Thursday, August 5, 2021 PASTORAL REFLECTION Sr Rosemaron Rynn, IHM
The scripture readings for this coming Sunday are rich with meaning as we take time to reflect on the wondrous gift that God has given us in the Eucharist.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR LF OLYMPIANS!
We are so proud of Little Flower parishioners and alumnae Katie Ledecky and Phoebe Bacon for their amazing efforts at the Tokyo Olympics! In case you missed it, the story of the two schoolmates first meeting at Little Flower School was featured on NBC. Click below to watch!
SCHOOL SUPPLIES NEEDED!
The Little Flower Social Concerns Committee is coordinating our annual drive to collect school supplies to assist school-aged children in need. This year we will be collecting donations of gift cards through our secure online form. Please click below to learn more and to donate. Thank you!!
CCD REGISTRATION FOR 2021-22 IS UNDERWAY
Little Flower Parish offers religious education classes for children in Grades K - 8. If you have not yet registered, please do so today!
ONLINE OFFERTORY Don't miss a week - even when you are on vacation! Please sign up with Faith Direct
Faith Direct, our eGiving system, allows you to support our parish and our ministries even when you are unable to join us for Mass. The secure enrollment process is simple and takes less than 3 minutes to complete. Please consider enrolling in Faith Direct or increasing your level of giving. You may also make a safe and secure one-time gift online. God bless and many thanks.
PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED – Please pray for the repose of the souls of Kathleen Annarella, Evelyn Berube, Michael Bradshaw, Madeleine Brown, Jeremiah Collins, Vincent DeSomma, DDS, Thomas Dimond, Agnes Donahue, William Gildea, Maria Hunkeler, Elizabeth Hunton, Carlos Jingco, Ralph Justus, Kathleen Kelley, Edward Kenehan, Robert Keyes, Daniel Klug, Beatrice Larson, Christopher Lent, Bonnie Marosy, Deacon John McGinness, Grace Mulvihill, Gale O'Laughlin, Jean Ostmann, Ed Padelford, Shane Potts, Vincent Rodriguez-Harrington, James Smith, John Sweeney, Joan Wells, J. William Whitty.
FOR THE SICK- Please pray for the sick members of our parish and for all who are in need. Keep these and all the intentions of our parish in your prayers.
STEWARDSHIP CORNER Poor Box – Donations in August will go to the Missionaries of Charity. Their ministries include the Gift of Peace (a home in northeast Washington for the homeless and terminally ill) and the Queen of Peace Shelter in Southeast DC (a home for unwed mothers, a soup kitchen and an after-school program for children.) They also have a contemplative convent at St. Teresa's parish.
"Prayer is the necessary condition for the rebirth and life of every soul." (St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose memorial is on Saturday) Saint as Model Stewards – We have a full schedule of memorials next week of saints whose lives should inspire us to use our own God-given talents and opportunities as He would have us do. What saints have in common is their love of the Lord and their willingness to use their gifts in His service. In doing so, they are good Christian stewards and an inspiration to us who are all called to holiness. Monday – St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (d. 1942), born Edith Stein, found the truth she intensely sought in reading the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila. She was baptized and later became a Carmelite nun. Despite this, the Nazis executed her and other converts from Judaism at Auschwitz. St. Teresa left writings notable for their doctrinal richness and profound spirituality. Tuesday – St. Lawrence (d. 258), was a deacon responsible for distributing alms to the poor. He was executed when, in response to the emperor's demand that he bring him the treasures of the Church, St. Lawrence instead assembled the poor, the widows and orphans and the sick and told the emperor "These are the riches of the Church." Wednesday – St. Clare (d. 1253), a friend of St. Francis of Assisi who with her sister Agnes were the first members of the Second Order of St. Francis, later known as the Poor Clares. Admired for her simplicity and piety, she was consulted by bishops, cardinals and popes. Thursday – St. Jane Frances de Chantal (d. 1641), after being widowed after only seven years of marriage, was helped by her spiritual director St. Francis de Sales to organize a religious community, the Congregation of the Visitation. The order helped the poor and the sick. She spoke of committing one's self unreservedly to God…keeping nothing back but instead being faithful in love." Friday - Sts. Pontian (Pope) and Hippolytus (anti-pope for 18 years before being reconciled with the Church) were exiled by the emperor to Sardinia where they died in 235 after suffering harsh treatment. Both fought heresies. Their dedication to the Church of Christ cost them their lives. Saturday - St. Maximilian Kolb, a Polish priest imprisoned at Auschwitz during World War II, offered himself to be executed in place of another prisoner with a wife and children. Of God's gifts to me, which would I be willing to sacrifice for the love of God and others? "God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. " (St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, 19th Century convert to Catholicism, who indeed seems to have discerned and fulfilled his unique mission on earth. We should do the same.)
VOLUNTEER LAWYERS NEEDED Catholic Charities Legal Network counsels and provides legal representation to low-income residents throughout the Archdiocese of Washington, DC and relies heavily on volunteer lawyers to fulfill its mission. If you are a lawyer in active status who wants to make a real difference in the lives of families and individuals struggling in our community, please reach out to Dan Collopy at (301) 615-0949 or daniel.collopy@cc-dc.org.
Take a Personal "Retreat" Day Aug 27, Sep 24, Oct 29 Are your days overcrowded, jam-packed, and busy, busy, busy? Jesus tells you to "Come away with me..." to Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center where your very own personal retreat awaits. During your personal retreat, from 8:30am-4pm, an experienced retreat director will guide you to a place of rest with Christ. The retreat schedule allows for one-on-one spiritual direction (optional), quiet reflection, Mass, Confession and Eucharistic Adoration, plus continental breakfast and lunch. Learn more HERE. |