under her hair and talked quietly to her.  I heard the word mama once, so I started telling her her mama was coming for her.

 

 

The Best, Shonda & Ray

 

This went on for, say, 10-15 minutes.  I had worn my white alb to give her peace.  Then it happened.  She focused and looked right into my eye.  We looked consciously at each other maybe a foot apart.  I continued to reassure her.  Then she was gone again.

These are the daily blessings I focused on to maintain my normal inner peace.

 

 

Welcome Home, Norm, good to see you.

 

If you needed to, what did you do?

 

Welcome home, Kim and Dave, good having you in.

 

 

 

 

And who let these girls out on the street this morning?!

 

 

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 

 

]

 

The Best All Saints & All Souls team, Sandra, Geri, Denni, and Judy.

 

Readings:

Malachi  3, 19-20,  There will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.

 Psalm 98,  The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

 2 Thessalonians 3, 7-12,  See what love the father has bestowed on us.

 Luke, 21, 5-19,   When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified.

 

Flowers for Georgie and Buddy. 

 

Community Activities:  

ROMEO MEET: Friday, November 11, 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, TBA.   

 

Sir Charlie, you swiped those flowers!  I know where you are going.

                        

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.  As always we will gather at Tulip Lane before the performance.

 

Country Western Dancing anybody?

 

What is going on in Our Catholic World

1. Nothing this week.  

 

 

I know I am funny here sometimes, Buddy, but that funny?

 

True?

Pocock paused and stepped back from the frame of the shell and put his hands on his hips, carefully studying the work he had so far done.  He said for him the craft of building a boat was like religion.  It wasn’t enough to master the technical details of it.  You had to give yourself up to it spiritually; you had to surrender yourself absolutely to it.  When you were done and walked away from the boat, you had to feel that you had left a piece of yourself behind in it forever, a bit of your heart.  He turned to Joe, “Rowing,” he said, “is like that.  And a lot of life is like that too, the parts that really matter anyway.”

Boys in the Boat, p. 215. 

 

 

Healing.

 

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

 

Three generations, Peace.

 

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.

 

Peace.

 

Good Morning, Buddy, good to see you so bright and awake.

 

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 

 

Good Morning to you, too, Georgie.  How did you keep Buddy so awake?

 

Readings:

Wisdom 11, 22-12, 2,   Before the Lord the whole universe is as a grain from a balance.

 Psalm 145,  I will praise your name forever, my king and my God.

2 Thessalonians 1, 11-2, 2,  We always pray for you.

 Luke 19, 1-10,   Zacchaeus the tax collector in the tree.

 

Offertory, Cole with his mom, Erin, and his grandmom, Diane.

 

Community Activities:  

ROMEO MEET: Friday, October 28, 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):  

Juliet's Luncheon will be in the evening so everyone who works plus our lunch bunch can get together for an evening of fun.

We will meet at 6:30 P.M. Thursday, November 3rd

It is BYOB.

Ocean Seafood and Grill

3829 W. Spring Creek Pkwy. Suite 105, Plano

It is behind Chic Fil A Spring Creek and Coit.

 

Kara, wake up your mom.  Tell her she is missing all the good stuff. 

                        

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.  As always we will gather at Tulip Lane before the performance.                            

 

 

 

See how wide awake Liam is, Denise. 

 

What is going on in Our Catholic World

1. Why are they leaving? Commonweal,  September 23, 485 words,   Download WHY CATHOLICS LEAVE 10-27-16   

 

Play station with Tori, Leo, and Zoe.

 

True?

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Maya Angelou

 

Take your breath away?  How about Zoe! 

 

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

 

 

The Best, Shonda & Ray.
 

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.

 

 

Take your breath away?  Peace.

 

 

Correction the JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together):  is scheduled for Friday, August 5, 2016.

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