Dear Parish Family:
Welcome to the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time! This Sunday, the Gospel of Luke takes us into a courtroom, where a persistent widow keeps asking a judge for a just decision in her favor against her adversary. The judge complains that this widow keeps bothering him. The widow gives us a model of what it means for us to pray continuously. One scripture scholar writes that the widow symbolizes all who are poor and vulnerable, yet she had one weapon – persistence. When we persist in prayer, either God grants our request or gives us a promotion: a better gift!
This weekend at all of our Masses one of the members of your Parish Finance Council will present a brief review of the finances for our Parish from the past fiscal year 2024-2025. Scroll down and just past this column, you will see the Financial Report. Many of you heard the call last April and you significantly increased your weekly offertory gift and it has helped immensely. Thank you so much for your generosity and care of your Parish Campus and family.
Please join us this Tuesday evening, October 21 at 7 PM in the Church or Wednesday at 9:00 AM in the Church to be inspired by the presentation of Cyndi Peterson, a podcaster, author and spiritual writer who will reflect on faith and forgiveness. The event is free, however, there will be an opportunity to make a free will offering to support Cyndi in her ministry!!
Trunk or Treat is next Saturday, October 25th. We have spaces available if you would like to decorate your trunk. The event is from 6:00PM to 8:00PM and you would need to set up one hour before the event. Click the QR code below for further information.
Our annual Blanket Drive is next Sunday, Oct. 26th. All new blankets collected will be distributed to over 100 supported families that will be served by our Parish at Thanksgiving. Winter in Long Beach can get cold and many families cannot afford heat in their homes so the blankets will help keep them warm.
This past week, the church celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Teresa of Avila. She is known for reforming the mission of the Carmelites and she founded 15 convents in Spain in the 16th century. She is one of thirty-seven Doctors of the Church and may her famous prayer offer you comfort:
Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing make you afraid.
All things are passing.
God alone, never changes.
Patience gains all things.
If you have God, you will want for nothing.
God alone suffices.
I’m praying for you,
Msgr. Kevin