|
|
Join us TWICE a day as we pray the Liturgy of the Hours, Morning Prayer and Night Prayer!
Morning prayer will be posted beginning at 6 AM each Monday-Friday and night prayer will be posted beginning at 7:30 PM each Monday-Friday night. We hope you will consider joining us and adding these beautiful prayers to your day!
|
|
|
Religious Education & Sacramental Preparation Updates
REMINDER Formation Registration for 2021-2022
In collaboration again with St. Raphael's Cathedral and St. Patrick's Church, we will be offering formation program options for grades 1-8 in the 2021-2022 year:
- a classroom model (social distancing) during the school year on Wednesday evenings at Holy Ghost, with online offerings as needed;
- a home school program through Loyola Press using the Finding God series. The program includes online tests after the completion of certain segments. In addition, there will be an occasional large group session during the year.
 ACTION ITEM: In order for us to plan appropriately, please register your students for classes as soon as possible. You may register online at: www.myschoolsystems.com/ArchDBQ/DBQ059/registration.php?who=student, email dbq059ff@dbqarch.org, or call the parish office.
Religious Education Opening Night
Our first night of class will be Wednesday, Sept. 15th at 6:30 pm. Parents and students will gather in Holy Ghost church for welcome, prayer service, and meeting the catechists. After the students head over to classrooms will have a brief parent meeting in the church. We are looking forward to a great year!
Sacramental Preparation Registration
If you have an incoming 2nd grader (in either Holy Family or Dubuque Community Schools) or an incoming 9th grader, your student(s) may be eligible to receive their First Reconciliation/First Communion or Confirmation, respectively. Please register them today so we can prepare materials for their upcoming preparation!
ACTION ITEM: Register your students for their sacraments at this link: www.myschoolsystems.com/ArchDBQ/DBQ059/registration.php?who=student. If your student will not participate in Religious Education simply register for sacramental prep only. All families MUST register for sacramental preparation regardless of where they attend school.
|
|
A Note from Patrick, Director of Worship
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB
Please review and pray with the readings and psalm for reference.
Schedules
New Fall schedules, Sept-Nov 2021, are live and posted! Please review and let me know if you still have updates; as always, please help find sub-requests for the times you are unable to serve. Copies of the schedule may be found in the church sacristies, parish office, and the parish website under the Ministry-MSP-Schedules. To those without access to the internet I will be mailing out hard copies; everyone please let me know if you ever want a hard copy and I will send them to you. I will return to the old practice of leaving hard copies in the back of the church. Starting this weekend sign-in sheets will return to the church sacristies.
**Growing our Liturgical Ministries**
As you can see, please, we are in need of more volunteers for all the ongoing ministries. Please take some time to pray about whether or not volunteering your time for any ministry would be of interest to you or a way for you to share your gifts of time and talent. If interested, need more information, or if you have any questions, please contact our Director of Worship, Patrick Jekanowski, DBQ059S@dbqarch.org 563-583-1709, ext.313.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:
Please let me know if you still need to be recommissioned by Father Steve. This may be done before or after Mass on the weekend, or during the week. After this blessing, we will get you the official certificate. Thank you!
Many prayers and blessings to you and yours,
Patrick J.
|
|
Sunday Reflection from Father Steve Garner
Reflection | 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
 In today’s gospel, Jesus heals a deaf man with a speech impediment, not with five words, not with four words, not with three or two words, but with just one, single, emphatic, dramatic word: ephphatha. The word ephphatha is from the ancient Aramaic language that Jesus and his disciples spoke. It is translated into English by the two words, "Be opened!" Today's gospel tells us that no sooner had Jesus said this one-word ephphatha than "immediately the man's ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly."
What is our reaction to this story? Is this just another episode that happened almost two thousand years ago but has little or no meaning or impact upon us today? After all, hearing aids are available to improve the hearing of the deaf. There are speech therapists trained to deal with speech impediments. As a matter of fact, most of us do not have a hearing or speaking problem. Or do we? How well do we listen? Do we listen when Jesus speaks to us? Do we turn a deaf ear to all the commercial and domestic noise that bombards us, and instead open the ear of our heart to the words of the Lord? Do we really pay attention to the message Jesus has prepared for us whenever we come to Mass and hear again his Good News? Do we take some prime time to read a chapter of the Bible and ask ourselves, "What do these words mean to me personally, and what am I going to do about them?"
Today Jesus continues to do all things well as he steps out of the page of the gospel and stands before each one of us. He lovingly touches our ears and our mouth and says to us his one powerful word of healing: Ephphatha!—that is, "Be opened!" May we listen with new ears open to hear the Good News of God's unconditional love. May we talk with a new tongue loosened to speak up and speak out the truth, the love, and the peace that are God's gifts to us and to all.
I wish everyone a blessed week!
|
|
|
|
TOGETHER is a monthly bulletin from the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
Each month, TOGETHER will feature messages from Archbishop Jackels as well as initiatives and happenings from around the archdiocese.
Click on the link above to read the most recent edition.
|
|
Prayer for the week
Let us pray with intention this week for our common home!
Prayer to Care for Our Common Home
Father of all,
Creator and ruler of the universe,
You entrusted your world to us as a gift.
Help us to care for it and all people,
that we may live in right relationship--
with You,
with ourselves,
with one another,
and with creation.
Christ our Lord,
both divine and human,
You lived among us and died for our sins.
Help us to imitate your love for the human family
by recognizing that we are all connected—
to our brothers and sisters around the world,
to those in poverty impacted by environmental devastation,
and to future generations.
Holy Spirit,
giver of wisdom and love,
You breathe life in us and guide us.
Help us to live according to your vision,
stirring to action the hearts of all—
individuals and families,
communities of faith,
and civil and political leaders.
Triune God, help us to hear the cry of those in poverty, and the cry of the earth, so that we may together care for our common home.
Amen.
©2021 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
|
|
|
|
|
Enjoy the latest edition of the Family Matters newsletter here!
|
|
|
|
